forsake his way;" "Let there be light, and there is light." And to set a poor, selfcondemned sinner free to come, God says"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy. He will abundantly pardon." Now, these allday labourers had not forsaken their thoughts; they had forsaken their way, but they had not forsaken their thoughts; they think no better in reality of the householder now than they did before they became his servants; so that while here was an outward change, here was no real heart-change: no; but they went on, supposing that the longer they were at their formalities, the more they should receive; "supposed they should receive more;" so that they did not understand that the reward was of grace; but even undertook to take the householder to task, and charged him with injustice; they murmured against the good man of the house because the last were made equal unto them. They, of course, were for degrees in glorythey had no notion of a dying thief being made equal to a man of long and pious life; and yet they had as much as they agreed upon; they were very humble at first, and agreed for a penny a day-that is, just enough to keep them, so that if their needs were supplied they would be content-this was their first agreement, and therefore the householder answered one of them-I suppose that one was the parson who represented the rest-the householder then answered this one, and said, "Friend, I do thee no wrong, didst not thou agree with me for a penny? take that thine is and go thy way, I will give unto this last even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil because I am good ?" Now, of course, these good-works men would no longer work for such a master as this, for he does not encourage good works, and he does what he will with his own-not what we will, but what he will, giving to every man severally as he will; working all things after the counsel of his will, and having mercy on whom he will, and even hardening whom he will, and is even now vexing us, and provoking us, and so making us murmur against him, making us hate him, hardening us against him by this vexatious doctrine, that it is lawful for him to do what he will with his own; and the prophet Isaiah says, it shall be a vexation only to understand the report; and if it be a vexation to understand how it is lawful to do what he will with his own, what must it be to agree to such a dreadful doctrine? "Lawful to do what he will with his own!" Why it is enough to drive piety and good works out of the world. All the blessed day have we worked, and now these eleventh hour do-nothings are made equal unto us, and in the face of all our wonderful works, tell us it is lawful to do what he will with his own, as though it was not enough to shock our piety to the very centre, to see these one-hour nothings made equal unto us how then can we work for such a master as this? Why to have any love to such a master is quite out of the question; and, indeed, there is hardly any end to the vexation-for after treating us most shamefully, puts to us another most offensive question, a question which insinuates that our eye sight is not exactly clear, that we have diseased eyes, as though he would say to us, "all looks yellow to the jaundiced eye;" and insinuates not only that we have in our eyes a disease called envy, but to make the question the more aggravating, he asks, "Is thine eye evil because I am good?" Good indeed!! to pass by all our good works, and give us only a shabby penny, just enough to live by, and hardly that. Good indeed!! if this is goodness, then no more of such a vineyard for us; no, we will go where our good works will be rewarded; talk, indeed, of this householder having punished Leviathan the piercing serpent, even Leviathan the crooked serpent, and slain the dragon that is in the sea. Talk of singing indeed, of a vineyard of red wine, and that the householder waters it every moment, and lest any hurt it, he keeps it night and day. Who would even go to work in such a vineyard as this, much less sing of it? To see how hard we have worked, and these one-hour nothings made equal to us is not this enough to vex us? We know it is unchristian to be angry; but then we are angry and sin not, because it is right we should be angry against this dreadful doctrine of, "is it not lawful to do what I will with mine own ?" And we are angry also at the most offensive question put to us, "Is thine eye evil because I am good ?" And not only so, but this question was put us in the hearing of these one-hour do nothings. It is true we did out of curiosity just get near enough to them to see what these one-hour do-nothings received, and that gave them this advantage over us, that they heard what was said unto us, and this was to us unfortunate, and rather vexatious; and, no doubt, these one-hour do-nothings will chuckle about it finely, and run away telling about its being lawful for the householder to do what he will; also blab it out that our eye was evil because the householder was good, and thus try to make out that we do not love the laws of truth, whereas it is their dreadful doctrine of "it is lawful to do what he will with his own," or their not liking good works, that we are put out about. It is true, most of these one-hour do-nothings are unlearned and ignorant men, and while we reject their dangerous doctrines, we nevertheless pity their ignorance; but they are not all either ignorant or unlearned, for there are some men among them who are, in all other respects, very sensible, learned, and wellinformed men: these ought to know better than encourage any one to go into such a vineyard, much less to get singing about it. Lawful for me to do what I will with my own. Only think of it, and then to call that an evil eye that cannot see what they call the beauty and excellency of such a doctrine! But, still, most of these one-hour do-next-tonothings are unlearned and ignorant men, and you may soon perceive what vineyard they belong to; they will take care they will not be where there is much to do. No, no. Hence nothing suits them so well as the vineyard where the householder himself waters it every moment, and keeps it night and day. Yes, indeed, they may well sing when every OUR FATHER'S BOOK; OR, thing is done for them, and they get a penny "THE BEST BOOK SETTING ASIDE THE FALSE a day for just nothing." BOOK." But we will leave them and their tyrannical doctrines; we will go into the vineyard let out to husbandmen, where the householder simply LORD STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE once said, gathers out the stones, makes a hedge, and this is what the Bible is fast doing; and it builds a tower, and leaves the husbandmen to is a fact in which we rejoice with gratitude do the rest. It is true, this vineyard let out and great delight. We believe the WORD to husbandmen did of old bring forth wild OF GOD is the instrument, while the Spirit grapes, but that was their fault; we have of God is the essential power, by which the more light than they had, they did not so well kingdoms of darkness will be overturned, and understand the cultivation of the vine; and the ransomed of the Lord brought home to there we shall be rewarded properly, and rise the kingdoms of grace and glory. These imin the ultimate reward to deserved and well earned dignity." So spoke the all-day labour-pressions have been deepened on reading the ers; but the other order of labourers were well specimen_number of a new publication, by content with their wages. Now, my good Theophilus, call to mind, or look back at what I have said at the beginning of this letter: namely, that being wrong in one thing, may be the cause of our being wrong in everything. Here then, in the case of these murmurers, you have a striking and solemn instance of this; you see these murmurers stumbled at the sovereignty of the householder; now, mind these were standing idle in the market place; they professed to want employment; they go to work upon terms to which they express no objection; they, therefore, became the professed servants of the householder, and it was in this relation to him that he expostulated with them. Just so, when men take up a profession of religion -they are called upon by the word of God to make good that profession, and when it comes to pass that such cannot endure sound doctrine, they do thereby shew what they are. So with these murmurers: the householder, no doubt, saw what kind of workmen they were, and that while they were the first to make a profession, and the first to come into the vineyard, they were the last to have any real respect unto the householder. While the others, by the very manner of their working, plainly said, "we love our master;" and this the master knew; he would, therefore, part with the one, while he would take the other to be his permanant servants: and thus as these murmurers were professedly wishing to be religious to have religious employment; so on the ground of this, their expressed wish, they were called to try their hand; aye, and heart too but they proved to be nought, and so proved that their faith was not the faith of God's elect; while the others worked not from a legal spirit, but in the spirit of the faith of God's elect. Thus it is, that the first became last; and thus it is, that " Many are called but few are chosen ;" so that among the multitudes of professors you must not be surprised if you find the chosen flock to be but A LITTLE ONE. To say of a man that his own children won't believe him, is to defame him to the atmost and shall God's dear children, by unbelief, throw such foul dishonour on their Heavenly Father's name? Samuel Bagster and Sons, entitled, "The Book and its Missions, Past and Present." For the information this work appears likely to furnish, we can heartily recommend it to our readers; and in order to justify such a recommendation, we quote a passage from one of the most interesting branches of its contents. These quotations will give such of our readers as are not extensively read, a little acquaintance with the deplorable condition of millions of our race; it will also set before them an example or two of great perseverance in carrying THE BIBLE into the very haunts of darkness and superstition; and of putting it into the hands of some of the most miserable of men. May these details, by the blessing of God, stimulate us all to more devotedness and earnestness in the diffusion of that gospel which is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. Many of our esteemed brethren in the ministry, and private Christians who have time, might, we think, copy a good lesson or two from the following extracts taken out of the diary of a Colporteur in Suabia. He says I came to a district where great ignorance "In my journey through the Black Forest, prevailed. One evening, I held a meeting in invited. a village, to which all the inhabitants were An hour before the appointed time, about me while I was writing my journal, and a number of young people came thronging gazed at me as if I had been a wild beast. At length I laid aside my journal, in order to talk to them, and asked how they employed their leisure time, particularly on Sundays. They told me they had nothing to do. This grieved me, and set me trying to think of some employment for their minds. It then told me, that if ever I came to a place where occurred to me that a Christian lady had once the Word of God was scarce, but where there would be a willingness to receive it, she would afford the supply. I asked the young people if they had any Testaments at home; and finding they had not, made the following proposal:-That to anyone who would commit to memory the Epistle to the Ephesians, in the course of a few months, I would give a New some Testament; at the same time shewing them a fifteen to repeat the Epistle in chorus, which small copy. This excited great admiration, was done correctly by the greater number. for they had never before seen a pocket Testa- It required two evenings to hear them all. ment. They were then told, that whoever On each occasion we commenced by prayer, was disposed to earn such an one, might give and by reading and endeavouring to explain in his name after the meeting. I heard them a portion of the Scriptures, which induced the whispering to each other, I shall learn it;' young people to ask me to hold a similar 'So will I;' &c.; and, in the course of a few meeting especially for them; this I accordminutes, every one (there were fifty-seven pre-ingly did on the following day. They were sent), undertook the task. very attentive, and so much moved that sor times a general sob was audible, and I had to raise my voice in order to be heard. At the conclusion, they agreed to learn another Epistle, and sixty others joined the hundred and forty-four; so that nearly all the unmarried young people were now learning from the New Testament. Those who did not learn, were rather looked down upon as people who did not care for good things. The parents told me that the children were often repeating the Epistle to each other when they woke in the morning, and before going to sleep at night; and that they met together to teach each other on Sundays; that in the spinningrooms, where formerly all sorts of evil were practised, the spare time of the young is now occupied in committing a portion of the New Testament to memory. Many have, through these means, come to the knowledge of the Saviour, and have renounced the world, perceiving that the love of God and love of the world cannot exist together." "A similar compact was formed at several other places I visited on the same journey, and the number of learners became so large, that I feared the experiment might cost more than my friend was prepared for. It was, therefore, with some hesitation, that I informed her, when we next met, of the engagement I had made: but she was delighted with the scheme, and gave me a commission to purchase as many books as I needed, promising to supply me with more, if I should require them, for the same object. This filled my heart with joy, for the plan could now be continued. I had long wished to do something to benefit the young, but had not hitherto discovered a way. "In the course of a few months I revisited my learning societies, to see if those good resolutions had been kept, and found with no little gratification, that not only had the Epistle to the Ephesians been learnt, but in some instances another besides. After hearing it repeated, I asked if they would not now No genuine Christian who loves his Bible,— learn something else, though without any further reward-and they immediately agreed to (the Spirit of God having, by that word, led do so. Encouraged by this success, I tried to him into a saving knowledge of the Truth—) form similar societies in other places. At one will ever lightly esteem a work of this village I regretted to see only grown-up peo- kind;-there are four distinct serviceable ple at the meeting, and asked the parents where were their children? They replied that features in Messrs. Bagster's new periodical, they did not care to hear about the Word of entitled "The Book, and its Missions.” God. Well, then, said I, give them a kind First-it commences a beautiful history of message from me, and ask them if they would not like to earn a New Testament, by learn- the miraculous preservation and progress of ing the Epistle to the Ephesians by heart? the Word of God:-Secondly-it shews us They must be between the ages of fourteen the condition of those people, and the extent and forty: I exclude school-children, because of those desolate lands, where the Bible has they have enough to learn at school. Let all who like to undertake the task come to me to- not yet thrown its light and exerted its inmorrow morning. They promised to their fluence :-Thirdly-most pleasing and truthchildren, but did not think they would care confirming narratives connected with THE anything about it. The next morning, howBIBLE'S MISSIONS AND MOVEMENTS, are ever, a hundred and forty-four young people of both sexes gave in their names. Afterwards given :-Lastly-the whole is written not a woman came to me with a child of seven only in an evangelical spirit, but with so years old, and on my asking what she wanted, much of first-rate literary talent as to render told me that her little boy had been teasing her all the morning about a Testament, and it, to all branches of the Gospel household, a when she had told him that he was not old source of sound instruction and of substantial enough to learn a whole Epistle by heart, he pleasure. said,Then, mother, learn it for me;' so she wanted to know if that would do? Certainly, I replied-so that the task is learned by some one: and the mother, and child went home delighted. "I will now speak of some of the blessings which have attended my labours: THE goat must browse where she is tied; and the sinner feed on earth and carnal things to which he is staked down by his carnal heart, until his hopes and tastes are raised above this peddling world, and his pasture en"When I returned, after a few months, to larged. It is only he who has no hope from a the villages referred to above, we held a meet- better one, that sharks and prowls to get some ing, which was attended by all the learners.of this, and at last falls on board upon the After it was over, I had classes of ten or devil's cheer. THE TRUMPETS WHICH GIVE A CERTAIN SOUND. WB are encouraged to hope that our honor- monies; 5thly. In their intellectual attainable brethren in the ministry will, from time ments or gifts; 6thly. Nor yet in their usefulto time, enable us, (under the above heading,) ness and zeal. But-1st. In their election in to give a few choice, savory, Christ-exalting, Christ Jesus; 2ndly. Interest in the merits of and instructing notes from their studies and his blood; 3rdly. Possession of his righteouslabours. Dear brethren in the ministry-weness, and being made partakers of the quickbeseech you to think of this! and when after ening, sanctifying, and saving influences of the many prayers and deep studies you have Holy Spirit. sought out, and brought forth some precious things from the ancient mountains, from the lasting hills, and from the deep which coucheth beneath, try and gather up a few of the richest fragments! that they may be put into an "EARTHEN VESSEL." We have watched with much grief, the declension which in many places doth appear, and the rapid inrolling of semi-infidel principles. We defy any man to contradict us, when we say-ministers' hearts are sad, and their churches are weak. What shall we do? Preach, publish, and by every means proclaim THE TRUTH. Up with the Saviour: His glorious gospel faithfully, experimentally, and constantly declare; and we shall not labour in vain.-ED.] THE WORLD TO COME. Thirdly-Wherein their happiness consists, Not-1st. In carnal pleasure," they neither marry," &c.; 2ndly. In relative associations, or the renewal of every natural tie which death dissolves; 3rdly. Nor, (I apprehend,) in the recognition of those to whom religious bonds have united us. But-FIRST, In their freedom from death, with all its causes, attendants, and effects. 2ndly. In the full possession of life, with all its perfect blessedness. 3rdly. In beholding the Saviour as he is, and in being with him and like him for ever. SECONDLY, In their being like unto the angels:-1st. In their intercourse with each other; 2ndly. In their spirituality; 3dly, In holiness, in happiness and glory; with this difference, that in all respects the glory of the church in heaven will far exceed the glory of angels, because its members attain to the glory of Christ. THIRDLY, In their being manifested to be the children of God, by a relationship which had its origin in eternity, unfolding its grace in time, and which is consummated at the resurrection of the just. Chelmondiston. C. CARPENTER. EXTRACT FROM A SERMON PREACHED AT BILLESDON, ON LORD'S-DAY, DEC. 16, 1855, BY F. W. THOMPSON. OUR text is part of our Lord's answer to certain of the Sadducees, "which deny that there is any resurrection," they therefore stated a case of what appeared to them of real difficulty, forming a powerful argument in support of their views of there being no resurrection nor future state after death. The difficulty arose from their supposing that husbands and LOOKING UPWARD AND FORWARD. wives must be re-united in the world to come, and they professed not to be able to see how One woman could be the wife of seven men. In noticing that this objection is triumphantly refuted in the reply to which our attention is "Lord, thou hast been our Dwelling-place in all now to be directed, we shall first assume the generations."-Psalm xc. 1. fact that there is a world to come, and that in THIS Psalm is supposed to have been written that world there is-1. Knowledge without by Moses, the man of God; and it is only the ignorance.-2. Truth without error.-3. Im- man of God who can savingly understand the mortality without change. That in that world things of a covenant God; and the value of the righteous are separated from the un- the truth as it is in Jesus to a believer is berighteous.-2. Sin from holiness.-3. Happi-yond all price, arising from that truth being ness from misery. This separation must be perfect, uninterrupted, and eternal. Secondly-We are further herein informed that those who shall be accounted worthy to obtain, or who are the inhabitants of the region of blessedness in that world to come, are the children of God by-1st. The grace of election and adoption. 2ndly. The regeneration of the Holy Ghost; and declared to be such by being the children of the spiritual resurrection in the present world, and of the resurrection of the dead in Christ, at his coming. They are, oreover, said to be accounted worthy to obtain that world. In what, then, does their worthiness consist? Not-1st. In their birth or parentage; 2ndly. In their moral works; 3rdly. In their religious works; 4thly. In their observance of rites and cere established in his heart, affections, and desires. I do not believe a child of God could utter the language of our text without a full, glorious and blessed experience of what God has been from all eternity, what he now is, and what he ever will be. Some of you may have your faith shaken, your comfort and peace disturbed, and, like David, be cast into the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deep; yet there is a dwelling-place here prepared, and suitable for a poor, lost, and helpless sinner. We sometimes, as people say, meet trouble half-way. For instance, there is in expectation something worse than ever approaching; and the first thing we think of, is ability and courage to face the enemy; and alas! forget that all things here below make no difference to Him who is "God over all, blessed for ever." "His ways are not our ways, nor his thoughts our thoughts." We are anxious, and wonder how the Lord can appear to help and deliver. It is easy enough to remember we are but dust; and therefore strive to get comfort and rest in that which is polluted, until we find the weakness and insufficiency of all; but so it is, there is a time to learn who we are, what we are, and where we dwell. Our God has provided in his own purpose before the world was, for all the wants of his people; therefore, trouble does not spring up anyhow, nor is the remedy applied at random; but "judgment is before him, therefore trust thou in him." There never was a time when the people were not secure in this dwelling. But we want to know more about it; we want "line upon line, precept upon precept." Surely these things are so. But, say you, I want to be "confident of this very thing;" then shall I "abide satisfied, and not be visited with evil." To be in this heavenly dwelling is to possess an inheritance "incorruptible and undefiled." But you know, and I know, what it is to doubt and fear; and what follows, but a knowledge of the dryness and barrenness of our hearts? The sweetest stream that ever flowed, is God's electing love, brought home with power to the heart. It casts out all fear, and that promise is fulfilled-"Your sorrow shall be turned into joy." We may on earth have no certain dwellingplace, but no uncertainty in that which is above; and to arrive safely is also as certain. "They went forth to the land of Canaan, and unto the land of Canaan they came.' We are permitted to meet in houses made with hands, and have reason to be thankful; but this is no proof of being in this spiritual house. Many rest and dwell in forms and ceremonies; and some even think it impossible to pray unless the body is in a certain posture. But we have the Lord himself for our Dwelling-place in all generations; and underneath the poor soul are the "everlasting arms." But we must first know that our "strength is gone," before we can fall into the hands of the Lord. "The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our Refuge." A Stronghold this: look up, and be glad. Are A MINISTERIAL REPROOF. MR. EDITOR.-The following piece is an * * "Why is one minister of the gospel so jealous of another minister of the gospel ? Whence come wars and fightings among them? Come they not hence, even of their lusts that war in their members? They lust for supremacy, popularity, and power, but they have it not. They kill their brethren in reputation, and desire to have praise for so doing, but cannot obtain it. They fight and devour one another; they war with the upright in heart and practice, yet have they not consistency of conduct, because they ask it not of God in an acceptable time. They ask of God peace in the churches, faithful laborers, more unity, yet they are ringleaders of peace-breakers. If they ask for faithful preachers, to be honest with God they should add, But do not send them in our neighbourhood; lest our churches should be thinned, our congregations lessened, our salaries reduced. They ask and receive not, because they ask amiss, that they may consume it upon their lusts.'" "GATHER UP THE FRAGMENTS, THAT NOTHING BE LOST." My desire is, to comfort and cheer you, if the Lord should make his power known, even where the bitterness of death is felt. you in a crooked path, full of tribulation? I thank God I can say one word to you, which "A young man once went to his minister, is to remind you we have to do with the fu- and said, 'Sir, I am afraid I am not turned.' ture. Looking back at what has ruined us The minister, who held not a very good opinwill not profit; but looking forward to that ion of the young man, says to him, 'Afraid which is "eternal in the heavens." "When you are not turned! What do you mean ?' this corruption shall have put on incorrup-Why, sir, (he says again), I am afraid I am tion," when we shall live in a "glorious not turned.' 'Well, (says the minister), perbody," and that which is vile be no more for haps you are not; perhaps you are turned too ever-if the Lord shall bring these things much; for some people turn right round.' home to your hearts, you will have proof This is not the work of the Spirit. For do enough. The things themselves have been you know, God never only half turns a man? proved again and again. Let one suffice. He turns his face just where his back was, and In Col. iii. it is said, "If ye be risen," &c. his back just where his face was. But some Do you see how it is the work itself is per- people, you know, turn themselves: they first fect? Whether you know little or much-turn a little, then a little more; then they get, "All things are your's." as you might suppose, within a little right. |