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Farewell at present. Grace, mercy and peace be multiplied to thy soul, is the sincere desire, of

Your humble servant,
In the gospel of Jesus Christ,
Bermondsey.

THOMAS GUNNER.

A NEW PREACHER'S LETTER TO AN OLD WATCHMAN FOR ADVICE, AND HIS ANSWER.

Rev. and Dear Sir,

KNOWING you are a servant of the living God, I desire you to speak plain respecting my preaching, and if I have acted wrong to tell me so, for I fear lest I shall take a step that will bring the judgments of God upon me. I intended yesterday, the Sabbath, to go to hear preaching at L-, but when I got down to the river, I found the water so high, that I was obliged to return back. Then my mind was to go to R to hear preaching, but I was again disappointed, for on arriving at the place there was no preacher. They asked me to speak, and you know my pre vious concern about speaking, and of my being before asked, and you know the text that had been on my mind, to declare what God had done for my soul. Well, I thought I would, God willing, speak from that text, but I could not find it, and having words some days before that struck my mind with power, and as a command, which God gave his servant Joel, "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain," &c., I was enabled to speak from that text, treating of God, and his sending his ministers in his own power, against the powers of darkness, and for the salvation of his election; that the mountains signified his church elect, often, through infirmity and temptation, fainting, erring and falling, encompassed by enemies, proving, as I was enabled, that all the election, with the rest, had sinned in Adam

and broken the law, so that none without an interest in Christ, the meritorious law-fulfiller and Saviour, could be saved, but all must perish. Therefore sounding an alarm out of the law and testimony, I proved repentance was given for Christ's sake to the election, and forgiveness of sin. I then treated of my own experience, and of the gift of repentance, and of faith, hope and love wrought by the Holy Ghost, whilst the law, in its fiery power, as a sword and rod in the Father's hand, wounded, distressed, and made me tremble, and how the election, all, as I was, are brought to to die unto all hopes of salvation by the law, or forgiveness of sins by the deeds of the law, proving every bles sing comes to the elect in and through Christ, from the Father of mercies, whilst we are needy, penitent sinners, praying in the Holy Ghost, confessing our sins, and waiting in trembling concern before him: and how all, sooner or later, who so waited, did of old, and would throughout time, receive every covenant blessing, and that their souls, at the temporal death of the body, would be taken to God in the heavenly glory rejoicing, whilst the wicked and impenitent souls, at the temporal death of their bodies, if in the height of profession, would be taken away by evil spirits in a tempest, and be cast into endless punishment in hell. Thus I was enabled to stand and preach as it were in the valley of decision; and I concluded with Christ coming to judgment, in blessings and cursings, Matt. xxv. 31-46. I am sure I had no idea of doing as I did when I left home. May the Lord, if I have done wrong, pardon me, but if agreeable to his blessed will, to make it a blessing to the people, and to him shall be all the glory. The people paid great attention.

Now I pray you advise me, as far as you are enabled, how to steer and what your mind is respecting the matter. Oh, the wickedness of K. is

now fallen upon his own head. How awful is the blasphemous state of the Socinians and Unitarians. That man now finds the Lord his Judge has spoken, his judgments are now felt; the Lord takes the judgment seat.

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THE REPLY.

THE reply of an Old Watchman to the New Preacher at R--, grace unto you, I pray, and peace be multiplied. I thank you for your letter. It rejoiceth my heart that God gave you a text, in the trumpet, and would not suffer you to take the text sent you by man, although in christian love, which some day may be a blessing for you and those who may hear you. The gracious portion of the Godhead's truth given you in Joel, by and through which you had power given you to " blow the trumpet," is to assure you that, as one of God's witnesses, you are always to preach out of "the law and testimony," let the text be what it may. For proofs, and that I may advise you according to your request, in the Spirit of truth and love," read Gen. iii. 12, 15, to Isa. viii. 20; John xvi.; Rom. xiii. into Rev. xxii. unto the end of the Holy Scriptures. So go on; yes, go on, remembering the work of the true public ministry is done by and in the will and working of the Holy Ghost, although men in his willing and working preach and write. Know ye also that your ministerial work will be tried by fire. As God liveth, you have free access to unworthy me, and my advice shall be freely given you as the Holy One may enable me, truly and faithfully, fearless of consequences. Oh, my brother, remember that I say, "your shoes must be put off your feet, as you are in the divine presence of God Jesus." See Ex. iii. 5. That is, by and in the Father's will and blessing of the Holy Ghost according to Jesus' command; you

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must put off self-dependence, God discovering your own weakness and nakedness, that you may be shod and covered with the preparation of the gospel of peace. That is the true favor, power, and truth of the Godhead. Upholden for Jesus's sake and his meritorious mediation to the Father, by and in the Spirit. and the blessing, that is the Holy Ghost, his grace and truth; whilst you go forth in your ministry, as Moses and Aaron went into Egypt to gather his people, and to convert others, and then to teach all converts in the di vine blessing to put off their shoes of self-dependence, and walk in the Spirit, praying with you unto the Father in and through Christ confessing sins, as sinners under the Father's rod," Psm. lxxix. 32, expecting daily, nay momentary, mercies, living and moving in self-denial, bearing Christ's cross, that is Satan's bruising, mens' reproaches and temptations, resisting unto blood, striving against sin, and resisting Satan by truth-speaking, and truth obeying, by grace through faith in hope and love God's gifts, walking in the ordinances of water-baptism and the Lord's sup per. So you will in the divine blessing in all your proceeding prove you are God's elect, chosen to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, "elect according to the fore knowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ," 2 Thess. ii. 13; and 1 Peter i. 2. In obedience then, behold the invisible company you will have, and divine approbation, namely, Jesus Christ the blessed Saviour, our all in all," Matt. xxviii. 19, 20, and the Holy Ghost and the Father, who with Jesus Christ is One God," John, xiv. 23, 27. Blessed be God such have been my portion, and is now with my pastoral charge you know. May God abundantly bless you and yours, Amen.

Let me tell you, a wicked messenger, that is a reprobate, enlightened man, if he has the gift of prophecy, and a visionary view of Jesus Christ, as Balaam had, never puts his shoes from off his feet, as the blessed Moses did, and as we are enabled to do with all God's thousands of regenerate witnesses and pastors. See Ex. ii. 5 Acts ix. 6, 11, 20: and xxvi. 16, 18, 19, but falls into mischief, Pro. xiii. 17, either by disobeying God in the line of obedience to his word and ordinances, or by open rebellion against God, and his ministers, and people. Yes, all wicked messengers fall into mischief before, or at temporal death. Gen. iii. 15; Rom. xxii. 15-18. These wicked messengers in libertinism, with their shoes on, often turn young, zealous, God-blessed converts for a time out of the way of filial obedience, as I have experienced by some for years, even to this new year. Yes, I have a certain libertine confederacy which has been permitted to seduce some youths to put on their shoes in the presence of God, which is a perilous sin and have taken the liberty to send me awful cursings after previous blessings, and also additional titles to all my other titles for 1845, that is, "Arminian and Universal Charity." If God, my brother, leads you on in filial obedience and moderation, shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, you will have the trials above stated, which, perhaps, may greatly distress you. For my part, blessed be God, I am too old and settled in truth and love, and too bold in the Holy One to be distressed only for my enemies, especially the seduced youths, to whom I send the following reply by private letters and messages, Curse on, and condemn me, if you dare! I shall pray for you, and labour for blessings on you." Know. ing a part of the sufferings of our blessed Lord and Saviour was in his own person, as in his old, bold, obedient, moderate, blessed witnesses, March, 1845.]

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Bearing the contradiction of sinners. against themselves," Heb. xii. 13; 1 Cor. 4, 8, 9, 10. I am yet a scholar in the blessed Lord and Saviour, and loving Master, Jesus's school, and never did I love him more, neither did he ever manifest himself more loving, pitiful, and allblessing than in this new year. We admire his goings in magazines, as in all his other ways; oh, how gloriously we see the increase of his government and peace," Isa. ix. 7. My advice to you is, take in and recommend magazines, especially the "Spiritual, or Zion's Casket;" never be afraid or ashamed to let your hearers read the various operations and ministrations of the Holy Ghost in all publications, but you cannot read the bible too much, or pray over it too much. Gud help you, Amen.

Never allow, but, in God's blessing, ministerially prevent all partiality and little proud parties being formed, let love be without dissimulation; take heed of old libertines and proud bigots, with some drunkards of Ephraim, who condemn magazines, tracts, and other trinitarian, protestant publications, which I assure you in our day, are the streams of the Godhead's river that makes glad his city, that is his church, his temples within the states of all nations. See Ps. xlvi. 4; Rev. xxi. 17-21. Be ye assured that as a new preacher and a young man, if you find the importance of the public ministry as I did when God sent me to preach, in great trembling and filial confidence, you will need God the Holy Ghost's upholding every moment. As he shows his gracious acts, being our strength, look on him his own mirror. Isa. xxv. 4, For you will have thousands of foes, and one worse than all devils, is sinful self. See Rom. vii. 24. You will also have thousands of faintings whilst upholden by God, that you may preach comfort to the fainting ones decrying sinful self; and you will have thousands of

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falls if you live long, if not any outward falls, with David and Peter, that you may be merciful to all that fall, and declare that God upholdeth all that fall, and lifteth all those that are bowed down. You will find infirmities by thousands, and doubts and fears the worst of all of them, with thousands of the devil's temptations and oppositions, whilst the Holy Ghost, for Christ's sake, and in answer to his praying for you to the Father, as he did for Peter, will help your infirmities, and bring filial fear, and a strong confidence into exercise, with faith, hope and love, in order to render your ministry a blessing to your people, and that you may not depend upon any thing short of salvation by grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Nay you will find, if indeed you shall be proved to be one of God's sent servants, what Paul and all established witnesses have found, and as I find and testify, "the Lord is my keeper." And by his given power we tread down strength," saying to friends and to foes, "The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen," 2 Tim. iv. 18,

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Remember an Old Watchman, your friend and brother, by the grace of God, sends you these presents, at your request, from within the high tower," Ps. xviii. 2, on Zion's walls," Isa. lxii. 6, 7. May the Father in God and the Godhead, in and through the high tower Christ Jesus, whose person and power, mystically, is the foundation of Zion and of her walls, and is "higher than heaven, deeper than hell, longer than the earth, and broader than the sea, our life, light, salvation, immortality and glory,' bless you in the divine blessings of his Holy Spirit, in all spirituals, and give you all temporals. Amen.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise him all creatures here below;

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SOME PARTICULARS OF THE LAST
HOURS OF J. B.

The Writer of a Letter inserted in our foregoing Number.

I HEREWITH, my dear son, at your particular request, write you some few of the particulars of the last hours of your departed brother. The Lord in his providence has called me yet once again to drink of the bitter cup of affliction, in attending upon your dear brother under his protracted illness, for he sank in a decline after above ten months confinement, during the whole of which time he was unable to do any thing for his poor wife and children. He was gradually reduced to a mere skeleton. But under all, how have the mercies of God been vouchsafed to me, so that I can truly say, though cast down I am not destroyed, for he has given me to see that while his outward man was decaying, his inner man was strengthened, and we could indeed praise the Lord together, and say, Bless the Lord, O our souls, and all that is within us, bless his holy name. not remember, in any affliction that I have been called to pass through, I

I do

could so much admire and adore the great goodness of my ever-gracious Lord as I can in this one; truly the cloud that I dreaded so much was, as

Cowper feelingly expresses it,

-"Big with mercy, and did break

With blessings on our head." I saw in my dear boy, I rejoice to say, all that I could wish, for he was enabled, by the free, sovereign grace of God, for the last five years or so, to live a steady, consistent life, and to means of attend regularly on the grace, in which, he often said, his soul delighted, for he found it as his necessary food. Oh, my dear son, let this be our prayer, that all those

who knew him may be enabled to honour their profession as he has, and to seal it with as good a testimony. But he did not know what it was to go long without the cross, he was to experience the words of the poet to be true,

"Shall Simon bear the cross alone,

And all the rest go free?
No, there's a cross for every one,
And there's a cross for me."

He was brought humbly to seek for mercy at the footstool of Jesus, and he found it, rich and free, and was enabled to praise the Lord for it, and to bless his holy name. when every thing else failed.

Jan. 30. 1845, it appeared the pins of his earthly tabernacle were loosening, and the time of his departure to be near at hand. In the morning he seemed very dark in his mind, and I said to him, My dear Joseph, if you are not able to speak at the last, I do hope you will be enabled to give me a sign, that I may know it is all well. He said, Oh, mother, that is hard work now, for I am afraid that I shall not be able to go through it. plied, Oh yes, my dear, you will. About nine o'clock I perceived a peculiar brightness in his countenance, and his eyes to sparkle, when he said, Mother, it is not now such hard work, for my Saviour is helping me. Mother, you desired a sign, is not this sufficient? I said, Ah, you can now say,

"Begone, unbelief,

My Saviour is near, And for my relief

Did surely appear."

I re

At this time his uncle came into the

room, and as he approached, my dear boy stretched out his thin hand, and said, Uncle, do you think I am dying? He said, I believe you are. I now feel, he replied, as if I had but just began to live. He then proposed to sing a verse or two of a hymn, but I told him that I did not consider be was able to bear the exertion. He

said, Well, if you do not sing, pray; which was readily complied with. At the close of the engagement he said, Amen; come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. After a short interval he rose up in bed, and said, Is there not something to be seen? to which he was answered, Not with the bodily eye. He said, with a heavenly smile upon his countenance, Ah, but I can feel something here; putting his hand to his heart. After this, he inquired if there was any thing to be done that was not done, saying, What is the cause of this? meaning death. I told him, Sin. He rejoined, Then I shall soon tell you all about it. Presently after he expressed a wish to be raised up in his bed, and he then addressed his wife and children, saying, My dear wife and children, I want to pray for you; love one another, and do you, my dear children, never forsake your dear mother for my sake. Then he added, There is also my dear brothers; tell John to seek the means of grace, and tell Peter to seek religion whilst in health, and not to leave it till a dying hour. He spent his latest breath in directing souls to Christ. A friend asked him what he thought of religion, to which he replied, Oh, I would not be without it for ten thousand worlds, not if it ended when I ended; and then recited the lines,

"'Tis religion that can give

Sweetest pleasures while we live; 'Tis religion can supply

Solid comforts when we die."

Soon after this your dear brother fell asleep in the arms of him who had made all his bed in his sickness,

May the same God who supported him in the swellings of Jordan, and enabled him to pass through the dark river triumphantly, to the comfort and encouragement of his bereaved and afflicted family and friends, be also our support in the like extremity. I can add no more.

B.

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