name of the Lord and speak such God dishonoring things. Young Ryland in his essay, truly describes them.

"Such purblind seers, they make the Son of
God

Wholly in vain to have shed his sacred blood,
Heaven free for all, their velvet lips declare.
Were their schemes true, no mortal could
get there.

They call us cruel, who election teach,
All must be damned if that were truth they
preach.

What boot if Christ a freedom full did buy,
If it must be bought of him by such as IP
He sells that cheap, which he so dearly
bought.

Well still 'tis sold, and I can give him nought.
A farthing, or a world, 'tis one to me,
If I have life it must be wholly free."

heartfelt union and communion with Jesus:

DEAR FRIEND.-I will endeavour to proceed according to promise given in my first letter. The little portion of Scripture which drew from me the remarks which you hoped "Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ might be useful, was Romans xv. 7also received us to the glory of God." This very little verse stood up before me that evening as containing a four-fold beauty. First, in its connection, Here we are led back to the whole line of "Wherefore." gospel truth and practice through which the apostle had been passing; and you will reNo form of Godliness will satisfy those souls Epistle to the Romans, opening up the member that we found the apostle, in this his who are born of God; they must have an seven-fold mystery of the gospel, each this only can give comfort to his heart, and branch of which I hope to notice distinctly rest to his soul. And that child of God, that and severally, as time and Providence may is led into these paths, which God hath chosen permit. Secondly, there is a beautiful spirit for him, will meet with every opposition to his breathed forth in the exhortation itself, walking therein; infidelity, unbelief, rebellion," Wherefore RECEIVE ye one another." false friends, secret and open foes, the frowns There are ten thousand evil things suggested of God's children, the delusion of satan trans- and urged by Satan, through the weakness forming himself into an angel of light, all and sinfulness of our fallen nature tending of these are entailed upon him that will walk to divide the churches, to separate Christian in the strait and narrow path that leads friends, and to set even the most devoted to life eternal. Oh! where are many with whom I became acquainted, when the Lord servants of Jesus Christ at variance one with first made known his love and power in my soul? I have seen some dropping into Arianism, then into Socinianism: others I have known to become Irvingites: one with whom I walked to the house of God, and the first that directed my footsteps to hear true men of God, is gone into open rebellion against the God who made him, into avowed infidelity, and is a lecturer on Owenism. Two others embraced Mormonism, after a glaring profession, and now they are at Salt-lake, as elders of the sect, another tial Pattern, "As Christ also received us: Thirdly, there is a beauty in the referenan elder of the sect at Paddington, some into one error and some into another. What then wherefore receive ye one another (how?) As kept me, preserved me? Why this solemn CHRIST also received us." Nothing can exconviction, which I trust the Lord hath im- ceed the majesty, the glory, and the fulness planted, to cleave close to God's word, to be of this mighty sentence, "As Christ also constantly crying unto him, to keep and pre-received us." Who did he receive? From serve me, to undertake for me? I believe he whom did he receive? How, in what way, hath stamped something of himself upon our consciences-he hath brought some testimony concerning himself in our hearts-he has discovered himself to our souls, that we see and feel we have to do with an heart-searching God; a sin hating God, a God that will not be mocked or trifled with, that every secret of our heart is before him; when we are brought to the right spot and in a right mind to trace out the Lord's dealings with us from the first.

another. I never thought, when first I was called into the kingdom of grace, that ever I should have witnessed and known so much of cruel jealousy, of sinful and carnal envyings, stabbings and bitings, as have come within the reach of my knowledge. Under these circumstances, how most delightful the exhortation, "Wherefore receive ye one another."

on what grounds, did he receive? Ah, all this I wish to lay before you, and the churches, with much patience and clearness.

the text, "TO THE GLORY OF GOD." The Lastly, there is a beauty in the climax of great design, the glorious end of all, was, "the glory of God."

Dear friend, I have now given you the title-page, or door of entrance into the discourse. Before we enter in, we must rest awhile; but, I trust you will look in faith and prayer for a full and comfortable entrance into these little chambers of Divine truth next month, with your companion and friend, CHAS. W. BANKS.

THE LOG BOOK.

MARCH 2, 1857, Monday morning. To my long-loved brother Robert, at Bridge, near the clerical city of Canterbury, these lines are sent, in the hope that himself, his spouse, and his dear children are all well. I am now fast nearing the polished city of Bath, being on my way to Plymouth, where this evening, and the whole of this week, I hope to lift the banner high, and vocally inscribe thereon, "This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them." Yesterday, with me and my dear friends at Unicorn-yard, was a good day. I arose yesterday morning weary from a heavy week's work; and as regards the sermons and services of the day I was as dependent upon the promise, power, and presence of God for supplies, as the babe is upon its mother to nourish and watch over it. A sense of much inward desolation, and a lack of power either to pray, or to meditate, was found in my soul. However, to my study, to my Bible, to my knces I went; and a beautiful little text was fixed upon my mind, and from it I spoke with some happy freedom in the morning.

The evening service was a more solemn, and I hope profitable one. The text was in John xix. They shall look on Him whom they have pierced." After a few words on the healing and happy effects of deep and frequent contemplation on the cross of Christ, I was led to three things specially: 1, The description given of the persons who shall look," as recorded in Zech. xii.; 2, Where, and in what manner do such souls look on a pierced Saviour? and, 3, How Christ was really pierced in his own Person, and how he may be pierced in the persons of his dear people on earth. But as I am being rapidly drawn into Plymouth, and as I must, if the Lord permit, almost jump out of the railway carriage into the pulpit, I wish to draw a little from the words now resting on my mind. The Bible is our dear Master's great banking-book. When he gives us a text, it is like writing out a cheque and putting it into our hands; but the banking-house is the chamber of meditation; there, if things go well, we get the cheque cashed, and in the pulpit we pay over to the parties for whom it is intended, the full value. The draft I now have in my hands is this"Draw me: we will run after thee. The King hath brought me into his chambers. We will remember thy love more than wine. The upright love thee." This draft contains five special leaves from the heart-book of every true believer. The first leaf registers that holy determination and desire which grace produces in regenerated and heaven-born souls -" Draw me, we will run after thee." Look at the determination of grace, it says, "We will run after Christ." Grace is, at least, a trinity of good things, it is faith, hope, and charity, and other fruits of the Spirit beside, and they all agree in the matter to stir up the soul to run after Christ. This term "run after thee' means a willing obedience, an entire consecration, a persevering endurance. In all ages of the church, God has given to his people leaders; to those leaders he hath given

laws; these laws have been as so many tests of the sincerity of the people's faith. In the days of Moses, of Solomon, and of the prophets, it was so. In the days of Christ it was so; in these gospel times it is so. I must not (for time's sake) go back to Moses, or Solomon, or the prophets, but take my stand for one moment in the history and mystery of Christ's humiliation, and then at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of his great day's work. He gave out laws unto his church. In the beginning, there was "-"Suffer it to Baptism"be so now, for thus becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." Christ himself put immersion at the very entrance into the visible gospel kingdom, and wrote up over the gates leading thereinto" Thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." That" becometh" is a word of great import; he does not lay life on it, or death in the lack of it, but it becometh us, it is meet, right, and expected of us; and when a living faith in a living soul sees this so, and is careful publicly to honor Christ, it says-" In this will we run after thee." In the middle of Christ's day's work he went down toward Jericho, and had compassion upon a poor man who had fallen among the thieves; and he healed him; he helped him; he took care of him; and there set up a pillar, as we might say, and wrote thereon, Go thou and do likewise;" and when the love of Christ doth powerfully constrain, when gospel sympathy and spiritual affections do reign in the heart, that heart says "In this way, too, will we run after thee." The London Strict Baptist Union publicly says "It will not so run after Christ;" but that awful decision will perhaps be its death blow. Again, the Master took a towel, and washed and wiped his disciples' feet, and engraved more deeply than in eternal brass, that beautiful sentence, "I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done unto you." And when his practical work was finished, just as he was stepping off the lower world into the swellings of Jordan, he took his disciples aside, gave them bread and wine, two emblems of the life and love he gives to his church, and said, "This do in remembrance of me;" and when things go well with believers in Zion, they say, In all our Lord's appointed-ways We'll follow only him."

"We will run after thee." An entire consecration of heart, head, and hand, I would ever give to him; and thus to the end we'll run after our best Friend.

I come to the second leaf; it is a relation of past experience-"The King hath brought me into his chambers." Here is an assurance, with three strong cords. First, the soul is certain it knows the KING. Secondly, it is confident it has been into the King's chambers. Thirdly, it is well persuaded Christ himself has brought it in. In the believer's experiences and assurances there are many changes; and there are times when these assurances tremble and are very weak; still, the morning comes as well as the night; and in the morning, when the Sun of Righteousness doth arise and shine on the soul, then it sees, and feels, and says, "THE KING BATH brought me," &c. Therefore, being experienced deeply in the

fact, that "without the Saviour it nothing|ing and the Offender, before alienation obgood can do," it cries out, as in the dark and dreary distance now it lays, "Draw me, we will run after thee;" for "the King hath brought me into his chambers."

Through the sufficiency of grace I was enabled to fulfil all the engagements made for me; and I labored under the solemn convic-grace, through redemption, sings," Roll on, tion that good was done.

MR. JAMES WELLS AND MR. SPURGEON. SPURGEON AT WELLINGBOROUGH.

POSITION

this kingdom whenever any important business in Zion required an able and decided man. Multitudes of souls have been called, comforted, set at liberty, and built up through his instrumentality. In short, he has been one of the most powerful witnesses for, and Mr. Wells is a good preacher, but I am ministers of, the gospel, with which the living sure he is in the wrong respecting Mr. Church of God has been favoured during the Spurgeon. I heard Mr. Spurgeon twice last last half century. In one of the most popTuesday, at Wellingborough, and I am preulous and accessible districts to be found in pared to tell Mr. Wells that two sermons this kingdom, the providence of God placed more full of gospel truth, or more free from him, the power of God has supported him "deceptive rhetoric" I never heard, either the presence of God has cheered him,

even at him when he is gone, and they have
secured the money he has gathered for them;
when facts of this kind have come repeatedly
before our eyes, we have been shaken, and
afflicted too. We have much more to say,
but the time is not yet come.-ED.

FRUIT-BEARING BRANCHES :
A NOTICE OF THE EIGHTEENTH REPORT OF
THE NEW ORPHAN HOUSE ON ASHLEY DOWN,

BRISTOL.

A SIXPENNY pamphlet, published by James
Whereat's, Corn-street, Bristol, has been sent
Nisbet, in Berners-street, London, and at W.
us for review.

teem of his abilities, and the deepest desires | the gospel Mr. Spurgeon preaches, and sneer that, in sanctified gifts, and in a happy growth in grace, he might be found to answer, in every branch, that great charge which Paul gave to Timothy," Watch thou in all things; endure afflictions; do the work of an evangelist; make full proof of thy ministry." Mr. Wells has long felt himself to be a dying man; his ministry cannot last another thirty years; and we venture to believe he would be only too glad to have indisputable evidence that another ambassador for Christ, with all the talents and decision which, at times, have marked Mr. Spurgeon's career, was destined to be found in the person and ministry of the New Park-street Narrative of Facts relative to the New It is entitled "A Brief pastor. We contend not for perfection in Orphan House, on Ashley Down, Bristol," Mr. Wells. We have sometimes wished he &c. By George Müller; and contains a could have written otherwise than he has large amount of interesting matter. There done; but, notwithstanding all the apparent has always, to us, been something exceedingly extravagancies and infirmities attached to singular and striking, in the existence of that him, as well as to every other mortal man Institution, where three hundred orphan on the earth (and broadly and boldly de- children have for many years been supported, claring that we are not either bound or in- trained, and fitted for the various stations in fluenced by him), we must confess it is life unto which they have been subsequently the judgment of our most sober moments, instead of being under the distinguished paintroduced. Singular and striking, because that tauntingly to charge us with merely tronage of royalty and nobility, instead of being "the tool of Mr. Wells," or to reproach- being maintained by a long list of annual fully charge him with sinful, carnal, and subscribers, Mr. Müller professes to look unhappy motives, is cruel, ungrateful, anti-alone to the Lord, and to live a life of, faith Christian, and altogether at variance with that zeal for the glory of Christ, and the maintenance of gospel truth, unto which all the sent servants of God are most solemnly bound. We are grieved to know that, for some weeks now, Mr. Wells has been hindered, by bodily illness, from following his much-loved work, The churches can ill spare him, in times like these.

We cannot close this hasty and spontaneous comment upon Mr. Corby's note, without one word respecting Mr. Spurgeon. It is very well known, we favourably noticed his advent into the ministry in 1854. We have had close converse with him, in his chamber, when a temporary sickness laid him prostrate, we prayed with him, and in Christ, loved him with a love that can never die, we think. We have heard him expound the Scriptures with a soul-melting power; and through his ministry have been led up to the cross with tears and deep contrition. We have also heard him contend for the distinguishing doctrines of grace most vehemently and comprehensively. We have bidden him God speed in all that was Godlike, and of a true gospel character. In these things we have had an advantage, perhaps, over Mr. Wells, who has, we believe, never either seen or heard Mr. Spurgeon. A hope that the Great Head of the Church has set Mr. Spurgeon upon the walls for great good, is not dead. Nevertheless, when we have known him visit towns, and passing silently by God's poor persecuted servants, go and preach for men, who scorn

upon him for all that is required to carry out the immense operations over which he has been led to preside. Those operations are increasing with rapid strides, so that he is now nearly or quite in possession of funds sufficient to erect another orphan house, for three hundred more orphans; and beyond that he purposes to have another for four hundred, making a total of one thousand to be supported, spontaneous gifts of charitable persons sending entirely from the free, the unsolicited, the their donations from all parts of the globe. There are some weighty questions suggested to our minds by the careful perusal of this work: and we are anxious to investigate the avowed principles, and evidently much honoured practice of Mr. Müller, with great care and diligence, because there is one feature in this Report which, if it can be established upon true Bible authority, illustration, and grade should be called upon more fully to evidence, is one which Christians of every consider. But we have not room this month to enter upon the enquiry. We hope to do so in October.

We may add, that the subjects and suggestions above refered to, led us very recently to preach some sermons from those good words of our Master: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit," &c. These sermons are to be printed, if sufficient means are found, under the following title:tween Lifeless and Living Branches, with a "The Best Investment :-A Comparison bedescription of the Fruit produced by the Saving Grace of God." The substance of Three Sermons, by Charles Waters Banks.