A DIVINE EXPERIENCE-A LIVING FAITH-AND A GOSPEL PRACTICE. 151 Job vi. 18, 'The paths of deceitful brethren.' | the loaves than for the word. And Judas followed These paths are such as spring from a his Master's bag, more than his Master. Fourthly, natural talent-and a noisy, empty pro-make a fair shew; hypocrites how green soever they bulrushes or flags yield no fruit at all, they only fession. The great geographer tells you are, what shew or profession soever they make, "There is a river called the Diurnal river, or the yield no fruit of holiness. Fifthly, a bulrush or a day river, because it falls with a mighty current in flag withers sooner than any other herb, that is, than other herbs that are not seated so near the water. the day, and in the night is dry. This may seem to be a fabulous report, but the reason given (which is And this agrees well with the hypocrite, for when direct to the point in hand) makes it not only prob- quickly. He never had any true life, and he will not the hypocrite begins once to wither, he withers able, but very plain; for they tell us, that this river is not fed by a fountain or a spring, but is caused long appear to have any. When one that hath made merely by the melting of the snow, which lies on the a fair profession begins to decay, he decays sooner mountains thereabouts. In the day time, when the than a mere civil man; a civil man will hold out in sun is springing up and warm, the snow melts, but honesty and justice a great while, but a hypocrite when night comes, and the sun goes down, the snow gives over holiness and godliness presently. Besides, freezes and so the channel dries. Thus it is with God blasts and withers an hypocrite sooner than any those who have not an inward principle of holi- other man, because he hath abused and wronged God ness, they may have a great flood of profession, more than any other man." when the snow melts down into their bosoms, by the shine of outward prosperity; but when night and cold, when troubles and dangers come, their waters freeze up, or pass away and go to nothing. So much of the causes, why these streams, these water brooks vanish, they have no spring to maintain and feed them. Rain, and frost, and snow (uncertain all) are all they have to trust to."

There is also the path of the hypocrite. This is compared to a rush: Can the rush grow without mire? can the flag grow without water? Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb. So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish.' Job viii. 11, 12, 13.

"Consider a wicked man or an hypocrite, is like unto a rush; because first, the rush is a very spungy, hollow substance, it is not solid or close-grained an

But coming into Proverbs iv. 10, 11, we read of RIGHT PATHS. These are evangelical repentance; a living faith; a gospel hope; persevering prayer; and so on; of all these it may be said, 'When thou goest thy steps shall not be straitened; when thou runnest thou shalt not stumble.' For evangelical repentance-a living faith-a gospel hope

and persevering prayer, all tend to bring the soul more away from the the straitness of the law into the fulness of the gospel; and from the narrowness of unbelief into the richness of sovereign grace: so that these right paths lead from death to life;

lead from narrowness to fulness; lead from the delusions of the flesh into the eternal realities of the God of heaven.

The third branch of a divine experience hypocrite hath no solidity, we call him a hollow- is this, ' He maketh me to lie down in green hearted man. Secondly, hypocrites are well compared pastures. The green pastures are fields of to rush or a flag, because in windy weather they sit young and tender grass; that is, where the which way soever the wind sits. They take no harm pasture is fresh and good. This denotes the by a storm, because they yield to every turn; let the doctrines of grace, and the living ministers wind blow which way it will, the rush breaks neither of the word. The doctrines of electing love; body nor branch. Let things turn which way they will, hypocrites can shift, and bend, and yield with eternal redemption and justification by them. And therefore when storms arise, which pull Christ, are doctrines that cannot be receivdown and scatter many goodly trees of God's owned so as to become food to the soul, until planting, these rushes continue. Hypocrites keep their standing, because they never stand. A great man being asked how he kept his honour and preferment in so many changes of wind and weather, of times and Princes, answered, By being a willow, and not an oak, He that can sway, seldom breaks. Hypocrites in the Church and State, live by the same principles. Thirdly, the rush and the flag grow only in miry places where they have abundance of water and moisture, which notes a kind of sensuality in them, and therefore they have their names from drinking. So hypocrites seem to be heavenly, but are indeed earthly; they are like the rush, they cannot live without store of water, they are sensual, they must please their appetites and delight their palates. The Apostle describes them so, 'They serve not the Lord Jesus but their own' bellies; they must be supported with the affluence of outward things, else they cannot hold out in a profession. Whereas the godly and true believer can live, when the water is drained or dried away, when outward things fail and are gone. So the Prophet Habakkuk professes, Chapter 3. ult. Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vine, though the fields shall yield no meat, and there be no herd in the stall, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, and will joy in the God of my salvation. A godly man will grow when all the world decays to him: he will rejoice in God when all outward comforts fail him; hypocrites must have sensual supplies, or they are lost. A feigned love of spiritual things is ever joined with a true love of worldly things. Christ speaks of some who followed him more for

the soul is blessedly led by the Spirit into them. We kick against them; we are opposed to them until the Spirit shews us that in no other way can we be saved; and when we clearly see that unless chosen in Christ, redeemed by Christ, truly called into fellowship with Christ, we cannot be saved, then-then, our anxiety begins; deep concern begins; knocking loud and long at mercy's door begins; we ask for the old paths and desire to walk therein; and when we taste the Father's love, or are drawn by it; when faith in the atonement takes away our guilt; and when the blessed Spirit whispers peace, then we lie down satisfied and pleased. So with a living ministry. Bring a poor dead professor under a living ministry-why, the poor thing is as unhappy as it can be; but let God the Holy Ghost bring a living soul under a living ministry, and then it can lie down, and there it will find rest.

These

The fourth branch of a divine experience, is to be led beside the still waters. are the waters of quietness: resignation to the will of God, patience under the chastening hand of God. How sweet it is to lie down beside the still waters; as Abraham

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THE LORD'S PEOPLE AMONG THE WESLEYANS.

did when going up to Mount Moriah

THE

My son, God will provide himself a lamb

·

for a burnt affering so they went both of them Lord's People among the Wesleyans. together.' This is Abraham beside the still waters. Look at poor old Eli, when Samuel told him every whit, he said, 'It is the Lord let him do as seemeth him good.' Look at David when Shemei cursed him,' Let him curse, for the Lord hath bidden him.' Look at Micah, 'I will bear the indignation of the Lord; because I have sinned against him.' Look at Christ, 'Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.' Look at Paul, I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content.' Beside these still waters, the living soul is sometimes led; and very blessed it is there to exclaim Although my house be not so with God, yet hath he made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure; and this is all my salvation and all my desire.' And out of these and other branches of a divine experience there doth arise, first, a holy confidence and reliance in the Lord; and a solemn determination to abide in his house for ever.

MR. EDITOR :-A correspondent on the
wrapper of last month's Vessel, expressed a
wish that some brother would state his
views, as to the probability of there being
many sincere and gracious characters
among the Wesleyans. This, I believe is a
subject which often occupies the minds of
God's ministering servants, especially
when they come in contact with, or are
providentially placed among members of
the above connection. Many of our Cal-
vinistic brethren have not had opportuni-
ties of personal acquaintance with them,
consequently their judgment of them is
founded upon what they have heard others
say of them, and what is deducible from
their writings. To judge righteous judg
ment concerning any one's profession of
Christianity, it is not enough that we
ascertain what tenets they hold; we must
see how they live, and what influence their
their hearts have been touched by the
doctrines have upon their actions? Whether
finger of God, inducing contrition of soul,
and a solemn sense of having to deal with
God, who is a Spirit, and will be worship-
ped in Spirit and in truth. God, in the
late fixed my lot where I have necessarily
course of his all-wise providence, has of
had many interviews with ministers and
members of the Wesleyan connection, and
of truth in Suffolk, that there are many
it is my humble opinion, with a minister
sincere and gracious characters in the
Wesleyan connection, who know what it is
to have passed from death unto life,-who
rejoice in Christ Jesus, having no confi-
dence in the flesh,-and whose life and
conversation adorn the doctrine of God
their Saviour in all things;-who are no
believers in the merit of works,-but who,
if conversed with, attest the fact of their
the free grace of God in Christ Jesus our
full belief in justification and salvation by
Lord.
How then can such sit and hear free-will
Here I anticipate an objection-
preached?" I answer, first, free-will is not
always preached; and often, when it is,
not in the sense many of us understand it.
Secondly, there are many gracious truths,
delivered in their pulpits-truths which
are the support and joy of a believing soul;
and, amid all their jarring contradictions,
free grace will often lift up its head, and
God has all the glory. I cannot but believe
a soul may be the subject of saving illumi-
nation, humble before God, and in a mea-
sure taught of him, who yet, as to many
great and glorious doctrines, is compari-
tively in the dark. A sound creed may be
in the head, where there is no grace in the
heart; so, on the other hand, grace, rich,
free grace may be in the heart of one who
has imbibed many unsound and pernicious
doctrines;-those doctrines may be in the
head, but grace being in the heart, and the

THE LORD'S PEOPLE AMONG THE WESLEYANS.

153

Since I have been in this island I have been wretchedly deceived and ill used by some Wesleyans; but from others I have received nothing but kindness and Christian benevolence. Some I have heard relate such wonderful things by way of experience, and with such pomposity have they expressed themselves, that it has thrown suspicion upon it as being nothing but the work of the flesh; on the other hand I have heard some relate their ex

commended itself to my conscience as the genuine work of the Spirit. I may surmise objections; but their experience, their aim, their hope, their practice, is decidedly that of the christian; they are living in hope; looking by faith for the mercy of God unto eternal life. Doubtless there are numbers of deceived characters among them; pride and presumption, with a deep rooted enmity to God's sovereign truth generally reigns among them.

heart being the seat of true religion, the man is necessarily actuated by the grace of God, which outshines, yea, often combats and overthrows the false notions in his head. Such an one in his prayers and dealings with God, declares in the language of the apostle, By the grace of God, I am what I am, and to grace be all the glory.' Will any one say, such a character, because he does not in word, (I say, in word, because many deny in so many words the doctrine of election, whose very conversa-perience in such a simple way that it has tion, experience, &c., attest its truth,) believe the doctrine of election, is not a gracious character? I cannot say so; and those who dare, I presume, have more arrogance than Scripture knowledge. It is the height of presumption thus to judge and pronounce sentence. We know not to what extent grace in the heart may be associated with false and unscriptural notions in the head. When we see Toplady defending the Church of England,-Whitfield, Berridge, &c., pleading in favour of Infant I was preaching in the Bethel, in this Sprinkling, Watts invalidating the glo- island, some short time ago, when I was rious doctrine of a Trinity of Persons in the contradicted, or opposed by one audacious Unity of the Essence, we see ample ground gentleman of the free-will garb, whom I for charity and forbearance towards each afterwards ascertained to be a Primitive other. It is my firm belief the Lord blesses Methodist preacher. Him and his comrade truth wherever it is spoken, though there came, I suppose, to hear what a poor Bapbe no more of it than the light of a dim tist would say. I was upon the words, candle. In the infant church at Corinth, was' Speaking the truth in love;' shewing a certain Jew, named Apollos, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures; this man was instructed in the way of the Lord (in part) and being fervent, he spake and taught the things of the Lord. And what was the sum total of his teaching? Why, merely the baptism of John; his converts knew not so much as whether there was any Holy Ghost. His was a defective ministry truly; and yet it was blessed by God to the gathering in of many; for it is said, 'He mightily convinced the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.' God was with him; and in so far as he preached truth, the Lord made that truth powerful to the pulling down of the strong holds of sin and satan. So, in like manner, I believe God has blessed the different sections of professing churches; they may be deficient of the knowledge and enjoyment of many truths; still, God is making them instrumental in bringing sinners from the power of darkness into the kingdom of his dear Son; and many who have been first wrought upon by the Spirit under their ministry, have ultimately become ornaments of our Particular Baptist Churches; God does not bless error; he cannot bless false doctrines; but the TRUTH, and there is some truth mixed with them; this God does bless; and we cannot deny it; we may quibble upon the point, but let us beware of rash conclusions? All (says Thomas Hardy) who are mixed up with bodies are not of them. The Lord only knows them that are his.' For my part I have found many in the Wesleyan connection, the sincerity and reality of whose religion I could no more doubt than I could William Gadsby's.

truth in contradiction from error, which made some of them twinge to the backbone; at last he could bear it no longer; so exclaimed, 'I don't believe it.' At once all eyes in the chapel were upon him. I felt prepared to ask him why he did not believe it? The poor man dropped down his head, placed his fingers in his ears, and breathed out, 'Lord have mercy upon that man.' My brother Lucas (who has for many years been labouring in this island) was present at the occasion. I mention this circumstance as one instance out of a thousand of the natural enmity of many of their hearts to the truth of God; and wherever this enmity exists and reigns, it is a sure sign of an unhumbled, unregenerate heart! But I have conversed with many who have been afraid to speak evil of what they did not rightly understand. The Watchman on the Walls' was once in company with an uncle of mine, in Bedford, who had been a Methodist all his life, and a class-leader twenty years; the Watchman put some questions to him, with reference to his hope of eternal life, which he answered to his satisfaction. The Watchman afterwards told me he believed he was upon the Rock of free grace. And may we not conclude there are many unknown to us, whose hearts are in union with the Lord Jesus Christ; and when Christ, who is the life of his people, shall appear, they shall also appear with him in glory.

THOMAS SMITH.

St. Helier's, Jersey, June 11, 1849.

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A REVELATION OF HEAVENLY GLORY.

A Revelation of Heavenly Glory,

AS REALISED IN THE DEATH OF

to pray but feared she never did properly, she had been tempted again and again to MRS. ELIZABETH WOODS OF CAMBRIDGE. give it up, but she could not, it would come often fresh into her mind until at times Mrs. Elizabeth Woods late of Cambridge, she hardly knew where she was or what was a poor, tried, tempted, buffetted child she was about. But (said Mr. P.) have you of God, for a period of full four years the never had a little glimpse of light and hope good Lord had wrought in her soul, before granted to you? She said, "the first beam a full and free declaration of it was made of comfort that gave me a little lift by the known to herself, or to her dear friends, way was the last sermon you preached in although her love to the house was clearly that chapel, which was Lord's day evening, evidenced to the utmost of her ability and January 21, 1844, from Psalm lxxxix. 17. strength. Some months before her decease, I then felt a hope I should be saved, but it the Lord visited her with affliction which did not last long, and I have feared many lasted some time: during her remaining in times it was a delusion, and your leaving that furnace her concern of soul was evi-us distressed me sadly, I thought all was dently great, but her mind being exceed-over with me, and after all I should be lost; ingly busy, her distress was by no means twice since then you know I came to Ipssmall, and what added to her suffering wich to see and hear you, once I stayed a was she could not open her mind; bondage fortnight to tell you my state of soul, but of spirit, a fear of hypocrisy, and the bur- I was so shut up 1 could not tell you half den of her sins, with a fear they never my feelings, so I returned home almost as could be pardoned, because she could not be- miserable as when I came, but this is the lieve the great Redeemer would or could time, and this the place seemingly for me have died for so wretched a sinner as she to tell you; O that he would manifest felt herself to be; these things filled her himself to me as my dear Saviour. I do not unhappy mind, without almost any inter- care about my sufferings if he would but mission for four years. Her dear husband come; but I am so unworthy a wretch, I observing her distress, became distressed fear he never will; her friend Mr. P. told himself, and to the utmost of his power her he had no doubt upon that point whattried to relieve her mind, by reading with, ever, come he would to magnify the riches and praying for her, but still darkness re- of his grace, to possess his own purchased mained. It pleased the Lord to raise her property, to disappoint Satan, to the answer up again; for a short time she kept about; of her faith and prayer, and to the joy of but a relapse took place which baffled all our hearts. medical skill; evidently to all around her, she was not long for this world. Still her anxious mind was dark and distressed, and the enemy tempting her sore; her dear partner, and his two brothers, and sister who are dear children of God constantly attended her-offering up prayer,-reading the word of God, and trying to administer all the comfort they could, still but little comfort could she find, her longed-for Saviour did not appear. She now expressed a desire to see the minister she used to sit under, who was Mr. Poock (now in Ipswich,) he was sent for; as soon as possible he arrived, when she saw him enter the room she seemed disposed to bless and praise the Lord for his safe arrival; this was Monday, the 9th of April; she soon asked him to read and pray for her, remarking that she hoped the Lord would now be pleased to hear and manifest himself to her if she was one of his, but the devil told her she was not. Mr. P. read the 23rd Psalm, she requested it to be read again, she replied, "that is a precious Psalm, I shan't forget it;" after prayer she expressed amen with thanks. Mr. P. asked her to tell him how long she had felt a prayerful concern for the salvation of her poor soul? she replied, ever since you preached the last baptising sermon in Eden Chapel, from Deut. xxvi. 17, in September 28th, 1843. Before then I used to go and come, but never felt myself a poor, lost, wretched sinner, needing to be baptised in the blood and death of the Lord Jesus Christ:"-from then she knew she deserved to be sent to hell; she had tried

The next day her medical attendants informed us of her dangerous situation, declaring the impossibility of her remaining here many days. Mr. P. disclosed this to her, at first hearing of it she paused a moment or two, then said, "Blessed Lord Jesus, O Jesus, come and take me to glory, do." Enquired for her little daughter, (six years old,) told her to read her the 23rd Psalm, and also to read it twice, declaring it was a precious one to her soul; also Isaiah xliii. Psalm xxxix. and others, were read at different times, the which the Lord was pleased to bless; her pain of body was great, she appeared going fast, her family and friends were called in to say farewell, and to witness the close of this solemn scene; but she revived and said,

66

not yet, my Lord has more to do yet;" the night was a very painful one, her eldest daughter continued stedfastly and affectionately waiting upon her; she grew weaker and weaker, but her mind became more easy and tranquil; she was anxious to sit up, she did, and truly blessed it was to hear her,confidence in Jesus grew strong, the world and every thing else appeared to have no place in her thoughts; the 63d Hymn of John Kents was a great favorite with her, her soul seemed filled with gratitude and praise, she wept and took the hands of Mr. P. and said, "O my dear minister, you have been made a blessing to my soul, the Lord reward you for all your kindness, and make you a blessing to many more, do remain with me till I am gone." The night of the 12th was to

A REVELATION OF HEAVENLY GLORY.