such are indeed in "Babylon," for who now, and why? because, it is the spiritual birth. hears the supplicating or thanksgiving tone of place, where (to many,) the first joy of par. their "harps" in the morning or evening doned sin was felt, the love of God shed prayer-meetings of the saints? Well, we abroad, and the spiritual attractions of the would pray our God to bring them out of cross of Christ revealed, whereby the first this state, that again "they may go forth in hope of interest in God's salvation sprung up. the dances of those who make merry" in the It was also the brethren's gathering-place. courts of the Lord's house. The throne of grace there was visited, the banner of love" there was unfolded to view, the flames of love there burned upon the altar God had sanctified. The knitting of heart there was known, and oft the inward force of affections would move the lips to say"This is none other than the house of God, Again, it is and the gate of heaven." God's dwelling-place. "This is my rest for ever, here will I dwell." Need it be a matter of surprise, that saints now should have sorrow, when either locality, or from want of enjoyment, they are distant from that they love ? See the evidence of her sorrow. Her judg"Sing us one of the songs ment is insulted. of Zion," was the taunt of the Babylonians; the strangeness of the place, and the people forbid, and an expression of spiritual joy but real sorrow cannot be always surpressed, therefore Israel "wept." Her affections were not reciprocated. Many of the Lord's saints, even in their own families can enter into the meaning of this; their books, their friends, their ministers, yea, their God has no attraction for those untaught in, and unconcerned about eternal things, while the lone one turns aside, and before God, weeps in prayerful desire for submission to bear the trial until deliverance In a fellowship sense. How little closet" communion, how little spiritual fellowship do many of whom we would hope well, appear to seek after, or enjoy. On high days and annual gatherings, how very active, what earnestness marks their features, as they listen to a voice they have never heard before. And strangers might think, how spiritual such an one is, what a help he must be to the friends in their meetings for prayer, and how welcome must his visits be at the bedside of the afflicted and dying saint of God; I will seek an interview with him, and learn a little of his spiritual joys. Alas! alas! in showy scenes many are really at home, but as to fellowship joys, and close walking with God, how little is known or evidenced. Believer, may our God give us holy communings with himself, for it is the life and soul of religion, and if this is really our "element," we shall yet seek for more, and often say "Oh for a closer walk with God, A calm and heavenly frame." Yes, we shall say "Come nearer, nearer, nearer still, I'm blest when thou art here." We notice also-THE CAUSE OF ISRAEL'S SORROW. See, it was a remembrance of former times. Well might the good prophet in his mournful lament of Israel's glory say:-" Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and miseries all her pleasant things that she had in days of old." The altar, the laver, the incense, and the mercy-seat, with the hallowed interpretation afforded to them, as the mind of God was made known by the High Priest, as the light of the "Shekinah" was reflected and read out upon his breast-plate; so with the saint of God now; how deep, how keen the recollections of former days, when the "first love" kindled other flames of joy and peace, when the very name of Jesus had a charm and a power to resist their fears; when the Bible was felt to be the Book of books, and trifles did not then prevent their early and constant attendance in the house of prayer. But now, the soul feels the sad reverse, united with the force of that accusation"Your sins and your iniquities have separated between you and your God." This may well cause sorrow, and did not faith draw a little hope from the promise, that the time would come, when the word, "Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion, unto the Lord our God," would be happily fulfilled, the heart would indeed be more heavily oppressed. Her attachment to Zion, was another cause of her sorrow. There was a national cleaving of heart to their own, and the land of their father's. The spiritual in the family of God now, feel a strong cleaving to the church of Jesus, with her much honoured ordinances; comes. Her comforts decline. The joys of the sanctuary are but seldom realized, and with weeping often, sighs out in secret-"Oh that it were with me as in months past," &c. Her God is dishonoured around, while the soul is grieved by the filthy conversation of those who know not the God of Zion, and trample with impunity upon that which is holy, and much endeared to the soul born of God, and panting for spiritual good. May the God of Israel now arise, and give deliverance to spiritual captives, that the triumph and the songs, followed by humility and tenderness of conscience, may be possessed by all the oppressed ones of our beloved Zion, is the prayerful wish of a lover of God's Israel, whether in captivity, or rejoicing in the full "liberty of the sons of God." Whittlesea, Jan. 14, 1858. D. ASHBY. THE HOUSE OF GOD. "Gladness in going to the house of God." Psa. cxxii. 1. DAVID'S love to the house of the Lord, made him ready to rejoice, when others invited him to enter it. The city of Jerusalem was on many accounts a very desirable place, but the house of the Lord in it was the chief object of attraction, ver. 9. They were both typical of the church in gospel times, which is built up of lively stones, a spiritual house, in thy house." Thus we learn religion is a We conclude our observations by saying, THE EARTHEN VESSEL. Mar. 1, 1868.] whose spiritual sacrifices are acceptable to A house is a collection of chosen, purchased, and prepared materials; so is the church of Christ. Thousands of stones, in an uncol-1st, Saints should be careful to act becoming lected, scattered, and separate state, would the house of God; for "if any man defile it, not make a house; and so many believers do him will God destroy." 1 Cor. iii. 17. 2nd, not form a church, a spiritual house, unless True believers should join the church, and As the thus be openly in the House of God. 3rd, united together in a scriptural way. builder must choose his materials before they Christians should encourage each other to are formed into a house, so the Lord has attend public worship, because too many are chosen all the persons of which he builds his backward, likewarm, and worldly, and rechurch before the world began, or the build- quire to be stirred up to their duty; and being commenced. Materials for a house should cause it may be a means of making them not be gained by dishonest means, but fairly glad. 4th, Those who neglect it must be purchased, and fully paid for; so the church losers. How can we escape some loss or cross of God is purchased with the price of his own if we neglect the great salvation? blood; in building his house he has robbed no GLADNESS IN GOING TO THE HOUSE of one, for he has built it with nothing but his own. Materials, as they came from the quarry, are unfit for building, they must be put into proper form, before they are part of the house; and so the people of God by nature are too rough for his house till refined, reformed, and prepared by his Spirit. It is important that a house have a good foundation, otherwise it would be in danger of falling. Christ is the firm foundation laid in Zion, on which this house is fixed, above all 1 Cor. iii. 2. If a possibility of falling. house has pillars,-prophets and apostles, and ministers are a means of supporting the without church. Doors are necessary, as them, we could neither get in nor out; so Christ, and faith, and hope, and discipline are useful doors to the house of God, WinА house dows are that without which would be in darkness; the church of Christ has its ordinances that let the light into it from him. Every house is builded by some man; but God is the builder of his own house. usually Matt. xvi. 18. Great houses are beautified with the best furniture; God's house is all glorious without and within, through his own righteousness, grace and presence. Houses get out of repair, and does not the house of God decay in its faith, love, zeal, works, and wishes? He, however, can restore our souls, and repair our services. Houses have their inhabitants; God dwells in his own house; let us take care that our sins do not cause him to leave it desolate. David was glad when they said, "let us go into the house of the Lord." What does this mean? Something that is felt by all the living family of God. It implies a gracious experience of renovating power in the soul; an experience of heavenly comfort, peace, and pleasure in the divine presence there; it is the feeling of spiritual affections in exercise. Being glad to go to such a place, supposes some knowledge of it, delight in it, and desire after it, which appears in a cheerful, frequent, and constant attendance there. David had seen the beauty, and glory, and goings of God in his sanctuary, wherefore he desired to dwell in it all his days. He could not forget the blessedness of being there. He had rather be a doorkeeper there than dwell in the tents" of wickedness, "Blessed are they that dwell GOD. On Christ, my only hope, His dwelling-house shall stand; On earthly ground, Can make me glad With humble heart and mind, And free from all complaints, May I indeed be joined And then invite THOMAS ROw. Little Gransden, Jan. 26, 1858. [We gladly insert this paper of Mr. Thomas Row's, because it contains some good things, which thousands may ponder over, and practice to great advantage.-ED.] CHASTISEMENT. WELCOME afflictions! 'tis my Father's hand And I with thee, shall rest in endless peace, eternal song- CHRIST'S COMING. "The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Matthew xx. 28. To speak of Christ's coming, is at all times acceptable; Hart says, we should "Remember, the Saviour It is as well, when we are brought to remember, that at the appointed time "he died the just for the unjust to bring us to God." Christ came, as sent by the Father, and therefore according to covenant arrangement. The Father "found him;" "raised him up;" "laid help upon him;" made him strong, qualified him," anointed him with the Spirit; gave him a people to save, and at Jerusalem we find him about his Father's business. He came willingly. Lo I come, "in the volume of the Book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O God," therefore, said Jesus, doth my Father love me, because "I lay down my life." Christ came suitably, inasmuch as he came as a sacrifice, " Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." He was also without sin, therefore as a sinless man, he could fulfil the law which was broken by a sinless man; he could and did go to the end of the law, and by his perfect obedience, work out and bring in a perfect righteousness; hence, those who believe are complete in him. Again, "he came not to be ministered unto," he stood alone, "of the people there were none with him;" he might not be relieved of one atom of weight he bore; not one inch could be shortened of the road he must travel, nor could any mitigate the sore travail of his soul; he must tread the winepress alone, he only could speak with the enemies in the gate; his own sword must cut his own way through the ranks of opponents; and as he came not to be ministered unto, so, neither could any minister unto him; his apostles could not understand him, nor could they sympathize with him, but rebuked him and forbad him, and at length forsook him and fled. But he came to minister and to give his life a ransom for many, and what he came to do, that he did. His life was a mission Steeped in love, Fragrant with odours most divine. He went about doing good: men felt it, devils were awed before it, scribes, chief priests and sadducees were astounded at it, and lest this good should be perpetuated, men nailed the Son of man to the cross, and so unwittingly constituted themselves God's instruments to to bring about his purpose, that one purposethe all-absorbing purpose, "to give his life a ransom for many." Reader, can you say "'Twas Jesus my Friend, when He hung on the tree, Who opened the channel of mercy for me?" If so, then Jesus still lives to minister unto you. JOHN BRUNT. Colnbrook. [Mar. 1, 1938. Memorials of Departed Saints. A BRIEF MEMOIR OF THE LIFE, EXPERIENCE, AND DEATH OF MR. EDWARD PEARLESS, WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE EVE OF THE 23RD OF JANUARY, 1858, IN THE 39TH YEAR OF HIS AGE. WELL did David say by the teaching of the Holy Ghost, "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace." Blessed motto! when exemplified in the life, doctrine, experience, and practice of one professing godliness as was manifestly the case with our departed friend, who had seen an end of all perfection in the flesh, and knew that the law made nothing perfect; but the bringing in of a better hope did; and which hope he had as an anchor of the soul, and by the which he drew near unto God, krowing that Christ, by one offering had for ever perfected them that are sanctified, and to him the set time, the appointed day had arrived, when the sweet song should be sung, "We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates! that the righteous man that keepeth the truth may enter into the engagement of the love, grace, truth, and salvation of God, who will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is staid upon him, because he trusted in him and could say, Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us, for thou also hast wrought all our works in us." Now let it be understood that what I have further to say, is not to be considered as the work nor worth of the creature, but of the Creator. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." It hath been a mystery in all ages to the legal, carnal, judaizing, pharisaical professor, how perfection and imperfection can reside in the same person, not knowing that it is given to the saints to know the mysteries of the kingdom, but to them that are without in parables. And this to them is a great parable that though these opposites dwell in the same person, yet not in the same man: perfection dwells and is resident in the new man, which is perfect and complete in Christ; imperfection dwells with and in the old man which is a body of sin and death." But to the word and the testimony." Gen. vi. 9.-"Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generation, and Noah walked with God." Job i. 1.-"There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and eschewed evil." This is the character given by Jehovah himself of these two saints, and yet we find that they were men of like passions with ourselves. So with our departed brother. He was perfect through that comeliness which the Lord put upon him. He had to go through the same kind of ordeal of righteousness and judgment, when called as Joshua of old, for when convinced of sin, by grace to supplicate and entreat for mercy, Satan was there to resist and accuse him. But the Lord said unto Satan, "The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan, even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee. Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? But there stood Our departed friend came to Peterborough, a youth about fourteen years of age, to be apprenticed to a draper, the late Mr. R. J. Head, (who at that time was well known to the churches round about) and from the first of his coming attended with the family the worship of God in his sanctuary, under the ministry of the writer of this obituary; and it appears that the word of truth became the word of power, arrested the attention of his juvenile mind, and secretly and silently descended like early dew,distilling the love, grace, mercy, truth, and salvation of God, into his now renewed soul; and he continued to attend upon the preaching of the Word until the expiration of the term of his apprenticeship when he left for about two years, during which time he occasionally heard the venerable Mr. Oxenham. I think it was at Guildford, in Surrey. But his mind was again led by him that fixes, rules, and guides the destinies of his people, to return again to Peterborough; and he became an assistant in the shop he had served in as an apprentice. But in a short time his employer, Mr. R. J. Head, concluded that he had accumulated sufficient property to enable him to retire; the business was turned over to Mr. Henry Head, and our departed friend, Mr. Pearless. And never were two men joined together in business more suited for partnership, being of the same faith and congeniality of disposition and deportment, kind, civil, humble, loving and beloved by all around. Their aim was, to be good and to do good to all, within their sphere of action; but in a few years the Lord was pleased to take home to himself Mr. H. Head, whose life, experience, death, and funeral sermon was pubfished in the VESSEL, May, 1847. And the business devolved upon Mr. Pearless, who with a soul formed for domestic society had previously married a God-fearing woman, and never were two persons joined together more suited to become man and wife. They indeed became one flesh,were of one faith,mind,heart, and soul; of one temper and disposition, meek, still, quiet, loving, and the Lord blessed them with three lovely children, all daughters, and the whole household lived in peace and in har mony. But the days of our friend were numbered, and drawing to a close, proving that in the midst of life we are in death, but the day or hour is known only to Him that appointed it. But the Lord has declared that to this man will he look who is of a humble and contrite spirit. Yea, with him I will dwell to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. empty professor, who had never been brought to the place of stopping of mouths, who with a verbosity of talk, and misplaced Scriptures, knowing not what they affirmed; half Calvinist and half Arminian, never twice of one opinion; with no salt in their mouths, grace in their hearts, nor savour upon their lips. "Jejune, jejune," might be stamped upon the whole. He loved to hear proclaimed from the pulpit, a free, full, complete, and finished salvation, and also what Paul calls the things that accompany salvation; an unctuous experience of the work of the Spirit and grace of God upon and in the soul, and then quietly to retire and ponder over them, and not to be interrupted by those professors who as soon as they get out of a place of worship run from one to another, with a " How did you hear? how did you get on? how did you like or ap prove the discourse ?" that they might have something to gossip about through the week. One thinks how much better it would be for such to go home, and ask themselves a few questions, or put the same kind of questions to themselves. Our brother, being of a quiet and taciturn spirit and disposition, there was nothing more annoying to him than a prating, chattering, But I come now to the closing scene of our brother's mortal life. After one week's afflic tion, being missed from the house of God, when called upon on the Monday, it was found that he was afflicted with a swollen and inflamed face, but he was cheerful and no danger was apprehended as a physician was not called in till the Wednesday, who thought it requisite to call in another on the Thursday. But little can be said of his dying testimony as the physician gave orders that he should be kept quiet and not disturbed by visitors, and he afterwards became delirious, with very few lucid intervals, in one of which he said to a sister that was sitting by him, "I am going home. I am willing to go; I have no earthly tie but my dear wife and children, and I can leave them with Him that can do better for them than I could." And about an hour be fore his departure he lifted up his hand, and exclaimed, “Blessed death, yea, blessed in death." Thus his end was peace. He had for some time been dead to the world, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ; his aim, end, and design, yea desire, was peace on earth, especially in the church, and goodwill towards men. He had his tribulations, but his blessed Lord fulfilled his promise, "In me ye shall have peace." J. CARTER. An Octagenarian. Peterboro', Feb. 1. THE MINISTERS WE WANT.-When the Lord considered Jonah had been long enough in the depths, He spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land. These are the sort of preachers we want, out-of-thedepths men, who having been cast upon the dry ground of hope, have Jehovah's command to preach the preaching He bids them. A handful of such preachers would be more effective than a whole bevy of first-class, graceless Oxford and Cambridge men. Men are in perplexity, they want guidance; discouraged, they want the cheering word; weak, they require strength: and ministers, in order to reach their case, must themselves practically understand it. This produces heart to heart ministrations. Baptism, What is it? No. II. COZENS VERSUS "NEMO." gical, &c., and I say so because he argues that MR. EDITOR. DEAR SIR.-I had anticipated from your editorial critique of "Nemo's" able criticisms" on the wrapper of the January VESSEL, a surpassing prodigy of intelligence and logic; a sort of coup de grace, as the French would say, but to my astonishment it is a mere bagatelle. In the first place, I should like to know who "Nemo" is? Is he the " Villager" incongnito? By the by, I ought to know that "Nemo" is nobody, and there is the same sort of nothingness about his anti-logical, anti-theological article, and without using "epithets" it would be a strange phenomena to get anything from nobody; I may be called facetious, I cannot help it. Nemo me impune lacesset. It is rather an unhappy though not an irrelevant signature. I hope "Nemo" will allow that I know the meaning of the word (irrelevant) now, and that it is not "utterly inappropriate to the occasion." Indeed it is as appropriate there is but one genuine, proper, primary, and Villager." natural sense of a text, and the natural meannow as it was when I used it to the " Neither the queries of the "Villager," noring of bapto, or baptizo, or baptize, is to dip. Let" Nemo" read my book, let him anthe article of "Nemo" are to the point. But I have now to do with "Nemo," and I would swer it, and he shall hear again from say, had I half the erudition of your classic Your servant for Truth's sake, friend, I certainly would have endorsed my views with the name of a more important and classical gentleman than "Nemo." it is cer Allow me to say, Mr. Editor, that it would honour to triumph with a victor's joy. And "Nemo" talks about the baptism of cups, As his &c. Well, how are cups washed? prediliction is so much in favor of the practices of pædo-baptists, and as he is so opposed to dipping, I trust he will tell his laundress to sprinkle his linen, and his scullery maid to sprinkle his cups and platters, and if he will inform me of his whereabouts, I will take the liberty (in a few months) of calling upon him to philosophize upon the domestic happiness resulting from this novel mode of baptizing cups, and pots, and linen. He will say, pish! But why did he introduce the baptism of cups? Wiser men than "Nemo" have said that S. COZENS. 12, Queen-street, Camden Town, Feb. 1st. EDITOR'S NOTE. WE have admitted the above, because we considered our brother Cozens had a right to reply; but we have no sympathy with that light and lofty spirit which too much characterizes the writing and speaking of the day. We are often publicly censured for extreme tenderness; we prefer such censure, rather than be influenced by that dogmatical, contemptuous, and anti-gospel tone, which is now so awfully prevalent. We opened our columns to a fair discussion upon the subject of Baptism, with the hope that some of our brethren would, in a Christ-like, in an apostolical, and in a devotional spirit, open up the mind of God upon, and the holy mysteries couched in, that sacred institution, called "Baptism." But, if men can only wrangle, and write ironically, we must close the controversy, fearless of all the censures or consequences resulting therefrom. |