5 Experience and Practice. GLEANINGS FROM A SERMON BY LORD his own, Christ will never lose. "None TEYNHAM. IF you do not feel that you are lost, I despair of your embracing Christ. FAITH MUST NOT BE SUBSTITUTED FOR THE WORK OF CHRIST.-A believer is saved, not by the name he acquires by believing, but by the name on which he believes. "To Jesus give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins:" Acts I. 43. The security and peace of believers are not founded on the name they have acquired through the fruitfulness of their faith, but on the name in which they believe; and if you are at any time perplexed about your faith, take the name of Jesus, glory in it, say "I know in whom I have believed," and your peace, if it has been disturbed, will be restored. THE GROUND OF A SINNER'S ACCEPTANCE. The salvation of sinners who come to Christ depends not on what they may have been, but wholly and solely on the power of His intercession. Could they be rejected, their rejection would be accompanied by the rejection of their priest, were it possible. But it is certain that God always hears him by whom we come to God. BELIEVERS ARE PURCHASED BY CHRIST, AND CANNOT, THEREFORE, PERISH. It is said, "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace:" Eph. i. 7. Superadded, then, to the riches of God's grace are the riches of Christ's blood. It is the redemption price; and so it is said, "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ:" 1 Pet. i. 18, 19. "Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price:" 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. He that cometh to God by the blood of Christ is the purchase of Christ, and shall pluck them out of my hand. My Father, who gave them me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand:" John x. 28, 29. If any one who came to Christ to be justified by his righteousness were condemned, I ask, could you ever praise God again? If even the chief of sinners, casting off all his filthy rags, and desiring to be found in him who was "the holy one of God" were condemned, could you praise God again? No. Isay that God is just, because he justifieth him who believeth on Jesus. But if he replied to such an one, "I impute righteousness to you, without works, in the name of my Son," the song would at once burst forth "worthy the Lamb." There is nothing in time or eternity to disturb the peace of him who is found in Jesus. His salvation is as certain as that God is God; as that Christ was delivered for our offences, and "raised again for our justification," (Rom. iv. 25) as that God is gracious and the gospel preaches peace by Jesus Christ: Acts x. 36. BEWARE OF THINKING YOUR OWN THOUGHTS, AND SPEAKING YOUR OWN WORDS ABOUT YOUR SOULS.-I am sure of this, that I meet with many brethren who fall into a state of uncertainty about their souls, by allowing themselves to speak at hazard about them; to speak words which are not the fruit of faith. And I would say that it must be at the peril of our peace if we think and talk about them, except as we are guided by God's word. Having boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith:" Heb. x. 19-22. Let us go to God in secret in the name of Jesus, and then, and not till then, when you have received words from God, take them. He will not reject his own words. From a Sermon preached at Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Aug. 3, 1845. ON SCANDALS. From an Aged Minister-the late Andrew Fuller-to a Young one. MY DEAR YOUNG FRIEND, You have lately put on the harness of the christian ministry. Permit one who is not far from putting it off to address to you a few serious and affectionate counsels, relative to the purity of your conduct. The number of scandals which have of late appeared among the professed servants of Jesus Christ, is very affecting. I do not suppose, indeed, that they have occurred in a larger proportion amongst ministers than amongst other professors of christianity, and still less than among the men of the world, who make no serious pretence to religion. But, as more is expected of christians than of other men, and of ministers than of ordinary christians, more account is made of their misconduct. It is of scandals our Saviour speaks, when he says, "Woe unto the world because of offences! It must needs be that offences come; but woe unto that man by whom the offence cometh!" Matt. xviii. 7. If you examine, you will find the offence does not refer to any thing done by the world, but by the professed friends of Christ; and that, not in the way of provoking displeasure, but of giving the world an occasion to stumble or to be offended with true religion. The word is skandalon, and denotes a scandal or reproach brought on the name and cause of Christ by the misconduct of his professed followers; furnishing a handle to the world to continue in sin, and to reject the gospel. The world are supposed to be seeking occasion to justify themselves, and in the scandals among christians they find what they seek; and so go on to stumble, and fall, and perish. It is in this way that scandals among christians bring a woe upon the world. Some who have been the subjects of strong convictions hereby lose them; and others that were hardened have become still more hardened. But, if there be a woe upon the world by reason of scandals, there is | a still heavier woe on that man by whom the scandal cometh! The reason manifestly is, that he incurs the blood of souls. The world, stumbling at these things, may perish; but if we be the occasion of it, their blood will be required at our hands! Bear with me, my dear young friend, while I caution you against a few of the avenues which lead to these things. A minister must be supposed, of course, to possess the respect, the esteem, and confidence of his people. Whether it be with persons of superior or inferior condition in life of his own, or of the other sex-he is admitted to a considerable degree of intimacy with them. If he be called to the ministry from the humbler walks of life, let him beware, or this will prove a snare to his soul! Finding himself raised in the scale of society, he may be lifted up with an idea that if he had not been an extraordinary man, he would not have been selected and exalted to what he is. Finding himself admitted to the company and acquaintance of females of respectability, who, but for his being in the ministry, would not have noticed him, he is in danger, not only in the absence of personal religion, but for want of a proper knowledge of himself and of the world, of being betrayed into many improprieties of behaviour. Besides this, whatever may have been his previous station in life, a minister's duty requires him to converse with young people, of both sexes, amongst the lower and the higher orders of society. In such conversations, the greatest confidence will be placed in his character, for purity and honor; nor may this confidence be at first misplaced. But if his conversations with the other sex be private and frequent, let him beware! Or, if he be unguarded, let them beware of him! The apostle Paul, in addressing a young minister, whom he accounted, and accounted truly, man of God," did not think it unnecessary to direct him to treat the younger sisters with all purity: 1 Tim. v. 2. It was a rule with the great and good John Bunyan to avoid, as much as possible, being alone with one of the other sexshunning, not only evil, but "the appearance of evil." 66 Next to being "in the fear of the Lord all the day long," the best preserv ative against such evils, is a diligent application to reading and study. It was in an idle hour, that David was drawn aside; and of those ministers who have in this way brought dishonor on the cause of Christ, I suspect the greater part will be found to have been idlers!-men who would spend the whole week in visiting, and that, not as Paul did, who taught from house, but sauntering away their time, in eating, and drinking, and trifling conversation. I have heard it said that all ministers have not a talent for study; but if so, they ought to relinquish the ministry, and engage in some useful employment. LATE ATTENDANCE ON PUBLIC WOR- EVERY one acquainted with places of worship either in London or the country, must have observed that a large number of those who attend them seldom and the benefits of an early attendance upon public worship, and that the Baptist Tract Society might publish it cheap for distribution in our churches, which might prove useful in making our congregations like that in Acts x. 33, so that they might say, "Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God." The following lines were addressed by a minister to those of his congregation who came late : "A little less indulgence in the bed, A little more contrivance in the head, A CHRISTIAN'S EXPERIENCE. I THANK God, my heavenly Father, take their places until after the service is for his mercy towards me, in that he rebegun; this often causes considerable con-membered me in my low estate, and fusion, disturbing the devotions of those brought me out of nature's darkness, who are in time, to the annoyance and that he convinced me of sin, and led grief of the minister and all others who me to Christ Jesus, who is, I feel, the wish to worship with reverence and way, the truth, and the life, and whose godly fear. It would be well if every blood cleanseth from all sin; I find that person who is not in time to be seated nothing which this vain world affords before the commencement of the ser- could give me hope in the hour of vice, would carefully examine into the death, and that had I been left in my cause. The inquiry cannot do them former state, I must have been lost for any harm; surely it cannot be a matter ever. I was without God, without hope, of indifference whether they are in time in the world; in the gall of bitterness, or not; have they no interest in the in the bonds of iniquity. To my shame prayer or the hymn? or is the sermon like some in old times, while I honoured the only part of the service that is inte- him with my lips, my heart was far resting to them? have they no want to from him, I was dead in sin, professing be supplied? no sin to be pardoned? no but not possessing Christ. My heart blessing to ask from God? It might be was evil continually. But I thank God thought so, as they are not in time to he has made me to differ. Now, though unite in prayer and praise. But is it in the world, I would not be of it, but so? Are these persons careful or care- count it nothing and vanity, that I may less about the progress they make in enjoy the sweetness that springs from divine things? Have they an appetite Christ. My tongue cannot fully desfor spiritual things? I fear not. Would cribe the joys I derive from him, the the hungry man be late where bread fountain of my life. And yet I find was to be given away? or the sick man that in itself the way I have to travel if he expected health and cure? But is a thorny road, that I have foes withmy object in these remarks is not only to arrest the attention of those who attend the house of God late, and induce them to reflect upon the evil of their doings and repent and reform, but that some of our ministering brethren might be induced to write a short address, say of four pages, upon the evils of a late, out and foes within; that my heart is prone to wander; that Satan, the enemy who goes about seeking whom he may devour, tries with his thousands of crafty inventions to persuade me that there is no hope for me in God, that I tarried too long, that I trifled with him too much, that my sins are too great, and that I cannot be saved. But I have found him a liar and a deceiver, and I thank God that though he has tried me he has not left me to myself in the hour of danger, but I have found his grace all-sufficient for me. I adore him for the assurance that where he begins the good work he will carry it on till the end, and though I find that if I enter heaven, it must be through much tribulation, yet looking to him to strengthen me with might by his Spirit in the inner man, and make me to bear all that may be laid upon me, I hope to endure unto the end, in expectation of the reward promised me. And when it shall be his will to take me from the church on earth, may I with all my brethren and sisters in Christ, be found among the jewels of his crown, the members of the church triumphant in heaven. There sin shall be unknown, and his name shall have all the praise. Pentside Chapel, Dover. Nov. 2nd, 1845. AN EXAMPLE OF YOUTHFUL PIETY. desire of the righteous shall be granted." The Lord has heard and answered your prayers. I was at Enon Chapel, Sept. 21, when Mr. Felton, of Deptford, preached from these words, "Christ is all in all." My heavenly Father was pleased to bless these words to my soul. He made me to feel what a sinner I am, how I need his precious blood which cleanseth from all sin, how empty I am, how I need a full Saviour, how weak Í am, and how I need a strong Saviour. I told my mistress and master what I felt. They rejoiced and were glad. I was afraid and trembled, and every bone seemed to shake at such a holy calling. I was much easier in my mind when I told them what I felt, as I could not rest in peace till I had done so. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. On Monday morning I asked the Lord to give me something to feed upon, as I felt how much I needed it, and he was pleased to favour me with these words, which I shall have reason to praise him for all the days of my life, and through eternity:-'I have loved thee before the foundations of the world. I have given myself a ransom for thee. I have redeemed thee. I have set my seal upon thee. I will bless thee, and thou shalt be mine in that day when I make up my jewels;' (O blessed hope and mercy) with other passages which I cannot mention now. Do thank the Lord for what He has done for me. You cannot praise him enough. He has plucked me as a brand from the burning. that I could praise him more. THE writer of the following delightful record is sixteen years of age. Her father is the superintendent of a sabbath-school near London. When she left his house to remove to the other side of London, there was no reason to believe her to be under the power of divine grace, although from infancy she had been of a serious disposition. Soon after that time she became much depressed and agitated in mind, but after-O wards she was so spiritually enlightened and so richly blessed with the love of God shed abroad upon her heart, that she has broken forth in these lively expressions of her experience of divine mercy. Oct. 28, 1845. "Dear Father and Mother, I write this letter to you in tears of rejoicing to tell you of the Lord's goodness to me. He is, I hope, pointing out to me the way of peace and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord; you have often felt much concerned about the welfare of my immortal soul, you have offered many prayers on my behalf, but remember that it is said "the O to grace how great a debtor, Dear father and mother, you have advanced far on your pilgrimage, and know what it is to endure the dark moments of Satan's power, but the Lord does not visit his children with what they are not able to bear. I have felt some of the dark moments of the enemy, and have found it an unspeakable mercy to have a hiding-place in Jesus, a shelter from the storm, a refuge to flee to. Pray that the remainder of my days may be more devoted to Him, and that all I do may be done to His glory. I feel ashamed I have not written a letter to you before worth call who are continually remembered in your fathers' and mothers' prayers, fulfil their joy and your own bliss by seeking with earliest and deepest interest the pardon of your sins, the salvation of your souls. Intreat Jesus thus to manifest himself to you, and make you rejoice in the promises which he has made to those who love him and are called according to his purpose. Repress every other desire, till you have satisfied this, the desire to know that Christ is your Saviour, and to feel his love thrilling your hearts. History. THE UNINSPIRED CHRISTIAN WRITERS bind or loose the conscience, and must OF THE APOSTOLIC AGE. BESIDES the inspired books of the New Testament, there are also uninspired writings which are attributed to christians who lived in the time of the apostles. The former are the writings of "holy men of God," who "spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost:" 2 Pet. i. 21; the latter are the writings of good men, who though they might be richly endued with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, did not receive what they taught from his direct inspiration. The former are the words of God, and he who despises them despises not man but God, who revealed them by his Spirit: (1 Tim. iv. 8.) They command with supreme authority and teach with infallible truth. To embrace them is to be saved, to reject them is to be lost for ever. Between these writings therefore, and those of even the best of men, there is the vast difference which exists between the Creator and the creature, and to place them on a level is to make man equal with God. The value of the very best of such uninspired writings is simply to illustrate the meaning, and call attention to the teaching of those which are inspired. They have in themselves no authority whatever to VOL. III.-NO. XXV. be used only as helps to the study of those which are divine. The uninspired christian writers of the apostolic age, whose works have come down to us, are Clement, of Rome, Ignatius, Polycarp, and perhaps Barnabas, Hermas, and an unknown writer whose epistle to Diognetus, bears some evidence of apostolic antiquity. Some of the writings attributed to them, contain satisfactory evidence, from the purity of the doctrine, the simplicity of the style, and the facts to which they refer, of being on the whole genuine; but others give reason to believe that either they are wholly spurious, or have, to some extent, suffered from interpolation and alteration. They afford, however, many valuable illustrations of the faith and practice of the churches of the apostolic age. The fact that a person lived in the time of the apostles, and had intercourse with one or more of them, is not sufficient in itself to prove that his writings are a correct record of divine truth; for it appears from scripture that many who heard an apostle, fell into error, both of doctrine and practice. The Corinthians both corrupted the Lord's-supper, and some of them denied the resurrection of the dead. Even the apostles themselves C |