EPISTLES TO THEOPHILUS. LETTER XXXI. My good Theophilus, it is not my intention to continue uninterruptedly through the book of Solomon's Song, but shall now and then give you a few words upon other departments; as in my next I hope to dwell chiefly upon the last judgment, more especially as that judgment relates to the saints; and after that, I hope to give you a letter upon the last judgment in its relation to the lost. But in this I have to dwell upon the gratulation bestowed upon the church by the heavenly Bridegroom-"I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariot," &c. This is nothing else but a true oriental hyperbole; that is, it is a strong figurative exaggeration; and yet, as a divine order of speech, it is not an exaggeration; for it certainly is the language of that love which no hyperbole can reach, which no rhetoric can depict, which no logical power can adequately set forth; and it shews what we are, in being able to trust so little, and love so faintly, a God who hath so loved us. But happily, it will not be always as it is now; we shall ere long be perfect in love. Now, I am not sure that I may handle rightly the comparison here set before us. The various ideas, and good ones they are too, among us are that these horses were royal property; that among them there was unity of action, &e. But these, and several other ideas, excellent as they are, I will for the present pass by, and venture a few thoughts, which, if they do not bring out the meaning of the text, shall, I trust, be such as you will see to be at least Scriptural. 1st. Best quality. The king-an oriental sovereign king-would certainly have those for his chariot of the best quality; and we all know in common life the importance of personal quality; hence the common saying, and there is an eternal truth in it, that it is better to have a fortune in a person than a fortune with them, without good qualities in them. This company of horses, then, in Pharaoh's chariots, would be well broken in, and would be, as the term is, free from vice. So is the soul humbled down and reconciled to God, yoked with Jesus, one with him by his truth. Such a soul loves him, is happy with him, has no desire to go from him, works in his yoke easy and comfortable, and is glad instrumentally to help forward the chariot of God's salvation; glories in the progress of the true gospel. The heart of such an one is in his work; the love of Christ constrains him; his love to God is incorruptible; it can never wax fatally cold; but though at times it seems low, and the soul is weary and cast down, yet by the power of gospel truth it will revive again and again; for "the smoking flax will he not quench, and the bruised reed will he not break, until he bring forth judgment unto victory." There is no quality that can be superior to this love of the truth. All professed love to God apart from his truth is but delu sion; there must be willing-heartedness to work in his way, and to help forward the cha, riot of his salvation, as then the true church is brought into the love of his truth. None can equal his Church in goodness of quality; her children arise up and call her blessed; her Hus band also he praiseth, not beateth her, nor. hateth her, nor stormeth at her, nor forsaketh her, nor curseth her, but praiseth her, saying, "Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all." Many excellent natural qualities others may and do possess, but they are but natural qualities. Just take the margin's reading here" Many daughters have gotten riches, but thou excellest them all." But why so? Where is the secret? Here it is-" She receives the truth in the love of it," and hereby acquires durable riches and righteousness. She therefore surpasses all; none can equal her; she loves the right object in the right way. As there was, then, in the company of horses in Pharaoh's chariot a combination of the best working qualities, therefore I have compared thee, for unmatched excellency of willing-hearted quality, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariot. 2nd. Beauty. We may be sure that the company of horses in such a chariot were handsome. And you are, my good Theophilus, aware that this is a quality much dilated upon, both in this book of Solomon's Song and in other parts of the Word of eternal truth; and as I have to dwell in our progress through this book upon this quality, I will here say but very little, only just observing, that the beauty of the bride (the church) is seen only in her oneness with the Saviour, what she is here constituted makes up the whole of her beauty. 3rd. Price. The horses in Pharaoh's chariot were no doubt costly. But here we must mind we do not carry this figure further than it is intended; for however costly the company of horses in Pharaoh's chariot may be, yet, like everything else earthly, they must come to nought. But not so with the church; no, her price in a two-fold sense must be far above rubies. First, in the price paid for her redemption; a price infinitely surpassing all other pearls of great price. He, therefore, that would buy the church back again out of her freedom must have a price at command at least as great as the price given for redemption; but where shall such a price be found? Thus the God of heaven so loved the church that he thought her worth redeeming ; she was therefore precious in his sight, and covenantly constituted honorable; and as he reckoned her through the love he had to her worth redeeming, so now he reckons her worth all that has been laid out upon her; so that while he valued her according to the price given for her redemption—so wondrously is she One with Immanuel God with us, that the living God would no more think of casting her away than of casting his dear Son away. First, then, she is reckoned worth the cost of redemption; and second, she is constituted costly and supremely valuable; and if a price to buy her out of her freedom could be found, | is a record of her excellencies: and great as even then love would utterly scorn to enter- are the excellencies attributed to her, you will tain one thought of accepting the price. He find them all in the faith, and pure affections, hath loved with an everlasting love, and in and testimony of every soul brought into the lovingkindness draws the church to himself; liberty of the gospel." "How fair and how therefore any power or price that would take pleasant art thou, oh love, for delights!" is the church out of his hands would utterly be the language of every soul thus favored; and contemned; and it is only because earth is the more their hearts are directed into the not good enough for her abode, that he hath love of God, the more they see and feel that prepared an infinitely better world for her. they are cared for. This gratulation, "I have 4th. Position in Pharaoh's chariot. Egypt compared thee, oh, my love, to a company of is a level country, and in the day of its pros- horses in Pharaoh's chariot," would seem to perity was a land of chariots; and Pharaoh's take off the strangeness, and make the soul state chariot was, perhaps, proverbially cele- feel at home with God. Such gratulations brated for its superiority to all others; and are assurances of his love, of his great love, if so, there is great force in this part of the infinitely interested love-love which glories comparison; for this company of horses had in the acquiring, and in the possession of its of all others the most hononorable and most objects; love which will rest for ever in happy glorious position. And what can surpass in satisfaction; the life endless, glorious, and honor of position that of being one with the higher than the heavens. What delightful chariot of salvation, where there is the pre-meeting-places are such Scriptures! and all sence of the great King, and where he shews the riches of his glorious kingdom, and the honor of his excellent Majesty? And if there were no chariot like Pharaoh's chariot, so there are no chariots like the chariot of God's salvation. Our glory is great therein. And as Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter, there may be some allusion here to her; and if so, it was the chariot of her own father, one that she was acquainted with. And this you see, my good Theophilus, suggests to us the great matter of heavenly relationship; so that, handling this comparison carefully, we shall find that both its main drift and several allowable details all have a gospel meaning, a something in it that compels in our hearts a love to our God in thus exalting such poor worms of the earth as we are. May we, then, more and more cleave unto Him whose thoughts towards us are thoughts of peace, not of evil, to give us an expected end. 5th. Carefulness. What care would be taken of this company of horses in Pharaoh's chariot! and are not the people of God the objects of his special care ? who know anything of the terrible majesty of the law, the guiltiness of sin, the fearful apprehension of judgment, the workings of a deceitful heart, the powers of unbelief, and the proud-humble movements of legality, trying to make our sin and sinfulness a bar to the promise, as though the gospel was not to the poor, the blind, the wretched, and the miserable; those who know what these expe. riences are, will be, and are, delighted with the book of Solomon's Song, as well as with all such new covenant parts of the Bible. How infinitely different is such congratulatory language in comparison of, "Ye generation of vipers! how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" Yet this is the language which belongs to us as sinners. Grace, and grace alone, has made us to differ; and shall we, then, for one moment give up one iota of the glorious gospel of the blessed God? The cyparison of this company of horses is also noticed: "Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold: we will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver." "Comely with rows of jewels." Without these she would not have a queenly, royal appearance. These are the adornments of the Holy Spirit; a meek and quiet spirit, faith, love, humility, holiness, sincerity, these are her living adornments. Chains of gold, a chain of truth, made up from "whom he did foreknow," to "whom he also glorified;" and another, made up from "Ye are a chosen generation to shew forth the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." These are chains of heavenly gold, which faith loves to wear about its neck; wears them where they may be seen; she is not ashamed to be seen in these chains of captivity to God. Looking at the constitution of ancient oriental governments, as well as at most of the modern ones, too, we can easily see that no one dared to interrupt this company of horses in their progress, or in any way offer any indignity to them; nor can the people of God be hindered, slandered, or persecuted with impunity. "Shall not God avenge his own elect" To run into all the details of the pains, and care, and skilful management of this company of horses, would be to go beyond what the comparison is intended to set forth; but taking the main idea of care, I think is right and fairly implied, as it indicates clearly that every care was to be taken of the church, which was the Lamb's wife; and to know something of the care which he And then come the borders of gold. These has for us will, if our knowledge be heart-felt borders would be to overlay, enrich, and beauknowledge, make us care, very much care for tify the caparison; and so the soul is so overhim; we shall be concerned to honor him; laid, enriched, and beautified with the proand this we see is descriptively, and testimo-mises of the gospel, that its first husband, nially, and very beautifully carried out by the bride all through this book of Solomon's Song. This book (her faults and deformities being forgiven, and buried, and forgotten, this book) law, condemnation-state, its poverty, and deformity, are hidden and destroyed. Then come the studs of silver. These studs of silver I will take to mean words of instruction Prov. iii. 14). "And a word spoken in sea- | mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God." And while in such a happy frame as this, I think I could, as and say "Talk no more so exceeding proudHannah did, turn my face toward my foes, fied seven times." Psalm xii. 6. Now, I have said nothing of the great occasions when this royal chariot was used, nor have I now room in this letter so to do. Ily let not arrogancy come out of your have given you but a mere sample of the meaning, and perhaps hardly that; but as I find it good to dwell upon these things I desire you also should profit hereby; and poor as my humble attempt is, it is as much as you can expect from A LITTLE ONE. MAZZAROTH: OR, THE TWELVE SIGNS IN THE BIBLICAL (Continued from page 29.) I MET a Yorkshireman in Plymouth, the other day, who told me he thought these "Mazzaroth" papers were "far-fetched." I agreed with him that they were; and I was free to confess that too much of "self" had crept into them. He was a good man, and a preacher too; and, therefore, I felt thankful for the plain and wholesome hint; and was almost disposed to write no more of them; but, on the other hand, turn where I would, (and I have travelled between one and two thousand miles lately.) I was told of the help and comfort these papers afforded; and having been much persuaded to continue them, I am resolved, the Lord helping, to go right on, unless I find the spring cease to flow-or, that the flocks are not refreshed. mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed." This scripture I fully proved in delightful realization, on Lord's-day afternoon, March 15th; and with David (Psalm cix.) I say-The Lord "Shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul." [Let no scoffer, or proud person, read here, to scoff or condemn-for I write of the saving mercy of a gracious God-and woe be unto him that casteth contempt thereon. I can no more withhold this evidence of the Divine faithfulness, than I could withhold the testimony given in my last paper; and as the trial made way for a holy and a happy triumph in my own experience; and in the experience of many beside, I cannot lock it up. It is illustrative of Paul's words " Out of weakness made strong❞—so here it is; and I pray the Great Shepherd of our souls may bless it unto the thousands of His Israel among whom this EARTHEN VESSEL comes.] In the morning of the day referredto, I had attempted to speak from Paul's words-" He is able to succour them that are tempted." (Heb. ii. 18.) The previous Lord's-day morning I had spoken from those words--"Them that are tempted" with unusual sweet freedom; many scriptures were opened, and many hearts were touched: now I was anxious to speak of HIM that is In my last, I made some little entrance able to succour them that are tempted: I upon "the trials of the ministry;" and sure had privately considered the ability of our I am there is not a class of men on the earth great High Priest to lay, principally, in three more deeply exercised than are those men things :-In what He is in Himself—in the who, with humble gifts, and honest hearts, great Commission put into his hands, and go forth to publish the glorious Gospel of accomplished in His incarnation, His obethe blessed God. I have seen a great num- dient and sympathising life, in His sacrificial ber of these men-and, with few exceptions death, in His resurrection and intercession in -I find them sharply tried in every way: the heavens above-and, finally, in the large and they are men who need sympathy, help, amount of Agency and Instrumentality placed and comfort; and wherever I have found a at His disposal, and entirely under His conman whose heart, head and hands have been trol, which comprehends the distinct Person"RIGHT" in experience, doctrine and prac-ality, offices, powers, and works of the ever tice, I have never hesitated to do that man blessed SPIRIT-the whole army of patriall the good in my power. It matters little archs, prophets, and apostles, martyrs, ministo me who may slight or shun the man, if I ters, and evangelists, whose words and works see and feel the man to be a true servant of still live, and by which they speak, although JESUS CHRIST-I am his companion, his they themselves are gone home: all the friend, and his brother; and if, because I pastors of our churches, all the preachers in endeavour to heal and help a poor afflicted the world, and all the precious promises, holy brother, I am to be shot at by the whole doctrines, and Divine ordinances; all these, tribe of doctrinal patrons and petty parsons, and millions of angels, and other means, are I will welcome their persecutions; and, (if in the great Redeemer's hands; and it is of grace be given,) will creep to the Lord's this immense and mighty host of instrumenfeet as Hannah did, saying, “My heart re-tality that Paul speaks, when to the church joiceth in the Lord; mine horn is exalted he says " ALL THINGS ARE YOUR'S: things in the Lord; my mouth is enlarged over present; things to come; all are your's; and, YE ARE CHRIST's; and, GOD'S." How beautiful the immensely valuable the fact! the reality!! CHRIST IS, thought! How How glorious I went into the pulpit; but oh, instead of being helped to preach CHRIST, to unfold his glorious name, to point to his Person, power, and precious grace and salvation, I found my mind shut up as in an iron chest; I leaned upon my pulpit Bible, groaned out something for half-an-hour or more, and down I sat. I said nothing to anyone of my state; but my secret thoughts were painful indeed. Surely, such seasons are a verification of that part of the prophecy now under consideration-"Whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah." When God will prove, and strive with, a man, he will make all his supposed beautiful thoughts, and well-arranged plans, to fade away, and wither like the fallen leaf. I suppose all ministers are not tried in this way; many whom I know seem to be always ready, always full, always free, and always blessed. But I have nothing to do with others; to their own Master (like myself) they stand or fall. creature was in the wheels. When those went these went; and when those stood these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels." By these words light broke in upon my mind, and freedom in contemplation was enjoyed during the whole of my journey; and in preaching that evening truth was declared, joy and gladness were realised, and evidence was given that the hand of the Lord had been in the matter. A few of my thoughts on this sacred portion of the Word, and which so sweetly brake my bonds, I here subjoin. First, I secretly enquired, what can be the mind of the Lord in "the living creatures with the four faces?" They faithfully prefigure the true servants of Christ, and ministers of God. Their four faces shew the essential and visible features of a true and living ministry. They are the same as John saw, which he calls "beasts," and says, "The first was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man; and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle: they had each of them six wings: they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, adoring and praising the thrice holy Lord God Almighty." The venerable Dedham vicar says, "By the four beasts here understand the four evangelists in special, and all God's ministers in general, who go forth to preach the word in all quarters of the world. We have here indeed a most stately emblem of all true gospel ministers." He further adds, "They have the courage of the lion, the strength of the ox, the loftiness of the eagle, the prudence and discretion of a man. They have eyes looking before them unto God for direction; looking behind them to watch over the flocks they lead; and within them to their own hearts. Their wings As I walked from chapel that morning these words quieted, and in a little relieved my mind: "But CHRIST IS ALL, and IN ALL." Immediately the PERSON of our IMMANUEL became to me like Jacob's ladder, and my thoughts, like "the angels of God ascending and descending on it." Yes, yes, thought I, "Christ rs all, and he is IN all;" that is, in the new creation. Having that afternoon to preach in the late William Allen's Chapel at Stepney, my spirit constrained me to attempt once more to speak of CHRIST unto the people; and according to engagement I went, and read the text, "Christ is All, and in all." For nearly an hour I laboured hard to break the fetters which fastened my mind in bondage, but it was out of my power. Christ as the ever-covering their face and their feet, denote lasting Covenant, as the only Altar of Di- their reverence toward God; a deep sense of vine worship, as the alone and entire Sacri- their own infirmities, and a swift and cheerfice for sins, as the One glorious and gracious ful obedience in executing the commission of High Priest, was spoken of; but the dew their Lord." and power on my soul was lacking. Christian brother gave me a cup of tea, and while drinking it, the conversation turned upon circumstances, and I was given to understand that "report" had said some deadly and dreadful false things against me. Having a good conscience in all these matters, I was sustained; and smothering my feelings I left my friends, and betook myself to journeying onward to my own chapel, Unicorn Yard, where again I had to preach. As onward I moved, I opened my Bible on these words "Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went; thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them; for the spirit of the living A What The one chief thought which occupied and comforted my mind was this: the lion is piercing and persevering in his eye. The word lion is derived (as Keach saith) from a Greek verb which signifies "to see" and having once fixed his eyes on an object, he will persevere in the pursuit, and never turn back until conquest is gained. a lion's eye was Paul's! Christ being revealed in him, and Paul's eye of faith being fastened on the Lord Jesus, nothing could take his eye off. He conferred not with flesh and blood, but went and preached Christ among the heathen; and from first to last his determination was to know nothing among men, but "JESUS CHRIST, and Him an crucified." The thought that for near heaven-implanted root, be not found, I would thirty years my eye, my heart, and my not stand in thy shoes for millions of worlds. thoughts, have been set on this dear Friend I venture to call the following epitome of sinners, and that, in the face of dangers, even balance" in which Job desired to be disappointments, afflictions, and infirmities, weighed; and, like him, I would, with the to honour him hath been the aim of my la- purest of motives, say, "Let me be weighed bours, cheered me on to my work again. in an even balance, that God may know, or To walk in communion with the Elder Bro- demonstrate, mine integrity.' And this, I ther, and to have his Word opened up in the think, must be the inward sentiment of every soul, is solemnly sweet and precious indeed. faithful servant of the living God. I numAn illustration of the lion-like perseverance ber the different parts of this even balance as of God's grace in the hearts of his servants, follows: is found in one of the Bible Society's Reports of its labours in the Mahommedan climes : "Abdallah, an Arabian of noble birth, was converted from Islamism by the simple perusal of the Bible. When his conversion became known, Abdallah, to escape the vengeance of his countrymen, fled from Cabul in disguise, but was met and recognised at Bokhara, by one Sabat, a shuffling apostate, but in great authority. Abdallah, perceiving his danger, threw himself at the feet of Sabat and besought him, by all the ties of their former intimacy; to save his life. But,' said Sabat, I had no pity. I delivered him up to Morad Shah, king of Bokhara.' Abdallah was offered his life if he would abjure Christ; but he refused. Then one of his hands was cut off; and a physician, by command of the king, offered to heal the wound if he would recant. He made no answer,' said Sabat, but looked up steadfastly towards heaven, like Stephen the first martyr, his eyes streaming with tears. He did not look with anger towards me; he looked at me, but it was with a countenance of forgiveness. His other hand was then cut off; but,' continued Sabat, he never changed, he never changed! And when he bow'd his head to receive the blow of death, all Bokhara seemed to say, 'What new thing is this?' Sabat had indulged the hope that Abdallah would recant when offered his life, but when he saw that his friend was dead, he gave himself up to grief and remorse. He himself twice professed, and twice abjured, Christianity." There are some natural properties almost exclusively belonging to the lion; wherefore the true gospel minister is said, first of all, to have the face of a lion; and right well would it be if these properties could be found more immediately and permanently manifest in the lives and labours of many who are, professedly, the servants of the Most High God. I can only name a few; and in so doing I would appeal to all whose consciences are not seared, and say, brethren, are these essential properties of a living minister found with thee? The prating of the tongue, the applause of a few dying mortals, a mind to gather, a memory to hold, and a mouth to express, theological theories, and, so-called, experimental teachings, you may have; but these are only natural and perishable gifts; and if in thy ministry the following living branches of an hidden but 1. Lion-like love. "No creatures love their young more than the lions." Love is the fountain from whence our salvation comes. How the loving and lovely John revels in this darling theme, "THE LOVE OF GOD!" On this John's eye and heart was set. Of it he spake and wrote; and by it he tries the faith of all who profess to be Christians. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God!" "Whosoever doeth NOT righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." The love of God in the heart of a man, causing him to love the FATHER, the SON, and the SPIRIT; and all who bear the image and breathe the Spirit of Christ, is essential to fellowship with, and fruitfulness in, Zion. "I love the Lord," saith David, "because he hath taken me," &c.; and the same is said, practically, by all the ancient saints. For truth's sake, then, dear brethren, read the thirteenth of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, and see that LOVE, like an everlasting fire, burns upon the altar of every good minister's heart; and he that lacketh THIS FIRE, is not only blind, but dead indeed to all that is spiritual, evangelical, and eternal. "The love of Christ constrains" me to be bold in this matter; because I clearly see there is love of self, and love of pelf, and love of pre-eminence by shoals; but living love to Christ, and all that appertains to him, is rarely to be seen. 2. Healing." The blood of a lion being rubbed, or spread upon a canker or sore, will presently heal." The ministry of Christ is a healing ministry. When men do little else than walk about the land scattering, dividing, and wounding the sheep, they give no proof of their ministry being from heaven. RECONCILIATION is the watch-word of the gospel ministry! Not reconciling devils, nor reprobates, nor apostates, nor hypocrites, nor dead professors; but reconciling wounded, offended, injured, afflicted, tempted, and distressed souls. What an amazing scripture is that in 2 Chronicles xxix. 24-my soul would break forth in all her powers to praise the Lord for such a covenant; such a sacrifice; such a priesthood as that! Read it, ye bitter-hearted, ye proud and pompous wolves, who care only for your bellies. God, the Holy Ghost speaking of heaven's ordained priests, says |
