no chaff; and the chaff is of essential service to the wheat, during its existence in the field, in its progress to maturity, and until it be taken into the garner. Error and truth grow in the same world; the true christian and the mere professor dwell together, and as far as profession goes, may be the same, and may be produced by the same instrumentality: from the sinful state of man ariseth the gospel of mercy; and the same circumstances of the human family give opportunity for the existence of error. If there had been no occasion for true prophets, there would have been no false prophets, as in the context; if there was not a true Christ, there would be no false Christs; if there were no true christains, there would be no hypocrites; the existence of the counterfeit is an intimation that there is genuine coin, for the existence of the good coin gives opportunity for the existence of base metals; remove the true church, and the false one would not long have an existence. But, "what is the chaff to the wheat, saith the Lord?"

As the chaff, according to the created nature of things, is of important service to the wheat, so there are many things ordained to be of great utility to the church, during its present state, which are but as chaff. The world itself is as chaff containing the precious grain, the church of God; and as the wheat is enveloped by the chaff, and cometh out of the chaff, so the redeemed family is found in, and is brought out of the world; and as the corn is not made for the chaff, but the chaff for the corn, so the church is not made for the world, but the world for the church. The professing world have been of service to the church, as the scaffolding of a building during its erection; but "what is the chaff to the wheat?" it is soon done with. Even the profane, through the overruling power of God, have sometimes served the gospel; and error itself has been rendered subservient to the furtherance of the truth; the ravens fed the prophet; and we are told, Rev. xii. 16. " the earth helped the woman." We would appreciate all temporal blessings, and receive with gratitude our portion of them; they are essential to our being in this state; but what are they compared with spiritual and eternal things! they perish with the using! And what shall it profit if the world be gained, and the soul be lost? then "what is the chaff to the wheat? The fleshly tabernacles we occupy, as now constituted, are but as chaff, viewed in connection with its immortal tenant. The letter of scripture is of great importance, but it is no more than the chaff to the wheat," for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." And how many there are who have only the chaff which they idolize, who care nothing about the essential word, the precious grain contained within the chaff. But "what is the chaff to the wheat, saith the Lord ?"

The period arrives when there is no more use for the chaff, and then the separation takes place; the chaff is driven away with the wind, or burnt up, while the wheat is preserved for the purposes of the owner. The unregenerated of every class and name, whether

religious or irreligious, together with error of every description, and all the glory of man, shall be as the chaff, that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney," Hos. xiii. 3. "Let them grow together till the harvest," saith our Lord," whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into his garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire:" yea, the great globe itself shall be destroyed," for the day of the Lord will come, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burned up.". But as to the wheat, every grain shall be preserved; not one member of the body of Christ wanting; not an atom of truth, or a particle of the church's glory deficient, all preserved from the general conflagration and the storm, when God shall arise terribly to shake the earth.

Stortford,

J. G.-V. D. M.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

On Tuesday, October 7th, Mr. MEAKINS was publicly set apart as Pastor of the particular Baptist Church, meeting in Chapel Court, St. Edmond's, Northampton. The service was introduced by reading the scriptures and prayer. Mr. L. T. ABINGDON, of Ringstead, stated the nature of a gospel church. Mr. J. WHITTEMORE, of Rushden, proposed the usual questions, and received Mr. MEAKIN's confession of faith: the ordination prayer was offered by Mr. ABINGDON: after which Mr. J. TRIMMING, of Tothlingborough, delivered the charge to the Pastor, founded on 2 Tim. ii. 15. The service having been protracted to a late hour, the remainder was adjourned till the evening; when, after reading and prayer by Mr. J. WOOLSTON, of Keysoe, Mr. J. WHITTEMORE preached to the people from 1 Tim. iii. 15. The solemn and interesting services of the day were concluded by the members and ministers present partaking together of the Lord's supper.

On Tuesday, September 30th, 1834, Mr. JOHN WOOLSTON was ordained co-Pastor with brother FARLEY, (who has been long afflicted with Paralysis) over the Particular Baptist Church at Keysoe Row, Beds. Mr. L. T. ABINGDON, of Ringstead, after introducing the service by reading the scriptures and prayer, stated the nature of a gospel church, and proposed the usual questions. Mr. J. TRIMMING, of Tothlingborough, offered the ordination prayer; after which Mr. J. WHITTEMORE (Mr. W.'s Pastor) delivered the charge to the minister from Colossians iv. 17.; and Mr. G. MURRELL, of St. Neots, addressed the church from Hebrews xiii. 7. In the evening, Mr. TRIMMING preached from Acts viii. 8.

The congregations were exceedingly good; and all the services deeply solemn and interesting.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

Just published, "Practical Holiness, the Ornament of Christianity." By the Rev. JOHN FLAVEL.

Treatise on Divine Wisdom Exemplified. By ROBERT ASLIN.

CHOICE EXTRACTS FROM ANCIENT AUTHORS.

PERSEVERANCE INCLUDED IN THE COVENANT.

Extracted from a little volume wanting the title-page, and otherwise imperfect, which has been lent to the Editor. It appears to have been printed in the time of the Commonwealth.

"I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me."-Jer. xxxii. 40.

THE perseverance of the saints, is founded on the election of God, and the immutability of his counsel; the foundation of the Lord standeth sure. Rom. viii. 38. "Whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified." This golden chain will hold, not a link of it shall be broken; on whomsoever the first link, election, hath taken hold, it will infallibly bring him to the last, glory; God is not as man, that he should repent. But not to wade further into this deep, our business lies in the promise of God. There are two sorts of promises concerning perseverance; there are promises To perseverance, and or perseverance.

1. The promise of eternal life is made to perseverance. Hold out to the end, and be saved, overcome and reign. "Be faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life," Rev. ii. 10.: “ If thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever," 1 Chron. xxviii. 9.; " If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." Christians, beware of apostacy, beware of presumption; pass the time of your sojourning here in fear; let it not be said of you, ye (did) run well: he runs well, that gives not off, that sits not down on this side the goal. "So run that ye may obtain."

2. There are promises of perseverance. The covenant of God is an everlasting covenant. "He hath commanded his covenant for ever," Ps. iii. 5.

There are two things in the fore-mentioned scripture, Jer. xxxii. 40. secured to believers, which secure their perseverance.

1. God will

not depart from them. 2. They shall not depart from him.

1. God will not depart from them. "I will not turn away from them." God is with me, but I fear I shall provoke him away; I shall weary him out by my sins, and drive him from me; no, saith the Lord, 66 I will not turn away from them, to do them good." I I will never fail thee nor forsake thee.

2. They shall not depart from him. It is true the Lord will be with me, but it is only while I am with him; if I depart, he will depart if I forsake him, he will cast me off for ever. Here's my great fear, that I shall turn away from him; there is in me an evil heart of unbelief, that's ever departing from the living God. Oh this false and fickle heart, I dare not trust it for a day, I dare not undertake for it for an hour; I doubt it will be gone ere I am aware; my corruptions are strong, my temptations are many, every day brings its temptations; and I am in great fear that by one means or other, one day or other, I shall fall before them, and depart from the living VOL. X.-No. 128.] 2 X

God! No, says God, fear not, thou shalt not depart; "I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me;" they shall be kept by my almighty power, through faith unto salvation. My grace shall be with them, and my grace shall be sufficient for them, and shall preserve them to my heavenly kingdom.

::

And here is the saints' security: the Lord God will not turn away from them, nor ever suffer them to run away from him. If the promise fail, then may their faith also fail. It is true, there may be gradual declinings and departures of the saints from Christ for a season, but total or final there shall not be they shall not be of them that draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Though they fall, they shall rise again; they may turn, but they shall return; as hypocrites will not stay (with) Christ always, so neither will saints always stay from him. And there is a like reason of both sinners sometimes will step aside, and salute religion, and take some turns with Christ; but after a while away they must again and there is a double reason of it,

1. There is that within them 2. There is one without them

}

that will fetch them back.

1. There is that within them that will fetch them back. Corrupt nature, the power of unmortified lust, this is it that bears the sway in their hearts; and however for the time, the stream may be somewhat turned out of its course, or bayed up; however by the impetus of some external motives or arguments, or the impulses of an awakened conscience, or some sudden heat of affection, they are carried on after, and in some fair compliance with the Lord Jesus: yet when the bay is removed, when the external force is spent, conscience laid to sleep, the heat of affection allayed, which is often almost as soon uot as in, their very natures will reduce and bring them back to their old course. What is it that pulls a stone or a lump of clay down again that is thrown into the air? Why, when the vis impressa, by which they are forced up, is spent, their natures, their innate gravities will bring them down to their place. Sinners need no other weight to pull them down to this earth than their earthly hearts.

2. There is one without them that will fetch them back. Satan, the god of this world, whose they are, and whom they serve: who, though he indulge them so much liberty for their religion, as is consistent with their captive state, and may possibly secure them the more under his dominion, (hypocrites are often the faster to Satan, for being so near to Christ); the very religion they have, is but the devil's snare, by which he holds them back from religion; yet, lest by venturing them too far, they should be lost to him at last, he that first tempted them so near to Christ, (hypocrites are often beholden to the devil for the religion they have) will quickly tempt them back again.

And so on the other side, there are the like reasons why saints cannot always wander, or stay away from Christ.

1. There is that within them, which will bring them back. The grace of God within them will bring them home. The grace of

God is now their nature. Sinners whilst walking with Christ, and saints whilst wandering from Christ, are both under a force; they are carried against the stream; when the winds are down that carried them on, they will return to their course. The grace of God is the seed of God; he that is born of God, sinneth not; (that is, not unto death) the seed of God remaineth in him. The seed of God is immortal seed; it may languish, and be ready to die, but it shall not die, it shall recover.

2. There is one above them that will bring them back. Though he suffer them for a time to wander from the way, yet he will not suffer them to perish from the way. "Of those whom thou hast given me, I have lost none." He hath lost none, and he will lose none; he sends a word of command after them, "Return, O backsliding children, for I am married to you," Jer. iii. 14. Whither are you running? Whom are you following after? come back from your lovers, return to your husband, I am married to you, and we may not part.

After the word of command, he sends a word of promise, (ver. 22), "I will heal your backslidings." Return from your backslidings, and I will heal them; I will forgive your backslidings, and I will cure you of your backsliding heart. All the breaches they have made shall be made up; I will pass by all that you have done, and be reconciled to you. If you will return, return, and I will receive you; and this word of promise is a word of power. "I will bring you to Zion: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband," Hosea ii. "Behold we come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God," Jer. iii. 22. He that will not leave his Israel after the flesh, with their idols, much less will he leave his Israel after the Spirit. Being confident of this very thing, that he that hath begun a good work, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ," Phil. i. 6.

A good work may be said to be begun in a double sense.

1. When there is some good thing a doing or when something is done towards it; when it is in fieri. When the Lord hath been ploughing up the fallow ground, making his batteries against the strong hold, shaking secure hearts, breaking false hopes, awakening consciences, convincing sinners, spreading sin and death and hell before them, entering upon a treaty with them, and persuading them over to Christ, to make an escape. There may be hopes in this; the pain of travail give hopes of a birth; but this may go back, and after the highest hopes, prove an abortion. Sinners, awakened sinners, beware you make not a stand at the threshhold; beware that your ploughed ground be not left to lie fallow; beware that the womb prove not the grave of all your hopes; mistake not conviction for conversion; make on, let not your God nor your souls lose the things which have been wrought.

2. When there is some good thing done. When it is in facto When the rubbish is removed, and the first stone is laid; when the plough hath been going, and the good seed is sown; when

esse.