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friend of mine and a fellow labourer with whom I often took sweet counsel, became a Baptist. This was a great cross to me. I often had conversations with him, but was not convinced. In the year 1859, I first witnessed the ordinance of believers' baptism as administered by the late Mr James Allen, Baptist missionary in Colombo, who brought such convincing proofs from Scripture that I was struck down like a bird, and could not escape. On coming out, a friend advised me to consult Mr. Blake, the Wesleyan minister, who would have as good proofs for infant sprinkling. I did so, but found to my astonishment, that instead of proving this, he went on to show from the Greek, Dutch, Portuguese, and Singalese languages that the only mode is dipping, and the only right subjects believers. I went home convinced, but still not willing to act on my convictions till I heard that Mr. Blake himself had been baptized; and so at length I was baptized by Mr. Allen in this very chapel in July, 1859. I now thought if I could devote myself wholly to the service of Christ it would be my greatest blessing; but my close occupation as a printer prevented. At length God answered my prayer. Having heard of the Strict Baptist Mission in England, I made my application to its Secretary through Mr. VanGeyzel, and receiving a favourable reply, I commenced my probationary labours on the 1st of February of last year. And now before God and this whole company, I make my solemn avowal by his grace to preach only Christ and him crucified, to uphold only the doctrines contained in the word of God. My heart's desire is that you will pray for me that through my mouth God's message may be proclaimed, and ignorant perishing sinners in this country be brought to Jesus, as their only Saviour; that he may see in them the travail of his soul, and may be satisfied. Amen."

Mr. James Silva then proceeded to give a solemn charge to the Missionary, concluding by banding him a Bible, and while they were both holding it, putting these questions:

"Dear Brother, will you be faithful unto God to the end?"

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Whereupon Mr. Silva said, "Dear Brother, accept this Bible to go and preach Christ and him crucified from this time forth; and he who has said, “Go and preach the gospel to every creature, baptizing them," &c., will be with you to the end, according to his promise. Let this Bible ever keep you in remembrance of this night's solemn meeting, and of the vows you have publicly made before God and this congregation. The Lord bless you and keep you, and at last may you obtain the approving sentence from your Master and Judge,-" Well done, good and faithful servant; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

Mr. Pigott then offered a very earnest ordination prayer, and Mr. Waldock addressed the congregation. After the benediction, the meeting separated, all expres. sing the feeling that it was a most impressive service.

It ought to be mentioned that two esteemed brethren from Madras, Mr. H. F. Doll and Mr. Wilson, both pastors of Strict Baptist churches, were expected to be present at this meeting, but were, to the regret of all, unavoidably prevented from coming.

P.S.-An account of the first Annual Meeting of the Colombo Auxiliary, and also of Mr. Andriesz's first baptizing service will be given next month.

SHADWELL.

MR. STEED is working here amid great disadvantages with pleasing signs of success. The annual gathering on Easter Tuesday was cheering, considering all things. Messrs. Wale, Anderson, Alderson, and Myerson, were speakers on the occasion.

LONDON:

JIREH CHAPEL, EAST-ROAD, CITY-ROAD.

JIREH CHAPEL, has been closed for repairs, and special services were held on the reopening, and collections made to meet the expenses incurred. On Lord's-day, March 21st, the pastor preached morning and evening, and Mr. Anderson, of Deptford, in the afternoon; and on Tuesday the 23rd, Mr. Foreman preached in the afternoon, and there was a tea and public meeting at night. The attendance was good, and the addresses by Mr. Crowther, the chairman, and Messrs. Foreman, Hazelton, Anderson, and Griffin, were listened to with deep interest. "Jireh " is all the better for a "clean up," and the youthful pastor is labouring with acceptance and success, May he be very useful and happy.

THE

VOICE OF TRUTH;

OR,

Baptist Record.

66 SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE."

IN ESSENTIALS, UNITY; IN NON-ESSENTIALS, LIBERTY; IN ALL THINGS, CHARITY.

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THAT the story of my wanderings was not continued in last month's Voice of Truth was no fault of mine, but a necessity arising from circumstances over which I had no control; therefore, my readers will excuse the omission, no doubt, when they know there was an excusable reason for it; and, with these few words of explanation, I return to the narrative.

Myself and companions were fully armed, and went forth to do battle with the foe. For some time, however, no foe appeared, for which I was foolishly sorry, not quite relying upon all I had heard from old and experienced men as to the hardships of a soldier's life. I longed for a brush with the enemy to shew my supposed skill. I am ashamed now, of that self-confidence, and could weep over the lightness with which I treated the words of one who said to me, "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. x. 12); and also his other words: "Be not wise in your own conceit ” (Rom. xii. 16). I was wise in my own conceit, and with shame confess it, for it is now quite plain to me that I might have been spared very much suffering had I been wise to take the advice of older and more experienced men. But "Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,” and in my folly I went to the war; so when the foe came, I was caught a wanderer within the enemy's lines, and once more made prisoner.

My prison was an awful pit without water (Zech. ix. 11)-a dreary and doleful place, from which it was impossible to escape without help. My old tormentor, Can-if-ye-will, again found me out, and called to me, saying, "What are you doing there?" "Perishing," I replied. "That's your fault," he said, which I readily admitted, and asked him to help me out, which he said he could not do. I then asked him for a little water to quench my thirst, which he said he would give

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if I would come and fetch it. I protested that I could not, and he protested also that I could if I would, and left me. Soon after he had gone, I heard a voice crying, "Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope" (Zech. ix. 12). This made me cry for help, and I said, "Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink;" for "I sink in the deep mire, when there is no standing; I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me" (Psa. lxix. 2, 14); and my ever-forgiving Master "sent from above; he took me, he drew me out of many waters (Psa. xviii. 16); for there was miry water to sink in, but none to drink of. When I was delivered, I begun to sing, "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings (Psa. xl. 2). This piece of experience cured me of boasting; and from that day to this, I have had a very humble view of my powers. In fact, I do not like to go anywhere, or face any foe, even the weakest, without the presence of the Captain. Yet, by his kind assistance, I have since then run through many a troop, and leapt over many a wall, and have been more than conqueror.

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My most severe conflicts have been, and still are, with a very ancient foe, who is familiarly called Old Adam, and a cunning old fox he is. For a long time I tried to win him over to the side of my Master, and sometimes thought I had succeeded, but then he would again discover his hostility in a new form, and get me into fresh trouble. Then I tried to make him prisoner, and thus prevent him doing mischief; but all these attempts have proved to be vain. I have not been able to find cords strong enough to bind him, or a place wherein to confine him so as to be quite rid of his troublesome conduct. He is constantly breaking loose, and follows me wherever I go; and when I would be doing any good, he tries to hinder it; and if anything bad is suggested to the mind, he is ever ready to help it, and this makes me so wretched that I cannot help crying out, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me ?" (Rom. vii. 24.) Still, thanks be to God, if I have not been able to kill him, he has not been able to kill me; and, through the help of my Captain, and the experience of some years' conflict, I manage to keep him in check, so that he is not quite my master. He is a meddlesome old fellow; I cannot do a thing but he will have a hand in it, and that is very annoying. But I believe some day I shall be quite delivered from all his oppositions; that, however, must be the work of the Master, who shall change his character quite. We are to be parted, I am told; I am to be released from the war, and old Adam is to be imprisoned for a time, for his rebellion, and then, on a given day, he is to be released and when we meet after that, he will be perfectly friendly; not being the same, but a new man altogether, and exactly like my glorious Prince and Captain (Phil. iii. 21). With this prospect in view, I am encouraged to toil on a little longer. Another very formidable enemy is one General World," who commands a large army, spread over many provinces. One section of this army openly avows its enmity to our Prince, and uses all its power against him; but of that power I am not afraid, as it chiefly consists in the publication of libels upon his character, and all his real friends know that they are libels, and believe them not. Of course, the object is to prevent persons joining our army, but that is vain; because, when our Master wants a man out of the ranks of the enemy, he never fails in obtaining him. Another section of this great host appear quite indifferent. They let us alone so long as we let them alone, and it is only when we go among them for recruits that their hostility is aroused; then they are very spiteful. The most dangerous part of this great general's force is that which professes to be friendly to our great Prince. They wear his uniform, and profess great attachment to his person and throne, and some of them boast of their exploits in his service, yet they are his bitter foes. These persons, at least many of them, are more to be pitied than blamed, because they are deceived. Their old general is so crafty that he has succeeded in persuading them that he is on the side of our glorious Master, although he is on the best of terms with old Adam. Here, I say, is great danger, and I have often been almost caught; and caught I should have been, no doubt, but for the voice of my ever kind and loving Captain, who called to me with a loud voice, when he saw me listening to those who were sent to tempt me over, and said,

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"Come out from among them, and be separate" "My kingdom is not of this world" (2 Cor. vi. 17; John xviii. 36). So I have learned that the only danger is in being friendly with these people, for whosoever is friendly with them is at enmity with our King (Jas. iv. 4); and all that their general and they can do is to call hard names; so now I avoid them, and let them say what they please.

After many years in the ranks there was a talk of promotion to office. I confess that I liked the honour, but shrunk from the responsibility; for it is no light thing to hold a commission under so great a prince. In case, however, that he should see fit to give me a charge, I began very seriously to enquire what the duties were, of that office, to which there was a rumour that I should be called, and I found they were many and of the highest importance. I thought I heard my Master say to me, "Go work in my vineyard "(Matt. xx. 4). I at once asked him what the work was, and he told me that I must "dig about the roots and among the barren trees" (Luke xiii. 8), and use the watering-pot in dry seasons, and water drooping plants (Prov. xi. 25; Jer. xxxi. 12; 1 Cor. iii. 6); and I would have to draw all the water out of a certain well (Isa. xii. 3), and that would be hard work, for the well is deep, but never dry. Moreover I would have to sow precious seed (Psa. cxxvi. 5), which would involve the ploughing and breaking-up of the ground (Jer. iv. 3; Hosea x. 11, 12). I found that there was work to be done in the house as well as in the vineyard, such as servants generally have to do, that is to wait on the family. I was told that I would have to see that the children had plenty of milk, and that they had it pure (1 Pet. ii. 2), for it is a thing easily adulterated. Then strong meat would have to be provided for the grown-up members of the household, and served out in suitable portions, medicines also, and cordials would be needed for the sick. I said it was a great undertaking, and enquired if these were all the duties. A voice replied, "No." And so I found that from the house I should have to go to the field and feed the flock, and lead them in green pastures, and beside still waters, and guard them from the lion and the bear, and other wild beasts of the forest. Besides, having been trained as a soldier, I should have to teach others their exercise, and, if need be, lead them out to war, and cheer them on to the battle. Then from the desolations made by the enemy, I found that "there were waste places to be restored," and walls to be built up, so I should have to be a builder, and, perhaps, hold a weapon of war in one hand, and build with the other (Neh. iv. 19). And this was not all; I would have to sound the trumpet also, and be very careful to give it a certain sound, so that those who heard might know what was meant (Neh. iv. 20). I discovered also that I would have to go to sea, to follow the difficult calling of a fisherman, and perhaps spend whole nights and not catch anything, and these nights dark, cold, and stormy. Verily, I thought with myself, it is no light matter to hold a commission under our King, and cried out with more feeling than words can express, "Who is sufficient for these things?" (2 Cor. ii. 16). Then it occurred to me that if men would only think beforehand of what the great Master required, they would not be so very anxious for office under him. Methought, also, that I saw many who professed to hold commissions which could never have been granted by the King; for instead of being servants in the house, they assumed to be lords over it; taking high-sounding titles to themselves and demanding obedience, not to our King, but to themselves. As to the work, I observed that few of them either could or would do it; they would shut the sheep up in a fold which they themselves had built, and leave them to starve instead of feeding them. I have seen them water the plants with muddy water out of the ditch, instead of getting it from the well, and then give only goat's milk to the children, instead of the proper sort. What noise some of these gentlemen made with the trumpet, when they tried to blow, nobody living could tell! And, I have heard say, they do not know themselves; and it is quite clear that they had never been taught in the King's college; to some college no doubt they had been, and had their commissions signed by the heads of the establishment; but I am sure many of them had never been " ΤΟ KING'S." However, on thoroughly considering the duties of a commissioned officer I trembled and wished the thought of such a thing had never entered my head;

but then again and again I thought I head the voice saying, "Go, work in my vineyard," and one day it came so loud that others heard it, and I dared not have gone if they had not, for I could not be sure that it was His Majesty calling. Besides, I have known several who say, they heard him call, and they went, but nobody else ever heard him call them; and they have never done much, and I did not like to be one of such. But nearly a hundred persons declared to me, that they heard the great King's voice saying to me, "Go thou also into the vineyard." I said, "Well, if you all say so, I suppose it must be so; therefore I will go, and do the best I can." And I went; but must ask you to wait a month, or perhaps two, before I tell you how I got on.

(To be continued.)

WANDERER.

THE EVERLASTING SECURITY OF THE SAINTS OF GOD.

"Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words."-Deut. xxxiii. 3.

(Continued from page 107.)

BUT, oh the gifts of God's love, the manifestation of it! Who can tell the greatness of the love of God in its gifts? Here we have the love of God the Son, like the love of the Father, dateless and boundless; the same matchless love in other wondrous forms. His love to his bride is eternal. He loved her with all his heart, as the gift of the Father to himself,-loved her as unfallen,—and the goings-forth of his love were from everlasting. His love appears in his covenant undertakings, his suretyship engagements, as taking into consideration their lapsed state and condition. He loved the people, and assumed their nature. Here was the breaking forth of love Divine under the fall: love in type, love in prediction, love in promise, love itself in human form; heavenly love on earth, love descending, love flying to the rescue, love in obscurity, love in poverty, love unfolded in the most attractive forms. Love in the manger: oh stupendous love! This was love's stoop-the flight of love from the highest heaven to the deepest abyss of suffering and woe. In our precious Christ we do see love indeed. "Herein is love," says John. Where? Why in this: "Not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and gave his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." Here is love giving freely its best-its all: love in the Father in giving Christ, and love in the Son of God in giving himself. Oh what proofs we have in the person and work of Christ of the fact "He loved the people." Love moved him most cheerfully and swiftly to leave the courts of bliss above :

"He came to earth to bleed and die;

Was ever love like this!"

He loved his bride in rags and ruin as much as he loved her before she fell. He loved her, but hated her sins, and came to redeem her and put her sins away. Love moved him to come where she was, in her place, under the law, to become a servant, to become a worm, to become sin, to become a curse; love became poor to enrich her, stripped that she might be clothed, wounded that she might be healed, cursed that she might be blessed, and went into her hell that she might come into his heaven. Love, in the incarnate Lover, toiled; it was the labour of love, the tears of love. Love flowed from his heart through his eyes, love proceeded from his lips in every word; love flowed in streams of precious blood-flowed from every pore of his skin; love moved him to suffer, without the slightest regret, the overwhelming wrath of God in her stead, in the garden; love moved him to take the cup, to drink it to the dregs, to pour out his soul to death, to give his back to the smiters, and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. Oh yes, he loved the people. Yea, he loved them so intensely, he gave himself for them; he

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