REVIEWS. THE BROTHER BORN FOR ADVERSITY. AFFLICTED OF CHRIST'S FLOCK. When we add, as we may with perfect confidence, that the same purity of spirit, the same soul-comforting sentiment, the same expressive and truth-telling talent runs entirely through the book, we say enough to commend it to every conscience that is sanctified by the indwelling life, the saving grace, and the heaven-taught knowledge of HIM, who is emphatically, essentially, and most faithfully, THE BROTHER BORN FOR ADVERSITY." But in such times as these-when so little, yea so very little, of "the Spirit of Christ" is realised even among men of the highest profession and pretensions to verity, devotion, and piety-in times like these, when the tongues and the pens of the great leaders in our Israelitish army are more like the slaughter weapons Ezekiel speaks of, than they are like to that so nicely told out by David, when he says," My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made, touching the King: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer;"-in these days of dwindled-down divinity, spiritual declension, and fearful dissensions, we ask who and where lives the man who could so blessedly breathe VERY recently two copies of a small religious work were sent us for review. The title-page at once so engaged our attention that we immediately sent one of the volumes to an aged Christian matron, without stopping to read it ourselves. Before many days had passed away, the recipient of our little present sent an earnest request that we would procure three copies of the work and forward them without delay; the perusal having been so profitable, a desire had been created to forward this precious little manual to other branches of the living family. Having complied with the request, and having also heard the work highly eulogized by other Christian friends, we resolved to read the work carefully ourselves; accordingly one Monday afternoon (weary and afflicted in body from much exertion on the previous day) we locked our little study door, and sat down to enjoy the anticipated feast. The title-page itself gave rise to some most grateful feel-out so savoury and so well constructed a comings: it reads thus-"The Brother Born for Adversity; or, the Similarity of the Saviour's Sorrows and Sufferings to those of his Followers." A short preface informs us that "the poetical passages" interspersed here and there throughout the work are the author's first "attempt at poetry:" and as we have, in these days, so much that is called poetry, we could not refrain searching after and reading the different stanzas before we made a "dead set" at the book itself. We cannot easily describe the deep and silent pleasure we realized while (running from page to page) we sweetly fed upon the delightful sentiments these small pieces of poetry threw into the hidden man of our heart. We give one or two morsels as samples of the whole. "Man's life is like a troubled sea, When winds do blow and waves do roar; 'Tis vain to seek for rest till He Has brought us safe to Canaan's shore." "To free you from your troubles sore. "Your sorrows once were all His own, mentary upon the fellowship which the saints have with Christ in his sufferings as this small volume furnishes? There are a few good men in the Christian family on whom the mind would rest with a "may-be it was either so and so, or, surely, it must be We venture to put an end to all such inquiries by writing it down as the conviction of our mind that the author of this most excellent volume is none other than the well known and able editor of the Morning Advertiser, JAMES GRANT, Esq., to whom the honest and noble battle he has lately fought church of Christ is largely indebted for the in defence of the great principles of the Gospel of Christ; and while for that valiant front with which he met the "sliding scale "advocates, true Christians of all classes must ever esteem him, this "Brother born for Adversity," so scripturally and experimentally portrayed, will knit their hearts closer to him than ever. "The Brother Born for Adversity"-by James Grant, Esq.-is a handsome eighteenpenny volume, published by John Snow; and may be laid in the parlour, the closet, the house of mourning, the sick chamber, or the humble cottage, with a prayerful persuasion that the Lord will make it a great and most extensive blessing. With the following extract we must close. It is a portion of the second chapter, headed "Physical Experi ences." It has been so profitable to us we cannot withhold it from our readers:"How sweet, 'mid all the ills of life, To think on Him-the Brother born; To Thee would ever upward look; In parched lands, a living brook. evil, partly physical and partly mental. It always has been-always will be so. Many of God's people who are obliged to make what is called an appearance in society especially know, in their painful experience, what it is to struggle with limited means. They are indeed more legitimate objects of commiseration than those who are clothed in rags, and live in the most humble dwellings. Their education and position in society give a point and pungency to the privations which they have to endure, to which those who have been born and bred in the lowlier spheres of life are strangers, because devoid of the same susceptibilities of feeling. "To both classes of sufferers it must prove "Amazing thought, that God's own Son And brought into a world of care. "He travelled on foot from city to city, and from village to village, without even the smallest coin of the country in his pocket. The touching story of his being unable to pay the small sum of a penny, when exacted as tribute to Cæsar, and of his laying a fish under contribution for the amount, affords conclusive proof of this. Indeed, the presumption is that after Jesus had commenced his public ministry, He never had any money at all; for we have no reason to suppose that He would have accepted money from any one; while we are morally certain that He never solicited pecuniary gifts. The supposition that Jesus was, from first to last, during the years of his public ministry, entirely destitute of money, is strengthened, if not established, by the fact, that when his enemies sought to trepan him into saying something against the existing government, He asked them to show him a penny, in order that He might confound and silence them by pointing out the superscription of Cæsar, and then telling them that they were to render unto Casar the things that were Cæsar's, while they were to render to God the things that were God's. It is all but certain that He had hot at this time a penny in his possession; because if He had, its being produced would have sufficed for the purpose of inculcating the doctrine which He wished to illustrate and enforce, instead of having to ask those who thought to entrap Him, for the temporary use of a penny. "As regards, therefore, the money of this world, the Lord Jesus was worse off than any of his disciples, for however poor they may be, it would not be easy to meet with one who is not at times the possessor of at least the smallest coin of the realm. "Think of this, ye followers of Jesus, who, though poor in this world, are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom. Your Saviour can and does sympathize with you in your destitution, having Himself, all his life, at least, during the period of his public ministry, been immersed in the very depths of poverty, though Lord of heaven and earth Maker and Monarch of all worlds. - the "You feel the stern gripe of poverty. You may not, at this moment, know when or whence is to come your next morsel of bread; and you may be in want of fuel and clothing as well as of food, because you are entirely destitute of the means wherewith to procure either. Yours is a painful case. It is a hard destiny, made harder still by the reflection that as you look forward through the vista of the future, there is not, so far as earthly considerations are concerned, one single ray of hope to dispel, even partially, the darkness in which that future is enveloped. Even so, there are for you sources of comfort. You are but in the condition in which your Lord was all his life long placed. Never did human being know more sensibly, from experience, the ills of poverty, than did your adorable Redeemer. And if He bore them also bear those privations which spring from all so patiently, so submissively, will not you in this, as in all other respects, Not as I your deep poverty, with cheerfulness, saying will, O Lord, but as thou wilt'? "Believer in Jesus, though poor here below, In faith ye are rich-your portion is God; Let this be your solace as onward ye go, Along the sad stages of life's rugged road, "To your home in Heaven-your seat in the skies, Where, ever released from the rude gripe of want, Your hosannalis to God shall unceasingly rise, Possessing those treasures for which your souls pant. Popular Preaching; a Sermon by Joseph Wilkins, of Brighton; beng No. 101 of the "Brighton Pulpit," published by C. E. Verrall. We see, from different public prints, that the pastor of " Windsor Street Particular Baptist Chapel" is making himself useful in endeavouring to promote such objects as aim at the moral and spiritual good of our fellowman. We highly commend him for this; because we fully believe that if our churches are to prosper, if our young ministers are to succeed, under God, it will be by carrying THE TRUTH out into all places, and practically developing the same in the use of all means put within their power. The sermon before us contains evidence of ministerial improvement. "This World and the Next: the Impossibility of making the Best of Both Worlds." Some Reply to Mr. Binney's Lecture. London: W. Yapp, 4, Old Cavendish Street, Oxford Street. Our reviewer has this and several other works under way. "Conviction not Conversion." By John Lindsey, Trowbridge. London: R. Banks and Co., Dover Road. This tract is a little "two-edged sword," piercing mere professors; and speaking comfortably unto penitent, praying souls. It is simple, but solemn. We know not John Lindsey; but with such spiritual discernment, and good plain parts, we consider he might be of great use to Zion. THE EDITOR'S PREACHING JOURNAL. As the EARTHEN VESSEL is now entirely again in my own hands, and as thousands in this and other lands sympathise with me in the work committed to my trust, I fully purpose to give a few notes of the manifestations of the Lord's goodness towards me. The jealous, the envious, the arrogant, the haughty, and they that are at ease may laugh; I will go on to labour, if a gracious God permit, until of me it can be said, "Gad, a troop overcame him for many years, but he overcame at the last." I have taken much notice of churches, ministers, and people in private notes. I shall not bury them. My readers may through my little telescope sometimes see things that may encourage them to hope in God. A small sample here follows. Kettering, On the 10th and 11th of December I preached in Ebenezer Chapel, in this town. I saw the late Andrew Fuller's chapel and the house where Dr. Gill was born. I expect to have some good news from Kettering soon; therefore will now only say I think Kettering presents one of the best fields for a pure and powerful Gospel ministry in England. If Providence direct, I will hope soon to see this great vacant sphere fully filled. Dec. 12th.-Preached at Hanslope, Bucks. Here is a nice chapel, and a populous village; but they want a stated, a stirring, and a sterling pastor. The brethren Woodstock, of Leighton, and Harrison, of Northampton, very efficiently supply the pulpit in turns; but before the cause can truly prosper they must have a man who works for and among them all the week through. The lack of laborious every-day pastors is very seriously felt in our churches. Do our destitute churches UNITEDLY and PERSEVERINGLY adopt the prophetic outbreak of holy resolve recorded in Isaiah Ixii. 1? [We fear not.] The prophet says, "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace; and for Jerusalem's sake I WILL NOT REST until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth." This blessed resolve is the living pulse of the hand that pens these lines; and by God's help he will never "hold his peace" until sickness, death, or captivity stop his course. MR. WARBURTON'S SERMON. "The Truth of the Gospel Defended, in a Letter to the Editor of the EARTHEN VESSEL." This pamphlet, written by Mr. John Warburton, Jun., reached us too late for special notice this month. We had proposed, ore this, to have finished our remarks upon Mr. Warburton's Biggleswade Sermon; but preaching to the living, burying the dead, visiting the sick, and doing business in deep waters beside, have prevented. The subject Mr. Warburton has taken in hand-(describing and denouncing a dead-letter ministry) is a subject of most tremendous weight, and full of awful consequences. We have often trembled for ourselves, although the immense difference between standing and preaching in the letter, and standing and preaching in the life, light, and liberty of the Holy Spirit has been realised in us many times during the last twenty-five years:-and frequently, in all parts of this kingdom, have we met with and known men whose ministry, we have feared, was not of God. Surely, none could be more jealous, suspicious, or fearful of men in the ministry than ourselves! And, indeed, it is but few to whom we have found and felt a holy, a happy, and a certain union, oneness, and affinity. But, then, the public sitting in judgment upon men-as Mr. Philpot has done, as Mr. Tryon has done, as the late Mr. Osborn did, as Mr. George Abrahams and many others have done, and as Mr. John Warburton has commenced to do, is fearful work, unless specially called to it of God. We do not say Mr. Warburton has not been called to this work; but we deeply feel this is a subject that must be carefully and powerfully gone into. Mr. Warburton glories in belonging to a party-that party is rightly termed "the Standard Party"-and if we are called to it, Sibel Hedingham and Halstead, Essex.-I we shall unfold as many dark deeds done by preached three sermons in the Baptist chapel, some of the men of this party, as ever" the Sibel Hedingham, on Lord's-day, Nov. 30, dead-letter men" were ever yet convicted of. 1856; in the morning from "Unto me, who In the ministry of the Gospel, in the profes- am less than the least of all saints is this sion of faith in Christ, we are as much for grace given," &c.; in the afternoon from “We VITALITY—for a living faith in, a living fel- are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus lowship with, and for a personal and power-unto good works;" and in the evening from ful application of, the Love of God, the Blood" The glory of Lebanon shall come unto of the Lamb, and the Teaching of the Holy thee." I felt unwell all day-laboured under Spirit, as ever Mr. Warburton, or any of his the impression that I could not preach, and brethren, are-but ignorant bigotry, pre- that soon my work would be over altogether tended humility, an austere gait, and a setting-nevertheless I was greatly helped; the conat nought all who are not reckoned within the pale by certain leaders, is a line of things we disclaim-it is doomed to die-it totters now-and soon, like Dagon before the ark, it shall fall and be broken. We hope to reply to Mr. Warburton before long. gregation was large, the people came for miles round, and the greatest kindness that ever could be shown to mortal man was manifested to me. The financial particulars will be given in the report of the committee of the Redemption Fund, to be issued shortly. The Baptist chapel in Sibel Hedingham (a large agricultural district) is now without a pastor. Mr. Langford, now of Colchester, laboured here many years with happy success; after him Mr. Howell, now of Haverhill, was pastor for eleven years; he having left, the pulpit is supplied by different brethren. A devoted, gifted, and energetic man of God would find this an extensive sphere of Gospel labour. The chapel is spacious, and free from debt; the people are numerous, and with Heaven's blessing a large amount of good might be done. We hope such a one will be found, and that the church will be preserved from division. Halstead, Essex, Dec. 1, 1856.-After my hard day yesterday, walked this morning from Sibel Hedingham to Halstead, and a very pleasant walk it was. I read a letter from a friend; these words were in the letter, "How will ye do in the swellings of Jordan?" they fastened upon my mind, and I preached from them at night in John Thurston's pulpit, Providence Chapel, Halstead, where the Lord is blessing his labours in calling in and converting sinners, and in comforting some of the saints. The friends subscribed ten shillings towards the Redemption Fund. I believe my brother Thurston's ministry has been the means of reviving the cause of truth in this town. God help him still. JOTTINGS BY THE WAYSIDE. A SUNDAY WITHOUT CHRIST. I was engaged about a month since to preach twice, morning and evening, at the West End, and in spiritual things never had I a more wretched sabbath. Not one five minutes' glimpse of the Master during the whole day, my heart was as cold and as hard as an iceberg. Nor can I imagine that any one present enjoyed the services. I tried to pray, but it seemed to be a vain and fruitless attempt. In the evening, as I walked to the chapel, I literally and actually groaned with agony, to think that I was compelled to preach when I had not the slightest hope of God's presence. Once I thought of turning back, but that I dared not do, though I felt how utterly vain would be all my talking without the Master's presence. But in watching the operations of my mind and feelings during the day, it afforded me some amount of consolation to find that though the Father had hidden his face from me and the blessed influence of the Holy Spirit was utterly withdrawn, that the thought of the world and its pleasures stepping in to supply the place of my absent Saviour was abhorrent and abominable to my soul. The state of my mind was that of a blank, a vacancy, or emptiness; it missed the presence of a beloved friend, and would rather remain empty till that friend should return, than permit any one or anything to take his place. Just as when a man is mourning over the loss of a dear friend, he would not tolerate the attempt of an unknown and an unloved stranger to come and fill his place, so I felt, that though I had no sensible love to Christ, I had still less for the world; nay, if anything, I seemed to hate the world more than I had ever done before, for somehow or another the conviction had forced itself upon my nind, that it was my connection with the world and its objects that had robbed ine of the presence of my Saviour, and the more I thought this, the more terrible did my hatred to the world become. The high priest had forsaken the temple, and the fire on the altar was burning cold and low, so that I could neither see its light nor feel its warmth, but rather would I that it should have burnt down to the last spark, than any Korah or Dathan of the world should attempt to kindle strange fire on that altar. The Book and the promises were before me still, but the Interpreter was gone; the passover was prepared, but the guest-chainber was empty; the bread and the wine were ready, but the first had lost its strengthening power, and the last its refreshing flavour, for my spiritual Samuel was not there to bless the feast. Another conviction too from which I extracted a little comfort was this, that since I missed the Saviour's presence so bitterly, I must have enjoyed much of his presence in times gone by; for, thought I, a man can never sorrow over the loss of that which he has never possessed, nor can a man mourn over the breaking up or temporary suspension of friendship which he has never enjoyed. While I was thus gathering up the fragments of past mercies, to see if I could make a scanty meal of them, the devil came and whispered in my ear, "Thou art deceiving thyself with thy special pleading; all that is carnal reasoning, for the Scripture saith, 'that the Comforter shall abide with you for ever."" "True, devil," I replied; "I admit the fact, but deny the insinuation. Unfortu nately, thou and I are old acquaintances, and I have found thee a liar and a deceiver from the beginning, so thou canst not expect me to believe thee now. True, Christ promised that the Holy Ghost should abide with his children for ever, but though He claims the freehold of the sinner's heart and will never part with it to another, as far as occupancy is concerned, the Holy Ghost is a tenant-at-will, and comes and goes when He pleases, none daring to say unto Him, 'What doest thou?' Still He is no less the proprietor because He is not always on the property; no more than Christ is less the Saviour of his people before his manifestation to them, than He is after He has made Himself known to them as such." At the close of this dialogue, the devil took to flight, and though for some time after this, I was still fasting and hungering in the desert, at last the angel of the covenant came and ministered unto me, satisfied my mouth with good things, filled me with angels' food, led me to the green pastures and the still waters, and while his banner over me was love, I stooped down and drank of the brook by the way, till, like a giant refreshed with new wine, iny feet became like a hind's feet, and 1 came up out of the wilderness, leaning upon my beloved. Verily, my soul found Him to be what He ever has been to his chosen ones, "As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land!" THE LATE MRS. MARTIN OF WALWORTH. THE subject of the following brief sketch was the late beloved wife of Mr. J. Martin, one of the deacons of the Church of Christ, at Rye Lane, Peckham. She was, many years ago, much blessed under the ministry of Mr. G. Moyle, by whom she was baptized, during the period of his labours in Artillery Street; but it being the will of her heavenly Father to call her to pass through many years of great bodily weakness and suffering, from that flattering complaint that proves so fatal to thousands (consumption), it deprived her of the privilege of much communion with his saints in the ordinances of his house, which fact often caused her to go mourning from week to week; and although at all times firmly resting on the Lord Jesus as her only hope, yet often was it with her, as the poet sings "Often I seek my Lord by night- Thus passing through years of affliction, she was always delighted to see and hear any one who could talk of the blessed Jesus, as He was her only hope and stay. But I must come to her last days on earth, as I feel I can not write much upon a subject of such importance. The morning before she died, her husband introduced a very dear friend to her, and said, "I have brought one to talk to you about Jesus;" she answered, "I am glad of that." And on being asked if she was happy, she answered, "Not very; I want to know that I am right;" then calling upon the Lord, said repeatedly, "Shine, Lord; do, Lord, shine upon my soul!" Then turning to her friend, she feelingly said, "Oh! if I were but sure I was right, I should be happy." She then asked to be prayed with; and at the close said, "Oh! that is comforting. Do you believe in your heart that I am on the rock? Do you think it will be said to me, 'Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared?'" After a while she said, Would so many precious promises be brought so sweetly to my mind, if God had not meant them for me? although I feel I am a vile sinner, and heavyladen with sin, yet Jesus says, Come unto me,' and I, indeed, do come; and I think He will not cast me out, for I do depend only upon Him." For After a while she said, "Now I am quite happy. Do read that precious hymn ing to me in that way? My hope is only in the person and work of Jesus Christ." After this, as we were watching for her last breath (as we thought), she said"The world recedes-it disappears; and Heaven opens to my eyes, my ears;" then spread out her hands and bowed repeatedly, while such a radiant smile appeared, and her countenance beamed with joy; she looked as if already she had seen the King in his beauty, and was adoring at his feet; then, with a loud voice, said, "HALLELUJAH!" sank back, we thought, to speak no more; but she revived again, and opening her eyes, it evidently ap peared she was disappointed, and cried, “O, I have come back again-I have come back to this wicked world." She seemed distressed at the thought, and not so happy; but shortly said, "I am sent back that patience may have her perfect work, and I will wait patiently; though it is painful at present, it will cease before long, and then, oh, how pleasant the conqueror's song." She said, "I love my husband;" and to other friends she said, "I love you dearly; but I can leave you all to go to Jesus." She then kissed us each, and said, "It will not be long; then it will be all glory." She spoke of her happiness so much, that when a neighbouring minister called to see her, and was asked to pray for and with her, his answer was, "She is so happy, it does not appear needful to pray; but rather to unite in praising our covenant God for such favours granted in the hour of death," which accordingly was done. She continued in this happy state until her beloved Lord called her home, about a quarter before eleven in the evening, October 10, 1856. "With a gentle sigh her fetters broke; We could only say, 'She's gone."" Hoping the perusal of these lines may prove a blessing and be a comfort to some poor, weak, and helpless child of God, who, like the departed, may be often called to do business in deep waters, I commend them to the blessing of our gracious God; and may the last end of both reader and writer be like hers, is the desire of yours in Jesus, the bereaved husband, J. MARTIN. WINDSOR.-On Christmas-day, a church was formed upon New Testament principles in this town, by Mr. W. Winslow, of Richmond, who preached three sermons on the occasion. For twelve months, he has laboured there on Sunday afternoons and Tuesday evenings, and not in vain. BERMONDSEY.-The Venerable Mr. Alling'Oh! happy saints, who dwell in light.'" ham, of the Grange Road, died on ChristmasShe continued to repeat promises and lines of day, aged 85. For a long time that somehymns for some time, continually saying, what silent follower of Christ has been wait"Happy, happy! There yet is room; and I ing for Heaven; and at the very moment do not fear death, though I walk through the when, for many years, he has been surrounded valley; for I feel underneath me the everlast- by his family, he was called to his everlasting ing arins." At this time a person came in rest. He had his fears, but his faith looked and said to her, "You have not been so great alone to Jesus. His widow-the author of a sinner as some have;" she looked grieved, The Closet Companion "-is left not to sorand said sharply, "Where is the good of talk-row without hope. |