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Bible, these words struck my mind, If you will keep my sabbaths, not doing your own works, nor thinking your own thoughts; then shall this light break forth as the morning, and thy health spring forth speedily." Now I began to see a beauty in religion I had not seen before, wondering which was the right way, and how we were to know it. At last I came to this conclusion, that as I had always been sent to church, it was right for me to go, to be true and just in all my dealings, then hoped all would be right. I paid more attention to what I heard, and learnt from the Vicar, that God had promised to save the Jews, but as for us, he puts the cup of blessing into our hands and leaves us to determine whether we would reccive it or not. I then wished I was a Jewess, for I thought if that were the case they were far better off than I was. At the age of three and twenty I came to London, and went to live with a professsor, whom I had known for some years, she told me, Now was the accepted time, now was the day of salvation," and if I did not turn now, the Lord might reject me at a future time; she had found many friends by being good, and the reason she did not turn sooner, she never met with religious people. But as I was with her, I should be left without excuse. I went with her to chapel, and as she kneeled down and repeated the prayers so fervently, I kneeled down also. But these words came very powerfully to my mind. "They honour me with their lips, while their heart is far from me." Indeed my mind was wandering hither and thither, and to me it seemed, instead of worship, a solemn mockery. I dared not kneel any longer, 1 tried hard to stay my thoughts. but they seemed to wander the more. When we returned, her words were, How happy I have been under the word.' I envied her happiness, and lamented how miserable I had been. I learned the

catechism again for my instruction but this only added to my misery. For when I considered, they promised and vowed that I should renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world and all the sinful lusts of the flesh, instead of this being my case, I found sinful lusts working in my mind more than ever, and the more I strove to subdue sin, the more it worked within. Instead of keeping God's holy will and commandments, I found them so exceedingly broad that it was impossible to keep them. For them to promise in my name, what, when I was come of age, I myself was bound to perform, was binding heavy burdens indeed upon my shoulders which I could not bear. I suffered so much that I thought it should never be promised for a child of mine, and wished it had never been for me. But so it was, and I thought I was bound to perform it whether I could or could not. This seemed to me a cruel thing, but I must try my best. When I went to rest, I thought how I had got on that day, and found myself more behind; then I hoped the next day would be better. But alas the stronger were my resolutions made, the sooner they were broken. This was my prayer, Oh, that thou wouldest bless me indeed and enlarge my coasts, or pardon mine iniqnity and keep me from evil, that it might not grieve me.'

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I thought upon the Lord granting the request of Jabez, and hoped he would mine. One sunday

afternoon I went on the water with some friends, and was fearful I should be drowned; I thought if I once got safe home, never to go again on the Lord's day, and never have.

One night, I dreamed I was walking alone in a solitary place among trees; there was water at my right hand, resembling the river Thames. I dreamt I was obliged to go through this water; it was very thick, and a man standing in the middle, stirring it up; the further I went, the thicker

it was this was a great trouble to me, and I awoke. I mentioned my dream to my companion, and asked her what she thought of it? She said, it seemed like the troubled waters; you are in a strange way altogether; you moaned and groaned in your sleep, that I was quite disturbed. I thought I was in a strange way indeed, for my mind was so troubled I could not sleep. Another Lord's day I visited a friend, who was going to reside in France; a young person was there, who talked of plays and concerts all the afternoon. I was obliged to seem entertained; but I found the words of the wise man true; in the midst of this laughter the heart was sorrowful, and the end of that mirth was heaviness. I longed to be out of their company, and thought upon Solomon's words: "It is better to go to the house of mourn. ing than to the house of (such) mirth;" for it brought my burden heavier upon me; I wondered how they could teach children that infant baptism made them children of God, members of Christ, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven; I thought I was more like a child of the devil, and was afraid the kingdom of heaven would never be inherited by me. As I sat, very much cast down and wondered I was so altered, that I could take pleasure in nothing; the more I strove to be better, the more I seemed to feel sin work within; I could not think how it was that I should see this wickedness working within, when these words came to my mind, “It is light that makes manifest, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil." Now a ray of light shined within; the same as when a lighted candle is taken into a dark room; the light shews all that is therein. This astonished me very much, and I saw it was this light, that shewed all the evil within, and that it came from the Lord, that I had preferred darkness, because then I was at ease, but had no under

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All love, grace, mercy, and peace be with you and your beloved spouse from Jehovah, in his trinity of persons, now and ever, Amen! A most sweet, affectionate, and unctious epistle came to hand on Friday evening last, from No. Street, Portsea, without name or signature of the writer, and had not " Priscilla " (whom I much love for the truth's sake) given me to expect a line or so from yourself; the least of all," would have been quite at a loss unto whom to send " good news." Be pleased, therefore, Mrs cept my best thanks for your kind and spiritual favour, which, to unworthy me, was not only a word of encouragement, but also "good news from a far country." And I will tell you wherefore: " even because our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power and the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance, as ye know what manner of man it was the Lord sent among you for your sakes. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord; having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost;" what hath God wrought! Hallelu-Jah! Amen! From the general tenor of your most welcome letter, it is quite plain the Lord is graciously leading you by a way ye knew not in past days; being conducted now with weeping and supplications in the right way to a city of habitation. Yea, my heart doth indeed (as you write) love to " weep with them that weep, and rejoice with them that do rejoice." But tell me, dear friend, wherefore all this disquietude within? Your reply, no doubt, will be: "the

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heart knoweth its own bitterness." Be it so; what a proof, then, have you within" of eternal life; for the "dead in sin" know not anything, neither did you a little time back, although, peradventure, you then thought to know everything. But, now, "God, who is rich in mercy,' for the great love wherewith he loved us, hath quickened you "from a death in sin to a new and spiritual life in Christ!" Remember that this spiritual life is still in Christ, in whom we live and move and have our being ; then, it is not in yourself, either in whole or in part. No, indeed, if it was, the devil would deprive you in one moment (did the Lord permit it), but his mighty command to the great adversary is, touch not the life; it being "hid with Christ in God." And here it is the defect of the present awful day of mere profession; those "from whom better things are expected," are continually looking for something in themselves, in the stead of looking out of self altogether unto Jesus," in whom we have all things and abound;" hence such are full of tossings to and fro, ever running about, but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth, and hence those unskilful ones are filled with doubts, fears, and unbelief respecting their state before God, even because the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath never yet made them free from the law of sin and death;" but this is not all, for they 'love to have it so," and esteem all others who have been delivered therefrom, merely doubtful characters. Those are they who often "make the hearts of God's people sad," having a lie in their right hand, and feeding upon the ashes of their corruption, arising from the fiery lusts of "sin in this mortal body." This they ignorantly call "their experience," but which is not God's testimony in the heart. Talk to them of faith, they immediately begin to look for something within themselves, and are

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grieved when they cannot find it; and how should they, when seeking the living among the dead? whereas the faith a living child glories in "is the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Lord said unto his disciples, "If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, be thou plucked up by the roots, and be thou planted in the sea, and it should obey you." Luke xvii. 6. Again, speak we to such unstable persons concerning grace; away they go again into themselves, searching as with candles, after this somewhat, but lo and behold it is not there, furgetting all the while it is in Christ;

Thou therefore my son, be strong in the grace, that is in Christ Jesus." 2 Tim. ii. 1.

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This then is one of the many ways the Lord hath in mercy brought you, my dear sister, by little and little, "line upon line, and precept upon precept," to be more and more out of love with sinful self, and righteous self, and to be more and more in love with the allprecious Jesus, in whom dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead (not the Godhead itself) bodily, and in whom ye are complete, for he is the head of all principality and power." How immense our unspeakable blessedness, happiness, and salvation with eternal glory in Christ Jesus. Therefore let no man glory in man, for all things are yours whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours and ye are Christ's and Christ is God's," 1 Cor. 21. 23. Oh then to be enabled to enjoy the life of God in Jesus, to walk more in Jesus; yea to rejoice alone in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." I trust dear friend, yourself and kind husbabd, are through one Spirit living in the constant, unceasing and uninterrupted enjoyment of these divine and sacred truths. If so the Lord hath done great things for you already, whereof

we have every reason to rejoice. What a mercy for the heart thus to be established with grace, whereby we have been brought out from the congregation of the dead, as also from corruption-preachers, corruption-talking and vain-walking. Therefore the Lord hath led you by a way that you know not, (that is, by the way of regeneration, not to bring you into the king's high way, for that you were in from everlasting, but) that ye might know and be assured of your personal interest in Jesus. Well what comes next in the divine life? Why the Lord will lead you on from strength to strength in paths you have not yet known. How striking the metaphor, for what is a path, but a foot-way for passengers, cast up on each side of the high road, but still in the way. So also in the divine life there are paths of persecution, affliction, sorrow, temptation and darkness, appointed for the Lord's children to walk in, that the trial of their faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Beloved, then think it not strange concerning the fiery trial that is to try you; as though some strange thing happened unto you, but rejoice inasmuch as that ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, "from whence will arise many crooked things in your experience." What your "crook in the lot" may be, is best known both to the Lord and yourself, who alone can "make crooked things straight, and rough places smooth." And this reminds me of yesterday morning, when preaching from Jeremiah vi. 16, "Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." Standing in the ways of Jehovah's love, grace, and mercy in his trinity of persons, as displayed in covenant blood, covenant righte ousness, and covenant faithfulness.

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Then we were enabled to see our high standing, together with our names shining, with resplendent lustre, in the Lamb's book of life, and not only so, but to " ask for the good old paths," which leads us safe home to God. After which we were given to behold the "good old way," Christ himself, who is good in his royal person (Immanuel), for his mercy endureth for ever. His blood is "good," consecrating as it does this "new and living way," as our only way to God, the truth, and life! "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matt. xi. 28-30. "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him." The Lord reward you, affectionate sister, for your kind inquiries after my dear wife, who is at present pretty well, and strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." And believe me, beloved in the Lord, my heart's desire and prayer to God for your husband and self is, that each of you may be kept "growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." For I have no greater joy than to Lear that the Lord's children are kept walking in the truth,that they all speak the same thing, and having no divisions, may be perfectly joined together, in the same mind and in the same judgment. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above. is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. James iii. 16, 17. Present my kind love to your husband, unto whom as the Lord's servant I feel indebted much for the word of encouragement he was sweetly constrained to give me, when last in your house, and tell him, that

inasmuch as that he did it unto the least of the Lord's despised ones, he did it unto the Lord himself. My love to all the dear brethren and sisters who worship God in the upper room, and may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost. So prays the Lord's servant. Eph. iii. 8. 21; Titus iii. 15.

GEORGE HENRY GODDEN.

A LETTER FROM A SISTER IN THE FAITH.

To the saints who worship God, in spirit, and in truth, at Corpus Christi Chapel, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus; grace and peace be multiplied.

My dear brethren and sisters in the bond of the gospel; I greet you in the king's most holy name; the love I bear to your minister, for the truth's sake, the deep interest I feel in your spiritual welfare. a zeal for the honour of God and his cause, together with a fear, lest any man should" beguile you from the simplicity of the truth," hath constained me thus to address you in love, having been privileged to spend four Lord's days among you; whereby an opportunity has been afforded me, of beholding somewhat of "your order, and stedfastness in the faith," ," "for I have no greater joy than to see the children of God, walking in the truth,” I beseech you therefore, beloved in the Lord, "stand fast in the liberty, where with Christ hath made us free,and be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage," thus "as the Son hath made you free, are you free indeed." Free from all law charges; Christ having become the "end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Free from the avenger of blood, having" fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the hope set before you in the gospel." Free from the sword of divine justice, that having been

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sheathed in the sacred tide of your adorable Redeemer, when he quenched his Father's flaming sword in his own vital blood. Free from the accusations of Satan, who dares not bring a railing word against the church of the living God. Free from the alarms of a guilty conscience, having been purged from dead works, to serve the living, and the true God," Free from the bondage of corruption frames and feelings and brought into the glorious liberty of the children of God; "the law of the Spirit of life, in Christ Jesus, having made you free, from the law of sin and death." Free from the allurements and pursuits of an ungodly world. In a word, free from the trammels of a nominal profession, and a yea and nay gospel. Oh then, "as ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him, rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgivings." Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ; for ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."

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I congratulate you, beloved in the Lord, on the wonders God hath wrought for you; in placing your lot in a land of gospel light and liberty, surely the lines have fallen to you in pleasant places, and you have a goodly heritage; oh then consider your high privileges, placed as you are, under the sound of a stated gospel ministry; believe me, my friends, it is the greatest blessing, that can be vouchsafed to a town, neighbourhood or church; I therefore beseech you, as you value your own comfort, the encourageinent of your minister, the honour of God, and the cause of truth, "forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

[To be continued.]

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