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experience of a child of God. When the plough has been used in the soul, and the good seed implanted, depend upon it the fowls of the air will never be able to get it up; depend upon it that seed will be sure to vegetate and shoot up.

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"They shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine, the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon." This is a description of the work wrought in the soul of every experienced child of God. The vine is a sweet figure. In those countries where it is cultivated, there are sticks spread for the vines to creep along near the ground. God's children never go so safely, as when they go near the ground, when they do not soar aloft, do not mount on high, do not mount into some great things, but humble and lowly in their own minds. They are to grow as the vine" that is, they need support. The vine must be nailed to a wall, or fastened to something by which it can be supported; it must have something else besides itself to support it. Therefore the church is seen in fellowship with Christ. Hence arises the question, "Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness, like pillars of smoke." As the vine cannot grow without means, so the child of God does not grow without means. Is there any spiritual growth in you or me? it is through the whole of our weight leaning on Christ: on that nail where are all the vessels, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons. All the cups in the spiritual service shall hang upon him, at the same time they shall hang upon him all the glory of his Father's house. Spiritual fruit shall flow from spiritual desires, in dependance on the Lord Jesus Christ. They shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine; the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon." Every thing employed in the shape of figures, describes the loveliness and perfection of God's church, the

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full spiritual obligation, in that beauty, comeliness, and conformity to Christ their covenant Head, ever producing in the experience of all the living in Jerusalem.

May God command his blessing on the word delivered, and to his name be all the praise.

ON THE SPIRIT BEING FOUND UPON ALL.

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but

THE Arminians, to prove that the Spirit of God is given to, and strives in all, tell us, that it is written, but never tell us where," I will pour my Spirit upon all nations," there are no such words in Scripture; and even if there were, they would not prove that God pours or gives his Spirit to all and every one in all nations; because this would not be expressed, neither would it be implied in such a declaration, any more than Paul's declaration respecting the faith of the Romans being spoken of throughout the whole world, Rom. 8, expresses, or implies, that each and every human being in the whole world had heard of their faith; because it is well known, that Paul only means, by the phrase, The whole world," the Roman Empire. But there are such words in Scripture as, I will pour my Spirit upon all flesh," and they are part of the prophecy of Joel, ii. 28, 29; which prophecy was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, and quoted by St. Peter, to prove, that the disciples were not drunk with wine, as many supposed, but filled with the Holy Ghost; and be it remembered, that at that time, being a great feast among the Jews, "there were dwelling at Jerusalem, devout men, out of every nation under heaven, Acts ii. 4, 5, 17; but who would infer or conclude, that because there were at Jerusalem, Jews from all parts, that all the inhabitants of the earth were then at Jerusalem-the word "all" and the phrase " the whole world." must be

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admitted to have a limited acceptation in most passages of Holy Writ, otherwise we make it a book of contradictions and inconsistencies.

But there is a sense in which the words of the prophet Joel, may be understood in their limited acceptation and still harmonize with the true doctrines of the gospel. The church of Christ is stated by the Holy Ghost to be the flesh of Christ Eph. v. 21-32, and will pour his Spirit upon all Christ's flesh; yes, upon each and every member of Christ's mystical body; hence, the promise of God the Father to Christ is, “I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine off spring," Isa. xliv. 3. But it is no where promised that God will pour his Spirit, upon the seed of the serpent, (Gen. iii. 15,) who shall be cut off, (Psalm xxxvi. 48,) being a sinful nation, and seed of evil doers, (Isa. i. 4,) against whom the Lord hath indignation for ever, (Mal. i. 4.) It is true, Balaam, Saul and others, have been possessed of the Spirit of prophecy, but they were destitute of the Spirit of grace and supplications, which God has promised to pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusulem, who are thereby led to look upon Christ, whom they have pierced, and to mourn, &c. Zech. xii. 10.

How strange, that persons should wilfully read the Scriptures wrong, to suit their own preconceived notions, and to assert, that such and such words and phrases are in the word of God, which cannot be found and equally as strange, that certain words and phrases, should be left out in their quotations from the Scriptures. They would do well, to read often Rev, xxii. 18, 19.

Hull.

:

JOHN.

At the time of the flood, when the ark was built the door was built, so now when Satan builds a temptation, God builds a door for communication.

OBITUARY.

ON Saturday, the 10th of November, departed this life, Sarah, the beloved wife of Mr. William Allen, minister of the gospel at Cave Adullam, Stepney. She was much respected by all those who knew her, and especially by the church at Cave Adullam, with whom she had held communion as an honourable member for many years: of her it may truly

be said, she was

swift to hear, slow

to speak, slow to wrath:" she was an ornament in the church militant, and is now no less in the church triumphant, where she will sing for ever the high praises of God and the Lamb,

On Friday, the 17th of November, died, in the full assurance of faith, Mr. Cornelius Tozer. He was, for many years, a member of the church at Providence Chapel, Grays Inn Lane, under the pastoral care of the late Mr. Huntington, and upon the breaking up of the church at that place, he joined in communion with the church at Gloucester Chapel, Hackney, under the Rev, B. Isaac, where he continued to his decease. Some "recollections of his pilgrimage" was inserted in our pages, which he only just lived to see completed. He said just before he breathed his last, that he was enabled to roll his soul upon God. The 14th and 15th verses of the iind of Colossians rested sweetly on his mind. It may indeed be said of him, He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost. His funeral sermon was preached at Gloucester and Crown Street Chapels, on the 3rd and 10th ins. by his late paster, the Rev. B. Isaac, to very crouded audiences.

QUERY.

Has what the apostle foretels in 1 Tim. iv. 1-6, of the anti-christian church in the latter days, been fulfilled, or has it still to be acccomplished, and what is meant by departing from the faith?

A FEW REMARKS ON 1 TIM. VI. 17—19. fall in with every evil presented to

BY THE LATE JOHN RUSK.

(Continued from page 297.)

Nineteenth; another way is rest; for this is called a way: hence the prophet Isaiah says, "This is the way, walk ye in it, and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Now all the time we labour under the burden of sin, being heavy laden, we have no rest, consequently, though in God's way, yet not in this way that I am treating about. David found this, when he said, “There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger, nor rest in my bones, because of my sin." Now the one way is Jesus Christ; hence David says, "Rest in the Lord;" that is, the Lord Jesus Christ, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest;" and we come to him by faith, for "we that believe do enter into rest, &c." And does this way meet with any opposition? Yes; truly it does; for sometimes we try to rest in carnal security, in this world, and the things of it, if they go rather favourable, and therefore the Lord says, Arise and depart, this is not your rest, it is polÎuted." Thus the Lord empties us from vessel to vessel that we may not settle upon our lees as thousands do, this is laying up in store a good foundation.

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Twentieth; another way, is being circumspect, see that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise." &c. But do fools walk circumspectly? Yes, in appearance they do, for they have the sheep skin on. But we are not to take pattern by them, but by the wise; and however lightly some may think of the outward walk of a christian, it is no easy thing to walk circumspectly, and for this reason, because there is such great opposition arising from all quarters, such snares and traps, laid by Satan and men of a corrupt heart, ready to

our view; so that this prayer well becomes us," hold thou me up, and I shall be safe." I know well what I

am writing about. I have many trials in providence; crosses, afflictions in family, a very weak tabernacle, and have had much opposition from men; but this corrupt natnre within is worse than all the rest, I can truly say, and occasions me to go burdened and bowed down. No, reader; it requires a supernatural power, displayed every moment, to keep you and me morally honest, and upright in our dealings between man and man; but if this power subside for a moment, we are capable of taking all advantages, so weak and helpless are we. Now the way we are kept circumspect, is by faith in Christ Jesus, for there is no other way but him; hence, we are created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them ; and we walk by faith not by sight.” That faith has to do with circumspection of life, or with a consistent walk, consider these three things all of which are connected with faith. 1st, The fear of the Lord is to depart from evil, and in this fear there is strong confidence. 2nd Charity, for love worketh no ill to his neighbour, and charity goes hand in hand with faith; for it works by love. 3rd, A constant calling upon the Lord; but "whatsoever you ask believing, you shall receive:" so that we cannot let faith go. And as it is faith in Christ brings both fear and love into exercise, which otherwise are inactive, it teaches us what a blessed thing a living faith is. Grace in the heart will not keep a man circumspect, but grace in exercise. See David and Solomon, they both had grace, and yet slipped into sin; but the same grace was in exercise in Joseph, so that he walked circumspectly, and also in Nehemiah.

But I pass on to the twenty-first

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way, which is the light of God's
countenance; this is called a way to
walk in: hence David says,
"Bles-
sed are the people that know the
joyful sound, they shall walk O Lord,
in the light of thy countenance."
There are two things discovered by
the light of the Lord's countenance,
1st, Our sins, and 2nd, The pardon
of them. And these two things
we shall discover all our jour-
ney through: they that know no-
thing of the one, know nothing of
the other. Sin is a dreadful, odious
thing, and we must know experi-
mentally Adam's fall, and the infinite
distance there is between God and us,
for all have sinned, and come short
of the glory of God." Now it is the
light of the Lord's countenance,
that discovers sin; hence Moses says,
in the xcith Psalm, "Thou hast set

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we have enjoyed these sweet times
from the light of his countenance,
we shall find the scene change, which
we little expect; and then up comes
by degrees the old inhabitants of the
land, which terrify us but as I have
told you before, it is the light of the
Lord's countenance that discovers
sin; and this path also we are called
to walk in. Now this latter path is
also opposed; for Satan will tempt
us to run from the cross, to break
through all bounds and to hate the
light; the Lord only knows the sore
conflicts I have had even to-day, to
break through all bounds.
O rea-
der, I find it a trying path; but this
walking, both in the comfort of it, as
well as the suffering part is by faith.
Peter says,
believing we rejoice
with joy unspeakable and full of
glory;" this is being glad with the
light of his countenance. But he
tells them also of the trying of their
faith, in which by degrees sooner or
later we discover sins of all sorts.
Now Christ is this only way, as well
the rest, and faith in him brings all
these things; for he is King of Zion,
and it is in the light of his counten-
ance there is life, and his favour is as
a cloud of the latter rain. But it is
not only given in our behalf to be-
lieve, but also to suffer for his name
sake.

our sins in order before thee; our secret sins in the light of thy countenance." But 2nd, The pardon of sin is discovered also, by the light of the Lord's countenance; and it is delightful to walk in this path: hence Solomon says, "In the light of the King's countenance is life and his favour is as a cloud of the lattter rain." I have got wrote down in one of my writing books nineteen things that are enjoyed by the light of the Lord's countenance, and these things we are called to walk in; so that real godliness is no melancholy thing, as some suppose that joyful sound says, : is liberty of soul from the reigning power and dominion of sin, the tyranny of men and devils, slavish fear of God, and the bondage and curse of the law, and enables the soul to serve God from a principle of love to him, delighting ourselves in the Almighty. But an opposite way we shall find here; for Satan will hang out his baits, idols, &c., every thing that is pleasing to flesh and blood, to try and get us into carnal security, and draw our hearts from Christ to other loves; and therefore we do well to keep crying to the Lord: but after

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Twenty-second way; which is walking in the Spirit; hence Paul "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh." John, when banished to the Isle of Patmos, says, I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day." Now I believe that walking in the Spirit, is opposed to the dead letter, however sound. Take it as follows: if I walk by faith in the Spirit, I shall sooner or later be enabled to believe that I am a pardoned sinner; but how is this brought about? By walking in the Spirit. It is the Spirit that testified of Christ, and our spirits feel union to the blessed Spirit; and as he leads us on in meditation, so we are ena

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bled to walk. Yes, the mind, thoughts, heart and affections, travel on delightfully; so that we really feel a heaven upon earth, having pardon sealed home on the conscience, the blessed Spirit leads us to Jesus, as the end of the law for righteousness, and we feel that we are justified freely from all things, he silences every accuser we have, and delivers us from all condemnation; and therefore says Paul, "We are justified in the name of the Lord Je sus, and by the Spirit of our God." Again; he leads us on, and we find that we are adopted into God's family; he therefore bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God;" and with an humble boldness enables us to claim God as our Father, by shedding his love abroad in our hearts, so that we feel no slavish fear, and the fullest persuasion that it is so. We now be. lieve we are chosen of God, without a single doubt; for he leads us up to the ancient settlements, and we can see the covenant engagements that took place before time commenced. But again; he leads us to the cross of Christ, and there we see victory for us obtained over the world, flesh, devils, sin, law and death, and we are led to trace the Saviour from glory, by his incarnation into this world, all through his obedient life, taking our sins when eight days old, and bearing the weight of them; being apprehended by divine justice, and condemned, standing in our law place, then dying, saying "It is finished," when he made an end of sin, then rising from the dead, ascending up to glory, and we in him representatively. Now all this we walk in, and in this way the blessed Spirit leads us; and all this is done by looking to Jesus, which faith comes by the Holy Spirit; for he is the Spirit of faith. I have treated largely an this, in a book called, "Christ is all;" but my reader may say, if this only is walking in the Spi

rit, I have never been a step in the way yet. To this I answer, it is not the only way of walking in the Spirit, but there are holy longings, thirstings and intense desires at certain seasons felt, and a desire to wait till the Lord does appear, being fully persuaded, at times, that he will; all of which is walking in the Spirit. But the old way of working for life, instead of believing, will ever oppose this good way, and plenty of this we shall find.

Twenty-third way; and that is a way we do not like, namely, "through fire and water:" but, say you, Is that called a way? Yes, it is, as you read," when thou passest through the water I will be with thee, and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." When the Lord is pleased to indulge us with much comfort and strong consolation, which he does some times, for a good while, they little think that these things which they delight in; I say, that this work must go into fire and water to try, that they may experimentally know what it will cope with, and never finally give up, and you may tell such, that they will not always go on in this way, but they do not believe it : it is true they may agree to what you say, but secretly they think otherwise; for they never can at such a time believe that the path will be so rough as they afterwards find it; at least, I did not, and I write from my own experience. But you will say, What is meant here by fire and water? To this I shall answer very briefly, having enlarged greatly upon it in the Fiery Trial;" suffice it to say, then, that by fire we may understand persecution, temptations, inbred corruptions, being ex. ercised with God's holy law, called

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a fiery law," and God's word in the threatening part of it. Now all these things are called fire, and

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