This led us into discourse again, on the sovereignty of Jehovah in the salvation of his people, in its fulness and in its freeness, as flowing forth to guilty man, through the blood and obedience of the Lord Jesus. I again repeated the former question, "Had he any hymn on his mind?" Oh, yes," said he, and repeated,

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"Salvation, oh! the joyful sound,” &c.

At its close I addressed the God of our mercies, blessing his dear name for the displays of his matchless goodness and mercy to my dear son; and commending him to the Lord, I took my leave, after having spent three of the happiest hours I ever spent in my life.

About eight the same evening, I again, in company with a pious female friend, visited him; he said he was happy, though he had been sorely tempted by the enemy. I said, it was so with me; it is our mercy his power is limited, and though permitted to distress the lambs of Christ's flock, he can never devour. The adorable Jesus was tempted in all points as his people are, that he might be a sympathising high priest; and he will succour his tempted ones :-in his temptations he was without sin, but it is more than we can say. He replied, "Yes, indeed."

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"Are

"Yes,"

On the following day I went into his room, and enquired, you still building on Christ Jesus? Is he your only rock? said he, oh, yes!" and repeatedly said, "Come, Lord Jesus," "Blessed Lord Jesus,"" Come, take me to thyself,"--and desired to praise his dear name—and we sang,

"Thou dear Redeemer, dying Lamb,

We love to hear of thee;

No music like thy charming name,

Nor half so sweet can be."

The next morning I entered his room, the family expecting his departure near; he was engaged in mental prayer,-took no notice of me for some time, but when his eye caught sight of me, said, "Father, I am very bad;" and, pausing for a few moments, broke forth into singing, and sung, twice over, the following verse—

"Though painful at present,

"Twill cease before long; And then, O how pleasant, The conqueror's song."

He

I said, "My dear son, it seems you are more than conqueror, through him that hath loved you, over sin, satan, death, and hell." said, "I think I shall be,” and added, “ I know I shall.”

On the next day, being the day of his death, he sung distinctly, "Grace 'tis a charming sound," &c. afterwards became rather delirious, and continued so till within half an hour of his departure, when he distinctly articulated, "Holy! Holy! Holy! Holy! Triumphant! Triumphant! Triumphant! Triumphant! Blessed Lord Jesus! Crown him! Crown him! Crown him!" and just as he departed, repeating, till he fell asleep, "Lord! Lord! Lord!" &c.

ORIGINAL ESSAYS.

XVII.

ON THE GOSPEL MINISTRY.

THE church of God is the recipient of incalculable mercies in the time-state of her existence, which the fruition of blessedness in eternity alone recalls to remembrance, and capacitates her to estimate; and there is scripture warrant for the belief, that a large portion of the bliss in reversion arises from the retrospect of the way in which the Lord God hath led his people in the wilderness. The displays of mercy and grace, in ten thousand times ten thousand instances, during the saint's progress through the vale of tears, are received-enjoyedand forgotten; but there, it may be presumed, each seasonable intervention, and every timely manifestation, beams forth anew to the admiring vision of those who are made perfect. And who can tell the high felicity that is enjoyed in glory, from the recovery to the lost memory of countless instances of covenant mercy displayed to the heirs of the kingdom?

The traveller to Zion has unceasing cause to adopt the language of the king of Israel, "bless the Lord, O my soul! and forget not all his benefits!" Of those "benefits"—and they are all covenant mercies-some, have the effect of inducing a more evident expression of gratitude to the God of all grace, than others; for often, from the commencement to the termination of the spiritual course, they are made blessedly and principally effectual to the instruction and growth in grace of the dear followers of the Lord. But though it would become the faithful, in the enjoyment of their exalted privileges, to forget none of the benefits conferred on them; it will ever be found, while they inhabit tabernacles of clay, that there are those which claim precedence in their warmest affections, and to which all others appear to be tributary.

A faithful gospel ministry is one of the means, in the command of the Lord the Spirit, by which the precious things of the lasting hills come down upon the heads, and enter into the hearts of many, very many, of the family of God. And so true is it that this means of grace obtains priority of others, in the estimation of numbers of the Lord's redeemed, that many-and the fact is notorious-attribute their spiritual advantages either in greater measure, or solely, to this ordinance of the Lord's house.. Meditating, then, the extreme importance of the subject, under the present view of it, we proceed to offer a few thoughts necessarily arising thence; and leave a more general survey, with the propriety of an exclusive honour paid the gospel ministry, to future consideration.

Presuming that the prominent characteristics of a faithful ministry are familiar to the reader, we remark that whether a Balaam by con

straint prophecy good things concerning Israel, or a Barnabas cheerfully perform the work whereunto he is called, each testimony demands the acceptation and faith of the enlightened mind; for neither the worthiness of the faithful, nor the perverseness of the faithless, affects the nature of the message, nor bars the progress of the purpose for which it is given. Many of the family of grace have spurned at the truth, and refused the consolations of the gospel, because offered them through a medium they cannot in all things approve; hence, much of the leanness of soul and the imperfection in knowledge, which are commonly attributed to the agency of others, results from a misapplication of the means, whatever they be, with which the pupil in the school of Christ is abundantly supplied. But as we are here bordering on a tender point, and one that is strongly disputed by many who hold the truth, we must descend into further particulars.

We re-assert, that a vast deal of the ignorance and lack of spiritual comfort, in hearers of the gospel, arises more from their own distorted views, than from the positive influence of the ministers of Christ, whether they be firm or feeble in the faith. The apostle, writing to the Hebrews, iv. 2. says, for unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard. Here it is clear, beyond contradiction, that the cause of the word preached becoming unprofitable, was not assigned to the person preaching, but to those to whom it was preached. If the hearer have not faith-faith in Christ-faith in the word of Christ, in vain he makes complaint of the ministry. In this eventful day of spurious profession, it is too true that faith in MEN is accounted the one thing necessary to salvation. They cry from sabbath to sabbath, and from sermon to sermon," Have faith in God !"" Believe the gospel-only believe!" When the undisguised meaning of the terms, with them, is"Have faith in ME!" "Believe what I teach." "Renounce what I forbid-and accept only what I offer!" And that this is the intent of such exhortations, according to their own mode of interpreting them, abundant proof is given, in the prevailing deficiency and neglect of scripturally pourtraying the person of Christ, and the nature of a true and living faith. On the other hand, hearers of a gospel ministry are apt enough to charge the preacher with faithlessness, when the principal if not the sole cause of their lack of spiritual profit arises either from their own deficiency in knowledge, or the want of that living principle of which the apostle treats.

But while all the professing church is in arms on the subject of moral character, with respect to those that minister in holy things, it is more especially requisite that again and again the warning voice be given, and continually reiterated, while a probability exists that the lightest accusation against any one of them is founded in truth. O ye ministers of the Most High! ye who are called as faithful stewards to do the business of your Lord and Master in singleness of heart; not with eye service as men pleasers, but as the servants of

Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; see that ye call not that man brother,' nor become partakers of the deeds of him, who strives not to adorn the doctrine of Christ in all things. Doubtless, among the members of the spiritual church (and not into the professing church only) certain men have crept in unawares; ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness. And can you that are chosen and faithful continue to hold your peace? Can you leave the task of marking the character and execrating the conduct of such, to those that are performing a work unto which they are not called ?-who do it not sincerely, but of contention?

It is now as it was in the days of the prophet, both priests and people have gone after their idolatries, and the sins of the professing church call aloud for vengeance. And if judgment have begun at the house of God, what shall the end be? Alas! "Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God? The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered." Cease not then, ye that are true and faithful to your Lord's honours, but cry aloud-spare not-lift up your voice like a trumpet, and shew the people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins. Greatly is Greatly is it to be lamented that there are servants of the Most High whose characters stand in the sight of men without blemish, bidding defiance to the most piercing shafts of calumny, whose lot is to find numbered among their admirers persons of disreputable name and immoral conduct; who, like the followers of the apostles, exhibit in their lives and conversation the influence of the satanic principle, let us sin that grace may abound. It is also the unhappiness of the gospel minister often to be kept in ignorance or in doubt of such wretched characters; for they appear to wear the habiliments and to feed in the pastures of the flock, and to follow the voice of the shepherd, whereas, according to the word of the Good Shepherd, they are not of his fold, but have come in some other way; and they do now, or presently shall, prove themselves to be like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.

Oh! how much do we and our brethren need the exercise of the seven-fold gifts of the Lord the Spirit, that we may be found faithful in all things appertaining to the well-being of our own souls, as well as of those for whom we labour. The spirit of wisdom, to know the will of God as connected with the duties we are called to engage in.

The spirit of understanding, to discern the nature and quality of the faith which is exercised in the truth proclaimed. The spirit of counsel, to advise and commune with the strong, and to instruct and establish those that are weak. The spirit of might, that we may stand fast in the truth, while constrained to confess that vacillation and indecision marks the general conduct of those around us. spirit of knowledge, that we may realize our own standing on the Rock of Ages, and be enabled to lead into the way of life all that are

The

earnestly seeking for and crying after Jesus. The spirit of fear, that we may, as sons of God," with filial affection and devotedness be emboldened to have frequent access into our Father's presence, and as the invariable effect, by the sanctity of our walk and deportment, shew that we have been with Jesus.

And our need of a quick understanding in the fear of the Lord, is confirmed by the existence of all the evils we have detailed, and by the unnumbered painful occurrences and exercises which overtake us in our progress to our Father's house. Our heart's desire and prayer is, that we might be knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ. Amen.

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)

MANCHESTER AND SALFORD AUXILIARY GOSPEL TRACT SOCIETY.

Proceedings of the Second Annual Meeting, held on Thursday Evening, April 13, 1826.

THE Rev. W. Nunn being called to the chair, commenced with reading 2 Tim. iii. and the Rev. John Kershaw, of Rochdale, implored the blessing of the Lord upon the institution.

The following report was then read by the Rev. W. Nunn.

To the friends and subscribers to the Manchester and Salford Gospel Tract Society, the committee fervently desire from the courts of the Eternal Jehovah, health and peace.

We

In humble dependence upon the Lord for a blessing on their labours, your committee have endeavoured to promote the interests of the society during the past year, sensible that he alone could render effectual our efforts to extend the knowledge of his truth. take this opportunity of reminding you, that the leading feature of this society is, the circulation of tracts specially intended for the purpose of edifying the body of Christ. The aim of the society is, that to the Lord's chosen but uncalled people, the tracts may bear a faithful testimony of the total depravity, and absolute spiritual inability of human nature of itself to do good works acceptable to God; and to those who are renewed by the Lord the Spirit, they may be a mean of encouragement and consolation. Your committee trust, that the society will ever maintain the great and important principles with which it has commenced its operations, and that the editors being directed by the Spirit of truth will publish no doctrines but such as are in conformity to the sincere milk of the word, uncontaminated by the adulterating opinions of the carnal mind; that in their illustration of christian experience they will treat clearly of such as is wrought by the Holy Ghost in the hearts of the regenerated, and that they will plainly testify that the fruits of righteousness can be produced only in souls quickened to spiritual acts, in virtue of their eternal union to the great Head of the church.