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1. 1 B R A H Y 
 
 or TUK 
 
 rRIKCETO]*, «f. J. 
 
 DONATION i»y 
 
 !S A M L K L A O N K W , 
 
 to t P II 1 L A t> ii L f H 1 A . PA. 
 
 
 |j fV/^^, Division^ / 
 
 Jl S/te7f\ Seciloni |, 
 
 I ^ooJ,, No I 
 
 
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 A 
 
LETTERS 
 
 to 
 
 WESLEYAN MINISTERS, 
 
 ON 
 
 |^ini0t(rtal ^utg; 
 
 WITH AN 
 
 ADDRESS 
 
 TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CONNECTION; 
 
 An Account of the 
 
 ©rial anir ^Bxtommxmitation 
 
 OF THE AUTHOR, 
 
 AND AN ANSWER TO THE REPLY OF A CHELSEA 
 MEMBER. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 MURRAY, 101, EDGWARE ROAD; D. MURRAY, 179, SLOANE 
 
 STREET; SIMPKIN & MARSHALL, STATIONERS' 
 
 HALL COURT; and all Booksellers. 
 
 1844. 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 Page 24, line 19, for look more to, read took more of» 
 
 — 29, line 4, for boldness, read holiness. 
 
 — 102, liue 22, for consideration, read conversation. 
 
 — 105, line 39, for impressions read expressions. 
 
 — 121, line 22, for stoned, read starved. 
 
 — 149, line 33, for cares, read cases. 
 
 — 168, line 18, for to a disciple, read by a disciple. 
 
 — 194, line 33, for idols, read tables. 
 
 ~ 197, line 24, for improbability , read impossibility. 
 
♦•vs. ' • . 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 A Lover of Zion has been for some time requested to publish a 
 second edition of the work on Ministerial Duty, because owing to the 
 way in which it was circulated, many who were anxious to get copies 
 could not. It has been distributed at the different chapels round 
 London, in hopes that the seed thus promiscuously sown would spring 
 up. Many who saw the evil, and grieved at the cold formality that 
 was coming on the Church through the practice, are thankful that 
 one has stood forward on scriptural grounds to oppose it ; but while 
 many are thankful, there are others who are exceedingly mad against 
 it. These may be divided into two classes : the first are the preach- 
 ers ; the second are those who think, because a man is a preacher, 
 he cannot be wrong; therefore they have chosen the Ministers as 
 their oracle, and laid aside the Word of God. 
 
 As the practice is still carried on by the Preachers, and a Chelsea 
 member has written a reply, it is a call to again come forth against 
 it, and to show the Church how the matter was treated by the 
 \Vesleyan Ministers after it was made public, that they may judge of 
 the Apostolic spirit shown by them when their honour was touched. 
 
No treatment that the writer has received would induce her to 
 pubUsh a line ; but the conduct of the Preachers will show every 
 candid mind, that a practice which needs such means to defend it, 
 must be against the spirit of the Gospel ; therefore the publishing 
 of it will lead to its destruction ; which is alone the end of the 
 writer. 
 
 I do not write for gain : the first edition I gave away ; the 
 second will be sold at a price that will allow others a fair remu- 
 neration for their labour. I will not receive one farthing myself. I 
 have had a reward in my labour, and shall yet have a far greater 
 reward in the prosperity of Zion ; for the evil will be removed, and 
 God will yet be honoured by his servants bringing into his house the 
 fruit of their faith and prayer ; and to know that he is honoured in 
 his sanctuary, and see the blessing that will follow upon devotion of 
 spirit to his service, will be a far greater reward than thousands of 
 gold and silver. 
 
LETTERS, 
 
 ETC. 
 
 London, February 27, 1843. 
 
 Rev. Sir, 
 
 I hope the contents of this letter will be a sufficient apology 
 for troubling you. I have wished for an opportunity of speaking to you 
 some time : that not having occurred, I thought I would write. 
 
 My mind has been much pained of late, owing to the progress of the 
 work of God among the Methodists. Fourteen years since, I joined the 
 society at Salisbury Street. I soon found the inattention of the preachers 
 to their appointments was a great hindrance to me. I was united to the 
 people; our class-meetings were so profitable, that the thought of going 
 to another place of worship was painful; however, I found I must. 
 
 Five times in twelve months we were left without a preacher. My great 
 desire was to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Christ Jesus, I went 
 to chapel, pleading for a blessing upon the word, and often came away 
 grieved and disappointed. I thought— are these men watching over souls 
 as those who must give account? To assemble people together, and not 
 come near them, or give a reason why, compels me to attend the preaching 
 of the Gospel where I shall not meet with such disappointments. 
 
 I continued to meet in class ; and, when Mr. Pengelly came, I liked his 
 preaching, and always attended where he was when I could. After a lit- 
 tle time, the preaching the same sermon over and over again, appeared 
 an hindrance to me, although I knew it was a practice amongst the 
 Methodist preachers, I did not think it was wrong; but viewing it in 
 the light of an hindrance, it was a grief to me. I thought I would 
 speak to Mr. Pengelly about it (for surely no man of God would allow 
 himself in any practice he was not clear in his own mind to be right) ; and, 
 by hearing his reasons, I might see it in a different light. I spoke to him 
 in August : I told him I thought the Spirit was withheld, and prayer was 
 hindered through it. I found he could not justify the practice He 
 said that Jesus Christ preached the same sermons ; but that was a wrong 
 statement, as the writings of the Evangelists is the testimony of 
 different witnesses to the same truths. The old sermons were 
 still preached ; and I became more convinced, that through the un- 
 faithfulness of those who ought to be the champions in our Israel, the 
 Spirit was withheld. Under this impression I spoke again in December ; 
 but it was of no use. I have now brought the matter to you, and shall be 
 
 B 
 
thankful to see, from the testimony of Scripture, that I am wrong. I 
 have gone into this detail, as it is probable you have heard of this matter 
 before. 
 
 Now, Sir, I will show you the light I look upon it from Scripture. The 
 curse denounced on man was — " In the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat 
 bread." Man labours, and he receives the reward of his labour; but 
 there is an enjoyment connected with the full employment of time beyond 
 the reward of labour ; and those who, having riches, think they escape 
 that part of the curse, bind upon themselves a far heavier one. Through 
 the fall of man, he needs to be created anew before he can have any know- 
 ledge of spiritual things; and, after this change has been wrought by the 
 operation of the spirit of God, it is only by the diligent use of the means 
 God has appointed, that he can acquire spiritual blessings. As with the 
 individual, so it is with the community; and the minister is to labour in 
 spiritual things for their benefit. If he does his duty, I believe it is hard 
 labour; but God will reward him both in it and for it: there will be many 
 sound, scriptural conversions; believers will go on their way rejoicing ; 
 Christian principles will be shown forth in daily life ; so that the servant 
 of the sanctuary shall have a rich reward. On the contrary, the man who, 
 through any form of church order, can, if he pleases, escape much labour, 
 certainly will not have the blessing. No preaching, however eloquent, 
 scriptural, and impressive, will prove effectual, but as it is applied to the 
 heart by the Holy Spirit; and the man who is attempting to do his Master's 
 work with as little labour as he can, shall never see that abundant out- 
 pouring of the Spirit, which alone can remove all evils, and make the 
 Church of Christ what it ought to be to the world. When the manna was 
 sent in the wilderness, the Israelites were to gather it every day ; they 
 might have prayed that God would bless the manna of yesterday, to save 
 them the trouble of gathering it to-day ; but their prayers would not have 
 been answered. Jesus Christ is the bread of life; he is the manna that 
 nourishes the soul. Is the word of life so scarce, is there so little given to 
 our ministers by their Master, that they are obliged to carry the same from 
 place to place ? Or is it their sloth in seeking it ? Where is their scrip- 
 ture warrant for so doing? Unless they have that, it will prove like the 
 Israelites' manna, which would not nourish their bodies on the second day : 
 neither will the Word nourish the souls of the people. 
 
 I heard a sermon yesterday morning, on Temptation, the fourth time. 
 My heart said, ' Shame on you for a faithless servant !' It is evident, from 
 many parts of Scripture, that blessings are withheld from the people 
 through the unfaithfulness of those that minister in holy things : the Book 
 of Malachi particularly shows it. Surely the repeating of the same sermon 
 the fourth time (and it may be many more, although I did not hear it^ 
 seems to say, 'What a weariness in this service!' If such service were 
 offered from one man to another, would it be accepted ? The promise of 
 
3 
 
 great blessing was given conditionally to Israel: they were made to feel 
 the want of temporal good for their neglect of duty ; and we are often 
 made to feel the want of spiritual good through the unfaithfulness and neg- 
 lect of our ministers. Last Wednesday evening the people were assembled 
 at Salisbury Street, but no minister came. Some had saved an hour from 
 hard labour, thinking to get a little spiritual refreshment: they had to 
 return to their labour grieved and disappointed. 
 
 Salvation is, indeed, all of grace; yet there is some labour required, 
 which, if neglected, will keep back the blessing. I think it is as evident 
 from Christian experience as from Scripture, that the system acted upon, 
 by our preachers is wrong. We come to God by faith. It is faith in the 
 precious name of Jesus that causes the new-born soul to sing, 'Exult, O my 
 soul!' disburdened of her load, and swells unutterably full of glory and of 
 God. If the soul goes forward, faith must be a continual act : the faith of 
 yesterday will not do for to-day. The soul that lives in the constant ex- 
 ercise of this act, will have daily cause for praise : " the peace of God, 
 which passeth all understanding," will rule in that heart; the fear of 
 every thing will be gone, but the deep, the sacred fear of offending God. 
 Satan may tempt, all sensible enjoyment may be withheld, the waves of 
 temptation ^may beat, and the spirit be almost overwhelmed : yet if the 
 simple act of faith be maintained, thesoul will still live, and praise God in 
 the fire. The soul that lives by faith will be fruitful in love : " it will 
 make the willing feet in swift obedience move." 
 
 The work of sanctification is carried on by the indwelling of the Spirit : 
 he excites our endeavours, and makes them successful ; but the aid of the 
 Spirit does not supersede our own industry. Through his blessing upon 
 the Word, it is the green pastures in which the soul is nourished and 
 strengthened. Yesterday morning my preacher said, " Man did not live 
 by bread alone," but by the blessing of God causing the bread to nourish 
 his body : neither is it the constant, painstaking study of the word : this 
 may be done, and nothing more attained than head-knowledge ; but, 
 through the blessing of the Spirit upon the labour, the soul will go on 
 from strength to strength, growing in grace, and in the knowledge of 
 Christ Jesus. The same with the means of grace, the wells at which the 
 soul is to be strengthened and animated. Often, through the unfaithful- 
 ness of man, the soul, instead of being refreshed, is grieved. I have 
 repeatedly heard it said, '" I had an opportunity of going to chapel ; but it 
 is of no use; we should get the same again." I heard you preach a 
 sermon not long since. Many of the people were in tears ; I was myself; 
 but I knew it was the excitement of natural feeling. I thought, surely 
 this is an old sermon : for the power of the Spirit does not come with the 
 word ! Soon after I was told of one who had heard it three times. 
 
 Here is the great grief, sir. I think there has never been in this cir- 
 cuit two men of such ability, as Mr. Pengelly and yourself; clearly, forci- 
 
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 bly, and scripturally showing what Christian duty and practice are, and 
 salvation by grace through faith ; and will the benefits received from these 
 great talents be chiefly excitement to some, and admiration to others ? 
 
 If you admit what I have said, that spiritual health and vigour cau only 
 be maintained in the soul by daily, unwearied diligence, it is equally clear 
 that you cannot have the blessing without the labour. You'would not 
 think of setting down with all the usual formalities to dinner, and ask a 
 blessing, without food being provided. A man would be thought mad to 
 say, "I will provide nothing; God will bless the food I had yesterday for 
 to-day." This mistake would soon be felt. God, in his providence, sends 
 food ; but man must give the constant labour and cost for the care of the 
 body. The order in grace is the same. Surely the man must be mad to 
 go through the formalities of worship, pleading for the blessing of the Spirit 
 upon the word, telling God that all efforts are vain, unless the Spirit shine 
 upon the Word, beseeching God to give him a word in season for the peo- 
 ple, and yet know that he has used no effort, prepared no offering from the 
 "Word of Life, but going to repeat to the people what he had offered to 
 God before. The blessing was not to be given on the spiritual provision 
 twice, any more than on the bodily : it is out of God's order of working : he 
 has given abundant supply in his Word for the provision of his house, and 
 the promise of his Spirit to guide his servants in preparmg for his people ; 
 and has said he would abundantly bless what they did provide ; but he 
 has never said he would bless the same provision twice, to save his ministers 
 the trouble of providing. There is an inexhaustible store ; and surely 
 such pretended service is a mockery of God, and an insult to the Spirit. 
 
 I think my point is clear from every thing in nature. Is the Church 
 compared to planting or watering? I cannot put the same water on a 
 plant twice; I must bring a fresh supply of water each time; and God 
 giveth the blessing. Is the Church compared to a building ? Think of 
 David's care in preparing to build the Temple, and his charge to Solomon 
 to serve with a perfect heart and willing mind, to take heed, for the Lord 
 had chosen him to build the Sanctuary. Does it look like the service of a 
 perfect heart and a willing mind, in building the Spiritual Temple, to hear, 
 as I did lately, the same sermon three successive Sabbath mornings, and it 
 might be more, though I did not hear. How careful was David that he 
 would not offer to God that which cost him nothing ; and when he brought 
 his costly offering, and called upon the Lord, he answered him by fire. 
 Think you that God, who still answereth his faithful servants by fire, will 
 cause it to descend on such pretended offerings ? These slothful servants 
 would like the fire; but they will not bestow the labour necessary to pre- 
 pare the offering. Is it compared to sowing seed ? The seed is allowed to 
 remain in the ground, to spring up, and ripen. Every field must have a 
 fresh portion of seed, if it is all the same sort of corn. Just in the same 
 way the minister brings the fresh seed, if he would have a plentiful 
 
harvest. But here is another great evil — one fruitful field will yield seed 
 for many more. Who can calculate the hindrance that this is in the 
 Lord's vineyard? No representation of duty and privilege, however elo- 
 quent and scriptural, will influence the conduct long without the blessing 
 of the Spirit. The Church abounds with nominal professors; and is not 
 the standard of religion maintained among the generality of Christians of 
 alow and defective order? How feeble are their efforts on behalf of 
 their fellow-men I If Christians felt their duty to be, as it really is their 
 privilege, there would be no lack of means to send out abundance of men 
 to China. I do not charge all the evil in the Church upon the ministers ; 
 but, as preaching is one great instrument by which the Spirit works, faith- 
 fulness in that must be productive of much. 
 
 When I think of the increasing population in the last fourteen years in 
 this neighbourhood, and then think of the Methodists, it is evident there 
 is something wrong. You were appointed at Portland Town on the 20th 
 of November ; but you disappointed the people. There was a disappoint- 
 ment at Salisbury Street in the Morning : the preacher that came was not 
 liked; and the same was expected in the evening. The poor sheep were 
 scattered, seeking for food. I went to Portland Town; as you were not 
 there I went to another chapel that had been built twelve months : there 
 was a large congregation, and good food provided for them. I have seen 
 six chapels built in this neighbourhood; and there are good congregations 
 in them all. In one there are eighteen hundred sittings: there is not one 
 vacant. I rejoice at their prosperity : I am no sectarian : I was taught, 
 by precept and example, by a beloved father, to love all that love Christ, 
 by whatever name they were called; and ever since I was created anew 
 in Christ Jesus, I have looked upon the Church as one body, actuated by 
 one spirit. 
 
 I think the order of the means of grace among the Methodists much 
 better adapted for spiritual prosperity than among any other denomination. 
 If they are faithfully attended to, God is faithful ; and, had the ministers 
 done their duty, there would have been many chapels in this neighbour- 
 hood, in the plan ending January, 1842. I marked the disappointments; 
 and there were fourteen in four months. I have frequently been put to 
 shame when I have taken any one with me, on account of the minister not 
 coming. Indeed, th se who would say to others, " Come with us, and we 
 will do you good," are afraid, because of the disappointments. 
 
 What would the single-minded Apostle Paul say now, if in that golden 
 age of the Church (as Mr. Wesley terms it) he could say, 'Every one seek 
 their own ease, pleasure and profit,' what would he say to this mode of 
 feeding the flock ? 
 
 I am sure. Sir, your patience must be exhausted; but my subject is far 
 from being so. If from Scripture you can prove that I am in the wrong, 
 
6 
 
 I shall be .thankful. But I am no Papist : the practice of the Fathers 
 will not do; it must be from the Word of God. 
 
 Do not think, from this letter, that I am uncharitable towards ministers: 
 I think the Gospel has taught me differently. The good name and reputa- 
 tion of a minister I would carefully guard ; but I fear no man, neither 
 would I omit telling him when I thought he was in any way a hindrance 
 to the work of God. 
 
 Believe me to remain, 
 Rev. Sir, 
 Respectfully yours in the bonds of Christian union, 
 
 A LOVER OF ZION. 
 To the Rev. Robert Young. 
 
 London, March 8th, 1843. 
 Dear Sister, 
 
 I perceive, from your communication, that you have a very 
 imperfect knowledge of the work of a Wesleyan minister, or you would 
 not accuse him of idleness ; and, as respects his preaching the same sermon 
 in different places, it is a practice he ought to adopt, if he even possessed 
 much more leisure than he does. The practice is proper, for the following 
 reasons: — 
 
 1st. There are some subjects that ought to be brought before every 
 Christian congregation; and, as a Wesleyan minister itinerates, he could 
 not make known to each congregation the whole counsel of God, did he 
 not adopt the practice you condemn. How could Mr. Pengelly reconcile 
 it to his conscience to preach, for instance, at Salisbury Street, on repen- 
 tance, faith, justification, and entire sanctification, and not to preach on 
 these subjects in any other chapel in the circuit? 
 
 2ndly. When Mr. Pengelly, or any other minister, preaches in Hinde 
 Street Chapel, his sermons, of course, are intended for the Hinde Street 
 congregation, and not for parties belonging to Salisbury Street or Stanhope 
 Street; and if persons from those places be found in Hinde Street, when 
 they ought in all propriety to be elsewhere, should they hear what they 
 have heard before, they, and not the minister, must bear the blame. 
 
 3rdly. The Apostle Paul, as may be seen from the Acts of the Apostles, 
 repeats the same thing in different places; and, in his Epistle to the 
 Philippians, he says, "To write the same things to you, to me is not grie- 
 vous, but for you it is safe." 
 
 You speak of old sermons producing mere excitement; but in this you 
 are quite wrong, as I know sermons which have been preached the fourth 
 or fifth time, to be much more blest in the conversion of souls, than when 
 they were first delivered, 
 
 1 am 
 Your faithful Pastor, 
 
 ROBERT YOUNG. 
 
Rev. Sir, 
 
 When I read your letter, I felt grieved and ashamed. I thought 
 before I had named this subject, I had considered it in every possible 
 light: I did hope that the ministers would be able to justify themselves, 
 although I could not see it. I am now convinced they cannot. The 
 whole tenor of Scripture is against it. The order of God, in nature, pro- 
 vidence, and grace is against it ; and nothing can gainsay this powerful 
 evidence : only through our order of services, the preachers can manage 
 to save themselves the labour of love God requires; and, by long habit, 
 this has become, like every other evil, nothing thought of. 
 
 As to your first remark, sir, that I have a very imperfect knowledge of 
 a minister's work, it is true I could not have a perfect knowledge of his 
 duties, unless I had a practical one. It is the sad defect in one part of 
 his duty that 1 complain of. 1 am far from thinking lightly of the duties 
 of a faithful minister. I view him as a pastor and a preacher, I have 
 heard a man of God say, who had to prepare three and four sermons a 
 week, for the same large, intelligent congregation, that his pastoral duties 
 were more than his pulpit; but that one furnished him with matter for the 
 other. 
 
 You ask me how Mr. Pengelly could reconcile it to his conscience to 
 preach at Salisbury Street on repentance, faith, justification and sanctifi- 
 cation, and not preach on these subjects in any other chapel in the circuit. 
 Really I cannot tell how he could preach on these subjects in one chapel 
 and not in another ; but I think it quite possible for him to preach on 
 these subjects in all the chapels, only in different sermons. I never heard 
 Mr. Pengelly's own experience, nor do I know any one that has ; but I am 
 quite sure, from his prayers and preaching, that he well understands the 
 hidden life of a Christian : he knows that he must daily seek the grace 
 vvhereby that life is sustained : he has no stock-faith ; can have no 
 hoards; he must live a constant beggar; his knowledge of the doctrines 
 you mention, springs from his knowledge of Christ Jesus; and it is by 
 feeding upon him daily, by faith with thanksgiving, that he is to grow. 
 Now just as he must ask for bread for his own spiritual nourishment, day 
 by day, so, when he goes to feed the people, he must ask his Master for 
 bread ; and what is given him, he is to give to them : he can have no 
 hoards for their nourishment more than his ovvn : he is his master's steward ; 
 and it is against the whole economy of his Master to feed the people twice 
 with the same bread. He has provided abundance for all; and, while he 
 is breaking it, if he has received his Master's blessing, he will cause it to 
 nourish the people, be they ever so many. Now, sir, as to the second part 
 of your letter, it is most astonishing ; what inconsistencies will not good 
 men fall into, when their practice is against the word of God, You say 
 the sermon at Hinde Street is intended for that congregation ; I am no 
 advocate for wandering ; I think you must see from my former statement 
 
8 
 
 that necessity have caused it. If a Calvinist minister had toid me that 
 his sermon was not intended for me, I should have thought it strange ; but 
 to hear a Wesleyan minister exclude any from partaking of the bread of 
 life, — one that should say, "Oh ! for a trumpet voice on all the world to 
 call;" to hear him tell any that could come within the sound of his voice, 
 that his sermon was not intended for them, seems almost impossible. Tell 
 it not in Gath, let it not be published, for the uncircumcised would tri- 
 umph. He would rather that the souls committed to his care, should go 
 without the bread of life, than come where he is, because he is doing what 
 the book, which he professes to take for the rule of his faith and practice, 
 forbids, and in propriety the people ought not to know it. 
 
 The first Wednesday Evening you came to Salisbury Street, the sermon 
 I believe was an old one; some of the people went to Hinde Street, on 
 the Thursday — -they heard the same ; others went to Chelsea on the 
 Sunday — it was the same again. Surely they were not to blame. 
 
 The next time you preached at Salisbury Street on the Wednesday, the 
 text was in Deuteronomy ; the Sunday week after there was a Love Feast 
 at Stanhope Street. There vvas a preacher at Salisbury Street, and when 
 he preaches, the pews tell the mind of the people towards him; some 
 stopped at home, others came to Stanhope Street, and heard the old 
 sermon; you had provided no bread. "Jesus had compassion on the 
 multitude that followed him ; he would not send them away fasting, lest 
 they should faint by the way ;" and your duty, as his minister, is to bring 
 in food for his people, that they may eat and be satisfied, and praise his 
 name. 
 
 The service of the priesthood was a holy service, designed for the honour 
 of God, and the benefit of his people. When the daily sacrifice was 
 appointed, God made great promises of his favour to Israel, and the tokens 
 of his presence among them while they honoured his institutions. The 
 daily sacrifice were the meals in God's house, always accompanied with 
 bread and wine. The covenant of priesthood is called the covenant of 
 peace; by it, peace was made and kept between God and Israel. The 
 great blessings of life and peace contained in that covenant were given to 
 the tribe of Levi. They were entrusted with the benefits for the use and. 
 behoof of God*s Israel ; they received, that they might give. God says, 
 " 1 gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid 
 before my name." God gives honourable testimony respecting them; 
 they were his messengers to the people, and they did their work faithfully. 
 While they did their part, God did his ; but they would have had no right 
 to expect God to perform his part of the covenant, if they had not per- 
 formed theirs. 
 
 In later years there was a great charge brought against the priests; God 
 says of them, " they have corrupted the covenant of Levi ;" they had 
 managed their ofiice as though it had been designed for their own ease and 
 
9 
 
 comfort, and not for the glory of God and the good of men; thus they 
 forfeited the benefit of that covenant, and lost life and peace which was 
 by it settled upon them. This state of things did not come on sud- 
 denly, it crept in by degrees. " Even from the days of your fathers ye 
 are gone away from my ordinances." They were so ignorant of the true 
 nature of their office, that they were pure in their own eyes, they could 
 not see wherein they had departed. They pleaded not guilty when God 
 charged them with robbery ; they still brought their sacrifice, but their 
 oblations were vain, they mocked God and deceived themselves; they 
 could not offer the same sacrifice twice, but they brought the worst they 
 had, and God was to be served with the best ; therefore it was an abomi- 
 nation ; they had robbed him of his honour, in that which was devoted to 
 him; "but they said, Wherein have we robbed thee?" and the answer 
 was, "Ye are cursed with a grievous curse, for ye have robbed me even 
 this whole nation." 
 
 Like priest, like people; but amongst them there were still a few 
 faithful ones that mourned for the iniquity of the land. They are ex- 
 horted still to do their duty, and God would abundantly bless them. 
 •' Bring ye all the tithes into my storehouse that there may be meat in my 
 house." They had brought some ; but, like Ananias and Sapphira, had 
 kept back part of the price. But the command is, bring the full tithe 
 that the law requires, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me 
 when thou hast done thy duty. I will open the windows of heaven, and 
 pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive 
 it. 
 
 God did bear long with the people, but they repented not; they still 
 offered to God their pretended service; they leaned upon the Lord and 
 said, "is not the Lord among us, no evil can come upon us." But God is 
 true to his threatenings, as well as his promises. His wrath was poured 
 out upon this people; Zion, for their sake, was ploughed as a field, and 
 Jerusalem became heaps. 
 
 Christ our high priest being come, all these types are done away. He 
 is sacrificed for us, and he is our altar and sacrifice. With our Great High 
 Priest is the covenant made, which never shall be, never can be broken; 
 and through him all the Israel of God are a royal priesthood, they offer up 
 their spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ Jesus. Under 
 the law the offerings that were brought, were what God in his bountiful 
 providence had given to the people; so under the Gospel, our offerings are 
 what God in his grace has given. Under the law they feasted upon their 
 offerings, and rejoiced before the Lord; so under the Gospel we spiritually 
 feast and rejoice before the Lord, and Jesus our Great High Priest feasts 
 and rejoices with his people, on what he in his grace has provided. He 
 delights to see his gifts and graces used, not hidden or hoarded; they that 
 
10 
 
 use them. for his glory shall have an abundant supply; those who hoard 
 them shall have them taken away. God is glorified in those who bear 
 much fruit. 
 
 Under the law they had a sanctuary, and many were the commands 
 given to keep the sabbath, and reverence the sanctuary. Many were the 
 blessings promised for obedience, and many were the curses denounced 
 upon disobedience; they were working for life, we are working from life ; 
 their obedience was from fear, ours is from love. The former worship was 
 chiefly carnal ordinances, and bodily exercises; the worshippers were 
 generally strangers to the inward part, the spiritual worship ; the legal 
 services were figures of the true; and if we do not worship God, who is 
 a spirit, in the spirit, we have not performed the act of worship, therefore 
 we miss the end thereof. 
 
 We have our sanctuary, and our priests taken from among ourselves, to 
 guide the worship, and we are commanded not to forsake the assembling 
 of ourselves together. Jesus the Great High Priest has promised to be 
 wherever two or three of his people are gathered together; the holy spirit 
 is there : he puts the life into the service ; the incense of prayer and praise 
 is offered; then the appointed minister brings the offering he has prepared, 
 from what God in his grace has entrusted him with, for f.he benefit of his 
 people; they are to feast and rejoice upon this offering; and prayer is 
 ascending from all hearts, that they may receive all that nourishment, 
 which, through the blessing of the holy spirit, it is calculated to impart. 
 All are waiting — Jesus to present it to his father — God is ever well pleased 
 with the offerings that are presented through Jesus; the holy spirit is 
 waiting to bless it to the people; for let the offering be ever so well pre- 
 pared, it is of no real benefit without his blessing. But, behold ! there is 
 no offering ; the priest has appeared before the Lord empty; he has come 
 to mock God and his people. Under the law he would have suffered 
 instant death. 
 
 Wonder, oh ! heavens and be astonished, oh ! earth, at the long-suffer- 
 ing patience of the God of truth with this bold presumption. He cannot 
 deceive God with his old service, if he attempts to deceive the people. 
 When thinking over this matter, the petition, "father, forgive them, they 
 kuow not what they do," has often ascended. 
 
 Does the Lord require his services ? Is he obliged to go to the sanctuary ? 
 Oh! no, he professes to be serving from pure love; and when he comes 
 with his offering of peace, which includes all that good, which goes to 
 make up a complete happiness, you will hear him tell the people he would 
 fall down upon his knees, and entreat them to partake of the offering: his 
 master has provided abundance for all. 
 
 Under the law the people could not have been so deceived ; it was their 
 bodily appetites that were to be satisfied. Under the Gospel, the service 
 
11 
 
 being spiritual, it is by faith they are to feed upon the offering; but all 
 spiritual worshippers know they have not been fed; they came praying and 
 believing, but are disappointed; they wonder why it is; sometimes they 
 are ready to question the faithfulness of God ; then they think they have 
 lost their interest in his favour ; or they could not have attended such a 
 service, and not have received his blessing; yet vrhen the sacrifice of 
 praise was oflFered they were blest, and their souls ascended with the 
 incense of prayer. All this showed the presence of the adorable trinity; 
 when the zealous faithful servant came with his offering, the blessing was 
 gone, though he did his part to the admiration of all ; every voice is raised 
 to commend him; he is reverenced and honoured; it would be thought 
 sacrilege by most of the worshippers to say a word but to his praise, which 
 is quite right, unless he himself profane his office. 
 
 Under the law it was commanded that the people should reverence the 
 priest, for he offered for them the bread of their God; and under the 
 gospel they are to be reverenced and loved for their works' sake; no 
 worshipper, who believed he was profaning the sanctuary, could reverence 
 him, or they would be partaking in his sin; for although he had not sought 
 grace to prepare the Lord's offering, he had used his natural abilities so 
 well, that the sensibilities of the people were highly excited; that was the 
 fruit of the flesh, and not the spirit. Thus he manages to rob God of his 
 glory, and deceive the people. 
 
 Is it to be wondered at that amidst so much profession, there should be 
 so little vital godliness in the church ; the most zealous ministers in 
 profession^ seem to be those who are trying to put God's work off with the 
 least labour; and the people are only treading in their footsteps, when 
 they do the same. 
 
 The analogy between the old and new dispensation, I think, cannot be 
 denied in both ; God has appointed the offerings, the one carnal, the other 
 spiritual ; the fall of man has obliged him to labour for both, and when 
 men have brought their most costly, and their best, they must still say, "of 
 thine own have we given thee." God could bless in both dispensations, 
 without the instrumentality of man ; but this is the way he chooses to 
 work. 
 
 As to the third part of your letter, sir, there is nothing in the acts of the 
 Apostles that can give the slightest colouring to the practice. The con- 
 version of St. Paul is related three limes; first by St. Luke, then by Paul, 
 when he was brought before Felix, and again when he was brought before 
 Agrippa ; as for the other passages, all Paul's writing and speaking, were 
 of the same things ; it was his business to make Jesus Christ known in all 
 His saving power; all his great talents were brought into exercise for this 
 one thing, to make known the glorious gospel to fallen man; the universal 
 lemedy for universal misery ; he was imprisoned, and brought before 
 kings and rulers, he suffered many perils and hardships, and through 
 
12 
 
 all he was stedfast to the same thing ; he was indeed a noble pattern of 
 love, zeal, and self-denial; in him was combined all the excellencies that 
 adorn the Christian character. If would be as easy for one part of the 
 Church to prove Apostolic succession, as for another to bring Apostolic 
 practice for this dishonesty ; that would fain be hidden. The Apostle's 
 services were for all the saints and faithful brethren; it mattered not whe- 
 ther he had seen them or not, if they belonged to his master, he would re- 
 joice over them to do them good. He did not found the church at Co- 
 losse ; but, oh ! how his soul rejoiced to hear what the grace of God had 
 done in them and by them; although he had never seen them, he was un- 
 ceasing in prayer for them, blessing God for His grace towards them, he 
 gives them needful counsel and warning, and encourages them to stedfast- 
 ness and perseverance in the same things; he tells them to send the Epistle 
 to Laodicea to be read there, and for them to read the one he had sent to 
 Laodicea ; doubtless they were both about the same things, and yet they 
 were different. 
 
 I think it is evident from this glance at the Apostle's character, that he 
 W'Ould have thought it no impropriety for any one to seek to benefit by his 
 labours; he never would have told the disciples of his master, that his ser- 
 mon was not intended for them ; he was no eye-servant; he acted as in the 
 presence of his Lord. 
 
 As to your concluding remarks, sir, the light is so much clearer in my 
 mind respecting old sermons, I not only think they produce no good, but 
 great evil; it could not be a spiritual service, you had not exercised your 
 spiritual faculties to prepare an offering, the blessing of grace could not 
 descend upon what you had not brought. You exercised your bodily 
 powers, in presenting to the people that which at that time had cost you 
 no spiritual labour, and the worship being wholly spiritual, God now owns 
 you had performed no worship, you had done no service, because you did 
 not offer the fruit of your spiritual labour. 
 
 Natural causes will produce natural effects ; our natural as well as our 
 spiritual powers improve in the using ; so the more frequently you exercise 
 your natural abilities on the same sermon, they will improve and be more 
 effectual, and you will see more of the fruit of your labour. There may 
 be the tears, the weeping and the crying out, but that cannot be the fruit of 
 the spirit, because you had not brought the fruit of your spiritual labour. 
 The counterfeit looks so well, that it passes without being suspected; but 
 he to whom all hearts are open, sees it, and the after-fruit gives painful 
 evidence to every spiritual mind of the deception. 
 
 Now, sir, you have given me your reasons for this practice, and I have 
 given you mine against it. In so doing I have accused you and all that offer 
 such vain service of a crime your soul should abhor, yet it is clear from 
 scripture testimony that you are guilty. The root of the evil is love of 
 ease — love of self. While — I believe I am right — I think you have never 
 
13 
 
 thought of it in this light. It is difficult to imagine any practice wrong 
 that long usage and convenience have gained a licence for, and it passes 
 over without thought. I hope you will see it as I do : things would soon 
 wear a different aspect: the minister would soon find the benefit in every 
 part of his labour; the attendance of worshippers would be regular and 
 devout; the sanctuary would be really felt at home: the sheep would not 
 turn aside from the pastures where, in propriety, they ought to feed. 
 Whenever the offering was pure, God would bless it to the people, and they 
 would praise him. The effects of the change would be felt in all the other 
 means of grace; believers would feel as if they were re-converted; this 
 hindrance being removed from the great instrument by which the spirit- 
 uallity works, the word of the Lord would have free course and be glori- 
 fied — all the earth would soon feel the change. 
 
 You will be wearied with my long letter : 1 wished to place this impor- 
 tant matter clearly before you, and I do it in hope. If, through the 
 blessing of God upon this effort, you should be led to see, as I see, the 
 result would be glorious — you would never rest until this practice was 
 annihilated. 
 
 That you may see this matter in its true light is indeed my fervent 
 prayer ; and believe me, to remain. 
 
 Dear Sib, 
 Respectfully yours, in the bonds of Christian Union^ 
 
 A LOVER OF ZION. 
 To the Rev. Robert Young. 
 
 March 21st, 1843. 
 Rev. Sir, 
 
 I feel constrained to address you on a subject which I doubt 
 not has already caused you pain ; for I presume you are not ignorant of 
 my efforts in this important matter. I am afraid that you should have 
 thought me an enemy, rather than a friend ; but he who knoweth all 
 things, knoweth I have never had one thought towards you contrary to 
 love. Last sabbath evening I went to Portland Town, and my spirit 
 ascended with yours, while you offered up prayer ; indeed I never felt 
 more blest by the prayers of any one. I always feel as though you prayed 
 in the spirit ; the ardent breathings of a soul that lives ; as having nothing, 
 yet in Jesus possessing all things. Truly, a minister who addresses his 
 Maker in the true spirit of prayer, is a great blessing; the prayers of 
 ministers and people are sometimes very wearisome ; they begin to preach 
 and exhort the people in their prayers, and tell God who he is, and what 
 he is, and then exhort him what to do, instead of coming as beggars in 
 the full confidence of faith, seeking the fulfilment of his promises, mercy, 
 and grace, according to their need, 
 c 
 
14 
 
 When you gave out your text, it was new to me. I had not heard you 
 take it before, neither do I know that you had done so. I admired every 
 part of the sermon, it bore evident marks upon it, that he who prepared it 
 was wise-hearted, and that the spirit of wisdom and understanding had 
 been given him; but I believe it had been offered before, because the 
 power of the spirit did not come with the word. I heard it remarked in 
 the morning by two spiritual worshippers, that the sermon was admirable 
 in every part, but there was no fire; and one said if she had not known 
 the secret, why the power did not come, she should have gone home 
 mourning, as she had often done from the same cause; yet these worshippers 
 felt much blest from the other parts of the service. I mention this, sir, 
 because it bears evidence to the truth of part of my letter to Mr. Young 
 last week. I did not hear the morning sermon, neither have I the slightest 
 knowledge whether it had been preached before or not; yet from the 
 experience of those who are living souls, I believe it had been, for God is 
 faithful. If I am mistaken, do not spare me for my presumption. 
 
 In the book of Exodus we have the redemption of the world in type, 
 how Israel were brought out of Egypt by Almighty power, and enriched 
 with the law of God, and his tabernacle; the way of man's reconciliation 
 to God, and coming into covenant and communion with him, are there 
 variously represented. When the work for the tabernacle was to be done, 
 it was not thought that the men who had been accustomed to make bricks, 
 and work in clay, could engrave or embroider work in gold, and cut 
 diamonds ; they would have been ready to say, " who is sufficient for 
 these things;" but God took care of that. He filled the men with the 
 spirit of wisdom and understanding; all who were wise-hearted, both men 
 and women, were to work according to their ability, and do something; 
 although there was much work, it was soon done; they were hearty and 
 zealous in the work; and as they were taught of God, they were saved 
 from those mistakes which would have hindered their progress. God had 
 prepared their hearts, and the thing was done immediately and exactly as 
 the Lord commanded Moses. The tabernacle would never have been 
 finished, if the workmen had tried to make the labour that was spent on 
 one socket do for another; the smallest thing must have the same labour; 
 every loop, and ring, and curtain, must have the same labour bestowed on 
 each, and God gave the wisdom for all ; so he brings the spiritual workman 
 out of bondage, and fills him with wisdom and understanding. 
 
 The visible Church is God's tabernacle ; and some have eminent gifts 
 and graces given them to v/ork at the building : but, alas ! they seem to 
 have forgotten the order, and think the labour bestowed on one part of the 
 tabernacle will do for another. Solomon's temple was typical of the 
 church: it was long in building, but it was finished at last : it would not 
 have been finished now, if the builders had followed this plan. God gave 
 the pattern to David by his Spirit in writing ; and he gave it in charge to 
 
15 
 
 Solomon, who is a type of Jesus Christ, " in whom are hid all the treasures 
 of wisdom and knowledge." 
 
 The Church is the living temple, adorned and beautified by the graces 
 of the Holy Spirit. This temple is now preparing; but the progress is 
 greatly hindered. The pattern is given by God himself in writing; but 
 the builders have surely forgotten to study the writing closely! The 
 treasures are all in Jesus for the carrying on the work ; and he supplies to 
 the builders by his Spirit whenever they seek this aid, which they do very 
 scantily; and, when they have received materials for one part of the 
 building, they use them, and then carry the same to another; which 
 cannot add to the enlargement or strengthening of the building. They 
 keep spending their labour on their former supply, instead of asking for 
 more. They have surely forgotten that the work is wholly spiritual. 
 
 The building seems to increase rapidly with the fruit of their natural 
 labour: it looks for a little time as though it was the sound scriptural work; 
 but it is constantly tumbling down at different parts, for want of the Living 
 Spirit, although much ingenuity and many props are used to support it. 
 This building, that is destined to fill the world, is almost become the scorn 
 of the men of the world. The world is to be the Temple, and the earth is 
 to be filled with the glory of God. The world is fast preparing for the 
 building of this Temple : great obstacles are removing ; and those who 
 ought to be foremost in the work, are not rendering much assistance. 
 
 The master-builders having put multitudes of dead stones into the build- 
 ing, the fruit of their natural labour, it could not be expected the dead 
 would do the work of the living. This being a living temple, every stone 
 is actuated by the same spirit, and all unite to increase the building. The 
 dead stones, while they do no good, do much evil : they hinder the work 
 in every way, not being actuated by the Living Spirit. They care not 
 whether the building extends or not. The means wanted to carry it on 
 cannot be had freely : they are dragged from them, because the spirit of 
 the work has never been in them ; it is not a free-will offering that is 
 offered. 
 
 When the tabernacle was building, the people entered heartily into the 
 spirit of the work, and brought more than was sufficient for it. If every 
 member of the Christian Church was a living one, there would be abun- 
 dance of means to carry on the work. 
 
 My dear sir, let me implore you to take this matter into your prayerful 
 consideration. Your clear, scriptural ideas on different subjects have given 
 me much pleasure, though I have often come with the expectation of hear- 
 ing what I had heard before. I believe it is the Lord who has taught me 
 otherwise. That the light may shine upon your mind in this matter, is my 
 earnest prayer. When it first came into my mind, I thought there were 
 so many obstacles, it could not be done ; but the Lord can make all things 
 
16 
 
 easy. Every man that can offer a free-will offering God will own, and 
 bless it ; but while offering the same twice, it is impossible. 
 
 Hoping you will see this in its true light, believe me, my dear SlR, 
 to remain 
 
 Respectfully yours in the bonds of sweetest union, 
 
 A LOVER OF ZION. 
 To the Rev. J. C. Pengelly. 
 
 April 19th, 1843. 
 Rev, Sir, 
 
 You must bear with me this time, as I think I shall not trouble 
 you any more in this way. 
 
 I feel that, for Zion's sake, I cannot rest. This matter employs my 
 thoughts sleeping and waking. I am quite sure, if you had taken this 
 matter to the Lord in simplicity and sincerity, you never would have 
 preached an old sermon again, nor yet brought an old one with a new text. 
 It is not the changing your text from Habbakuk to Isaiah that will cause 
 the blessing to descend upon the word. The plan may deceive some peo- 
 ple; but it is of little consequence what they think. The blessing of the 
 Spirit will never descend upon such service ; and it is that which causes 
 Zion to languish. 
 
 I did not expect you would answer my letter, because I thought you had 
 neither sword nor shield to defend yourself with. It is only when the ac- 
 tions are in accordance with the word, that faith can be genuine; and, as 
 this practice is not in accordance with the word, whatever effects may pro- 
 ceed from it, are no grounds of faith ; it must be presumption. If I were 
 not confident I had both sword and shield, I should not have dared to at- 
 tack you : the difference between us appears as great as between David 
 and Goliath. I have proved my armour in many a combat, and have never 
 yet had cause to be ashamed of it ; and, after a little perseverance, it will 
 be victorious in this instance. 
 
 I am sorry to say Mr. Pengelly still continues the practice. I wonder 
 that a man of such clear spiritual discernment as he is can do it. It is 
 evident from Scripture, that, for the neglect of the offering the Law re- 
 quired, Israel suffered in their temporal blessings : likewise, from the neg- 
 lect of the offerings the gospel requires, the Spirit is grieved and 
 withheld. 
 
 As the Israelites deluded themselves with a false hope, so it is now. To 
 hear, sir, the conversions that you are said to be the instrument of, makes 
 me tremble for the reproach that through them will be brought upon reli- 
 gion. I conversed with a young person a few days since, who you said had 
 found peace on the 26th of March. She came to class, but could not say 
 
17 
 
 any thing. 1 feared she had been deceived ; for God has no still-born 
 children : I found it was so : her mind is still in darkness. I told her 
 the Spirit of God had caused her to feel she was in darkness ; that she 
 must be earnest in prayer, and take no rest in any thing, till she found it 
 in God. I encouraged her to believe that God had begun the good work 
 in her soul ; that if she had the smallest idea of the peace and happiness 
 enjoyed by the believer, she would not rest until she could say, Jesus is 
 mine, and I am his. 
 
 Now here is a wonderful confusion ! a minister pronounces a soul justi- 
 fied ; another person tells that soul to take no rest until she feels that she 
 is. Which of the two is she to believe ? 
 
 I know those who you have said had received sanctification to be in the 
 same state. 
 
 I conversed a short time since with a youth who was termed a backslider : 
 he had been making an outcry in the chapel, and was rejoiced over as a 
 justified soul. I tried to learn from him what was the previous state of his 
 mind : I found there had not been the work of the Spirit: he had never been 
 the habit of prayer, or reading his Bible. Could I speak to him as a back- 
 slider ? No ! I told him he had never known any thing about religion : 
 he must pray that God would give him to feel the state he was in by 
 nature. 
 
 Many such cases might be brought. That souls have found peaee in the 
 -chapel I believe; but then there has been the work of the Spirit on the 
 mind before ; and God, in answer to prayer, has set the soul at liberty. 
 
 The excitement produced by an old sermon never was of any lasting 
 benefit ; for, from Scripture testimony, it is clear such an offering could 
 not be owned of God. Under both dispensations, the consecration of 
 ministers to the service of God is clear. The preparation for one was out- 
 ward ; the other inward. The observance of the laws of Christ cannot be 
 less necessary than those of Moses. Aaron and his sons were duly conse- 
 crated for their office. We are told they did all that was commanded : 
 they set an example before the people of their exact obedience to the law 
 and, being so consecrated, they were to give themselves wholly to the 
 duties of their office, to attend continually on this very thing. Gospel 
 ministers are compared to those who served at the altar : they are first con- 
 secrated according to Gospel rule; they are raised from spiritual death; 
 they have part in the first resurrection ; they receive the baptism of the 
 Holy Spirit; and are to observe all the commandments and ordinances of 
 the Gospel. The covenant sealed in this baptism binds to duties, as well 
 as conveys benefits and privileges. If the former be not faithfully 
 attended to, the latter cannot be expected : we cannot sever what God has 
 joined. 
 
 From the foundation to the top stone it is all of grace, through the 
 operation of the Spirit. We are born of the Spirit, quickened and 
 
18 
 
 sanctified by the Spirit; through him we perform duty : the divine life in 
 us, the works and fruits of righteousness without us, are all through this 
 blessed Spirit. He is shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our 
 Saviour. "We are to take good heed that we quench not his holy motions, 
 nor resist and oppose him in his workings. If we do, he will slacken; if 
 we persist in it, he will depart from us. From this it is evident the 
 consecration of the Gospel minister is all of grace, through the operation 
 of the Spirit. His dignity is not natural to him : his talents, gifts, and 
 graces, are his Lord's goods ; and, as his Lord gives bountifully, he is 
 faithful to his trust, in waiting upon him in his word; but if he is nig- 
 gardly of his labour, he need expect nothing. He is to devote himself to 
 the work of the sanctuary, the study of the Word, and prayer: he is to 
 prepare the Lord's offerings, and bring them to the sanctuary. 
 
 I think the sermon signifies the peace-offering for thanksgiving. This 
 was not a sacrifice of atonement, but an offering of peace, signifying 
 reconciliation, concord, and communion, A sermon, if rightly considered, 
 is the Lord's offering of peace to guilty man. The peace-offering was 
 called the Lord's offering. God had part, the priest had part, and the 
 people had part. Leavened bread was offered, and eaten with it, that 
 nothing might be wanting to make it pleasant. It contained all that was 
 necessary for the nourishment of the body. So the Lord's offering of 
 peace, the preaching of the Gospel, contains all that is necessary for 
 spiritual nourishment and happiness. The law concerning this offering 
 was — that it must be eaten the same day it was offered. If the command 
 was not obeyed, it was said, " It shall not be accepted, neither shall it be 
 imputed to him that offereth it : it shall be an abomination." "The soul 
 that eateth it shall bear his iniquity." This was a free-will offering: they 
 were not compelled by the law to bring it. If any one, through an 
 appearance of generosity, brought it, and afterwards proved mean in 
 using, it were better for him not to have brought it. God would show by 
 this, that he is a bountiful benefactor, "giving us all things richly to 
 enjoy." 
 
 We see that this offering, brought in sincerity, and used uprightly, was 
 accepted, or else became an abomination. The offering that was brought 
 under the law, was what God in his providence had given to the people, 
 an acknowledgment of benefits received. Under the Gospel, the offerings 
 brought are what God in his grace has given ; and through the fall of man 
 labour is necessary for both. God would have it seen by the typified 
 peace offering, that he was bountiful in providence : surely it was to set 
 forth that he is also bountiful in his grace to those that constantly wait 
 upon him in his word for a fresh supply. 
 
 If sincerity and uprightness were necessary in that which was carnal, 
 surely it is in our Gospel perfection. The same spiritual offering cannot 
 be brought twice : it is expecting God to work against his own order of 
 
19 
 
 means. The minister is to prepare his offerings from the Word of Life ; 
 and, bringing them to the house of God, "with a true heart, in the full 
 assurance of faith," he is to enter into the presence of God, through the 
 new and living way which is consecrated by the blood of the one great 
 atoning sacrifice. God will then accept it, and his blessing will 
 descend upon what he has imparted to his faithful servants. 
 
 When the Lord's offering is brought in simplicity and sincerity, the 
 people feel this. The offerer, his brethren and sisters in the Lord, partake 
 of it with joy and thanksgiving. The fat and inwards being burnt upon 
 the altar, denote that fervency of spirit that ought to be in our worship, 
 the praise and glory ascending from the heart to God while we are feasting 
 upon what is drawn from his word and promise. 
 
 Let the minister take what part of truth he pleases, praise and thanks- 
 giving will ascend- Let him draw the picture of man's degradation on 
 account of his alienation from God, praise will ascend for the grace that 
 has brought deliverance. Is he inviting all to come and partake of the 
 blessings and privileges of the Gospel, to drink of the water of life freely ? 
 their hearts go along with the invitation; prayer and praise ascend; the 
 Spirit and the Bride join in saying, 'Come, and take of the water of life 
 freely.' The offering has been blest ; the people depart, praising God for 
 his blessing, and for the grace given to his servant to prepare his offering. 
 In the midst of their praises they will not forget to pray for him : he 
 should have a share in their daily supplications, that the Spirit may guide 
 him into all truth. The thought of him at any time will cause a petition 
 to ascend on his behalf Having thus felt the power and glory in the 
 sanctuary, they are fresh nerved for the conflict ; their strength has been 
 renewed; God has blessed them that they might be made blessings ; they 
 will carefully take heed that their life and conversation are such as 
 becometh the Gospel ; they will watch for opportunities of inviting others 
 to partake of the grace they have found themselves, which is free for 
 all. 
 
 Those who feel the blessedness of praising God will earnestly desire to 
 bring others to join them in the blessed work; they will sing, "Let the 
 people praise thee, O God, yea let all the people praise thee." 
 
 Under the law it was at their peril if they partook of the offering when 
 they were ceremonially unclean ; so, under the Gospel, it is only those 
 worshippers who have been raised from spiritual death, and are walking in 
 the fear of the Lord, and in the comforts of the Holy Spirit, who can 
 thus feast upon the offerings with holy joy and thanksgiving. It is the 
 work of the Spirit, coming through our adorable Lord. 
 
 I must now leave the thoughts of true worship, and return to what is 
 painful to me, and I am sure cannot be pleasant to you. 
 
 From Scripture it is quite evident the old-sermon system is a great sin. 
 The power accompanying that means of grace will be withheld, until it is 
 
20 
 
 done away. There can be no fire at such service but what is of man's 
 own kindling. The types in the old economy were to show forth the good 
 things we have in substance. There is nothing that gives the slightest co- 
 louring to the practice : it is a deception, a robbery on God and his people. 
 
 Yesterday morning you came to Salisbury Street. You pleaded for 
 God's blessing upon your sacrifice : it was right you should : the offerings 
 brought into his house are, by his own appointment, dedicated to himself; 
 presenting them denotes a voluntary act : it must be a free-will offering. 
 You said it was an important matter to present the Lord's sacrifice. I 
 thought you had got one : after having had the matter placed before you 
 in a scriptural light, you would not call that a sacrifice which you had 
 offered before. I soon found you had not got any ; you had come into the 
 sanctuary to perform the external doty, to exercise your bodily powers in 
 presenting to the people what at that time had cost you nothing. Your 
 offering was well prepared. I doubt not, when you prepared it you had 
 an abundant reward in your labour; and, when you presented it in 
 the sanctuary, the fire would descend upon it; praise and thanksgiving 
 would also ascend from every living soul ; they would feast upon the 
 offering with joy and gladness, and return from the solemn assembly with 
 renewed zeal, to fulfil the design of God m thus blessing them with those 
 spiritual blessings, to be devoted to his glory, and become the spiritual 
 benefactors to the world. 
 
 You are consecrated by the Spirit to the ministry. One law of the 
 dispensation is — ask for whatever is needful ; the promise — ye shall receive. 
 The Spirit is the steward of all the grace, wisdom, and knowledge, 
 treasured up in Jesus. He is ever ready to impart to those who seek. 
 The Christian minister is the channel by which the blessing is conveyed. 
 He is ever ready to replenish with his heavenly influence; his delight is 
 to glorify Jesus. 
 
 You had presented your gift of grace at the altar ; you had offered to 
 God through Jesus the fruit of his Spirit; he had accepted and blest it; 
 what had you to do with it any more except as a stimulus to greater 
 exertion ? it was not yours to offer again. Success in temporal things 
 urges people to greater diligence: so it ought in spiritual; but you bring 
 your old offering again and again. There would have been an abundant 
 supply of grace given ydu to prepare another; but you did not seek it; 
 therefore you had not done your duty : surely it is folly to expect 
 the fclessing I 
 
 The absence of the benefit to be derived from this means of grace, not 
 only robs the worshippers of what they would have then received, but the 
 world of the influence which would have gone from them. 
 
 You have a good name ; but that will be of little service to the church, 
 unless you do your duty. Joshua's name and fame, his wisdom and 
 courage, were of no use to deliver Israel when Achan had sinned ; neither 
 
21 
 
 can your natural abilities profit the Israel of God while you are thus 
 insulting the spirit. All Israel suffered for the sin of Achan ; and for this 
 sin Israel now suflFers. 
 
 When you spoke of the power of the Gospel, you alluded to the sixth 
 chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, seventh verse ; Did you ever consider 
 the fourth verse ? Had you practised it, you would not be carrying the 
 same sermon about year after year. The Apostles' resolution was — ** We 
 will give ourselves to the ministry of the word and prayer." They were 
 constantly either fitting or furnishing themselves for their work, or 
 employed in it. Look at the fruits of their devotedness and vigorous 
 application. The number of the disciples multiplied greatly, and many 
 of the priests were obedient to the faith ; the Spirit wrought with them 
 mightily, and great things were done; they did their work by the Gospel 
 rule. Such labour will always have the blessing of the Spirit. 
 
 It was a departure from the Word that caused the Spirit to withdraw, 
 and bigotry and superstition for a long time to gain the ascendency. 
 Compassion for perishing men moved the Apostles to give themselves 
 wholly to their work. Zeal for the glory of their Master incited them. 
 Are you less indebted to your Saviour than they were ? The Spirit of 
 God impelled and directed them; and cannot you seek grace to enable you 
 to do the service of the sanctuary? You have the same word of promise 
 to rely upon — " Ask, and ye shall receive." Will you suffer the spiritual 
 talents you have received to be dormant when the Spirit is ready to bless 
 you in your trading ? You see the secret of the Apostles' success was the 
 singleness of their aim, and the devotion of their energies. Did they 
 exceed their duty ? Oh I no. 
 
 The Christian is a spiritual tradesman. Does not a tradesman try every 
 effort, and employ all his energies, to get gain ? would he be content to 
 use no effort to-day, because he had done so yesterday ? No ; the men of 
 the world are not so foolish. If they expect great gain, they will bestow 
 great labour. They are often disappointed : the spiritual tradesman will 
 never be disappointed ; he will have the reward both in his labour and for 
 his labour. 
 
 When you spoke of truth yesterday, you said it never sought conceal- 
 ment; it could bear the sunshine. The deeds of truth will bear the light 
 of truth; they will invite the closest scrutiny. If, by the light of the 
 Word of Truth, it is clear that the actions are according to the Word, then 
 there is cause for rejoicing ; if not, they will bring shame. Now this work 
 is contrary to the truth, and through it much good has been prevented. 
 Israel trifled with the ordinances of God, and they perished from off the 
 good land into which they had been brought. This spiritual trifling has 
 restrained the Spirit; and, if it is persisted in, we shall not escape 
 punishment: God will not be mocked. 
 
 The Methodists should be more blest than any other section of the 
 
Church, because they have more means of spiritual improvement, if the 
 ministers would be faithful to their duty. Were it not for the class- 
 meetings, Methodism would now have been extinct. I heard a sister say 
 in class yesterday, they had been the principal means of keeping the vital 
 spark alive in her soul ; and I believe it. It is the ministry of the word 
 that ought to put the energy into the other means ; but that is shorn of its 
 vital energy through the minister. It is of use as far as head-knowledge is 
 concerned, and for being a restraint upon men's outward conduct. It is 
 only the power of the Spirit accompanying the word that can make it the 
 power of God unto salvation. The Spirit will not work with men who do 
 not work themselves in the order that God has appointed for them. 
 Ministers are to be examples to the flock in all things ; but, if their 
 example was followed, things would be much worse than they 
 are. 
 
 For four successive Wednesday evenings, the minister who has been 
 appointed at Salisbury Street did not come. This looks like being lords 
 over God's heritage rather than examples to the flock, that they will do 
 their duty when they like and as they like. I think that nothing ought to 
 keep them from duty but indisposition of body; and then the people ought 
 to be told the cause of their absence. 
 
 If our leaders were to disappoint in this way, and send anybody to 
 meet the class, there would soon be a decrease of members. Oh ! If the 
 preaching was faithfully attended to, it would put new life and energy into 
 all the other means of grace ! 
 
 Although I have written, sir, only to you and Mr. Pengelly on this 
 subject, I believe the preachers generally are guilty of the same evil. 
 Mr. Newton is expected soon : he is proverbial for it. It is distressing to 
 think of men of such ability and power drawing the multitude after them 
 without any lasting benefit. He avoids the laborious part of his office, 
 but will use the utmost strength of his eloquence on an old sermon. This 
 will keep up the reputation he has gained ; but it will neither bring glory 
 to God nor peace to men. 
 
 It is time for the people to put a stop to this evil. Popery is gaining 
 ground, and infidelity is triumphing ; therefore every Israelite should 
 arouse and search into the cause why the Spirit is withheld. Piety within 
 the church is at a low ebb, and wickedness is rampant without. Is the 
 Spirit of God straitened? or are these his doings? does he not still bless 
 those who walk uprightly ? Oh, yes ! God is faithful : the church is to 
 blame for that destitution of the Spirit's agency under which she labours. 
 The Spirit has been dishonoured. Oh I let the evil be put away. What- 
 ever will not bear the light of truth is offensive to the Spirit. It must be 
 abandoned. Never can this abundant outpouring be secured until we 
 have put away every thing that is hostile to him. Then we might expect 
 good things. Infidelity would soon hide its head before the mighty power : 
 
23 
 
 the Gospel would soon be spread throughout the world. Oh ! that Zion 
 may awake to see this evil ! 
 
 And now, sir, I have again brought this matter before you. Surely it 
 is not a vain thing that I am troubling you and myself about. It is the 
 life of the soul that is in danger. If you give heed to me, I shall be 
 thankful ; if you do not, I shall have your letter and my four letters 
 printed, and distribute them among the people, and in that way arouse 
 their attention to this matter. I know that, by so doing, I shall subject 
 myself to contempt from many who think ministers cannot do wrong. 
 Those who will take the trouble to try the matter by the unerring standard 
 of truth will see that I am right ; and Truth will triumph, God will 
 raise up instruments to defend the injured cause of religion. I hope you will 
 prevent my taking this step : not that I wish to avoid reproach or contempt. 
 The consciousness that I have acted uprightly in the cause of truth will 
 keep me in peace. Neither do I wish to save my money ; for what I 
 should spend in printing shall be devoted to our new chapel. 
 
 Still hoping you will consider this matter, 
 
 Believe me, dear Sir, to remain 
 Respectfully yours in the fellowship of the Gospel, 
 
 A LOVER OF ZION. 
 To the Rev. Robert Young. 
 
 Christian Friends, 
 
 In bringing this matter before you, I have no other 
 motive than that which led me to bring it before the preachers, as I con- 
 sider the practice of preaching the same sermons over and over again a 
 great hindrance to the prosperity of the church. I have appealed to them 
 on the subject; but they will not listen. I must either let the matter 
 drop, or try and rouse the church to their duty. The former I feel I cannot 
 do ; and the latter I have not ability for. I shrunk from the task of 
 writing to Mr. Young; but, doing it through grace, 1 was enabled to bring 
 from the Word of God that which he cannot gainsay. He still continues 
 the practice. 
 
 I trust that this effort to eradicate the evil will induce men of ability to 
 use their efforts against this mockery of God's worship. If the call to 
 duty is from a woman, and she brings with her the Word of God for a 
 warrant, there need be no question as to what is duty. Christian men and 
 women are boldly to resist every practice in the church that is contrary to 
 the Word of God, if they are desirous of his blessing. That this practice 
 is against the Word I think no candid reader can deny. It is truly painful 
 to have the evil exposed, because it is bringing men into contempt whose 
 usefulness much depends on their good name. What is to be done to save 
 their good name ? Are the institutions of God to be slighted, and his 
 name dishonoured? 
 
24 
 
 The sin I complain of is the same as that of the sons of Eli. He also 
 sinned, because he reproved his sons too gently for the dishonour done to 
 God's ordinances: therefore he was told he honoured his sons more than 
 God. The particular oflfering named in the Book of Samuel, wherein the 
 sons of Eli so greatly transgressed, was the peace offering, the free-will 
 offering which the people brought. Any who have not considered this in 
 a spiritual light will find it so in my last letter to Mr. Young. They were 
 told that they kicked at the sacrifices and offerings which God had 
 commanded in his habitation; that "those who honoured him he would 
 honour, and they that despised him should be lightly esteemed." Their 
 offerings were the bounties of providence ; the offerings in our spiritual 
 worship are the bounties of grace. Did God show himself so zealous of 
 his honour and glory in that which was carnal, and is he regardless of his 
 honour in the spiritual? Certainly not. The minister of the sanctuary 
 brings in his spiritual offering for the benefit of the people, and can he 
 offer the same twice ? Is not this kicking at the Lord's offering ? He will 
 not bestow his labour to prepare it; but he expects God to give his 
 blessing. 
 
 These priests look more to the offering than was appointed them ; and, 
 owing to the reverence the people had for them, it was suffered to grow 
 into a custom ; they were not so tame about the Lord's part when that was 
 encroached upon. To their shame, when the people reminded them of 
 their duty, they would not regard the admonition; the people knew that, 
 if the fat was not burnt on the altar according to God's appointment, they 
 could not expect his blessing. 
 
 I have heard Mr. Young tell the people, when he came with his pre- 
 tended offering, that he would come from the pulpit, and fall upon his 
 knees to them, if they would yield themselves to God. By such means a 
 good reputation is maintained. He is a zealous man. This is what is 
 seen of men ; but he neglects what is seen of God. His duty was to 
 seek the aid of the Spirit of God, to prepare his offering ; and our Saviour 
 has beautifully represented the willingness of God to give his Spirit to them 
 that ask it. If he had followed the Apostle's example, and wrought with 
 the Spirit, and then brought the fruit of his labour into the sanctuary, it 
 would have been blessed : God would have had the glory, and the people 
 the benefit. He acted like the sons of Eli ; he kicked at the labour of 
 preparing the offering ; but, through his professions of love and zeal, he 
 has gained the honour and praise of being a devoted servant of God. 
 
 Does God say, "Cursed be the deceiver that hath in his flock a male, 
 and voweth and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing?" and shall the 
 deceiver have a blessing that cometh into the sanctuary without an 
 offering? Would he attempt so to deceive an earthly prince? and shall 
 the King of kings be so deceived? Will he connive at the breaking of 
 Lis own laws ? Does not he, from whom cometh all grace, deserve that 
 
25 
 
 man's best efforts should be used in preparing the offering to be presented 
 in his house. Surely those who mock him by bringing none will not go 
 unpunished. 
 
 It must be shown that the carnal ordinances were not shadows and 
 figures of Gospel ordinances, or this practice is a grievous mockery of 
 God's ordinances. The sacrifices and offerings were often repeated, the 
 same in kind; but to try and present the same twice is -an invention of 
 man's, a deception that could only be practised under the Gospel dispen- 
 sation : it is entirely against both example and precept in the Word of 
 God. 
 
 The life of grace is a growing life : as it is in the people, it must be in 
 the minister. Why do we pray for our ministers, that the Spirit of Truth 
 may guide them into all truth ? That they may be enabled to bring out of 
 the gospel-treasury the deep things of God, and impart them to the people. 
 It is of no use to pray thus, if they are not studying the Word ; if they 
 have a round of sermons for three years, and they carry them to the next 
 circuit. This is the plan that is now acted upon. They do not dig in the 
 mine of truth; they do not want to search into the deep things of God; 
 they have found enough of the treasure ; yet they have not sufficient for a 
 circuit, while the same is repeated five times. 
 
 I think it is about four sermons a week our ministers have to preach 
 The week-evening sermons are not much more than half an hour. I 
 think it is not expecting too much from them, that they should prepare two 
 sermons for the sabbath, and two week-evening sermons. If they cannot 
 do this, I would not have them burdened. Let them prepare as many 
 free-will offerings as they can ; but do not let them come into the sanctuary 
 just to perform the external duty. This is not the pure offering that was 
 to be pleasant to the Lord. If the souls of the people are to be satisfied, 
 the minister must be searching in the Word of Life for the hidden 
 treasure, depending on God's Spirit for light and assistance. He must 
 devote his own spirit vigorously to search the Scriptures, because they 
 testify of Christ : he is the treasure hidden in the field of Scripture: it is 
 to be searched for, and then the Spirit will impart abundantly. It is his 
 office to testify of Jesus ; and the minister, under the conduct of, and in 
 concurrence with, the Spirit, will testify of Jesus. Hereby is the honour 
 put upon them to be workers with God. 
 
 The knowledge of Jesus is a constantly increasing knowledge. He is 
 the fountain that continually replenishes the wells of salvation. The 
 supply is always coming in grace, and returning in praise ; but the 
 minister must at all times be drawing, if he would give his flock drink. 
 The souls cannot be refreshed through his instrumentality, if he will not 
 draw the water. It is living water, constantly springing up, to strengthen 
 and nourish all that will draw to everlasting life ; but the water that was 
 drank yesterday cannot refresh to-day. 
 
26 
 
 The minister who keeps presenting to the people the same sermon time 
 after time is like the Woman of Samaria. He would like the Spirit to do 
 his office, and the life-giving power to be given to the water, to save him 
 the duty of his office, the trouble of drawing the water. 
 
 The fire upon the altar of the heart first comes from heaven ; but we 
 can quench it by not replenishing it with the fuel God has provided. 
 
 The servant of Christ comes to invite the guests to the marriage feast, 
 to meet the Bridegroom: surely his own lamp should be well replenished 
 with the oil of grace from the good Olive, when he is to be the instrument 
 to impart to others. He cannot give oil to others, if he has come with an 
 empty lamp himself. 
 
 Just to keep up the outward form is a vain thing. God is to be worship- 
 ped in spirit and truth; and he supplies grace that he may be so 
 worshipped. 
 
 In every act of worship it should be our care to approve ourselves to 
 God ; this can only be done if we are sincere and upright. Now there can 
 be no sincerity in this service; it is done to keep up ihe outward form; 
 there has not been the preparation of his grace, which alone he will accept. 
 It is evident if ministers answer the purpose for which they are designed 
 of God, they must be constant in the study of the word of God. In 
 Christ Jesus there is fulness of grace and truth, and we are to be growing 
 in grace, and following on to know the Lord. 
 
 Paul did not think he had attained the height of knowledge, but he 
 kept pressing on. A man cannot be using diligence to know more, whea 
 he is found year after year repeating the same sermons. He is not making 
 use of the talents God has given him ; he cannot be pressing after that 
 knowledge which conforms us more to Christ, and endears Christ more lo 
 the soul. Not going forward is going back ; there is no standing still. 
 God has appointed the word of truth as the means of our sanctification ; 
 the spirit carries on the work, but we must work with him. The word of 
 truth is the food of the new life, and we must be drawing constant supplies 
 for the support of that life. Paul says to Timothy "meditate on these 
 things, give thyself wholly to them, that thy profitting may appear unto 
 all men." 
 
 It has been said to me that the making this matter public will bring a 
 reproach on the cause, as no section of the Church has so many backsliders 
 as the Methodists. I think it will shew the cause, and lead to its being 
 removed. The reason why there are so many backsliders, is because they 
 were never sound. The Gospel had come to them as the word of man ; 
 it pleased the fancy and filled the head with notions. As the ministers 
 will keep offering to God that which cost them nothing, he will never 
 bestow upon such vain service, that inestimable blessing which was bought 
 tit such an immense price. The power of the holy spirit is wanting, who 
 only can bring the word into the soul with power, and cause it to bring 
 
27 
 
 forth those fruits, which it is adapted and intended to yield to the praise 
 and glory of God. 
 
 We see the faithfulness of God to the covenant of nature; he is 
 constantly fulfilling his word ; he sends the appointed seasons of rain, 
 dew, and sunshine ; the husbandman must sow or he could not reap ; when 
 he bestows his labour, God is faithful, and the earth brings forth seed for 
 the sower and bread for the eater. The spiritual husbandman can only 
 reap as he has sowed. " He that goeth forth bearing the precious seed, 
 will doubtless come again rejoicing." The spiritual harvest-time will 
 come when every man's ground and seed, skill and industry, will be made 
 manifest. Shall the men who, through church-order, deceive their fellow- 
 men by bringing the same seed into the vineyard many times, reap as 
 plentiful a harvest as the faithful labourer who is using his talents, and 
 bringing a fresh portion of seed every time he appears in the vineyard? 
 Impossible ! 
 
 What I have written is in exact accordance with Mr. Young's " Hints 
 for the Conversion of the World." In his preface he says, ''If any 
 Christian should adopt the plan, he would feel obliged if he would com- 
 municate the result to him." I have written to him, because he is working 
 against his own plan : therefore those who read the book must not look at 
 the fruits of the author, but follow the directions he has given. 
 
 His letter is against his own plan. I thought the vineyard that was 
 favoured with him would be fruitful, as he entered into the work in the 
 right spirit when he came into this part of the vineyard. There was an 
 opportunity of applying the Scripture test ; but it is not every one who 
 professes to be zealous that is so. The spirits are to be tried by their fruits. 
 God will only acknowledge those for his disciples who keep his command- 
 ments. By that their love is shown. 
 
 Mr. Young says in his " Hints," " God does not perform what man can 
 perform." We have no more authority to suppose that God will convert 
 sinners while the means are neglected than the husbandman has to expect 
 a plentiful crop while he neglects to cultivate his land and sow his seed. 
 His sentiments and mine agree in this — " He that sows sparingly shall 
 reap sparingly." Surely this does not agree with more conversions being 
 eflfected by a sermon the fourth or fifth time it was preached. Here he is 
 expecting God to reverse his own order, to save him the trouble of using 
 the talents God has given him for the purpose of preparing the seed. He 
 says — *' There may be a great deal of excitement without real benefit ; it 
 will only be that of animal feeling : they may draw tears from those to 
 whom they speak, but they will be but the tears of human sympathy ; they 
 may create a noise, but it will not be the sobbings of a broken and contrite 
 heart at the foot of the cross." What else can he expect but the excite- 
 ment of natural feeling, if he will not give the spiritual labour God 
 requires? It is quite evident why there are so many backsliders. 
 
28 
 
 He says, again — " Men should be sincere to do the things that God 
 requires, Or cease to say ' Lord, Lord ;' get oil in their vessels, or cast 
 away their lamps; be Israelites indeed in whom there is no guile, or 
 immediately leave Jehovah's camp." I quite agree with what he says ; 
 but how much his actions differ ! He comes into the sanctuary, and begs 
 God's blessing upon his offering, when he has not brought any. He never 
 obeyed the command to seek grace to prepare it. Would an Israelite 
 indeed mock God with such vain service as to offer the same offering to him 
 twice ? Where is the sincerity of such service ? It is no more than the 
 mere external duty. 
 
 Mr. Young says — '* If the ambassadors would prepare his way, they 
 must be humble and self-denying." I believe this is the spirit of all who 
 really prepare the way of the Lord. They do not sound their own fame: 
 Mr. Young is wrong here in practice. Who can bear the frequent allu- 
 sions he makes to himself, and not fear "that he is burning incense to his 
 own net, and sacrificing to his own drag?" I do not say that a minister 
 cannot do so without vain-glory ; but it is very evident in the tale about 
 the lady and her finery falling down, and the great things that were done 
 by him in that place ; and when it is known that a man is relating such 
 things from place to place, there is cause to fear that he is coveting human 
 applause. The way this tale is told only excites the marvellous in the 
 people. 
 
 I could show, from many passages in the book, that we quite agree in 
 sentiment, but that his practice differs from his ' Hints.' 
 
 Our Saviour, who could not be deceived, for he knew what was in the 
 heart of man — was aware what great danger there is from that subtle sin, 
 vain-glory. He frequently warns his disciples against it by telling them 
 what they did was not that it might be known of men, and applauded by 
 them, but must be from an inward vital principle, that they might be ap- 
 proved by God. This sin will intrude into all we do ; therefore it ought 
 to be most carefully guarded against. Our left hand is not to know what 
 our right does ; that is, we must not applaud and admire ourselves for any 
 good done by us. It is dangerous, it is far more so if we are holding it up 
 to others, seeking the honour that comes from men. Where there is grace 
 in the heart, there will not be much said about the good deeds done by our 
 instrumentality. This vain-glorious practice is generally managed so as 
 to look very humble. 
 
 In our Saviour's description of the last judgment, we find the good 
 works of his people were remembered to their honour, when they had for- 
 gotten them. God himself is the exceeding great reward of all those who 
 are now laying themselves out for his glory; and ere long they will 
 have the reward openly. The disciples would have been tempted to this 
 sin, by the power that was given them to work miracles ; but they never 
 tried to excite the marvellous. When they did work, they shewed the 
 
29 
 
 true gospel spirit. We have a noble instance of this in the third chaptci' 
 of the Acts of the Apostles. Peter instantly turned the people from them- 
 selves to his Master. "Why look ye on us, as if by our own power or 
 boldness we had made this man to walk. It is through the name of JesUs 
 the man is made whole; yea, the faith that is by Him hath given him 
 this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." Peter, on this occa- 
 sion, bore a noble testimony for his Master. The instruments of the bless- 
 ing were put out of sight; their eye was single; God was glorified ; and 
 much good accrued to the church through this miracle. 
 
 Mr. Young says — "Idolizing pulpit talent by the members of the 
 church, is a great obstacle to the world's conversion." 
 
 I believe there is no section of the church so guilty here as the Method- 
 ists; but who has caused it? The ministers. The Spirit has been with- 
 held through their unfaithfulness in duty ; and the people must have power 
 some way ; therefore they will follow a talented man. Let the worship be 
 performed in spirit and in truth, the power of God will then accompany 
 the word, and the people would not wander. 
 
 It is truly distressing to any one to know how many through this are 
 almost constantly to be found like sheep without a shepherd. Last Sabbath 
 morning when Mr. Young preached at Salisbury Street, there was a good 
 congregation. In the evening, I know members of the society, who would 
 have been glad to stay at home, scattered in five different chapels — Stan- 
 hope Street, Bayswater, Hinde Street, and two Baptist chapels. It is a 
 cruel thing that God's people should be so scattered through the faithless 
 conduct of men. The people were invited to Hinde Street a short time 
 since : there was a collection : I suppose Mr. Young would not then say 
 they were to blame, to come when the notice was given out. Mr. Peterson 
 repeated the same sermon when he came to Salisbury Street. The first 
 three Sabbaths in this month we shall only have a travelling preacher 
 once; that is Mr. Peterson. No doubt he will just repeat an old sermon. 
 Now if this matter is thought of only in a temporal light, it is very degrad- 
 ing. The local preachers receive nothing for their services. There are 
 three hundred and forty members at Salisbury Street ; each member pays 
 eight shillings and four pence a year towards the maintenance of their 
 ministers; if any are, so poor that they cannot pay, I believe it is made up 
 by those who pay more ; but even very poor people are willing to pay. I 
 said to a very poor widow not long since (who gets a living for herself and 
 family by going out to wash), that she ought not to pay anything. "Not 
 give!" she said; "Why, I would give my last penny, if I had not another 
 to buy bread: I have often done it, and the Lord has always provided for 
 me." Another was told at her last ticket time, that she seemed almost 
 worn out ; she said she was, but was thankful she had had extra labour this 
 week, as it enabled her to take two shillings to class on Sunday, it being 
 the March quarter, when another shilling is required. Now such conduct 
 
30 
 
 is praise -worthy : the ministers ought to be well maintained. God ordained 
 under the old dispensation, that " they who served the altar, should live 
 by the altar." If they had not offered the sacrifices, they could not have 
 had their part ; and, if the people bring the fruit of their bodily labour, 
 they have a right to expect the fruit of the minister's spiritual labour. 
 
 In some sections of the church, it is disgraceful the inattention that is 
 paid to the wants of the pastor. It is frequently to be found, in the reports 
 of a Society for the Relief of Ministers, that they are labouring amongst 
 a poor people, and have to suffer the greatest privations, as their mainte- 
 nance is dependent on the pew-rents. No one can read such statements 
 without feeling there is great blame attached to the officers in such chapels, 
 that they do not contrive in some way, by a little from each member, to 
 keep the mind of the minister easy as to temporal things. The leaders in 
 our society, by their care and attention to their duty, leave the minister 
 unencumbered in this way, which is as it should be. 
 
 We frequently say we wish to be Bible Christians ; if so, we must set 
 about studying that Book more than ever we have done ; if we do, we shall 
 be like Josiah ; we shall find cause to be deeply humbled before God, for 
 we shall feel we are as ignorant of the spiritual meaning of many things 
 in the book as if we had never seen it. The great things contained 
 therein are strange to us through our own neglect. Let us indeed be 
 Bible Christians ; then we shall rise as one man against this profanation of 
 spiritural ordinances. 
 
 We find, in the days of old, when they set themselves to seek the Lord, 
 the first care was to restore the worship of God. It is said of Josiah, that 
 his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord. If we would have bless- 
 ings as the primitive Christians had, our hearts must be lifted up in the 
 ways of the Lord. Surely our ministers are fallen from their first love : 
 for that never calculated how little labour God's work can be put off with. 
 Hezekiah, it is said, did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, as 
 David his father had done. He made it his first business to restore religion 
 to its purity again ; he called upon the priests to arouse from their negli- 
 gence: God had chosen them to stand before him : but they were not to 
 be idle, nor enjoy the dignity, and leave the duty; they were to serve God, 
 and minister to him. They set about the work witti diligence, and clean- 
 sed the house of the Lord- Oh I that our ministers would set about them 
 with diligence, and bring in the sincere, pure offering into the sanctuary, 
 and not do it, as Mr. Young says in his letter, " at their leisure." 
 
 This is not the way for diligent builders to speak and act. Nehemiah 
 did not think of leisure in his work : priests and people were zealous in 
 forwarding what was necessary: they had many discouragements; but 
 they had a mind for the great work, and had not leisure for any thing 
 else. 
 
 David, as a type of Christ, was zealous for the house of God. What he 
 
31 
 
 did for it was with all his might. Our Saviour did not think of doing his 
 work at his leisure. Like the reforming kings of Judah, he began by 
 purging the temple : it was his father's house, and he could not bear to see 
 it profaned. Surely that was one of our Saviour's greatest miracles! 
 There were none to uphold him : his own arm did it : his enemies did not 
 resist. The Messenger of the Covenant was come into the temple and 
 none could withstand him. His disciples remembered it was written, " the 
 zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." The Jews ought to have helped 
 in the work, and been concerned for the honour of God's house ; but, in- 
 stead of that, they objected to what he had done. What right had he to 
 do it ? He had no office about the temple. 
 
 Whoever attempts, in the least degree, any reformation, must expect 
 opposition from those who ought to be helpers in the work. The disciple 
 will not fare better than his Master. If what is attempted be with a single 
 eye, no opposition will prevent success. Our Saviour not only began his 
 work zealously, but he continued so till it was finished. When he sat 
 down on the well he was wearied : the opportunity of doing good to a poor 
 woman, made him forget his weariness : his mind was so taken up that he 
 forgot both hunger and thirst : he said, " my meat is to do the will of him 
 that sent me, and to finish his work." He was indeed a pure example of 
 Zealand devotedness, constancy and perseverance, until he said "it is 
 finished ;" and he has left his followers an example that they should walk 
 in his steps. 
 
 This is harvest time, and all hands must be at work that they may reap 
 of the comforts and graces of the Holy Spirit. Jesus ever lives to joy 
 with his people and in his people. While they reap what he has purchased 
 for them, they cry day and night unto the Lord. They have a present 
 reward : the work is its own wages ; and they go on with diligence and 
 perseverance, reaping and praising until their work is finished, and they 
 enter into the joy of their Lord. This was the way the Apostles and the 
 primitive Christians did. 
 
 Before our Saviour ascended, he gave his sheep in charge to those that 
 loved him, and therefore would love all that were his for his sake. Love 
 made the work easy. They followed the example of their Master; they 
 never consulted their own credit, ease, or safety : they followed the rules 
 their Master had given them, and the example he had set before them. 
 His grace carried them through ; his word and promise were the spring of 
 their consolation ; they were to teach the people all that Jesus had 
 commanded; they must do it by example as well as by precept; they 
 gave themselves up to the conduct of the Spirit; they glorified Jesus in 
 all their work, and he was with them, to carry them through all their 
 difficulties, and give success to all their undertakings. The Church 
 followed their example : they continued stedfastly in the Apostles' doc- 
 trine; God blessed their endeavours ; and their numbers greatly increased 
 
32 
 
 When the Apostles were persecuted, they were not daunted : they had 
 the presence of their Master with them : they were filled with the Spirit. 
 When they were before the rulers, they spoke with great boldness : they 
 still implored the grace of the Spirit; they not only lived in the Spirit, 
 but were continually seeking his aid ; they needed his fresh anointings for 
 every duty. The commandment was — ask: they obeyed: the promise 
 was fulfilled : they improved the gift: while using it, they received it more 
 abundantly. The Church reaped much through their faithfulness : the 
 beauty of the Lord was upon her : she now shone in the ardour of her 
 first love, in the beauty of holiness : the glory of God was risen upon her. 
 The Apostles boldly went on with their work, in spite of opposition: they 
 considered it an honour to suffer dishonour for their Master, and it made 
 them more bold in his service. It was the whole business of their lives to 
 advance the interest of Christ in the world ; and opposition caused the 
 truth to spread the more. They were soon wanted to attend to the outward 
 business of God's house; but nothing could draw them from their work. 
 They did not go to it when they had nothing else to do, just to fill up their 
 leisure time : they would not attend to any thing else ; their whole business 
 was to feed souls with the bread of life ; and they gave themselves wholly 
 to the work and prayer By prayer they spoke to God : by the word God 
 spoke to them : thus a constant communion was maintained. They did 
 their work with all their might : the Spirit wrought mightily with them: 
 the word of God grew and multiplied ; and a great company of the priests 
 vas obedient to the faith. 
 
 The Apostle Paul trod in the footsteps of his adorable Lord. From 
 the day of his conversion to the day of his death, he was a diligent, 
 persevering labourer, always abounding in the work of the Lord : he had 
 abundant reward in his labours. He was a faithful witness for God : he 
 did not speak of doing his work at his leisure : the more he laboured, the 
 more help he had, *' striving according to his working who worketh in me 
 mightily." While he urged the people of God on to greater diligence, he 
 could say — 'Look at me for example.' He had much grace given him : 
 he had done much ; but he was constantly pressing on as a man running a 
 race, forgetting the things which were behind : he was constantly pressing 
 on, in holy desire and hope and endeavour, to the prize of the high calling, 
 that he might attain the perfection of grace ; and his eye was stedfastly 
 fixed on the prize, 
 
 Where there is grace, there are also a desire for more grace, and a 
 pressing towards the perfection of grace. What an example was Paul for 
 every minister ! what compassion for souls ! what love ! what care ! what 
 longing desire that he might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus I 
 While he urged ministers and people to their duty, he could always say— 
 ' Look at me for an example.' It may be thought he had attained to 
 greater knowlege in divine things than any man; yet he confesses, after 
 
33 
 
 all his attainments, he is lost in contemplation, and believes that God is 
 able to do more abundantly for him than he could ask or think. 
 
 This glance at primitive practice shows us how diflferent it is with us. 
 There was a unity in effort; the Church was one body, actuated by one 
 spirit; each member had its office and place in the body, but all drawing 
 life from the same source ; there was the sympathy of every part with the 
 whole. We see all the ardour of first love, and the fearless, devoted zeal 
 that springs from simple faith, so that with one mind and one mouth they 
 glorified God. 
 
 Thus the erection of the spiritual body was begun : gifts and grace were 
 given to each member to fulfil the duties of his office : what was given to 
 each was intended for the union and benefit of the whole. Thus we see 
 the Apostles devoted themselves to the edifying of the body of Christ. 
 They went on boldly with their work; there was a union of effort; they 
 lifted up their voices with one accord to seek grace to enable them to go 
 forward; they went on in simple dependance on the grace of God to fit 
 them for their duty; their prayer was — ' Grant unto thy servants that with 
 all boldness they may speak thy word; that they may stretch forth thine 
 hand to heal, that signs and wonders may be done.' What a beautiful 
 union of faith, love, and zeal, in this body ! The same spirit working in 
 every member, their only desire is to bring glory to God, and blessings to 
 men. They had the power to work miracles : they pray for a continuance 
 of it : the work is God's, the power is his, and the glory shall be his alone ; 
 for without him they could do nothing. They had borne bold testimony 
 for their Master ; and, as dependants, the body unites to seek grace still to 
 enable them to speak with boldness. The faithfulness of God in answer 
 to united prayer is again seen : they were all filled with the Holy Spirit ; 
 and with great power they bore their testimony ; and great grace was upon 
 them all. 
 
 We find the Apostle Paul constantly begging the prayers of the people, 
 that he might open his mouth with boldness, that the " word of the Lord 
 might have free course, and be glorified." Here is the body joined 
 together and growing into a holy temple in the Lord. It is evident there 
 must be a great change in practice before the Church appears as she did 
 then. 
 
 The evil I complain of hinders prayer, and destroys the unity of the 
 Spirit. I think it may be safely said, that no real member of the Church 
 of Christ can neglect to pray for its ministers ; and towards the end of the 
 week, when it is supposed they are more closely engaged preparing food for 
 the flock of Christ (over which the Holy Ghost has made them overseers) 
 on the sabbath, there will then be fervent breathings that God would bless 
 the provision of his house, and satisfy his poor dependants with the Bread 
 of Life. Here is the unity of working : the aim is the same : one spirit 
 
34 
 
 uniting both to promote the glory of God and the benefit of men, and both 
 in simple 'dependence on his faithfulness. 
 
 The people come to the house of God full of expectation. They cannot 
 be disappointed : God is faithful : he has promised to bless the provision of 
 his house, and fill his poor with bread ; but, to the great grief of the 
 Christian, he finds that, while he has been praying, the minister has not 
 been providing food to bring into God's house: he has just come to keep 
 up the outward ceremony. Still he dare not neglect his duty to pray for 
 him : he will plead that the minister may be stirred up to duty. He 
 comes again next sabbath, stedfastly trusting that God will bless the 
 provision of his house, but not without fear respecting the minister's 
 faithfulness to his part of the duty. There has been no fresh preparation 
 on the part of the minister. His soul is overwhelmed with grief to think 
 that men, who are given up by profession to the work of God, should 
 be doing nothing more than keeping up the outward form. Thus the unity 
 of the Spirit is destroyed, because the minister will not work with the Spirit. 
 
 Is it to be wondered at that the Church should abound with cold, formal 
 professors, vrho by their actions show they neither care for the glory of 
 God nor the good of men, when the leaders of the Church are setting such 
 an example, and are quenching the Spirit, who animates the whole body 
 to exertion ? 
 
 A short time since, there was a Chapel opened : it was a free-will 
 offering by a disciple of Jesus. This was a costly offering of what God, 
 in his providence, had given him. The notice was given out at the 
 different chapels, and it was said several esteemed ministers were to give 
 their valuable services. Sure, if ever the dedication of a sanctuary would 
 call forth fervent prayer and praise, it would be offered on such an occasion, 
 that God would take possession of the house which his servant had built to 
 the honour of his name, " that his power and glory might be known in his 
 sanctuary," that he would accept the united prayers and praises of his 
 people, and bless the provision he had appointed in his house. With 
 united spirit, every true worshipper would say — " Enter with all thy 
 glorious train, thy Spirit and thy word ;" let thy priests be clothed with 
 salvation, that thy saints may rejoice in thy goodness. One of our (so 
 called) great men, who stands forward before his brethren in professions 
 of zeal for the glory of God and the good of men, was to take part in the 
 service. I think, if ever a man had done his duty, and prepared the best 
 offering he could to God, if. would have been at the dedication of this 
 sanctuary. What was his valuable offering of service? It was to repeat 
 a sermon he had carried round the circuit; and the people had walked 
 some miles from the different chapels, and he had brought no offering of 
 service for God to bless, but polluted the sanctuary the first day by his 
 formal, cold-hearted service! The conduct of many a local preacher, who 
 has his daily bread to earn, might shame such men. 
 
35 
 
 ' In the life of Mr. Dawson it is noticed that a collier followed him to his 
 different appointments: it was an advantage to him, and led him to 
 diversify his subjects, and add to his stock of Biblical knowledge. On 
 another occasion, a friend having heard him preach the same sermon twice, 
 named it to him : he said — " I had forgotten you were there, and it is well 
 I did, or it would have been a snare to me." It appears a wonderful 
 thing that a man should feel ashamed of any practice in the worship of 
 God before men, and not think the service he was performing in the 
 sanctuary was to God. If this practice covets to be hidden from men, it 
 cannot sure be approved of God. 
 
 I have heard that local preachers sometimes change their texts when 
 they see any one in the chapel who has heard the same sermon before. It 
 may be said that great and good men in the church have done this, and, if 
 it had been wrong, they would not have done it. I know that they have 
 done it ; but we are not to take men's practice for our rule : the Word of 
 God is to be our guide. 
 
 We read of some of the reforming kings of Judah, they did that which 
 was right in the sight of the Lord ; yet the high places were not removed. 
 
 It is said of Asa, he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord; 
 his heart was perfect with the Lord all his days; he was very zealous 
 against idolatry ; he removed his mother from being queen, because she 
 had made an idol ; and yet he did not remove the high places. In this he 
 fell short of his duty, because they were an inlet to idolatry, and this was a 
 sin forbidden by God. So, if this practice which I am pleading against 
 has been done by good men, it is no warrant for retaining it, if it is contrary 
 to the order of God, It is an inlet to spiritual sloth and idolatry. The 
 pulpit is turned into a stage for the display of talent, and the people 
 idolize the man who can make the best display. Thus the spirit of true 
 worship is almost driven out of the church. 
 
 There are many upright men who practise this : they have been led into 
 it by example, and never thought of it as an evil. The moving the 
 preachers from place to place is a temptation to it ; otherwise they could 
 not indulge in it. The usefulness of many good men is hindered by it. 
 Mr, Pengelly would be a very useful man, were it not for this practice : 
 there is no self-seeking in his preaching ; I never heard him make an 
 allusion to himself; he is simple and unaffected, enforcing the pure, 
 genuine doctrines of the Gospel in a plain, practical manner, leading the 
 sinner to a true and humbling knowledge of himself, and then showing 
 how he is to take Jesus Christ as his wisdom, righteousness, andsanctifica- 
 tion, urging them to seek after that faith which works by love, and, in the 
 conscientious practice of relative duties, to show forth his praise " who 
 hath called them out of darkness into marvellous light." 
 
 I think it is quite clear the ordinances of God must be done in the 
 order he has appointed, if we expect his blessing. The main-spring of 
 
36 
 
 Israel's calamities was the dishonour done to God's institutions; and every 
 thing in the old economy that prefigured gospel blessings must be done 
 exactly according to the order of God. The manna must be daily 
 gathered by faith and prayer. Moses smote the rock that the waters 
 might flow to Israel: he sinned because he smote the rock a second time, 
 when he was desired to speak to it. So the law has once smitten our rock, 
 and we are to speak to Him, and the life-giving streams shall flow (in 
 comforts and graces of the Holy Spirit) to our souls, till we arrive at the 
 promised Canaan. There cannot be any hoards : faith needs not any. 
 We must mind the order of God: if we expect great grace to be upon us, 
 we must show our love by our obedience. Look at our week-night service. 
 If the excitement we sometimes witness on a sabbath evening was the 
 work of God, the people would flock to the word. 
 
 On Thursday evening, at Milton Street, the congregation was what it 
 frequently is : there were nine people. The subject was — " That ye be 
 not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit 
 the promises," The preacher was urging the people to greater diligence 
 in spiritual things : he said they might spare half an hour before service 
 to try and bring others with them. I obeyed : the next time he was 
 appointed there, I went, but he did not come. This is a bad example. 
 It is not the only evil. Last night, at Salisbury Street, the same was 
 appointed. I went there, but he did not come : at a quarter past seven 
 his place was taken by another. 
 
 If a man was so careless about his worldly business, he could not 
 prosper; if a player was to serve his audience so, he would soon loose his 
 credit; and is the greatest work a man can be engaged in to be trifled 
 with in this way ? It is a disgraceful thing to see a company of people 
 waiting and looking out for a minister, and he not come. Is it to be won- 
 dered at, that the people should be coming in until the service is nearly 
 ended ? It cannot be a joy to go up to the house of God under such 
 circumstances. Praise is not waiting for God in Zion. 
 
 I know there are many living souls in our society ; but those blessed 
 means of grace, the class-meetings, are their chief support. Those 
 means keep up the society. It is the ministry of the word that should put 
 vigour into every other means of grace. I know some will say, it does 
 not matter if any preacher comes, and an old sermon will do as well as 
 a new one ; but no living soul will say this. Upon this system of reason- 
 ing, the whole order of God is reversed. He hath appointed man to use 
 the means, and has given him the promise of his blessing with the means. 
 He could work without ; but he has given us no reason to expect his 
 blessing without the observance of the appointed means. Our Lord 
 himself was found in the use of the appointed means. The Apostles and 
 the whole primitive church obeyed his commands in this respect. If 
 express commands may be evaded, and plain examples set aside, in the 
 
37 
 
 same way may any precept be evaded, and the examples in Scripture, 
 though recorded for our imitation, rendered void. The falling into the 
 neglect of any known duty is a sure sign that love is on the decline. All 
 zeal, when duty is neglected, is delusion and the workings of a heated 
 imagination. The voice of the flesh is — "Soul, take thine ease; thou 
 hast sermons laid up for many years; there is no need of more study; it 
 is a weariness to the flesh.' The voice of the Spirit is — ' Work, while it is 
 day.' We are not yet come into the land of rest: the path to that land is 
 through much striving and conflict ; and it is from the field of battle the 
 faithful warrior arrives at the promised rest. We are enlisted soldiers of 
 Jesus Christ, and are bound at all times to labour in his cause. As 
 travellers to Immanuel's land, we are to be pressing on in spite of the 
 solicitations of sloth ; we are to forget the things that are behind, and 
 press forward to the mark. The armour is provided for us ; but it must 
 be in constant use. 
 
 The powers of darkness and their agents are unwearied in their efforts 
 to destroy : so the Christian, in the strength of Jesus, must employ 
 unwearied effort. The honour of God, the prosperity of the Church, 
 demand constant spiritual exertion. No rest is to be sought for in the 
 labour of love, until we arrive at the heavenly Canaan. We are to stand 
 constantly in armour, buckled on by prayer and watchfulness. The faith- 
 ful minister is our standard-bearer; and we, as the armies of Israel, are to 
 follow on. The victory is sure : no doubt about that : " We shall be more 
 than conquerors through him who loved us," We shall triumph every step 
 of the way, if we take good heed to our Master's direction. But surely 
 our standard-bearers have fallen from their first love, or they would not be 
 thus calculating how little labour they could put their Lord's work off 
 with. 
 
 Let us take heed that we do not sink into Laodicean ease by following 
 their example. They thought they were in a prosperous state; and, if we 
 were to believe all we hear, we might think so too. 
 
 The Seven Churches of Asia were warned of their danger: let us take 
 warning by their example. The Church at Ephesus, that had only left 
 their purity and fervour in a small degree, was threatened that, unless they 
 repented and returned, their Candlestick would be removed -out of its 
 place. Ours will be removed, if this unfaithfulness is still persisted in. 
 The Seven Churches of Asia first became lukewarm and licentious ; then 
 they fell into heresies. Mahometan delusion came in ; their country was 
 overrun by cruel and barbarous nations; the light of the Gospel was 
 extinguished, so that for hundreds of years little of Christian profession 
 remained, and even that was gross ignorance and superstition. 
 
 I shall again lay this matter before the preachers, hoping they will 
 attend to it. If so, it will never be known to the Church; and I shall 
 
 B 
 
38 
 
 rejoice to be spared the painful duty of making it public. Every lover of 
 Zion will also soon have cause to rejoice; for God is faithful. We shall 
 soon feel the uniting power of the Holy Spirit when every member of the 
 body is working with the Spirit, doing its office for the benefit of the whole. 
 The vital influence will pervade every member, and unite the whole, and 
 we shall grow together in the Lord. 
 
 Letter to Conference. 
 
 July 26th, 1843. 
 Rev. Sir, 
 
 As the President and Conference are now met, for considering 
 the best means of promoting the glory of God, and the benefit of his 
 Church, I would most respectfully and earnestly implore your candid 
 consideration of the matter these letters bring before you. It is indeed a 
 a matter in which the glory of God and the benefit of his people is in- 
 volved ; and I fear the evil 1 complain of is practised by the whole 
 assembly now met. 
 
 My complaint is, that you keep back the food from the flock of Christ, 
 over which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers; that, as stewards m 
 God's house, you do not bring in the provision he has appointed for the 
 benefit of his family. Prayer and praise are the united acts of minister 
 and people, the preaching of the Gospel is the provision he has appointed 
 in his house, on which his people are to be fed, nourished, and multiplied. 
 God has promised to bless the provision of his house. It ought to be the 
 highest delight of his servants (as from his word it clearly is their privi- 
 lege) to be living in constant communion with the Holy Spirit, receiving 
 the continual supplies of his grace, for the fulfilment of the duties of their 
 office. The welfare of the Church much depends upon the faithfulness of 
 its ministers; the spiritual profit of the Church ought to be the end they 
 have in view, and for this they must be receiving constant communications 
 of grace, that the Church may be edified and built up, the habitation of 
 God, through the Spirit. 
 
 Custom and convenience have brought this practice almost into a rule ; 
 but it will not bear the trial of Scripture, therefore it must be abandoned 
 before we can expect great grace to be upon us. The blessings of provi- 
 dence were withheld from Israel, because they neglected to bring the 
 offerings God required of their fruit of the labour; and we cannot expect 
 the blessings that are to accompany the provision God has appointed in his 
 house, if our ministers will not give their labour to prepare it. It is sad 
 to think of such a company of labourers in the Gospel field, week after 
 week coming into the house of God, without bringing food for the people, 
 only keeping up the outward form. This is a way the ministers have 
 
39 
 
 themselves chosen : there is nothing in any type in the old economy that 
 can justify it; there is nothing in the primitive Church that give any 
 ground for the practice. Oh, that as one, all vpould resolve that it should 
 be done away ! Then you will give to God the honour due to him in the 
 ordinances he has appointed : and when his servants return to him in 
 duty, he will return to them in mercy; the Spirit will be poured out, joy 
 and gladness will be among us. While the ministers are labouring, the 
 people will be holding up their hands by faith and prayer ; all will be 
 united in vigorous effort for the glory of God and the benefit of men, and 
 cold-hearted formality will be put to shame. 
 
 Oh, do not think because it is one who has no pretentions to worldly great- 
 ness, yet has presumed thus to address you, that you will not listen. It is 
 my Father and your Father, my God and your God, that is dishonoured; 
 and it is because, through his grace, I daily prove his faithfulness, that I 
 would plead with you to have regard to his honour and glory, in the great 
 work you are called unto. I have been careful to preserve the honour of 
 the ministers ; the printing of these letters, and sending to Conference, is 
 only known to one member of the Society ; it shall not be known — I will 
 not give a copy to any one. The honour of God, and the benefit of his 
 Church, have been my only motives ; and the clearer I see God is 
 dishonoured by this means, the deeper do I feel will be the dishonour done 
 to his servants, if this matter is brought before the Church. This cannut 
 be done without the world knowing it ; and the pain I have felt in looking 
 forward to the dishonour I should be the means of bringing upon those 
 who ought to be held in the highest honour, has caused me to try this 
 means, that it may be prevented. I told Mr. Young, in my last letter, if 
 he would not attend to it, 1 should print the letters. He took no notice of 
 it. I then wrote the conclusion and sent it to Mr. Pengelly, who promptly 
 noticed it, and said, by conversation he might be able to remove what he 
 feared was an erroneous impression. I conversed with him on the subject ; 
 he entered into it with meekness and patience; but as there was no 
 Scripture proof against me, I saw the evil the same, yet was very unwilling 
 to proceed in what still appeared to be my duty. I hope it will have to 
 proceed no farther ; it would cause grief to every believer. Many who 
 pass over it by saying, It is wrong, but all the preachers do it, will see it in 
 a very different light when it is laid before them. The Spirit will plead 
 the cause in the hearts of God's people; the daily experience of every one 
 vyho lives by faith will bear witness to the truth. God is faithful ; the 
 simple dependance on his grace brings constant cause for praise ; but a 
 departure from the life of faith would soon bring confusion into the soul. 
 So it is in the Church — the departing from the simplicity of depending 
 and working, has brought the whole into disorder. Let the preaching be 
 set right, which is, as it were, the main-spring, the work will go on in 
 beauty and harmony, the vital energy will circulate freely to every 
 
40 
 
 member of the body, and the influence would soon be felt throughout the 
 world. 
 
 While the circulation of these letters would cause grief to the believer, 
 it would be seen that duty and necessity called it forth (God will raise up 
 those who will stand forward and oppose it); what a joy and triumph it 
 will be to the ungodly. Surely this will never be; as faithful servants of 
 Christ Jesus, our ministers will rejoice that this practice, which will not 
 bear the light of truth, has been brought before them ; and will only won- 
 der how it could have escaped their observation so long. The love of 
 Christ constraining them, they will return to their different spheres of 
 labour with renewed energy and zeal — to the high and noble calling of 
 being workers with God, " striving according to his working, which will 
 work in them mightily." The Church will soon shine; her light being 
 come, the glory of the Lord will be seen upon her — she will be a joy and 
 praise in the earth. God is faithful, and the next meeting of Conference 
 would be such as never was before. 
 
 Praying that the Spirit of Truth may guide you in this, and in every 
 matter that is brought before you, to the adoption of the means that will 
 promote the glory of God, and the benefit of the Church, 
 
 I remain. Rev. Sir, 
 Respectfully yours, in the fellowship of the Gospel, 
 
 A LOVER OF ZION. 
 To the Rev. John Scott, 
 
 President of the Conference. 
 
 Conference was past, and no notice taken of this appeal. I feared I 
 still must publish it ; I was unwilling, lest I should be mistaken. On the 
 15th of August I said to Mr. Pengelly, I should be obliged if he would 
 release me from suspense, and say if there was any notice to be taken of 
 it. He said he did not understand what I meant. I put the question iu 
 another form, but he evaded it. I thought they could not have received 
 the letters. I said, " Did you not receive the letters. Sir ?" He acknow- 
 ledged they were received. I replied, " Oh ! I see how it is, there is 
 nothing left for me but perseverance." He said he had advised me before, 
 for my own sake, not to do it ; and it would have been better had I taken 
 his advice: for my own sake, he would say, "Do no more." I said, 
 I could not take his advice against my conscience. The question now 
 was, who was to be head in the Church ? Was it to be a council of men, 
 or Jesus Christ ? When I knew Mr. Scott was to be President, I thought 
 this matter would have a fair hearing, as he is not a man inflated with the 
 pride of popular applause. I never thought he would have been so daring 
 as his conduct in this matter has shown him to be. He has shown that 
 
41 
 
 he will sanction a practice, there is not one passage in the word of God to 
 defend : he publicly owns that he will act contrary to primitive practice, 
 and shew open and undisguised opposition to the commands of Christ 
 Jesus. This is being a pope indeed ; and from this charge he cannot 
 escape, unless he shew his Scripture warrant for the practice. 
 
 On reading Dr. Hannah's ** Address to the Young Preachers," I 
 thought it was impossible this matter could have had a fair hearing ; as that 
 venerable man would surely never sanction a practice that the whole tenor 
 of his address is so clearly against ; and sad would be the state of the 
 Church, if the practice of the majority of its ministers was contrary to 
 their profession. I have been told they all do it — many do it from exam- 
 ple ; but if they considered it in a scriptural light, would not continue. 
 Dr. Hannah says, " Methodism is neither more nor less than a revival of 
 primitive Christianity in its truths, its experience, and its practice." I 
 say, Primitive practice was the unity of depending and working. The 
 apostles yielded themselves up as the instruments of the Spirit, for the 
 benefit of the Church; they laboured, striving according to his working, 
 which wrought in them mightily ; they lived by faith, using the means 
 God has appointed for the supply of their every want — the word and 
 prayer. Paul did not attach any importance to his great natural abilities, 
 all were sanctified and used to his master's honour; his body did not 
 obtain the mastery of his soul, but was servant to it; all his powers were 
 devoted a living sacrifice; he did not do the Lord's work negligently; he 
 ran so that he might obtain the prize, keeping in the path of duty pre- 
 scribed in the word ; he was constantly pressing after the knowledge of 
 Christ and conformity to him ; he never lost sight of the mission he had 
 received from Christ ; he was perfect in him, and under the constant 
 teaching of the Spirit, to be by him perfected in knowledge and holiness, 
 and by him he was excited to the utmost diligence in prayer, preaching, 
 and every other means whereby he could benefit the Church of Christ. 
 
 Will our ministers say they are thus yielding themselves to be the 
 instruments of the Spirit, for the benefit of the Church ? They cannot 
 with truth say it, till they alter their practice. The Doctor says to the 
 young preachers, " I, trust you will be students all your days, and if it 
 please God you grow old, grow old studying and learning something new. 
 Do not any of you ever imagine that he has finished his education. No ; 
 be students still, sitting at your master's feet ; attend at the doors of 
 wisdom, seeking larger treasures of God's inexhaustible truth; search the 
 Scriptures daily." This is just the practice ministers should adopt. I 
 had been asking them to do no more ; I should have thought they could 
 not refuse to listen. 
 
 On the 21st I went to Mr. Scott. He said he had not had time to attend 
 to it; he said it answered quite as well to preach the same sermon, and 
 that I should not know, if I always went to the same chapel. I told him 
 
42 
 
 I did know, and I had named sermons, which I did not know at the time 
 I heard them, whether they had been preached before or not; 1 thought 
 they had, and I afterwards found out they had. He said, I should find in 
 the sixth chapter of Luke, our Saviour preached the same sermon as in 
 Matthew. I said " The writings of the evangelists are the testimony of 
 different witnesses to the same truths; and that in Luke and Matthew is 
 thought by some to be the same, as the cure of the Centurion's servant 
 follows in both." If these words were repeated at different times, it is no 
 argument in favour of the practice : the words of Christ are spirit and 
 life ; he is the fountain of life. The minister has no power but what is 
 imparted through the diligent use of the means God has appointed, I am 
 not complaining that the same words are sometimes repeated ; that cannot 
 be avoided, as preaching is all to the same import: I am complaining of 
 the same sermons. It is a proof that ministers are not devoting themselves 
 to their work ; they are not yielding themselves as instruments of the 
 Spirit, but only coming into the sanctuary to perform the outward duty^ 
 I pressed Mr. Scott to attend to it. He promised he would. I said I was 
 no Papist, I must have Scripture proof; I would be satisfied when he 
 brought me a passage where God had said he would bless the same provi- 
 sion twice, when, through Church-order, his servants could manage to 
 brina: it in twice, to save them the trouble of providing. I have not yet 
 heard from him; I did not think he would be able to find any passage to 
 that effect. The words are as true now as when they were uttered : "I 
 will be sanctified by those who come nigh unto me; before all the people 
 I will be glorified." 
 
 On the 29th I went to Richmond, to Mr. Jackson ; 1 took him a copy 
 of the letters. As he is known to be a straight-forward honest man, I bad 
 depended upon him at Conference ; I thought he would see it was a 
 growing evil. He had not heard a word about it ; he promised he would 
 take it into consideration, 
 
 I received a letter from Mr. Young, dated the 30th, but there was 
 nothing in it to the purpose. Concerning Conference, he says, " It 
 appears however that you have complained to Conference, and, I under- 
 stand, feel not a little surprised that you have not heard from that 
 venerable body ! What next ! It also appears that you have sent three 
 copies of your pamphlet — one to the President, one to Mr. Pengelly, and 
 one to myself, with a threat, that if your opinion be not acted upon, you 
 will multiply the copies, and give them the widest circulation." To this 
 I answered, "As to the conclusion of your letter, sir, I have never shown 
 or expressed surprise at not having heard from Conference; I did on one 
 occasion, the one perhaps to which you allude, feel surprised when a 
 Rev. Gentleman could not understand what I meant. But why such 
 scorn? You say, 'What next!' What is Conference for? Is not 
 every one of that body supported by the people, that they may minister 
 
43 
 
 to their spiritual wants ? Does not their Lord and Master attend to the 
 wants of the meanest believer? There is no respect of persons; and 
 could it be such a wonderful thing his servants should be appealed to 
 about their duty? Is not all the outward frame-work of religion of little 
 moment compared to the spiritual part? It is the undermining of that to 
 which my communication referred. Do you think you have acted 
 uprightly in speaking as you have done, when you know the matter was 
 never brought before Conference ? The means taken to prevent this, you 
 know better than I do ; but I know it never was. I do not think any one 
 can justly say there was any threat in the letter I sent to Conference." 
 He wrote to say, if I thought proper, he would meet me in the presence of 
 my leader, hoping he should be able to remove several erroneous 
 impressions under which 1 was evidently labouring. To this I answered, 
 I was quite willing for a meeting ; 1 was not afraid of my leader, but he 
 would say I was in subjection, and rendered unto him all due respect. 
 My leader had taken no part in the matter, I had not been influenced by 
 any one, directly nor indirectly ; therefore, if I could not be spoken to 
 without a witness, I must decline the interview. If he wished to see me 
 I would wait upon him at any time he pleased to appoint. 
 
 Not receiving an answer, and fearing it might be thought I wished to avoid 
 a meeting, I wrote again, to say I did not wish to put it aside ; I thought 
 it might benefit Mr. Y. as well as myself: I was also anxious the matter 
 should go no further. In answer to this he said, if I still felt determined 
 to publish my sentiments on the subject of the controversy, he might con- 
 sider it his duty to publish his also; and therefore did not feel at liberty to 
 meet me alone : he had selected my leader, simply on the ground of his 
 official relation to me, believing that such a selection would be more a- 
 greeable to my feelings. If Mr. Young's motive was to remove wrong 
 impressions from my mind, I thought there was no need of any official 
 authority to do that. In answer to this I said, " I cannot give up my 
 purpose, without something that will satisfy conscience ; I look upon the 
 evil as dishonouring to God, and deceiving to his people; I dare not be 
 silent. Had there been any thing from Scripture in your second letter I 
 could have caught at, to quiet my mind, most gladly would I have done it. 
 I will not publish it. unless I am compelled, that the bad influence which 
 will attend it may be prevented ; but if I see no prospect that the evil will 
 be removed, I must use the means, in depeudance on God's blessing. I 
 think I can appeal to him ; he knoweth my eye is single, and I believe my 
 thoughts are according to his word. I think you would have felt differently 
 about the matter, as you object where I think there is no ground. I can 
 make no compromise." 
 
 On the 16th of September I went again to Mr. Jackson. He had been 
 engaged, and had not been able to do anything ; but promised he would; 
 I was not to do any more until he did. This I thankfully promised, as I 
 
44 
 
 believe he had both the ability and power to put a stop to the evil. 
 Nothing being done, as far as I knew, I wrote the following letter to 
 remind him • — 
 
 October 4th, 1843. 
 Rev. Sir, 
 
 You will forgive me thus troubling you, when you consider that 
 I am depending on you. The subject is constantly in my mind. Daily 
 observation, experience, and meditation, shew me still more the sad state 
 this evil has brought and is bringing the Church into; therefore I cannot 
 rest. It is against the whole economy of grace : the way of faith is en- 
 tirely opposed to it. The propensity in man to self-dependance is so strong, 
 that nothing but Almighty power can destroy it. Self is the greatest 
 enemy the Christian has to contend with, and nothing but a constant sup- 
 ply of heavenly influence, brought in by believing prayer, will keep self 
 in its proper place — that is, in the dust, a needy dependant: there cannot 
 be spiritual health and vigour without it. The Saviour is glorified when 
 the soul is humbled, hopeless and helpless in itself, but strong in the Lord 
 and in his might. The word is the spiritual manna he is to gather daily 
 by faith and prayer ; it is the bread from heaven on which his soul is to be 
 nourished and strengthened for every duty. Thus he goes on from 
 strength to strength, rejoicing in God, careful for nothing; all his wants 
 are supplied by faith and prayer. He never comes to a place in his jour- 
 ney where diligence in the use of the means God has appointed is not 
 wanted; he can collect no treasure to render himself independent; 
 Christ is his treasure, and his knowledge of that treasure is to be con- 
 stantly increasing, through the word and prayer. 
 
 They who live in simple dependance for the supply of their spiritual 
 wants, and the discharge of their spiritual duties, see no less need of 
 coming to-day than yesterday ; they rejoice that the whole work is by 
 grace, through faith Thus the union and communion is maintained be- 
 tween Christ and his people, through the Spirit: they live upon his fulness, 
 are made strong in his strength, and under every want, see and feel all 
 their fresh springs are in him. It necessarily and unavoidably follows, 
 that the only actual preparation for every duty and ordinance of worship 
 in our approach to God, must originate in the influence and teaching of 
 the Holy Spirit. His office is to take of the things of Christ, and shew 
 them to his people. The minister is to teach the people the life of faith 
 by precept and example. He is the instrument of the Spirit, to convey 
 the things of God to his people : this he can only do faithfully by a life of 
 dependance, in the diligent use of the means God has appointed, the word 
 and prayer ; from which he is to derive a constant supply of virtue from 
 Christ. Therefore the plan of carrying the same sermons about year after 
 year, as it is now done, can be nothing more than a round of empty sap- 
 
45 
 
 less duties, keeping up the outward form. When the minister comes into 
 the sanctuary without preparation, he has forgotten the lofty relative 
 intention of his office ; it is only by keeping that gracious intention in 
 sight, that the people can be spiritually benefitted through him. He is 
 God's messenger to the people, and if he come into the sanctuary without 
 having sought a message from God, is he not dishonouring God ? If he 
 has not sought the aid of the Spirit to prepare him for his duty, is he not 
 dishonouring the Spirit? If he has not searched the Scriptures, and used 
 his best endeavours in preparing a portion for the people, is he not slothful ? 
 He cannot be called a worker with God! he has not served him with the 
 willing obedience of his best endeavours, in the use of the means appointed 
 to fit him for his duty, he cannot say he goes to his work in the strength 
 of the Lord, he has not sought it, nor used the means to attain it. The 
 people are constantly praying that the Spirit of Truth would guide them ; 
 and they are as constantly showing by their practice that they want no 
 more of knowledge and guidance than will keep up the outward form — 
 thus separating the means God has united. We cannot expect the ordi- 
 nances of the sanctuary will answer the end they are intended, until this 
 dishonour done to God (in the use of the means he has appointed) is put 
 away. When the minister is maintaining a close walk with God, through 
 the word and prayer, and receiving a constant supply of heavenly influence, 
 \?hich can alone give him that devoted and active spirit, necessary for his 
 own work, he will show by his practice, that he is living in constant 
 dependance; his soul will be satisfied as with marrow and fatness;" his 
 labour will be means of grace to his own soul ; he will come into the sanc- 
 tuary in the Spirit, with a heart filled with gratitude and love to God for 
 his faithfulness in helping him in his work ; he will feel love and compassion 
 for the people for whom he has been labouring and praying ; the power of 
 the Spirit would accompany the word; all would unite in praising God. 
 Thus the work would go on in the unity of the Spirit: prayer ascending 
 from the people for their minister — he labouring for their benefit ; prayer 
 ascending and blessing descending — the end of one duty, the beginning of 
 another. Still gathering the treasure from the appointed means, the 
 Church would go forward, in the unity of the Spirit, with rejoicing. What 
 an influence would soon be felt in the world ! Instead of this, for the most 
 part, we have only from the pulpit the clamour of an indolent, prayerless 
 zeal, urging the people to exertion; but, through unfaithfulness, keeping 
 back that spirit which can alone animate them for duty ; the Spirit is al- 
 most starved out of the Church, through the unfaithfulness of those who 
 should be the channels of his communication, 
 
 I will notsay, Forgive my plain speaking : you will not be off'ended at it. 
 If I have said any thing against the truth, do not spare me : if I have not 
 O, delay not to help ; the evil is great, use your influence, none would dare 
 oppose you. You are justly esteemed a man of uprightness and integrity, 
 
46 
 
 your opinion is reverenced. ! help against this great evil ; it is the 
 cause of truth. O ! exert yourself; God veill bless you in your labour 
 and for your labour. Hoping to hear soon that something has been done, 
 I remain, Rev. Sir, respectfully yours, 
 
 A LOVER OF ZION. 
 To the Rev. Thomas Jackson. 
 
 October 18th, 1843. 
 Rev. Sir, 
 
 I find, to my sorrow, the practice I have complained of is conti- 
 nued to a shameful extent. I must now release myself from the promise 1 
 am under to you, to be quiet. I cannot think you have done nothing, but 
 I fear you have been brought to think lightly of the evil. 
 
 Last Sabbath evening there was a sermon at Stanhope Street, for the 
 Tract Society; being engaged as a distributor, I feel I need to go to my 
 work in the right spirit ; I went to hear the sermon, hoping to be fresh 
 stimulated to duty. Prayer was fervently offered up ; one would have been 
 ready to say, If the people are not benefitted, God must be unfaithful ; it 
 cannot be this faithful servant. To my great grief, it was an old sermon. 
 I had a fresh stimulus to what appears to me a painful duty. Last night I 
 went to Hinde Street. I could not feel any confidence during the day, 
 that the minister was preparing for his duty. In prayer he seemed so hum- 
 ble, so earnest for a supply of grace for every duty, I thought he had been 
 preparing ; he seemed in such a sweet spirit; but, to my sorrow, it was an 
 old sermon, word for word, like a school boy's lesson. Are these the men 
 who have taken to themselves the honour of reviving primitive Christianity 
 in its truth, experience, and practice ? 
 
 I must now publish this matter to the Church ; if I could think of any 
 plan likely to remove the evil without it, I would neither spare trouble nor 
 expense. I cannot see that I can do more than I have to prevent it; I 
 dare not be silent. I am not ashamed of what I have done; I only think 
 of the evil influence it will cause towards the preachers. To religion it 
 will be no wrong — it is still the same pure thing. It will be seen by every 
 living member of the Church, the ministers must be almost void of the 
 spirit of religion, and of their office; otherwise it would never have been 
 known, God will raise up instruments who have ability, which I know I 
 have not; but I will do what I can. 
 
 I remain. Rev. Sir, respectfully yours, 
 
 A LOVER OF ZION. 
 
 To the Rev. Thomas Jackson. 
 
47 
 
 Man is by nature prone to pride and self-dependance, he is ignorant 
 of his real character; the Bible reveals it to him, it lays his supposed 
 greatness in the dust; but while it reveals to him his sad condition, it 
 shews him how he may be delivered from it. The carnal mind is enmity 
 against this revelation : he may have studied the Bible, its truths may 
 have produced a great change in his life and conversation, and in outward 
 appearance he may be walking carefully in all the commandments and 
 ordinances of the Lord, and yet be spiritually dead. The Spirit, by whose 
 inspiration the Bible was penned, must come into the heart of man to 
 interpret it ; without him it would remain a sealed book. The first 
 bestowment of his influence is always an unsought and an undesired boon. 
 The gift of the Spirit in the first instance is an act of pure sovereignty. 
 His oflSce is to convince man of sin, and his need of a Saviour. He then 
 imparts to him that faith which apprehends Christ as his Saviour; he 
 believes he is by that act united to Jesus : he feels he is a new creature: 
 the first fruit of this union is love. He sees how the Father, Son and 
 Spirit are united in raising him from his lost condition ; he is lost in 
 astonishment at such love to a rebel; had he ten thousand tongues, they 
 would be employed in praising the united source of his bliss, and in telling 
 the world what happiness he had found, and in inviting all to come and. 
 partake; the man is now brought into the paradise of love. 
 
 When Adam was brought into the garden, he found every thing in 
 readiness for his enjoyment, and all the creatures in the world in subjection 
 to him ; so when, through faith in Jesus, the new man is brought into the 
 paradise of love, he finds in himself all the elements of happiness, without 
 any effort on his part : he has love, joy, and peace in his heart ; all slavish 
 fear is gone — he has the deep, the sacred fear of offending God. He has 
 new hopes and new desires ; the world is in subjection to him; if all its 
 greatness and grandeur were laid at his feet, in exchange for his present 
 bliss, he would reject it. He now feels by joyful experience that the 
 natural man has no idea of the happiness the believer enjoys through 
 faith. He is ready to say, It was a true report I heard, when I was in 
 nature's darkness, of this blegsed enjoyment, but 1 believed it not, until 
 by grace, through faith, I was made a partaker; now I know the half was 
 not told me, for it conld not. Faith is to him what sense is to the body; 
 having taken hold of Christ by the hand of faith, he looks around him; 
 the first passion he felt was love, he feels that all around and all within 
 him increases that passion ; he looks back on the way he has been brought 
 into his present happiness; he has been brought into Eden and eaten of 
 the tree of life, and he will live for ever. lu what way has the flaming 
 sword been removed, that turned every way to keep the way of the tree 
 of life? When Adam disobejed the command of God in eating of the 
 tree of knowledge of good and evil, he lost the favour and image of God, 
 the Spirit of light departed from him ; he had come under the power of 
 
48 
 
 the spirit of darkness : he was afraid when he heard God's voice in the 
 garden, arid tried to hide hinaself. Through the sin of Adam, man is 
 alienated from God, and unfit for communion with him. The whole plan 
 of mercy originated in the Divine mind ; the first intimation of it was in 
 the garden, before Adam was driven out. He now sees how the Mosaic 
 dispensation prefigured gospel blessings. "When he was in nature's dark- 
 ness, he had no desire for communion with God. When the Spirit of God 
 moved upon his heart, shewing him his condition, he went to the law, but 
 the more he tried to deliver himself by this, the worse he became; he 
 now despaired of finding help from the law. After trying every means, 
 he was at last brought, in a helpless hopeless state, to Gethsemane : there 
 he saw Jesus agonizing in the garden, that the flaming sword might be 
 removed, and the way opened to the tree of life. He sees the wondrous 
 love of God to man, and is lost in astonishment at such love to a rebel ; he 
 sees the flaming sword of Justice piercing the Son of God ! O ! wondrous 
 plan of redemption ! He sees him led like a lamb to the slaughter : this 
 is indeed love surpassing all that ever was known. He sees now that God 
 is love. 
 
 He never till now knew the value of his Bible, he clasps it to his heart 
 as his new-found treasure ; it is now become a precious gift from God, 
 spirit and life to his soul ; it is to him what the garden was to Adam, in 
 it is contained every thing necessary for the nourishment and growth of 
 his new nature; it is the standard of his faith and law of his practice ; he 
 cleaves to Christ by faith and love, through the word dwelling richly in 
 him, to guide, quicken and establish him ; whatever may be his attainments, 
 he is still pressing forward, and this he can only do by the indwelling of 
 the word to feed and maintain his faith and love, as the constant means of 
 renewed influence, that he may abound in spiritual fruits, to his own and 
 others' advantage; it is the channel of Jesus' grace to his heart; it is the 
 water that Jesus has given him to be in him a well of water springing up 
 to everlasting life ; it is his treasure ; the law of God's mouth is dearer to 
 him than thousands of gold and silver, it is the food that is the joy and 
 rejoicing of his heart ; his armour of light ; his plea wilh God in prayer is, 
 " Guide me by thy counsel." "Hold thou me up and I shall be safe, 
 make me to go in the way of thy commandments, for therein do I delight." 
 He will never forget the word, for by it he has been quickened; it is his 
 sanctifier, he cleanses his way by taking heed thereunto; it is very pure, 
 therefore he loveth it; it is his wisdom, the theme of his meditation is, 
 "O I how I love thy law; it is my study all the day long," "mine eyes 
 prevent the night watches, that I may meditate in thy word." O! won- 
 derful book, it reveals to him every thing that is necessary for him to 
 know, both for present peace, and everlasting happiness ; and yet how 
 long he had it, and never saw its value. It says, " For us a child is born, 
 for OS a son is given ;" he feels and knows it. His name shall be called 
 
49 
 
 Wonderful, he sees it is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in his eyes ; 
 that for man God should become man ; that for man God should send His 
 Son into the world. He knows that he is a Wonderful Counsellor, for he 
 has counselled him to buy gold tried in the fire that he might be rich, and 
 white raiment that he might be clean. He told man he stood in need of 
 those things, and then said, " Believe that ye receive them, and ye shall 
 have them." Wonderful book ! to tell a man his wants, and then com- 
 mand him to believe they are supplied, and he will find them so; the man 
 has found it just as the book revealed; he believed — he had the riches ; he 
 was polluted, he believed — he had clean raiment : none but the mighty 
 God, the everlasting Father, could have written a book so adapted to the 
 nature and necessity of man. This Wonderful counsellor is the Prince of 
 Peace. He imparts peace to his subjects by his word; he commands 
 them to be careful for nothing ; their duty is to believe his word ; they 
 find the blessedness of believing, the peace of God which passeth all 
 understanding, they are kept in perfect peace just for believing. O ! 
 happy people that are the subjects of such a prince ; surely they will never 
 break his laws, nor disobey his commands. He made them, they were 
 holy and happy, they broke his law, they revolted, and so lost their holiness 
 and happiness. He followed them into the enemy's country, and found 
 them under the dominion of a cruel tyrant; all the power of the enemy 
 was combined against him, and those that he came to save, rose up against 
 him. He fought the battle alone, his own arm brought the victory. By 
 his own power he triumphed over the powers of darkness, and brought his 
 people from under their dark dominion, and gave them their life and his 
 favour; now they find that "his favour is life, and his loving-kindness is 
 more than life ;" they are the happiest people under heaven, and all bear 
 testimony to the wretched condition in which he found them, their 
 opposition to his design, and his love and faithfulness on their behalf. 
 Now they will surely never break his laws; their life and happiness is not 
 in working, but in believing. If they believe his word, the powers of 
 darkness can never harm them. His Spirit in the word will enable them 
 to perform every duty, and bear every trial, and the more work they have 
 to do, the stronger will their faith become. They are commanded to love 
 their king with all their heart and soul. " Love is the fulfilling of the 
 law," and in obeying that command, they are only gratifying the strongest 
 passion in their soul. Their Lord when he was in the world, gave them a 
 new commandment, to love one another, to love their enemies, to bless 
 those that cursed them, to pray for those who hated them. He had set 
 them the example, and they were to follow in his steps. They are now to 
 fight the battles of their king. Of the increase of his government and 
 kingdom there shall be no end; "the heathen are given to him for his 
 inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession." It is 
 by the itistruraentality of those whom he has thus saved, that the world is 
 F 
 
50 
 
 to be made his ; they are left in the enemy's country, that they may 
 fight the good fight of faith, and shew their love to their king, by believing 
 in him for the supply of their every want. Surely it can never be, that 
 these men, rescued from the powers of darkness, and brought into such 
 happiness, will be traitors to their king. The enemy can never harm 
 them ; while they believe and love, they shall be filled with the Spirit, 
 they shall rejoice evermore, stand fast and quit themselves like men. Can 
 it be believed that these men are to be found in the world, almost dead for 
 want of food; they know there is abundance in the word, but they are 
 slothful : the knowledge of food will not nourish them, they must make use 
 of faith to supply their wants. The Spirit does not act in opposition to our 
 will, this would destroy that liberty which renders us accountable for our 
 actions. He acts really and powerfully on the mind, but uses no force. 
 His influences are always consistent with the operation of our own 
 faculties. Shall we faint and be ready to die when there is abundance of 
 food within our reach ? Shall the flesh triumph over the Spirit, till the 
 Spirit is almost gone ? Shall the manna be within our reach, and we will 
 not put out our hand to reach it, although it is our life ? This is the 
 bread from heaven, ! let us prize it more, and bless our God every day 
 for it. 
 
 Into whatever state w'e may be brought, there is something in the book 
 suitable to us. Shall we not search for the treasure, explore its beauties, 
 and feed upon it daily until we come to the heavenly Canaan ? It is our 
 guide to the promised land. The pillar of cloud and fire departed not 
 from the Israelites until they eame to Canaan ; so the Bible is to be our 
 guide to the promised land, a "light to our feet and a lamp to our path;" 
 and we must walk by its light till we come to the heavenly Canaan, and 
 sit down in the presence of him who gave the word, by whose grace it 
 became spirit and life to our souls, and by whose mercy we have been 
 conducted by it all the journey. O, blessed guide I it brought us out of 
 Egypt, and without it we should never reach Canaan. 0, let us prize it, 
 for it is our life. We had the book, but not having the Spirit, it was a 
 dead book; being created anew^, it became a living one. The heart of 
 man is like the ground out of which he was taken; the Spirit of God 
 (that is the word) moves upon it (the Word is God), he is created anew, 
 the Spirit breathes life into him. Jesus Christ is the word of life to his 
 soul, the Spirit has made it so. He is commanded to eat freely of every 
 tree of the garden : there is every thing in it that is delightful to the eye 
 of faith, and pleasant to the taste of love. All things are put into sub- 
 jection to him ; he is commanded to be fruitful and multiply, and replen- 
 ish the earth and subdue it. This command he can only obey by being 
 obedient to the first. The earth is the world out of which he was taken, 
 and Jesus died to redeem it. Every renewed man is an instrument with 
 the word in bringing the world that Jesus Christ has redeemed into 
 
51 
 
 subjection to him. He can only be strengthened for this work by feeding 
 plentifully daily by faith on the word. 
 
 Man is both natural and spiritual. The natural man is brought by God 
 the Word into subjection to the spiritual ; the spiritual man is still in the 
 earth (that is, in his natural body), that he may go into the world 
 (subdued to him by God the Word), and be instrumental in bringing 
 those that are in it from under its dominion. His body is still earthly; it 
 is redeemed, and will be made spiritual after it has been brought again 
 into the dust. As he was brought into the dust of humiliation before the 
 Spirit of life entered into him, so his body must be brought into the dust 
 before it is raised a spiritual body. His body is brought into subjection 
 to his soul, by the power of God the Word ; and that word can alone keep 
 it in subjection, and sustain and nourish it, that it may answer the end for 
 which life was given. Faith is the hand which feeds the soul; the word 
 is the food. If the word is not constantly used for food, the soul will 
 languish and droop, and the body will gain the mastery over it. Through 
 want of food he will be unable to keep the flesh in subjection. God the 
 Word put the body into subjection to him, and it would never rise to 
 oppose the Spirit, if the soul was well supplied with the food God has 
 provided for its nourishment. The body being sustained by the bounties 
 of providence, will be lively and vigorous ; it still retains its passions and 
 appetites as before ; the new man became its inhabitant. Pride is the 
 ruling passion of the old man, he thinks he is independent; self is his 
 idol. Love is the ruling passion in the new man, he knows he is depen- 
 dent ; he is self-denying. Peace and joy flow through faith and love. 
 All the happiness which accompanies love, seeketh not its own glory, but 
 the glory of him on whom it is dependant for its existence If the food be 
 neglected, the man cannot be filled with the Spirit, and the flesh will 
 bring the Spirit under its control ; the peace and joy will be marred by 
 conflicting passions, and the man will have unfitted himself for the work 
 to which he is called, which is to glorify God in the world. When Jesus 
 Christ was in the world, he left his followers an example for their imita- 
 tion ; he, in our nature, fulfilled all righteousness. When the covenant 
 of circumcision was given, Abraham had the faith of which he received 
 the sign. God said of him " I know that he will command his children 
 and his household after him." When our Lord submitted to the sign of 
 the new dispensation, God bore testimony to his purity, the Spirit 
 descended upon him. When he was about to leave the world, he com- 
 manded his disciples (before he paid the price for their spiritual life), he 
 instructed them how they were to walk when they received it. They had 
 received the outward sign of the faith, but they had not the inward life 
 till the day of Pentecost; they thought only of temporal good ; they were 
 as unconscious of the spiritual meaning of the sign, as Isaac was at eight 
 days old, when he received the sign of the faith. They had used their 
 
52 
 
 own will, as they thought, in becoming disciples of Jesus, but when he 
 was commanding his household, the night on which he was betrayed, he 
 told them they had not chosen him, but he had chosen them, that they 
 should bring forth fruit ; whatever they asked the Father in his name, he 
 would give it them. He told them the office of the Holy Spirit was to 
 guide them in the truth, to glorify him in them through the truth ; that 
 their dependance must be the same on him for life, as the branch on the 
 vine; that without him they could do nothing. It was only by keeping 
 this simple dependance on him, that they could bring forth fruit, and 
 shew to the world that they were his disciples. Having told them the 
 treatment ttiey were to meet with in the world, how earnestly he pressed 
 it upon them, to love each other, that the love he had shown them, was to 
 be the pattern of their love to each other. The world is to be subdued by 
 love. He had shown and was about to show greater love than ever man 
 did ; and the world was to be subdued to him through their instrumentality. 
 It was through their being united together in love, that the world would 
 believe that God had sent him. He then, as the servant of God in the 
 work of redemption, commended his household to his Father ; they were 
 the«eedof the Church. He was the Lamb about to be offered for the 
 sins of the world, God had given him power over all flesh, that he should 
 give eternal life to all. Through Adam all had lost their spiritual life ; 
 through Jesus Christ the second Adam, all were to be made alive. His 
 word was to be the seed, and they the instruments to sow it; after his 
 resurrection they were to begin their glorious work. He then prayed, not 
 for the world, but for those he had chosen out of the world, to be the seed 
 of the Church, that they might be kept faithful to the trust committed to 
 them. They had been trained by him, and had seen his example of love 
 to them and to the world; as he had loved them, so they were to love each 
 other ; as he had walked in the world, so they were to walk, shewing love 
 to the men of the world, but a noble superiority to the things of the world, 
 as they had seen him. By their love to each other, and their showing to 
 the world they had happiness it could not bestow, the men of the world 
 would believe through their word. " Holy Father, keep them from the 
 evil that is in the world, and not only these, but all that shall believe on 
 me through their word, that they may all be one, as thou, Father, art in 
 me, and I in thee," that the world he died to redeem might be brought to 
 believe. The prayers were therefore not for the world, but for those that 
 were brought out, and were fo be brought out, that they might be faithful 
 to his interest in the world, while they were in it; that the subjects under 
 his government might be increased through their faithfulness, in simply 
 depending on him, and loving each other. Of the increase of his govern- 
 ment and kingdom there was to be no end ; all are to be brought into 
 subjection to him. It was love that first established his kingdom, and it is 
 love that subdues every subject that comes under his government. 
 
63 
 
 It is evident the disciples knew nothing of what Jesus had been saying, 
 they had no knowledge of spiritual things, they had neither the faith nor 
 love by which they were to do their work, and yet they had seen Jesus 
 with their bodily eyes, and heard the words from his lips. We should 
 have thought their hearts would have melted at such endearing tenderness. 
 He that made them knew what was in them ; he told them they would all 
 be offended that night because of him. We know what followed: Peter, 
 the boldest and bravest, was overcome by a woman; afraid to confess 
 that he knew his Lord, " he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know 
 not the man," Ah ! Peter, where is now thy devotedness to thy Lord ? 
 thou saidst, " Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee." 
 We are ready to say, Ungrateful man, thou dost not deserve to live; to 
 make such protestations of love to thy master, and then behave so base. 
 This scene is daily acted, and nothing thought of it. Where is the 
 believer that will say. Not guilty ? We are far more guilty than Peter 
 was. We have the inward evidence of the truth, by which we profess to 
 be guided ; Peter had it not at that time. They who had heard his voice, 
 and received such sweet instruction from him a little before, now in the 
 hour of his trial forsook him and fled. The love of the women was 
 different from that of the men ; they remained with John, the loved 
 disciple, and stood by the glorious sufferer. Now was the prophesy of 
 Simeon fulfilled — "The sword did pierce through the soul of his mother." 
 He had been brought to the temple, and received the outward sign of the 
 law, at eight days old ; through life he had magnified the law, and made 
 it honourable; now the type was to be fulfilled. He was zealous for the 
 honour of God in purifying the temple. Now he shows love to the 
 world by shedding his precious blood, to atone for its pollution, that it 
 might be restored to God as his temple. Blessed for ever be his name, 
 who bore the curse for wretched man. " He shall see of the travail of his 
 soul, and be satisfied." Mary stood at the cross; she had been forgiven 
 much, and therefore loved much; she was first at the sepulchre, and was 
 rewarded for her stedfast love ; she stood weeping. Her Lord was gone. 
 He said, " Woman, why weepestthou ? Whom seekest thou? She said, 
 " If thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I 
 will take him away." She had no fear, love is bold, it can brave any 
 danger. He saith unto her, "Mary!" Oh! how his voice must havg 
 thrilled through her soul. She was honoured first to hear the precious 
 words, My Father, your Father; my God, and your God. Mary's love is 
 an example fot her sex. As woman was the instrument of bringing sin 
 and death into the world, her love to him who brought life and immortality 
 into the world ought to be the strongest. 
 
 From the conduct of the disciples, it is evident they had not the least 
 knowledge of their religion ; they expected temporal greatness; they said 
 to Jesus, " Wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel ?" Israel 
 
54 
 
 was purchased, and when the day of Pentecost was come, they saw the 
 glorious first fruits of the world's redemption, and were commissioned by 
 their Lord, to go into all the world with the word on their tongues, and the 
 love of their master in their hearts, and proclaim liberty (in his name) to 
 every captive. The year of jubilee was come, and the ransomed of the 
 Lord were (by the Lord) to be brought into the light and liberty of his 
 government, through their instrumentality. 
 
 When the children of Israel were brought out of their natural bondage, 
 they praised God for their deliverance. " Sing unto the Lord, for he hath 
 triumphed gloriously, the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea." 
 The Lord was their strength and song, and was become their salvation. 
 The women followed in the song, they all believed God, and sang his 
 praise : " Thou in thy might hast led forth thy people, whom thou hast re- 
 deemed. Who is a God like unto thee ?" They looked back upon the 
 dangers through which they had been brought, and praised God for their 
 deliverance. They looked forward, "Thou hast guided them in thy 
 strength to thy holy habitation. Thou shalt bring them and plant them in 
 thy holy mountain ; the place, Lord, which thou hast made for them to 
 dwell in, the sanctuary which thy hands hath established. They are filled 
 with joy at iheir deliverance, but behold I they begin to murmur ; they 
 had bitter water Moses cried unto the Lord, and the Lord shewed him a 
 tree which made the waters sweet. They next came to a place with which 
 they were delighted, and from which place they removed into the wilder- 
 ness. Here they began to murmur again for food, and wish for the good 
 things of Egypt. Moses cried unto the Lord, and manna was rained down 
 from heaven. They were to gather it daily, by their obedience to this 
 command, they might be proved whether they would walk in his laws or 
 not. It came in the morning, when the dew was gone, and when the sun 
 waxed hot, it melted ; they could not have gathered it in that state, it 
 would not have been fit for food or nourishment. Notwithstanding this 
 command, they barkened not to Moses, but left some of it till the morning, 
 when it bred worms and stank, for which Moses was wroth with them. On 
 the sixth day they were to gather the manna, and dress it for the seventh, 
 and it was fit for their nourishment. Some of them would not believe 
 there was none to be gathered on the seventh day ; they went to see, but 
 found none ; their unbelief was reckoned to them for disobedience. The 
 Lord had given them the Sabbath to rest, every man was to abide in his 
 place, and rest on that day. And Moses said, " Fill an omer, to be kept 
 for your generations, that they may see the bread which I have fed you 
 with in the wilderness." They were fed and nourished by the manna till 
 they came to Canaan; it suited the taste of every man, and it did not 
 cease till they eat of the corn of the promise land. They looked forward 
 by faith when they came out of Egypt, to the sure possession, yet they had 
 to fight for it. Their first conquest was by faith, just walking round in the 
 
55 
 
 order God had appointed, which to the eye of sense was vain, but the walls 
 fell flat down, and they went into the city; the people made no resistance. 
 When the priests blew the trumpets, the people shouted with a great shout, 
 and the victory was won ; the land was to be theirs, but they they were to 
 dispossess the former inhabitants. God has promised, they had his law 
 and tabernacle with them, if they obeyed what was commanded, none would 
 be able to withstand them. The fruits of the first victory they were not to 
 take, it was to be devoted ; we find only one offender among the thousands 
 of Israel ; it was God detected him. They had conquered Jericho very 
 easy, they were next to take Ai ; this they wished to do with as little 
 labour as possible, they said, " Let not all the people labour;" they were 
 defeated. Joshua, their brave commander, humbled himself before God 
 in the dust; the sin was revealed to him, the offender was detected and 
 burnt; then the Lord cheered Joshua: " Fear not, neither be thou dis- 
 mayed, take all the people of war with thee ; I have delivered Ai, and all 
 that is in it, into thy hand." We know what followed. God was to them 
 a long-suffering and merciful God; they were ungrateful, disobedient, and 
 slothful; they mixed with, the people of the land; they forgot the Lord, 
 who brought them out of the land of Egypt ; they dishonoured him in 
 the offerings he had appointed in his house, they brought to his altar the 
 torn, the lame, and the blind; they were often chastened for their iniquity, 
 but they still rebelled; they boasted of their privileges; they said to 
 Jesus, who was the promised seed, "We be Abraham's seed, and were ne- 
 ver in bondage to any man;" they were then under the power of the 
 Romans, and soon about to be destroyed off the land God had given them. 
 If they had been faithful to the duties enjoined upon them, they would 
 have kept possession ; one man would have chased a thousand, and two 
 put ten thousand to flight. Moses had told them what would come upon 
 them if they were disobedient, and it did come; the sword without, and 
 terror within, destroyed all. They are now scattered all over the world, 
 yet they are a distinct people, and God will again restore them to his 
 favour. 
 
 It was all typical of the world's redemption. When they were brought 
 out of bondage, they looked forward by faith to the temple of God among 
 them; they looked by faith to the land, the holy mountain, the place, O 
 Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in. The temple was built 
 bv Solomon; it was destroyed on account of their disobedience; it was 
 restored after the Babylonish captivity. It was then prophesied that the 
 glory of the latter house should be greater than the former; this was to be 
 by the presence of him who was to build the living temple, which it prefi- 
 gured. When he came they knew him not; the holy house was polluted 
 by themselves, even when the Romans held it sacred ; they forwarded its 
 being deluged with blood and fire. The land that was given to the seed of 
 Abraham as an inheritance, that ought to have been "Holiness to the 
 Lord," was deluged with blood; every man's hand was against his bro- 
 
56 
 
 ther; the women'eat their own children; all that was predicted came upon 
 them. A, remnant escaped, like Noah in the ark ; they were safe amidst 
 the deluge. 
 
 The kingdom of righteousness and peace was now set up. The world 
 was to be brought into subjection to Zion's King, not by fire and sword, 
 but by faith and love. The rite of admission into the Church was now 
 changed. The seed of Ishmael had no right to the promised land, 
 although he received the sign of the faith, he was cast out of Abraham's 
 house. Now the promised seed is come, in whom all the families of the 
 earth are to be blessed ; the types are all done away. Almost all things 
 by the law were purged with blood ; now the Lamb (that was thus typified) 
 being slain, and having suffered death for the world, all are alike welcome 
 to the benefits of his redemption. His command is, '' Go into all the 
 world, and preach the gospel to every creature; he that believeth and is 
 baptized shall be saved." Those who were proselytes to the Jewish reli- 
 gion, were circumcised ; so the proselytes to the Christian, were baptized, 
 that they might eat of the living bread which came down from heaven. A 
 stranger sojourning with an Israelite, might partake of the passover; so 
 now, both Jew and Gentile may partake of Christ our Passover, through 
 faith ; through him forgiveness is received, and spiritual life imparted. 
 
 The disciples heard the words of Jesus, but it is evident they understood 
 them not till the day of Pentecost ; then they felt the truth, that it was 
 the Spirit which quickened, the flesh had profited nothing ; before they 
 had only heard the words, now they were spirit and life to their souls. 
 When the creation was finished, God looked upon all that he had made, 
 and pronounced them, " Very good ;" so when the work of man's redemp- 
 tion is completed, God pronounces it *' Very good," by again breathing 
 life into the souls of men. They were now made light in the Lord, all 
 fear was gone, Jesus had compassion on them. In the garden he said, 
 " The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." It was the spirit of 
 darkness and fear which belonged to the natural man; they shewed by 
 their practice what spirit it was ; now the Spirit of Truth is given them, 
 the spirit of darkness and fear is overcome by his light; they bear a no- 
 ble testimony to the truth, and fear no danger; there are no more thoughts 
 about temporal greatness ; the kingdom of righteousness and peace is 
 come into their souls. There were at Jerusalem at that time, devout men 
 out of every nation under heaven ; they were all partakers of the blessing, 
 there was no distinction. The days were come when the Spirit was to be 
 poured out upon all flesh ; the outward sign of admission into the privile- 
 ges was changed ; the Lamb had now been slain for the sins of the whole 
 world ; proselytes were all baptised, which signified their need of cleans- 
 ing. Now the Church could say, " Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for 
 he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of 
 salvation for them in the house of his servant David ; and blessed be his 
 
57 
 
 glorious Majesty for ever and ever; let the whole earth be filled with his 
 glory. Amen and Amen." They are delivered from the fear of their 
 enemies, and are to serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness 
 all their days. The light is come that was to lighten the Gentiles, and to 
 be the glory of his people Israel. 
 
 When Jesus was baptised, and God had borne witness to his purity, by 
 the descent of the Spirit, he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, to 
 be tempted of the devil. The power of darkness that rules in the children 
 of this world, first tried him by presumption, and then by worldly great- 
 ness; in both temptations our Saviour makes use of the Word against the 
 enemy. He next chooses his disciples; they were fishermen; he was 
 going to make them fishers of men. Then commences his public min- 
 istry, he opened his mouth with blessings. Under the law the blessing 
 depended on obedience; our blessing comes in the act of obedience. The 
 people that sat in darkness have seen the light; to those who were in the 
 region and shadow of death, light is sprung up ; and like their master, 
 they are to be in the wilderness tempted of the devil. The world is the 
 wilderness to the believer; while he uses what is necessary for the support 
 of his body, and blesses God for that support, he looks not to the world for 
 enjoyment; he has a constant spring of spiritual happiness in the act of 
 obedience, that is, the obedience of faith ; it keeps him far above the 
 pleasures and enjoyments of the world. Love, the ruling passion of his new 
 nature, is constantly gratified by his obedience. This passion is shown to 
 the men of the world by a compassionate regard for them, and a mind above 
 the trifles they so much prize. This is the spirit that was instantly shown 
 when the Holy Spirit descended. There was a deadness to the world, a 
 love to God and to each other, and to the men of the world, Peter said to 
 them, " Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of the 
 Lord Jesus, for the remisison of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the 
 Holy Ghost." 
 
 The disciples are the twelve stones that had been in Jordan ; they are to 
 bear testimony to the world. The fathers were to tell it to the children ; 
 they were to receive the outward sign of faith as Isaac did, even when 
 they were incapable of believing or feeling their need of belief; they 
 were to be taught their need of the thing signified. Before they received 
 the inward sign, they would be brought by the Spirit to feel that they were 
 as helpless in themselves as the babe when it receives the outward sign. 
 The ark of the covenant and the priests stood in Jordan till every soul 
 had passed over. So the testimony, the Word and Spirit, will remain till 
 all the people in the earth know the Lord. Light shall triumph over dark- 
 ness, the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of our Lord 
 and his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever. He has taken our 
 nature into his own kingdom; we are left in the world in the kingdom of 
 darkness, that it may be subdued unto him. 
 
58 
 
 The word is the manna we are to feed on in the willderness; Jesus Christ 
 in our nat,ure is the pot of manna preserved in the sanctuary as a testi- 
 mony for us; he is the word on which we are to feed daily by faith, with 
 thanksgiving ; it is sweet to the taste of every spiritual man, he finds in it 
 every thing to gratify his senses through faith. Having been led by the 
 Spirit to the utter renunciation of self, he has the earnest of his future 
 inheritance; but body and soul must be separated before he can come into 
 possession. His spirit cannot die while Jesus lives, but his body must be 
 dissolved into its native dust, before it can become a fit habitation for the 
 redeemed spirit. The spirit must stand in armour constantly, to keep the 
 body in subjection ; otherwise it will gain the mastery. Every soul that 
 lives by faith feels the Spirit within him, preserving him, like the ark 
 floating above the troubled waters of the world; and he will still keep 
 ascending,' until he is lost in the element in which his soul delights to 
 dwell. The body will be laid in the dust, and then raised again; but 
 there will be no more conflict ; we shall be like him, for we shall see him 
 as he is. The body will then be a fit partner for the soul, through the 
 power of God, and the world redeemed by Christ Jesus, will be deluged 
 with love. The work is all of grace, through the operation of the Spirit. 
 Now the man is endowed with new powers and faculties, that they may be 
 devoted to the glory of God. The word is his daily food; by faith and 
 prayer it nourishes and strengthens him; the dew of the Spirit rests on 
 the word, and causes it to sustain him. When the sun waxed hot, it 
 melted the manna ; and when the Sun of Righteousness shines on a soul 
 well sustained with the word, it melts it into gratitude and praise. The 
 seventh day is an emblem of the rest he is looking forward to ; then the 
 people of God, united in holy fellowship, come into his presence with joy 
 and gladness, with the voice of praise and thanksgiving ; a feast is pre- 
 pared from the word; he receives a blessing from the Lord, while waiting 
 on him in the means he has appointed for that purpose ; showers of grace 
 and spiritual influence drop down abundantly for their nourishment, 
 satisfaction and joy ; every member of the Church is placed in order, for 
 the use and benefit of the whole — the furtherance and growth of each ; all 
 are animated and influenced by their living and life-giving foundation. The 
 Church is built up a living temple, which God has consecrated to himself, 
 and by his light and Spirit dwells in it, and in the heart of every believer. 
 Thus the ransomed of the Lord go on from strength to strength, until they 
 arrive at the promised inheritance. When the Spirit and the word have 
 conducted them to Jordan, Jesus will be there to receive them into 
 Canaan, the inheritance he has purchased for them. O ! how difl'erent it 
 will be from the typical Canaan ; there the foot-prints of sin have never 
 entered to defile; there purity dwells ; death and sorrow can never enter. 
 We shall go into the holy of holies, and see the pot of manna, the bread 
 on which the Lord our God has fed us while we passed through the 
 
59 
 
 wilderness ; and we shall say, " Not unto us, not unto us ; but unto thy 
 name be the glory." *' Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by 
 thy blood;" and it is through thy grace alone that we shall reign in glory 
 with thee for ever. 
 
 It is evident that it is the Spirit and the word which carry on the work, 
 of grace in the soul; and it is the same means which bring the man from 
 a state of nature into a state of grace. Men choose their own way; the 
 infidel rejects the Bible, the nominal Christian believes it ; but both 
 are alike under the power of the spirit of darkness. The infidel boasts 
 of the superiority of his system ; it maintains his dignity as a man ; he 
 needs no redemption. The nominal Christian, from a thorough knowledge 
 of the word, may be able to defend the system he has chosen ; but he has 
 not the inward conviction of its truth, he is still under the power of the 
 spirit of darkness, and he is contented. When the Spirit moves upon 
 the darkness, it disturbs his comfort, and he resists it ; he knows not that 
 by this the Lord means to deliver him ; he sighs by reason of his bondage; 
 he comes to the law ; he has now as much light as makes him unhappy; 
 he sees the law is good, and he tries with all his might ; the more he tries 
 to keep the law, the deeper is his conviction that he cannot; he then cries 
 out, *' Oh, wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me ?" He is at 
 mount Sinai, and, like the Israelites, fears and quakes — like Adam, seeks 
 a place to hide himself; he is convinced he cannot be saved by the law ; 
 he sees the gospel dimly through the types and shadows. The Spirit then 
 leads him to the New Testament; he has the baptism of repentance, he 
 abhors himself, and repents in dust and ashes ; he is taught to use the word 
 as his plea in prayer, and he cries, " Lord, save, or I perish." His heart 
 is subdued by love, he sees the love of God to him ; and if he could but 
 love this God of love, he should be the happiest being in the world : he 
 now mourns and is in bitterness, not perhaps on account of any particular 
 sin, but he feels that his nature is alienated from God. The Spirit then 
 leads him to the cross, there he sees Jesus as suffering for sin ; he makes 
 the word his plea in prayer ; he comes weary and heavy laden ; he sees the 
 Lamb of God ; who taketh away the sins of the world ; here he finds the 
 type of the passover ; he believes the blood will be sprinkled on his 
 conscience. He is led to the garden ; here is the fulfilment of the type ; 
 it was the day appointed by God for the offering of the first fruits : 
 "Christ is risen, the first fruits of them that slept;" he believes that 
 Christ is risen; here his experience answers to Scripture; he is afraid, 
 lest he should deceive himself. The Spirit shows him now, through the 
 word, some of the privileges of his adoption. He reads that the children 
 of God are heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ Jesus ; he can hardly 
 believe, for joy and wonder at the glorious prospect : he feels that he 
 dishonours God by doubting ; as the change that has been wrought within 
 him exactly corresponds with the word, here again the Spirit works with 
 
60 
 
 the word; through faith, he hears Jesus say, '* Handle me, and seel" 
 Faith takps a firm hold of the Saviour, he is filled with joy unspeakable, 
 and full of glory, and exclaims, " Jesus is mine, and I am his." Now 
 God will deny me nothing I ask in his name, for he has said, "Whatsoever 
 ye ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." How is he to keep his 
 happiness below ? When he made resolutions formerly, he always broke 
 them ; now the Spirit works with the word, he pleads the promises of a 
 new heart and right spirit. He is led on to the day of Pentecost : this was a 
 feast, originally kept when the harvest was gathered in, in remembrance 
 of the giving of the law; the type is gloriously fulfilled; there is a 
 great ingathering of souls; the Holy Spirit descends the law of faith 
 is written on the heart. How different the feelings ! the one was 
 received with fear and trembling, the other with joy and gladness. 
 
 The man now feels he is a new creature ; the Spirit of truth is come into 
 his heart, it is to be his constant guide; he feels the revelations of God 
 have been fulfilled in him, as though they had been revealed for him alone; 
 the spirit and the word ore to be his constant guide, until the prayer of 
 Jesus is fulfilled — " Father, I will that those whom thou hast given me, 
 be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory." He now 
 feels that the Bible is the living word, on which he is to feed ; that Jesus 
 Christ is the sum and substance of it, and the Holy Spirit the inlrepreter; 
 this he could not know while he was in a state of nature ; that blessed book 
 was no more to him than the knowledge of good and evil, now it is to him 
 as the manna was to Israel ; he gathers it daily, and feels that by it he is 
 strengthened and animated to constant spiritual exertion. The more he 
 searches, the more he finds, and the deeper is his conviction of his own 
 inability to do any thing with the word without the constant aid of the 
 Spirit; he will cherish his holy motions, and continually guard against 
 every thing that would, in any way, impede the free communication. 
 
 The spiritual health is not like the bodily, that is returning to its 
 native dust, and will decline, let the means be ever so diligently used 
 for its preservation; the soul is to be constantly increasing in vigour; 
 the means appointed by God for this will never fail, if man is faithful to 
 the law of faith under which he is placed. It is our own fault if we are 
 not strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, living above the world; 
 the more lively our faith is, the more will our obedience exemplify our 
 love. Faith's views of God as our God, will impel us onward in the work 
 of the Lord. Faith must be in constant exercise in the word; it is the 
 hand that feeds the soul, which can no more exist without food than the 
 body. A man may still retain his knowledge, and be able to speak 
 clearly on the experimental part of religion, but he cannot maintain his cha- 
 racter as a Christian, unless be is abiding in Christ, by a practical faith. 
 Without the constant supply of influence, brought in by an active faith, 
 he can do nothing, and his increased knowledge will serve as food for 
 
61 
 
 pride ; the old man will gain the mastery, the soul will be brought into 
 bondage to the body, and thus, instead of promoting the interests of 
 Christ's kingdom, he is become a stumbling block, and a very useful agent 
 to the prince of darkness. If the infidel does not believe the Bible, he is 
 frequently found to have a knowledge of its contents ; he compares the 
 practice of professors with the standard they profess to be guided by, and 
 religion is to him (like the Israelites' manna was on the second day) a 
 corrupted thing, good for nothing, only (as they say) to frighten children. 
 What an ungrateful monster is man I he sees his fellow-men perishmg ; 
 his first feelings, when new life was given him, were love to God, and 
 compassion for his fellow-men; he knew and felt he had a spring of hap- 
 piness within him, that all the kingdoms of this world could not give him ; 
 he knew that it was by carrying out these principles in his daily life, that 
 men would be brought to seek happiness, where alone it was to be found. 
 Instead of this, he becomes one of the most useful agents to the prince of 
 darkness, who cares not how much religion men profess to have, if they 
 neglect the appointed means to bring in the vital energy; he knows it is a 
 sure way to promote the interest of his kingdom. Men may be thought 
 lively saints through the knowledge they have attained, when spiritual 
 life is almost extinct through neglect of those means God has appointed. 
 For our own sakes, for the sake of a perishing world, oh ! let us guard 
 against an insensible temper, and in simple dependance, make use of the 
 appointed means for spiritual strength, edification, and establishment. 
 Satan is ever at work; he is reaping a rich harvest in the deplorable state 
 of the Church, through spiritual poverty ; he transforms himself into an 
 angel of light. Ministers and Church members may be all busily 
 employed in the externals; he will praise their zeal and devotedness, until 
 faith is almost dead, and its fruits withering. Let us take warnmg by what 
 the Church has formerly suffered in departing from the word. No evil, 
 connected with what is good, reaches its height at once. The progress of 
 the Church from primitive practice (that is the simplicity of depending 
 and working), was gradual ; the principles began to work in the days of 
 the Apostles ; we hear Paul saying of the ministers, "All seek their own^ 
 and the things that be of Christ Jesus." For some time they were 
 hinderances to the development. 
 
 While religion was despised, and its followers persecuted, it retained in 
 a great degree its vitality, but after a while, when the Church had the pro- 
 tection of the State, it was stripped of its spirituality ; the word of God 
 was forsaken, and the traditions of men substituted instead of a pure 
 offering, and spiritual service. The Pope assumed the head, and the 
 ministers under him were tyrannical, indolent, and self-indulgent. They 
 acted as lords over the Church; this could not have been done if the 
 people had searched the Word of God for themselves, which they neglected. 
 Justification by faith, and sanctification by the Spirit were forgotten, and 
 G 
 
62 
 
 the people yielded up their understanding and conscience, in submission to 
 the blind .guides, who did not care for their souls. Penal laws were 
 enacted to keep them in subjection, and men that were to be subdued by 
 love, were, by these ministers of iniquity, destroyed by fire and sword. 
 Men are much more cruel to each other (when they are acting under the 
 power of the spirit of darkness) under a pretence of zeal for religion, than 
 in any other cause. The religion of Jesus Christ, under the power 
 of the Spirit of Truth, leads its professors to shew kindness in every way ; 
 the profession of the same religion, when the man is under the power of 
 the spirit of darkness, is the reverse; either he has never been united to 
 Christ by living faith, or through his own neglect is again taken captive, 
 a branch broken from the vine fit for the burning ; and under the power of 
 the same spirit that disunited him from the vine, he will do all he can to 
 promote his interest. 
 
 At the Reformation, when Luther stood forward the brave champion of 
 the precious foundation-doctrine, justification by faith, much of the 
 Popish rubbish was cleared away. While we see this bold disinterested 
 man going forth like a lion against the enemies of God and man, we 
 cannot but admire him, and bless God, that through his instrumentality, 
 that precious faith was again brought out of the desolation. We cannot 
 but lament at seeing him contending furiously with a brother for a Popish 
 error he still retained concerning the Lord's Supper, here he was still in 
 darkness. If regret can enter heaven, it will surely be because so little 
 love was shown by the family to each other on their journey home. It was 
 by the love of Christians to each other that the world was to believe, 
 therefore it is impossible to have too much love ; we can only have true 
 love in proportion as faith is used to feed it with the word; After the 
 Reformation, we find a sad lack of this heavenly principle ; men were 
 hunted like wild beasts, on account of religion ; fire and sword were used 
 to force men's consciences ; this was the work of the spirit of darkness, 
 vet there was a remnant. Wesley and Whitefieid appeared — two zealous, 
 single-minded men, instruments in the hand of God for reviving pure 
 religion; but the spirit of darkness broke the union between them, his 
 constant aim is to set aside the blessed instructions and commands Jesus 
 gave his disciples the night on which he was betrayed. In this way he 
 keeps them from realizing their Saviour's prayer, and the world from the 
 blessing, through their united instrumentality. While the Church is 
 disunited, the world cannot believe. It is not necessary that believers 
 should all think alike about non-essentials : if the little differences of 
 opinion were managed according to Scripture rule, instead of it being a 
 liinderance of their manifesting their love to each other, it would draw 
 forth the spirit of love. Instead of believers being united in effort for the 
 benefit of the world, many of them are busily engaged fighting against 
 each other; their conduct is an amusement for the men of the world. I 
 
63 
 
 have frequently heard the infidel say, How delightful it is to see the saints 
 fighting. One party takes the doctrine of election, and holds up the 
 Wesleyan to scorn ; this is the work of the spirit of darkness, he makes 
 use of the word with a wrong interpretation. Thus the unity of the spirit 
 is broken, and what was intended to unite, they labour with all their might 
 to disunite. That word, which is to be spirit and life to their souls, if used 
 faithfully, is merely used to feed and maintain evil passions; and, under a 
 pretence for the soul-strengthening doctrine of election (as they call it), they 
 are feeding and maintaining a soul-destroying principle. The love of God 
 and man is almost extinguished in their bosoms. The wife is heard to say, 
 without the least emotion of feeling, concerning her husband, Oh I I need 
 not pray for him, if he is the Lord's he will be brought. This is a strange 
 way of speaking, when our Saviour has said, " Whatsoever ye shall ask 
 the Father in my name, he will give it you." "Ask, and receive, that 
 your joy may be full." He has given the believer the gold of faith, to 
 buy every thing ; and will he be a miser in using it, when the world is per- 
 ishing for the blessings it can purchase, and his own soul is enriched while 
 buying for others ? I have heard a minister say, concerning his own 
 child, I know not if he is the Lord's ; but if he is in the covenant of grace, 
 he will be brought. Now this is very strange reasoning ; the father has 
 brought his babe to receive the sign of the covenant; by this he professes 
 he is a partaker of the blessings of the covenant of grace, and desires the 
 same for his offspring. The Jewish babe was brought to receive the sign 
 of the covenant of works, and was to be taught the law diligently. 
 Christian parents are to teach their children all things pertaining to the 
 Gospel. Ishmael received the sign of the faith, although he was not to 
 have a share in the typical inheritance ; he was blest with plenty of the 
 good things of this life as his portion ; so the children of believers are by 
 nature in bondage to the things of this world. Christ Jesus is the pro- 
 mised seed in whom all the families of the earth are to be blest. Every 
 child, born into the world through Adam, partakes of a sinful nature ; so, 
 through faith in Christ Jesus, all may partake of the blessings he has pur- 
 chased. The Holy Spirit is to convince the world of sin and unbelief, 
 and it cannot be, there should be one in tlie world that Christ had not 
 redeemed ; but men resist the strivings of the Spirit; "they love darkness 
 rather than light, and will not come to Christ, that they may have life ;" 
 they perish through unbelief, by resisting the Holy Spirit. To say that 
 man cannot do this, is to take away his power as a reasonable creature, 
 and make him a mere machine. 
 
 The doctrine of election is most useful to the enemy of souls ; in many 
 ways it drives away the timid, and encourages the presumptuous in sin; 
 and prevents the people of God from uniting in effort for the benefit of the 
 world. Another part of the family amuse themselves about baptism ; they 
 build up a party-wall between themselves and their brethren, and will not 
 
64 
 
 suffer them to come near ; they will not partake themselves, nor suffer 
 their brethren to partake with them, of the outward sign of their faith, in 
 the purchased and promised inheritance ; they do not say they have not 
 received the Holy Spirit, their need of which is signified by baptism, but 
 unless they submit to receive the sign, after the thing signified, they will 
 not unite with them. Abraham, the father of the faithful, received the 
 sign of the faith which he had previously, and his family received it long 
 before his posterity went into bondage; the children were unconscious of 
 faith, or their need of faith. Thus we see Christ Jesus, in whom and by 
 whom all the blessings of the new covenant came ; as man received the 
 outward sign of the faith of which he is the head. He had the Holy 
 Spirit when he received the sign; God bore witness to this, ** This is my 
 beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The disciples of Jesus 
 received the outward sign, but they had not the inward grace, nor the 
 consciousness of their need of it at that time. After Jesus had paid the 
 price, they received it on the day of Pentecost. Every proselyte to the 
 Jewish religion received the sign of the faith; so every proselyte to the 
 Christian religion is baptized, and their children. I have heard from the 
 Baptist pulpit, every section of the Church unchristianised, because the 
 members would not submit to receive the sign, after they professed to 
 receive the blessing it signified. Thus we see how successfully the spirit 
 of darkness works in the family of God, under a pretence of zeal for the 
 honour of God's ordinances. Through the conflicting statements of those 
 who profess to know the truth, and their violence towards each other, they 
 who are seeking the way of truth, are perplexed, and frequently turned 
 back into the world. Thus the family of Jesus forget his parting instruc- 
 tions; they are destroying the spirit of love in their own souls, and 
 hindering others from partaking the purchased blessings. Had they lived 
 in the constant act of dependance on him, this would not have been ; 
 love, and every other grace, would have been in vigour and bloom; they 
 would have been like trees planted by the river-side, sending forth 
 seasonable fruit and fragrance to all around ; instead of which, it is only 
 the withered leaves of outward profession. They have neglected to 
 gather the manna ; there has been no dew upon their souls to nourish 
 their graces. 
 
 Faith is the gold by which we purchase all things necessary for spiritual 
 sustenance ; and as we use the word, and let faith act upon it, so we shall 
 receive the Spirit. He flows perpetually through faith, and the vital 
 energy keeps the soul healthy and vigorous, and enables it to discharge 
 with delight, those duties for which life was given. The enemy is ever 
 watchful; and, for want of watchfulness on the part of the Christian, he 
 becomes the captive of the enemy. The manna that would have nourished 
 him (if gathered daily by the hand of faith) and made him a blessing to 
 the world, has almost made him loathsome to it. It would be almost 
 
65 
 
 endless to go into the many devices of the enemy to hinder the prosperity 
 of Zion, and the treachery of the children of the kingdom to their king. 
 All the works of darkness have a tendency to destroy love, and keep 
 Christians from unity. While they are commanded to contend earnestly 
 for the faith, they are contending furiously with each other about the ex- 
 ternals of their faith; therefore, instead of triumphing in the liberty of 
 the Gospel, they are brought again into bondage, by breaking the law of 
 faith, under which they were placed, and rebelling against that sacred 
 Spirit, who has guided them into liberty, and would have kept them in it, 
 if they had been obedient. Yet, doubtless, there is a remnant in every 
 section of the Church, who live a life of faith, who mourn for the sins of 
 Zion. Their energy is used to quell the troubled spirits of their brethren ; 
 they feel that their united strifes are a great hinderance to them in duty; 
 they are willingly performing that which brings a reward both in it and 
 for it ; and oft times, when they would speak a word to the men of the 
 world, they are silenced by them, through the evil report of their brethren. 
 Thus the men of the world are made to despise the way of salvation by 
 grace through faith, because they do not understand it. All the disunion 
 among professors is laid at the door of religion; while the cause is their 
 breaking the law of faith under which they have been placed. If the 
 infidel could reason rightly, he would say, such men are mad ; I am sure 
 he would say so of a brother, whose body was drooping for want of food, and 
 would hardly be prevailed upon to stretch out his hand and take it, when 
 placed before him, and yet kept talking of the excellency of the food, 
 and its adaptation to the nourishment of the body. It is exactly the same 
 with the spiritual man ; he neglects his food, he cannot perform his duty, 
 still he has the knowledge, and can talk about it. The infidel, not under- 
 standing this, denies the spirituality of religion, because the practice of 
 its professors is so inconsistent with their profession ; the infidel is not to 
 blame. 
 
 When we look at the practice of the Apostles, and of those who profess 
 to be their successors, one would scarcely think it possible that Satan him- 
 self could be so impudent, while we have the Word of God to try their 
 pretensions. We find that this Apostolic succession, so called, originated 
 in worldly policy, through that wicked man, Henry "VIII. In the time of 
 Edward VI., it was the established religion of the land; during the 
 reign of Mary, it was put down. When Elizabeth came to the throne, it 
 was again established ; the consciences of men were then to be forced at 
 the pleasure of Kings and Queens. In her reign, the greatest cruelties 
 were practised by this law-established Apostolic Church, to keep men in 
 subjection; and almost unlimited power was lodged iu the hands of the 
 bishops, to inflict the enormous cruelties the law enforced. Is it to be 
 wondered that the men of the world should hate the religion that caused 
 such desolation in the world ? But it was not the religion of Jesus 
 
66 
 
 Christ, — that is enforced by the spirit of love. When the band of men 
 came to take Jesus, a disciple drew his sword, and cut off the ear of one 
 man ; our blessed Redeemer, even at the moment of his most intense suf- 
 fering, was full of compassion to his enemies ; he said, " Suffer ye thus 
 far." He touched bis ear and healed him. He told the disciple to put 
 up his sword again, for all that took the sword, should perish by the sword. 
 No man ever lifted a sword in defence of religion that knew anything of 
 its power in his own soul ; Christ's kingdom is not of this world, therefore 
 this world's weapons are not to be used in its defence. The Christian's 
 weapon of defence is the word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit, in 
 the hand of faith, and will do mighty execution. Whenever religion is 
 propagated by any other means, it cannot be the religion of Jesus Christ; 
 they that use any violence cannot be his disciples, they are under the do- 
 minion of Satan. He tempted our Saviour with this world's glory ; he 
 withstood the tempter, and through his strength every one of his followers 
 may do the same; but they neglect the means through which alone strength 
 is imparted, and so are overcome by the things of the world. Well is it for 
 the believer that the spring of life is in Christ Jesus; if it had been 
 dependant on his obedience to the law of faith, the world would, ere now, 
 have been in desolation. The life of the believer being in Christ Jesus, 
 it cannot die ; God is ever mindful of his covenant; the blessings of grace 
 descend abundantly on every faithful soul. We know that our Saviour 
 had not the world's goods. " The foxes have holes, and the birds of the 
 air have nests, but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head;" when 
 he wanted money, he wrought a miracle to procure it. 
 
 The disciples, after spiritual life was imparted, cared nothing for this 
 ■world's greatness. Peter said, " Silver and gold have I none ;" Paul la- 
 boured with his hands to supply his own necessity, and the wants of those 
 that were with him, and he constantly laboured in spirit for the good of 
 men. Writing to one church, he says, *' My little children, of whom I 
 travail in birth, till Christ be formed in you, the hope of glory." There 
 is not any of this sort of practice visible in the men, who call themselves 
 Spiritual Lords, and Reverend Fathers in God ; they are surrounded with 
 the world's wealth and greatness, and not in the habit of labouring for the 
 souls of men, like the Apostles, Their dignity is not in spiritual wealth, 
 but in worldly greatness ; they eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and leave 
 the work for their less fortunate brethren, who, I believe, must have a re- 
 gular course of education to fit them for their work, even if they never 
 had the one necessary qualification. Those who are not so fortunate as to 
 have the patronage of the great, must do the work of their unfaithful 
 brethren ; and sometimes are hardly allowed the necessary conveniences of 
 life for their labour. There is no Apostolic example here ; Paul's riches 
 consisted in faith; he counted all things but loss for the excellency of the 
 knowledge of Christ Jesus ; for this he had suffered the loss of all things 
 
67 
 
 that are esteemed valuable in this world ; he endured hunger, cold and 
 nakedness, yet he went on from strength to strength triumphantly in his 
 work. With Christ, he was crucified to the world; as a man he was dead 
 to the things thereof; while in it, his soul lived by faith, and his body was 
 servant to his soul, constantly under the power of the Spirit of Light. 
 
 If the infidel would consider the difference of practice, religion would 
 not be blamed, but those who profess it; as it is evident that true religion 
 causes its possessors to devote all their energies to the promotion of the 
 glory of God, and the benefit of the men of the world^ with a deadness to 
 the things of the world. 
 
 I am very far from saying there is no vital godliness in the Church of 
 England; there are many living souls in it, who deeply lament its want of 
 spirituality. I have seen some of its ministers ornaments of the Church 
 of Christ. For nearly twelve years I have had opportunity to watch 
 closely the conduct of one of its ministers, and it has been truly Apos- 
 tolic ; he has been devoted to his master's work, and stood forward a bold 
 opposer to the spirit of the world, both by precept and example; in a 
 place where he was surrounded with temptation, to the contrary, he was 
 always labouring, and happy in his labour, and great have been the bless- 
 ings to others through his instrumentality. He says, "It is better for a 
 man to wear out, than to rust out." The secret of his diligence, and 
 delight in his labour, is because through grace he is enabled to live, 
 as he first came — a needy dependant, as having nothing, but in Jesus 
 possessing all things. I believe there are many such in the Church. In 
 every section there are the tares and the wheat, which are to grow together 
 until the harvest. Every living soul should be doubly diligent, that it 
 may be seen by their practice they are under the government of the Spirit 
 of light, and strive earnestly that they may live in that happy state — the 
 simplicity of depending and working, as the Apostles and primitive 
 Church did. 
 
 Now we should suppose that Apostolic religion is to be found among the 
 methodists, as its ministers say, they have been the instruments of reviving 
 it in its truths, experience, and practice. Certainly Mr. Wesley's plan is 
 excellent; there is no section of the Church of Christ ordered so well, to 
 promote the spiritual profit of each other. The ministers are not found 
 reviling other sections of the Church from the pulpit, although the Wes- 
 leyans are frequently held up to scorn, because they believe the heart- 
 cheering truth — a world he suffered to redeem ; for all he hath the atone- 
 ment made. That God sent his Son into the world, that the world through 
 him might be saved. That Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God, that taketh 
 away the sin of the world. The Wesleyan rejoices that he stedfastly 
 believes the blessed truth. Oh! that he had shown a more diligent obe- 
 dience to the command — " Go ye into all the world, and preach the 
 gospel to every creature." 
 
68 
 
 If the enemy cannot get in one way to hinder the work, he will try 
 another ; and what by Mr. Wesley was thought a means of promoting the 
 work, Satan is now using to undermine it. As far as preaching goes, 
 there is little done, compared to the instrumentality that is at work. Had 
 the Wesleyan Ministers been like the Apostles in practice, — God is faith- 
 ful, — the world, ere this, would have been a paradise ; but they have 
 broken the covenant, they have departed from the simplicity of faith, and 
 turned preaching into a trade to get a living by. They have not the edu- 
 cational training, like ministers of the Church, but they must give the 
 clearest evidence, as far as man can judge, that they are created anew 
 in Christ Jesus. There are now institutions, provided by the peo- 
 ple, for the education of young men who may be thought fit for 
 the work of the ministry. Afterwards, when they enter on their 
 labour, they are comfortably provided for. The minister ought to 
 be kept from all anxiety as to temporal things, that he may de- 
 vote himself to his work without distraction. They claim support 
 from the Church for their widows. On this subject, Mr. Scott says, "In 
 strict justice, the people, to whose service a Christian minister devotes his 
 whole life, renouncing every means of realizing a fortune by his industry 
 and talents, fairly owe him the means of subsistence to the end of his 
 life ; and when it pleases God to remove him by death, they equally owe 
 every kind consideration to his widow, and orphan children." This is 
 a claim I think no ministers, of any denomination, make upon their 
 people, although many are not near so comfortably provided for as the 
 Wesleyan ; but it is just, and it is the way in which a people are practically 
 to shew that they esteem their ministers highly in love, for their works' 
 sake. All that can be done to maintain love between a minister and his 
 people should be done ; he showing, by the faithful discharge of his 
 duty, that he has them in his heart, and they by every token of affection, 
 encouraging him in his work. In strict justice, the people have a right to 
 the services of the ministers they support. I do not think there is any 
 non-conformist minister so remiss in his duty to his flock as the Wesleyan. 
 They are never to be depended upon at their appointments, and no one 
 can tell what they are doing. They are seldom found visiting the sick and 
 needy of their flock ; that is a duty performed chiefly by the leaders and 
 members towards each other. They frequently shift the preaching upon 
 men who have their daily bread to earn, and at the same time assisting to 
 support them; they have only time on a week-evening to dress, and come 
 and perform the external duty. The last four Wednesday evenings at 
 Salisbury Street, the preachers have shifted their duty. On the 18th of 
 October, Mr. Young put off the preaching; he wanted the people to come 
 forward with their money for Milton Street; there were more evenings 
 than the one set apart for the worship of God. Another time, when the 
 people came to partake of the bread of life, the preaching was put off to 
 
69 
 
 read the Missionary Notices ; this ought to be done, but surely the other 
 ought not to be neglected; it is the blessing upon the preached word, that 
 will put zeal into the people for missions. The people are dispirited, and 
 will not come to the week-night service. If the manna was gathered and 
 prepared, according to the order of God, and brought into the sanctuary, 
 the sun of righteousness would shine upon it, their souls would be melted 
 with love to God, and compassion for those that know him not, which 
 would lead to self-denying exertion for their benefit. The people are 
 united in their classes, and in that way provision is kept up for the preach- 
 ers; but their conduct is disgraceful, and ought not to be suffered. If 
 ministers cannot be depended upon in the discharge of the duties devolving 
 upon them, it is not very likely the people will be stedfast. The last 
 four Sabbaths we have had two sermons from the men who are devoted to 
 our service, but not one in the week. Mr. Young's was an old sermon, 
 word for word, like a school-boy's lesson, as is his practice, gestures, and all 
 for the occasion. Let the practice of these men, who say they are Apostolic, 
 bo looked at, and we shall see the resemblance is not good. I will take 
 Salisbury Street, as I am best acquainted with the management there ; I 
 will take Mr. Scott, President of the Conference, and Mr. Young the zeal- 
 ous champion for the conversion of the world, the idol of many of the 
 people; if there is Apostolic practice to be found, surely it is in these 
 two men. The Wesleyan minister labours three years in a circuit, the 
 Apostle Paul laboured the same time in Asia. I shall look at his taking 
 leave of the Church at Ephesus. He found them given up to the most 
 debasing idolatry ; they would have silenced him with their cries in praise 
 of their goddess, but he was not to be drawn from his purpose. We hear 
 how he laboured among them, and the great blessing that attended his 
 labours ; the care he had over the flock, when he was about to be separated 
 from them. God is still the same faithful God, if men would do their duty 
 faithfully. In the 20th chapter of the Acts we read how he took leave of 
 the flock he had been feeding for three years; no one can read it without 
 the strongest emotion of love to this good shepherd ; what tender care, love, 
 and zeal for those among whom he laboured ! Oh ! that the men who call 
 themselves Apostolic labourers, were like Paul ; if so, the world, ere 
 this, would have been a paradise. He appeals to them concerning his 
 own manner of life among them : " Ye know from the first day I came 
 into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving 
 the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears." He preached 
 to them not only by the power and eloquence of the word, but by the efii- 
 cacious eloquence of a consistent and devout life; he says, "I take you to 
 record that I am pure from the blood of all men ;" he gives the Elders a 
 word of exhortation — " Take heed to yourselves, and to the flock over 
 which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers ; feed the Church of God, 
 which he has purchased with his own blood." He also warns them — "I 
 
70 
 
 know that after my departure shall grievous wolves enter in among you, 
 not sparing the flock. Also of your ownselves shall men arise, speaking 
 perverse things, to draw away disciples after them, therefore watch." The 
 greatest enemies of the Church of Christ, have always been they of her 
 own household. Then he commends them to God, and the word of his 
 grace, which was able to keep them. He told them they knew his own 
 hands had ministered to his own, and to the necessity of those that were 
 with him. "I have shewn you all things; how that in labouring, ye 
 ought to support the weak." It certainly was sad neglect on their part 
 to suffer Paul to labour for the supply of his wants. He knew that they 
 who preached the Gospel were to live by the Gospel, though he laboured to 
 make it without charge to them. He then kneeled down, and prayed, and 
 they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most 
 of all for the words that he spake, that they should see him again no more. 
 But they have seen him again, they drew life from one blessed head, 
 and were faithful; they now have met where there is no more parting. 
 He was mindful of them after he had left them, and wrote to them that 
 admirable Epistle full of instruction in doctrine and duty. Afterwards he 
 wrote to Timothy, who had the care of the Church. We find then that 
 some persons of a legal turn of mind, had endeavoured to pervert the sim- 
 plicity of faith, hope and love; there were others in the opposite extreme, 
 who abused the profession of the faith to such open licentiousness, as to 
 render their expulsion from the Church necessary. 
 
 Towards the end of the first century we hear of this Church again, 
 they were still alive in the faith; attempts had been made to pervert 
 them, but in vain; they patiently bore the cross, ever attendant on the 
 faith of Jesus, but could not endure any thing that tended to adulterate it; 
 they laboured in good works without fainting, yet they had declined from 
 the intensity of first love, and with all the marks of sound health 
 remaining, their vigour had much abated ; love and zeal ought to grow as 
 the understanding is improved. Their first ardour being abated, this 
 paved the way for further declension. The foundation was laid in the 
 decline of love, they took not the warning, and this very region is now 
 under Mahometan wickedness and ignorance. We see the rise and 
 progress of this Church, their departure from the word, and consequent 
 fall from grace. " Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest 
 he fall." 
 
 Now look at the apostolical practice of the President of Conference 
 with regard to the flock at Salisbury Street, over whom he was appointed 
 to watch for three years. When he preached his last sermon in August, 
 1842, though he knew it was his last, it was repeated with the coldest 
 indifference, from the words, " Who remembered us in our low estate, for 
 his mercy endureth for ever." I said that night, ** Surely he does not 
 feel that he has been remembered in his low estate, or else he would have 
 
71 
 
 more fervour about it." He did not pray for the people, nor seek their 
 prayer at parting ; he made no allusion to it. Mr. Peterson left them 
 this year in the same manner. Where is the apostolical example for such 
 practice ? Is there any appearance of love ? A tradesman, finishing a 
 job, would leave his card and hope to be recommended or employed again ; 
 this would be worldly policy : but these men know they will get a living 
 now they have been introduced into the work, so they never sought to be 
 remembered by the people, or implored the grace of God to keep them. 
 How can it be otherwise ? How can they have love, when, instead of 
 feeding plentifully on the word, they seek no more than they can get 
 a living by. 
 
 Mr. Scott is liked, I believe, in the management of externals ; but that 
 is not his duty — his work is to feed the flock. Had 1 pleaded with half the 
 earnestness for any temporal good from him, as I did for his attention to 
 this matter, I am sure he would have granted my request, for I believe he 
 is naturally a kind man. What is a man, if his word is not his bond? 
 He promised he would attend to it, but he has not done so. If he can 
 prove that I am wrong, why has he not ? If he cannot do this, why does 
 he not put a stop to the practice ? 
 
 Mr. Young came as Superintendant in September, 1842. The people 
 were pleased with him ; he was thought to be a zealous, diligent man ; 
 there were three hundred and forty members in Society. There had been 
 a great effort during Mr. Scott's superintendance for a new chapel ; at ane 
 meeting, when only a part of the members were there, I think there were 
 three hundred pounds promised. Mr. Scott did not exert himself, or the 
 chapel would have been built before he left, which would have been a 
 great benefit to the neighbourhood, as the present chapel will hardly contain 
 the members. 
 
 Mr. Young's first text was, " I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of 
 God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable, 
 which is your reasonable service." In the first hymn he repeated the 
 words, 
 
 "My talents, gifts, and graces, Lord, 
 
 Into thy blessed hands I give ; 
 
 And let me live to preach thy name. 
 
 And let me to thy glory live." 
 
 Had he done as he said— presented himself a living sacrifice — used his 
 talents, gifts, and graces in his master's service, I should never have had 
 cause to appeal to him as I have done ; neither should I have had cause 
 to lament over a man who makes the strongest professions of zeal, but 
 whose practice at the present time proves him to be a hypocrite. He 
 found the people united, he will leave them (unless there is a change in 
 the arrangement) scattered and disunited ; they will have cause to say, 
 that Saul has been among them by the havoc he has made. During the 
 
72 
 
 first year he repeated his old sermons ; he could not be using bis spiritual 
 powers in so doing, he could only be using his bodily powers, which he had 
 before he was created anew ; he could repeat the word of God then as well 
 as he does now; there was no spiritual labour. What does his soul feed 
 upon ? The word which he meditated on daily for his own profit, was all 
 that was necessary for the people. His time is given up that he may put 
 his meditations into form for their benefit; his soul must be starved, other- 
 wise he could never act as he does. He has began his second year in the 
 same way. He went to Conference ; his first appointment, afterwards at 
 Salisbury Street was on the Wednesday; he did not come; he had not 
 seen his flock there for six weeks; they had been praying for him, that 
 Conference might be blessed in their meeting, and be brought back with 
 renewed energy in the fulness of the blessing. He came on the Sunday 
 Evening. Surely the prayers of the people will be ansvvered, but it can 
 only be so if he has been using the spiritual abilities God has given him 
 for their benefit. I said to a sister after service, " What did Mr. Young 
 give you ?" She replied, "I am sure it was an old stale sermon, there 
 was no power in it." Another said, " It is the sermon where he rakes the 
 Bible, and writes with his finger, showing how the literary man neglects 
 his Bible, but I thought he was not going to do it to night." Another 
 said, " He used the action in the same place as he did when I heard him 
 repeat it before he came into this circuit." What hypocrisy ! to be hold- 
 ing another up to scorn for neglecting the book he is insulting. It is the 
 daily manna on which his soul is to feed ; he is to prepare a portion for 
 the people, and bring it into the sanctuary, but he will not do it. Why is 
 he to be fed by the people, when he will not use the spiritual talent God 
 has given him for their benefit ? Why do the people pray for him ? 
 They should pray for the bounties of providence to nourish his body ! 
 then he would unite with them, he does use the means God has appointed 
 for it ; but he will not put forth the hand of faith to gather the treasures 
 contained in the word, through which alone grace is supplied; and 
 without this his knowledge of the word is no benefit. He has cast off the 
 sacred fear of offending God, and is regardless of the good of his fellow 
 men; let his conduct be viewed as regards this subject^ and it will be seen 
 he is guided by the ruling passion of the natural man; he has acted 
 like a proud despot, not like a disciple of Christ. I have begged of him 
 to give the bread of life to the people, according to the appointment of 
 God. He says he will not alter his present plan for all that I say, print, 
 or publish. I thought I would not print any more of his second letter 
 than what related to Conference, as he had taken upon himself to answer 
 for that venerable body as he terms them, without their knowledge. 
 Mr. Scott told me he had not read my letter. This accounts for the 
 manner in which Mr. Pengelly evaded my question respecting Conference; 
 he could not, as he was placed, tell me how the matter had been managed. 
 
73 
 
 Mr. Young has requested me, as an act of justice, to publish his second 
 letter. The passages of Scripture with which he defends himself I will 
 not now go into, as I have refuted them more than once already, and I 
 think proved him wrong. If I have not done this, Mr. Young will of 
 course shew me my error; he was afraid to meet me alone, because he 
 thought he might print. He begins by telling me he is not going to treat 
 me as an enemy, but admonish me as a sister. I had violated the rules of 
 good society, in printing his first letter without his consent. This is a 
 matter the Church ought to see into, and I told him before, I intended it if 
 he would not attend to me. My conduct, he said, was quite contrary to 
 that charity that doth not behave itself unseemly, and lamentably ppposed 
 to that modesty which ought to mark the conduct of every Christian 
 female, whose education, like mine, is defective I had stept out of my 
 own sphere of action, and evinced a sad want of Christian courtesy, in 
 unceremoniously charging him wfth indolence and hyprocrisy. " You 
 have repeatedly," he says, yes, "repeatedly and confidently given it as 
 your opinion that God does not bless old sermons, thus placing your judg- 
 ment in opposition to the wisest of men. Would God keep such know- 
 ledge from wise and good men, and reveal it to you ? Is it very modest 
 on your part to set up your opinion in opposition to such men ?" He con- 
 cludes his epistle by saying, he will still keep to the practice; and so long 
 as he does not preach the same sermon twice in one chapel, no one will 
 have any just cause of complaint. He gave me no Scriptural reason 
 for his conduct. 1 wrote to him again : he answered the letter, and said he 
 would meet me, as he wished to remove some wrong impressions from my 
 mind. I should have been glad to have met him after this letter, because 
 there was so much bitterness in it. I thought I might be able, if I con- 
 versed with him, to remove the wrong feeling ; but as he would only see 
 me as a culprit, guarded by official authority, I thought it was of no use. 
 This is the treatment of this zealous Apostle to a woman, against whom he 
 can bring no crime, but that she has besought him to do his duty, accord- 
 ing to the order of God ; and he cannot bring forward one passage of 
 Scripture against what has been said. Thus is his practice — when the 
 bread of life is sought from him, we shall also see that his conduct is not 
 very scriptural, when his brother is in want of the bread that perisheth. 
 There is a young man meets in the same class that I do, who on Wednes- 
 day, the 25th October, went to Mr. Young; he had seen him 
 before. He is a respectable tradesman, but has been about fifteen months 
 without employment; he has kept up his payments at class during that 
 time; the money was chiefly borrowed from a female cousin, who is a 
 servant. About a fortnight before he went to Mr. Young, he was taken 
 ill, and obliged to have a doctor. While he was ill, he received a letter 
 from Devonshire, to say, that a master who had employed him before had 
 a vacancy, and wished him to come, as he would employ him again ; but 
 
 H 
 
74 
 
 he was not able to take the journey. The day before he went to Mr 
 Young, he Had another letter, to say they could not wait any longer, if he 
 did not come, the place must be filled; he did not know what to do; he 
 was hardly able to take the journey, he had not a farthing to pay his 
 expenses; he had been depending on the kindness of Christian friends for 
 food; his cousin had already given him all she had; he was almost un- 
 nerved from his long trial and illness together, and now he had got em- 
 ployment, he had not the means to take him to it. He told his tale to 
 Mr. Young, who did not give him one farthing to help him, but a note of 
 removal, which would be the means of admitting him into the Society in 
 the place where he was going, and securing help to keep up the system by 
 which Mr. Young gets his living ! How can the love of God be in this 
 man ? In the evening the door-keeper, a poor woman, came to me in 
 the chapel, and told me the trouble the young man was in. I went to 
 him, and while he was telling me how Mr. Young had used him, the door- 
 keeper of the chapel came in, with joy beaming in her countenance ; she 
 had got six shillings and some pence in her hand ; she said to him, " Did 
 not I tell you the Lord would provide." Here is the lowest servant in 
 the sanctuary acting in accordance with the religion she professes, and he 
 that ought to be an example to the flock, a disgrace to mankind! The 
 money wanted was all gathered, and the deserving young man had a few 
 shillings more than was wanted for his expenses. Doubtless what he has 
 suffered will cause him to have compassion towards others in distress, 
 but it will not increase his esteem for ministers. I hope there is but one 
 Mr. Young among the Wesleyans. We see this apostolic man can with- 
 hold the bread of life and the bread that perisheth from those that ask it 
 at his hand. 
 
 Now let us see an example of zeal in promoting the glory of God and 
 the good of men. This proud man can humble and crouch, as all proud 
 men can do when it suits them. Mr. Young called a meeting of the 
 leaders, to consult about going to Milton Street; the majority of them 
 were against it. One of them told me before the meeting, he saw how it 
 was — Mr. Young had got the Milton Street Chapel, and he did not know 
 what to do with it, so he wanted them to carry on the work; and I believe 
 this man when they came under the power of Mr, Young's persuasive 
 tongue, was the first to yield. Is this man to move a Church at his plea- 
 sure, when neither leaders nor members can see the hand of the Lord 
 in it, and from a neighbourhood where it is so greatly needed? By his 
 persuasion, the leaders, all but one, were brought over, but they did not see 
 the pillar and cloud. Afterwards he called a Society meeting, and praised 
 the leaders for their good behaviour at the former meeting — told the people 
 the advantage it would be to have the chapel turned into a school, that 
 still the preachers would come sometimes and preach. There are women 
 in the Society, and this deceiver seems not to have so much power 
 
75 
 
 over them as he has over the men : some of them savi^ through his sophis- 
 try, although he is very fawning. Now there is lamentation among the 
 people, many say they cannot go to Milton Street, it is too far. We can 
 attend our class, and go to the Baptists or any where near for preaching I 
 His next step was to call a meeting, to try and get the money that was 
 promised for Salisbury Street to Milton Street. The people did not come 
 forward well ; they could not see it to be the order of God, that they 
 should leave a neighbourhood where God had blessed and multiplied them, 
 and go to a place which evidently had not been blessed, as Milton Street 
 has only sixty members, and the chapel has been there many years; 
 therefore it appeared to be Mr. Young's order, and not the Lord's. As the 
 people did not come forward, he is now going to their houses, to try and get 
 the money for Milton Street, that the people promised for Salisbury Street. 
 He called upon one man, I think the same day, or at least in the same week 
 as the young man in distress went to him. This poor man is a journeyman 
 shoemaker, with nine children, living in two rooms. In Mr. Scott's time, 
 he had promised five pounds, to be paid by instalments ; since which time 
 he has been reduced to the greatest distress, through the want of employ- 
 ment. Mr. Young called upon him, accompanied by a leader; the poor 
 man pleaded his poverty ; the Reverend Gentleman was very humble and 
 kind, he enquired how many children he had depending on him for sup- 
 port ; he told him seven. But even this did not prevent him pressing his 
 suit. As he was so very humble to call at the dwelling of so poor a man, 
 and beg for money ! he could not help showing a little good manners. So 
 the poor man promised him part, and is to try and beg the remainder ! 
 Mr. Young has about thirty shillings a year out of this man's family 
 towards his support (one of his daughters being a member), was not that 
 enough for so poor a man ? Besides which there is seat rent and collec- 
 tions ! Surely it cannot be said that Mr. Young tries to make the Gospel 
 without cost to those who have really not the ability to contribute. 
 
 He went to a female servant, who had promised two pounds at the first 
 meeting. He blames me for violating the rules of good society, certainly 
 he did so in this case. It is known that servants in London are very 
 seldom allowed visitors ; a pious servant above all others will be careful 
 not to break a known rule, or wilfully offend. Three gentlemen coming 
 to a female servant (he took two leaders with him) would cause her 
 employers to wonder what they wanted. The zealous man could not think 
 of such trifles ! when he wanted money to build a sanctuary. He told 
 this young woman, her name was down for two pounds. She replied, it 
 was for Salisbury Street, and had the chapel been there, she would have 
 given five. Mr. Young said the school would be a benefit to the neigh- 
 bourhood. She told him there might have been school rooms below the 
 chapel ; she thought they were opening the door and inviting the wolf to 
 scatter the flock. One of the leaders said, " If that is the case, when they 
 
76 
 
 hear of Mr. Young's preaching and souls being saved, they will return." 
 Tbe other leader said, " You do not naean to say you will not give us any 
 thing." She replied, "I have said it." Here this zealous man had a 
 woniari to deal with, and he was obliged to go away without any thing : 
 the individuals named meet in class with me. He has been to more of the 
 members with little success. 
 
 If he is really so anxious to get money for the chapel, he might have 
 ventured to have seen me alone, as he knew I had promised to give the 
 money to the chapel I should spend in printing. I had touched his glory, 
 and that has quenched his zeal for his master, as far as I am concerned, 
 although he cannot say I have done any thing against the honour of his 
 Lord, or against what he has commanded. Our Saviour says, " If thy 
 right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee." Mr. Young says 
 I am uncharitable, because I am exposing this evil. Most certainly I 
 should be glad not to do it, but I cannot let it remain, while it is under- 
 mining the work of God, and is against his word. He says I am 
 uneducated. This is truth; I have not written for the critic's eye, and I 
 care not what is thought of my labour in that way. The majority of the 
 people who will feel any interest in what I have written, are nearly as 
 uneducated as myself, so they cannot cast a stone at me for want of 
 education. If it is seen that I speak according to the oracles of God, 
 then I must have had the teaching of the Holy Spirit, which is the most 
 needful education for a Christian. If what I have said will not bear the 
 trial of the word of truth, and what I have done is not in accordance 
 with it, then let me be scorned and despised ; but if I am evil entreated 
 for what I have done, and no evidence can be brought that I have done 
 or said any thing contrary to Scripture, I will, through grace, count it 
 honour to suffer dishonour for his blessed name, who has suffered shame 
 and dishonour for me. 
 
 I have, according to Scripture rule, told my brother his fault between 
 him and me. When I enquired of Mr. Pengelly, if the matter was to be 
 taken any notice of by Conference, I can solemnly declare that no one 
 knew either of the printing of the letters, nor my appeal to that body, but 
 one individual ; I could not have been more careful in this respect. It 
 will be seen that after I received Mr. Young's letter, in which he takes 
 upon himself to speak as though it had been brought before Conference, 
 and scornfully to ask me what next I intended — I say, it will be seen by 
 my perseverance afterwards, that I had no desire to oppose him, or bring 
 the fault of my brethren before the Church ; I am compelled on account 
 of the evil, and the determination not to give it up. But it shall be given 
 up, truth will triumph; the hand of our Lord is still upon us, and for the 
 love he bears to us, he will not allow a single enemy to triumph over us ; 
 nothing formed against his church and people shall prosper. He will 
 plead this cause ; he will execute judgment; he will shew many excellent 
 
77 
 
 men, by the light of truth, the error they have fallen into, and in his 
 light they shall see light. This man, who has taken upon himself to be 
 the champion of the prince of darkness in this work, will be laid in the 
 dust of humility before God; he and every one of the army of preachers 
 will be brought down by the truth, and see therein they have erred, and 
 henceforward will devote their energies to the service of the God of 
 Israel. The natural man will be in subjection to the spiritual, and the 
 earth also will soon be subject to the God of Israel. The battle is the 
 Lord's, and when his servants strive diligently, according to the rule of 
 his word, most assuredly he will give it into their hands; but when the 
 eye is single, and all the powers devoted to the work, then faith will feed 
 plentifully on the word, great will be the expectations from God, and 
 glorious the realization. He will then shew us that he is able and willing 
 to do more than we can ask or think. 
 
 Mr. Young himself will lament for the disgrace he has brought upon 
 religion through his pride and self-seeking. The people are as much 
 deceived with him as they were in the days of the Apostles, with Simon 
 the sorcerer ; they said of him as they now say of Mr. Young — " With 
 this man is the mighty power of God." According to the word of God, I 
 maintain it cannot be. He is living in constant violation of the laws of 
 God, which, as a spiritual man, he is placed under ; he is now reaping the 
 reward of his disobedience, in the praise of men, and if he continue in it, 
 most assuredly will reap hereafter. Then the praise and flattery he is 
 now reaping, will not yield him any comfort ; this misery will be aug- 
 mented by the reproaches of those he has been the means of destroying. 
 Those whom he has made the instruments to feed his vanity, will erelong, 
 be the instruments to increase his wretchedness, if he repent not. I have 
 watched his backsliders recovered, his justified and sanctified souls ; they 
 have proved themselves to have never felt any thing but the excitement of 
 natural feeling, by the truth being powerfully set before their minds. 
 Mr. Young has good natural abilities for this, if he would use his spiritual 
 ones also ; for his natural abilities only are useless, as far as regards 
 sound conversions. The word is useful in itself, as regards man, in a 
 social and civil light, and will be the means of great alteration in the 
 lives and habits of men, but it cannot be the power of God unto salvation, 
 unless accompanied with the Holy Spirit, and that Spirit is insulted 
 through this practice ; man is leaning on his own natural abilities, and 
 neglecting the preparation which can alone give him the spirit of his 
 duty. Man naturally loves life, and for that reason obeys the instinct of 
 his nature ; he takes food to preserve it, without which he could not 
 perform the duties, which, as a reasonable creature, are assigned to him: 
 he could not obey the dictates of his mind, or intellectual powers ; his 
 spirit would die, and his body would be a useless thing, and soon corrupted. 
 
78 
 
 Now, as a spiritual man, he is placed under the law of faith ; the economy 
 of grace is as unbending as that of nature, without a constant supply of 
 virtue from Christ, through the word and prayer, nothing spiritual can be 
 effected; the spiritual man will decline and die, and there will be nothing 
 left but the corrupting carcass of an empty profession. Could the natural 
 man reap the reward of health, vigour of body, and bouyancy of mind, if 
 he refused to obey the laws of nature, under which he is placed, by not 
 gratifying his natural instinct for food ? Impossible. The knowledge of 
 food, and its adaptation to nourish him, vrould do him no good. The clear 
 knowledge of the word is necessary to lead the spiritual man to the obedi- 
 ence of faith. It must be in constant practical use, in order to sustain 
 faith, and love, and all the other graces of the spiritual man, in health and 
 vigour, that he may perform the duties assigned him by God. He is not 
 to live to himself, but to him who hath given him this new life, and through 
 whom alone it is sustained. The word of God is the food for the new life ; 
 by it man is quickened; the law of faith under which he is placed binds 
 him to the simple act of dependance ; he must gather the manna daily, 
 until he arrives at the promised land. If a minister of the sanctuary, he 
 is to gather manna, and prepare the feast for the house of God. The 
 knowledge that there was manna in the field, would not satisfy the 
 appetite of any Israelite, neither will the knowledge of the adaptation of 
 the word of God to the spiritual man, satisfy the desires of the soul. The 
 hand of faith must be put forth ; then the sun will shine upon the manna, 
 and it will be spirit and life to the soul; but deception is easily practised. 
 The man is breaking the laws of his spiritual constitution, in refraining 
 from the food appointed to fit him for his duties, through which alone, 
 spirit and vigour is imparted. Mr, Young refuses to obey the instinct of 
 his nature as a spiritual man ; he is taking his knowledge of that word 
 (which through a practical faith would be spirit and life to his soul) to 
 feed his passions as a natural man — pride, love of ease, self esteem, and 
 love of approbation ; he has cast from him the simplicity of depending 
 and working, and substituted bold presumption ; the spiritual man is 
 become servant to the natural man. The feeling his own insufficiency 
 would lead to a diligent use of the means for strength ; his pride and self- 
 esteem, as a natural man, have led him to despise the means. The love of 
 approbation, which as a natural man he possesses, makes him more than 
 ordinarily zealous in outward things; this brings the praise of men, which 
 still feeds the ruling passion — pride and self-esteem ; his sloth in the use 
 of faith satisfies the love of ease ; the natural man craves, and the use of 
 his natural abilities through the knowledge of the word to which he has 
 attained, brings food for his pride, he is prostituting the greatest gift of 
 God to man, to satisfy his own natural passions and appetites, instead of 
 living as having nothing, but in Jesus possessing all things, which would 
 
79 
 
 lead him to a constant renunciation of self, an ardent love to God, and 
 constant self-denying compassionate love to men. He has abundant fruit 
 for his bodily labour. 
 
 I was present on a Sabbath evening at Hinde Street, when there was 
 what he terms an abundant outpouring of the Spirit, and what the mul- 
 titude who are led away by him, call an excellent time. He called upon 
 a man who is one of his chief supporters in this spiritual abuse, to pray, 
 whose rude familiarity in addressing God, at all times is painful to a 
 spiritual mind. He began in a manner he would not have used in 
 addressing his fellow-man, and in one minute I should think hundreds of 
 people began to cry out; the scene was disgraceful ; there was nothing 
 intelligible but the people screaming with all their might ! When the 
 noise of this rabble had a little ceased, I could just catch the sound of this 
 irreverent man's voice, crying out, " Is not this a revival. Lord, is not this 
 an outpouring of the Spirit?" The reason why Mr. Young is such a 
 favourite with many, is because he encourages this rant; then there is the 
 crying out how many are justified, and how many are sanctified ; but take 
 these souls a little while after, and it will be found their faith does not 
 stand in the power of God, but in the wisdom of men. Many are brought 
 into the Society by this means, who for a while keep up the outward 
 profession, and then decline. I know a confirmed infidel at this time, 
 who laughs at his once being a Methodist, and a believer, when there 
 was no change in him. A Wesleyan is as sound in the faith as any man ; 
 what I complain of is the abuse of faith, which is no part of their creed. 
 It never is the power of the Spirit that makes men cry out as these did. 
 They are like the children of Israel, when they made the calf; they 
 stripped themselves of their ornaments to make a god. These through the 
 want of a practical faith, have not the grace of the Spirit, and are 
 stripping themselves of their ornaments, and substituting the workings of 
 their natural passions, and calling it god. 
 
 Moses came down from holding communion with God, and had 
 the law in his hand, written with the finger of God. Had these men and 
 women been in the mount, holding communion with God, the Spirit would 
 have been engraving the law of faith and love deeper in their hearts, but 
 it would not have manifested itself by screaming with all their bodily- 
 strength ; they are by this means breaking the law of faith and love, and 
 insulting the Spirit of grace. When Moses came down from the mount, 
 Joshua heard the voice of the children of Israel, but did not understand 
 it ; he said, " It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is 
 the voice of them that cry for being overcome." So is this noise unintel- 
 ligible to every spiritual mind ; they are grieved and ashamed at the sin of 
 their brethren. It behoves every true Israelite to do now, as was done 
 then ; use the Sword of the Spirit against the sin. There is no Scripture 
 to warrant such noise. The people are to praise God with joyful lips, the 
 
80 
 
 daughter of Zion is to rejoice greatly. When mention is made of any of 
 the Lord's people being favoured with more than ordinary manifestations 
 of his glorious presence, we do not read it had such an effect on their 
 bodies. At the day of Pentecost, the people spoke with new tongues, and 
 praised God; but what they said was intelligible; they spake as the Spi- 
 rit gave them utterance. God is a God of order, and no man who has in 
 truth been favoured with more than ordinary manifestations of God's 
 presence in his soul, will say that it had such an effect upon his body; it is 
 a god of their own making. A man might be so overpowered with the pre- 
 sence of God, as to be unable to speak, but there would be the deepest 
 awe and reverence in his soul. It is not in the excited assembly, on ac- 
 count of a man telling the people to shout, that it would be felt: this noise 
 is the fruit of the flesh, the effect of highly excited natural feelings, 
 
 "We find in Scripture that more than ordinary manifestations of God to 
 man, struck the deepest awe in those thus favoured. When Moses waited 
 in the cleft of the rock, the Lord passed by in a cloud, and he made haste 
 and bowed his bead and worshipped. God said, " No man can see my face 
 and live." When Manoah and his wife knew it was an angel, they fell on 
 their faces to the ground. Manoah thought they should die, because they 
 had seen the Lord ; but his wife thought not, because the offering was 
 accepted, When the offering is accepted for us, and the cloud is removed, 
 and we by faith converse with God, shall we be irreverent? God forbid ! 
 Oh, let this mockery be shamed from the sanctuary ; it is the work of the 
 spirit of darkness ! the Spirit of light never had such an effect on a be- 
 liever. When Ezekiel saw the bow in the cloud, the appearance of the 
 glory of the Lord, he fell on his face ; afterwards, when the hand of the 
 Lord was strong upon him, he sat down astonished seven days. When the 
 angel came to Daniel to explain the vision, he was afraid and fell on his 
 face; afterwards he fainted and was sick certain days. When Paul had 
 more than ordinary communication of revelation, he could not tell whether 
 he was in the body or out of the body. When St. John saw the presence 
 of God, he fell at his feet as dead. Oh, what an awful mockery for men 
 to begin and scream in the sanctuary ! and say it is the overpowering 
 presence of God that is the cause. It is a god they have made themselves ! 
 The words that Moses used when the Israelites were to be punished for 
 sin, Mr. Young uses to excite the people to noise : Moses stood in the 
 gate of the camp, and said, " Who is on the Lord's side ?" O, let it now 
 be seen that many are on the Lord's side, that this abomination may be 
 put away. 
 
 I think I have said enough to shew that Mr. Young has no just claim to 
 apostolic practice, and great will be the evil he will do if he is suffered to 
 go on. If what I have said is not consistent with the word of truth, he 
 can contradict it ; he will not be willing to admit the charges, but unless 
 he can bring Scripture to refute them, they are true. He is like Saul, 
 
81 
 
 making havoc in the Church, and oppressing the followers of Christ ; he is 
 like Simon Magus, deceiving the people, for the power of God cannot be 
 with him; he is like Judas, betraying his master ; he is taking his glory to 
 himself, and robbing the household. The gold of faith was given him to 
 buy what was needful; he will nut take the trouble; he says he has not 
 leisure, although it is his whole business to provide. A woman has be- 
 sought him to give the food, according to her Lord's command; but he has 
 driven her away, and calls her immodest and wanting in courtesy, for 
 seeking bread: She still pressed the matter upon him; he then wanted to 
 bring her as a prisoner, guarded by official authority, into his presence ; to 
 this she would not submit, as it is against the rules of her Lord's house. 
 He never punishes his household for being beggars; they are all beggars, 
 they live by begging ; they are often almost deprived of life because they 
 do not beg; themselves alone are to blame, there is an abundant supply 
 for every need if they seek it. This proud servant, who scorned the 
 beggar, and would not suffer her to come into his presence, will be brought 
 down by the sling and stone. The Lord will defend the cause of his 
 household. His servants shall honour him, and prepare the food according 
 to his appointment. 
 
 Young ministers would soon be corrupted by this bad example ; it is 
 natural they should look at the practice of what are called popular men. 
 When Dr. Newton comes, look at the multitudes that follow him; he is a 
 man of good natural abilities, and let him defend whatever system he 
 thinks proper, he is pleasant to his audience. He- holds the doctrines of 
 Mr, Wesley, and makes up a portion of truth, according to that system, 
 and goes about year after year repeating the same. I was told by one of 
 our leaders, v^ho heard him in Birmingham preach a sermon from Philip- 
 pians iii. 8. ; he afterwards came to London, and being fond of Mr. 
 Newton, he went to hear him whenever he came to London. He heard 
 him repeat that sermon in exactly the same words, till he was quite sick of 
 it. I heard him sometime since at Hinde Street, it was an excellent ser- 
 mon, but with all the Doctor's eloquence, it wanted the power of God. I 
 thought it was an old sermon, and said afterwards to a father in our Israel, 
 I believe it was an old sermon, as there was no power with it; he said it was 
 impossible there could, as he had heard him repeat it twice before. If the 
 Doctor was to infringe upon the laws of his natural government as he does 
 upon his spiritual, he would not appear before the people with the health 
 and vigour of body he does. Why is he sent for ? It cannot be because 
 he is a healthy spiritual man, having the power of God with him; this 
 cannot be, because he is breaking the foundation law of his spiritual con- 
 stitution ; it must be because his natural abilities are pleasing to the people 
 and he is exercising them on a portion of the Word of God. This is the 
 way he gets his living. He is fed by the altar, but he will not prepare the 
 food for the altar according to the order of God. There is no more honour 
 
82 
 
 done to God in the use of the means he has appointed, than if there was 
 no God. He comes just to perform the external duty, but has not exercised 
 his spiritual talents to prepare for the service. His body sustained by the 
 food, which by natural instinct it craves, is in the sanctuary, but his soul 
 can neither be healthy, nor vigorous, for the duties that are to be performed, 
 because it is evident by his practice, he is not feeding it. The act of 
 taking plenty of food himself, would have given him an ardent longing 
 that others might partake, and he would prepare for them. 
 
 This sort of work does very well with formal professors; they come to 
 the house of God without expectation from God, and they return without 
 disappointment; they will praise the abilities of the preacher, but they 
 never knew what it is to feed on the hidden manna; he has explained the 
 nature of it to them, and that is all they wanted, they have done their 
 duty in coming to the house of God. Not so the believer ; he goes with 
 strong expectation, his dependance is on God for the blessing ; he is not 
 satisfied unless he sees the power and glory of God in the sanctuary ; the 
 observance of outward ordinances cannot satisfy his soul. The sanctuary 
 would be no better to him than a wilderness, if he did not enjoy the 
 presence of God in it ; but he knows that God is faithful, he therefore 
 cannot be disappointed. If the Rev. Doctor would follow Apostolic prac- 
 tice, what a blessing he might be, when he comes to visit the Church. 
 
 When Paul was writing to the Romans, he said he longed to see them, 
 that he might impart to them some spiritual gift, that they might be 
 comforted together by their mutual faith. He could solemnly appeal to 
 God, whom he served with his spirit in the Gospel, not in outward appear- 
 ance, and mere bodily labour, but in sincere aifection and faithfulness, 
 that he pleaded for them, that they might be more abundantly filled with 
 the gifts and graces of the Spirit, and that he might be the means of 
 confirming them in the faith. Yet how earnestly did he entreat their 
 prayers ; Paul was very covetous of the prayers of the faithful. No 
 man was ever more favoured with abundant communications of grace, and 
 none more faithful in the use of those means by which they are obtained. 
 He was alive as a natural man, and as a spiritual man Christ lived in him 
 by faith, steadfastly acting; thus deriving vigour for every spiritual duty. 
 He entreated the faithful at Rome, that for Christ's sake they would unite 
 with him in earnest persevering prayer to God for his guidance, protection, 
 and blessing. Here is Apostolic practice, ever imploring, ever receiving, 
 and ever imparting ; day by day the blessed work went on. 
 
 Where is the union of practical faith and prayer to be seen among 
 these men, who say they follow Apostolic practice ? There is no such 
 striving ; all are seeking their own ease, and substituting the knowledge 
 of faith for its practice Who thai thinks seriously on this subject, can 
 endure to see Heaven's best gift, that blessed treasure, the living word, the 
 channel of the most glorious manifestations of God to man, thus prosti- 
 
83 
 
 tuted ? For a man to collect a few thoughts from it, and carry them about 
 from year to year to feed his vanity, and amuse an audience, and yet to 
 be styled by each other Herculean labourers ; shame will be upon their 
 Herculean labours ere long, if the evil is not put away. Every faithful 
 disciple must be exercising a lively practical faith; without this, nothing 
 can be done. A minister is to be an example of diligence, that he 
 himself may grow in faith, love, and wisdom. Other men's spiritual 
 profit is depending on his fidelity and diligence, and it is only in the 
 exercise of a lively practical faith in the word, that he can be blessed, or 
 be a blessing. The more he exercises faith in the word, the more love 
 will he feel to God and his people, and the more will he be invigorated 
 by the Spirit to go forward in his work; great in his honour, glorious is 
 the work he is called unto, and no labour he can perform, should be spared 
 for the spiritual profit of the Church. If the love of Christ constrained 
 him, there would be such an affection to his people, that no labour he 
 could perform, would be thought too great for the promotion of their 
 spiritual edification. By faith he would be going forward in a consci- 
 entious, active manner, using the means God has appointed, as channels 
 of his grace. He has need of much grace for the faithful discharge 
 of his duty ; he is not suflScient of himself to do any thing. Oh that 
 men would practice as if they were insufficient, as well as acknowledge 
 it. 
 
 I wish to be careful lest 1 should leave a wrong impression on the 
 minds of any, respecting Wesleyan ministers. This is an error they have 
 fallen into, a device of the prince of darkness, to hinder the work of the 
 Lord; they have fallen into it through Church order, but, I believe, 
 never think of it as an error. I hope there is not another among all the 
 preachers that would have shewn the spirit Mr. Young has. The Metho- 
 dist preachers, I believe, are men under the power of the Spirit of Light, 
 although this error greatly impedes their usefulness. 
 
 No man could have shown a more Christian spirit than Mr. Pengelly 
 has, and it is but justice to him to acknowledge it. I think it was on the 
 19th August, 1842, I first mentioned the subject to him; I then saw he 
 did not like it. The Scripture he made use of to defend the practice, I 
 have heard since, is the same they all use. When I consider the spirit 
 that has been shewn about this matter since the subject was first named, I 
 am not surprised at its reception, as it was pressed by a stranger, without 
 any ceremony. I did not speak again to Mr. Pengelly until the 22nd 
 May, 1843, and at that time the first part was written. The interview was 
 proposed by Mr. P. The office he had to perform was not a very pleasant 
 one, certainly nature would not like it. The conversation lasted about 
 four hours; no man could have manifested a more Christian spirit than he 
 did. I did not spare to oppose his opinion, and the spirit he showed when 
 opposed, entirely convinced me he believed he was acting right, which 
 
84 
 
 made it exceedingly painful for me to proceed ; nothing but the increasing 
 conviction of the evil it was bringing upon the Church induced me to go 
 on. When I thought of appealing to Conference, as the most proper vpay 
 to get the evil remediedj without publishing, I told him what I intended to 
 do. He did not say a word against the plan. We had afterwards a little 
 conversation on the subject, and I again pressed the matter. He still 
 manifested the same Christian spirit; as the servant of Christ, he did not 
 strive, but was gentle ; he still held his own opinion. I could learn from 
 what he said, that he went by the rule of Scripture, " To the weak he be- 
 came weak." When I saw him after Conference, he could not act other- 
 wise than he did; as he is placed with Mr. Young, he could not tell me 
 how it had been managed. Thus one evil man brings good men to help 
 him in what is evil. There is no self-seeking in his public duty : the 
 meetings at which he presides are never the scenes of uproar and confu- 
 sion, but quietness and order. If this error was done away, what a 
 blessing would such a man be to the Church ; and if there were many 
 hundreds of the same spirit, devoting ail their energies to the service of 
 God, what glorious days we should soon witness. As it is, the preaching is 
 turned into mere formality, though I believe it is not viewed in this light 
 as it has been long practised. If it had been brought before Conference, 
 it would have been altered ; the spirit of darkness knew this, and therefore 
 persuaded his servant to keep it back; he opposes everything likely to 
 lead to the simplicity of faith, because that destroys all his works. Al- 
 though it has been presented at the proper place and time, without success, 
 yet it will succeed, and light will triumph over darkness. If this had 
 been a non-essential, I would not have taken any trouble about it; but it 
 is undermining the whole spiritual system, and overturning the laws of 
 man's spiritual constitution. 
 
 Mr. Young has, I fear, influenced Mr. Jackson to some extent, but he 
 will not succeed, for he is an honest man, and will shake off the work of 
 darkness, and use his influence with others. It is wonderful, the influence 
 he has over the minds of others, through his pretended zeal and the tales 
 of his wonderful success! With all his flattery, men must see there is a 
 great want of spirituality in the Church ; a cloud is upon her, she does 
 not shine as she ought; the bow is still in the cloud, and although the 
 prince of darkness has been long trying to extinguish spiritual life, he 
 never can, for the spring is in Christ Jesus. 
 
 Mr. Young's religion is in the crowd, the stir and excitement of the 
 assembly; he has forgotten that the blessed man is he whose delight is in 
 the word of God, who meditates on it day and night. He denies this, and 
 says he is more blessed in using the word when outward circumstances 
 make it necessary ; for three years he tried the constant use of it, but he 
 had not so much success then as now! Can it be success? Does God 
 reward disobedience to his own laws in this way ? Yet he exults in the 
 
85 
 
 fruit of Lis disobedience, while his brethren who are much naore faithful 
 than he, in the use of the means to fit them for their duty, seein to have 
 little fruit for their labour. Do not men make use of the sense God 
 has given them ? Are they so imposed upon in outward things ? Does 
 not man's own natural instinct for food tell him it is impossible to live and 
 have a sound healthy constitution, if he does not take the necessary food ? 
 Life would be a burden to him instead of a pleasure. As a man, he must 
 gratify his desire for food, to fit him for the discharge of those duties which 
 devolve upon him. Man has no right to destroy his own life, yet he is 
 found using that liberty with the life God has given him; thus he suffers 
 death for his disobedience to the laws of nature, refraining from food and 
 taking poison ! he used the power that was given him for the preservation 
 of his life, for its destruction. Here we see a spiritual man exulting in 
 the fruits of his disobedience ; he is constantly breaking the foundation 
 law of his spiritual constitution (that is faith), by refraining from the food 
 God has appointed for the support of his spiritual life; just taking a little 
 now and then to keep up the form ; when it is only by this food being 
 taken plentifully, that he can have strength and spirit to perform the 
 duties which as a spiritual man devolve upon him. Is not the man mad ? 
 Is not his whole spiritual system deranged ? He not only refrains from 
 the food God has appointed for the preservation of his life, but is constantly 
 taking poison to destroy that life I Every thing that draws a man from the 
 simplicity of a practical faith, is poisonous, and tends to feed the man's 
 pride and love of self, which destroys humility and love of God, and 
 poisons all his works. It was the work of the spirit of darkness, under 
 the pretence that man would gain knowledge by his disobedience, that 
 first induced him to eat that which was forbidden by God. Now that 
 through grace man is again restored to his original nobleness, and possess 
 faculties which can rise to the contemplation of God, and feed, and delight 
 in his glorious attributes; the spirit of darkness still aims to bring him 
 under his power. He now changes his mode of procedure ; he knows 
 that man is commanded to eat freely of the word ; it is the food whereby 
 he is to attain to a more exalted knowledge of God ; to think less of 
 himself, and by it to be fitted for active service, by it to subdue the earth 
 to the government under which he has been brought; the whole aim of 
 the enemy now is to keep the man from eating plentifully of the food 
 which is to nourish him ; if he succeed in this, he soons brings him into 
 captivity. All spiritual disease arises from this cause, violating the laws 
 under which he is placed; and that which should be for his life is turned 
 into poison. 
 
 Various are the methods he uses to accomplish his purpose. Some he 
 
 sets cavilling about the nature of the food that poisons love ; they take 
 
 just as much nourishment as will keep up the unholy strife. Others he 
 
 persuades they can do with very little food; they need not take the trouble 
 
 I 
 
86 
 
 to feed so constantly ; they have faith, that is enough ; they need not take 
 so much trouble to prepare food for others; they know the qualities of the 
 food, and ean talk delightfully about it. He will also take care they have 
 plenty of fruit for their labour; they desire to see souls saved^ and surely 
 if thev see this desire abundantly gratified, it is a clear evidence the plan 
 is good. The man forcibly delivers the word, this of course is his natural 
 power which he had before he was created anew, he is exercising it upon 
 a portion of the word ; but there cannot be any spiritual service in it ; he 
 has not by faith been gathering the manna, nor seeking to increase in the 
 knowledge of God by meditation on his word. The passions of his hearers 
 are worked upon ; he follows up the work — tells them to believe ; they say 
 they do believe ; he tells them they are justified, or sanctified, or whatever 
 they profess to need ! There is no spiritual work here ; it is nature acting 
 upon nature; the Christ that nature apprehends is not worth having; such 
 faith will not stand the trial, it is the fruit of the flesh and not of the 
 Spirit ; there is no inward support, and the soul becomes worse and worse. 
 This is the work of the spirit of darkness, to blind men's eyes, and keep 
 them from the obedience of faith, which can alone bring spiritual 
 prosperity. Without this it is all delusion ; the word in itself has not the 
 power to quicken, the Spirit must accompany it to make it the power of 
 God to salvation. Shall the power accompany the word of a man who is 
 insultin"- the word of God? Impossible! We see from the conduct of 
 the Apostles, when our Saviour was with them, what natural faith did for 
 them in the time of trial, even though they had seen Jesus, and heard the 
 words from his mouth. When spiritual life was given them, the living 
 faith, they were bold and courageous, and could brave any danger. How 
 did they behave when this life was given them? Certainly not like 
 Mr. Young's converts — yelling like madmen ! but in a prepared peaceful 
 state, waiting in expectation of faith for the blessing; they continued in 
 prayer and supplication, with one accord, in one place. 
 
 It is quite evident there is a mighty difference between the Apostolic 
 practice now, and that of the primitive Church. We see the labour Paul 
 bestowed on the Church at Ephesus, and how his labours were blessed. 
 God is still the same, and the faithful labourer shall have the same reward. 
 When we think that there are nearly two thousand Wesleyan preachers, 
 what would the world be if each man was faithfully devoting his energies 
 to the work? No system of Church government, however well ordered, 
 can ensure spirituality. Mr. Wesley's is an excellent one to maintain 
 unity and love among the people, and lead them to the use of the means 
 for promoting spiritual prosperity. I think if he was alive now, he would 
 alter his plan respecting the preachers ; he would see it tended to destroy 
 love and spirituality in them; that this meeting together was not for the 
 spiritual profit of the people, but merely to order the externals of the 
 svstem, which, according to Apostolic practice, they were not to meddle 
 
87 
 
 with. What is necessary when a country is in spiritual darkness, often 
 needs alteration when Churches are planted. His own call was to go 
 from place to place, and order the work, and he was greatly blest ; his eye 
 was single; but I think a minister in a Church, is as necessary as a 
 father in a family ; they are to be looked up to with duty and affection. 
 While a man may breathe peace and good will to all the family of man, 
 his own family, which God hath given him, have his peculiar care ; in it 
 he feels he is at home, and lives in the affections of its members. The 
 Church is the spiritual family of the minister, those whom God has set 
 him over; for them he prays, for them he watches and meditates; his 
 people live in his heart, and he lives in theirs ; and when they think of him 
 who is labouring for them, it is with a petition to their common faither, that 
 abundant grace may rest upon him. The Wesleyan minister is deprived 
 of this delightful union. When he comes among the people, he has to 
 undergo the scrutiny of opinion ; there cannot be that confidence of love, 
 which is so essential to spiritual profit ; the plan pleases those who like 
 novelty. There is no fear of sameness in a settled minister, if all are 
 doing their duty ; the word is inexhaustible, and the Spirit gives the 
 appetite. I am not here seeking to interfere with Church order ; I only 
 think that this is a likely cause why the ministers neglect their duty so 
 often, and shew so little love to the people. No father who deserves the 
 name, would neglect to provide bread for his family. 
 
 I now lay this matter before the Church, in simple dependance on the 
 blessing of God. Mr. Young must now gird on the sword of the Spirit, 
 and defend himself as a Christian man should do. It is with deep regret 
 I am now using this means, that the end may be obtained; it is the only 
 one left me. Let the matter be tried by the standard of truth. If the 
 word of God is the Christian's daily food, through which the communion 
 with God is kept up ; the spiritual manna which he is to gather daily by 
 faith and prayer, until he arrive at Canaan, then I am right. It must 
 also be gathered by those servants he has appointed to prepare the food for 
 his house, that the grace of Christ may be imparted to them, and through 
 them to the family. Then we go to our father's house, and feast in his 
 presence, on the manna he has sent us. It is to be an emblem of our 
 eternal rest, when we shall feast continually on his love, and in his presence 
 for ever. We are brought to this feast which he has appointed, that we 
 may be strengthened and animated for spiritual duty ; to mount up on the 
 wings of love, above the things of time and sense ; and yet those who are 
 appointed to prepare the feast make no spiritual preparation ; without this, 
 it is a mockery. Oh ! that the Spirit of truth may shew all faithful 
 ministers how they have erred; and may they now consecrate themselves 
 afresh to his service, all they have and are a living sacrifice. Then the 
 Church will soon shine, her light being come; when Zion's watchmen are 
 giving God no rest, but working, praying, and believing ; then she will 
 
88 
 
 soon be a praise in the earth. " The work is the Lord's, and the desire of 
 them that love and serve him shall be fulfilled." 
 
 The preceding portion of this book was again submitted to Mr. Scott, 
 President of Conference, that he might consider the subject, and prevent 
 its circulation, by shewing the writer that her views were not according to 
 Scripture — that a minister ought not to devote himself to the service 
 of the sanctuary ; or by saying that it should be done : but no notice has 
 been taken of it. By this, Mr. Scott allows it to be published to the 
 Church and the world, that he will (owing to the official relation he stands 
 in to the Church of Christ at present) prevent a fair appeal being made to 
 the ministers, that they may pei'form their duty. He practically denies 
 the faith he professes to hold — sets aside the spirituality of religion by 
 insulting the sacred Spirit, who is offered to guide him in the word, that he 
 may be fitted for the sanctuary. He wants neither the word nor Spirit to 
 prepare him for the spiritual service he has to perform, except on the 
 occasion of the presence of some fellow-mortal, when decency's sake 
 makes it necessary ! He is acting as if there were no God, and is worse 
 than an infidel. 
 
 Mr. Owen, the leader of the Social system, is a noble character, an 
 honest man. He denies the inspiration of Scripture, and thinks that man 
 may be renovated by outward means. He has expended a large fortune 
 and great personal exertion to promote his system, as he thinks, to benefit 
 man; thus making it manifest that he really believes what he professes. 
 The religion of Jesus Christ is true Socialism : it renovates the heart and 
 makes men happy, by making them holy, through faith, in the diligent use 
 of the means God has appointed — the word and prayer. According to the 
 testimony of Scripture, there are no other means of sustaining spiritual 
 life. Now Mr. Scott professes to believe this, but practically denies it. 
 
 It is no new thing for those who hold the chief places in the synagogues 
 to be the greatest hindrances to vital godliness. When our Saviour was 
 on earth, they were his greatest foes. He was innocent, but they crucified 
 him. So great was the influence they had over the minds of the people, 
 that they cried out, "Crucify him." Ever since the days of the apostles, 
 there have been men in the high places of the Church who were the 
 greatest foes to her prosperity : either to get gain, or save themselves 
 trouble, they have tried constantly to silence those who would speak the 
 truth ; and owing to the influence they have over the minds of the people, 
 they have succeeded in getting them to assist. Mr. Scott has nothing but 
 this to trust to ; if he did not think he should escape in this way, he 
 would not suffer it to be made public ; bat through his power over the 
 minds of the people, the old cry may be expected, " Let truth be crucified ! 
 
89 
 
 The ministers must be right !" Every Wesleyan minister who stands 
 out for the old-sermon system, is betraying the cause of Christ, dishonour- 
 ing the Spirit, and setting at nought the word — despising the way of 
 salvation by grace, through faith. They will perhaps make use of the 
 words of Mr. Wesley, and say, " The best of all is that God is with us, 
 and we will not mind what can be said." No one can look upon the 
 Church as it now is, and not say, either God or man is unfaithful. If 
 we take the words of Jesus for our guide, we shall soon see where the 
 unfaithfulness lies. He clearly shows that the word is the food that must 
 be constantly used for spiritual sustenance, through the Spirit. The vital 
 energy necessary flows from Christ, in the use of the means. The soul 
 cannot be sustained by asking a blessing on yesterday's food, any more 
 than the body. The soul that does not use the means may cry out, " Oh ! 
 my leanness;" but it ought to be, "Oh! my idleness." The ministers 
 may in prayer deplore the unspirituality of the Church, but let them 
 deplore their own unfaithfulness and treachery to the law of faith, by 
 which they are bound to a diligent use of the means God has appointed 
 for the grace of the Holy Spirit to flow. Let them arouse from their 
 spiritual sloth, and use the means, and God will give the blessing; but 
 they are expecting the blessing without the means, which they will 
 never have. 
 
 All the time they are pretending to give themselves up to the service of 
 God, and devote their talents to the spiritual profit of the Church, they 
 claim to be maintained themselves, and the care of the Church for those 
 they may leave behind. It would be well for some of the Wesleyan minis- 
 ters to read the statements on the 630th page of the "Evangelical Ma- 
 gazine" for December, 1843; there they would seethe great privations 
 some of their brethren are suff"ering ; and yet they are so placed that they 
 must devote their energies to their work. They cannot slip about with the 
 same sermon three Sabbaths, and then take it to another circuit, still 
 getting their pay, but doing no spiritual service; bringing statements 
 before the people of the temporal advantages enjoyed by other ministers I 
 If Mr, Scott will not do the spiritual duty of a minister, he takes care the 
 people shall do theirs as to the temporals, which care would be quite just if 
 he would do his duty. No people deserve to have the gospel preached to 
 them who refuse to contribute towards the comfortable support of a minis- 
 ter. His devotedness to his work is the ground on which the claim is 
 made; but it is now decidedly dishonest, and can only be looked upon as 
 the claim of a man, who wishes to be independent of God, both in provi- 
 dence and grace. Men who are found going about year after year, with 
 the same sermons, as the Wesleyan ministers are, cannot be called labour- 
 ers ; and yet for this great spiritual service as they term it, Mr. Scott 
 claims a maintainance for himself and others, beside the care of the 
 Church for their widows and families. He boasts of their renouncing the 
 
90 
 
 means of realizing a fortune by their industry and talents, which he need 
 not do, as it' is well known that the generality of the Wesleyan preachers 
 improve their worldly circumstances by the change; they sacrifice no fair 
 prospects of worldly wealth. Even if it were so, a fortune cannot be 
 honestly obtained in any calling, unless a man is industrious and persever- 
 ing; and the work of the ministry, if properly attended to, requires great 
 diligence : spiritual riches are not acquired by idleness. If the faith of 
 the minister, as well as that of the people, is not in constant active exertion 
 in the word, he will soon be spiritually destitute ; nothing will be left bui 
 an outward show of work. Mr. Scott calls the temporals a subject of vital 
 importance in the economy of Methodism. What a pity it is that he can- 
 not feel it to be of vital importance that he should live by faiih, using 
 diligently the word and prayer, in simple dependance on God to bless his 
 endeavours. This is of vital importance, and no temporal matter can be 
 compared to it ; yet he thinks the importance is to take care of self, with 
 the understanding that he is entirely devoted to the service of the Church. 
 He says the charge of Methodism to its ministers is this : they are entirely 
 to devote themselves to the sacred work ; they are to remember they have 
 nothing to do but to save souls ; they are separated to the Gospel of God> 
 And the Scriptural law which regulates the care of the minister, is, that 
 for his spiritual service, he is to receive of the people whom he serves, 
 temporal support. It is evident from all the addresses to the Society, to 
 which Mr. Scott's name is affixed, that he wishes it to be understood that 
 the ministers are wholly given up to the spiritual benefit of the Church. 
 But they are not so ; the cause of my complaint is, that they will not de- 
 vote themselves to their work. It is evident from the word of God, that 
 there can be no real prosperity either in the soul or the Church, without 
 constant diligent spiritual exertion. The Wesleyan ministers tell me the 
 same from the pulpit. I have only been beseeching thenti to do what they 
 profess, and for this I am treated with scorn and contempt. They will not 
 give themselves to the study of the word and prayer for the people, there- 
 fore they have no right to be maintained by them — the laws of God and 
 man would pronounce it dishonest. 
 
 I have lately felt the rising of an honest indignation, when I have seen 
 poor women laying down their shilling to the fund, who, in great weakness 
 of body, had earned it during the week, and ought to have procured 
 necessaries for themselves and families with the money. I knew the men 
 who were most forward to seek the money, would scorn them if they asked 
 those services for which it was received, 
 
 Mr, Scott's heart must be seared against the truth he delivers in the 
 pulpit. He told me when he was at Conference, he had not time to say 
 his prayers. It is evident there cannot be much scriptural benefit accrue 
 to the Church from the meeting of Conference, if they are so busy about 
 the externals, that the President has not time to say his prayers. He may 
 
91 
 
 have had time to say his prayers since, but he has never prayed, or he 
 would have been taught by the Spirit his own helplessness and entire de- 
 pendance for daily grace as well as for daily bread; he never would reject 
 a petition the end of which was to entreat him to act as though he was in 
 himself a helpless creature, and needed the promised grace for his duty. 
 It matters not what station a man holds in life, if he faithfully discharge 
 the duties of that station, he is an honourable man, be he rich or poor ; but 
 I think no man can have a more honourable station than a Christian 
 minister, if he is faithful; he is the ambassador of the King of Heaven, 
 and is to be holding an unceasing communion, through the word and Spirit, 
 that he may know more of his mind and will, and receiving constant sup- 
 plies of his grace, through the diligent study of the word. Such a man, 
 if faithful, is the greatest possible blessing to his fellow-men, and ought to 
 be held in high honour. There is not a more contemptible character under 
 the sun than a faithless minister. Will the leaders of the Methodist 
 Society lend themselves as the instruments for robbing the people, for men 
 that are constantly deceiving them, and will not attend to their duty ? 
 
 The people are united in their classes, and no one who knows the benefit 
 of a class-meeting, would give it up. The preachers have nothing to do 
 with the benefit derived from the communion of saints, through the fellow- 
 ship of the Spirit ; they cut themselves off from this benefit, for while the 
 people are praying for them, they are not exercising their talents for their 
 profit; they are spiritually robbing the people as well as themselves. They 
 come once a quarter, and sell them a verse of Scripture for a shilling; and 
 certainly Mr. Scott, the representative of the body, shews he cares nothing 
 about the spiritual if he can get the temporal. If he got his living ho- 
 nestly by sweeping a crossing, he would be an honourable man, bowing to 
 the passengers, and receiving their pence. Instead of this, under the pre- 
 tence of spiritual service, many poor widows, who have families to support 
 by washing — and many men, who get their bread by sweeping crossings — 
 come before him every quarter, and pay him a shilling for a verse of 
 Scripture, and bow when they receive it as if the obligation were on their 
 side. I have known a necessary article of dress sold to procure a shilling 
 to pay for the quarterly ticket. The poorest disciple that comes before 
 Mr. Scott, who lives a life of faith, and is daily sustained by the word 
 and prayer, could tell him far more about spiritual things than it is possi- 
 ble for him to know. Had he known any thing of the life of faith, this 
 matter would never have been made public; he would have known by 
 experience that he must be constantly drawing from the inexhaustible 
 fountain of truth, for its maintainance ; and, by happy experience, have 
 proved, that the more he drew, the fuller the fountain seemed to be. He 
 seems to want no more from this fountain than he can get a comfortable 
 living by, and therefore cannot feel that his life is dependant on his con- 
 stant drawing. Could any man that had a spark of feeling left for the 
 
92 
 
 Church, hear of its members wandering through his neglect, and not be 
 willing that'll should be rectified? 
 
 I have named several disappointments : some were during Mr. Scott's 
 superintendance : there has been no redress, though this is the last week in 
 December. We have a preacher appointed every Wednesday ; and since 
 the 12th of October, these men, who, say they, are wholly at our service, 
 have given us two sermons, Sometimes they have sent a bricklayer, 
 sometimes a carpenter, and sometimes a shoemaker, to preach. I am not 
 thinking or speaking disrespectfully of local preachers ; they ought to be 
 highly respected. Many of them must take the time when they ought to 
 be asleep to prepare their sermons. They cannot offer the same offering 
 twice acceptably to God, and they have not time to prepare others. Where 
 are the men that are sefe apart for the work ? The chapel is almost deserted 
 on the week-evenings, through their neglect of duty. Some have bought 
 tickets and gone to hear lectures from Mr. Burns; others have gone to 
 hear him preach on Thursday evenings, as he is always found at his duty. 
 There are three chapels in the neighbourhood at which the Methodists are 
 frequently found, through the neglect of their own ministers; and yet 
 more money is gathered from the members of Society at Salisbury Street, 
 than either of them have for a salary. Are they to continue thus fleecing 
 the flock without feeding them? No! God will plead the cause. He 
 has denounced a woe on the shepherds that feed themselves, but will not 
 feed the flock. He will take means to prevent his people being meat for 
 them, when they will not provide meat for his house. The language of the 
 prophet Malachi to the priests, may be spoken to our ministers, who come 
 into the sanctuary without that spiritual preparation for their duty which 
 God requires. If he is their God, they should serve him in spirit and in 
 truth. Where is the honour due to him in the means he has appointed ? 
 Where is the sacred fear of offending him, ye ministers, who are despising 
 the law of faith in your practice, and yet professing to live by faith ? You 
 will not use the word of faith he has given you, to prepare the offerings he 
 has appointed in his house. Who is there among you, that will shut the 
 doors of his house, or kindle a fire on his altar for nought ? You will not 
 even do it when you are paid for it ! He has no pleasure in you — you dis- 
 honour his ordinances continually by your mockery of spiritual service! 
 Would you attempt to offer such service to an earthly king ! 
 
 Through you, many are brought to cold formality in religion; God is 
 constantly dishonoured, and men deceived; Zion languisheth ; the Spirit 
 is withheld — through your unfaithfulness. It shall not always be so ; God 
 himself will plead his cause in the hearts of the people. Every means has 
 been tried that this evil may be remedied, but you will not ; therefore now 
 you must be put to shame. 
 
93 
 
 On the 8th December, 1843, the book was sent to Messrs. Scott, 
 Jackson and Pengelly. I had an interview with Mr. Pengelly on the 
 1st December; Mr. Young, I believe, left home that day. Mr. P. was 
 anxious that I would postpone the circulation of the book until Mr. Y.'s 
 return. The objection was fair and urged in a kind Christian spirit; and 
 had it not been from a deep and painful conviction that it was a vital 
 error, and bringing desolation on the Church, I would have remained 
 silent, to spare the feelings of Mr. P. and many other good men who had 
 fallen into the error; but a vital error must not be suffered in the believer, 
 nor the Church, not even to spare pain; therefore, after carefully consi- 
 dering the objection, I thought I must proceed, as the facts I had stated 
 relative to Mr. Y.'s practice were to show that his religion was only 
 external ; they also showed that all who followed the practice vvere 
 reducing religion to the external only ; therefore, I did not think there 
 was any necessity to wait for his return. All were guilty ; and Mr. Scott 
 could prevent its being made public, by promising that he would allow 
 the subject to have a fair consideration at Conference. 
 
 While, from a sense of duty, I could not grant Mr. P.'s request, I was 
 exceedingly anxious not to offend him. I wrote to him on the 8th with 
 the book, explaining as clearly as I could the workings of my mind in the 
 matter, that he might see I did not act from obstinacy, but from what 
 appeared to me the clearest sense of duty. I wrote to Mr. Jackson, stating 
 the work had been delayed a little, hoping he would fulfil his promise. I 
 regretted Mr. Young was gone ; but he would see from the dates there was 
 no design on my part to take advantage of his absence, the work being at 
 the press before I heard the report of his going from home. I hoped Mr. J. 
 would fulfil his promise, as I had done what I could; I should still have 
 been glad to be prevented taking the only step left for me. 
 The following note I sent to Mr. Scolt : — 
 
 Rev. Sir, 
 
 I addressed you in July on the subject I now trouble you with ; 
 you did not attend to rae. I waited upon you on the 21st August, when 
 you promised attention. You will recollect I then told you I was unwill- 
 ing to turn out a public enemy to the practice of those I loved, and who 
 ought to be honoured ; but a sense of duty would compel me if you did not 
 attend to the matter ; as far as I know you have not ; therefore I must now 
 publish it, hoping the evil will be put down by this means. Unless you 
 are prepared with Scripture testimony to shew that your practice is Apos- 
 tolic, it never should have been done. In the official relation you at 
 present stand in to the Church, the subject required your attention. 
 
 I will wait one week after this date, that you may consider what 1 have 
 further advanced against the practice ; if I do not hear from you I shall 
 
94 
 
 suppose you do not intend to notice it, and I must perform the painful task 
 of circulating the books. 
 
 Neither of the gentlemen returned an answer, and the evils complained 
 of were still repeated. 
 
 Wednesday, the 13th, Mr. Little was appointed at Salisbury Street, but 
 he disappointed the people : Thursday evening I went to Bayswater to 
 hear Mr. Pengelly, but he did not come: Sunday the 17th, I went to hear 
 him, and he repeated an old sermon : Tuesday the 19th, I wrote to Mr. 
 Pengelly, complaining and beseeching him to attend to me as I still felt 
 reluctant to circulate the books. Wednesday, the 20th, Mr. Samuels was 
 appointed at Salisbury Street ; he did not come; no apology was made for 
 their absence from duty. Sunday the 24th, the Preacher who was ap- 
 pointed at Salisbury Street always sends the flock wandering. 
 
 There was to be a love feast at Hinde Street, and Mr. Pengelly was to 
 preach. I thought surely he would make provision for the service as there 
 would be a great congregation. Prayer was fervently offered that God 
 would remove every hinderance, that his word might have free course and 
 glorify his name. The text came and my hopes were gone. It v.'as, "Oh, 
 my people, what have I done unto thee, wherein have I wearied thee; 
 testify against me." I could have answered, " What has he done to thee, 
 wherein has he wearied thee," that you come into his house mocking him 
 with your pretended spiritual service. His sermon had caused me much 
 grief at the repetition of it before. I thought it would be better for me to 
 go out than endure what I did before. I waited a few minutes to hear if he 
 began the same, upon which I left the chapel, and was afterwards informed 
 he repeated it as usual. 
 
 I now saw it was useless for me to try the Preachers any more : they were 
 resolved to attend their appointments when they pleased, and repeat their 
 old sermons. I thought I would wait till after Covenant Sunday and then 
 circulate the books. 
 
 On Friday, the 12th January, I gave the first to the Leaders at Salis- 
 bury Street; five weeks after the Preachers had them: the following week 
 I gave them to some of the members. On Thursday the 18th, some at 
 Bayswater: Saturday the 20th, a few at Hinde Street: Sunday the 21st, I 
 was informed by my Leader there would be a meeting on Wednesday 
 evening, at which I was to attend. I was thankful, hoping something 
 would occur to prevent me doing any more. I understood Mr. Little was 
 vexed about the book ; I told my Leader to tell him there should not be 
 any more circulated till after the meeting. 
 
 On the 22iid, there was a meeting at Salisbury Street, of the friends of 
 the Tract Society. The subject of the book was brought before the 
 meeting by the Rev. J. Little ; and an Ir-Reverend Tailor, in an insolent 
 
95 
 
 jeering manner. Not many of the people had heard about it ; and as the 
 matter was not explained, they enquired one of another, What Mr. Little 
 and the Tailor were so put out about ? Some of the members of the class 
 in which I meet enquired, and were not a little surprised to find who was 
 the offender. Mr. Little's imprudence did more for the circulation of the 
 book than I could have done in a considerable time. I call it imprudence. 
 The subject was to have a fair hearing at the proposed meeting, and I was 
 not to spread it till afterwards. He was almost a stranger among the 
 people, but was supposed to be a good man, and invited for the first time 
 on such an occasion, to exert his influence for the benefit of the society 
 whose interests they were met to promote. He forgot his business, and 
 used his influence to blind the eyes of the people to that which was 
 intended to draw them to the obedience of faith. Although he did not 
 explain the subject, his scorn against it raised the curiosity of the people, 
 and the book was carried about and read in every direction. 
 
 Mr. L. said he would not sufl'er a woman to teach in the Church. I 
 know that a woman is not to teach or usurp authority over the man- and 
 whenever a woman does this, she is departing from the order of God. 
 Even nature teaches her to rely upon man for guidance and protection : 
 but when a man neglects his duty to his God, and is told of it by a woman 
 he turns on her with insolence and abuse, instead of instruction and 
 protection, he has forgotten his character as a man, and lost his claim 
 to the reverence of a woman. 
 
 Male and female are each one in Christ Jesus; and when united to him 
 by faith, are alike provided with the gospel armour. The sword of the 
 Spirit is to be turned against every one who dishonours Christ; if that 
 one is as dear to the faithful soldier as his own soul, he must not spare 
 when his Lord is dishonoured. 
 
 Through the instrumentality of woman, death and sin entered into the 
 world : she took what was forbidden and did eat, and gave to the man and 
 he did eat ; they died to the right knowledge of God through their disobe- 
 dience. Before their sin, complacency and delight in God was their 
 happiness; afterwards, they hid themselves from his presence. Spiritual 
 life being again restored through the grace of God by Christ Jesus, the 
 second Adam : the order of God being, that man is to constantly feed on 
 the word by faith, and by that alone, can his spiritual life be sustained; 
 can a woman be doing evil, if she sees that the men are neglecting this 
 food, and substituting their knowledge of it for the faith that is to be 
 constantly in exercise, in order to draw the vital energy from Christ 
 for the sustenance of spiritual life — a woman cannot be doing evil in 
 reminding them that the knowing they are to feed on daily in his word 
 through faith, will not sustain their spirits and fit them for his service 
 unless they exercise the faith he has given them, to be constantly drawing 
 from his Word, all through a life of grace, to fit them for a life of glory. 
 
96 
 
 They are to meditate on his Word, and there he meets and communes 
 with them, and imparts the knowledge of himself through this 
 medium. 
 
 Thus, they daily receive the end of their faith: they see God in 
 his Word, and are kept from the defilement of sin, which their old 
 nature would still lead them into. They are kept humble and holy in 
 heart, seeking only the glory of God and the happiness of men ; knowing 
 that all may be partakers of the spiritual life that has been bestowed on 
 them, the happiness of which daily increases through walking with God in 
 the word. There is no proud thought or feeling towards those who are 
 strangers to this life but a love of pity and compassion. 
 
 The man that lives by faith is kept humble and meek, knowing that 
 without the grace of God daily imparted to him, through the diligent use of 
 the word and prayer, he would be weak and like other men. Instead of 
 having his greatest delight in communion with God, craving only the hon- 
 our that flows from it (which is to be pure and holy), he would be entangled 
 in the things of this world, and seek his own glory. 
 
 The victory that overcomes the vi'orld is faith : through the word and 
 prayer the man is strong : it lives and abides in him : it is the meat that is 
 to nourish him to eternal life, which his Saviour has commanded him to la- 
 bour for, that through it he may be saved and nourished. It is through 
 faith the living bread, which God sends down from heaven, feeds the soul. 
 Christ, the living bread, is in heaven; and we daily draw the spiritual 
 nourishment from him through the acting of faith in the word: it is com- 
 municated to us, by his Spirit alone in that way. 
 
 Can a woman be doing wrong if she sees that men, through the pride 
 of their hearts, have neglected the exercise of faith, and brought drought 
 upon the Church ; if she knows by experience that the Word of God does 
 answer the end it was appointed for, and that there can be no communica- 
 tion with God if the Word is not used as he has appointed it, and men 
 will have all the form while they are destitute of the life of religion. If 
 men, who are wholly set apart for the service of God, that they may hold 
 communion with him in his Word, to be examples to their brethren of 
 spiritual excellence; being wholly disengaged from secular employment, 
 that they may give themselves to labour in the word for their profit; if 
 they are deceiving their brethren, and only collecting a few thoughts from 
 the Word, forming them into a picture of what spiritual life is, and just 
 making as many pictures as will serve them to carry about from year to 
 year round the country to exhibit; and the man who has the best mode of 
 exhibition of course receiving the most praise, he therefore has the most 
 followers. 
 
 If the men have turned the life of faith into this folly and wickedness, 
 instead of rendering to God the homage of a simple dependance on 
 his Word, and labouring diligently in it, and bringing in the fruit of their 
 
97 
 
 labour into the sanctuary that it may be blest to their brethren — the 
 Church must be barren. 
 
 There can be no heavenly dew on the preached word, because the 
 minister has not honoured God by the exercise of faith. He cannot put 
 life into the picture : he may have drawn it some time, but it is lifeless as 
 regards bringing it into the sanctuary, because it is in the very exercise of 
 living faith, in meditating on the word, that the spirit of man is purified 
 and fitted to appear in the sanctuaty, to communicate to his brethren what 
 God has been giving him. 
 
 Having got his few pictures, he avoids the communion with God, which 
 he can have in no other way than as God has appointed; and he comes 
 into the sanctuary with a polluted spirit, merely to exhibit and keep up the 
 outward form. 
 
 There can be no harm done to the Church of God for a woman to shew 
 from the word the pride and folly of the practice. The honour of Christ 
 is dearer to every faithful disciple than life; therefore through his grace 1 
 will take the sword of the Spirit, and use it without fear against those who 
 are dishonouring his name and destroying his inheritance. 
 
 The gospel armour was given to make use of; and I will have no pity, 
 nor spare the feelings of my brethren: this is my Lord's command. 
 
 Away with the false love that would suffer men to go on in presumptuous 
 sin, to spare their feelings. They have cast off allegiance to their king, 
 and with his sword they must be wounded; and if they feel that they can- 
 not take the sword of the Spirit in the hand of faith, and come out to hon- 
 ourable combat, — Oh, that they may have grace to acknowledge their sin, 
 and return to the faithful discharge of their duty. 
 
 I have Scripture example as well as precept for what I am doing. 
 
 Mr. Little holds me up to scorn, and says I am insane, because, through 
 grace I would be faithful and not negligent in the work of the Lord. 
 
 The services of women are recorded in the Old and New Testament : they 
 assisted in the work for the tabernacle . all the wise-hearted women did 
 spin. Afterwards — 
 
 When Israel's faithless sons transgressed, 
 
 And Jabin's yoke the land oppressed, 
 
 By whom where all their griefs redressed? 
 
 A Woman ! 
 
 In the book of Judges we find Barak was appointed captain of the host; 
 but when the time of trial came, he said to a Woman, " If thou wilt go 
 with me, then I will go ; but if thou wilt not go with me, I will not go." 
 He believed her a faithful woman, and so valued her; and we find she 
 was faithful, and roused him to his duty: — "Up! for this is the day the 
 Lord is gone out before thee." And may not a woman now be the instru- 
 ment of delivering Israel from the sin of hypocrisy and formality ? If the 
 
 K 
 
98 
 
 God of Israel had not stirred her spirit, she never would have thought of 
 rousing his servants to their duty. 
 
 Again, when Sheba made a party in Israel and drew the people away 
 from David, Joab was going to destroy a city — a Woman was the instru- 
 ment of deliverance. She said to him, " I am one of them that are 
 peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a City and a 
 mother in Israel, Why wilt thou seek to swallow up the inheritance of the 
 Lord ?" She went in to the people in her wisdom, and the head of the 
 offender was thrown over the wall: thus the threatened calamity was pre- 
 vented. 
 
 At the present time pride and unbelief have made a strong party in 
 Israel, against David's Lord. His servants are faithless to him and to the 
 faith of the Gospel. They profess that without him they can do nothing, 
 but in practice they avoid communication with him as much as possible. 
 The people follow their example : they honour him with their lips, but not 
 with the affection and gratitude of a loving spirit that delights in commu- 
 nion with him. Their fear towards him is taught them by the precepts of 
 men ; and the Spirit that would constrain them to the obedience of faith 
 is withheld through their faithless conduct. They are their own and the 
 enemies of the Church. Through their pride they are preventing the 
 clearest revelations of the grace of God, and drawing souls from the sim- 
 plicity of faith through their self-dependance. The Spirit is withheld 
 because they can perform the external duty without the renewing labour of 
 faith and love in the word, and they do not think the blessing worth the 
 labour if they can manage to perform the external duty without it. 
 
 Thus we see they are destitute of the spirit of Christ : the word which 
 they are constantly repeating hardens their minds; and instead of seeing 
 the fruit of the spirit when they are tried, we see the fruit of the spirit of 
 darkness — they will publicly clamour against the faith they preach. And 
 shall not a woman, who, through grace, can say she is peaceable and faith- 
 ful in Israel, arouse the inheritance of the Lord to a sense of the calamity 
 those faithless men are bringing on them through the dishonour they are 
 constantly practising towards God ? They shall be aroused ! and this head 
 of pride, which is lifted up against David's Lord, shall be cast out ! — the 
 weaker the instrument the greater will be the honour to him who alone 
 can work. 
 
 If Mr. Little looks at the new testament, he will not find any example 
 there to warrant him insulting and degrading a woman for being desirous 
 that Christ should be honoured as God appointed he should. They were 
 encouraged, protected and instructed by our Saviour while he was on earth 
 whenever they showed the smallest tokens of love to him. When he sat 
 at meat in the Pharisee's house, we read, " That a woman in the city, who 
 was a sinner, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet 
 weeping : she began to wash them with tears, and wipe them with the hairs 
 
99 
 
 of her head : she kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment." 
 The Pharisee did not like it : he thought if Jesus had been a prophet he 
 would have known the woman was a sinner. Jesus knew that better than 
 the Pharisee, but he knew she was a sinner saved by his grace; and that 
 faith in him had caused this token of love towards him ■ and through this 
 token of love our Saviour told the Pharisee his fault: he had neglected to 
 shew our Saviour the common civilities observed towards guests in that 
 country : " He said unto him, seest thou this woman : I entered into thy 
 house; thou gavest me no water for my feet, but she hath washed my feet 
 with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head : thou gavest me no 
 kiss, but this woman, since she came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet • 
 my head with oil thou didst not anoint; but this woman hath anointed 
 my feet with ointment; wherefore her sins, which are many, are forgiven. 
 And he said unto the woman, thy faith hath saved thee : go in peace." 
 
 We find another woman " bringing a box of precious ointment, and 
 poured it on his head ; but there were some that had indignation at the 
 woman, and murmured at her; but Jesus said, " Let her alone ; she hath 
 wrought a good work; in that she hath poured the ointment on my body 
 she did it to my burial." 
 
 Another Mary is found, before the death of Christ, anointing his feet 
 with precious ointment: "Judas said, for what purpose was the waste; it 
 might have been sold and given to the poor." But Jesus protected her. 
 
 Through his precious death and resurrection we are redeemed from 
 death and quickened by his holy Spirit ; and being his family, he has sent 
 his servants to provide the meat for his household : he himself presides 
 and blesses the provision, and joys in and with his family whenever they 
 meet in his name. He has provided every thing for their use, and his ser- 
 vants are to honour him by receiving from him all that is needful for 
 themselves and his household. They are to wait upon him in his word^ 
 that he may give them meat for his family. 
 
 Thus their own spirits are purified, and they shew their love to their 
 Lord by seeking him in his word. He there manifests himself to their 
 waiting souls : they receive the fresh anointings of his Spirit : their head 
 is anointed with fresh oil, and their cup runs over with blessings. They 
 enter the Lord's house from his presence in the fulness of his blessing. 
 They say, " bless our God, ye people, and cause the voice of his praise 
 to be heard, who holdeth our souls in life." Through their faithfulness in 
 honouring their Lord, he honours them as instruments to bless his waiting 
 family. His presence is among them when they meet, and his body (that 
 is the phurch) is strengthened and animated, and receives the fresh 
 anointing of his Spirit. 
 
 His servants have (like the woman) wrought a good work, in waiting 
 upon him in his Word for the guidance and anointing of his blessed 
 Spirit, the fruit of his death and resurrection; therefore he blesses and 
 
100 
 
 honours their labours The Pharisees in his family enter his house 
 without waiting upon him in his Word ; they refuse him this token of 
 their love; they will not take the trouble to seek provision from him 
 for his family; they want not the purification of his Word for their 
 spirits. For what purpose is this waste of their labour to seek Christ 
 in his Word? They have got old sermons, and do not want to feel 
 fresh manifestations of his love to their souls ; they will not give the 
 labour of faith to obtain them. Mary anointed his body to the burial. 
 By his resurrection they are, through faith in the use of the appointed 
 means, to be receiving the fresh anointings of his spirit to fit them for 
 their duty; but they do not want it themselves; therefore, as they are 
 constantly neglecting the only means to fit them for off'ering accepta- 
 ble service in the house of God, — despising that which was purchased 
 at such an immense price, they can in no way benefit the Church of 
 Christ ; and through them the body of Christ is barren and unfruitful. 
 There can be no fruit, but as virtue is communicated from the head 
 of the body ; and faith must be exercised to drain the heavenly influence. 
 
 The servants of Christ will not honour him by a practical faith ; 
 they have thrown off the easy yoke of his love, and think it burden- 
 some, and are walking after the imagination of their hearts ; on which 
 account a woman in his Church, who has seen with grief, the dishonour 
 done to her Lord; has besought his servants that they would honour 
 him by an entire dependance on him: but they do not see it needful. 
 She has at the feet of her Lord, besought him with tears to grant her 
 the anointings of his Spirit, that she might be able from his Word to 
 shew them they were wrong. He granted her request. Her opponents 
 dare not say she has spoken against his Word, but they treated her 
 with indignation ; and as they continued in their sin, the evil has been 
 exposed to the Church, on which account they were greatly incensed, 
 and smote her with their tongues, and cast her out of the Lord's 
 household. Their treatment has only increased her love to her faithful 
 Lord, who has enabled her to pity and pray for those who have evil 
 entreated her. This is alone of his grace. She has again emplored 
 the aid of his Spirit to shew them their error from his Word, that 
 through his blessing on her labour, the evil may be seen as it really 
 is, and they may be brought to the obedience of faith. 
 
 Mr. Little wishes to make it appear that I am acting wrong ; but 
 from the Old and New Testament, it is evident I am not, as our 
 Saviour and disciples honoured the service of women ; they followed 
 Jesus and ministered to him, and were more faithful in time of trial, 
 than the men. Paul honoured women : we frequently find him sending 
 salutations to those who laboured with him in the gospel. The beloved 
 Apostle John, addresses one of his Epistles to a woman ; so it is evident 
 Mr. Little's conduct is against Scripture. 
 
101 
 
 I have not sought to be a teacher, but to expose an evil which is 
 sapping the foundation of spiritual life, both in the soul and the 
 Church. The spirit he has manifested, shows him to be a man who 
 has never known the grace of God in truth; and instead of being a 
 teacher in the Church, he ought to plead with God to teach him the 
 state he is in by nature; his whole conduct and spirit being contrary 
 to that of a man who has ever known Christ. He has been found 
 at different meetings in the chapel, using his influence to shame me, 
 for what I have done ; thus shewing the enmity of his heart to that 
 truth which I have depended on ; but the shame he has tried to cast 
 on me, will fall on himself, for he has exposed his own ignorance of 
 the experimental work of Grace. If he can prove that I am wrong 
 in what 1 have written, let him. like an honest man, take his bible 
 and do so. He will then find he has got a task he cannot perform, — 
 that he has never been taught in the school of Christ. His disciples 
 are taught to depend on him, for strength to perform their duty, which 
 they obey ; their dependance on him for grace, and his faithfulness in 
 imparting it, is their glory. 
 
 I attended the meeting on Wednesday, the 24th, I did not know 
 what had passed on the Monday evening, Mr. Little came from the 
 pulpit into the vestry ; I had no knowledge of the spirit of this man ; 
 his appearance being grave, and his manner humble. In external 
 duties I knew he was guilty of repeating old sermons, but this I looked 
 upon as the error he had fallen into, along with many others. When 
 he came into the vestry he spoke to some of the leaders, about a notice 
 that had been given him, to pray for a woman who had been called a 
 poor woman ; he did not like there should be any such distinction ; 
 this I thought looked well. When the meeting was assembled, Mr. Pen- 
 gelly prayed and sought the guidance of the holy Spirit. What had I 
 to fear from two such humble men ? One that could not suffer any 
 outward distinction to be made in the house of God, all his people being 
 alike in his sight, the other, as a needy dependant, humbly imploring the 
 aid of his Spirit for guidance, respecting me, and I am imploring the 
 guidance of the same Spirit. I thought if his motions were attended to 
 by each, we should soon come to a good understanding, for his office and 
 delight is to glorify Christ; and in performing this work in the hearts of 
 those who submit to him, there can be nothing but honour and love to 
 Jesus and to each other. 
 
 The charges were brought against me in Mr. Little's name, and read by 
 Mr. Pengelly : that I had written and circulated a pamphlet containing 
 false, wicked, and scandalous statements, calumnious of the character of 
 the Rev. Robert Young and other Christian Ministers therein named : — 
 that such practice was in open violation of the principles and precepts of 
 the New Testament. That I had endeavoured to promote strife and con- 
 
102 
 
 tention among the members of Society belonging to Salisbury Street 
 chapel ; to'excite prejudice against the order and discipline, and to injure 
 various local and connexional charities and institutions established in our 
 religious body. 
 
 Mr. Pengelly, after being reminded by a Mr. Ellis of his part of the 
 duty, enquired whether I acknowledged the charges. Mr. E. was chief 
 speaker at the meeting : I cannot tell how that was, as he is the youngest 
 Leader in the chapel. I believe he had never seen me before; and 
 judging from what he said that night, he is not a spiritual man. The 
 oldest Leaders, the spiritual men, sat in silence. 
 
 I answered Mr. P. that I had written and circulated the pamphlet, but 
 I had not violated the principles and precepts of the New Testament by so 
 doing. Those I had written against were violating those principles and 
 precepts by their practice. So far from trying to promote strife, I had 
 taken every means possible to prevent the publication among the people. 
 That I had never tried to injure the charities, &c., but, according to my 
 ability, had been willing to assist. 
 
 T was told to bring evidence as to the statement I had made respecting a 
 journeyman shoemaker; I turned to the Leader who went with Mr. 
 Young, and said, you went with Mr. Y. to the house: he could not deny a 
 word of the statement — that poverty was pleaded ; that Mr. Y. enquired 
 as to his family; and, after a little consideration, Mr. Y. said, He would 
 leave it to him. He then agreed to give what I said. 
 
 Mr. Little contended that the man was not poor; this was folly, as 
 every body knows that a man so circumstanced is a poor man. It caused 
 evidence to be brought forward that was painful to the feelings of this 
 good man. Some of those who were at the meeting took the trouble to 
 discolour the statements and carry them to him. This was all set right 
 when I saw my brother, and told him what I had said at the meeting : he 
 had no knowledge before of my writing, or that I had alluded to him in 
 any way : he was quite ignorant of what I had done until told of it by 
 others. 
 
 It would be well if the Preachers would take example from such an 
 honest industrious man. If he acted by his family as they do by their 
 Masters, he would not have bread for his children; but he provides for his 
 household from his labour, and gives a goodly portion for the service of the 
 sanctuary; he is a credit to the society to which he belongs. 
 
 Next, the Leader's book was brought to examine about the subscriptions. 
 I did not make my statements from having seen the book, but from the 
 knowledge that it is a rule, just in the same way as I should say, a man 
 pays so much taxes if I knew his rent, so I speak of the money paid by 
 the members from my knowledge of the rate, and knowing it will be had 
 if possible. When the book was brought it was found more was paid than 
 I had stated ; the wife of this person paying two-pence a week instead of 
 
103 
 
 a penny, as I stipposeil; the daughter does not meet with the same Leader as 
 the father and mother, therefore his book was not brought forward. Next 
 they brought the chapel book to see what sittings this person occupied, but 
 with this my statement had nothing to do, any farther than to shew that 
 the money paid by the members for the spiritual services of the Preacher, 
 was exclusive of seat-rent and collections. 
 
 Here they spent some time to no purpose : the object was to avoid 
 coming to the spiritual part, which I supposed was the design of the meet- 
 ing to examine. They knew very well that what I had said was correct, 
 as Mr. Little had ransacked for information beforehand. 
 
 He then said I had not spoken truth as to the number of apartments 
 occupied; that he had never lived in two rooms. I maintained, that what 
 I had said was truth: he maintained it was not. If I had known the 
 number of rooms would have been questioned, 1 would have taken care to 
 have had evidence as to the truth of it. 
 
 Here the Rev. Gentleman insisted I was wrong; and looking at me 
 with an exulting grin, exclaimed. That is the first lie. I said, It is not a 
 lie, but I have not done with you yet. I knew when we came to the 
 spiritual part, the Rev. Gentleman's insolence would be checked. I sup- 
 pose he knew that he had got nothing to say for himself when we came to 
 that, and took care not to enter upon it. 
 
 I then wished to know whether I had spoken truth on the other state- 
 ments. Did not Mr. Y. go to the young woman I had named ? He said, 
 he would not go into that. I requested that one part should be examined 
 as well as another ; however, he refused. One of the Leaders said, it 
 was exactly as I had written. 
 
 The next statement I had to prove was that I had known a member sell 
 an article of dress to procure a shilling to pay for her ticket. That was 
 easily proved. They need not have sought evidence here, as the Preach- 
 ers know they receive the shilling from many who are receiving alms, and 
 ought to procure the necessaries of life with the money. 
 
 The next statements I had to prove were the disappointments I had 
 stated, that from the I8th October to the last week in December we had 
 but two week-evening services from the Preachers appointed: they had 
 sent men to do their duty who had their daily bread to earn, and could not 
 have time to prepare for the service. No one knew the reason why the 
 Preachers did not attend to their duty. They thought I had made a mis- 
 take in one evening, but it was proved to be correct. One would have 
 thought that men who were to be examples of punctuality and devotion to 
 the service of God and his Church, would have been ashamed at such 
 gross neglect of duty being proved against them ; but like the Pastors in 
 Jeremiah's day, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush. 
 
 Mr. Pengelly then read isolated sentences from the book, and a few 
 voices cried shame ! shame I I said, what I had written was right, unless 
 
104 
 
 they could prove from the Word of God I was wrong as to the law 
 of faith. This was again repeated, and the cry of shame ! shame ! 
 followed. I made the same answer, but they would not say any thing 
 to it. One man said the Spirit of the devil was in the person who 
 had written the book. Another, whose voice was loudest in crying 
 shame, had told me some time before, that when he saw a man in the 
 pulpit, he never questioned what he said, but believed he was a man 
 of God. 
 
 If the preachers had not been aware that they had some zealous 
 ignorant men, who would support them there and then, influence the 
 members of their classes afterwards, taking the Preachers for their 
 oracles instead of the Bible, they would not have called a meeting. 
 
 At last I was permitted to speak in my own defence : I had attempted 
 it before, but was silenced. Mr. Little then said, " We ought to have 
 known what you are going to say." " Indeed, sir," I said, " I do not 
 know what I am going to say myself." My accuser was then obliged 
 to grant me liberty to speak, without his foreknowledge of what I was 
 to say. 
 
 My only preparation for the meeting had been prayer. I believed 
 what I had done was in accordance with the Word of God. I felt 
 that under the guidance of his Spirit, I had done it from a clearer view 
 of the truth than I had before ; and, as a helpless creature still under 
 that guidance, I still implored strength both of body and mind. Through 
 over-exertion of mind, my bodily strength had been declining. 
 
 I was told the day before the meeting by a doctor, that my mind 
 was evidently wearing out my body, and that I must give up whatever 
 it was. From the sabbath I had been told Mr. Little was vexed, I 
 had not slept one hour until I appeared before them : I had not a 
 moments regret about what I had done, hut the thought of causing 
 grief to those I loved, though I believed they were in error, was to 
 me painful. My preparation, therefore, was to implore strength of body 
 and mind. I appealed to God, who knew the uprightness of my heart 
 in every step I had taken : having no might in myself, my eyes were 
 up unto him. If he saw insincerity in me, if his glory had not been 
 my aim, if I had not in secret mourned for the sin, then let me be con- 
 founded before my accusers ; but, if I was upright, to make me fearless 
 and bold before them in defence of his truth. This was my preparation, 
 though I did not tell them so, as they seemed to have cast away all 
 knowledge of the fear of God, and forgotten themselves as men. 
 
 I began from my first entering the society ; the trouble and disap- 
 pointment I had experienced when I had gone (expecting, and the 
 Preacher did not come. At last I came to the decision of leaving 
 them. This was at Christmas, 1829 : Mr. Turner was appointed to 
 preach on that evening: I was persuaded not to goj and was told, the 
 
105 
 
 Preacher would be enjoying himself, and not caring for the people who 
 were expecting him ; that the Westleyan Ministers cared nothing for 
 the people, except to get a living by them. At that time I did not 
 believe this: I knew that the life of the believer was in the means 
 of grace, and no evidence but that of the Preachers themselves would 
 have made me believe that they wanted no more of the life of grace 
 than would procure them the bread that perisheth. I went to chapel 
 that night; the congregation waited a considerable time, but Mr. Turner 
 did not come. At last it was proposed the service should be began. 
 One of the leaders prayed : they were singing the second hymn when 
 the man came in that Mr. T. had sent to preach. I and several others 
 were obliged to leave before the service was over, the Preacher being 
 so late. I thought I would not go again ; because the preaching, 
 instead of being a help to me, was a trial on account of the neglect of 
 the Preachers: I left the chapel; and for two sabbaths I did not 
 go to my class : my leader came to see after me. I had complained 
 to him about the neglect of the Preachers, but he could not help it. 
 He told me I could come to the class, and attend preaching at another 
 place. I was exceedingly glad : though the Ministers were a trouble 
 to me through their carelessness, I was united in heart and soul to the 
 people. I gladly went again to class, and occasionally to chapel. 
 
 There was no diffenence in my leader towards me; his aim being the 
 spiritual profit of his members. I was one with the people ; we walked 
 together in the fear of the Lord ; and in the comfort of the holy Ghost we 
 edified each other; there was a mutual love and sympathy for each other, 
 so we grew together in the Lord. 
 
 A few years ago I went to Dover for a short time. The first Sabbath I 
 went to the Wesleyan Chapel : the truth was delivered as I liked it, but 
 there was no power came with the word — I was not satisfied. The next 
 Sabbath I went to hear a Baptist Minister. When I looked at him I 
 thought he looked very diflSdent: 1 was afraid there would not be much 
 here, but I was mistaken, for the power of God came with the word. I 
 was glad I had found such a minister. Every time I worshipped with this 
 people, increased the conviction that the power of the Spirit was more in 
 that house of prayer than ever I had felt it in any other. There was 
 nothing in the manner of the Preacher trying to attract; there seemed a 
 solemnity of feeling, as if he felt he was in a sacred place. Before begin- 
 ning his sermon, he offered up a few words supplicating the aid of the 
 holy Spirit, with impressions evincing a deep sense of his need of the aid 
 he sought; and truly that prayer was answered; for the doctrine did drop 
 like the rain, and distil like dew, upon the souls of the people. I was 
 sorry when the time came to leave this paradise of spiritual enjoyment : I 
 found no such power in the sanctuary on my return. " Oh," I thought, 
 "if the Preachers would honour the Spirit more, by supplicating his aid, 
 
106 
 
 and simply rely on him, how different it would be !" I reaped much 
 spiritual profit while at Dover ; and, as I felt that profit, the instrument 
 that had conveyed it was dear to my heart : often did I plead that the Spirit 
 might be poured out upon him. There was more spiritual power with this 
 man's preaching, than ever I found with any other. This is the blessing I 
 always seek for him : — " To him that hath shall be given, and he shall 
 have abundantly." I saw that he used the Spirit as God appointed : and 
 the heavenly influence he was the instrument of conveying to others, 
 caused prayer to ascend on his behalf, which brought down more blessings 
 on him. I thought, " Here is the unity of the Spirit: the Preacher does 
 not know me : I may never see him again : and yet we are united by one 
 Spirit, and the means of blessing to each other." 
 
 The last sermon 1 heard this good man preach was from these words : — 
 " Compel them to come in, that my house may be full." The thought of 
 this sermon has frequently caused me to catch an opportunity of speaking 
 to others when I would not have done it. I thought, " If ministers would 
 honour God more, by a reliance on his Spirit, he would honour them, and 
 make them the instruments of blessing to others. Believers, through 
 them, would be excited to diligence in duty : and if every minister was 
 faithful in honouring God, the same power would accompany his word." 
 
 After Mr. Pengelly came, being fond of his preaching, I tried to hear 
 him as often as I could, which led me to lament the want of power with the 
 word, while I liked the Preacher's manner of discharging his puplic duty, 
 I grieved at the cold formality this service was bringing on the Church. I 
 reminded them of the means I had used previous to publishing, which were 
 attended with no benefit; I had been led on, step by step, I pleaded the 
 trial it had been to me to make it public. 
 
 After the interview with Mr. Pengelly, on the 22nd May, 1843, on 
 account of the Christian spirit he then showed, I was convinced he did not 
 see it an error; and while I still saw clearer the evil, I could not 
 endure the thought of exposing it ; but the practice being still continued, 
 1 had no rest: I saw I was unfaithful in not using the means, and I 
 was unwilling because of the bad influence which would attend it 
 towards the ministers. I thought I could freely part with my life if they 
 did see their error and depart from it, without its being known. So great 
 was the anxiety of my mind at that time, that I was almost unfitted for the 
 duties of my station. These words were impressed on my mind : — " He 
 that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me." From 
 that time, through grace, I resolved to persevere; then the thought 
 occurred, that the honour of the Preachers might still be saved by appeal- 
 ing to Conference. This was a great release to me. It was about the 
 time I hastened and got the book ready ; and the only notice taken of it 
 was Mr. Young writing me an insolent letter, scorning me for my want of 
 grammar and education, and my appealing to the venerable body : this 
 
107 
 
 still showed me more the evil of the practice: the man with all his out- 
 ward profession, being destitute of the spirit of Christ when his honour was 
 touched. For any thing that could be done to me I cared not; but I was 
 still desirous that many good men should not have their errors exposed ; 
 therefore I persevered to get it removed in silence. 
 
 I tried to get attention from those who could have done it ; they pro- 
 mised. I then reminded them, but they were regardless of their word. I 
 then printed the second part of the book, and tried them again, to no pur- 
 pose. I now thought I must bring it before the Church, but was still 
 unwilling, and tried Mr. Pengelly once more. 
 
 Here I read an extract from the letter, dated 18th December, which he 
 took no notice of : — 
 
 " Rev. Sir, 
 
 " I fear it is useless to write to you again ; I suppose it 
 " is decided that neither I nor my writing are worthy the attention of 
 " the Ministers of Christ, yet I would plead for attention. The thought 
 " of the next step I must take has caused me much grief and many 
 " tears. Have I said any thing contrary to the Word of God ? Have 
 " I put a forced construction on the spiritual life ? I know I have 
 '* said much that the pride of nature will not like ; but if I am correct 
 " in the spiritual interpretation, that may be passed over. If I am not 
 " correct, show me where I am wrong. If it cannot be proved from 
 " Scripture that I am wrong (and you cannot say such disappointments 
 " are right), Why not give heed to it ? The Preachers may be engaged 
 '• in that which occupies their time and thought, and much wisdom 
 " and prudence would be wanted before a different arrangement could 
 *' be made. Consider, my dear sir; and if it can in any way be pre- 
 " vented, do not compel me to use the only means I have left. I 
 " would, in submission to the will of God, plead that I might be spared 
 " this trial ; but my deliverance must come through an instrument. 
 " Who can I plead with but you ? None but yourself have shewn any 
 " kindness about it, I regret that 1 have not said more than I have 
 " of the sad ingratitude of the Preachers, in thus betraying the cause 
 " they have pledged themselves to avow. While I would expose the 
 " evil, I would, if I could, lie in the dust at the feet of every Minister, 
 *•' and plead that the evil might be put away. If there is no Scripture 
 " to gainsay what I have said, does not the state* of the Church show 
 " there is a sad lack of spirituality; that religion is merely external. 
 " And who is so proper as the minister to put away whatever may be 
 " a hinderance ? Do not be offended. It surely must be evident I can 
 " have no motive but to spare those whose honour is still dear to me ; 
 " for the books are paid for, and in my possession." 
 
 Mr. P. said he could not do any thing. I replied, I did not blame 
 
108 
 
 him for not answering me, I knew it was a joint concern amongst 
 them; but it must appear, I had no design to raise strife; if so, I 
 should not have tried in silence, as I had, to prevent its being known. 
 Mr. P. said, he never thought I should do it. I answered, Did he 
 suppose I was like those I had appealed to ? They said, and did not. 
 I meant, and did, what I said. Mr. P. had not the slightest ground 
 for supposing I should not do it. At my first interview with him, he 
 told me I should meet with scorn and contempt if I did it. I replied, 
 that scorn was not to be courted for its own sake; but if all Israel 
 should stone me with stones, I would do it, for God would defend me. 
 At my last interview with him he said, if I was still determined, he 
 must do his duty, he could not defend me, I told him, I did not 
 want him to defend me; God would defend me; but do not be offended 
 with me. 
 
 It was evident if I was wrong, it remained for them to prove it from 
 Scripture. I really saw the evil, and had no design to raise strife. 
 I pleaded the secrecy I had maintamed. When people are wishing to 
 raise strife, they try to find out what strength of party is on their side : this 
 I have not done. Not a creature could be brought forward whom I had 
 told about the book, any farther than I had said, six weeks after the first 
 part of the book was printed, I went to Richmond to see Mr. Jackson : 
 my own brother went with me, as I did not know the way. I would not, 
 nor did not, at that time, tell him the purport of my visit. 
 
 On Sunday, December I7th, the time expired that I had promised to 
 wait. I walked part of the way home from chapel with a member of our 
 class : he did not know my opinion about old sermons. He said to me, 
 " We had an old sermon to-day. I do not like old sermons." I replied, 
 "I was so grieved; it caused me tears when Mr. Pengelly gave out his 
 text, as I knew there would be nothing." 
 
 If I had wished to cause strife or contention, I should have told him all 
 about it; but I said not a word; I still hoped it might be avoided. 
 
 I then pleaded my circumstances : I had not time for the writing : I had 
 done it chiefly in the night when I was supposed to be in bed. I had 
 sat up many nights till four, five and sometimes nearly six o'clock, until I 
 got so cold my hand could scarcely write. I could not add fuel to the fire 
 lest I should be heard, then it would be known I was not in bed. 
 
 Again, I had no money except what I earned. I had been at the whole 
 expense. I should receive nothing by it, as I was to give away the books. 
 I thought I had brought sufficient evidence to show that Mr. Little 
 charged me wrongfully in stating I had done it to cause strife and conten- 
 tion. He charged me with acting against the principles of the New 
 Testament, I said that was how they were acting. I told them that 
 religion was the united effort of faith and prayer; that the dependance on 
 Christ was as the branch on the vine; that without his imparted grace, 
 
109 
 
 through prayer, and a practical faith in the Word, nothing could be done ; 
 that this practice stopt the circulation, because the minister was not ex- 
 ercising faith in the Word. He could not receive the influence, because 
 he was doing nothing to obtain it ; it was just empty formality. 
 
 I here stopt, and asked if I had said any thing contrary to Scripture; 
 if I had for them to tell me. They were all silent, and I went into my 
 own experience, and showed that it corresponded with what I had written ; 
 that the Word of God had been made to me what I had described it ; that 
 I knew and felt that it was through the exercise of faith in the Word, the 
 Spirit was given. I had tried and wished to see how a minister could 
 render spiritual service to God by repeating old sermons. 
 
 As late as the 7th January, I had been very desirous to have a thought 
 in favour of the practice. It way Covenant Sunday, and Mr. Pengelly 
 was to preach. I feared I should not profit by the solemn service of that 
 day. I knew the sermon would be suitable ; and while the preacher was 
 urging the people to the entire consecration of their energies to the service 
 of God, I should be thinking how wrong it was for him not to devote his 
 energies, when he had been entreated so to do. As it had always been 
 before, so it was now my desire to see that they were right, always led me 
 to see more clearly they were wrong ; that there could be no spiritual in- 
 fluence, because there had not been the labour of faith; that it was sub- 
 stituting the knowledge of God's will for the practice of it. 
 
 The passage in the 8th Deuteronomy came into my mind: — "And thou 
 shalt remember the way that the Lord thy God has led thee, how he humbled 
 thee, and suff'ered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna which thou 
 knewest not, neither did thy fathers know, that he might make thee know 
 that man doth not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth 
 out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live." I here looked back on the 
 way my Father and God had led me ; it was a way that I knew not before 
 I knew any thing of the quickening power of the Word. I had a formal 
 profession ; I was stript of my self-righteousness, and caused to feel my 
 need of a Saviour; and when my proud heart was humbled — when I felt 
 as well as confessed my utter helplessness, then the Word I had long 
 known in the letter (but not its value) became spirit and life to my soul. 
 By the Spirit through the Word I was brought into newness of life; by 
 the Spirit and daily experience I was taught to live by faith. Here was 
 food I knew nothing of until 1 was brought into newness of life. And 
 from that time to the present, by grace through faith, it has been the means 
 of daily quickening my soul. 
 
 It still appeared more clear to me that the preachers were wrong ; be- 
 cause there being no spiritual labour in an old sermon, the blessing of the 
 Spirit could not be given. There had been no renewed act of faith : the 
 Spirit was dishonoured : there was nothing but external service ; so that 
 when I went to chapel, I could only grieve at the deceit of men to be 
 
 L 
 
110 
 
 outwardly showing such entire consecration of Spirit to God, and yet re- 
 fusing it iii act. 
 
 The sermon, prayers and hymns for that day, all certainly expressed the 
 strongest devotion. When Mr. P. gave out the verse : — 
 
 "Take my soul and body's powers, 
 Take my memory, mind and will," 
 
 my eye went on to the next verse, but he did not sing it: — 
 
 " Freedom, friends and health and fame, 
 I consecrate to thee alone,'' 
 
 I thought, I shall soon be called to this sacrifice, just for asking hiiji to do 
 what he is now professing to God to do ; and through the grace of my God 
 I will not shrink from the trial. I saw most clearly that this professed de- 
 votion on the part of the preacher was all a mockery; that the unity of 
 the Spirit was entirely dissolved. I then asked, Why should the people 
 pray for them unless they would give their spiritual labour ? It was of no 
 use praying for the Spirit to guide them : there was no spirituality in their 
 old sermons, because there had not been the renewed act of faith in the 
 Word. It was just like a tradesman carrying his tools to do a job — empty 
 formality. As they were rejecting the means God had appointed to obtain 
 his grace ; and that while I was meditating on the Word for my writing, I 
 thought they surely must hiiy their sermons ; for if they had felt such de- 
 light in their labour as I had, they would not be sparing of it. 
 
 I again stopt, and asked if I had said any thing contrary to the Word ; 
 no one answered. I said to Mr. Pengelly, You press upon the people the 
 use of the Word : he answered, I do, but no more. So it was evident I 
 had cleared myself of Mr. Little's charge of acting against the principles 
 and precepts of the New Testament, and of a design to raise strife and 
 contention. 
 
 As I had shown from the Word and experience that it was in the 
 exercise of faith the grace of God was bestowed, therefore the preachers 
 were guilty of the crime they charged me with, as in an old sermon there 
 had not been the renewed labour of faith there could not be heavenly 
 influence communicated to their souls, neither will God honour those as 
 instruments to bless others, who will not honour him by their labour of 
 faith. Those who do God's service know that "he is a rewarder of those 
 that diligently seek him" in his word ; but he has never promised to 
 reward those who refuse to give the labour of faith and love ; they are 
 acting against the principles and precepts of the New Testament, and are 
 only directing-posts for their brethren, instead of being examples of holy 
 and loving obedience to the command of Christ, to abide in him by a 
 practical faith drawing the vital energy from him through the Word and 
 prayer. 
 
Ill 
 
 Mr. Little's next charge was, that I had a design to injure the funds of 
 the Society. This I denied. There was not one here who could say a 
 word against me, as when money was wanted I had willingly contributed 
 according to my ability. 
 
 One circumstance escaped ray memory that night, which I laid before 
 Mr. Pengelly afterwards. In relating it here it will refute another insin- 
 uation of my Chelsea brother, that I thought the expenditure exorbitant. 
 Sometime after I joined the Society, there was a decrease in the funds out 
 of which the preachers are paid. My leader said, it would be well if any 
 could give a little more to assist in the deficiency. I gave three pounds; 
 and, for some time, three pence per week. I had no one to stimulate me, 
 as I do not know what others did. I acted from a sense of duty. Before 
 this time I had complained of the neglect of the preachers to their appoint- 
 ments; but I thought they would grow better. It is but justice, if they 
 give their time for the spiritual profit of the Church, that they should be 
 comfortably provided for in temporal things. 
 
 What I have before written is in accordance with what I now say ; and 
 if money was wanted for that fund, I am quite ready to give another 
 practical proof that I mean what I say. 
 
 The minister's time is the property of the Church ; and if he does not 
 employ it for their benefit (that is, to give himself to the "Word and 
 prayer), the laws of (lod and man would pronounce it dishonest for him to 
 expect or receive wages when he was giving no spiritual labour. 
 
 I think Mr. Little's charges were proved false. That I had any design 
 to injure the funds; that I had never endeavoured to promote strife and 
 contention, nor to excite prejudice against the discipline. 
 
 The time was now come for the Rev. Gentlemen to show from Scripture 
 they were not guilty, as I had charged them of violating the principles and 
 precepts of the New Testament. Mr. Ellis made a speech in defence of 
 old sermons, but he could not touch the Word of God. He told me about 
 some minister who would wrap his head in his gown and weep when he 
 came with his old sermon. I cannot relate the exact words Mr. Ellis 
 made use of; for finding he was ignorant of the nature of the subject, I 
 listened with impatience. He talked some time to no purpose ; wishing to 
 show me I had gone out of my place. He said something about the 
 preachers having education and understanding; but it was spiritual edu- 
 cation we were contending about; and if the preachers had been educated 
 at Oxford or Cambridge, and they could not boast of that, all they had got 
 there would only have darkened there minds and drawn them from the 
 simplicity of the Gospel, the way of salvation by grace, through faith : our 
 education had nothing to do with the question. 
 
 In answer to him, I read an extract from my letter to Mr. Young, after 
 Conference, which was not published. 
 
 Our Saviour had not what the world calls education, neither had the 
 
112 
 
 Apostles, excepting Paul; and when they were brought before the Council, 
 they seem to have been as you think me, not very modest : they spoke out 
 boldly before the great men, and you know they were but poor fishermen. 
 They knew they were maintaining the truth, and that made them bold ; 
 but I suppose they had not done it grammatically ; for it was perceived 
 they were ignorant and unlearned men. Do not forget that God has 
 chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of his kingdom, and 
 you must not despise them. It is not worldly wealth and greatness that 
 should rank highest in the Church, but spiritual excellence. Human 
 pride has attempted to find a substitute for the grace which God alone can 
 give, and it has succeeded fearfully in producing a worldly Church. 
 
 Mr. Lomax then spoke ; his manner was kind and respectful, for this I 
 felt thankful ; but there was nothing to refute a word I had said. He 
 wished me to consider whether I was not under a delusion. I still pressed 
 to be shown from Scripture where I was wrong. Mr. Little said, " Oh, we 
 are not going to enter into your theological views." He knew very well 
 that my views were exactly what he preached, but not what he practised. 
 He said, " I had compared faith to gold ; and faith was not gold." " Oh, 
 is it not," I said. This was all my accuser had to say in his defence, 
 excepting, ''• that Peter was an educated man." 
 
 I do not think it is of much consequence about Peter's education : he 
 gave himself to the word and prayer, that made him bold for the honour of 
 his Lord. The testimony of Scripture is, that Peter was an unlearned 
 man. 
 
 As to faith not being compared to gold, the Rev. Gentleman is wrong. 
 Gold is thought most precious to the men of the world; so faith to the 
 believer is far more precious. Gold loses in the using ; faith strengthens 
 and increases. Gold cannot make its possessor happy; that faith, which 
 is constantly deriving nourishment from Christ, through the Word and 
 Spirit, brings a fulness of blessing into the soul. Gold is useless at death ; 
 then is the triumph of faith : through it the believer enters into the joy of 
 his Lord. None will think I have erred in comparing faith to gold. 
 
 Mr. Ellis again spoke : in his former speech he told me I should have 
 prayed over it. I replied, If I had not done so, that book would never 
 have been there. 
 
 The time was now far spent; Mr. Ellis proposed prayer ; I believe he 
 said something about our sister seeing ; his impression seeming to be very 
 strong that I was in darkness. Mr. Pengelly called upon the oldest leader 
 to pray ; he refused, but another did. What a mockery prayer was on 
 this occasion. Mr. P. prayed for the light and guidance of the Spirit at 
 the commencement, and not one of them dare touch the Word of God in 
 their defence, yet they mast pretend again to seek light for me and guid- 
 ance for themselves. The light and guidance of the Spirit is given only 
 in accordance with the written Word ; it is not liJce the consciences of 
 
113 
 
 men, to be guided by preachers ; and it was now seen they had not a word 
 to say for themselves in defence of their practice : they have therefore 
 lost all claim to the protection of every faithful member of the Church 
 until they do their duty faithfully. 
 
 After prayer, I was conducted into the school-room till they should con- 
 sult. In a few miuutes 1 was brought back. Mr. Pengelly read the 
 charges against me, and I was found guilty ; he hoped I would consider 
 the matter, and that he should soon hear I thought differently. Just at 
 twelve o'clock I was dismissed from the presence of the Council, and truly 
 that night I felt honoured to suffer shame for the truth. No man stood by 
 me, but the Lord strengthened me and made me fearless and bold. I had 
 not a wrong feeling except of momentary indignation when Mr. Little 
 called me a liar about the two rooms. A burden of grief was removed from 
 my mind as regarded the preachers. In the whole I had been regardless 
 of any consequences to myself, my only anxiety was respecting the dis- 
 honour to the ministers, knowing the sad effects it has on the minds of 
 hearers when there is not the confidence of love to the ministers : but this 
 treatment has made me see more than ever the need of something being 
 done : they are entirely stripped of the spirit of the religion they profess, 
 and have acted as the Romanists did in the dark ages of the Church. 
 When their unscriptural practice was opposed, they showed exactly the 
 same spirit, but they want the power to go any farther, as the law of the 
 land protects the people, so that they cannot deliver their opposers to the 
 secular power. 
 
 As the only charge I had not proved to be false was the two rooms, I 
 went td get the necessary evidence ; though I felt it an honour to suffer as 
 a Christian, I would not suffer as a liar without using means to clear 
 myself. My statement was correct, and I sent the evidence to Mr. 
 Pengelly. 
 
 A fortnight after I was told to attend another meeting I wrote to 
 Mr. P. to say, I did not wish to show any disrespect to his authority, but 
 I could not come again without some one to protect me from insult: 
 having friends who had witnessed my daily life for nearly twenty years, 
 who would come forward and bear testimony to the uprightness of my 
 conduct, and would not suffer me to come alone to be treated with such 
 insult. I received no answer, and did not attend the meeting. As they 
 were resolved not to enter into the matter scripturally, my going to receive 
 a second edition of the same treatment, could be of no use. 
 
 After the meeting a message was sent to me from Mr. Pengelly, that I 
 was excommunicated for speaking evil of the preachers. One would 
 hardly think it possible that the heads of the Wesleyan body had fallen 
 into such spiritual darkness. A few Sabbaths before the preachers and 
 people in the most solemn manner had renewed the covenant with God. 
 Have I asked more service from them than they willingly with the lip 
 
114 
 
 then offered to give? They know I have not; and yet they have cast me 
 out of the Church of Christ, for letting it be known that they are faithless 
 to him. It is evident it is for making it public, and that there is nothing 
 wrong in what I have done. Mr. P, knew my crime on Covenant 
 Sunday; and if he really thought 1 ought to be excluded from the Lord's 
 table, because I had pleaded that Christ should be honoured, Why did he 
 not drive me away ? As well scorn me then as after ; as I had committed 
 the crime before God. Ministers have no right to exclude any from the 
 Lord's table when they are put to shame for neglecting their duty. No 
 one can say but that every opportunity had been given to the preachers, 
 to prevent their sin being exposed ; and whatever shame may accrue to 
 them through its being so, they are alone to blame. 
 
 When our Saviour was on earth, he set us an example how we were to 
 walk towards each other as disciples, and they were to be known by their 
 fruits. It is not every one who professes the Gospel that we must believe 
 to be disciples of Jesus, only those who practice it. He warned his 
 followers to beware of false prophets in sheep's clothing, who are inwardly 
 ravening wolves : they are to be known by their fruits. Many will say, 
 " Lord have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast 
 out devils, and in thy name done may wonderful works? But he will 
 profess unto them, I never knew you : Depart from me, ye that work 
 iniquity." We are to be watchful over the spirits of those who are in the 
 high places of the Church, to see whether the spirit they manifest is of 
 God. They may preach and do much that appears very zealous for 
 God, and all the while be strangers to his grace. While our Lord had 
 compassion on the weakness and ignorance of his disciples, we find very 
 different treatment towards hypocrites and formalists; and when it is evi- 
 dent that men are practising the same sins, they are to be exposed in the 
 same way. Hypocrisy and formality in the Church are far more dangerous 
 than any enemy without. 
 
 Our Saviour says to the eminent men in the Church, they that were 
 admired by the people and were zealous for externals; "Woe unto you 
 Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; ye are like unto whited sepulchres; 
 but are within full of uncleanness." Ye appear outwardly righteous to 
 men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Ye serpents ! — ye 
 generarion of vipers ! how can ye escape the damnation of hell I 
 
 These were the great men in our Saviour's time : the eminent labourers 
 who were zealous for externals. The Apostles always spoke unsparingly 
 to those who were in high places. Who will say that Stephen was in a 
 bad spirit when he was before the Council, and bore his noble testimony to 
 the truth — he was filled with the holy Ghost — the great men could not 
 gainsay what he said, but they gnashed upon him with their teeth ; they 
 did their utmost to take away his life : and the holy Ghost has caused it to 
 be recorded, for the example and encouragement of those who may be 
 
115 
 
 called to the honour of defending the truth. They cannot now take away 
 life; but they show the same spirit as did those men : they exclude those 
 who would oppose their external signs of spiritual life. While they go to 
 the utmost of their power, they cannot touch the spiritual life. Thousands 
 partake of the outward sign, who know nothing of the inward life which 
 it signifies. These men cannot touch the hidden life ; nothing can destroy 
 it but falling into sin. Suffering for Christ only causes the soul to cling 
 closer to him, and praise him more and more for his faithfulness in uphold- 
 ing them and causing their spirits to triumph in his grace ; feeling most 
 deeply that it is only through virtue derived from him, they can withstand 
 those who would oppose the vital principle. 
 
 Paul was unsparing in his rebuke when he had occasion to withstand 
 Peter to his face, because he was to be blamed when he practised dissimu- 
 lation : he frequently names individuals who are opposing him, and by 
 their opposition showing their enmity to the Gospel. He says, "Alexander 
 the coppersmith did me much evil; the Lord reward him according to his 
 works." Of another, "I will remember the evil deeds that he doeth, 
 prating against us." Yet Paul shows and exhorts to the most tender com- 
 passion to the weak and to any that may be overtaken in a fault; but 
 he has no compassion for any thing that would draw souls from the 
 simplicity of the faith. 
 
 The Lord's people are all alike in his sight ; and if any thing arises in 
 the Church to stop the circulation of life in any member of the body of 
 Christ, every member ought to use all possible means that the healthful 
 circulation be restored. The Lord's people in one sense are all prophets 
 by their union to Christ : the Spirit is given them to understand his 
 Word: they live in it and upon it : and it is only those who do thus live 
 that can have the clear spiritual understanding of it. Those who use the 
 Word in faith, it is life to their souls. They like David can say, " They 
 have more understanding than their teachers, because they delight in the 
 Word of God." And like him they will say, "My zeal hath consumed 
 me, because men are despising thy Word." " Oh, how I love thy law, it 
 is my meditation all the day ; my eyes run down with tears because men 
 keep not thy Word." It was living in the Word in which David de- 
 lighted, not resting in the knowledge of it; it was his life, and from it 
 every believer is constantly drawing. 
 
 It is only ignorance of God's Word, which causes men to defend 
 ministers when they leave this constant labour of love in the Word. They 
 are to be examples of obedience ; and whenever they cease to be so, they 
 have no claim on the respect and esteem due to the faithful minister. 
 
 It is wonderful the superstitious ignorance there is in the minds of the 
 people; and unfaithful men shelter themselves under it. In the present 
 case there is nothing to shelter them but the ignorance which they are the 
 means of bringing, and they boast in their covering. The President of 
 
116 
 
 Conference, and the great men at the head of the body, have renounced 
 the faith of Christ, and publicly own that they will not have him to reign 
 over them. They acknowledge that they believe religion to be only an 
 external thing : a trade to get a living by. The President says, " It is of 
 vital importance in the economy of Methodism, that provision should be 
 made for the preachers when they cannot labour, and for their widows 
 after they are gone." I grant this if they do labour : but I say it is of 
 vital importance in the economy of grace that they do labour, and be 
 constantly drawing virtue from Christ through a practical faith in the 
 Word, for the purification of their own souls, to fit them for spiritual 
 service, that in all things they may be examples of Christ to believers, 
 and thus be honoured to work with him in the salvation of his people: 
 that they may constantly see the mind of Christ displayed : and be made 
 partakers of those heavenly blessings imparted to the servants of the 
 sanctuary who are constantly waiting on their Lord in the Word for a 
 fresh supply. Every similitude our Saviour makes use of to shew his 
 disciples their dependence implies this : they are at first purified by the 
 Word, then he tells them they are to abide in him by the same means ; he 
 has imparted the glory to them which God gave to him that they may be 
 united with him in the work of redemption. He alone has purchased 
 redemption for the world, but he gives his disciples the honour of being 
 workers with him : he, by his Word and Spirit ; they, by a simple depen- 
 dence on his grace, derived through that means, are workers with him. 
 He has told them that without him they can do nothing. This is the law 
 of Christ. 
 
 The law of the self-called Venerable Body of Wesleyan Ministers is, 
 that they need not this grace through the word, to purify them for their 
 duty : the President says, they can do as well without it; they want not 
 the renewed influence of the Spirit to keep their spirits pure and their eye 
 single ; therefore they will not shew their love to Christ by using the 
 means he has appointed as a test of their obedience, and the only channel 
 in which his grace flows. The President has shown that whoever dares to 
 say, that the Venerable Body needs to live in simple dependance on 
 Christ, for a supply of grace — that without it they can do nothing, but are 
 dishonouring God, and turning spiritual service into empty formality — 
 shall, by him, be turned out of the Church of Christ; therefore, the law 
 of Christ, and the law of the Venerable Body, are directly opposed to each 
 other. Our Saviour says, " Abide in me, and I in you ; as the branch 
 cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine, no more can ye ex- 
 cept ye abide in me." — " He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same 
 bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. If a man 
 abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered." Now, 
 surely this casting out work looks like the fruit of branches that are 
 withering for want of nourishment from the root; and it is the time for 
 
117 
 
 every living member of the Church to oppose the unscriptural practice '. 
 they have reduced religion to an external system. 
 
 Let no one fear those whose power can extend no farther than to deprive 
 them of the outward sign of profession of union to Christ, but let all shew 
 their love for him from whom they are constantly deriving nourishment to 
 sustain the life he has given them, and let them oppose the practice of those 
 men who are unfaithful to be examples of devotion to their Lord's honour. 
 They have cast away their feeling of dependance; this is the most dan- 
 gerous state a soul can be in after spiritual life has been imparted. 
 
 The great secret of happiness is to live out of self; it is mortifying to 
 the pride of nature to be constant dependants; but it is the life of the 
 Spirit to be continually drawing grace from Christ through the word. For 
 our sakes he devoted himself to the work of redemption, that we might be 
 consecrated and devoted to him through his word and Spirit : " Sanctify 
 them through thy truth ; thy word is truth," That they all may be one 
 through the constant supply of grace drawn from me. Christ the living 
 word ever appears in the presence of God for us; and through a practical 
 faith in the written word, God imparts the spirit of love to every disciple; 
 as they exercise this faith, so they walk with God in his word ; and are 
 thus kept humble and holy. 
 
 The very life of religion is love; faith is the root that produces it: and 
 by the spirit of love being manifested, first towards Christ Jesus, by hon- 
 ouring him as the head from whence all vital influence flows through his 
 word, then by a love of complacency towards each other, as we see his 
 image reflected, and his glory the aim of life, a love of compassion to the 
 men of the world : thus his people show forth his praise below : they are 
 strong in his strength, mighty in his might. A defect in faith will soon 
 bring forth a defect in practice : men who renounce the character of being 
 humble disciples, will, when opportunity serves, show themselves proud 
 persecutors : they have lost that poverty of spirit which brings love into 
 their souls ; they have lost that hungering and thirsting for Christ which 
 would have sent them to the word as the fountain of communication from 
 which they were to be constantly drawing : they have lost that meekness 
 of spirit which they received when they apprehended Christ by faith in 
 his word: they do not seek the grace which would have constrained them 
 to the obedience of faith. Thus the spirit is grieved through them ; God's 
 favour, which is life, and his loving-kindness, which is more than life, 
 would have been imparted to their spirits. This is their inheritance while 
 they are in the world ; but they cannot enjoy it, because they will not 
 submit to the obedience of faith. They do not seek God in his word, 
 therefore they cannot be pure in heart : they deny their need of the whole 
 gospel armour. 
 
 The strength of the whole of the Lord's hosts has ever been derived 
 from Christ Jesus, through the exercise of faith in his word. These men 
 
118 
 
 need not the imparted strength ; they are become great in their own eyes, 
 and have -forsaken the might of God, and depised the Rock of their sal- 
 vation. Their slothful souls are starving through their pride and vanity, 
 because they will not labour in the word for meat; but that would be a lit- 
 tle thing, if God was not, through them, dishonoured in the Church, and 
 the people led on to idolatry. 
 
 The talents of these men are admired, as they exercise them on their 
 old sermons. The work of grace, which is to be carried on through their 
 instrumentality, is stopped; the spiritual service of God turned into a 
 lifeless form, through their want of renewed exercise of faith in the word. 
 But some may yet say, they cannot see why a sermon should not be re- 
 peated a second time. The minister is the chief disciple in the Church, 
 devoted to God for the service of his brethren ; they are all fitted for 
 spiritual service daily, by the renewed acting of faith in the word ; the 
 knowledge of which, without the labour in it, would not bring the spiritual 
 influence : as it is, by grace through faith, the spirit is daily sustained. It 
 is the same in the spiritual labour for the Church. There has been no 
 renewed labour of faith in an old sermon. 
 
 The people ought to know the word in the letter as well as the preacher. 
 Of what use is it him coming to let them hear how well he can repeat a 
 lesson which he has learnt? How could his fellow-disciples feed daily by 
 faith on the word, if they did not daily meditate in it ? How, then, can 
 his repeating a sermon, when he will not honour God by the labour of 
 faith in the word, be a blessing to his brethren ? The word of God itself 
 does not convey the blessing, without the exercise of faith ; and as there 
 is no exercise of faith, to fit him to minister to his brethren, he cannot 
 convey a blessing to them. 
 
 The whole work of redemption in man is by grace through faith ; the 
 word and spirit are the instruments of purification. Faith, daily exer- 
 cised in that word, keeps the soul free from the pollution it daily contracts 
 from the flesh : this daily purification is necessary while the Spirit dwells 
 in the body : it never will be the willing servant of the spirit until it has 
 been laid in its natural dust, and raised a spiritual body. Through the 
 constant exercise of faith, it is kept in subjection to the Spirit. Faith 
 keeps it free from the pollution that is in the world. 
 
 The godly man delights in the word of God, and in it he meditates : 
 " He is to be like a tree planted by the river side," bringing forth fruit, 
 being nourished by the word through faith. This is the gift of God to 
 him, to enable him to draw from the well of truth, the water of Life. 
 
 The man who submits to spiritual training, is often taught his own help- 
 lessness and ignorance in the Word ; he feels that this blessed gift of faith 
 which he is constantly exercising, could not of itself keep him in his love 
 of the Word ; it is the hand God has given him to take the nourishment ; 
 and the Word itself would not be nourishment for faith, without the 
 
119 
 
 blessing of God. He opens his bible ; be reads and meditates ; his spirit 
 toils, but he seems to have gained nothing ; the well of truth is deep, and 
 he is made to feel that the power to draw must come from above. When 
 the light of the Spirit shines upon God's waiting disciple in the Word he 
 looks with grateful adoration at the wonderful depth contained in a portion 
 of the Word which he could not see before, and he again blesses the God 
 of his salvation, who makes him to prove that the Word is indeed spirit and 
 life to his soul : he knows God has accepted his spiritual labour in the 
 Word, by the answered light of the Spirit, given him while he was waiting 
 in the Word the way God had appointed to meet him. 
 
 This is the daily traffic carried on between God and the souls of believ- 
 ers ! This is the labour they bestow for the spiritual meat that endureth 
 
 and is to nourish them to everlasting life ! It is the food for the soul the 
 
 living bread — which God daily sends them from heaven ; and they gather 
 it through prayer and faith in the Word. 
 
 The Minister, being the chief disciple, and set apart to do service for 
 his brethren, waits upon God in his Word, asks to be guided to a portion 
 suitable to those to whom he is going to minister. God alone can direct 
 him in this : he only knows ihe state of those spirits the minister has to do 
 with : he submits himself to the spiritual training ; and by the process 
 passing within himself, through the devotion of his energies in the word 
 he is kept feeling his own dependance on the light of the Spirit for aid • 
 and thus, being given up to this spiritual labour, he is enabled to see 
 more clearly than others (v?ho are necessarily engaged in the world) the 
 things that are freely given of God, his spiritual powers being more in ex- 
 ercise in the word, that fits him to go before his brethren as a guide in the 
 spiritual conflict. He comes into the sanctuary with the fruit of his 
 labours, still in dependance on the Spirit for help to bring forth what God 
 has given him, that he may be assisted in setting it before them in humble 
 dependance ; that God will bless the provision his own grace has given to 
 him for his waiting family. If they do not bestow any labour, they are 
 entirely unfitted for spiritual service. 
 
 1 have been told by those who are guilty, that they frequently experience 
 great agitation of spirit when they see those in the sanctuary who they 
 know have heard their sermons before ; but they cannot think that God does 
 not see their mockery. Thus the minister will acknowledge to have been 
 humbled at the sight of a fellow-mortal in the sanctuary, yet he can come 
 before God with a polluted spirit, despising the means God has appointed 
 for the purification of his soul. His Lord presides at the spiritual feast to 
 bless it to the family, but he has prepared nothing ; he is entirely unfitted 
 to stand before God. There can be no unity of spirit between him and 
 his brethren ; for while they have been imploring the aid of the Spirit for 
 him, he has refused the labour of faith, whereby he alone can receive it. 
 In no other way can grace be imparted, but as the receiver comes in 
 
120 
 
 poverty of spirit to draw from the fulness of Christ the vital energy 
 through faith : then God blesses his labour. 
 
 When Caiu brought his offering it was not accepted — it was not offered 
 in faith — it was the fruit of his bodily labour from the ground out of which 
 he was taken, an acknowledgement that God had blessed his labour. 
 God did not respect his offering because it was not offered in faith — it was 
 an offering of the food with which his body was to be nourished. The disciple 
 of Christ is to bring the fruit of his spiritual labour and present it to God ; 
 it is an acknowledgement that God has blessed his labour: it is the fruit 
 of the Spirit which comes from above whence he has spiritual life. He 
 that repeats an old sermon, has prepared no offering of spiritual, and 
 brought no acknowledgement of the faithfulness of God. His brother's 
 blood was sprinkled before the throne of grace, through which the Spirit 
 would have been given. The Word is the way to find the Spirit, which 
 would have led him into the light of truth, which is Christ in the Word 
 the life of the truth. 
 
 No man can approach to God except in his name and strength ; there- 
 fore, without the spiritual labour, it is a dead service : the fruits of faith 
 cannot follow it : it is a Cain's offering. He slew his brother — the fruits 
 of unbelief. 
 
 These men have deprived their sister of the signs of spiritual life, and 
 have cast her again into the world to perish ! They have never sought 
 after her, although they say the holy Ghost appointed them to watch and 
 care for her spiritual welfare. This is the sad fruit of their unbelief and 
 disobedience to the law of faith, which would have taught them to take 
 compassion on her even if she had fallen into error. These great men 
 would not give the soul the tokens of her Saviour's dying love ! neither 
 would they suffer any of their number to say to her, " The blood of the 
 Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul to 
 everlasting life." They will not present to her the bread, saying, " Feed 
 on Christ in thy heart by faith, with thanksgiving." What is the crime 
 for which these professed servants of Christ have inflicted such a punish- 
 ment? It would hardly be thought possible that men with the Bible 
 before them, and a creed in accordance with that blessed book, should be 
 so blinded as to exclude a soul from the Church against whom they could 
 bring no charge, except that she had entreated them to do that which they 
 entreat others, when they give the sacramental bread ! I have done 
 nothing but beseech them that they would live the life of faith, which 
 can alone fit them for the service of God ; but they will not. 
 
 What hypocrisy is practised in religion! It would hardly be thought 
 possible that the men we hear in the pulpit, making such profession of love 
 to God and his people, could be such hypocrites ! This is the fruit of old 
 sermons, they having no communion with God, love is extinct in their 
 bosoms, and these shepherds, instead of feeding the flock, cast them out 
 
121 
 
 into the wilderness, for seeking the food he hath commanded them to 
 provide ! They are constantly puffing each other off in bills and books as 
 such devoted labourers in their Lord's vineyard ! Sacrificing their own 
 interest in every way, to promote his honour ! men eminent for holiness I 
 a venerable body of Herculean labourers ! whose members are carried 
 from all parts of the kingdom at the cost of their brethren, that they may 
 consult together as to the best means of promoting the glory of their 
 Lord and the good of their brethren, and all the while neglect the only 
 means whereby it can be done — a life of communion with God ! We see 
 their communion is all external — their meeting together is to plan and 
 keep their own worldly interest secure — to strengthen each other, and keep 
 the people in subjection — to promote their comforts, and hide the shame of 
 each other, by moving from place to place, to repeat tbeir few sermons 
 and manage the externals, so as will best promote the comfort of the 
 Venerable Body ! There is no unity with the people, as they will not 
 wait upon God in his Word for their profit. They seek not the spirit of 
 love for themselves; and when occasion serves, they show that they only 
 look upon the flock as beasts for them to prey upon ; and if any sheep is 
 so bold as to seek food that the flock may be fed and nourished for the 
 service of their Lord ! they will cast that bold sheep into the wilderness, 
 that the wild beasts may devour it ; hoping by this means the other sheep 
 will take warning, and remain quietly submitting to be stoned to death ; 
 if they do not, they will be torn in pieces ! There is no choice for those 
 who are delivered into the hands of the Venerable Body — unless they as 
 one protest against those faithless shepherds, and stand in the gospel 
 armour in defence of the rights and honour of their king, and the liberty 
 wherewith he hath made them free ! 
 
 This Venerable Body have shut the kingdom of God against themselves : 
 they will not use the glorious privileges given them as members of that 
 kingdom; they will not remain in it themselves, neither will they suffer 
 those who, through grace, have got in, to remain: and they hinder, by 
 their wrong spirit, all those who would enter. Can it be believed, that the 
 tongue which says, " Feed on Christ in thy heart by faith with thanks- 
 giving," would be lifted in abuse against any who would entreat them to 
 do so ? Here is the evidence why it is so. These men, having ceased to 
 hold communion with God, their light is almost turned to darkness^ so that 
 they are unable to distinguish the workings of nature from grace in the 
 souls of men. This light is only clear in those souls who yield themselves 
 up to the guidance of the Spirit. 
 
 Paul lived in such a state of dependance : he intreats the prayers of his 
 brethren that utterance may be given him : he says, " His preaching was 
 not with the words which man's wisdom had taugbt him, but the holy 
 Spirit comparing spiritual things with spiritual. He yielded himself to 
 the guidance of the Spirit, intreating the prayers of his brethren, that the 
 
 M 
 
122 
 
 Spirit, through whom alone he could be the instrument of glorifying God, 
 might be abundantly supplied. There was unity of spirit among the 
 disciples ; he, as chief in the Church, intreating their prayers that he 
 might be made the instrument of blessing to them, through the grace that 
 is given in answer to prayer. Thus they were one body, united by 
 one spirit in mutual fellowship of faith and prayer. The chief disciple 
 going before, a noble example of the obedience of faith, well trained 
 in the spiritual conflict through the entire devotion of his energies to 
 the service of his Lord; and while he urged his brethren forward, he 
 was a bright example for them to follow. 
 
 The men who now boast how they follow apostolic practice are entirely 
 different from Paul ; they urge their brethren on ; but instead of being 
 thankful for the prayers of their fellow-disciples, that they may be 
 strengthened and animated, and be examples to their brethren in the 
 combat, they abuse those who would intreat them to seek the grace 
 whereby they can alone glorify their Lord. 
 
 I do not think there are so many prayers offered in public for any 
 ministers as the Wesleyans, as we have so many prayer meetings. I have 
 said to some of our members, since the affair was made public, when we 
 have had two old sermons, " What is the use of praying for the Spirit to 
 guide them ? We can see they have not been meditating on the Word, or 
 they would have brought in the fruit of their labour ; if their hearts had 
 been engaged in the work, they would have come into the sanctuary to 
 speak of the things they had been meditating on : they have not yielded 
 themselves to the Spirit to be purified for the spiritual service they had to 
 perform; therefere it is in vain to seek his aid for them." They came 
 into the house of God, keeping up the mockery ; imploring spiritual aid 
 when they knew they were just going to do what any child could do — re- 
 peat what they had learned by rote ! There being no spiritual labour, the 
 people have no right to expect any spiritual influence: there cannot be 
 any profit. They have the pleasure of hearing men repeat a lesson they 
 have learnt. 
 
 Many of the people allow it is true, but they do not know what is to be 
 done with them. 1 say, they must be put to shame ! Those that will do 
 their duty faithfully, let them apply themselves to it, the people will help 
 them in their arduous work; they will plead with God to forgive their 
 past unfaithfulness, and restore them to his favour. Those who will not 
 humble themselves before God for their transgression, and submit to the 
 obedience of faith for the profit of their brethren, must leave the service 
 of the sanctuary ! 
 
 It was not intended that men should merely get their bread by it, but 
 for the honour of God; that he might be glorified, and his people re- 
 freshed and blest, when they meet to worship him in the beauty of 
 holiness, presenting their spiritual offerings with grateful adoration for the 
 
123 
 
 means afforded them of holding iniercourse with the father of Spirits. 
 Let those who will not render him that honour, get their bread at their 
 former occupation; for they despise the people who are praying for them, 
 and have no right to be maintained by them when they will give no 
 spiritual labour in return. 
 
 The ministers having renounced the character of disciples, are in every 
 way unfitted for their duty ; their spiritual senses not being exercised, 
 they are every way unfitted for the service of the house of God. They 
 bring into his family, and put into office, those who have never known his 
 grace. Had Mr. Little ever known the grace of God, he could not have 
 shown the enmity to the truth that he has. 
 
 Many of the preachers have gradually growa into this error through, 
 example ; and opportunity being afforded them to practise it, they hav0 
 lost the conviction of their constant need of the grace of the Spirit and 
 his enlightening and quickening influences. Thus have they learned to 
 maintain an easy indolence, an orthodoxy of opinion ; and when they are 
 reminded that they ought to practice the faith they preach, they show a 
 proud insolent spirit, the fruit of their independance of the grace of God. 
 A dependant man is meek and lowly, and loves so to be. 
 
 Mr. Little, though not a young man, has been a preacher only a short 
 time ; had he known the grace of God when in profession he devoted 
 himself to the service of the Church, he could not have shown, as he has 
 done, the carnal mind which is enmity against God. The ardour of his 
 first love would not have been entirely lost ; but there is not a trace of the 
 remains of love to be found in his conduct ! Although he has been so 
 short a time in the service, the tongue that professed he was moved by the 
 holy Spirit to devote himself to the service of the house of God, and go 
 before the people of the Lord in the obedience of faith — that tongue is at 
 one time used to urge the people to obedience; and, at another time, we 
 find him exulting in his own shame and spiritual destitution ! using his 
 influence to set the minds of the people against one who had urged him to 
 the obedience of faith : thus showing the enmity of the carnal mind to 
 the Gospel. 
 
 The mind that has only received the Word in the letter, will always 
 rise against the obedience of faith when it is pressed. Such a man was 
 never, like Paul, laid prostrate in spirit before God in the dust of humility ! 
 He never heard the whispers of the Spirit in his soul, telling him to arise 
 and go into the Church, and it would be told him what he should do ! 
 Paul at that time had obtained authority from the Chief Priests to 
 persecute those who served God in spirit, he being zealous for legal wor- 
 ship. This man has also obtained authority from the rulers in the Church 
 to perform the outward ceremonies of worship, which is the only worship 
 they now sanction. Their minds having been long estranged from the 
 operations of grace, are unfitted to discern the workings of the Spirit in 
 
124 
 
 others; therefore they substitute natural ability for spiritual devotedness 
 in those they admit as labourers into the house of God. When such a 
 man's practice is opposed, we see that he is not of God by the spirit he 
 shows. Although he had come forward at two public meetings, using his 
 influence against the faith, and had gone prating about in private, he could 
 not at the meeting defend his practice. I thought, Surely if I could 
 reason with him alone on the subject, he might be tamed a little I I met 
 him, and tried it; but he was like a wild beast ! He said, he would not 
 talk to me, as I was insane! It was a pity I had not something else to 
 think about, and walked off! 
 
 This is the man who says he is moved by the holy Spirit to guide me in the 
 way of peace and truth ! The messenger of the Lord of hosts! at whose lips I 
 am to seek knowledge. If, through the grace of God, I did not know 
 differently, would not his conduct turn me out of the way, and cause me 
 to stumble at religion, and think that what he had said in the pulpit was a 
 mere fable ! The reason is, the man only knows his religion as a child 
 knows his lesson ; being destitute of the Spirit. 
 
 I hope Mr. Little will return to his former occupation ; it would be far 
 better for him and the Church, that he should be thus exercising his bodily 
 powers, than exercising them on the word of God. Let him resume his 
 labour in taking pledges from those whom poverty and want may drive to 
 him for aid, and in selling those that are unredeemed ! That will be 
 harmless; but he must not remain in the Church to abuse those pledges 
 of love that are redeemed ! The price has been paid for them, and they 
 are free. They had sold themselves for nought, but they have been 
 redeemed, not with silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. 
 Thus their redemption was wrought out for them ; and it is wrought in 
 them by grace through faith alone. A sense of want brings them daily 
 to their Lord, and they bless him as they use the means he has appointed 
 to manifest himself to them. 
 
 When Mr. L. has learned the poverty of his nature, that without a con- 
 stant supply of grace he can do nothing, he will gladly use the means to 
 attain it, and be ashamed that ever he should fight against the faith of 
 Christ, and insult those who through grace have been redeemed. 
 
 It is evident, according to the President of Conference, the ministers 
 are entirely disunited from the people. He says, they can do their work 
 as well without the labour of faith, this is another Gospel ; there can only 
 be the external union where there is no spiritual effort. What is the life 
 of faith but an entire ceasing from self in every form, a life of constant 
 watchfulness against self? It is a warfare against self, the fight of faith ; 
 it is certain victory to the soul that is faithful ; Christ is enthroned in the 
 heart of every believer, and through his grace they shall conquer. The 
 men who have laid aside the use of these means, only talk about Christ 
 being a king; they have dethroned him from their hearts, they talk about 
 
125 
 
 the Christian armour and the fight of faith ; it is not from being con= 
 stantly engaged in the conflict, impelled on by the grace of the holy 
 Spirit ; it is only what they have read and learned, not what they are 
 enduring for their own and the Church's salvation. We might see a 
 battle painted on the canvass — we might read a glowing description of it, 
 and in imagination be carried to the scene, and exult in the success of the 
 conquerors. This is just the way the eminent men in the venerable body 
 are doing ; they carry the same sermons about for twenty years, and it 
 may be more ; they talk about the spiritual warfare, they paint off their 
 discourses as well as they can, the imagination of the people is worked 
 upon, and many are brought into the Church in this way; but when their 
 faith comes to be tried, it is found to be like those who were the instru- 
 ments of bringing them into the Church ; they know not Christ as their 
 king, and have never known any thing about his armour but to talk 
 about it. 
 
 The minister whose mind is constantly exercised in the Word, knows 
 the conflict ; he is not ignorant of the devices of Satan to draw the soul 
 from the obedience of faith; it is his strength, and the enemy knows it, 
 and by many devices will try to draw him from it. By this constant 
 spiritual diligence he is led into the depths of Satan ; though the diligent 
 soul is a mark for him to shoot at, yet through continual spiritual exercise, 
 his eye is clear to discern the wiles of of the tempter, and fits him to 
 strengthen his brethren. The men who are gone to sleep in their armour 
 know nothing of the conflict; the enemy will never disturb them — they 
 are his most useful agents; they may talk about the armour and the con- 
 flict, and acknowledge Christ as their king, and while they refuse him the 
 obedience of faith, Satan will take care to feed their vanity, and lull them 
 to sleep in his service ; and when they are aroused from their slumber, 
 and their honour is touched, they forget their character as disciples, and 
 demand to be taken as oracles. The faithful minister is a disciple ; a 
 Bible student sitting at the feet of his Lord seeking more enlarged and 
 comprehensive views of his truth ; he does not think that the Church is 
 instituted for him to get a living in, but, that the very existence of the 
 ministry is for the edification of the Church; and while he is proving the 
 faithfulness and love of God in fulfilling his word in his own soul, he 
 brings out what he has been engaged in for the profit of his brethren. 
 This was the way Paul did : the word of God's grace built him up, and on 
 that account he wished others to use it. He did not stand in the Church 
 like a directing-post, telling the people how they were to go forward ; but, 
 like a captain braving all dangers through the exercise of simple faith, he 
 gloried in feeling his own weakness. " When I am weak, then am I 
 strong." " We are not sufficient of ourselves to think any thing of our- 
 selves, our sufficiency is of God." He had known, served and enjoyed 
 Christ, and yet he says, "Not that I have already attained, or am already 
 
126 
 
 perfect." From a sense of want he desired more of the grace of Christ; 
 and also, from the relish of the enjoyment he had received, he earnestly 
 desired more of the living bread. He was dead to all vain glory : ad- 
 vancement in the knowledge of Christ had produced in him the deepest 
 humility. Christ v/as his life; and through his strength, imparted by his 
 Spirit in the word of his grace, he could do all things. 
 
 The nearer a man approaches to Christ through his Word and Spirit, the 
 more does he feel his own ignorance and weakness . he feels that the 
 strength and knowledge derived from Christ is on the increase. The 
 name of Jesus was music in the ears of Paul ; and through faith in that 
 name he rejoiced evermore. Does any one think he would have turned 
 those out of the Church who desired that name to be honoured? No; 
 his whole soul bowed to the obedience of faith; and quick was his dis- 
 cernment of the least departure from the faith. 
 
 It is evident the crime I have been guilty of was committed by Paul 
 himself, therefore it cannot be apostolic to cast me out of the Church for 
 it. Well may the Church mourn for the dishonour done to God and the 
 word of his grace. Alas! alas! for the land, when those who stand in 
 the high places of the Church have so far forgotten themselves. It is the 
 fruit to be expected from those who have ceased to feel their dependance. 
 The Word which through faith would have kept them meek and lowly, 
 has, for want of that faith, made them like the house of Israel — impudent 
 and hard-hearted. 
 
 Is it so slight an honour, granted to a poor worm of the earth, to be 
 brought into fellowship with God through his Word and by his Spirit ? It 
 would hardly be thought possible that, after being united to Christ by 
 faith, any would say, " Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of 
 thy ways ; we want not thy Word and Spirit to fit us for thy service. 
 Such great men as we are, to be like children, dependant on a father for 
 bread ? We cannot stoop to it. The people are satisfied with our natural 
 abilities and the old sermons : Why should we labour in the Word as de- 
 pendants ? Our own glory and bread is all we want!" This is the 
 practical language of our great men ! the heads of the Venerable Body ! 
 They refuse Christ as the head of all vital influence to them. 
 
 I believe some of the preachers are not guilty, and many would be 
 brought from the practice, although those in the high places will not. I 
 think if any that Mr. Pengelly had to do with had been of opinion that it 
 was right they should devote themselves to the work, he would have done 
 it ; instead of this he has been strengthened to oppose it. Men, by 
 example, strengthen each other in evil as well as good. I know the 
 publishing of this will pain his mind, as well as many others. It is no 
 pleasure to give pain ; and thankful should I have been had there been no 
 necessity. If the preachers had given me any hope of a fair considera- 
 tion, it never would have been known. When I wrote to him on the 8th 
 
127 
 
 December, I promised it never should, if they would listen to my com- 
 plaint : in silent praise I would bless his holy name who had given his 
 servants to see their error. 
 
 It is not such a difference of opinion as can exist without any injury 
 being done to religion, but an error eating its vitals : and while Mr. P. 
 and many others have been, like Peter, practically denying their Lord by 
 it, through unbelief their minds have become darkened to their sin. 
 May the beams of the sun of righteousness dispel the darkness which has 
 fallen on the minds of many who once ran well^ but are now in darkness I 
 May they soon be led to see that their strength is in God, and, as depen- 
 dants, trust him for his help. I believe there are some of the Travelling 
 Preachers who would not offer in God's house what cost them nothing, so 
 there are some of the Local Preachers. 
 
 After my letters were published, I received the following one from a 
 Local Preacher : — 
 
 *'My Dear Friend and Sister in Christ: — As such all who love their 
 Lord and Saviour must recognize you, notwithstanding your recent expul- 
 sion from the Methodist Society. I trust my reason for writing will be a 
 sufficient apology for thus troubling you upon a subject which must have 
 caused you much mental disquietude, and I know too well has exposed 
 you to many an insult. It was only about a fortnight ago that I heard 
 for the first time there was an individual with heroism enough to stand 
 forth and publicly give battle to the Hundred-headed Hydra, which has 
 so long stood in the way of Zion's prosperity ; and that the championship 
 has been put forth by a female, with not a tythe of the means of securing 
 success which some of us have been favoured with, who have, to our 
 shame, sat quietly in our cowardly indolence, contenting ourselves with 
 seeing the evils without the fortitude or perhaps the disposition to put 
 forth a hand towards their removal. 
 
 Your strictures upon our preaching are so perfectly in accordance with 
 my sentiments on this all-important subject, that I could not refrain from 
 writing you my best thanks, wishes and prayers for success in your spirit- 
 ual undertaking, and the removal of those evils you so justly complain of. 
 I am perfectly at a loss to know how good men can lend themselves to the 
 support of a practice so iniquitous in its nature, and so lamentably ruinous 
 in its tendency. It is an awful mockery ; for those very men who are so 
 frequently heard to ask God to give them a word in season, clearness of 
 perception and readiness of utterance — when at the very time they have 
 their sermon all by rote, and, like school-boys merely going to play at 
 preaching, by delivering their lesson with the best oratorical effect that 
 appropriate intonation, gesture and action can command. It is a desecra- 
 tion of the sanctuary, by converting it into an arena for display, and a 
 real theatrical exhibition. If this was all we wanted we might retain the 
 
128 
 
 services of Kean ! Macreadyl and such like persons with much greater 
 success, aijd perhaps at less expense. It is a sacriligious robbery, by 
 seeking for ourselves the plaudits of men, instead of the glory of God in 
 the triumphs of the cross. It is enervating and crippling the energies of 
 the mind by sloth and inaction, which, if practised on the body, would 
 soon render it useless, and lay it in anguish on a bed of affliction. It is 
 a practice most ruinous in its effects on the rising ministry ! No wonder 
 if young men practice what old men have so long sanctioned, I had 
 almost forgot the principal object of my writing: I want to converse with 
 you about your trial. Mrs. Webb joins with me in intreating you to 
 favour us with a visit one of the evenings this week : I have much to say 
 that I cannot compress into the compass of a single note, so pray oblige, 
 Your sincere Friend and Brother in Christ, 
 
 FREDERICK WEBB." 
 
 Mr. Webb had not the slightest knowledge of me before this, neither 
 did I know his opinion on the subject. He had a good deal of trouble to 
 find me out. I waited on him, and found him very zealous that the work 
 should be forwarded: he hdd for ten years seen the evil in its true light. 
 From his own experience in the work he had proved it to be an evil, and 
 had given it up, and had privately used his endeavours against it. He 
 wished another edition to be then published, with his letter, as the people 
 wanted the books and could not get them : he had felt reluctant to apply 
 for one himself. 
 
 I could not see it right at that time to publish, as I had hope the practice 
 would be given up. Mr. Webb said he would bring it forward at the 
 Quarterly Meeting, but there was no good done ; though, from the spirit 
 shown, Mr. W. hoped they would give it up. These hopes have been dis- 
 appointed, and the preachers are now gone to sleep in their sins. Let the 
 leaders who are alive in the Church look to this matter : let them search 
 diligently into their own souls, and into the book of the records of the 
 king of Zion, and they will find the foundation of the spiritual temple was 
 laid in grace; and as the foundation was laid, so must the building be 
 carried on, until the topstone is brought forth with shouting, Grace ! Grace I 
 unto it ! • 
 
 It is the living in Jerusalem united together, who are to build the 
 spiritual temple for the king himself to dwell in — not by signs and tokens, 
 but by his own immediate presence : and when all his willing subjects 
 behold him in his glory, they will be like him. If the living in Jerusalem 
 will make search, they will find that these builders have disunited them- 
 selves from their brethren, and have brought human pride to the work, 
 instead of love and humility ; so that they frustrate the purpose of the 
 king, and weaken the hands of the people whom they are set to strengthen. 
 They refuse to put forth the hand to take the king's provision of love and 
 
129 
 
 grace, and are by their example drawing multitudes to the same rebellion. 
 This spiritual house cannot be built but as all are united in love. Love 
 laid the first stone in grace ; and on that stone, and from that stone, while 
 the living building rests on the foundation, silently drawing life from the 
 life-giving stone, it will rise in majesty and purity, until it fill the world. 
 
 These men have forgotten that they are only servants of the king ; that 
 it is he alone who builds the teujple, and he alone bears all the glory; and 
 if the glory is given them to be workers with him, it can only be so as 
 they are constantly drawing grace from him, through the Word and prayer. 
 They have cast his Word behind their back; and, as far as they are 
 concerned, the building of the spiritual temple has ceased ; yet they still, 
 in their own name and in their own strength, work at the building, making 
 a clamorus noise about the greatness of their power, and the great labour 
 they are performing for fheir king ! Crying out in every direction. Come, 
 see my zeal for the Lord of hosts ! My devotion to his honour and glory ! 
 When their own honour is touched at the king's commandment being 
 brought before them, and they cannot escape from his Word, they turn 
 public traitors to his honour, abuse their fellow-servants ; and, as Lords in 
 the building, instead of servants, cast those out into the world who seek to 
 keep the king's commandments ! These are the men who say they are 
 exerting all their powers for the honour of their Lord ! and using every 
 means in simple dependance on his strength to promote his honour and 
 glory in the world ! Is it not evident that they are the adversaries of the 
 king, by behaving so unseemly ? They will not honour him as he requires : 
 they can bring no word of his to show that they can do any thing without 
 his strength, and there is no means of obtaining that but by the renewed 
 actings of faith, which they refuse. 
 
 Let the leaders now arise in defence of the king's honour! Every one 
 who knows, through his grace, that it is in the exercise of faith in his 
 Word, that they have their maintainance daily from their king, come for- 
 ward in his name and in his strength, and fight against the dishonour done 
 to him ! Let them see to it — that they come into the field clad in the 
 king's armour ! their quiver and bow being faith and prayer ! and they 
 shall conquer ! Is it meet for those who receive daily maintainance from 
 the king, to see him thus dishonoured in his own house ? Shame will be on 
 them if they do not defend the honour of their Lord ! If they refuse to 
 rise in defence of their Lord's inheritance, deliverance will arise from 
 another quarter. These unfaithful servants cannot bring from the king's 
 law one word in defence of their conduct. , 
 
 I ask no more of ray brethren, but to search the Word of God, and 
 look back on the way in which by his grace they have been led, and 
 they will see they are in danger from these men. Through their pride 
 they will not seek after God, who holds their souls in life, and would 
 not suffer their footsteps to slide if they would cleave to him. Life 
 
130 
 
 in them is almost extinct, and they would destroy those who urge them 
 to take the food that cometh from above to sustain it. Is not this the 
 spirit that formalists have always shown ? The disciple is honoured in 
 being made like unto his Lord — the formalists destroyed him when he 
 was on earth — they took away his life : and these men, who are zealous 
 for the form, but deny the need of a constant drawing from him who 
 is their life, show the same spirit against him. They deny their 
 need of that close fellowship with him and renewed strength and light 
 through the holy spirit. But we see what sad fruit they shew ! When 
 their spirits are tried, they are quite destitute of the Spirit. Let the 
 spirit which has been shown by them, be the means of exciting every 
 member to duty ! 
 
 Let no one leave the Society, because the Preachers have left their 
 dependance on Christ, who, when they are opposed, even when they are 
 surrounded by their own expressions of love towards their brethren, 
 show that they care no more for the people than as beasts on which 
 they are to feed ! The faithful disciple who disunites himself from 
 Society, because they are unfaithful, will certainly be guilty of their 
 sin. It would be great cowardice for the soldiers to run away when 
 there was danger, just because they saw a way of escape : this would 
 not be standing for the glory of their king, and the benefit of their 
 country. Let us see to it, that our zeal for the truth springs from love 
 to the truth ; because it is written, in our hearts is the strength of our 
 hope, the spring of our consolation and joy through life, and our 
 portion in death. 
 
 Who is on the Lord's side ? Let him count the cost. He will 
 meet with evil treatment — he will be hated and calumniated by men 
 who should breathe peace and goodwill to all men — they will stoop to 
 any mean work Satan pleases to set them to, because their practice is 
 opposed ! they will try to set their brethren against them — those with 
 whom they have taken sweet counsel, and to whom their spirit still 
 cleaves, will stand aloof and look upon them as offenders ! they will 
 be gazing stocks for the multitude ! If they have the living word 
 dwelling in their heart — if they feel that they have no might in them- 
 selves — if in the strength of the Lord they go forward, girt about with 
 the truth of God, they need fear no evil, but shall have certain 
 victory ! 
 
 Let no man come forward who does not deeply feel that God is 
 dishonoured. If he have not the truth wrought in him by the power 
 of the holy Spirit, he cannot stand the trial ; but if the living Word 
 is wrought in him, and maintained by a practical faith in the Word, 
 let him come forward, grasping his sword firmly in the hand of faith ! 
 it will defend him from his foes, while it offends them! The Spirit 
 in the Word will cause him to triumph in the grace imparted through 
 
131 
 
 the Word — his consolations will abound — he will enjoy the blessedness 
 of those, who are persecuted for righteousness sake, which can be known 
 only by those who are honoured to take part in the combat. The 
 spirit that has guided his hand to use the sword unsparingly against 
 those his heart loves, will animate and sustain him in every step, and 
 in due time they will fall down and give glory to God, for they will 
 see it is he who fights against them. 
 
 The Word the Manna is, that faith must daily gather, 
 
 Until to Canaan's land we come, where we shall feast for ever ; 
 
 It is to us become the living bread from heaven ; food which we never knew 
 
 until that by his grace, 
 The purchased Spirit, through the Word, taught us our helplessness. 
 
 If what I say is true, that daily strength is given 
 
 To those who live by faith on Manna sent from heaven ? 
 
 Tha.t every grace is thus sustained, 
 
 And health and vigour still maintained T — 
 
 They shall be put to shame. 
 Who Israel's God dishonour; 
 Who rob his people of their bread, 
 And Jesus of his honour. 
 
 I have now to offer a few observations on a reply written by a Chelsea 
 member to my letters : If my brother's design was to enlighten my 
 mind, he ought to have sent me a copy. The pamphlet to which he 
 replied, cost him nothing ; and if his residence is at a distance, I 
 paid the postage, so I really think he ought to have sent me a copy, 
 
 I happened to hear that a reply was published, and was desirous to 
 see it, hoping some scriptural light would be thown on this most important 
 subject, which had caused me so much anxiety. I thought, surely I shall 
 be shown that the first objection I made against old sermons was ground- 
 less : which Wds that I believed the Spirit was withheld and prayer 
 hindered through the repetition. Instead of Scripture being brought 
 forward to show that God was not dishonoured, and that prayer was not 
 hindered, it was only defending the honour of man. No reply; only an 
 ill-tempered review : the writer showing plainly that he was interested, 
 and would not suffer those who had the title of Reverend to be so roughly 
 handled without exerting his strength against the offender. It is quite 
 evident he knows nothing of the Gospel armour, which a glance at his 
 work will show. Every spiritual man will see he is in tne dark, and will 
 pity him. It is evident his work springs from wounded pride. However, 
 it is well to find that this Goliath, who defies the armies of the living God, 
 has felt the blow ! Who can tell but another may lay his towering head 
 in the dust ! — the heart of every true Israelite would rejoice at the 
 
132 
 
 victory ! A Chelsea Member need not be afraid I shall handle him as he 
 has done- me ; in so doing, I should be as he says I am — assuming to 
 mvself a wrong name. I do not write to vindicate my own honour : all 
 true lovers of Zion seek the honour of their Lord and king ; and when he 
 is dishonoured, they take his own Word against the offenders; and in 
 simple dependance on his strength, fearlessly turn it against those who 
 would hinder the prosperity of Zion. My brother must still bear with my 
 homely style of defending the truth : I do not understand fine armour : I 
 have never been accustomed to it : and my brother must not beat me if I 
 Lave not set the battle in array according to his idea of propriety. I 
 have done as well as I can. 
 
 My brother has shown no ordinary share of pride in his reply : in some 
 places we find the spirit of Eliab, when he reminded David of his 
 obscurity that he might put him to shame. David turned away from his 
 brother's reproaches : it was no time for brothers to be quarreling about 
 state and occupation : the safety of Israel and the honour of Israel's God 
 was David's care. He did not mind the discouragement of Saul : he had 
 before proved the faithfulness of his God. His remembrance of former 
 aid, granted in time of need, made him bold : he had no fear when he 
 went in the name of the God of Israel to the battle. We also find my 
 Chelsea Brother looking like Goliath upon David. " Am I a dog," said 
 the proud champion to the strippling, »" that thou comest to me with 
 staves." Yet the stripling conquered the proud foe, because his trust 
 was in God. 
 
 I cannot find a trace of the spiritual man in all that my brother 
 has written, but in every page the pride and scorn of a formalist: as 
 yet he is not fitted to receive the gospel, and is certainly dead to all 
 knowledge of the spirituality of religion. I do not despise my brother; 
 I know the heart of a stranger to spiritual things. I once was as he 
 is ; and had not the Lord my God redeemed me, and raised me from 
 spiritual death, I should have been still like him — dead — while I had 
 all the outward marks of spiritual life, I should have been seeking 
 only my own glory, caring nothing for the prosperity of Zion, and 
 regardless of the honour of her king. While the children are not to 
 despise those who are spiritual strangers, they must be exceedingly 
 wratchful, lest this mixed multitude should draw them from the obedience 
 of faith, to lust after vain glory. I speak not of faith as having any 
 merit in itself; it is the hand of a perishing creature constantly held 
 out for a supply of refreshment. There is no merit, nor any cause for 
 a man to boast, because he takes food, and uses the necessary means 
 to preserve his body in health and comfort. 
 
 Faith in the spiritual man is the root of his life ; God has appointed 
 it to be so ; and that root of his existence is constantly nourished by 
 virtue from Christ, imparted by the Spirit through the Word and prayer. 
 
133 
 
 There are two spiritual agencies : the one to strengthen and encourage 
 him to this obedience, the other to draw him from it. As long as the 
 Church is in the world in a state of grace it will be so. The most 
 faithful servants of the spirit of darkness are such as my Chelsea 
 brother : who, being in the Church, and having the head-knowledge 
 of the word and zealous for the honour of his own denomination, are 
 ready to draw believers from the simplicity that is in Christ. If they do 
 not carefully gird their armour around them, they will fall by the hand of 
 those who try to appear very zealous for the externals and the honour of 
 their party, while they are ignorant of the spring of life that is in the 
 believer, who has no defence against them but faith and prayer, that his 
 spirit may be kept meek and humble as well as zealous. It is impossible 
 for him to avoid those dangerous foes : they may to outward appearance be 
 more devoted to the cause of truth than the spiritual man. It is not often 
 there is a trial like the present to call forth such exercise of Sfjirit. The 
 deception is easily discerned. My brother, instead of coming forth like 
 his Lord, in the majesty of truth and meekness, with the sword of the 
 spirit against me if 1 was an enemy, or if I had formed a wrong opinion, 
 shewing me from the Word of God I was wrong ; but instead of the 
 armour of light, when my brother comes forth, it is in the armour <)f 
 darkness, pride, and scorn I He shows at once, when the honour of man 
 is touched, whose dominion he is under. The greatest enemies of the 
 Church are within her. 
 
 My brother talks about the elaborate compositions of men, and the 
 different attitudes they throw themselves into doing such great things I I 
 think this is all folly. The work of grace is carried on in the Church as it 
 is in the mdividual believer : God manifests himself in the soul of the 
 believer according as he exercises faith, without which it is impossible to 
 please God, or receive any thing from him. It is the mystery of faith : 
 the natural man cannot comprehend it. The sermons of Paul were not in 
 elaborate compositions, or natural powers, to excite the passions of the 
 multitude : all these vain things were by him laid aside : he spoke not the 
 words which man's wisdom would have taught him, but as the holy Ghost 
 taught him. He was the earthen vessel, constantly through faith re- 
 ceiving the heavenly treasure ; all the powers of his body being devoted 
 to the work of ministering to his brethren that which God has supplied to 
 him : he emptied his vessel, and went needy to the fountain, assisted by 
 the prayers of his brethren. Strengthened and animated by former ex- 
 periences of the faithfulness of God, he went on in the same spirit of 
 dependance, minding only the same things. He gloried in his dependance, 
 which is all the believer has to glory in ; and the constant sense of it fits 
 him for spiritual service. 
 
 The secret spring of the believer's happiness and the Church's glorv, 
 my brother shows the most profound ignorance of : he is trusting to his 
 N 
 
134 
 
 elaborate discourses, and doing away with this simple dependance on the 
 part of the minister. If there is one doctrine pre-eminent in the Christian 
 religion, it is that of divine influence. It is only those who submit to the 
 teaching and guidance of the holy Spirit that can render acceptable 
 service to God. It is the express office of the holy Spirit to glorify Jesus 
 Christ in the souls of believers, and in the Church through the Word ; and 
 to attempt to perform spiritual service at any time without using the 
 means God has appointed to obtain the Spirit, is nothing but empty 
 formality before God. Such a man is acting upon a system which has no 
 Scripture for its foundation, nor the evidence of Christian experience for 
 its truth : he is opposing the Gospel plan of salvation, through his pride and 
 self-confidence. The Spirit of God dwells only with the man that is 
 meek and humble — -under the baneful influence of pri<le, his graces are 
 extinguished. No one can serve God in the spirit in the Gospel of his 
 Son, unless he feels, Who is sufficient for these things ? and practically 
 acknowledges his own insufficiency by the obedience of faith, show his 
 love to Jesus and his work by constantly seeking fresh communications of 
 his grace through the "Word and prayer, that he may be an instrument to 
 bring glory to his name, and reflect his image in the Church. He receives 
 his fitness for duty while he is engaged in meditating on the Word, and 
 bringing to his brethren the fruit of his meditation, he has a right to 
 expect God will bless it to them. Having honoured God by the labour of 
 faith, God will give him the fruit of faith ; but without labour he can have 
 no fruit. 
 
 Although my brother has come forward in defence of old sermons, he 
 does noi bring with him one text of Scripture, or one action of the Apostles, 
 to show that the obedience of faith is not necessary to fit the minister for 
 his work. Saying it is not so, because the great and eminent men, the 
 Masters in Israel, have flung it from them, does not prove it so ; it only 
 proves they are unfaithful to the faith they profess. 
 
 What a pity that my brother should have attempted a work of which he 
 shovvs he has no understanding ! He boasts that the system is merely a 
 revival of primitive practice I Christianity in earnest ! It is all boasting I 
 he knows nothing of the mystery of faith, nor the unity of the Spirit, 
 which can only be maintained as believers are sincerely using the means 
 to obtain the grace. 
 
 The ministers are like Esau, despising their birthright. He was a 
 cunning hunter; a man of the field. All God's children are made wise 
 through faith, to search in the field of his Word; and they shew their 
 love to God their father for that unspeakable gift by which his Word has 
 become a living field for them to rove in. They take the weapons of faith 
 and prayer, and search in the Word for the life-renewing treasure, and 
 count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, by 
 whose death it has become a living field for them to feast in. Their 
 
135 
 
 labour of faith and love comes up before God as a sweet savour of Christ, 
 and blessings descend on the obedient children. That which is true as 
 regards the believer as a member of the mystical body of Christ, is true 
 also of the Church as part of the body. The minister is expected to be 
 more expert than his brethren in the field of the Word, as it is his constant 
 employment. The meeting of the people of God together is on purpose 
 that he should present the fruit of his labour in the Word, that it may 
 come up before God a sweet savour of Christ, that the Lord's waiting 
 family may feast before him on the blessings of his grace with praise and 
 thanksgiving. The family are often deceived by their unfaithful brethren, 
 yet they are afraid to blame them; they do their part so well, and the light 
 of the spiritual eye while in the body, is not clear enough to discern the 
 deception : though they feel the voice of their Lord is wanting, they have 
 not that sweet manifestation of his grace which would have caused their 
 spirits to soar above the the things of time and sense. How could it be 
 otherwise when there was no offering. The minister who is to be an 
 example of the obedience of faith deceives his brethren. It was his 
 honour to have held communion with God for the good of his brethren ; 
 but his practice shows that he is regardless of hi^ glorious privilege. They 
 rnay commune with God who will : if he can only get a living, he does 
 not want communion. But God cannot be deceived; he knows the dis- 
 honour done to his name. He gave his well-beloved son to die, that this 
 glorious privilege, which is so despised, might be purchased; that, through 
 him, we might be partakers of new life and live in the Word, and by the 
 Word keep up the blessed fellowship to which, through grace, we have 
 been introduced. All this display of grace is disregarded by those men 
 who have got their set of old sermons, therefore the graces of the Spirit 
 are withheld : there has been no faith exercised in the Word. It is not 
 repeating sermons, nor hearing them, be they ever so excellent, that will 
 be of any real profit, while the minister refuses to perform the labour of 
 faith. 
 
 When our Saviour was on earth, the multitude thronged aroUnd him, 
 but he knew the hand of faith, and said, " Who touched me ?" His 
 disciples said, "Thou seest the multitude press thee, and sayest thou, Who 
 touched me ? But he said, some one had touched him, for virtue was gone 
 out of him." It is the same now he is exalted. It is not those who talk 
 about him, nor those who throng to the means of grace : all this may be 
 done without any profit : the touch of faith alone draws the virtue from 
 Christ. We are constantly in want of his aid. God by the exercise of 
 his power upholdeth all things, and by the exercise of the powers he has 
 given us, we are upheld. We could not see to-morrow with the light of 
 to-day : the food which we eat to-day, by which our bodies have been 
 nourished, would not answer the same purpose to-morrow : we must have 
 fresh supplies of light and food. The wants of the spiritual man are daily, 
 
136 
 
 and are daily supplied in the renewed use of the same means. The fresh 
 supplies of the Spirit can alone come through the exercise of faith in the 
 Word ; purifying his soul, renewing his strength, and enabling him to 
 adorn the doctrine of God his Saviour. 
 
 My brother will see I am still stedfast in my opinion : that the blessing 
 of the Spirit must be withheld through the unfaithfulness of these men. 
 
 He says, Who is likely to know the meaning of the sacred writers best, 
 I or the Masters in Israel ? Our Lord conversed with a Master in Israel, 
 who was ignorant of spiritual things ; and it appears that some of those 
 who are Masters in our Israel now, are as ignorant of the spirituality of 
 their religion as Nicodemus was. It is not being Masters in Israel that 
 will give them knowledge ; but setting, like humble disciples at the feet of 
 their Lord. It matters not what rank a man may hold in the Church ; if 
 he is not an humble disciple, he will not know more of spiritual things 
 than the letter : such an one not living daily by faith in the Word, cannot 
 have clear spiritual knowledge. 
 
 As our preachers have renounced the character of disciples by their 
 practice, we must not expect to find in them either clear spiritual percep- 
 tion or deep experimental knowledge. David said he had more under- 
 standing than his teachers, because the Word of God was his meditation: 
 All believers have alike the Spirit given them to guide them in the Word ; 
 the minister is not favoured more than others ; all have to ask for the 
 Spirit, and to wait upon God in his Word for it. The Lord's people are 
 all prophets. He gives his spirit to them all to guide them in his Word. 
 One does not need to ask the will of God of another. If they submit to 
 be taught by the Spirit, the least in the Church will sometimes know more 
 of spiritual life than the minister : those who do so feel they are blessed 
 indeed : that constant dependance is their life and happiness. My brother 
 will see that the Masters cut themselves off from obtaining the wisdom 
 which the least in the Church may have by submission of spirit. 
 
 1 shall now look at my brother's strong testimony for old sermons, and 
 examine the witnesses. I do not think they are competent to give evi- 
 dence on this important subject. He thinks that when reasoning has 
 failed to convince people like me, example and precedent have done it. 
 He must recollect that no example of men is to be followed if there is a 
 departure from the Word of God and the experience of the faithful. He 
 says bis proof is supported by authority of the highest order. The 
 example is George Whitfield, "the most perfect pulpit orator that ever 
 appeared to captivate the public." Can any thinking person suppose that 
 the impassioned addresses of this extraordinary man were prepared for one 
 solitary occasion ? The fact is quite the reverse. The sermons of this 
 noted orator arrived at their perfection by oft-repetition. 
 
 If this is truth, it is man that carries on the work of salvation ! He 
 perfects God's work by his oratory and his powers to captivate the public I 
 
137 
 
 What folly to deny the life of faith ! But vain man will be wise!— 
 The witnesses my brother names are Mr. Hume and Dr. Franklin, both 
 at that time spiritually dead. Who would have thought of bringing Mr. 
 Hume's testimony as to any thing of a spiritual nature ? Who would 
 take a dead man to give evidence ? When the life-blood has ceased to 
 flow through his veins, he soon becomes loathsome to his fellows. This is 
 exactly the case with the man who denies the spirituality of religion before 
 God : he is loathsome — dead in sin. 
 
 My brother's witnesses for old sermons were not disciples of Christ : I 
 believe at last there was a little hope of Franklin. Whatever great 
 names men may have in the world, or however beneficial they may have 
 been while so, it is all nothing when we come to the spirituality of 
 religion. There is only one way to attain this knowledge; and if they 
 will not acknowledge their need of that salvation, they are quite unfit to 
 be brought forward as witnesses. If the obedience of faith is necessary 
 they cannot, because they are spiritually dead, and know nothing about 
 it. 
 
 If my brother is correct in his assertion, that he is defending primitive 
 practice, Why not bring forward primitive witnesses ? Let us hear what 
 is recorded about the perfect elocution of the Apostles ! Let us hear when 
 they were found working themselves up to that state of excitement, so as 
 to lose all self-command — weep exceedingly, and stamp loudly — so as to 
 cause their audience to feel aprehensive for them ! If this statement is 
 correct, for I speak from what my brother says, such behaviour is very 
 unseemly in the pulpit : it is flesh, and not spirit that causes it. The 
 work of regeneration in a man draws him away from all this foolishness of 
 the flesh, yet how prone is he to turn again to it; such work feeds vanity 
 and draws a crowd. Yet this fleshly wisdom was destroyed, the under- 
 standing of the most prudent man was brought to nothing before he 
 submitted to the righteousness of faith. When, through the Word and 
 Spirit, this is accomplished, the conscience is purged through the precious 
 blood of Christ from all these dead works. Such a man receives the 
 witness of his adoption into the family of God through the Spirit by faith 
 in the Word: and as, in the utter renunciation of self, he at first received 
 Christ, so he must walk in him, having no confidence in the flesh. My 
 brother rejects the self-renunciation : he casts out Christ who of God is made 
 unto us wisdom, and brings on self-wisdom as doing every thing : this is 
 contrary to the Gospel plan : it is the fruit of the spirit of darkness. 
 When a man is created anew he is sensibly alive to the workings of two 
 spiritual powers : the Spirit of Light works in him in accordance with the 
 Word, as he submits to the obedience of faith ; the spirit of darkness, 
 through the world and the flesh, opposes the work of the Spirit of Light. 
 We find in Scripture the same power ascribed to both spirits. We read of 
 the depths and wiles of Satan ; that he transforms himself into an angel of 
 
138 
 
 Light. Is God said to open the eyes of the understanding ? Satan is 
 said to blind the eyes of them that believe not. Is God said to work in us 
 to will and to do ? Satan is said to work in the children of disobedience. 
 Believers are commanded to be tilled with the Spirit. Peter said to 
 Ananias, Why hath Satan filled thine heart ? 
 
 Thus we see to which ever power the man yields, he is the servant of 
 that power. The Spirit of Light will glorify Christ in him, while he, by 
 the labour of faith in the Word, seeks the grace of that Spirit. The aim 
 of the spirit of darkness is to draw him from the obedience of faith, to 
 substitute the knowledge of it for the practice, and so go to sleep with a 
 flaming profession of the faith, while spiritual life is withering, because it 
 is not drawing nourishment from Christ. What my brother so much 
 admires is all natural : a man with the Word of God could perform exactly 
 as he describes, without being created anew; but before he enters into the 
 rest of faith, he has learned to cease from all dependance on natural 
 ability to accomplish any thing spiritual. This is the fight of faith the 
 believer has to maintain all through a state of grace. The flesh strove 
 hard, before he entered into this rest, to keep him from it; and it will 
 never cease to strive against it until he is laid in the dust of death ; 
 although the body is redeemed it must undergo this change before it will 
 naturally unite with the Spirit in seeking alone the glory of God. 
 
 The greatest work the believer has to perform is to seek to have that 
 grace daily imparted to him, which will keep him watchful against the 
 devices which the flesh uses to draw him from a simple dependance, so that 
 he may rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. He 
 is the redeemed earth from which the spiritual offering is to ascend; that 
 which God has given him to offer. If a vain thought arises of his own 
 ability to accomplish any thing, the offering is polluted. God has left 
 nothing for man to perfect by his natural abilities. If his spiritual 
 meditation was brought to perfection, the more frequently he exercised his 
 natural powers upon it, then he would have something to glory in. The 
 glory of the spiritual man is in his dependance, feeling he has nothing to 
 boast of, but that in Jesus is all grace for the supply of every want. His 
 dependance is his perfection ; by that alone he can glorify God in the 
 world. He can be of no spiritual profit to the Church unless he is living a 
 life of communion with God, availing himself of the glorious privileges of 
 his new birth, and bringing into God's house the fruit of that communion, 
 that it may be blessed to the souls of believers. God has left nothing for 
 man to perfect by his natural power in the work of grace ; his whole 
 business is to carefully mind the order of God, as it is laid before him in 
 the Word, in what way grace is to be obtained ; for the performance of 
 every spiritual duty, every work in the spiritual temple, is alone of grace. 
 No flesh shall glory before God. There is nothing to warrant any man in 
 supposing he has performed service in God's house, unless he has been 
 
139 
 
 holding communion with God through the Spirit in the Word, where God 
 meets his waiting servant, purifies his spirit, and elevates his affection, so 
 that he goes into God's house in the power of his spirit, and worships 
 before him inspirit and in truth. 
 
 If my brother could but see all this natural he so much admires in the 
 pulpit, and which he thinks is authority of the highest order, to excuse the 
 preachers from holding that commuuion with God which can alone fit 
 them to perform the service of the sanctuary. It is all the device of the 
 spirit of darkness to mar the work of grace in the soul of the preacher, 
 filling him with vanity and drawing him from Christ. Let us look at the 
 fruit of old sermons, the evidence of my brother's eminent witnesses : 
 Doctor Franklin could easily distinguish between sermons newly com- 
 posed and those which had been often preached : his delivery of the 
 latter were so improved by frequent repetition, that every accent, every 
 emphasis, every modulation of voice, was so perfectly well tuned and well 
 placed, that without being interested in the subject one could not help 
 being pleased with the discourse. 
 
 He says, that in the course of one of his serm.ons he perceived it was 
 his intention to finish with a collection, and he silently resolved to give 
 nothing : he had in his pocket a handful of copper, three or four silver 
 dollars and five pistoles in gold. As the preacher proceeded with his 
 sermon he began to soften, and he thought he would give him the copper, 
 but another stroke of his oratory made him ashamed of that, and he de- 
 termined to give the silver. At last he finished so admirably, that he 
 emptied his pockets into the collector's dish. 
 
 This, my brother thinks, is no mean proof of the persuasive power of 
 the preacher. I grant him this is truth : I have not called in question 
 their powers of persuading even to the extent he names ; but the preach- 
 ing of the Gospel is intended to go much farther than draw admiration to 
 the preacher, and money from the pockets of the hearers ! If my brother 
 will refer to the conclusion of my second letter to Mr. Young, on the 16th 
 page in the first edition, he will find I think as he does, that the more 
 frequently the natural abilities are used on the same sermon the more they 
 improve, and there will be more natural fruit, but there will be no spirit- 
 ual fruit without spiritual labour. Men may admire and follow the 
 preacher on account of his eloquence, and frequently be led to great 
 outward reformation through the force of argument, still the heart remains 
 unchanged, so that there is no real profit. 
 
 Doubtless Whitfield was the instrument of spiritual blessing to many ; 
 but it was not his eloquence nor the throwing about his body, as my 
 brother describes; it was when he came to his Lord's work in the Spirit, 
 in simple dependance on his Lord's presence. My brother would hardly 
 say he could not have effected more than he did if he had avoided his 
 studied manner, and come in simple dependance on grace to help him in 
 
140 
 
 his duty. He might have wanted the admiration given him by Franklin 
 and Hume, but they might have been a joy and rejoicing to him in the 
 presence of his Lord, which would have been far better. He was 
 pronounced by Hume a most ingenious preacher. I believe all these 
 studied gestures, which were taken by the multitude as the impulse of the 
 moment, strengthened him in his unbelief: it has done so to many; they 
 think it is all mere outward acting. 
 
 Now suppose he had done his duty before he went to meet his brethren, 
 and had been holding communion with his God, which was his privilege 
 and duty. Having meet with his Lord he would have gone to his brethren, 
 his heart burning with love fresh kindled by the holy Spirit through the 
 Word. Having himself been proving his Lord's faithfulness in meeting 
 him in the appointed way, his whole soul would have panted that his 
 brethren through him might have the refreshment he had received; while 
 meditating for their profit, his faithful Lord would have appeared and blest 
 the word he had sent, according to the wants of his hearers. May we not 
 suppose that the hearts of my brother's eminent witnesses for old sermons 
 might have been brought to feel their need of that Gospel which the 
 orator, who pleased them so well, was preaching ? While he firmly 
 grasped the sword of the Spirit in the hand of faith, which had just been 
 strengthened in the mount of communion, the Lord might have sent the 
 word by his faithful servant to the heart of the proud infidel ; and instead 
 of praising the preacher's abilities, while he neglected the Gospel he 
 preached, he would have laid in the dust before the force of truth, and 
 have given glory to the preacher's Lord. We see from my brother's 
 witness, the Lord had no glory — the preacher got it all ! 
 
 My brother will understand I am one of that class of persons of whom 
 he speaks, who will neither be convinced by reason nor argument, not 
 even by authority of the highest order, unless it is in accordance with the 
 Word of God, and the analogy of faith. The design of Christ coming 
 into the world was, that God might be glorified, that his disciples might 
 •walk as he did in the world, that God through them might be glorified in 
 the world, and that they might be fitted for their work by a constant sup- 
 ply of grace from the Lord, by the Spirit, through the exercise of faith in 
 his word. This simple trust in him is to be the root of all their faithful- 
 ness : we hear not a word about natural ability ; no eloquence is spoken of, 
 nor anything about their well-tuned voice. The whole work rests on their 
 simple dependance on their Lord for grace, and through this they will be 
 kept humble and meek, love each other with pure hearts fervently, being 
 united together by the same spirit, constantly deriving life and energy 
 through the same means. The life of faith will make them happy, because 
 they are holy and free from the pollution of the world and flesh, and 
 armed against the wiles of Satan through simple faith. 
 
 This is the sum of their Lord's directions ; there is nothing about any 
 
141 
 
 of the qualifications my brother admires ; and I must show him from 
 Scripture testimony, that they are not necessary. I do not wish him to 
 believe any testimony which cannot be supported by scripture example 
 and precept. 
 
 When Moses was chosen as the instrument to bring Israel out of the 
 typical bondage, be made his want of eloquence a strong objection against 
 going on the Lord's errand. He said, "O my Lord, I am not very eloquent, 
 neither before nor since thou hast spoken to thy servant ; I am slow of 
 speech, and of a slow tongue." But the Lord said, " Go, and I will be 
 with thy mouth, and teach thee what to say." He still put off the work, 
 and Aaron was given him as a helper ; and God then said, " I will be with 
 thy mouth, and his mouth, and feach you what you shall do." Moses 
 went the errands, and waited upon God for the messages, and he was pro- 
 tected in the fulfilment of his duties ; he was faithful to God who appointed 
 him, and to his people Israel, to whose service and benefit he was wholly 
 devoted. There is one transgression recorded, and for that he was ex- 
 cluded from the typical Canaan. He smote the rock that had been once 
 smitten, when he was told to speak to it. He said, ''Must we bring you 
 water out of this rock, ye rebels ?" It was God who gave them the water; 
 Moses could not have done so ; therefore he sinned in not giving glory to 
 God. If this was counted to him for sin, what must be the sin of our great 
 men ! who are constantly taking the glory to themselves, which ought to 
 be given to God? They refuse to use the means which can alone bring 
 the refreshment from the Rock of Israel. Although they and Israel are 
 almost perishing for want, they refuse to lift the hand of faith to receive, 
 but trust to their eloquence to supply the wants of God's Israel; and by 
 their practice deny the power of God. It vvas not the eloquence of Moses 
 that accomplished his work, but his faithfulness in waiting upon God. and 
 doing all according as he commanded : this is the only way in which God's 
 work can be done. 
 
 Our Saviour's ministry on earth was an exhibition of love. In him 
 dwelt the fulness of the Spirit of love. My brother will not say that the 
 men who weep exceedingly, and stamp loudly, as they repeat their old 
 sermons, have more love for souls than Christ had. They cannot have the 
 spirit of love themselves, but as they are constantly deriving from him as 
 the fountain of love : and when they bring their old sermons, they shew 
 that they have not been exercising faith in the word, they have had no re- 
 newed fellowship, so their love cannot be very strong, as they have not 
 availed themselves of the privilege of drawing from the fountain ; they are 
 but earthen vessels, and, if faithful, draw a supply to perform every 
 duty. 
 
 If we were to believe the old sermon preachers sincere in what they say 
 from the pulpit, we should be almost ready to think they had more love 
 for souls than God. When we touch their glory, we see from whence their 
 
142 
 
 love springs — It is only in word — the root is withered — they seek their own 
 glory — and all this mean trickery is used to deceive the people ! They 
 would abuse them, and turn them out of the Church, if they besought them 
 to honour their Lord, by constantly using the means to obtain his grace. 
 
 We never find our Saviour using any of those means to attract the peo- 
 ple, which my brother is so pleased with : he never wrought himself into 
 that state of feeling in his ministry before the people, stamping and losing 
 all self-command, and yet we read they were astonished at his doctrine : 
 his word was with power : he sought not his own glory. At one time the 
 multitude sought to make him a king, but he hid himself. When they 
 came to crown him with thorns, he went forth to meet them. He had 
 before endured agony of spirit for us inconceivable. In removing the 
 spiritual curse, from the extremity of anguish which he suffered, he sweat 
 great drops of blood. The curse pronounced on man was, " In the sweat 
 of thy face shalt thou eat bread, until thou return to the ground ; for out of 
 it wast thou taken : dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." Here 
 is anguish of spirit, travail of soul, that we, who were spiritually dead, 
 might be raised to newness of life, and feed on the bread which comes 
 through his agony and death. His suffering in spirit was silent; there was 
 no thronging multitude to applaud him — no outward gesture to call forth 
 human praise. He lost not his self-possession; his dignity at that awful 
 moment, showed forth the power of his Godhead. As soon as he said, " I 
 am he I" those who came to take him went backward, and fell to the 
 ground. He suffered in his soul, body, and character. He could have 
 saved himself from it, but he was a willing socrifice of love. 
 
 Thus the scripture was fulfilled, God glorified, and man redeemed. Al- 
 though he was in the world, the world knew him not ; yet he shall see of 
 the travail of his soul, endless praise shall be given to his adored name; 
 His kingdom was not of this world, therefore the men of the world knew 
 him not. Those who had seen his miracles, and heard his words knew his 
 blameless life ; but the multitude, with the chief priests and rulers, mocked 
 and derided him. As he hung on the cross, he said, " Father, forgive 
 them, for they know not what they do." He bore the cross, and despised 
 the shame, for the glory that was set before him, in God being glorified, 
 and man being restored to happiness and holiness. " Therefore God hath 
 highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name; 
 that at his name every knee should bow, and every tongue confess that he 
 is Lord." This is the example of love the disciples are to follow. 
 
 He met not with the applause of the multitude; and his servants, if 
 faithful to his interest in the world, will not; his power will keep them 
 from harm; their life is hid with Christ in God, therefore the world knows 
 them not; but if they are faithful to death, they shall be with him in ever- 
 lasting glory. Shall they not be faithful ? Will they forget the degraded 
 state in which they were found by him ? Can they forget the author of 
 
143 
 
 their new creation, and the joy and happiness which daily flows from union 
 and communion with him? Surely not. His precious name answers for 
 all their necessities. Are they poor ? In him are all riches. His name, 
 through faith in his name, is the constant charm for all their wants : their 
 supply of strength and grace flowing from him through his appointed me- 
 dium, the word and prayer. Being thus supplied with grace, surely they 
 will not refuse to use the means to attain it; it is their life enabling them 
 to walk as he did, seeking only his glory who has made them partakers of 
 his grace. They have no more in themselves to support their spiritual life 
 than they had before they were created anew, from him alone all vigour 
 must come. He is the head of the spiritual body, and supplies vitality to 
 every member. 
 
 When he was in the world he sent out his seventy disciples into the 
 cities whither he himself would come ; they had no provision for their 
 work, but faith in his name. They were sent out as lambs among wolves, 
 yet they take neither purse, scrip nor shoes. They were to be diligent 
 in their work, mind no needless ceremonies, and salute no man by the 
 way. They went to their work in faith and prayer, and returned from 
 their labours with joy ; saying, "Lord! even the Devils are subject 
 to us through faith in thy name." We hear no puffing about the great 
 eminent men ! not a word about their fine oratary ! nor any thing 
 about the fatigue attending their labour ! faith in the name of Jesus 
 had done the work, and in his name they rejoiced. The same prayer 
 that was offered then, is now most needful. O, that the Lord of the 
 harvest would sent forth labourers : the harvest truly is great, but the 
 labourers are few. 
 
 When Jesus ascended, he charged his disciples to go into all the 
 world and preach the Gospel, and he would be with them. He had 
 told them before in what way he would be with them through his Word and 
 by his Spiiit, which they should receive after he was glorified, that they 
 might be purified and kept free from the spirit of the world by this means, 
 but without which they could do nothing. 
 
 The promised Spirit came at the day of Pentecost, and Peter preached 
 his sermon. He could not boast, as my brottier does, that it arrived at its 
 perfection by oft-repeated delivery, so that every accent, every modulation 
 of voice was so perfectly well tuned and well placed, that people were 
 pleased without being interested in the subject. I will venture to say, 
 that Peter never thought about all this fine oratory, which my brother 
 thinks is the life of preaching. We do not read that Peter either stamped 
 or wept, but that he lifted up his voice ; and if ever hearts burned with 
 love for the honour of their Lord, the Apostle's must have done on that 
 glorious day, when the fire of love was kindled in their bosoms by the 
 mighty power of the Holy Giiost. They had been waiting in the expecta- 
 
144 
 
 tion of faith for this boon ; now they felt what they never did before : and 
 if ever hearts glowed with zeal, it was on that day. 
 
 As the sermon had not the advantage of being an old one, so the effects 
 produced on the minds of the hearers were entirely different from those 
 produced on my brother's two noble witnesses for old sermons. The Word 
 reached the hearts of the hearers, they felt the power of the sword of the 
 Spirit, and said, " Men and brethren, what shall we do ?" The answer 
 was ready : the power which had wounded soon healed : and " they that 
 had gladly received the Word were baptised; and the same day were 
 added to the Church about three thousand souls." The hearts of the 
 people were changed — they were new crertures. " They did eat their 
 meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God." We hear of 
 no praise given to Peter. I am sure this is good testimony in favour of 
 fresh sermons. 
 
 My brother's witness only praised the natural abilities of the preacher : 
 here is the design of preaching fulfiled : God is glorified, people are made 
 happy in his love, and he alone has the praise. The Apostles went on in 
 the same way in the simplicity of faith : they did what our preachers will 
 not do : they gave themselves to the Word and prayer. Opposition was 
 soon raised ; and if ministers are obedient to the faith, the enemy will soon 
 try to put a stop to their work ; but trial will strengthen faith and increase 
 love; for the faithfulness of Christ is proved in causing the spirit to 
 triumph in his grace. The Word grew and multiplied, and the disciples 
 greatly increased. 
 
 The Apostle Paul had not that gift of eloquence which my brother lays 
 so much stress upon. If erer he had been tempted to try what that could 
 do in perfecting the work of God, it would have been at Corinth : but he 
 says to the Corinthians, ''I was with you in weakness and fear and much 
 trembling, and my speech and my preaching were not with the enticing 
 words which man's wisdom teacheth, but in demonstration of the Spirit 
 and power." The words which the holy Spirit taught him. "He was de- 
 termined to know nothing among them but Jesus Christ and him crucified." 
 This is what he means by the same things, the things which relate to 
 man's salvation ; all his powers were in subjection to the Spirit, that more 
 knowledge might be constantly imparted. 
 
 What folly it is to brmg these words in defence of a man going about 
 year after year with the same sermon ! The preaching of the Gospel is 
 still the same — the life of faith is still the same — and Paul constantly 
 derived from Christ and constantly imparted to others, by which means he 
 grew up into Christ his living head in all things ; and after having been a 
 faithful disciple, we hear him say, " He had not attained, neither was he 
 perfect, but was still pressing on." The believer is at first a babe; and if 
 he faithfully takes his food his daily meditation in the Word, he will 
 
145 
 
 bring forth fruit to old age : he will be fat and flourishing, and show that 
 the Lord is upright. The bread we shall eat to-morrow is the same sort 
 that we shall eat to-day, but not the same piece : the same preparation is 
 necessary to make it fit for our nourishment. It is exactly the same with 
 the Word to the spiritual man: he receives nourishment from the same 
 "Word daily : the meditation of yesterday kept him in health, and strength- 
 ened his faith, enabling him to use the appointed means with confidence. 
 The spirit wants its food to-day : he meditates, asks for the promised Spirit 
 and finds it : grace is given in the act of obedience : he has no promise to 
 warrant him to expect the blessing without this renewed exercise of 
 faith. 
 
 This was the way Paul lived and did the Lord's work : he says, " I 
 live; yet not T, but Christ liveth in me." There is no way in which 
 Christ lives in the believer but by his Word : it is spirit and life to his 
 soul through the constant exercise of faith. If he could repeat and 
 expound every verse in the Bible, the Spirit would not be given him with- 
 out the acting of faith. It is not in knowing the will of God that the 
 happiness is, but in doing it. It is then the blessing comes which makes 
 the soul rich. Natural ability cannot bring spiritual prosperity, either to 
 the soul or to the Church ; there must be devotion of spirit. The minister 
 who lives a life of communion with God, will not study acting in the 
 pulpit. Doubtless, in the ministration of Paul, there would be that 
 reverence and solemnity in his deportment becoming a man who was 
 depending on the aid of the holy Spirit: and feeling that the words he 
 uttered were given him, there would be such an earnestness in the delivery 
 of his message, that the same power he felt might accompany the Word to 
 the hearts of his hearers: thus their attention and respect would be 
 gained. His spirit was full of love, because he was in subjection to the 
 spirit of Christ. This is primitive practice. 
 
 We find that Moses, the instrument chosen of God to deliver Israel 
 from typical bondage, had not the human eloquence my brother thinks is 
 necessary to make the Word of God perfect. God's power was with the 
 Word he gave his servant: he was faithful, and did not add nor diminish : 
 he loved both God and Israel, and was devoted to their service. Paul, 
 who was first sent to the Gentiles to be the instrument of bringing them 
 into the liberty of the Gospel, was not eloquent: it was said of him that 
 his bodily presence was weak, and his speech contemptible. It is devotion 
 of spirit that does the Lord's work. Our Saviour's greatest sufi'erinsf was 
 in spirit — an inconceivable agony to us — but how great must it have 
 been to produce such efi'ects on his sacred body. So this devotion of spirit 
 to him which I plead for, is unseen, but the efi'ects are in the believer and 
 in the Church. 
 
 The Apostles yielded Christ this devotion of spirit: they were willing 
 to endure any hardship for his sake. Paul would accommodate himself in 
 o 
 
146 
 
 any way to the weakness of man, as long as the precious faith was kept 
 unadulterated : all trials and experiences were turned to spiritual profit 
 through the unity of faith and prayer among the believers. He was 
 willing to do any thing so as the adorable name of Jesus might be glorified, 
 and his Church edified. They comforted and built up each other through 
 their mutual faith. This was primitive practice, and this is my Scripture 
 testimony that human eloquence does not perfect the work of God's grace, 
 which is already perfect in Christ Jesus. We are to have no confidence 
 in the flesh. 
 
 My brother will see this practice is quite different from what he terms 
 primitive practice I So was the spirit manifested by the Apostles. Let 
 him bring forward one single instance of the Apostles abusing their fellow 
 disciples, turning them out of the Church, and going about trying to make 
 others believe that disciple was insane, for asking them to devote their 
 spirit to the work. Our Saviour sought not his own glory, but the glory 
 of his Father who sent him. He had power to vindicate his own honour, 
 and crush his opposers, but he did not use it. As his Father had sent him 
 into the world that the world through him might be saved, so he sent his 
 disciples to be the instruments of working out his plan of grace in the 
 world. 
 
 After the day of Pentecost we never find them expecting worldly 
 honour: they knew from the Spirit which was given them that they would 
 have no honour in this world. Their business was to promote his glory 
 who had sent them, and with whom they still lived in constant communion 
 through his Word. His faithful servants never seek their own honour : 
 and when they have been persecuted and their names cast out as evil, 
 their Lord has cheered them, and their spirit has rejoiced in him, while 
 their enemies thought to put them to shame. Still the work has been in 
 spirit: there has not been any visible display of power in their behalf; but 
 the day is coming when every work will be brought into judgment. He 
 whom they have loved and served in spirit and in truth will own them, 
 and the good or evil that has been done to them he will reckon it as done 
 to him, and reward accordingly : " Inasmuch as ye did it to my brethren, 
 ye did it unto me." The faithful disciple will then be honoured, but he 
 must not covet human applause now. Without Apostolic practice, there 
 cannot be Apostolic spirit. 
 
 I think it would be well for my brother not to boast about his primitive 
 practice; for when it is tried it is found wanting. Just let him consider 
 for a moment that these disciples of Christ have cast out a soul from his 
 church, for saying they could not do his work without devoting their spirits 
 to it. If my brother believes there is a judgment day, when every work 
 will be brought to light, this also will be brought. He will have to say, 
 " Lord, 1 wrote a book against her, because she thought that thy name 
 should be honoured, and said that thy servants could not glorify thee on 
 
147 
 
 the earth unless they were constantly deriving grace from thy fulness. 
 I tried to convince her that they could perfect the work thou hast wrought 
 by fine oratory and human praise." Let my brother put the question to 
 himself, — Will the Lord pronounce me a faithful servant for this work? 
 Another professed servant of Christ, who, with his lips, is greatly devoted 
 to his cause, can say, " Lord, I scorned this woman, because she told me 
 that without thee I could do nothing ; when the multitude were applauding 
 me, and thou knewest I had not served thee in spirit, yet the people were 
 pleased, for I appeared outwardly devoted to thee, and wrote a book, lay- 
 ing down a plan for the conversion of the world, inviting all that tried my 
 plan to write to me : this surely was zeal for the salvation of men ! She 
 thought that thou shouldst have the honour of my dependance on thee for 
 grace, so I would not speak to her ; and because she still persevered, T 
 scorned her, and told her she had not education : that she was immodest, 
 and knew not grammar ! and not fit to speak to a venerable man like me. 
 When she pressed to see me, I would not suffer her to come into my pre- 
 sence." Does my brother think that this Apostolic practice will meet 
 with the Lord's approval ? Another of the primitive gentlemen can say, 
 " I abused this woman : I went into thy house, and held her up to public 
 scorn ! I also went prating from house to house about her, because she 
 dishonoured thy servants, and took away their native glory; therefore 
 I did all I could to put her to shame, I did not want thy grace to 
 help me; And why should she tell the people I did? I never once 
 felt my need of thy help! she talked about spiritual service, but I 
 did not understand it; so I thought the woman was insane, and I told 
 her so, for I knew nothing about the precious faith she said must be 
 exercised : we therefore cast her out for speaking such evil things. 
 Who was to receive more honour than we ? The praise of the multi- 
 tude was given to us." This is the language of the present practice of 
 these servants of the church. 
 
 Sure my brother cannot think that he and they will have the approval 
 of their Lord. It is the sad conduct of men who say they are rich; 
 and have need of nothing, but there is no resemblance to primitive 
 practice. 
 
 Another remark of my brother's I must notice, which is respecting 
 class meetings. He has, certainly, as much veneration for the quarterly 
 ticket as the Romanists have for holy water! he calls it a spiritual 
 bank-note 1 now, every believer has a bible, with many spiritual bank- 
 notes. I cannot say that I ever thought any more of the verse of 
 scripture, because I received it from the hand of a minister. We see 
 they do not want any more of scripture than they can get money by. 
 I find fault with them because they are such misers towards their 
 Lord's family. If they would daily carry these bank-notes to their 
 Lord, he would honour them ; and their bountiful hearts would rejoice 
 
148 
 
 in his blessing : the more they exchanged these notes, the more they 
 would love their faithful Lord and his people for his sake. They avoid 
 all communion in this way, therefore they have no just claim on the 
 people to maintain them. It is for spiritual services they make the 
 claim, and those they refuse to give. I have said enough to show, 
 that I am quite willing to give the money, if they will give the service 
 they pretend ; but if they do not, they are practising a most cruel 
 cheat to get a little money, which they have no just claim to. 
 
 My brother says, " no right-minded person has ever been known to 
 doubt the excellency of class meetings; that whatever I may have 
 done formerly, I must have lost my attachment now." In this he is 
 quite mistaken ; my attachment to class meetings is stronger than ever* 
 Certainly the preachers cannot be said to have much spiritual intercourse 
 with the people at those times, as it sometimes happens that a stranger 
 comes. The last ticket-time at our class, nobody knew the preacher 
 who gave the tickets. I have known Mr. Scott speak to nearly forty 
 in little more than an hour, and write the tickets : it is merely a 
 collection of money, which is all that a Wesleyan minister wants with the 
 people. It is frequently painful to witness the spirit they manifest 
 about the temporals. At the last September meeting for tickets, I 
 was grieved to hear the preacher respecting the October collection. I 
 believe it was on the Wednesday before that he pressed it very strongly 
 on the people, when he read the address from Conference in the chapel. 
 He then gave a very unfair statement of the advantages enjoyed by 
 ministers of other denominations. On the 17th he came to give tickets 
 to the class in which I meet: there was a goodly company of widows, 
 who gave him of what they had earned very hardly during the week, 
 having families looking to them for help: some of them ought to have 
 bought food with the money, instead of paying it for spiritual service 
 which is not performed. They go beyond their ability in giving; they 
 do it willingly ; and although they are poor in this world, they are 
 rich in faith and heirs of a kingdom. Before he had finished giving 
 the tickets he saw some leaving the room, and had the circulars handed 
 round for the October collection. He pressed the people on behalf of 
 those the preachers might leave behind them, claiming for them the 
 protection of the church, in gratitude for the spiritual service which 
 had been rendered. On the 8th of October he came to preach : this 
 was the time the collection was to be made in the classes. He brought 
 the subject before the people again, at the administration of the Lord's 
 supper, but there it was quite out of place to be reminding people 
 about money at a time when every mind ought to be solemnized. 
 Look at their care about the money for themselves and theirs, for spiritual 
 service 1 they claim it under the pretence of being given up to the 
 word and prayer for the benefit of the people; but when they are 
 
149 
 
 reminded it is proper for the honour of God, and the benefit of the 
 church, that they should devote their spirits to the word, they insolently 
 refuse; and the man, who is so pressing on his fellow-disciples for the 
 money, would bring any of them (who attempted to show the necessity 
 of this devotion of spirit, for which he is claiming the money) before 
 him as a criminal ! Proud flesh says. It is calumniating the character 
 to expose spiritual fraud, by showing that they are not performing 
 spiritual service, but turning it to empty formality ; and that all they 
 are doing is only what is seen of men. They call it a violation of the 
 principles and precepts of the New Testament, to shew that unless they 
 keep up a constant spiritual converse with Christ in his Word, they 
 can do nothing, neither for their own, nor yet for others spiritual profit. 
 
 Thus we see flesh is triumphing over the spirit ; the younger is brought 
 into subjection to the elder. The purpose of God, according to election, 
 shall stand; the elder must be brought again into subjection to the 
 younger. All that is of the flesh is hateful to God, and all the service 
 these men now ofter is only bodily, just to get their bread. As my brother 
 says he is contending for primitive practice, let him bring forward evidence. 
 When were the disciples found so careful about money ? I ask, Where is 
 it written that Jesus gave authority to his disciples to cast out their fellow- 
 disciples for wishing them to live by faith on him? W^here does he find 
 the Apostles refusing to meet Jesus in his Word ? He cannot find it any 
 where ; — they devoted themselves to his Word in spirit and in truth : — they 
 saw him by faith, and kept up a constant converse with him in it, through 
 the Spirit. This made them, and makes every believer who treads ia 
 their steps, faithful witnesses for their Lord. They loved their Master, 
 and loved to meet him in his Word, that they might receive a portion from 
 his hand for the family. These men love not to meet their Lord in 
 his Word, and so care not any more for his family than to get a little 
 money : they would break up the unity of spirit that does exist, of which 
 they are neither the promoters nor partakers. 
 
 The unity of the Spirit is kept up among the people through clas«- 
 meetings ; the difl'erent cares are matter for thought and prayer during the 
 week : we bear each others' burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 
 Many of the Leaders are truly spiritual men, and have a tender care over 
 the souls committed to them. 
 
 In 1828 I went to meet with the leader I now meet with : he has two 
 classes on the Sabbath ; and I believe the spiritual prosperity of his 
 people is the joy of his soul. I have never known one instance of jarring 
 or discord in the class. That which makes me love the class more than ever, 
 is the Christian spirit shown to me by my brothers and sisters since I have 
 been cast out of the Church by the preachers. I foresaw what would be 
 my doom when they showed such a proud spirit : I believed they would use 
 the extent of their power against me ; and, as the time drew near, the 
 
150 
 
 meetings were more precious, and the thought that I should soon be 
 deprived of this mea.ns of grace frequently caused a silent tear. After I 
 was expelled, my leader kindly invited me still to come to class; 1 at first 
 objected, because, through Mr. Little, such an ignorant clamour had been 
 raised against me, I feared he would be blamed for suffering me to come 
 among the people, and I thought the minds of some of the members might 
 be prejudiced against me, so that my presence would mar their enjoyment. 
 My objection was removed, there being no one who had a wrong feeling 
 towards me ; so I returned, and was most kindly welcomed. This subject 
 has not been alluded to, as our meetings are for profiting each other. No 
 influence ever existed in the class to draw the minds of the people to any 
 thing but what the meeting is intended for ; therefore I love the people 
 more than ever I did. When I consider the influence a minister has over 
 the minds of the people, it is no small triumph of Christian principle 
 still to give the right hand of fellowship to one whom the ministers 
 had held up to public scorn ! It is an evident proof that the preachers' 
 love for the people is only in word and tongue, but that the love of the 
 people springs from the unity of the Spirit, otherwise they would have 
 felt ashamed of me. 
 
 As far as regards preaching, the Wesleyans may say, No man cares for 
 our souls ! They are doing no spiritual labour, so there cannot be love. 
 Every sermon goes its roftnds ; and, as there has been opportunity to find 
 out, the same are carried to the next circuit; so that for the spiritual 
 prosperity of the Church they are doing nothing. Grace being a spiritual 
 blessing, it can only be obtained as the man, according to his need, is con- 
 tinually exercising his spirit in the Word. No man can be spiritually 
 strengthened by natural ability, neither can he strengthen others, but by 
 the united exercise of his natural and spiritual powers. There is no more 
 grace in him now than before he was created anew : the repeating pieces 
 he has learnt is mere school-boy work. 
 
 A class leader who is faithful, does promote the spiritual prosperity of 
 the Church ; and some spend more time on the Sabbath than the 
 preachers. Our afternoon class meets at half-past two, and it generally 
 occupies two hours : the morning class is not quite so long : it is the only 
 means of grace that some of the members have; and I believe there is 
 not one but would rather give up preaching than the class meeting, 
 because of the profit they derive from the one above the other. It would 
 not be so if the preacher was faithful. 
 
 My brother will see that the unfaithfulness of the preacher to God and 
 to his people, has not lessened my esteem for and delight in the communion 
 of saints. I think it is a great blessing that there is this means of grace, 
 to preserve the flock of Christ in the unity of the Spirit, when those who 
 are set over them would starve the Spirit out of their souls, through their 
 spiritual sloth. 
 
151 
 
 I must notice another remark of my brother's, in which he has shown 
 such perversion of what I said, that although I make allowance for the 
 darkness of his mind, I can scarcely believe he thinks I favour Mr. Owen's 
 principles. I again repeat what I have said before, that Mr. Owen is an 
 honest man, a noble character! He has given a practical proof to the 
 world that he really believes what he professes : — he has devoted his 
 energies and wealth to promote the happiness of his fellow creatures, that 
 they may be united in love, and live like brethren in unity ; but the end 
 will never be accomplished by the means adopted. Every Christian will 
 regard the scheme as that of a man who is dead to all knowledge of the 
 source of true happiness ; and, without any great pretension to foresight, 
 say it will come to nought, because the foundation is not sound. The 
 vital part of Mr. O'.s scheme is money : get the people freed from poverty, 
 and they will be happy. The vital part of the Christian religion is 
 poverty of spirit : get the people to feel their poverty, and then they will 
 be happy. Whenever the Christian loses the sense of his spiritual 
 poverty, he loses his enjoyment ; for it is the poor in spirit who are 
 blessed ; theirs is the kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in the holy 
 Ghost now, and the kingdom of glory in reversion. The happiness of the 
 one system springs from earth and earthly things, from which true 
 happiness never comes ; and even if it did, it would cease when the body 
 dies : the happiness of the other system springs from heaven and heavenly 
 things. If the man is faithful he has true blessedness, and when the 
 spirit quits the cumbrous clay, it resigns a life of grace for a life of 
 glory. 
 
 The whole Israel of God, while in the world, are under the law of 
 faith ; and while they are obedient to that law, they will be united 
 in spirit and truth. No weapon formed against them shall prosper; 
 and every tongue that rises in judgment against them, they shall 
 condemn. The beautiful description of Israel's safety and happiness, 
 given by Balaam when he went to curse them, is applicable to the 
 spiritual Israel : while they are obedient to the law of faith, God does 
 not see iniquity in them: they are his inheritance, and their righte- 
 ousness is the righteousness of God, which is by faith in Christ Jesus. 
 They are the people that dwell alone, and are not reckoned among the 
 nations : their greatness is not of this world : Jesus saith of them they 
 are not of the world, even as I am not of the world ; they are sanctified 
 through the truth. As God sent him into the world that the world 
 through him might be saved, so his people are in the world, that they 
 may be the instruments of blessing to the world. Through the constant 
 purification of the truth they will be kept free from the pollution of 
 the world : the eye will be kept single ; and they will be as lights in 
 the world, reflecting the glory of Christ. They have meat in the 
 word, through faith, which the world knows not o^ which causes them 
 
152 
 
 to delight in doing the will of God, and inspires them constantly with 
 love and zeal for his honour and glory. Balaam said of Israel, " How 
 goodly are thy tents, oh I Jacob; and thy tabernacles, oh! Israel; as 
 the valleys are they spread forth as gardens by the river-side; as trees 
 of lign aloes, which the Lord hath planted ; as cedar trees beside the 
 waters." 
 
 If Israel had neglected to gather the manna that was sent for their 
 sustenance, instead of this beautiful order of strength, unity and fruit- 
 fulness which Balaam looked upon, and willingly would have destroyed 
 but could not, they would have been a mass of corruption in the 
 wilderness. 
 
 Of the spiritual Israel it may be said, How goodly are thy tents and 
 tabernacles (as long as they live by faith on the hidden manna.) The 
 body of every believer is the dwelling place of the Spirit of God; the 
 church collectively is the same ; and he commands on every dwelling 
 place of Mount Zion, and upon every assembly, a defence. God is 
 their sun and shield, their light and their defence ; they know him 
 for he dwelleth in them. How goodly they look, when, through the 
 exercise of an active faith in his word, they are by his spirit constantly 
 purified and kept free from the defilement and spirit of the world. 
 Thus the individual member and the whole assembly are purified : the 
 same body united by one spirit : they love each other with pure hearts 
 fervently, and are as the salt of the earth. Love is the shower, and 
 the fruits of righteousness are brought forth, through constant meditation 
 in the word; this alone being the channel of grace. David says, 
 "Blessed is the man who meditates in thy word day and night; whose 
 delight is in thy word. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers 
 of waters, that bringeth forth fruit in its season ; his leaf shall not 
 wither ; and whatsoever he doeth, shall prosper." This is the godly 
 man who keeps up a constant communion with God in his word — God 
 dwelleth in him. Thus he dwells in his church; they bring their 
 freewill offerings, the fruit of communion with him in the word; they 
 feast and rejoice together before him on the bounty of his grace, 
 imparted through the renewed exercise of faith in his word. They 
 bring no sacrifice for sin; their Great High Priest has entered into 
 the holy place with the blood of his own perfect universal sin-offering ; 
 and they who, through its efficacy, are cleansed from their guilt, are 
 the chosen generation, the royal priesthood ; they serve God with liberty, 
 acceptance and favour: they are all brethren: and he who is chief 
 in the Lord's house is servant of all; he is to be an example of diligent 
 obedience, meditating constantly in the word, givmg himself wholly to it, 
 that he may be an example of humility and love to his brethren. 
 What a constant deriving from Christ, through the vigorous exercise of 
 faith in the word, is needful for him, that he may be an example 
 
153 
 
 worthy of imitation. No disciple is favoured more than another, in the 
 way of communion, obedience to the law of faith, shows their love to 
 that system of spiritual discipline, which is designed constantly to 
 teach them their entire dependance. ISo official distinction in the 
 church can exempt any one from shewing his love by his obedience. 
 He that hath the words of Christ and obeys them, he will acknowledge 
 as brother and sister and mother. The minister is to go before the 
 rest in obedience. The apostle Paul calls his brethren to a common parti- 
 cipation of what was his own exalted privilege, he calls them holy brethren, 
 partakes of the heavenly calling. " Having, therefore, brethren, boldness 
 to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, let us draw near with 
 true hearts in full assurance of faith, by the new and living way which 
 he hath consecrated for us." Thus purified by his word and spirit, 
 we shall walk together in the light of truth, in the highway of holiness, 
 in which the redeemed do walk without fear. The way-faring man, 
 thus guided, shall not err in the faith. Without this constant puri- 
 fying influence, nothing can be done; no office in the church can be 
 filled to its profit, unless the man is walking in the truth, and receiving 
 the constant supply of the Spirit of Christ to fit him for his daily duty. 
 
 Happy are the people who thus walk ; who know the joyful sound 
 of the voice of Jesus in his word. In his name they rejoice all the day of 
 grace, and in his righteousness they are exalted. This is the socialism 
 I contend for; it has Christ Jesus for its author and founder. He 
 came to seek the glory of God, and the happiness of men, and his 
 disciples who are guided by his word and Spirit, seek the glory of 
 God ; breathe peace and good-will to their fellow-men. Although my 
 brother and some others have tried to blind the peoples' eyes, by saying 
 that I favour Mr. Owen's system, it is quite evident I am not, as there 
 is the difference of light and darkness between the two; the foundation 
 being entirely different, so is the working of the plan. The one, be 
 it remembered, is laid in the deepest heart-felt poverty, and in that 
 spirit is carried on ; the other is laid in the expulsion of poverty, 
 supposing that a man's happiness is in this world's good. While I 
 believe Mr. Owen's system to be wrong, I believe at the same time 
 that it is such men as my brother who have caused Mr. O. to choose 
 such a system. He has given a practical proof that he is naturally a 
 benevolent man : he hears what Christians say of the love and unity 
 of Spirit that religion brings; he watches their practice, and finds 
 them destitute of that Spirit to each other ; therefore he is strengthened 
 in the rejection of the gospel. 
 
 It is unfaithful professors of the religion of Jesus Christ who have 
 caused infidelity, with unblushing front, to stand in the world and 
 mock at religion. Oh ! that they could see that it is the want of 
 religion that causes men to act so. The Spirit of Christ does unite 
 
154 
 
 men in heart and soul ; but while they neglect to use the means to 
 attain that Spirit, and rest in the knowledge of the letter, when they 
 are touched, their temper shows their destitution. This is the cause 
 why men deny religion altogether, and the bible on which it is founded. 
 
 I have laid primitive Christianity before my brother, he will not find 
 any thing in it of the spirit he applauds; that one disciple is justified 
 in being insolent and abusive to another. Oh, no! All are united 
 by the Spirit of Jesus, coming constantly through the exercise of faith 
 in his word : all have alike the privilege of access to God ; they eat 
 the same spiritual meat, and drink the same spiritual drink, which is 
 Christ dwelling in their hearts through faith. This is the bread which 
 God hath given his family, and by their faithfulness in gathering it in 
 his word, he proves them whether they love him or not. The beginning 
 and end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart and good 
 conscience, and unfeigned faith. Unfeigned love in the believer keeps 
 him constantly in communion with Christ ; but when men feign faith, 
 love dies. 
 
 Our Old Sermon Gentlemen come into the house of God and say they 
 are dependant on the Spirit's help, when they are going to repeat a lesson 
 they have learned ! — this is feigned faith. In that lesson there are fre- 
 quently the strongest expressions of love for God's people ; but when they 
 are tried, their love is like their faith — only in words. While the spiritual 
 Israel are obedient to the law of faith they are safe : Satan cannot harm 
 them any more than Balaam could Israel. We read in the second chapter 
 of Revelations that Satan taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before 
 them ; they fell into the snare ; and after reading of their blessed safety 
 in the next chapter, we read of the awful desolation they brought on 
 themselves by their own sin : twenty and four thousand died of the plague. 
 Satan has laid the stumbling block of vain-glory before the spiritual 
 Israel to draw them from the obedience of faith ; they have fallen into 
 the snare, and many have died of the plague of formality. The disease is 
 raging at the present time with great power : we see the sad ravages 
 it makes in Israel by the bitter fruits shown by those who should be 
 examples of love to their brethren. I am sure if I had not known any 
 thing of religion, and had marked the bearing and spirit of Mr. Little in 
 this matter, I should have said, I will never be religious, if it causes men 
 to show such a base unmanly spirit : my soul come not into the assembly 
 of such a man. But he is dead in the plague, therefore when the spirit is 
 tried he shows corruption. My brother must see, while he is defending 
 the practice as Apostolic in all its branches, that there is no such spirit as 
 he justifies ever shown by a faithful minister of the Gospel. Under the 
 old economy when there was not that indwelling spirit of love to unite, 
 the worship being external, the faithful leaders and kings in Israel never 
 showed that pride and insolence which he says Gospel ministers are 
 
155 
 
 justified in showing when they are sought to provide bread for the Lord's 
 family. 
 
 Moses did not lord it over God's heritage when they wanted bread and 
 water; he did not abuse them and turn them out of the Camp. They 
 were ungrateful to Moses, but he was faithful and meek to them; he 
 carried all their complaints to the Lord. We hear him at one time saying, 
 " What shall I do to this people, they be almost ready to stone me." Yet, 
 when they rebelled against God, we find in him such love towards them. 
 With God he pleads that they might be spared ; and, among the people, 
 he shows such zeal for the honour of God, that the smallest thing must be 
 done according to his Word, 
 
 In the book of Numbers we read of five daughters of one Israelite 
 coming to Moses concerning their inheritance; they did not speak to Moses 
 on this matter through others, they came directly to the proper person. 
 Surely there could not beany blame attached to me ; I acted according to 
 the Gospel rule in first appealing to my brethren alone, when I saw how 
 they were destroying the inheritance of the Lord, through their unbelief 
 and neglect of his Word. These women came to Moses, saying, their 
 father had died in the wilderness in his own sins, which were unbelief and 
 disobedience, for which all who came out of Egypt died except Caleb and 
 Joshua. As a faithful servant, Moses carried the matter to the Lord, 
 and the Lord said they had spoken right, so they had the promise of the 
 inheritance. In the book of Joshua, when the land was divided, these 
 women came again before Eleazer and Joshua, and before the princes ; 
 they said the Lord had commanded Moses to give them the inheritance. 
 There was no insult offered to them ; it was done unto them according to 
 the Word of the Lord. 
 
 How difi'erent is the conduct of the men who now feed the inheri- 
 tance of the Lord ; when his word is brought before them by a daughter 
 in Israel, and they are entreated to do according to that word, they 
 insult her and cast her out of the camp, and refuse to take heed to the 
 word of the Lord. 
 
 There is no evidence in the conduct of the faithful kings of Israel 
 which countenances pride and insolence towards their brethren. The 
 king was commanded to write a copy of the law which was before the 
 priests, that he should read therein all the days of his life, that his 
 heart might not be lifted up above his brethren. David was humble 
 and teachable, continually seeking renewed quickening strength and 
 guidance through the word. He says, that he esteemed the word of 
 God more than his necessary food : it was the joy and delight of his heart. 
 He says, he was poor and needy, yet the Lord thought upon him. This is 
 the character of all who partake of the blessings of grace. Again, he 
 says, he loved God's Word; it was his meditation all the day : through it 
 he had more understanding than his teachers. Thy word is very pure. 
 
156 
 
 therefore thy servant loveth it. I rejoice at thy word as one that findeth 
 great spoil; I will walk at liberty, because I seek thy word. We find him 
 constantly expressing himself in this manner concerning God's Word ; he 
 claimed it as his heritage for ever, because it was the joy and delight of 
 his heart; and while he delighted in it, and found it the constant means of 
 o-race to his soul, he did not show any scorn for those who did not love the 
 Word, but he grieved for them. He saw the transgressors and was grieved 
 because they forsook God's Word. " Rivers of water run down mine 
 eyes, because men keep not thy Word : my zeal hath consumed me, 
 because men have forgotten thy Word." As he found the Word to be 
 spirit and life to his own soul, he longed that others might use it as he did ; 
 that they^ through the Word, might walk in the same liberty, having 
 communion with God. 
 
 How does the practice of David put to shame those men who say 
 they are wholly given up to the word. He had the affairs of the 
 nation to attend to, yet the word of God was his constant study : it 
 fitted him for the discharge of every duty. David had but a very 
 small portion of the word of God, yet he found in it enough for renewed 
 daily meditation. 
 
 Those who prophesied of the blessings of grace we enjoy, could not 
 clearly see the things they spoke of; but they enquired and searched 
 diligently for the grace that should come unto us. Searching how 
 or what manner of time the spirit that was in them did signify, when 
 it testified before hand of the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that 
 should follow. 
 
 The word is now complete, and we are the happy people who live 
 in the day of grace of which they prophesied; we are the chosen gene- 
 ration who are to glorify Christ in the world, deriving all grace from 
 him through his word. The saints of old had the spirit only in a 
 small measure; we have it whenever we ask it through the appointed 
 means, to guide us into the deep things of God. The field we have 
 to roam in, is endless. I believe it will be part of the blessedness of 
 heaven to explore the wonderful construction of the bible. We shall 
 not have to labour then, as faith will not be needed. Here our light 
 and love are only as we search diligently in the constant and renewed 
 exer<-ises of faith, by which labour alone the spirit of Christ is imparted. 
 What is it we see ? Things that angels desire to look into, despised by 
 men who should be examples of spiritual diligence to God's Israel; 
 who avoid the channel through which the grace flows. Instead of 
 meditating in the word, because, through that alone, is their spiritual 
 life imparted, they carry about the same meditation year after year; 
 they want no more than they can get money by; they are Nabals to 
 the Lord's family. A good king is like a father to his people, and a 
 good minister is a father in the church. Our Saviour says, if a child 
 
157 
 
 seeks bread of a father, he will not give it a stone; or if it ask a fish, he 
 will not give it a serpent : from this he shows the far greater willingness 
 of God 10 give his Spirit to those who seek it. These men have neglected 
 the Word through which it is obtained, and have nearly plucked the 
 sympathies of men from their bosoms. When they are asked for bread, it 
 is found their hearts are stone, and the spirit they show is that of the 
 serpent ; they are insensible to the wants of God's family, and trample on 
 the children who ask for bread. All this is done with the clearest head- 
 kncwledge of the Word, which is useless, love being wanting, and that is 
 only obtained as the man is walking in communion with God, meditating 
 in his Word. All the wisdom of Solomon would avail nothing without 
 that love and child-like dependance on God which the Gospel requires. 
 
 Solomon, with all his wisdom, forsook God, and so lost his favour. He 
 began his reign in the spirit of child-like dependance and humility. The 
 fear of the Lord was the beginning of his wisdom ; but when he cast that 
 away, the glory of his wisdom departed, and the faithful in the land, for 
 all his greatness, would mourn over him. When he came to the throne, it 
 is said he loved God, and we hear him asking for wisdom. He said, " I 
 am but a little child in the midst of God's chosen people : I know not 
 how to go out and come in : give thy servant a wise and understanding 
 heart, that he may be able to judge and discern between good and bad; 
 for who is able to judge this thy great people." His heart was then 
 perfect with God, and he was humble. Soon after this we read that two 
 women came to the king, (he must have been easy of access) : the circum- 
 stances of the case show that the women must have been in extreme 
 poverty, but there was no respect to be paid to riches in judgment. The 
 character of these women we should have thought was against them : they 
 were a disgrace to the mothers in Israel, but they told their complaint to 
 the king, and he gave judgment in favour of the one whose heart had the 
 compassion of a mother. All Israel heard of the judgment, and they 
 reverenced the king, for they saw the wisdom of God was in him. 
 
 If my brother had considered the Bible more in the letter, he would not 
 have been so foolish as to make assertions he has no Scripture to prove. 
 It is not until men have departed from God that they can be entreated 
 about his work, and they think, as he supposes, the professed servants of 
 Christ did of me, that I was not worth an answer. My brother's wisdom 
 comes from beneath : he will find no such spirit justified in the Word of 
 God, " The wisdom that is from above is easy to be eiUreaied : full of 
 mercy and good fruits, without partiality and Wiiliout hypocrisy." Every 
 Israelite who worships God in spirit, rejoiving in (3hrist Jesus, having no 
 confidence in the flesh, will mourn for tlie spirit manifested and the judg- 
 ment pronounced by their brethren in tlih matter; for they v. ill see that 
 spiritual life is departed, when they cast a soul out of the Church of 
 Christ for entreating them to hold fsilowsuip with hira to sustahi the life of 
 p 
 
158 
 
 their spirits. We find that when the kings of Israel feared God, they 
 were a blessing to the people; but when they were men who did not fear 
 God, they drew the people from him; and plague, pestilence, drought and 
 famine, captivity and at last desolation, were the fruits of their disobe- 
 dience. At the time they pretended to fear God, we are told " they feared 
 the Lord and served graven images : they soutjht him daily as a nation 
 that did righteousness, and forsook not the law of their God. They asked 
 of him the ordinances of Justice, and took delight in approaching to God." 
 But it was all hypocrisy : they honoured him only with their lips. At 
 times there was great reformation, but they soon degenerated; the leaders 
 of the people drew them from following the Lord, and made them sin. 
 When Hezikiah came to the throne, his first care was that God should be 
 honoured in his house; he found the temple in a sad polluted state, and 
 the priests unfit for service. He said to them, " Sanctify yourselves and 
 sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry forth the 
 filthiness out of the holy place. And the priest went into the inner part 
 of the house, and brought out all the uncleanness, and it was carried to 
 the brook Kidron." Hezikiah did the Lord's work with all his heart, and 
 prospered; he was kind and liberal to the people. Jerusalem rejoiced 
 with great joy in that day when the worship of God was restored to its 
 purity: the priests blessed the people: their voice was heard, and their 
 prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even to heaven. 
 
 After the death of Hezikiah they were soon corrupted by idolatry : his 
 son caused them to err, and do worse than the heathen. 
 
 Seventy-two years after Hezikiah, in the eighteenth year of Josiah, 
 there was another great reformation, The temple and all around that 
 should have been holiness to the Lord, was heaps of idolatry ; neither 
 king nor priest knew any thing about the law. The High Priest found it, 
 and sent it to the king ; and when he heard the words of God's law, and 
 knew the sad neglect there had been, also the grievous dishonour done to 
 God's worship, he rent his clothes. There were at that time two faithful 
 prophets in the land, Jeremiah and Zephaniah ; but the king sent to a 
 faithful woman ; the High Priest and four honnura])le messengers went to 
 her. She did not study courtly style in returning the Lord's word to the 
 king ; she said, "Tell the man who sent you to me, Thus saith the Lord ; 
 "because thy heart was tender, and thou humblest thyself and didst rend 
 thy clothes and weep before me, I have even heard thee, saith the Lord." 
 The wrath of the Lord, that was about to be poured out, was arrested ; the 
 temple was purified with all around it, and the idolatrous rubbish was 
 taken to the brook Kidron and burned, so there was a general reformation 
 ihroughoutthe land ; the worship of God was restored to its original beauty; 
 the king was bountiful, and the hearts of the people rejoiced : great was the 
 gladness and blessing which accrued to God's Israel on account of this 
 faithful man humbling himself. 
 
159 
 
 I have endeavoured to show my brother that the safety and happiness of 
 Israel was in veorshipping and serving God according to his Word ; that 
 those leaders and kings who feared God and irusted in his help, were 
 humble and kind to the people ; they were blessed and made blessings : 
 that their proneness to idolatry and departure from the Word of God 
 caused all their calamities. Under the Gospel dispensation there is the 
 union of faith and love. Faith is the root in the believer, which is con- 
 stantly to receive vigour from Christ ; the Word is the channel through 
 which it comes; obedience to the rule unites them constantly to Christ; 
 they walk in communion with God, and have the fellowship of love 
 through a participation of the same grace with each other ; but a departure 
 from the law of God causes every evil both in the soul and in the Church. 
 Without this constant deriving from Christ, nothing can be done ; love is 
 extinct, and all turns to cold formality. The idol self is set up in the 
 heart, which was once the temple of God; and through this all is defiled- 
 The mind becomes dark; and the last state of such a man is worse than 
 the first. The outward form may be the same all the time, but it wants 
 the living Spirit, which is given only as faith is feeding in the Word. 
 
 My brother will perceive that I cannot agree with his order of service 
 and worshipping God: 1 do not allow that man of himself can do anything. 
 I believe it is the word of God's grace, faithfully used, which builds up the 
 believer and the Church. My brother believes that a man's natural abili- 
 ties supports the word, and makes it fruitful : it does so : but as it was only 
 natural labour, so it is only natural fruit, the praise of men, that vanisheth 
 away. This is now nearly all we see from pulpit labour, Man, through 
 his unfaithfulness, has deprived it of the uniting influence, and has drawn 
 the people to worship him instead of God. When the spirits of men are 
 devoted to their work, we will hear more of the praise of God ; they will 
 be known to be the sons and servants of God by the power which attends 
 their word, and by the Spirit of Christ which they manifest. If the natu- 
 ral ability of man could have carried on the work of grace in the soul, and. 
 in the Church, then Jesus might have been spared the anguish of spirit, 
 from which his holy nature shrunk. His disciples had the word, and they 
 believed it: they had natural ability before they had the gift of the Spirit; 
 they had also the words of Jesus, and they had been eye-witnesses to his 
 holy life: yet with all these great advantages, and after all the professions 
 of love they had made, they were entirely destitute of spiritual life. They 
 would have used physical force, though it was of no avail, so they all 
 forsook him and fled. Peter, who had made the strongest professions of 
 love, went after his Lord; but he only displayed that spirit which is now 
 seen in men: with all the knowledge he had of Christ, still he denied that 
 he knew him ; which was the case spiritually ; and the natural man in 
 him shrunk from the cruss. Our Saviour did not shrink from the cross : he 
 was a willing sacrifice — led like a lamb to the slaughter. His holy life 
 
160 
 
 and sacrificial death were not enough for our redemption : it was the soul 
 of Christ which endured the suffering. If it had been possible for us to 
 serve God in spirit and in truth, without that suffering, God would not have 
 laid it upon him. As the sorrowful hour approached, he looked forward, 
 and said, "Now is my soul troubled, what shall I say; Father; s&v6 me 
 from this hour," Again we hear him say, "My loul is exceeding sorowful, 
 even unto death. Oh! my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass 
 from me." But it was impossible : he could not be spared the agony of 
 soul, and for man be restored to communion with God. Adam was told 
 that in the day he disobeyed the word of God, he should die. It was not 
 the animal life that was to be extinct : he died to the knowledge of God, 
 and was unfitted to hold fellowship and communion with him ; therefore, 
 to restore man to this unseen life, which is hidden from the natural man, 
 that suffering of soul was necessary from which his innocent human nature 
 . shrunk, though with submission : " Nevertheless, not my will, but thine 
 be done." He must endure this travail of soul, that he might be a perfect 
 Saviour, and bring his redeemed to glory. He endured the cross, despis- 
 ing the shame; we do not hear a murmur for all the indignities offered by 
 men ; but we hear the astonishing words, "My God 1 my God ! why hast 
 thou forsaken me." This was the extremity of his endurance. When 
 the price was paid for our redemption, he said, " It is finished !" The 
 law being satisfied, the favour of God was obtained, the Holy Ghost would 
 now be given, and the spiritual kingdom set up in his people, The first 
 part of the prophesy had now been fulfilled — the Lord had bruised him 
 and put him to grief: he had made his soul an offering for sin. 
 
 If men could weep tears of blood, they well might, to see their fellow- 
 men despise the glorious privileges so dearly purchased, and fight against 
 holding communion with God. There are those who come forward boldly 
 and say they can render worship to God without using the means to obtain 
 his Spirit. Oh! foolish and unwise men! thus to requite the Lord: to 
 reject that fellowship and communion which alone can enable you to shew 
 that you belong to him; but his name shall endure for ever: he shall see 
 of the travail of his soul : and those who are thus despising his grace, and 
 taking the honour to themselves which belongs to him, will be ashamed of 
 their work, when he comes to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired 
 in all those that believe. 
 
 After his resurrection, he opened the understanding of his disciples to 
 understand the Scriptures, but they did not begin their work till they had 
 received the Holy Ghost. When they received the free boon, the new 
 spiritual life, it made them new men ; strong in the Lord, and in the 
 power of his might; they were victorious, and triumphed in persecution ; 
 rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 
 Their lives and conduct were examples to the believers through their 
 stedfast obedience to the law of faith. They did not forget their Lord's 
 
161 
 
 words, that without him they could do nothing, so they took good heed 
 to keep up the constant intercourse with him in the word. They knew 
 that until the Spirit came, they had the word, but not the power ; and 
 after the gift was bestowed, it was only through stedfast faith in the 
 word, that they were to retain it, Jesus was gone to prepare a place 
 for them ; and until he came to take them home, this was the means 
 by which they were to keep up a constant communion with him. 
 Their souls panted for the grace thus freely given; they used the means 
 (the word and prayer), and their labour was blessed — the Lord added 
 to the church. They spoke the things of God with plainness and 
 sincerity; every thing of studied eloquence was avoided; it is of the 
 earth, earthy ; and has only the reward which comes from earth : it is the 
 idol that pollutes the spiritual temple. Every thing earthy was guarded 
 against; they were only the earthen vessels which received the treasure. 
 The honour that was put upon them did not create in them a careless, in- 
 dolent presumption, but the greatest diligence and watchfulness. The 
 suffering that procured the gift which had made them sons of God, was 
 unseen by mortal eye; so their devotion of spirit, through which they 
 maintained their holiness, was unseen ; but the spirit they manifested, and 
 the power which attended their word, proved that they were faithful in 
 using the means to obtain the grace. What they brought to the people 
 was a means of grace to their own souls ; for out of the abundance of the 
 heart, the mouth spoke as the Spirit gave them utterance ; so that with one 
 mind and one mouth all glorified God : all lived in simple dependance on 
 his power : faith purified them, through the word and spirit, from all self- 
 dependance ; and the same power by the same means, kept their spirits in 
 entire devotion to God. They were in subjection to the Father of Spirits: 
 all their power was given up to his discipline, so that they were enabled to 
 walk in the world as his beloved sons, and their adorable Lord was not 
 ashamed to call them brethren. He was glorified in their hearts, and 
 they walked in love towards each other. 
 
 The glory is departed from those men who would call themselves the 
 friends and brethren of Christ : his Spirit is not seen in their work : love 
 is departed, and they seek their own glory. And here is my brother 
 boasting of the great things proud earth can do without his spirit and 
 power ! How delightfully it can of itself ornament his word, till all in- 
 animate earth admires it! Proud earth will still glory; but we should 
 hardly have thought it would have been so bold as to come forth and 
 boast in the face of truth, as she has done in this matter I 
 
 This old sermon work, which my brother thinks does such great 
 things, is just as serviceable to the spiritual Israel as the calf which 
 AarOn made for the typical Israel to worship before. We may view 
 the church in the same state as Israel was at that time : freed from 
 bondage, they were told by God they were to be to him a kingdom of 
 
162 
 
 priests, and a holy nation, if they would be obedient : the blood of the 
 covenant was sprinkled upon them. The order for the ceremonial 
 altar, whel-e all Israel were to bring their offerings, was not then given, 
 but they were charged against Idolatry. Their offerings were to be 
 presented on an altar of earth ; and wherever God's name was recorded, 
 there he promised to come and bless the worshippers. We find notwith- 
 standing all their promises, and the power of God which had been 
 displayed on their behalf, and the fear they had felt when the law was 
 given, that when Moses went up to the mount to receive the orders for 
 the preparation of the sanctuary, which was to be the glory of Israel 
 as it was the token of God's presence among them; while he was gone 
 they said to Aaron, "Up, make us God's that shall go before us; for 
 as for this man Moses, that brought us out of the land of Egypt, we 
 know not what is become of him." Aaron was willing, and he told 
 them what to do ; they therefore brought him the ornaments which he 
 received, and made them a calf. The people were pleased with it, 
 and said, "These be thy God's, Oh! Israel, which brought thee out 
 of the land of Egypt." Aaron was pleased w'ith their praises, so he 
 helped on the work : he built an altar before it, and made proclamation, 
 " to-morrow is a feast to the Lord!" They brought their offerings, and 
 ate and drank, and amused themselves. They had not a heart to love 
 and serve the God who had done such great things for them. Moses 
 knew not what they were doing until God told him; and when he 
 came down and saw their sin, and the people stripped of their ornaments, 
 his anger waxed hot, and he avenged the dishonour done to God. All 
 who were on the Lord's side were to slay, and not spare, either son or 
 brother if they were guilty. He had still great compassion ; he went and 
 pleaded for the people. God was intreated, and they were spared. It is 
 said, "The Lord plagued the people for the calf which Aaron made : it 
 was a sin they were ever prone to : they walked in the imagination of the r 
 own evil hearts, and went backward and not forward, until they were 
 destroyed. 
 
 The idolatry of the typical Israel was but a shadow, compared to that 
 of the spiritual. A new heart and a right spirit is given to every Israelite, 
 and the power of the Spirit if he will use it, to enable him to fulfil the 
 law of faith and love, under which he is placed ; but they are disobedient. 
 Those who say they are the adopted sons of God, refuse to submit to his 
 discipline, though it is only as they do so, that they can live to him. 
 He that despised Moses' law died : of how much sorer punishment will 
 they be thought worthy, who have trodden under foot the son of God, and 
 are counting the blood of the covenant wherewith they are sanctified an 
 unholy thing, and are doing despite unto the Spirit of grace. 
 
 Israel fell first into their idolatry after the law had been given, and they 
 had promised obedience, and had been sprinkled with the blood of the 
 
163 
 
 covenant. Moses being gone to receive instructions from God for the 
 sanctuary they did not know the honour that awaited them. It is not the 
 nominal Christian who can commit the sin against which I am speaking : 
 he may use the same words as one who is born again, but he does so in 
 ignorance ; and one who has been renewed does it in presumption. Jesus 
 is gone to prepare a place where all his redeemed are to meet, and join for 
 ever in endless praise to him who has saved them, and through whose 
 grace alone they are brought safely through the wilderness. Moses did 
 not know of the sin of Israel, until Gud told him: he did not see their 
 shame until he came among them. Jesus sees the sin and ingratitude of 
 the people whom he has redeemed : his soul was in travail that they might 
 have power to glorify him, yet they refuse to use the means he has 
 appointed to attain his grace. He sees that they have polluted the temple 
 he had purified by his word and spirit : they refuse to have any communi- 
 cation with him, though he is the light and the joy of every spiritual 
 temple ; but the glory is departed. When their spirits are tried, we find 
 they are not under the power of the law of love, but they are seeking 
 their own glory : they have renounced all spiritual service : they take (ke 
 word of God (which if used in faith would have adorned them with grace, 
 that they might glorify God), to glorify themselves. They come into his 
 house to repeat their old sermons : they kneel before the people and lie to 
 God; they confess their inability to speak to the people, and beg of him 
 to guide them : they pretend that their hearts are in subjection, and that 
 without him they can do nothing ; that their eyes are up unto him and 
 their expectation is from him. 
 
 I ask what spirit prompts these men to use language of the deepest 
 humility and the strongest confidence, when they know they have no word 
 from God; they have not been holding communion with him; they are 
 not depending on the aid of his Spirit; they have got a piece by rote, 
 that they have many times repeated. There cannot be such dependance 
 as they express. They know it ought to be so; that they ought to have 
 been holding communion with God ; to have met him in his word, the 
 appointed place to find him, that their spirits might be purified through 
 the exercise of faith. He has promised to be where tvvo or three meet 
 together in his name; but here is no honour done to that name; there 
 has been no faith exercised; no grace is wanted; the prayer that was 
 ofi'ered was from feigned lips; there was no sincerity ; the heart did not 
 feel the want of what the lips, with the deepest show of humility, 
 implored ; grace could not be poured into their lips ; their hearts had not 
 been meditating on the things touching the king; they wanted no further 
 acquaintance with him. Ungrateful men ! The angels desire to look 
 into the wonderful mysteries of redemption — and they want to know no 
 more than they can get a piece of bread by. 
 
 When the son of God suffered, that this glorious privilege (which they 
 
164 
 
 will not use), might be purchased, the sun was withdrawn from the earth. 
 When he said, "it is finished!" and bowed his head and gave up the 
 ghost, inanimate nature was convulsed, the earth quaked, and the rocks 
 rent. The heart that is hardened through spiritual pride is scared, and 
 can come before God, mocking him by asking the blessings so dearly 
 purchased, though they know they are breaking the law of the Spirit of 
 life, which made them free, because they have not subjected themselves 
 to the discipline necessary to obtain grace to serve God acceptably; so 
 that all their service is formality, however much their abilities may be 
 praised. 
 
 My brother wonders I have been so daring as to touch the great men 
 of the Venerable Body ! Look at these great men ! Would not an 
 honest worldling be ashamed of them ? What is a man if his word is not 
 to be relied on ? What an example Mr. Scott and Mr, Jackson has set 
 before the Church ! Is not a man's word his bond ? These men we see 
 are liars ! I should fear to otfend the least of my Lord's disciples, for I 
 know that whatsoever is done to any of his family, he takes as done to 
 himself; but the same grace which teaches me to be careful not to offend 
 the least, likewise teaches me to be fearless in opposing those who call 
 themselves the greatest in his house, when they are traitors to his cause, 
 and bring dishonour on his truth. I know that whatsoever stops the vital 
 circulation of the heavenly influence in the soul, or in the Church, will 
 be fatal; and the spirit of this corruption is now so evident in the world, 
 that it is high time to shew from whence it springs. It is a painful duty; 
 but who can bear to see the destruction which the plague of formality and 
 hypocrisy is making in the Church, and not use the word of truth against 
 it. As the heads of the people are foremost in the sin, therefore, 
 according to scripture practice, they must be held up to view. When 
 Israel had on one occasion been unfaithful to God, the command was, 
 " Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord 
 against the sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away 
 from Israel." Now as these men boast that their practice is apostolic, 
 which they say they have revived in its spirit and purity, and my brother 
 comes out to defend them without the colour of scripture in their favour, it 
 is right that their spirit and practice should be held up before the light of 
 God's truth, that all Israel may see their works are not wrought in God, by 
 the spirit they show when their glory (to which they are so devoted) is 
 touched. 
 
 My brother has alluded to Brunswick Chapel, Milton Street. Now let 
 us look at the opening of it by Doctor Newton, the President's Secretary. 
 There had been much prayer presented to God by the people for a blessing 
 on his servant, that his labour might be owned and blest; of course that 
 means spiritual labour ; they were expecting to feast together before God 
 on what he gave to his servant to bring into the house when he waited upon 
 
165 
 
 him in his word, and guided him to a portion. It was his Lord's will that 
 he should be thus waited upon. He himself, in answer to the prayer of 
 his people, meeting and blessing his waiting servant, as he yielded himself 
 to the guidance of his Spirit; the heavenly influence flowing into his soul 
 as he was exercising faith in his Lord's word, and his Lord in answer to 
 the prayer of faith, and in accordance with his own word of promise, 
 intending to preside at and bless the provision of his house, and assist his 
 servant who was depending on him, and through him, communicate the 
 heavenly influence to his expecting family. This faithless servant knows 
 his Lord's will, but will not do it ; he takes no delight in walking with 
 God in his word, or in cultivating a deeper acquaintance with him ; he 
 avoids going in the way he is to be found, as he wants neither his guidance 
 nor his grace to help him to adorn the Church, having such good natural 
 abilities. He is far more praised in using them, than his Lord, for the 
 Lord of the house is forgotten altogether; when ne comes with his old 
 sermons adorned with nature's gifts. 
 
 The Doctor in prayer off'ered the house to God as a house of sacrifice. 
 "We give this house to thee, we dedicate this house to thee. He spake of 
 himself in language of the deepest humility, imploring the aid of the 
 Spirit, and that the fire might descend. I feared, while he uttered his 
 petition, that he was only mocking God, yet I had a little hope that he 
 did that day intend to offer to God of what he had been receiving. I 
 thought, surely he will be afraid, after what he has said, to repeat an old 
 sermon. The text was given out, the thirty -sixth psalm, eighth verse : 
 " Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thy 
 honour dwelleth." It was a good sermon, and he repeated it very well; 
 I thought it was not a spiritual offering, the fruit of faith and prayer, for 
 God has not owned it ; the fire which he sought has not come. There were 
 others of the same opinion; but as none but God can clearly discern 
 whether there has been spiritual preparation, I would not declare without 
 evidence that there had not. In a few days I had that evidence: he has 
 been carrying about the sermon for twenty-four years ! so by this time it 
 must have arrived at a state of perfection, as my brother says it is frequent 
 repetition which brings them to perfection. The sermon has been printed 
 twice : once when it was repeated at Norwich, and again when it was 
 repeated at Queen Street. When the Doctor preached it at St. Peter's 
 Chapel, Norwich, the Editor of the " Pulpit" says, " Mr. Newton has 
 long ranked among the first preachers of the Wesleyan connexion : our 
 correspondent informs us that the sermon excited universal admiration. 
 It is impossible to do Mr. N. justice; we want his eloquence and action 
 in order to communicate the impression it made upon a large and crowded 
 congregation." 
 
 Thus we see the people were like the Israelites with Aaron's calf, well 
 pleased with the performance. They offered their praise to the man, and 
 
166 
 
 were delighted with his eloquence and action. No honour was done to 
 his Lord: no captive soul set at liberty: nothing was said about spiritual 
 strength being renewed : all the praise went to the servant. 
 
 This does not look like primitive practice: then the people praised 
 God : but we hear nothing like this from these men. Such praise might 
 suit an actor in a theatre, and encourage him to persevere in the piece 
 which the people so much admired : such praise for a man's natural 
 abilities is unwarrantable in spiritual things, and places him in great 
 danger of falling from his stedfastness in the faith. What is the best 
 of men but a piece of redeemed earth, from which the spiritual offering is 
 to ascend for God's gracious acceptance. If the man is sincere, it is what 
 God has given him ; but if a vain thought has arisen of his own natural 
 ability ro do any thing, the altar is polluted. 
 
 The three Hebrew children who were cast into the furnace, were not in 
 such danger as this man ; they were cast in bound, but were seen walking 
 at liberty in the fire, and the Son of God with them. If this man had to 
 suffer outward persecution, fear would have caused the flesh to prompt the 
 spirit to rely on God, and he would have walked in the fire, having a 
 liberty of access to his God which he could not have otherwise enjoyed ; 
 but this praise of men has slain its thousands. If the man who has to 
 endure it does not gird the Gospel armour firmly around him, the flesh 
 will soon glory over the spirit, and he will be destroyed. 
 
 There could have been no possible difference, as to spiritual profit, if 
 the sermon had been bought, and one of the Sunday school boys had 
 repeated it; he would not have been suffered to use the mockery of 
 supplication, neither would the people have met to implore the assistance 
 of God's Spirit for him, because he would not have been supposed to be 
 regenerated and fitted for his operations. If it had been announced that 
 a Player was going to open the chapel (and any man could make up a 
 piece according to a system of doctrine, if he studied the Bible in the 
 letter), would the people (knowing that the man had a piece which he 
 went about the country repeating on such occasions) have met to ask 
 God's Spirit for that man, to assist him in his labour of faith and love? 
 Most assuredly they would not ; because they would have known that the 
 man had not the spiritual ability, therefore he could not use that which he 
 had not; he was only going to mock the minister of Christ, and show 
 them what spiritual service was ; but they would not be so foolish as to 
 think it was so. If Mr. Macready (who, according to report, is au 
 excellent moral character) had performed and could (though I do not 
 think he would) have been so presumptuo\is as to offer such a prayer as 
 Mr. Newton did, Would not the people have trembled at the sin of this 
 mockery of God's ordinances ? Would they have expected any blessing 
 from his performance, although the piece which he repeated was quite in 
 accordance with their views of truth, and what had been applauded by many 
 
167 
 
 an audience, and, from long acting of the piece, he did it well as an actor, 
 yet he must have offered the prayer, or the farce would not have been 
 complete. 
 
 Now this is the farce these men are constantly playing in the house of 
 God; they boast of being the revivers of apostolic religion, but they only 
 personate the apostle : they do not follow their practice. The apostles 
 really depended on God's Spirit to guide them even in the words they 
 uttered : we know it from their earnestly imploring the prayers of the 
 people, from the blessing which attended their word, as well as from 
 the fruits that were produced, and from the spirit of love constantly 
 manifested among and for the flock of Christ. As these men have 
 not the dependance on God for aid which they express, and merely 
 come to act worship, not to perform it iii Spirit and in truth, it may 
 be justly feared, that those who have for many years been practising 
 this deceit in the church, are twice dead ; because that " When they 
 knew God, they glorified him not as God ;" but were unthankful, 
 despising the riches of his grace, and would not use the means he had 
 appointed to impart the boon, but have become vain in their own 
 imaginations; have changed the truth of God into a lie, serving them- 
 selves and seeking their own glory, yet pretending to seek his ; their 
 foolish hearts are darkened. 
 
 The Doctor said in his sermon, ''The Church is the House of God, 
 a spiritual house, where God, who is a Spirit, dwells; the bouse where 
 he is to be found; the house where we are to enquire after him; the 
 house where he entertains his friends. The God of all goodness first 
 coming down to man, and kindling in him the fire, revealing in our 
 nearts his love in Jesus christ — that love kindles ours." Now this is all 
 tKuth ; the individual believer is the dwelling place of God; the Church 
 is a body, also the dwelling place of God all united by one head in him ; 
 all their affections centre; all quickened and animated by his Spirit; 
 all enduring (he same conflict; all soldiers fighting the good fight of 
 faith, constantly deriving strength from their head, through the unseen 
 but vigorous actings of faith. 
 
 With united heart and soul the spiritual members of Christ say, 
 " Whom have we in heaven but thee:" there is nothing on the earth 
 to be compared to the glorious privilege of walking with thee in thy 
 scripture. This is the way the soul is kept constantly purified, and 
 soars on the wings of love, far above the trifles of earth. The closer 
 the communion, the more comprehensive will the views of truth become; 
 the light will become more clear, and love be constantly increasing. 
 This is the way God dwells in believers and in the church; and the 
 man who is thus daily walking with God in his word, will never 
 appear before his brethren with an old sermon ; for being constantly 
 by faith feeding afresh in the word^ will always -have something to 
 
168 
 
 share with them; but if faith is not fed, it will die; love will not 
 burn, if faith ceases to bring the fuel, and both will be but an empty 
 sound. 
 
 The Doctor drew a very good picture of what the soul was to expect in 
 waiting upon God; but as there were no renewed actings of faith in the 
 Word, there could be no grace, and his Word could bring no power. By 
 nature there is none in him: he must receive it; and he had done no 
 honour to him whom God delights to honour. He had his natural abilities 
 and his old meditation, and would not meet him in his Word to have his 
 spirit purified to offer spiritual worship. He said, the pnlpit was a sacred 
 thing, an awful place for a man to stand in. And, finally, if the people 
 loved the house and worship of God, they would show their love in a very 
 substantial and practical way, by contributing of their property to main- 
 tain the house and worship of the Lord. 
 
 We see how this man showed his hatred to God and his people : he 
 came like blind Sampson shorn of his strength, merely to amuse them and 
 get a little of their money. The applause that was given to the preacher 
 was never given to a disciple of Jesus : they know too well the tendency 
 that is in themselves to think they are something : it is their daily care to 
 feel they are nothing, and have nothing ; therefore they would not be so 
 cruel as to place a brother in such jeopardy. When Sampson's bands 
 were broken, he found the new jawbone of an ass: he put forth his hand 
 and took it, and with it slew a thousand men. While he retained the 
 secret of his streneth none could stand before him, but when he lost that, 
 his eyes were put out. His enemies had no fear of him then, but brought 
 him out to make sport to them when they came to worship their God. 
 
 The Apostles retained faithfully the secret of their strength, which was 
 communion with God in his Word, and a simple reliance on his power; 
 and we find that the power which came with the Word slew the enmity to 
 God which was in the hearts of thousands ; they were filled with love, and 
 magnified God with new tongues of praise. The secret of this man's 
 power is the same as theirs, and his word would be attended with the same 
 blessing if he was faithful. God is not changed, and the Spirit is still 
 given according to the proportion of faith. All the infidels in the world 
 may come and hear his eloquence and offer to him their praise : they need 
 not fear that their pride will be brought down, or that they will think any less 
 of themselves. His eloquence is no more calculated to remove their natural 
 enmity to the way of salvation by grace through faith, than the jawbone 
 of the ass was to slay the men. While he refuses to hold fellowship with 
 God in his Word, to give him the Spirit of his work, his repeating pieces 
 he has learnt is useless, and will go no farther than please the people to 
 get a little money from them. The secret of his strength is in his head ; 
 a simple unfeigned reliance on Christ Jesus; but he has no such depen- 
 dance; he has long since cast from him the secret of his strength; and 
 
169 
 
 while his lips have uttered before God the words of the new man who 
 lives by faith, it was all a mockery to keep up the farce He had 
 been exercising no faith in the word, and could have no virtue from 
 Christ ; his eyes are blind to his own helplessness. 
 
 Unfeigned faith is a noble grace ; and who can tell the benefit which 
 has been brought to others through one faithful soul. By every endear- 
 ing motive, and the sweet constraining influence of love, the believer 
 is drawn to the obedience of faith ; yet this man comes before God, 
 compassed about with a deceptive profession of his own inability, and 
 offers to him hypocritical devotion. There had not been any subjection 
 of his spirit to be purified for the service. Had he appeared that day 
 before the people, without taking food, or using the means necessary 
 for the health, comfort and purification of his body, they would have 
 mourned over him as one who had lost his senses, to come into the 
 house of God in that state, unfit to appear before his brethren; yet 
 this is the way he appears before God. There never was, nor can be, 
 spiritual worship offered from a polluted spirit. 
 
 He said, the pulpit was a sacred thing — an awful place for a man 
 to stand in. It was not the piece of wood which he stood upon that 
 could be sacred. His proud earth ought to have been sanctified and 
 made meet for his Lord's use, but he did not think God worth waiting 
 on ; his spirit would not submit to use the appointed means for its 
 purification; he did not take his earthen vessel to the ever-flowing 
 fountain of grace to be replenished. He could not impart the light 
 and love, strength and joy, he had been receiving; he wanted no 
 communion with his God that he might worship before him in the 
 beauty of holiness: he was a great man in his own eyes, and so has 
 forsaken dependence on God that gave him spiritual life, and lightly 
 esteems the Rock of his Salvation ; and would not submit to use the 
 means which would obtain the fresh anointing of the Spirit, and his 
 cup filled with blessing. His heart did not burn within him as the 
 sacred Spirit opened up the truth, as the eye of faith caught each glimpse 
 with holy pleasure, and the heart glowed with love, blessing the 
 adorable trinity, who thus condescends through the medium of faith to 
 make man holy and happy. 
 
 While he was thus on the mount of communion he would breathe the 
 ardent prayer of faith and love, that his brethren, whom he was pre- 
 paring to meet, might be made partakers of the same blessing he was 
 then enjoying ; well knowing that while his lips uttered what he had 
 been meditating upon, the excellency of the power was alone of God. 
 Thus with a purified elevated spirit he would come into the sanctuary 
 in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of peace : his brethren had 
 been praying for him, God had been faithful and had blessed him, and 
 in his name and in his strength he was going to meet the people. 
 Q 
 
170 
 
 He had the words of Jesus for his warrant, that, going in his name 
 and in his strength, he would come, and, through him, bless his faithful 
 children. This would have been spiritual worship, the service God 
 accepts ; it would have come up before him as a svveet savour of Christ. 
 There was no offering of spiritual service brought, and bodily exercise 
 i? of no avail. In vain are sanctuaries erected, if the only use they 
 are to be put to is for men to repeat peices which they have learnt, 
 and to be admired for their fine oratory. In vain is the word and 
 spirit given, if men are to carry about their own words, year after year. 
 If they will not give the labour of faith and love in the word of God, 
 it is a dead service; there is no offering for our great High Priest to 
 present to God. He appears there for us in his clothes of service, 
 that he may present our spiritual offerings to God, and impart grace 
 according to the exercise of faith in his word. Here the minister has 
 had nothing to do with either word or Spirit; he treats these appointed 
 channels of the grace of God with contempt : the word of God is 
 despised, and the Spirit dishonoured. No renewed exercise of faith; 
 no grace is wanted for his lips from the fulness of Christ. His expres- 
 sions of dependance and love were all a mockery : for he had got his 
 old sermon, which he could repeat well. My brother says, the fact 
 is they are perfected by oft-repetition ; but God's judgment and his 
 respecting perfection are widely different. He hath given one perfect 
 offering to man for his trust ; and all that my brother calls perfection 
 is the filth which pollutes the spiritual temple, and it must be all cast, 
 as the idols were, into the brook, or else the man can never enjoy 
 that purity of spirit which will fit him for communion with God, and 
 enable him to walk as Jesus walked in the world. 
 
 It is the great end and purpose of the Gospel to reclaim man from his 
 natural pride and its fatal consequences, and with unfeigned humiliation 
 of spirit to abase himself and give glory to God. To pride himself on 
 natural or acquired endowments, is corrupting the temple which had been 
 purified. The love of human approbation is such a subtil passion, there 
 is nothing which it will not try to penetrate under the most specious 
 disguises, and through which Satan has succeeded in drawing many from 
 the obedience of faith; and from their simple dependance on Christ. He 
 has blinded their eyes to their own weakness; and many who would have 
 been like Sampson, mighty through God in slaying the carnal enmity of 
 the heart, have brought themselves and the Church to be the sport of 
 unbelievers through their unfaithfulness ; and until they return and seek 
 grace, that with deep prostration of soul they iimy be enabled to cast 
 themselves at the foot of the cross and obtain pardon for their unfaithful- 
 ness, they cannot prosper. Abstaining from all their empty fancies to 
 work upon the passions of men, and gratefully using the means of grace 
 which God has appointed for them, (not substituting their own words 
 
171 
 
 instead of God's, because the souls of believers cannot feed on their old 
 meditations, the food which nourishes them must come from their Lord), 
 then they will eat that which is good; their souls will be satisfied with the 
 fatness of his bouse, and drink of the river of his pleasure. If the 
 servant fails not in his part of the duty, God most assuredly will not fail 
 in bis : if we would love him as ardently, if we would praise him as 
 triumphantly as the primitive Christians did, there must be the same 
 entire trust, the same reverence for the word as the means of all nutri- 
 ment and growth, and the same value of the aid of the Spirit, as they had ; 
 then the Church would shine: there would be none of this disgraceful 
 acting to get a little money. 
 
 We find that when the new nature was implanted in man, and kept 
 alive through the constant exercise of faith, that which the old nature 
 clings to (money) was thought nothing of; they had a better portion. We 
 do not read that money was sought of them : it was spontaneously brought 
 for what was necessary. The love of Christ constrained them to those 
 acts of kindness that promised the well-being of others ; but now, through 
 the minister's despising their glorious privilege of walking with God in his 
 Word, the love which would have glowed in their bosoms is departed, and 
 the people have followed their example. It is not his name (to whom they 
 are under everlasting obligations) which is now used to draw the money, 
 but the name of some man who is brought from afar : the cold-hearted 
 performers at home have lost their influence, therefore a man must be had 
 to draw the money whom the people will admire. The ministers would be 
 like Aaron: he said, thou knowest the people are set on mischief; so they 
 say, they must try their plans to get the money, for the hearts of the people 
 love it and will not otherwise part with it. Only let them do their duty to 
 their God, and serve him in the spirit, then the heavenly influence will 
 descend, the treasure of the Spirit will be poured out, and money will be 
 looked upon as the means to glorify God ; and every new channel which 
 is opened, where money is wanted, will be hailed by the faithful with 
 delight. 
 
 When the sanctuary was to be built in the wilderness, that God might 
 dwell in Israel, there was no lack of means to carry on the work, nor 
 want of energy to do what was commanded : all was cheerfully and 
 diligently done. 
 
 I think the Tabernacle and Milton Street Chapel were both the same 
 time in building — about five months. God said to Moses, " Let them 
 make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them; according to all 
 that I have showed after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of 
 the instruments thereof, even so shall you make it. And they came, every 
 one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his Spirit made 
 willing; and they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the taberna- 
 cle of the congregation ; and for all his service and for the holy garments 
 
172 
 
 tbey brought a willing offering unto the Lord." We see they were all 
 willing offerings ; every man and woman whose heart made them willing, 
 brought all manner of work which the Lord had commanded. There 
 were very costly offerings required : it is thought that the gold used was 
 worth about one hundred and fifty thousand pounds, the silver about thirty- 
 four thousand ; but it all came freely. The wise men who wrought the 
 work of the sanctuary came every one from his work which they made, 
 and they spake unto Moses, saying, "The people bring much more than 
 enough for the service of the work which the Lord commanded to be 
 made. And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be pro- 
 claimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make 
 any more work for the offering of the sanctuary." So the people were 
 restrained from bringing. While the people were liberal the workmen 
 were faithful; they rendered an account of all that was given them; they 
 had nothing for their labour but the honour of preparing a sanctuary for 
 God. From him they had their daily manna, and their raiment did not 
 wax old : so they had no care only to gather the food according to the 
 order, otherwise they could not have done any work ; but they were obe- 
 dient and wrought according to God's command, with a single eye to his 
 honour. 
 
 As the different pieces of the work were finished, we are frequently told 
 they were done as the Lord commanded Moses : there was nothing left to 
 the invention of the workmen. As with the building, so with the service 
 which was to be performed in it : there was nothing left to the invention of 
 the priests; it was all God's work, and to be done by his order. When it 
 was finished, Moses looked upon all the work, and behold they had done 
 it as the Lord commanded, Moses blessed them ; and when it was set up, 
 God showed himself well-pleased with the service. He took possession of 
 the sanctuary and his glory filled the tabernacle. 
 
 Thus the heart that is purified by his Word and Spirit, and consecrated 
 to his service, is his dwelling place. Those who devote their spirits to his 
 service shall have the blessing of his presence in their earthly tabernacle; 
 they shall feed on the hidden manna while in the wilderness, which, if 
 they are faithful to gather, will fill them with love and make them like 
 God. A robe is provided for them to appear before him in daily : it will 
 never wear out while they are in the wilderness. If the spiritual man is 
 faithful to appear daily before his father in the garments he has provided, 
 to receive the manna from him through his Word, he will have no care ; 
 all other things will be given ; all the shame comes through unfaithfulness. 
 May we not blush at the statement of Israel's willingness in the service of 
 the Lord, when we think of the disgraceful work there is now to raise the 
 money? Instead of the proclamation, "bring no more," which would be 
 the case if ministers would bestow their spiritual labour, we find public 
 meetings are got up, and every sort of trickery used, to get the people into 
 
173 
 
 a state of excitement, and then force a promise of something from them. 
 Paper and pencil are brought when they are tliought to be worked up to 
 generous feeling, that they may be secured at the moment their persuasion 
 seems to have made an impression. This is not the Lord's willing offering, 
 but ministers are starving the people's souls through their indolence : so 
 that the money is not easily gotten. One who resolutely refuses to 
 perform the spiritual vi^orship for which they say the house is built, is 
 found hunting at the dwellings of poor men and women for the fruit of 
 their bodily labour. He had no claim upon them; he loves them not; 
 he would not hold fellowship with them if it was not to answer his own 
 purpose. The God whose house he says it is, he avoids communion with 
 as much as possible, and openly avows that he will not be his disciple. 
 He shows, through this want of fellowship with his Lord, that the spirit of 
 love is gone from him ; and so it is from the majority in the Church. 
 Instead of the proclamation being " bring no more, there is more than 
 enough," we find large bills stuck upon the walls in the streets, to say- 
 that eminent actors are coming to play at preaching ; for this is all they 
 do, to mock spiritual worship ; calling for fire when they have brought no 
 ofi'ering of spiritual service from the Word of God which is the believer's 
 inheritance : they come not to know God in spirit and in truth, but to 
 rehearse a piece they have learnt, to get money : it is hoped many will 
 be drawn together, the names of great Doctors being thought a good 
 stimulus. 
 
 As the name of Jesus, and the honour of being workers with him, 
 have ceased to draw the preacher to the obedience of faith, so good 
 oratory is used to draw the money as a substitute for the Spirit of love, 
 which is starved out of the church, through their mockery of spiritual 
 service ; and they proclaim their own and the peoples' shame on the 
 walls and streets of the city, that money cannot be raised for the 
 service of that God to whom they profess to have devoted all they 
 have and are. 
 
 There has also been great private effort used for this chapel, besides 
 twenty-eight sermons on the two plans. Does not all this trouble to 
 raise money speak naost eloquently that there must be a sad lack of 
 love to that God whom they profess to worship ? We see they come 
 not to serve God but themselves, that is the difference between acting 
 a character and practising it. The Apostles practised the faith they 
 preached: these men only personate the characters they describe; 
 they would wish us to believe they are the friends of God, and disciples 
 of Jesus, but we see they are not ; they come to mock God to his 
 face, and to gratify the lusts of their flesh with his sacred word. They 
 cannot be the friends of God, because they are united together to 
 strengthen each other, not to hold communion with him. They cannot 
 love Christ who refuses to use the means to obtain his grace. God ha? 
 
174 
 
 reserved to himself the power to bless, but man must wait upon him 
 in the appointed way. 
 
 These men are acting faith upon an old meditation, and carrying it 
 about from year to year ; the sense of being dependants for grace 
 through the word is gone from them. Why do they mock God with 
 words as though they were? They have emancipated themselves from 
 the yoke of love, and are satisfied with the honour which comes from 
 men : that which comes from God is not so dazzling, and would not 
 gain them the applause of the multitude. That is only spiritual worship 
 which springs from the willing subjection of a grateful spirit. Will 
 they who refuse to walk with him in his word, be the instruments of 
 good to any? They are setting at nought their glorious privilege. 
 There are no mysterious and unintelligible means used to fit them for 
 spiritual service, more than their fellow-disciples : they are unfit for 
 the service, and are destroying the inheritance of God through their 
 faithlessness. They have peices made up full of expressions of love to 
 God and his people, and use the utmost of their natural powers in 
 delivery, so that they are admired by all. It can, however, go no 
 farther, as they are working without God, drawing no virtue from 
 Christ, without which they can do nothing. There being no renewed 
 meditation in the word, consequently there has been no sanctification 
 of Spirit: no honour done to God; yet we hear these men come before 
 God empty, and seek for their offering to be honoured by fire. Abomi- 
 nable hypocrisy ! Having brought no offering of spiritual service, such 
 a man only comes to sport with spiritual things for the amusement of 
 the people, having never waited on God for a portion. All the prepa- 
 ration of God's grace, that is to fit the man to worship in Spirit, and 
 in truth, has been set aside; his name insulted; his son despised. 
 No renewed exercise of faith, in the blood of atonement which is before 
 the throne of grace. As there was no meditation in the word, there 
 could be no grace given, there being no other channel through which 
 it flows. The Spirit is grieved; he gives the supply, but such a man 
 does not want it ; he would have been the guide of his spirit, and 
 would have glorified Christ by the fresh communication of his love, 
 but he would not submit to his guidance ; he dishonoured all the means 
 of grace which are to prepare him for service, yet he comes mocking 
 God, offering praise, and seeking fire as though he had been with God 
 and had brought the meditation of his heart in simple dependance on 
 his faithfulness. Need we wonder that the Church does not shine when 
 this is the faithless conduct of her professed champions ? 
 
 At the time the disciples of Christ eat their meat with gladness and 
 singleness of heart, it was when those who were set over them were 
 indeed honouring God by the devotion of their spirits; with glowing 
 gratitude they gave themselves up to the word ; they kept up a con- 
 
175 
 
 stant acquaintance with their Lord ; and out of the abundance of 
 their heart their mouth spoke. They did not learn pieces to repeat, 
 and say it did quite as well : they knew it was only as they received 
 the bread of life from their Lord's hand, that it could multiply; they 
 bad seen how the bread which sustained the bodies of the people, when 
 received from his hand, multiplied in the breaking, and they were fed 
 now : they saw the same miracle daily performed through his word in 
 the spiritual sustenance of thousands, and their business was to labour 
 in the word for the bread which would not perish, but nourish them 
 and the people committed to their care to everlasting life. 
 
 Thus they faithfully gave their souls to the work, and said it was 
 not right for them to do any thing else : they would not have thought 
 it a violation of the principles and precepts of Christ to be told, that 
 without this constant communion with him they could do nothing : they 
 knew it was the strength and joy of their spirits, and kept the love 
 that had been kindled, pure for him and his people. They had their 
 reward in the constant act of devotedness and the honour of being 
 workers with God, which brought enjoyment to their spirits, and kept 
 them far above seeking the applause of men. A pure spiritual offering 
 ascended from their earthly bodies, which were devoted to their Lord, 
 and great grace was upon the people through their faithfulness. The 
 happiness which the people found in God, made them sit very light by 
 this world's good. The Apostles, like the faithful servant of Abraham, 
 had their Lord's treasure in their hand, but they knew it was through 
 faith they must constantly honour him in his word ; it being the way 
 in which the Spirit was to lead them, they constantly walked in it; 
 and at every renewed token of success, they, like the faithful servant, 
 bowed down and blessed the God of their Salvation, who was blessing 
 them while they were walking in the way, and bringing out the jewels 
 of his grace to adorn his bride, the church. 
 
 As in the case of Laban there was plenty of stuff provided, so there 
 would be no lack of money for the servants and service of God if 
 they were faithful ; but what mean dirty work they have now to perform, 
 to get a little money for the service of their God ! If they would use 
 the faith which was given them to exercise in their master's treasury, 
 there would be the same effect as in those days; for God is the same 
 and Jesus Christ is the same; but without faith there can be no 
 blessing ; as they bring no grace with them, only their natural gifts, 
 which cannot impart grace to the people, though they get the praise, 
 so there is no love shown in the devotion of substance to the work of 
 God: there is a great drought in the Church: the Spirit is withheld, 
 because the offering of spiritual service is not brought from the believer's 
 inheritance, which is the word of God. Zion languisheth because the 
 glory and honour is withheld from God. 
 
176 
 
 While Israel honoured God's worship they had plenty : they did not 
 mock him when the tabernacle and temple were dedicated, by seeking 
 fire as the token of his acceptance of the offerings, when they had not 
 brought any. When the tabernacle was dedicated, Aaron did his part 
 to the offerings; the blood was sprinkled, and he came down and 
 blessed the people, when fire came out from before the Lord and con- 
 sumed the sacrifices. The heads of the people brought costly free-will 
 offerings to dedicate the altar to God ; thus they showed their reverence 
 and gratitude for the token of God's presence among them ; they feasted 
 twelve days on their offerings before the Lord, having a fresh supply 
 every day, the blood being daily sprinkled, and the fat burned, accord- 
 ing to the order of God ; they feasting, as was commanded, with joy 
 and gladness. 
 
 What a difference in the labour of the spiritual worship to the 
 ceremonial, all that is required now is devotion of the new heart and 
 right spirit, which are given for the purpose of holding communion 
 ■with God. Having the conscience sprinkled with the blood of atone- 
 ment, and purified by the spirit in the word, man is fitted to offer up 
 spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God at all times, and in all places, 
 through Christ Jesus. We see he refuses this spiritual devotion, and 
 comes without an offering ; yet the people cannot detect the fraud. 
 Many are the reasonings in the mind of the believer, why the preached 
 word is not more blest, but we see how it is ; they who are appointed 
 to prepare the Lord's offering are unfaithful to the faith they profess. 
 The free-will offering of a grateful spirit is not brought into the Lord's 
 house, therefore the souls of the people are not blest defore the Lord: 
 they will not open their hearts to entertain him. 
 
 Mr. N. said, God's house was the place where he entertained his 
 friends; but he cannot entertain God's friends unless he has first 
 opened his heart to entertain God. The servants in the spiritual sanc- 
 tuary submit constantly to the spiritual purification, and bring to God 
 the fruit of his own spirit for his acceptance. God's people cannot 
 feast on the doctor, repeating a piece that he has learnt and repeated 
 so many years: any natural man could do this; he need not be created 
 anew to offer this service. 
 
 When Solomon's Temple was dedicated, he thought his God worthy 
 of an offering. The sacrifices were prepared and laid on the altar 
 according to the appointment, and we are told they were more than 
 could be numbered. The king kneeled down before the altar and 
 prayed; in conclusion he said, "Arise, O Lord God, into thy resting 
 place; thou and the ark of thy strength. Let thy priests, O Lord 
 God ! be clothed with Salvation, and thy saints rejoice in goodness. 
 0, Lord God ! turn not away the face of thine anointed ; remember 
 the mercies of David thy servant." Then the fire came down from 
 
177 
 
 heaven and consumed the burnt-offerings and sacrifices, and the glory 
 of the Lord filled the house. When all the congregation saw it, they 
 bowed themselves, and worshipped and praised the Lord, saying, " For 
 he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever!" They all feasted ou 
 their sacrifices with joy and gladness : and God appeared to Solomon, 
 and said that he had heard his prayer, and had accepted the house for 
 a house of sacrifice. They honoured the Lord with their substance; 
 of his own they joyfully brought and rejoiced before him. He received 
 his part; the blood was sprinkled on the altar according to the com- 
 mandment, and the fat was burned : God accepted them, and blest 
 their land abundantly while they reverenced his sanctuary. If Solomon 
 had only brought lifeless beasts, or pictures of beasts, there would 
 have been no blood to sprinkle on the altar, or fat to burn ; there 
 would have been nothing for the people to feast upon, and no holy 
 fellowship among them : so now there can be no fellowship of Spirit 
 between ministers and people, if they are not using the privileges of 
 their heavenly birthright, deriving from Christ through the word; there 
 is no other way that God can be glorified, spiritual life sustained, and 
 the union of love maintained in the Church. We see afterwards the 
 consequences of Israel dishonouring God in his worship, and we are 
 warned to take example by them, lest we fall away through the same 
 unbelief as they did. They served other Gods in the house thus sanc- 
 tified to his honour, all the time pretending to honour him, even when 
 his law was lost. The same thing is practised now; men, under 
 pretence of serving God, are serving their own lusts and idols with his 
 word. The word of God is to man instead of God, but it is despised; 
 it is to the believer instead of the bodily presence of his Lord ; and 
 while he is in a state of grace he keeps up a daily intercourse ; through 
 it by faith he meets him there, and is strengthened for all spiritual 
 duties. Without this constant union and communion, the word of God 
 is in itself useless. The finest thoughts which can be drawn from it, 
 and delivered with all the graces of oratory, will never benefit a soul, 
 there having been no honour done to Christ, and no strength sought 
 from him. It is in the very act of devoting the Spirit to his word 
 that grace is given to man, honouring him to be a worker with God. 
 
 The Lord's family are all priests, a holy people only so far as they live 
 on his Word. When Moses went to deliver the typical Israel from 
 bondage, the Lord told him he was to be to Aaron in God's stead ; Moses 
 was to receive the orders from God, and Aaron was to receive them from 
 Moses as from God : Aaron was obedient to the word of Moses while he 
 had his bodily presence, and together they brought the people into liberty. 
 When Moses went up into the mount, Aaron disobeyed his word, and 
 wrath came upon them. We afterwards find Aaron obedient to the word of 
 Moses, receiving it as from God. In one instance, on a very memorable 
 
178 
 
 occasion, we find the offering haJ not been eaten by the priests according 
 to the word of the Lord, and Moses was angry because the blood had not 
 been brought into the holy place as was commanded : the least departure 
 from the order of God he would not suffer. Before Moses died he told 
 the people that after his death they would corrupt themselves; they did 
 so; there was not a heart in them to believe God's word and be obedient 
 to it, so they perished from off the land : the treasures of heaven were 
 often withheld from them ; they suffered punishment in many ways; still 
 they dishonoured God in his worship, which was the cause of all their 
 calamity. 
 
 They escaped not who refused the word which was spoken by Moses on 
 earth, and shall they escape who despise the eternal word which would 
 speak with them from heaven ! Speaking with Jesus in his Word is the 
 life of the believer. With Israel it was, " do and live ;" with the child of 
 God it is, "believe and live." To know and feel that v.ithout Christ we 
 can do nothing; to feed on his grace supplied to us through the exercise 
 of faith in the Word of God. The Spirit is given in this act, enabling us 
 to shew forth the spirit of Christ in the world. The disciples were to be 
 spiritual priests, to offer up spiritual offerings, acceptable to God through 
 Jesus Christ. They walked with Christ in the regeneration. When he 
 came to pay the price for the redemption of his chosen people Israel, they 
 saw his example of love and unwearied efforts in doing good ; they heard 
 the words of God from his lips. We read in the 14th 15th and 16th 
 chapters of St. John, the blessed instruction and comfort which he gave 
 them; and in the 17th chapter, he says, in prayer to his Father, " I have 
 given to them the words which thou gavest me, and they have received 
 them and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have 
 believed that thou didst send me." We find after all they had seen and 
 heard, they could not stand when their Lord's bodily presence did not 
 support them; when became to be in trouble they forsook him, and ran 
 away from the cross : they had not hearts to enable them to be faithful ; 
 and, like Aaron, when IMoses was out of sight, his words, which they had 
 received as from God and obeyed and honoured him as the Christ, were all 
 powerless. 
 
 After the lamb had been slain and the atonement made, the flesh having 
 been put to death, and the God of peace having raised the great shepherd 
 of the sheep, and so declaring him to be his own Son with power through 
 the spirit of holiness, he not being liable to corruption, we find things 
 were soon very different with the disciples ; their understandings were 
 opened to know the Scriptures. They were to wait in the calm peaceful 
 expectation of faith for the coming of that Spirit into their souls, which 
 would unite them in spirit to their Lord, that they might be his faithful 
 witnesses to the world through his dwelling in them by faith. They 
 believe'd their Lord's word: the promised Spirit came: and from that time 
 
179 
 
 they were new men. No more running away from the cross — no denying 
 their Lord — but a rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame 
 for his name. Having received a new heart and right spirit, they devoted 
 that spirit cheerfully and gratefully to hold communion with him in his 
 "Word ; an intercourse was constantly maintained between them and their 
 Lord ; they received a continual supply of grace through this unseea 
 union of faith, which enabled them triumphantly to go forward: they 
 lived in him, and endured as seeing him who is invisible. Thus through 
 the constant supply of his grace they reflected his image : they were the 
 salt of the earth, the lights of the world: through the word grace flowed, 
 which kept their lamps burning in the world : they believed his word, that 
 without him they could do nothing, and were obedient to his command to 
 abide in his word by faith, devoting their spirits to it : thus receiving con- 
 stant vigour from him, through meditation in his Word, they were like 
 olive-tress in the house of the Lord, and they flourished in the courts of 
 our God. 
 
 The infant Church, through their faithfulness, sat under the shadow of 
 her Lord with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to their taste, there 
 were hearts in them all to love and trust him, and their expressions 
 of dependance were not those which went out of feigned lips, but flowed 
 from the abiding sense of their own weakness, which led to a thankful 
 and diligent use of the means, through which alone God could be 
 glorified, and Jesus exalted as the head of all spiritual influence to his 
 members. They honoured him whom God delighted to honour, and he 
 honoured them by blessing the words he put in their mouths ; the power 
 which followed bearing w'itness that God was with them. Because Jesus 
 lived to send supplies of grace to their faithful souls, they were enabled to 
 live to him, and to go on in his strength, praising his name and rejoicing 
 evermore. They received his words while on earth, and they had felt 
 that without his presence they could not keep his word. Now, when the 
 glorious means of communication was opened to speak with him, when he 
 condescended to speak with them from heaven, they gladly embraced it ; 
 every new born soul had the same privilege; but the Apostles, having to 
 strengthen their brethren, found it needful to give themselves wholly to the 
 Word, that they might be filled with the spirit of love, and walk in the 
 spirit of Christ before their brethren, as examples for them to follow, that 
 the world might believe. 
 
 Thus we see the superiority of Gospel dispensation: the law was given 
 in majesty and terror ; the beholder feared and quaked, but Moses could 
 not impart power with his word to constrain them to obedience ; they cor- 
 rupted themselves after his death ; and, through their disobedience to the 
 Word, ruin came upon them. Jesus gave his law in meekness and love, 
 and those who received it desired to obey it, but were made to feel their 
 own inablity to fulfil it. When the communication was opened they 
 
180 
 
 received the power to obey, and gladly communed with their glorified Lord* 
 living tl>rough faith in his Word as in his presence, until he should take 
 them to be with him to behold his glory. Every disciple is brought from a 
 state of nature into a stale of grace, and is enabled through grace to 
 follow the guidance of the word, which will tell him the way he is to walk. 
 This is following Christ in the regeneration, the Spirit leading him on 
 till his own desire is to fulfil the law of love which Jesus gave. With 
 all his knowlege of it in the letter, and his earnest desire to fulfil it, 
 he feels deeply his total want of power ; but when the new heart and 
 right Spirit is given, he finds he is another man ; he has strength 
 from above, which comes through faith in the word ; a communication 
 by this means is opened in his soul with God, which before he never 
 had. The Word having cleansed and quickened him, he is now taught to 
 walk with God in his Word, and by that means kept from all spiritual 
 pollution, and lives by faith as seeing him who is invisible. The Word 
 has no more power in itself than it had before; if, through it, the ac- 
 quaintance with Jesus is not constantly kept up, the knowledge of it will 
 not keep a man in a healthly spiritual state. A departure from the direct 
 actings of faith in Christ through the word is a suspension of communica- 
 tion ; and with all the external signs of life, through this practical 
 unbelief, the soul will wither, because there is no drawing from the head 
 which supplies us from heaven through the act of faith in his written 
 Word. 
 
 It had been far better for man never to have known the way of 
 life, than to depart from the commandment of abiding in Christ: the 
 last state of such a man will be worse than the first. The law of love 
 which was given to man in grace through the truth, will, if dispised, speak 
 to him in majesty and terror ! Those who refuse the grace of the Lamb 
 must endure his wrath. If they escape not who did not keep the word 
 which Moses gave them on earth, how shall they escape who refuses to 
 speak with Jesus in his word, that he may impart his grace to them 
 from heaven. How great must have been the love of God to man 
 when it increased his love to his only son, because he opened again 
 the communication between his guilty creatures and himself. Jesus 
 saith, " Therefore doth my father love me, because I lay down my life 
 that I may take it again." How great then will be the wrath of God 
 on those who have despised the grace, after having partaken of it, and 
 neglect his word through which it is imparted, and boldly declare they 
 do more good when they have not devoted their spirits to his word. 
 This is the flesh triumphing over the Spirit: the younger brought into 
 subjection to the elder through unfaithfulness: but no flesh shall glory 
 in his presence. It is Jesus whom God delights to honour, the living 
 word, who is in his presence as our representative. 
 
 In no way can we worship and give glory to God, but as we believe 
 
181 
 
 the word and honour Jesus, through a feeling sense of our helplessness 
 and poverty, which is still the same ; we have no more might in our- 
 selves after we are new creatures than before, and can have none but 
 as we receive it by his Spirit through our meditation in his word. 
 
 The blackest ingratitude and greatest presumption is constantly prac- 
 tised by these men, who tell us they have received Apostolic religion : 
 they do not believe the Word of God, that without Christ they can do 
 nothing : they do not seek strength in his Word ; they refuse to speak 
 with him who would converse with them from heaven ; and by being thus 
 transformed into his image they might walk before their fellow-disciples in 
 love and meekness, fulfilling the law of love which he has laid down for 
 them, that they may (through a closer fellowship than it is possible for 
 their fellow-disciples, who have the caies of this world to attend to), be 
 examples of Christ for them to follow. 
 
 We find they have reversed the order of God: and here is a champion 
 from Chelsea says, that they purify the Word of God, instead of it being 
 the means of purification to them I And the longer they wander as 
 prodigals, refusing to go into their Father's presence in the garments he has 
 provided for them to appear before him in, they are more admired by the 
 swine ! and he, as a bold animal, has come forward in defence of the 
 prodigals: they having amused him while they have been spending their 
 Father's substance. 
 
 He has brought the testimony of two swine with him, to say how pretty 
 the rebellious prodigals look ; and that the fact is, the longer they stop out 
 of the presence of their Father, the swine like it the better ! 
 
 I am not finding fault with the Chelsea champion for old sermons : he 
 has acted according to his nature, and really deserves credit for coming 
 forward to defend those that have amused him : what he is doing 1 believe 
 is in ignorance : he does not understand that the Word of God is the food 
 of the heaven-born family, by which they are nourished in love, that they 
 may be fitted for their heavenly inheritance and glorify God in the world* 
 but thinks that the Word of God was given to man to get the applause of 
 the world by. He does not understand the spiritual nature of it : there is 
 not a trace in his book which would lead any one to suppose he has the 
 least light about the work of grace in the soul. "The natural man 
 receiveth not the things of the Spirit, neither can he know them because 
 they are spiritually discerned." He has meddled with a matter he is 
 utterly unfit to speak about. 
 
 As to the outworks of the system, he need not have troubled himself to 
 write about them, as I am finding no fault with the management nor 
 economy in any way, let them manage as they will. If they will give 
 God the honour which is his due, I will conform to any plan as to 
 externals : only let us have the spiritual service, which they pretend to do 
 but do not. 
 
 R 
 
182 
 
 If my brethren had done their duty, and had gone from their Father's 
 presence, with bread for his family, a Chelsea member would not have 
 displayed his ignorance of spiritual things : instead of being fighting that 
 God should not be honoured, his chief care would have been to guard his 
 own spirit, that no vain-glory might be seen in it under fair pretence, and 
 fearlessly to oppose it whenever it might appear. They have not done 
 their duty, and they are not only destroying their own souls but the 
 souls of others. How is it possible that men should love a religion in 
 which the ministers show such a spirit as they have shown in this ; they 
 have shown themselves enemies to the Gospel plan, and given the lie to 
 their profession. *' If any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of 
 his." We see they are destitute of this spirit : And how can it be other- 
 wise ? They are not godly men who avoid meeting God as they do : they 
 are resolved not to use the privilege of their heavenly birth, which can 
 alone fit them for the inheritance: they find they can get bread for their 
 bodies without it, so they will not trouble themselves now ; but the day 
 will come when the blessing is to be given, and those that are now so 
 profane will not obtain it. 
 
 On an average, according to the plan, the ministers do not preach more 
 than one sermon"in a week at Hinde street, which is the principal chapel 
 in the circuit: that sermon is known to have been preached in other 
 circuits : it is also carried to all the other chapels in the circuit : not 
 exactly in rotation, they manage better than that; but at one time or 
 other they bring it out. If it is a collection sermon, the same answers for 
 anniversaries, opening of chapels, and collections; for we soon find all 
 that is done is to alter the appeal at the end, just saying what is necessary 
 about whatever the money is wanted for. 
 
 Not long since, one of our members went over to Chelsea one Sunday 
 evening; Mr. Bicknell preached: she said when she came home, it 
 was a good sermon, but believed it was an old one, as there was no 
 life in it. A little afterwards, on looking over an old volume of 
 sermons, there it was as he had repeated it at Spitalfields. 
 
 I need not seek to multiply evidence that it is done, as it is not 
 denied ; and it is sanctioned by Conference. Mr. Scott says it answers as 
 well ; but it is clear from the Word of God that it is dead service. Any 
 man could learn pieces and repeat from year to year: no need to be made a 
 new creature to do this; his bodily powers are sufiicient: there has been 
 no grace had from Christ to enable them to offer acceptable service. If 
 there was nothing else to prove it wrong, the conduct of these men is 
 sufficient evidence to prove that they are not the ministers of Christ; that 
 the body of Wesleyan ministers have disunited themselves from him and 
 from his people through their unbelief. I know they are dependant on 
 the people for their bread, and on God's Word as the means to get that 
 bread. The worshippers of Baal were dependant on God for the beasts 
 
183 
 
 they offered, so these men will have no more to do with his Word than 
 they can serve themselves by. As they are resolved not to devote their 
 spirits to the Word, it is impossible they can be any thing else than 
 hindrances to the work of grace in the Church, and destroyers of love 
 among their fellow-disciples. 
 
 If the statements which are given in this work be viewed, notwithstand- 
 ing all the boasting that is made that they are following Apostolic practise, 
 there is not a trace of the spirit of Christ to be found in their actings. 
 
 All this boasting of having revived primitive Christianity is false : it is 
 not to be seen in these men in its truth, experience and practise. We are 
 warned by our Saviour to beware of pretenders, who have the outward 
 appearance of being his disciples; we are to try the spirits whether they 
 are of God. When these men's spirits are tried that are making such 
 loud public profession of love to Jesus and to his people, we find that they 
 are his enemies; they refuse to do what he has commanded, and are 
 bringing dishonour on his Church and people through the evil spirit they 
 show when his command is brought before them. They are treading in 
 the footsteps of those that destroyed our Lord and persecuted his disciples. 
 The disciples of Jesus were to be his witnesses to the world; and by 
 fulfilling his law of love, they were to prove to the world that they were 
 his. They had the clearest knowledge of his word and will: but they 
 were not to begin their work until they were endued with power from on 
 high. The holy Spirit came : they felt their Lord's spiritual presence : 
 he had promised that he would come to them in this way ; that their 
 hearts should rejoice, and their joy no man would be able to take from 
 them. The fire of love was kindled from above, and from above it must 
 be kept burning. The joy of his constant presence with them was their 
 strength, without it they could do nothing; and his presence could only be 
 retained and enjoyed in the devotion of their spirits to his Word. They 
 knew that the chief precept of their Lord was to love one another: by 
 their love to each other they were to be known in the world as his disciples. 
 To enable them to fulfil this command he strongly enforced another, 
 which was to abide in him. By this abiding in him, and he in them, they 
 would present to the world a union of love ; and through them the world 
 would be brought to believe on Jesus. The primitive disciples were 
 faithful to his Word; they kept up the spiritual converse with their 
 exalted Lord : they showed their love by the devotion of their spirits to 
 his Word. Thus they daily proved his love and faithfulness; he mani- 
 fested himself to them otherwise than he does to the world — that have his 
 Word in the letter, bnt have not the spiritual power to enable them to 
 apprehend Christ in it: and without this spiritual power to 'commune 
 with Jesus through his written Word its requirements they cannot fulfil. 
 
 The disciples were faithful to use this spiritual power that was sent to 
 them from above to enaole them to abide in their Lord : it was their life 
 
]84 
 
 to use this power : to be constantly drawing the spirit of life from Jesus 
 through meditating in his Word. They could at any time speak to their 
 fellow-disciples on what their spirits had been communing with their Lord 
 upon. They lived in the Spirit; and so were enabled by the grace 
 supplied to them, through their faithfulness to the precept of their Lord, 
 to abide in him ; to walk as he did before their brethren. By this con- 
 stant converse with him their love for him was kept pure and strong, their 
 eye single, and in his name and in his strength they laboured to promote 
 his glory. Through their faithful maintainance of this union and com- 
 munion with their Lord, they had union and communion with the whole 
 family of believers ; all deriving their spiritual sustenance from their 
 Lord. By the diligent use of the same means, great grace was upon 
 them; they presented to the world a union of love, and have left an 
 example for the imitation of the Church through every succeeding 
 generation : — an example of belief in his Word, that without him they 
 could do nothing ; — an example of faith, stedfastly devoting their spirits to 
 his Word as the channel of communication with him, through which the 
 grace from him was to flow; — an example of love to the world, fearlessly 
 and stedfastly maintaining the truth of their Lord, whoever opposed it, 
 and strengthening and supporting each other by their mutual faith, 
 knowing that nothing could separate them from him in whom was their 
 life, for they had the constant witness of his power within them. 
 
 Among our Lord's faithful disciples there was a John, noted for his 
 love ; he had seen the living Word in the flesh and leaned on his bosom : 
 afterwards, through his written Word, he kept up the blessed intimacy. 
 In this way his love was maintained : and at the close of his life we find 
 him still maintaining the holy fellowship, breathing the pure flame of 
 love on his Lord's family; inviting them to continue in this holy fellow- 
 ship that they might show to the world that they were the disciples of 
 Jesus, through their abiding in him. 
 
 In the present so called Apostolic Church, we find a John at this time 
 Chief Manager; — but he has no resemblance tc the Primitive John : he 
 has no love to be near his Lord : he has no regard to his command to abide 
 in him : he does not feel that without his imparted grace he can do 
 nothing : he will listen to no appeal that would urge him to hold converse 
 with his Lord : he sees no necessity to keep up the spiritual intercourse 
 with Jesus, to derive grace from him to fit them to perform spiritual 
 vv'orship. He thinks it is quite as well for the men to repeat their old 
 pieces that they have in accordance with the letter. This man is not the 
 friend of Jesus : he will not suffer him to be honoured as God hath 
 appointed him to be the head of all vital influence to his Church: he 
 refuses to render him the homage of a grateful dependant spirit, that he 
 may receive grace to enable him to serve God in spirit and in truth. He 
 is at present at the head of a body of men that are making merchandise of 
 
185 
 
 God's Word: are using it as the means to get money; and some, that 
 have got good natural abilities, to get fame ; but all this is of no profit to 
 the Church : it is the cruelest fraud men could invent. As these men 
 refuse obedience to the precept of Jesus to abide in him, they are unable 
 to fulfil his covenant of love. 
 
 The world will not wish for a religion that would cause men to act as 
 they do ; it would make the world worse than it is. What would we 
 think of our country, if a free citizen, that was loyal and devoted to his 
 sovereign, could be brought before a tribunal of his countrymen that 
 pretend loyalty to the same government, charged with having violated the 
 king's law — he bringing forward the clearest evidence of his innocence 
 and uprightness in supporting that law : the accuser instantly refusing to 
 bring forward any evidence that the law was broken I — but judge, accuser, 
 and part of the jury, united to abuse and insult him ! He still pressing 
 for one word of evidence to prove that he had broken his king's law, but 
 none could be brought. The judge reads over the accusation and pro- 
 nounces the man guilty : sentences him to be deprived of all the privileges 
 of a free citizen, makes him an alien in the land. Now this is the way 
 these men act when their spirits are tried in spiritual things. 
 
 We find a James and a John of the apostolic men as judge and 
 accuser against me. James, among our Lord's disciples, was called 
 James the Just; but in this apostolic James, we find no justice. 1 never 
 saw before such a specimen of the wisdom that is from beneath, as I 
 saw in this man while he stood before me for nearly three hours — 
 exhibiting the most degrading insolence of manner — to enforce his 
 accusation of guilt, that I had broken the law of my God, in declaring 
 that spiritual service could not be rendered to God, unless those that 
 performed that service had been exercising the spiritual power given 
 to'them in the Word of God. It is as clear as noon-day, that the 
 charges of this man was false ; that I had not violated the Word of 
 my God in pleading that his son should be honoured ; but that he was 
 violating that law in refusing to honour him : his whole spirit and 
 conduct showing him entirely void of the principle of love, by which 
 the disciples of Jesus are to be known. And as for John ! who 
 judged and condemned me I x\t that time he showed no trace of the 
 love that ruled in the heart of Primitive John, for he fulfilled his 
 Lord's command of abiding in him ; and entreated others so to do, 
 that thus they might be enabled to fulfil his law of love, and not be 
 ashamed at his coming. He could stand bold and fearless before the 
 chief priests and their kindred, when they were gathered together lo 
 fight against the Lord's anointed, being honoured. He being obedient 
 to the law of faith, had the sense of his Lord's presence with him: 
 this was his strength and glory ; this was the safety of the Primitive 
 Christians; the abiding sense of their own weakness, was their strength. 
 
186 
 
 But what, awfully perilous work for an enlightened man to perforin I 
 In defence of the honour of the body, of which he is a member — a man 
 that has tasted of the good word of grace, to condemn a soul for 
 declaring that the word must be used in faith, as the constant channel 
 to convey to the soul the grace of Jesus; is fighting against the clearest 
 revelation of God's will. He must have done great violence to his 
 own spirit, before he could be the instrument of the Venerable Body, 
 thus publicly to show their contempt of God's Word. He commences 
 his rebellious work by taking the name of God in vain : imploring the 
 aid of God's Spirit to guide him. What presumptuous mockery, to 
 seek the illumination of God's Spirit to protect the honour of Baal I 
 He had shut his eyes against the light of truth, and rejected the light 
 and guidance of God's Spirit; before he could condemn a soul and 
 cast her out of the Church of Christ, under the pretence that she v^s 
 violating the precepts of her Lord, when he knew that her only crime 
 was pressing that her Lord's Word should be obeyed. I knew he was 
 urged on by graceless men to commit this deed of darkness, that the 
 honour of their party might be protected, and the people made to fear 
 the preachers; but great is the guilt he has brought on his own soul, 
 to use such means to defend the honour of men that are striving 
 against God. They are the men that have forsaken the Lord as their 
 portion: they are trusting in their wealth and power — their ovrn natural 
 abilities. They boldly declare that they, by their power purify God's 
 Word. Pride compasselh them as a chain, and they are obliged to 
 use violence when their fraud is exposed. 
 
 The disciples of Jesus are taught by his Word and Spirit experimen- 
 tally to feel that naturally they have no power to serve God acceptably, 
 before they enter into the rest of faith, they have cast away all confidence 
 in the flesh. But the law of faith is lost in these men, through the 
 pride of their hearts; they refuse to use the power that was purchased 
 for them at such an immense price : they will not maintain the heavenly 
 converse with their Lord, which is to enable them to glorify him ; 
 they only want to maintain their own honour ; God's Israel is to bow 
 to them: and those that refuse shall feel their power; they shall be 
 made aliens in Israel. So here is the image of Baal set up in defiance of 
 the word of the God of Israel. 
 
 When Ahab, the worshipper of Baal, was going out to battle, there was 
 four hundred faithless men encouraged him to go. Micaiah stood alone, 
 saying, that he would not prosper, and was smitten for his testimony, but 
 his words came to pass. About the same time there had been great 
 drought and famine in the land ; for they had departed from God. The 
 treasures of heaven was withheld as a punishment for their idolatry. We 
 hear Elijah saying that he was left alone ; but God said there was seven 
 thousand in Israel that had not bowed the knee to Baal. Surely there 
 
187 
 
 will be as many found at present in our tribe that will faithfully stand for 
 the honour of the God of Israel. God's Spirit is withheld : the treasures 
 of grace cannot be poured out from on high, while these men refuse to use 
 the spiritual power God has given them to bring down the blessing that is 
 to enrich the Church with living souls. I know there is many faithless 
 men among us, that encourage the preachers in their spiritual rebellion 
 against the Word of God. When a man comes and repeats his piece 
 well, they are pleased, and they cry out loudly for the blessing of God's 
 Spirit on the man's bodily exercise. 
 
 Elijah mocked the worshippers of Baal, by saying, peradventure their 
 God was asleep; so we might say to some of those opposers of the devotion 
 in spirit, "Cry a little louder'" we hear them bawling in the most 
 irreverent manner : every feature of the face distorted, and the body 
 thrown about in different attitudes, indicating the earnestness of the man, 
 that God should bless the bodily labour of his brethren to the people. 
 But it is all in vain : the bodily exercise of either of them is of no profit : 
 there had been no honour done to the God of Israel. The preacher came 
 to repeat his piece in accordance with the letter of God's Word, to serve 
 himself— that is the way he gets his bread. But he had despised the 
 privilege of his heavenly birthright : he had no converse with his Lord ; 
 he could impart no grace, unless he had been receiving from above. 
 Esau cried with a loud and bitter cry for the blessing after he had despised 
 the birthright, but he could not have it: the blessing had been given to the 
 younger. So now the elder, that is, the flesh, shall never obtain the 
 blessing of grace for its labour. God is faithful; the blessing of his grace 
 will ever be given to the labour of the younger ; that is, the new spirit 
 that Las been given to draw the energy and life from Jesus, through which 
 ihe life of the younger is alone sustained. The life came into the man 
 from above, through grace ; and from above he must draw the grace to 
 sustain that life, through the devotion of his Spirit to the word. 
 
 So, according to the order of God, the younger is to keep the elder in 
 subjection : all that is offered now to God for spiritual worship, could be 
 performed without any new creation; it is only bodily labour. His offered 
 grace is rejected; his son dishonoured; despite done to his Spirit. If 
 they persist in their sin they will perish : all that encourage them in it are 
 partakers with them. All the boasting of reviving primitive practice in 
 all its branches is false. The apostles used the spiritual gift imparted to 
 them : they fulfiled the design of God in bestowing on them the spiritual 
 life; they yielded themselves to the conduct of the Spirit in the Word, 
 and so were enabled to glorify him by their spirit and conduct in the 
 world. He blest their faithful devotion ; the word grew and multiplied ; 
 the Lord added daily to the Church: the great grace was on them all. 
 The multitude that believed, were of one heart and one soul. God is 
 faithful ; the same grace would now be given to the same faithful devotion 
 
188 
 
 of Spirit:, the same love would still unite the Church; and believers 
 would fulfil the design of God. The world seeing this union of love, 
 would be brought to seek the grace which is in Christ Jesus. But the 
 present apostolic men will not use the heavenly gift through which alone 
 the grace is imparted : they are content with the knowledge of the word 
 in the letter ; and the spirit they shew when pressed to use this gift, would 
 not cause the world to wish for the religion that would cause men to shew 
 such a spirit. They are not fulfiling the design of God in giving them 
 this new life; they will not use the means he has appointed to sustain it, 
 and use his Word which was to be to them the channel of his grace to fit 
 them to glorify him, to get glory to themselves, and bread to sustain the 
 bodies. 
 
 Let every living soul take good seed : we can only stand vvhile we live 
 by faith; we will soon be fruitless branches, if we abide not in our Lord. 
 No knowledge nor natural power can sustain the spiritual life — the spring 
 is in Christ Jesus, and from him we most constantly receive grace, if we 
 fulfil his law of love, by which the world is to know us as his disciples. 
 
 Every thing is here stated as it occurred : I have not taken isolated 
 circumstances which might have been an oversight; but the general 
 conduct. My work has been done without any original design: 1 
 have been led on step by step as circumstances have occurred. My 
 first objection, as it is seen when I first spoke to Mr. Pengelly, nearly 
 two years ago, was, that the practice hindered prayer, and, that through 
 it, the Spirit was withheld. I do not think any one will attempt to show 
 that I have not through grace from scripture shown my objection to be 
 tiue ; and the spirit these men have shown, proves them to be destitute of 
 the Spirit of God: and from scripture we are warranted in saying, "If 
 any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." 
 
 Think of shepherds being, as they say, sit over the flock by the Holy 
 Ghost, going in and out three years amongst a flock of above three 
 hundred, and going away from them without the least expression of good- 
 will : and then think of the Apostle Paul's care of those with whom he 
 was amongst, and his conflict of spirit for the disciples of his Lord, that 
 he had never seen in the flesh, that their hearts might be knit together in 
 love. We soon see where the diff"erence is : the one lived in Christ, and 
 without him did nothing. He says, " I live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth 
 in me." These men, who say they are apostolic, have given up that 
 living and say they do as well without it: so with the truth they want the 
 love of the truth, because they want the union with the life of the truth ; 
 therefore their few sermons are repeated from year to year, avoiding that 
 duty when they can ; having had no labour of Spirit for the people, they 
 cannot shew the love of the Spirit for them. They maybe seen coming 
 in among the people in the same way still — without love. 
 
 I thought when Mr. Young came, the Spirit of Christ would be in him, 
 
180 
 
 as he had written a book planing for the conversion of the world ; but 
 when I tried his spirit, I found he was not a disciple of my Lord : I knew 
 he is complaisant and easy of access to those who say as he does, which 
 is no trial of a man's spirit. Haman doubtless was courteous to all who 
 bowed and did him reverence, but Mordicai not doing this, soon showed 
 the man's spirit. I had tried Mr. Young some time, and it must have 
 been evident to him from the effort I made that the subject caused me 
 much anxiety. 
 
 Think of the care of the Apostle Paul not to grieve others ; he says, 
 ** If meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no meat while the world 
 standeth." The difference is, that Paul refused not to converse with his 
 Lord, therefore he had his spirit of love in him : he knew that he must be 
 careful not to offend the least disciple : his Lord had said, " Woe to that 
 man who offends the little ones which believe in him : it were better for 
 him that a mill-stone were hanged about his neck, and be drowned in the 
 sea." We find the words of Christ are disregarded by Mr. Young. 
 
 After I found I was mistaken, and that he was not a servant of Christ, 
 I gave up troubling him ; and to spare my brethren's name being 
 dishonoured, appealed to Conference : he then renewed the correspondence 
 to rail at, and scorn me for so doing. I had been at much trouble and 
 expence in trying to save their good name ; and the return I had from 
 him, who should be an example of Christ for his brethren to follow, was 
 to mock at a disciple for pleading that the means might be used to obtain 
 his spirit of love; that his name might be glorified. I still persevered, 
 thinking I should find an honest man who would get the evil removed 
 without its being exposed. I had a good deal of trouble to find 
 Mr. Jackson's address ; I would not enquire of any of the friends at 
 Salisbury Street, lest I should excite suspicion that something was doing 
 about the old sermons. I went to Newington, but he was not there ; I 
 then went twice to Richmond ; he promised me and failed. I wrote to 
 him three times. Mr. Scott also promised attention, yet both these men 
 were regardless of their word. To the very last I entreated my brethren 
 for their own sakes to prevent it being known. Having the book in my 
 possession, I had not shown it to any one, I only required a fair considera- 
 tion of the subject on scripture grounds, yet they obstinately refused to 
 answer. In the face of all this evidence to the contrary, a man comes out 
 and tells the world that I published the book out of spite, because 
 gentlemen would not notice me : he says they were justified in thinking 
 me a person utterly unworthy of their notice. 
 
 This is all new-fashioned Apostolic practice and spirit. These men, 
 we are told, are justified ia being proud and insolent, and regardless of 
 their word ; yet the disciples were to be known by their kindness and love 
 to each other. 
 
 View the conduct of another man who professes to be a follower of the 
 
100 
 
 example of the Apostles : this disciple comes to the chapel, where 1 had 
 gone in and out for above fifteen years blameless — there is not one who 
 can say that I ever meddled v^ith what did not concern me — there are 
 none would say they ever complained to me and I did not help them in 
 their time of need, or in some way make an effort for their benefit. I do 
 not consider this boasting ; because, if the outward conduct is not accord- 
 ing to gospel rule, it is folly to talk about faith. This man says, he is 
 appointed by the Holy Ghost to feed the fiock of Christ : he comes out 
 before the flock and holds up one to contempt and scorn whom he had 
 never seen, and tries to make what she had said look despicable, that the 
 people might turn against her : he did not despise me but my Lord, for it 
 was in accordance with his word that I had spoken. I had said, that it 
 was only as his disciples received in faith the bread of life from his hand, 
 that it could benefit the people : this he cannot refute, but he wishes to 
 blind their eyes to the truth. At the leaders' meeting his conduct was 
 disgraceful to any man ; if he had been in the company of honest 
 worldlings he would have been turned out as a base-spirited man, unfit for 
 respectable society, for insulting another as he did me, when there was a 
 law laid down for both to appeal to : I accordingly appealed to that law, 
 hut he resolutely refused to say any thing from it ; yet, because this man 
 is a preacher, we hear some say, "We must not speak against the 
 preachers !" This is the language of ignorance ; preachers who behave in 
 this way ought to be shamed out of the Church of Christ, and not suffered 
 to destroy love and unity among the people. Those who do help them are 
 certainly not the intelligent part of the flock who love their Bibles, it 
 being all ignorant clamour that they have raised. I spoke to my brother 
 that said at the meeting the spirit of the Devil was in me. I found he was 
 zealous among the people to set them against the spiritual worship of God : 
 I wanted him to tell me what there was in the book or what I had sought 
 to be done contrary to the Word : he acknowledged he did not know what 
 was in the book, he had only read part of it; but that I ought not to have 
 spoken against the preachers. 
 
 Thus we see that the clamour was the offspring of ignorance, just the 
 same as the silversmiths raised against Paul when their craft was in 
 danger. The multitude then did not know what they were crying out 
 about, only that one imitated another. So the preachers, finding their 
 craft in danger, urged the hot ignorant spirits who take them for oracles, to 
 use their influence for them among the people : and all that any of them 
 can say when they are pressed, is, " We must not speak against the 
 preachers!" Is it not evident that the preachers who will follow this 
 practice are destitute of the spirit of the Gospel ? and if they speak with 
 the tongues of angels, and have not love in them, it profiteth nothing : they 
 cannot have love for Christ that raise a clamour to save them from holding 
 converse with him. It could not be love to Christ that constrained them 
 
191 
 
 to turn me out of his Church, after having searched diligently and could 
 find no other crime than a desire that he should be honoured. As God 
 hath appointed he should be the head from vvhence the body is constantly 
 deriving the renewing nourishment, through his Word if it was asked of 
 these men, who say that God hath sent them to feed the flock, where my 
 soul was, they could give no other answer than Cain did when he slew 
 Abel, therefore their crime is the same. 
 
 We see the sad cause of all this spiritual calamity is a departure from 
 the faith of the Gospel : God works faith in us, but we must exercise that 
 faith if the work of grace is to be carried on in us: if it was otherwise, it 
 would be a contradiction to the Word to work in us, or by us, if our 
 renewed power took no part in the work. A daily sense of our need of 
 Christ, and a constant sense of acting faith upon him, and keeping up 
 spiritual fellowship with him, is the foundation of the believer's daily joy, 
 This blessed union makes the name of Jesus most precious; because, 
 from this union with him as their spiritual head, they walk in the light of 
 God's countenance; they are giving glory to God in believing the record 
 which he has given of his Son, that in him is life, and that life is the light 
 of men , and, as needy creatures, they daily seek him in his Word that 
 they may receive out of his fulness, not relying on the finest spiritual 
 exercises they may have had before : all their fresh springs come from the 
 renewed manifestation of his faithfulness, in meeting them in his Word 
 and conversing with them. Thus his name, righteousness and salvation, 
 are their constant joy; thus they grow up into Christ their living head in 
 all things. 
 
 It is the main business of a Christian's life to imitate his Lord ; and in 
 proportion to the degree of intimacy we keep up with him in his Word, so 
 will our conformity to him be. " He that saith he abideth in him, ought 
 to walk as he walked." 
 
 We see that the character of the godly man, given in the first psalm, 
 does not belong to these men; but we find them in the second, combined 
 together against the annointed of the Lord. They have broken his law of 
 aith, and castaway his cords of love from them: but he who sets in the 
 heavens will have them in derision. God hath appointed it, and Jesus 
 shall be honoured as king in Zion. The religion which is carried on 
 without the constant supply of the life-giving energy, is not that which 
 will stand the trial : poor ragged nature, with its highest adornments and 
 improvements, cannot manifest the spirit of Christ ; she seeketh only her 
 own glory: and at last, the soul which now refuses to walk with Christ, 
 that he may be glorified, will be found without a covering : nature's 
 boasted rags will not shelter it from the wrath of God. Many will say to 
 Christ, we have prophesied in thy name, and done many wonderful 
 things : but it is only those who have kept up the spiritual acquaintance 
 with him that he will own. Those who fight against holding communion 
 
192 
 
 with him now, and are content with the Word in the letter, while their 
 whole spirit and temper prove them to be destitute of his grace, shall 
 never reign with him in glory. It is hearing the good shepherd's voice in 
 his Word which is all his people's delight, until they come to see him 
 face to face, and in his presence bless him for the conduct of his grace in 
 the wilderness. How must the spirit of our adorable Lord have been 
 grieved at the unbelief and disobedience of our poor brethren, before 
 they coald outwardly show the signs of spiritual death and corruption 
 they have done in this trial of their spirits. 
 
 When Jesus was on earth, he groaned in spirit twice at the grave of 
 Lazarus; and in that act there was a petition breathed to his Father. We 
 are told "the Spirit maketh intercession for us, with groanings which 
 cannot be uttered." How must his loving spirit have groaned over these 
 his spiritual children, for whom his holy soul endured such agony. We 
 see the spirit dead in the earthly body : bound fast in the grave-cloth of 
 fleshy confidence : the face that might have with joyful countenance 
 beheld the glory of the Lord in his Word, and have been changed into 
 the same image from glory to glory by the operation of his Spirit, is 
 bound about with the napkin of pride. The eye of faith, which once 
 beamed vfith lo^Je and joy while the spirit of Christ refreshed the soul in 
 his Word, is now dead ; the light is turned into darkness ; and how great 
 must that darkness be, when nature can come out so boldly and fight 
 against receiving the grace of the Word in the way God has appointed. 
 Jesus is still the resurrection and the life : there is hope for our brethren ; 
 as they are yet where all wrongs may be set right. We may say as 
 Mary did to Jesus, Ah, Lord, if thou hadst been here, our brethren 
 would not have died yet, they have died while there was plenty of bread, 
 because they would not eat. The Word which would have been, through 
 faith, the savour of life unto life, has become the savour of death, for 
 want of the exercise of faith. The stone may yet be taken away, 
 unloosed the grave-clothes, and the face uncovered; the eye of faith may 
 yet beam with joy and love, when the Spirit, which has been in bondage, 
 is again banquetting with his Lord in the Word. He will come and sup 
 with those who entertain him; he himself furnishes the provision; all 
 that he requires is a willing reception of him and his bounty. Oh! that 
 our brethren may see their error, and willingly submit their spirits to 
 that Lord from whom they have so deeply revolted ; then we will rejoice 
 over them with joy, and gladly regeive from their lips the things on 
 which their hearts meditated while they communed with their Lord. 
 This sad spiritual desolation has come upon our brethren because they 
 have despised their heavenly birthright ; and having held no communion 
 with their Lord, have therefore brought nothing from him; God could 
 not be deceived : the meat in his house came not before him with the 
 savour of Christ, therefore it could not have his blessing. It is through 
 
193 
 
 him in whom he is well pleased that the offering of what has been given 
 is presented ; but the servant of the sanctuary being faithless seeks not 
 to meet him, therefore the blessing which maketh rich, and addelh no 
 sorrow, has not been upon them nor their offering, and their spirits are 
 dead and cold : the love of God is not in them. We see them like 
 Sampson, shorn of their strength ; they have gone to sleep in the lap of 
 spiritual sloth, trifled with the secret of their strength till they have lost 
 it ; their eyes have been blinded to their own weakness through vain-glory. 
 They have been long in the prison-house of unbelief before they could 
 arrive at the state in which we now behold them, sporting with spiritual 
 things as though there was no God to be honoured, no Saviour to glorify, 
 no Spirit to guide them, no Word to be led by : as though God did not 
 know when they came mocking and professing their dependance on him 
 for spiritual help : when they had never submitted their spirits to his 
 appointed means of grace, and are not trusting to his help. Some of 
 them have been playing at this sport for many years. 
 
 Oh ! that they may see their folly, and be avenged on the sins which 
 have led to such consequences. In the strength of grace may they make 
 an effort, and casting themselves and all their fancied might at the feet 
 of their Lord, may his strength be again imparted to them, that they 
 may go from his presence in the power of his might into his house. 
 His enemies will not then be pleased and amused with them, while 
 they despise their Lord; but the enmity of their hearts will be slain by 
 the power of his Word ; and he to whose guidance the faithful servant 
 had submitted his spirit, and in whose might he appeared before the 
 people, will have the glory. 
 
 We see our brethren are like the temple of the Lord in the days of 
 Josiah : there were the priests and all the forms of worship, but the temple 
 was polluted with idols ; the priests did not know there was a law ; it was lost 
 among the rubbish. The body of the believer is the temple of the holy 
 Ghost; but, alas ! it is polluted ; the glory is departed; and that which 
 was to be holy to the Lord is filled with rubbish and idols. All this pollu- 
 tion of self-dependance, pride and vain-glory, must be cast into the brook 
 Kidron, where all the filth from the temple was cast, before they can by 
 faith enter into the garden of Gethsemane, and partake of the heavenly 
 blessings for which Jesus there agonized, and which they have mocked and 
 despised. We see them as poor prodigals, who have taken their portion in 
 the Word of God, aud have departed from their father's presence with it. 
 They have amused the swine, and tried to feed on the husks of admira- 
 tion and applause. But no : man's praise could not supply the place of their 
 father's bread; so we find them perishing with hunger in the world : their 
 meekness and love, by which they were to be known as the sons of a king, 
 are gone. Oh ! that they may arise and go to their father, confessing 
 s 
 
194 
 
 their sin, he will give them the best robe, the righteousness of Jesus, in 
 which they are to meet him daily in his Word by faith, and receive a 
 portion of bread from his hand. He will give them the ring, the token of 
 love and union with Jesus, and his Spirit will again be in their hearts: 
 their feet shall be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Thus 
 equipped, and going daily to their father in the robe he has provided for 
 them to meet him in his Word, that he may give them a portion of meat, 
 Ihey shall walk in the world in the dignity of king's sons, in holiness and 
 purity, as seeing God; and by their love and meekness they will be knowa 
 to be the disciples of Jesus. 
 
 He will never own those for his servants who do not delight to converse 
 with him, by which they show their love to him ; as this alone can render 
 their work delightful to themselves and useful to others. Repeating pieces 
 which they have learnt, according to the system of doctrine they have 
 chosen, from year to year, can neither benefit themselves spiritually nor 
 the Church, as it is all mere bodily exercise without any godliness in it. 
 We see those men who contend for this service are strangers to the spirit 
 of Christ: he requires the devotion of their renewed spirits to the Word 
 from the principle of love to him, and the service rendered to others as a 
 proof of that love, and which ere long we know he w'ould acknowledge 
 before an assembled world as done to himself. " I was hungry, and ye 
 gave me meat; 1 was thirsty, and ye gave me drink." This is all the 
 spiritual provision ; his whole family wait upon him daily to receive it 
 from his hand, and bless his holy name while they are sustained daily in 
 the renewed diligent use of the same means. Their brethren can only 
 be instrumental in refreshing them as they receive the portion from his 
 hands ; his family have no stock in hand, but faith buys at the time what- 
 ever is necessary ; and without this constant living on and in his Word, 
 and constantly deriving his spirit of love by which they are to be known as 
 his disciples, and through which love is manifested, when their spirits are 
 tried they cannot prove that they are his. The Apostles knew well the 
 secret of their love was the devotion of their spirits to the Word. Is it 
 reason, they said, that we leave the Word of God to serve idols. They 
 knew the endearing intercourse that was still kept up by faith with their 
 exalted Lord ; they felt his spirit of love imparted to them : grace, which 
 would have made them willing to lay down their lives for his sake, or for 
 the sake of their brethren. 
 
 In these men, who say they can do the work of Christ without the 
 renewed intercourse, we see the spirit of hatred to the followers of Christ : 
 their strength is not only gone, and they are become weak like other men, 
 but they shew that the last state of enmity to the Gospel-plan is worse than 
 the first. They have just given proof that they will not be considered 
 servants in the Church, but will show to all that they are Lords over it ; 
 
195 
 
 and those who dare dispute their authority to act independant of Christ, 
 shall not remain in their coasts. 
 
 I mentioned before, that after I was cast out of the Church for opposing 
 this practice, I was invited back to my class, and thankfully went. The 
 first Sabbath I returned it was our prayer meeting : in prayer I was 
 welcomed by my brethren and sisters ; they blest God that I was again 
 come among them. There was not the slightest allusion made by any as 
 to what had kept me from among them : the subject of the book I have 
 never made the slightest allusion to, neither has there been any made in 
 my hearing. From one Sabbath to another I rarely see any of oUp 
 members, each having their respective duties to attend to, yet I believe we 
 live in the hearts of each other. If I have been detained, there has been 
 the kind iuquiry after me; and at the conclusion of our meetings, one 
 and another would say, "Oh ! bless you, I was so glad to see you come in." 
 While, through grace, I have felt pity and compassion for many that I 
 have heard of whom are loudly clamouring against the faith they profess. 
 No one who had not been an outcast could know the increased love I have 
 felt to those who have shown the spirit of Christ towards me. 
 
 Last Sunday week, the 21st July, I went to class as usual. One of our 
 sisters spoke of the delight she always enjoyed in our communion together 
 on earth : she said it often made her look forward to the never-ending 
 happiness we should soon enjoy; for in heaven we should have a class- 
 meeting which would never break up : several followed in the same strain. 
 Our meetings are so spiritual that no living soul could come in without 
 being led to acknowledge that God was there. The sacrament was to be 
 administered in the chapel that evening. I thought, well, I am excluded 
 from that ; I am not suffered publicly to profess that I belong to Christ, 
 but they cannot break the unity of spirit with his people, nor exclude me 
 from this blessed communion of saints. "We are of one heart and one 
 soul, united by one Spirit, enduring the same conflict — all joyfully partak- 
 ing of the same grace and blessing our Lord for his faithfulness in supplying 
 our wants. The warfare will soon be over, and then we shall for ever 
 unite to praise him for his goodness and grace to us while in the wilder- 
 ness : we shall then see clearly all the way he hath led us, and the many 
 dangers we were exposed to, through which, by his grace alone, we were 
 preserved. We then parted one in heart. Even this blessed privilege 
 I was to be deprived of: the preachers had heard that I met among the 
 people, and objected to it. I felt much grieved at their cruelty, as they 
 seemed determined if they could to destroy me by making me odious 
 among the people, through being excluded from every means of grace, as 
 if I was doomed for destruction. The room we met in belonged to one of 
 the members : it was known to all that I was not a member of the 
 Society: I did not go on Ticket-Sunday; but this I did not regret, 
 as I should never have attended that meeting, ouly 1 knew our leader 
 
196 
 
 wished us to show respect to the preachers. Our members never seemed 
 to have the same liberty in speaking, and the meetings to me had 
 always riore the air of a meeting for business than for spiritual profit. 
 In a general way it was hurried over, the preachers giving good evidence 
 that their minds were not much exercised in spiritual things. There are 
 some exceptions, but this is the general form on Ticket-Sunday ; therefore 
 there not being much spiritual profit, it was not to be regretted as a loss. 
 
 I found it was Mr. Pengelly who was employed to stop me from the 
 meeting ; also, that he had been told there had not been the least al- 
 lusion made to the cause of the difference. On Monday morning I 
 wrote to him: I knew that whatever he did was by Mr. Young's 
 authority ; but I considered that neither he nor Mr. Young had any 
 right to prohibit me entering another person's room ; the privilege T 
 there enjoyed being bestowed entirely from the love of the people, and 
 of which they could have no just right to deprive me. I told Mr. P. 
 that it was with a grieved spirit, after a sleepless night spent in tears 
 of sorrow at his renewed persecution, that I then addressed him ; that 
 although he was acting from the authority of others, yet his sin was 
 not the less in the sight of God, on account of the manner he had 
 acted towards me. Paul did not think he had committed no sin in 
 persecuting the saints, because he had the authority of the chief priests 
 to do so. I could only say, as my Lord had done, " If I have spoken 
 evil, bear witness of the evil." He had been the means of bringing 
 upon me much contempt and scorn in many ways, but I never even in 
 thought had blamed him. I had pitied him; as I believed that in the 
 manner he had acted towards me he had done great violence to his 
 own spirit : that as he was placed at the time, he was obliged to show the 
 spirit against me he did otherwise he must have renounced the practice. 
 
 I had been pressed at the time to publish the trial, but quietly sub- 
 mitted to his decision against me ; but they having sent out a champion 
 without any armour to defend them, I considered there was a call again 
 for me to appear against the practice : that their present conduct was 
 only furnishing fresh evidence that they were destitute of the spirit of 
 God, as he never would say be was prompted by the spirit of God to do 
 this. I said I would not act as an enemy if I had been treated as one : 
 it was the practice I was an enemy to, not them. I should again sub- 
 mit the book to the preachers before it went into the world, and no one 
 could be more desirous than I was that it might never be known ; that 
 they were captives bound hand and foot with truth ; that I believed we 
 would yet contend who should be loudest in praise : I for the grace 
 through which I had been enabled to stand stedfastly and fearlessly 
 against them, or he for the grace that had pardoned his sin, and en- 
 abled him to devote his spirit to his work, through which devotion he 
 would have many souls for his joy, and crown of rejoicing in that day. 
 
197 
 
 I have waited above a week, but no answer has been returned : the two 
 men are now gone to Conference, where hundreds of these faithless 
 shepherds are met at the expense of their brethren to promote, as they 
 say, the welfare of the Church of Christ. 
 
 There never has been a greater spiritual deception carried on in the 
 world than these men are now practising. Their meeting together is 
 not to strengthen each others hands in God, but merely to manage the 
 externals of a system, so as to turn it to the best advantage for them- 
 selves to get a living by. They acknowledge that this is the vital part 
 of their economy ; but the vital part of the economy of God's grace ihey 
 can shamelessly fight against; With a sound scriptural creed, and all 
 the external marks of devotion to Christ, we find them enemies to his 
 honour in spirit, and despisers of the Word of his grace. They are 
 become lords in Christ's household : rich men, who want nothing from 
 him. They praise each other, and use all the means possible to gain 
 the applause of men. Thus they fare sumptuously every day on pride 
 and vain-glory ; their souls taking their ease — never thinking for what 
 end spiritual life was given them, nor for what end they came in as 
 servants to the Church. They are above receiving the bread from their 
 Lord's hands for his household, and they would not suffer one of his 
 children, that has pleaded that he should be thus honoured, to pick up 
 the crumbs outside his gates, lest their honour, as lords, should be tar- 
 nished by allowing such a beggar to be near the house in which they 
 reign. It is quite an improbability that these men can profit the Church 
 of Christ. As they say they perfect their sermons by oft-repetition, and 
 it is the general practice to carry the same about year after year, there- 
 fore let young men be ever so devoted when they enter into the service 
 of God, yet, through this practice, the life of God is soon extinguished 
 within them : they soon fall into the practice : their removal from place 
 to place gives them the opportunity of avoiding the spiritual labour; 
 thus the love in the young dies, and their service is only a name. The 
 old ones turn persecutors, and show the most bitter enmity to the word 
 of Christ, without whom they can do nothing. If they are not content 
 to be workers under him, they are only cumberers on the Church — 
 withered branches — refusing sap, and so fitting for the fire. 
 
 Jesus is still among his people in his spiritual presence as one that 
 serveth, and he will be so until the last soul is safely passed over Jordan. 
 He supplies their daily wants, but never gives them a stock cf provisions; 
 they must honour him by waiting upon him. Did I say must ? It is 
 their daily delight to hear their Shepherd's voice in his Word, through 
 which means their spirits are sustained. As a prophet they receive him 
 and he daily instructs them as a king. He rules over them; and by 
 the love they show to each other, it is to be known that they are 
 his. 
 
198 
 
 These men cannot believe there is a judgment-day, when they who 
 have been an offence to him here, and refused him as a prophet and 
 king, shall be destroyed. How will it add to the condemnation of those 
 men, who have stood out before their fellow-disciples in profession of 
 love for souls, when before an assembled world it is all found to be 
 hypocrisy ? Their spirits often pass off the stage of time unknown : no 
 one suspects the guile, but then it will all be open. What will it avail 
 Mr. Young that he has written a book, having such love for souls that 
 he is laying a plan for the conversion of the world, when we see even 
 now he has no love for souls. Judas pretended great love for the poor, 
 and thought it was a waste that so much precious ointment should be 
 used on his Lord ; but we find he cared not for the poor, only he was 
 a thief, and carried the bag, and bore that which was put therein. We 
 find that although this man makes such great pretensions of love for 
 the whole world, he has none for his Lord, and he will have a disciple 
 whom he has been set to watch over, and with whom he has never 
 once spoken, and has been heard at different times to say that he has 
 never read the book, yet he will have that soul hunted from every means 
 of grace, because she has spoken her Lord's Word faithfully. He has 
 been told there is no honour done to him in what has been said ; and 
 for all his constant boasting of love for souls, he uses the utmost of his 
 power to destroy when his name is dishonoured. I have no desire to 
 dishonour Mr. Young : his natural abilities are well suited for his work, 
 if it went no farther than that, I would join with the multitude and 
 praise him; but the contest between him and I is spiritual: he refuses 
 to honour his Lord in spirit and in truth. We see his love is like that 
 of Judas — it is not that he cares for souls, but by these pretensions he 
 steals his Lord's glory, and has the name of being a devoted disciple. 
 Like Judas he betrays his Lord: he says, Hail, Master! and outwardly 
 shows all the tokens of love ; but when his spirit is tried by the Word, 
 he shows to it the greatest scorn. 
 
 These men are not the disciples of Christ : we certainly may believe 
 the Word of God before the pretensions of any man or body of men ; 
 and we see they have the spirit of his enemies in them ; they will not 
 have him to reign over them. Their love to him is a mere parade of 
 words, which they have learnt out of bonks : Christ's love to us was 
 not empty words, it was a display of the most wondrous condescension 
 and grace, the submission of his spirit to the most mysterious suffering, 
 that he might be qualified as the head of his body, the Church, to sup- 
 ply their constant spiritual necessities by his Word, and through it 
 constantly displaying his faithfulness, wisdom and goodness, in meet- 
 ing their indigence, relieving their weakness, and confirming their 
 faith. 
 
 The first command to be obeyed, in order to be receivers of his grace 
 
199 
 
 is, " Abide iu me :" live in my word : by it you have been purified from 
 the spirit of tiie vporld, and brought to love me; and by it alone you 
 are to be kept pure and filled with love, that it may be seen by the spirit 
 of love, which you manifest, that you are indeed my disciples: and 
 through this love the world will be brought to believe that there is more 
 in religion than the mere outward form : that there is a spirit of love 
 which the mere knowledge of the letter does not bring. This specula- 
 tive acquaintance with Christ will never bring the spirit of love into a 
 man's soul ; the present case is clear evidence of that. The command, 
 "Abide in me," is no trial to the disciple of Jesus : no, he will never be 
 found fighting against this command. The faithful devotion of his spirit 
 to Christ in his Word is his greatest delight ; he knows that by waiting 
 upon him there he renews his spiritual strength, therefore with child-like 
 simplicity he is daily found breathing the prayer, '• Lead me in thy 
 truth and learn me, for thou art my God ; thou art the God of my 
 salvation, and on thee do I wait all the day." He fights not against 
 this simple dependance ; he knows it is the source of his light and life ; 
 he feels that many are his spiritual foes, but Christ and his word are 
 his safeguard. He that seeks to destroy the spiritual life seeks to de- 
 stroy Christ, who is that life ; he is therefore freed from all anxiety as to 
 his safety ; he knows that he can come to no harm while he is living 
 on Christ in his Word ; his spirit mounts above all trial and persecution, 
 and sings, "The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear: 
 the Lord is the strength of my heart, of whom shall I be afraid." He 
 knows that if left to himself he should fall, but that God will never 
 leave those who do not leave him; so that all through this wilderness 
 he is to be a dependant on Christ for the spirit of his love to guide 
 him, that he may show forth his praise : and his security and delight are 
 in that submission of spirit which God requires. 
 
 We see that it is entirely through the rejection of the Word of Christ 
 that these men, who outwardly pretend to be his friends, are found to be 
 his enemies. Through their folly and presumption in thinking they could 
 do God's work without holding constant intercourse with him, the spirit 
 of Christ has been grieved; and in their disobedience they have said, 
 " Depart from us — we desire not the knowledge of thy ways;" -we want 
 no farther acquaintarice with Christ ; therefore we will not devote our 
 spirits to the Word of God; we want not thy guidance nor grace, which 
 is the only way to obtain them. This is the language of their practice; 
 their spirits are at enmity with the Word of Christ, and present before 
 the world the awful spectacle of men fighting against the faith they 
 prof^s. This contest has been watched by the infidel. It has been 
 said to me, Will you not now believe that religion is all a fable — that 
 there is no more power in the Word of God than there is in any other 
 book, when men who professed to be guided by its precepts, and influenced 
 
200 
 
 by i(s spirit, could violate every principle of honour and justice, as these 
 men have done, and have denied the vvord of faith which they preach 
 to others. To this I have answered, that instead of the bad conduct 
 of these men being an argument to prove that the religion of Jesus 
 Christ is only a mere name, and that there is no spirit of love comes 
 through the devotion of spirit to his Word — now that their fraud is ex- 
 posed, it is the strongest argument in favour of the spirituality of Christ's 
 religion, and most convincingly proves his words, that without him nothing 
 can be done. 
 
 These men having got their few sermons have set up as masters in 
 the Church, and intend doing all the business without his assistance. 
 We see they are actors in Israel : their resolution to do without him is 
 like Achan's plunder hid deep in their earthly tabernacle : but God sees 
 it. Doubtless Achan appeared as zealous as any other Israelite that 
 they should conquer, but they could not while he had the accursed thing 
 in his tent; neither can the Church be united or prosper, it cannot 
 stand in the world in the unity of the spirit, until this accursed sin of 
 pride and vain-glory is put away. It is hid deep in the spirits of these 
 men. Outwardly there is the strongest profession of love to God and to 
 his Israel ; but when they are tried they are found destitute of either 
 fear or love to God, and are enemies to the disciples of Christ. The 
 infidel cannot harm the Church ; but the Church can make infidels, and 
 keep them so. Would any man desire a religion when he sees its most 
 zealous outward defenders in their own conduct give the lie to every 
 word they profess, and turn persecutors against the truth they teach, when 
 it is clearly shown to them that they are acting against the truth, and 
 can do nothing without the submission of their renewed power to be 
 guided in the truth by the spirit of Christ in the Word ? This sub- 
 mission of spirit they boldly refuse ; so that we see the foes of the Church 
 are within her; her most zealous pretended friends are her enemies. 
 They have broken the covenant of union, and trampled on the law of 
 the spirit of Christ. We see in them the flesh triumphing over the 
 spirit : Esau has got the mastery, but he cannot have the blessing. 
 Instead of the word they preach, through the renewed exercise of faith, 
 cleansing them and keeping them clean, as Jesus had said, they boldly 
 declare they purify the Word ! We see the practical proof in this case 
 of the difference between man's purification and God's. The purification 
 of the Spirit of God, if they had submitted their spirits to his operation, 
 would have filled them with love to Jesus and to their fellow-disciples. 
 What has their own purification done for them ? It causes them to show 
 that they have the wisdom which is from beneath — -the faith of devils — 
 they believe and hate, If they show such hatred to those that speak 
 the Word of God which they cannot deny, we are from scripture warranted 
 to say the love of God is not in them. 
 
201 
 
 These men profess their belief in the truth, but have shown their 
 hatred to the life of the truth by refusing to hold fellowship with him, 
 that they may show their love of the truth. Thus instead of being per- 
 fected in love, which they would be if they submitted themselves to the 
 guidance of God's Spirit, we see m them with the clearest knowledge 
 of the truth in the letter, the perfection of hatred to the Gospel plan of 
 salvation. They have rejected the counsel of God against themselves, 
 by refusing to draw the nourishment from the root of their spiritual life, 
 and have shown that they are withered branches fitting for the burning : 
 his Word having no place in them, only the knowledge of the letter, is 
 clear evidence to the infidel that there is a secret uniting energy in the 
 Word of God which can only be felt and retained as the Word is re- 
 ceived and used in faith: the constant exercise of this grace bringing the 
 spirit of Christ into the soul. This is the mystery that the natural man 
 cannot comprehend, because he is without the spiritual power that appre- 
 hends the spiritual presence of Christ in the Word, which makes it spirit 
 and life to the man that has received this power, and faithfully uses it ; 
 without this he will soon be in a far worse state than the infidel who 
 denies (hat there is any such power imparted. 
 
 Let the Word of Christ be carefully examined, and it will be seen that 
 I speak the truth ; and that these men are the characters which he 
 describes as enemies to himself. His disciples are known by their love 
 to each other ; this love is maintained in living by faith in his Word : 
 they can only live as they thus believe their own helplessness, and making 
 use of the Word as God has appointed for wisdom, righteousness, sanctifi- 
 cation and complete redemption. Jesus has forewarned his disciples what 
 they are to expect from these self-righteous men, who do not feel their need 
 of keeping up their acquaintance with him. He knew well that when 
 trial came from such a quarter they would be ready to stumble, so he tells 
 them to remember his words, " That the servant is not greater than his 
 Lord ; and if they had persecuted him they would persecute them: if 
 they had kept his saying, they would keep theirs also." Here are his 
 words fulfilled, both in the letter and in the spirit. These men having 
 first rejected his Word, now show to the world the enmity of their minds, 
 by persecuting a soul and depriving it of all the united means appointed 
 for spiritual union among the people of God, just because that soul has 
 reminded them of the words of Jesus, that they must perseveringly use 
 the appointed means to obtain his grace, if they would have his name 
 glorified in the world. Our Lord tells his faithful disciples, "They shall 
 put you out of the synagogue; yea, the time cometh, that whosoever 
 killeth you, will think that he doeth God service." Can it be possible 
 that the minds of the Wesleyan Ministers are so darkened through their 
 mockery of spiritual service, that they really think they are doing God's 
 work in depriving a soul of the means of grace for speaking the words of 
 
202 
 
 God ? Our Saviour says, " If the light that is in thee be darkness, how 
 great is that darkness :" and it is only as the eye is kept single, that 
 the true light is received and retained : if this is not the case, the last 
 state of such a man is worse than the first. 
 
 If these men had never felt the power of the Word in their soals, 
 they could not have then despised the grace of Christ ; if they never 
 had a new heart and right spirit, they could not have refused to hold 
 converse with God, not knowing his power working in them by his Word 
 and spirit, and fitting them to hold converse with him, that they might 
 bring glory to his name: they could not have committed the sin of despis- 
 ing the riches of his grace, that was to enable them so to do. We 
 believe that many of them are renewed men, therefore they have no 
 cloak for their sin; they have wilfully shut their eyes, and hardened their 
 hearts against the law of the spirit of life, which freed them from the 
 bondage of the flesh. Through their spiritual sloth they have suflPered 
 the old nature again to have the mastery, after having tasted the good 
 word of grace and the power of the world to come. They show the 
 greatest contempt to the Word of God, and hatred to Christ ; for they 
 despise the privilege he has purchased for them — they will not use their 
 birthright. Oh ! that they may see their folly ere it be too late ! 
 
 We find that by thus despisiug the Word as the means of grace men 
 become graceless ; and if they repent not, they will cry in vain to God 
 for the purchased inheritance, after having till death despised their 
 birthright; refusing the grace which was to fit them for their heavenly 
 inheritance; and we may suppose that the condemnation of those who 
 have thus deceived others will be far greater than that of unbelievers, 
 w^hose opportunity of doing good was not so great. It is impossible for 
 them to be of any use in the Church or in the world while they thus 
 reject the grace of God, and are content with the letter-knowledge of 
 the Word, they do not bring into his house the offering in righteousness, 
 presenting it in the flame of love that has been replenished from the 
 renewed manifestation of Jesus to their spirits. They come in their own 
 name, and in their own strength ; the fire of self-love is kindled by the 
 pride of the flesh being gratified by the praise of men. They were to 
 be the salt of the earth, but we find there is no sweet savour of Christ 
 in their spirits : and in them there is no power to season. They were 
 to be the lights of the world; but they refuse to use the means to obtain 
 the oil to keep their lamps burning ; and when their spirits are tried 
 we find only empty polluted lamps— no oil, no lovely example reflecting 
 the image of Christ — all their works being done only to be seen and 
 admired of men, and to get a sustenance for their poor perishing bodies; 
 and the meat which Jesus would give them to support their never-dying 
 souls they will not labour for, but rest contented in the knowledge that 
 there is meat. 
 
203 
 
 Let the conduct of these men be a warning to every living soul to 
 take heed, for we stand by faith, and can only live as we live in the act 
 of simple dependance. Jacob was sent away from his father's house that 
 his life might be preserved after he had received the blessing ; so before 
 we are made partakers of the blessing of the heavenly nature, we have 
 ceased from all confidence in the flesh : and from the flesh, which is our 
 greatest foe, we must be kept free, otherwise the spiritual life will be 
 destroyed by it : and this life can only be sustained as we receive the 
 Word daily from God : as little children we must depend on our father for 
 our spiritual bread day by day; there is no glory for the flesh, for it can 
 do nothing but destroy. 
 
 Let every spiritual Israelite most gratefully prize the privilege of his 
 heavenly birthright, and then he will thankfully take all the discipline his 
 father uses towards him while passing through the wilderness. His spirit- 
 ual foes may use all their wiles against him, but will never overcome. 
 Jesus has overcome all our enemies : and while we use our purchased 
 privilege of walking with him in his Word, we shall triumph over every 
 foe. By unbelief we tempt God to withdraw from us, and our enemies 
 will rise against us and triumph over us. Those who despise their birth- 
 right are the greatest enemies of God's Israel ; if we look at- the typical 
 Israel, we find this to be the case ; and all is written for our instruction 
 and warning. When they were settled in the wilderness they soon began 
 to murmur at their little trials : they tried the spirit of Moses. He said 
 to God " What shall I do with this people, for they be ready to stone 
 me." They tempted God by their unbelief, and in their hearts turned 
 back to Egypt, and directly we find a battle between them and Amalek. 
 They had questionod whether the Lord was among them, although they 
 had the pillar and cloud as tokens of his presence, aud had also that day 
 gathered the manna which came from him for their support, but they had 
 no heart in them to remember his goodness, nor the mighty deliverance he 
 had wrought out for them ; they forgot that they were the Lord's people, 
 and that he would not fail them if they trusted him to provide all that was 
 needful. Amalek now sought to destroy them : this people were the 
 descendants of Esau, who had despised his birthright; and they were the 
 first enemies who came out against the descendants of Jacob, when they 
 were partly in the way to obtain the blessing. Joshua was told to cheer 
 the men, and fight with Amalek . and Moses and Aaron and Hur went up 
 to the top of the hill ; and when Moses held up his hand Israel prevailed, 
 and when he let down his hand Amalek prevailed. " Moses' hands were 
 heavy, and they took a stone and set it under him, and he sat thereon ; 
 and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, and they were steady to the 
 going down of the sun. Joshua discomforted Amalek and his people with 
 the edge of the sword. And the Lord said unto Moses, write this for a 
 memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua, for I will utterly 
 
204 
 
 put out (he remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses 
 built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi; for he said, 
 because the Lord hath sworn (hat he will have war with Amalek from 
 generation to generation." 
 
 So we fin.d there was the malignity of the serpent in Amalek to destroy 
 Israel because of the birthright, but the Lord was their defence. It is 
 just the same with the spiritual Israel : the enmity between the elder and 
 younger is still the same, and the war will be continued from generation 
 to generation. It begins in every one as soon as they are delivered from, 
 the bondage of sin and death, and made partakers of the heavenly nature. 
 The spirit being under a divine conduct, the flesh, which at first seemed 
 pleased with the new state, soon begins to tempt the spirit to murmur, 
 for it finds it has nothing now wherein to glory; it does not like the 
 discipline it is brought into, and will try under many false disguises to 
 get to itself a little glory : it finds none in the cross of Christ, the for- 
 saking all to follow him when it must be daily practised is a humbling 
 that the old nature cannot brook. The enmity of the old serpent will 
 soon work through our flesh. If the Lord is with it when it is brought 
 into trial, if it does not rest on his word that all shall work for good, 
 and resigning itself up to its Lord, says, My times are in thy hands, do 
 with me as thou will, only let me glorify thy name ! When there is not 
 this resignation of spirit to the wilderness dispensation, Amalek will soon 
 appear and fight boldly for the destruction of the spiritual life; the elder 
 will hate the younger, because of the blessing, and will show openly his 
 hatred whenever the younger is unfaithful to the law of faith, under 
 which he is placed; that alone enabling him to keep the elder in subjec- 
 tion : but Jesus, our Joshua, has been in the conflict, and knows the 
 conflict we have to maintain : he for us has conquered the enemies of our 
 salvation — the battle with him lasted until death : the tempter tried his 
 wiles with him, but there was nothing in his holy nature that would 
 unite with the prince of this world. In that last conflict the earth was 
 darkened, the sua withdrew his light, but cur Captain conquered the 
 malice of the serpent; his power put the body of flesh to death, but the 
 grave could not retain its holy prisoner : he rose through his own power 
 and holiness, and brought life and immortality to us. 
 
 The conflict between the flesh and Spirit will never cease until we see 
 the last setting sun on earth; but if we remain stedfast on this life-living 
 stone which is laid in Zion, on which we have been set, and if our hands 
 are held up by faith and prayer, the Spirit and the word will animate us; 
 we shall find the presence of our Joshua with us, and the sword of his 
 spirit will conquer every foe. We shall stand in his strength triumphant 
 on the hill of Zion. Until we are taken to the new Jerusalem, the flesh 
 will be in subjection to the spirit, the elder will serve the younger; no flesh 
 will glory in his presence ; every high thought will be brought to the 
 
205 
 
 obedience of Christ as long as we are obedient to walk with him in his 
 Word. Woe to him who will not submit to receive the offered grace, 
 whose heart turns back to Egypt, the works of the flesh that had kept 
 him under the dominion of the prince of darkness, from whence he kas 
 been delivered by might and power ; he will perish at last if he persist 
 in rebellion. 
 
 When Saul, Israel's first king, was to be presented to the people, he 
 was little in his own eyes, and hid himself, and had to be searched out; 
 some of the people despised him, and brought him no presents, but he held 
 his peace ; and afterwards, when these men were wanted to be slain, he 
 would not suffer it. He was afterwards sent to destroy Araalek, but we 
 find him now of another spirit ; he had become great in his own sight ; 
 he disobeyed the word of the Lord, and then boasted to Samuel of his 
 obedience. After much ado he was brought to acknowledge his sin, but 
 his greatest care was that he should not be dishonoured. He lost the 
 kingdon God had given him ; and ever after we find him zealous for his 
 own honour. Poor David was hunted by him out of all the coasts of 
 Israel, for no other cause than because, after he had slain the Philistine, 
 the women in their songs said, " Saul hath slain his thousands, and David 
 bis ten thousands." The sin of sparing Amalek was the destruction of 
 Saul, for that he fell by his own hand in the battle-field : the Amalekite 
 destroyed him with his own sword, and carried his crown and bracelet to 
 David; and he slew the Amalekite that had slain the Lord's anointed. 
 The chosen men in our Israel, that were to stand by faith with our Joshua 
 in their generation against Amalek, discomfitting him with the edge of the 
 Spirit's sword until the going down of their earthly sun, have proved, 
 like Saul, unfaithful; they have not fulfilled the commandment of the 
 Lord ; although, like Saul, they boast of their obedience. When the 
 Word of the Lord is brought to convict, we find Agag is spared, and we 
 hear the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen : they have 
 brought them, they say, to honour Israel's God ; but he will never accept 
 the offering that he commanded to be destroyed. The only way to hon- 
 our him is to obey his word ; if that had been done, if our rejoicing was 
 in Christ Jesus, if there was no confidence in the flesh, we would not hear 
 such bleating as this. We want the man, his eloquence and action to pro- 
 duce the impression on the assembly. If all fleshly trust is destroyed, 
 What meaneth this lowing of my brother about fine oratory, well-tuned 
 voices, well-placed accents, polishing of old sermons and bringing them to 
 perfection ? None of these weapons is named in the Word of God as 
 necessary for the spiritual warfare : what is wanted is all named ; and, 
 when faithfully used, will through all generations be mighty through God 
 in the battle. But these are the weapons of the flesh whereby it gels 
 glory : they all belong to Agag : we find him here brought out very 
 delicately before the Word of the Lord, but he shall find no mercy : he 
 
 T 
 
206 
 
 has made Israel desolate ; and by the "Word of the Lord he shall be hewn 
 in pieces. . Through him the mighty have fallen in the battle-field ; their 
 ruin began in sparing the flesh and seeking its glory. Let the daughters 
 of Zion mourn, for the mighty is fallen (those that were to be the instru- 
 ments of adorning them vrith grace, that the world, through their loveliness, 
 might be brought to their Lord, and his Church be to him for a name and 
 a praise in the earth), have vilely cast away their shield, as though the 
 anointing of the Lord had never been upon them. The royal Israelite 
 has given the sword that, through faith, was to defend him from every foe 
 into the hand of the Amalekite to destroy him : the flesh has vanquished 
 the spirit: the Word that was, through faith, to have been their glory and 
 defence, has fed their pride: through it they have fallen : the weapons of 
 their warfare, through which, in the strength of grace they were to be 
 mighty in the pulling down of the strong hold, of sin and Satan, have 
 perished through vain-glory ; and those that were to be the beauty of 
 Israel, reflecting the image of their Lord and king, are found slain and 
 hastening to corruption in the battle-field : but if they thus perish, the de- 
 struction will be by their ovvn hand — the glory of our Lord will not be 
 tarnished. If he is not honoured by their salvation, if they refuse now 
 to hold the converse with him that is to maintain their spiritual life, he 
 will be honoured by their destruction : their blood will be upon their ovvn 
 heads. Their own mouths will testify against them, that they, through 
 their unfaithfulness, destroyed the spiritual life, the anointing of their God, 
 which was iu them, by refusing to obey their Lord's command to abide 
 in him. 
 
 This pride of the flesh hath taken captive and slain its thousands : 
 many an Israelite, after he has been anointed to God and. has had the 
 kingdom of righteousness and peace set up in his heart, has been taken 
 captive through his disobedience to the Word of God, by not using it as 
 the means to retain his poverty of spirit, through which alone he can 
 have peace and joy and the witness of the spirit within him. 
 
 Well may we weep when we think of the sad state our brethren are 
 sunk into ; like Saul they will not suffer David's Lord (who has for us 
 slain the enemies of our salvation) to have so much honour as themselves; 
 thev have destroyed his love in them through their disobedience, and they 
 are united in a plot to destroy his people ; but they shall be frustrated. 
 Haman the Amalekite is now in favour, and shall the spiritual Israel do 
 him reverence? No; he is their enemy; and although they have cause 
 for sorrow because of the power he has gained, yet let them faithfully stand 
 in their armour against him and fear not. The Lord is still the defence of 
 his people, and he will move even kings for their sakes : he did it for the 
 typical Israel although they had been rebellious : he will do much more 
 for his spiritual Israel : no weapon formed against them shall prosper. 
 
 This plot of Haman will be overthrown, and he will be brought to 
 
207 
 
 shame; then there will be light and gladness in the Church. The souls 
 of our poor brethren who have been taken in this snare will escape, and 
 they will bless God that this device of the enemy, into which they had 
 fallen^ has been destroyed. 
 
 After the typical Israel had been sent into captivity for their disobedi- 
 ence, and they had set by the rivers of Babylon and wept when they 
 remembered Zion, they were released from their captivity: the land in 
 v\hich they were disobedient had enjoyed her Sabbaths: God foreknew 
 their disobedience, and their punishment in consequence thereof; and long 
 before Cyrus was born he was set apart for their deliverer. Isaiah calls 
 him God's anointed, although he was a heathen and knew not Isaiah's 
 God ; yet for the sake of Jacob his servant, and Israel his elect, he was 
 girded with strength, and enabled to remove great hindrances on his 
 undertaking, that Israel might be freed from their enemies, into whose 
 hands they had been delivered through their own sin. They had liberty 
 given them to return to Jerusalem to build the city and temple: many 
 returned, and the foundation of the temple was laid amidst weeping and 
 rejoicing. No sooner did they begin the work than opposition began : the 
 people in the land pretended to be the servants of Israel's God, and would 
 help in the work, but the released captives would not work in fellowship 
 with them; they said that they themselves would build the house together, 
 as Cyrus had commanded them. Then these pretended servants of God 
 showed their true character, and turned enemies openly; they weakened 
 the hands of the builders, and for a time caused the work to cease. In 
 building the wall there was great opposition through deceivers and false 
 friends ; the builders wrought with their swords by their sides, but the 
 designs of the enemies of Israel were frustrated. After liberty had been 
 given them to return, we find another plot laid for their entire destruction. 
 There were many who had not availed themselves of that liberty, and the 
 old enmity of the serpent now, when they were likely again to be restored 
 to the blessings of their owii land, was exerted to destroy the race. Haman 
 being an Amalekite, and Mordecai an Israelite, the elder now thought to 
 be revenged on account of the birthright, for he seemed to have got the 
 power. This occurrence must have taken place soon after we read in 
 Ezra that the work of the house of God had ceased, through those pre- 
 tended friends writing what was untrue, under a pretence of love for the 
 king's honour, as it is supposed to be the same Ahasuerus. He did not 
 examine very minutely the statement made to him, therefore all Israel 
 were as sheep appointed for the slaughter : those at Jerusalem could not 
 escape, all being under the same dominion. The commandment was 
 given for their destruction: great was the grief and perplexity; the 
 mourning and lamentation it caused while the king and Haman, as if all 
 was well, sat down to drink. 
 
208 
 
 What madness it is for men to plot against the Israel of God : their 
 mischief is sure to be returned on their own head. 
 
 The Lord wrought for his people : Haman and his house were destroyed : 
 the faithful Isralite, who was to have been hanged, was now the man 
 whom the king delighted to honour. He went out in royal apparel, and 
 the city of Shusan rejoiced and was glad at the deliverance. The Jews 
 had light and gladness, joy and honour : a feast and a good day wither- 
 soever the king's commandment and his decree came. Thus we see in 
 Haraan's plot how the enmity of the two sons of Isaac wrought in their 
 posterity. Esau had said, "The days of mourning are at hand for my 
 father, then will I slay my brother Jacob," These words were spoken in 
 haste, comforting himself when he was angry with the thought of revenge; 
 for we find at their meeting nothing but generous conduct on the part of 
 Esau towards his brother : they were the typical family ; the contest did 
 not outwardly begin, until the posterity of Jacob were delivered from 
 bondage, and were on their journey to Canaan, the land promised to the 
 seed of Abraham. 
 
 After their first transport of joy was over for their great deliverance, 
 and they were brought into the discipline of the wilderness, in which they 
 were to be tried before they entered Canaan, they began to murmur at 
 their trials. The posterity of Esau then sought to destroy them, and we 
 see how the enmity was kept up. The elder cannot now triumph over the 
 younger, and say, the days of mourning for my father shall be the time of 
 vour death ; for our Isaac, to whom we owe our heavenly birth and all the 
 blessings connected with it, will never die; and if we are faithful to live 
 upon his word, the nourishment he has provided for us, and through which 
 we are to be trained and disciplined to fit us for our inheritance which he 
 has purchased for us with his own precious blood, we shall then receive a 
 crown of life which will never fade away. 
 
 After Jacob returned from his pilgrimage, he and Esau were united and 
 in peace at the burial of Isaac, : after our spiritual pilgrimage is over, 
 and through the power of our living head the body is brought from the 
 dust of death, then both shall unite in praising for ever the author of their 
 spiritual life. The body and spirit, when we enter into full possession, 
 will be united in the happy union of love to adore the author of our eter- 
 nal salvation : he will only be the author of eternal salvation to those who 
 obey him in spirit and in truth : all that is of the old Adam must be laid 
 in the dust: Jesus must reign in us : no duty must be attempted without 
 the renewed strength derived from him. Look to him for a supply of 
 grace, and then let us work as much as we will ; but without this we can 
 do nothing. This is believing, this is honouring him, to apply to him for 
 grace to do all things : it is supplied by the spirit through the Word. 
 
 Christ is the mystery of the Scriptures, and grace the hidden myster}. 
 
209 
 
 Believing the most wonderful thing, add anything of the old nature to it, 
 and God will not accept it; it is Christ whom he accepts ; and what we derive 
 from him must be offered unpolluted by anything of our old nature. Jesus 
 must reign in us ; all the vessels of the new covenant spiritual temple, from 
 the cups to the flagons, must be hung upon him : he only is to bear the glory, 
 for he only is worthy to build the temple. He, by his father's appointment, 
 is the foundation stone, and whatever our wants may be while the temple 
 is in progress, he is the father's fulness of grace and truth to supply them. 
 He is the God-Man, whom the King of heaven delights to honour. It is 
 honouring God when Jesus is sought in the Word : it is his glory when 
 Jesus is glorified. Our poverty of spirit affords constant occasion for him 
 to be glorified, in giving us all things, and blessing us in all. This is the 
 only way we can give glory to the father, by believing the record he hath 
 given of his son. By thus honouring him, who hath wrought out our 
 salvation, and in whose strength alone we can work out our own, or be in 
 any way instrumental of good to others. What shall we say to a company 
 of men united together to build without deriving strength from the Lord's 
 anointed ? They have vilely cast away their shield, they want no renewed 
 anointing, they have taken the letter-knowlege of the v^ord and their 
 natural ability and sit up an interest of their own: they set captives at 
 liberty; they bind up the broken-hearted, and open the prison to them that 
 are bound. We soon find that it is man's work and not God's, as the 
 captives which they set at liberty know not that liberty wherewith Christ 
 makes his people free ; the broken hearts which they bind up have never 
 had the balm of Gilead applied to them; and we find, when search is 
 made, there is not the peace which Jesus gives : the love is not that which 
 unites with Christ, but to some good repeater of pieces about his love, and 
 when the preacher is gone, their souls want converting again. 
 
 These men make a fire and compass themselves about with sparks^ but 
 they have no love to Christ, and refuse to desire grace from him. This is 
 the work of the flesh; it has triumphed over the Spirit in our brethren; 
 they are destroying themselves, and weakening the chutch that they 
 should strengthen. 
 
 Many a faithful soul, who has gone from a throne of grace to the Lord's 
 house in expectation of a feast, comes away with lamentation and mouring 
 though the externals were all beautiful ; nothing in word or deed to out- 
 ward appearance to be found fault with, yet the life of the truth was 
 wanting; no sweet manifestations of Christ to the Spirit: the reason is, 
 that he had not been honoured; the preacher had derived nothing from 
 him for himself nor his brethren ; and the repeating a piece which he had 
 learned could not be spiritual profit to any, as God's renewed blessing is 
 only given as Jesus has been honoured by the renewed acting of faith in 
 his Word. What good is this birthright to them ? They can learn pieces 
 
210 
 
 and repeat them, and make proselytes to their system, and so keep up their 
 revenue — that is the vital part to them. 
 
 We find the President, and the body of labourers under his command, 
 are resolved that this is the vpay they are to work : he is to exalt himself 
 above God, and say the work can be done as well without deriving a fresh 
 supply of strength, through renewed meditation in the Word. Thus, like 
 the king and Haman, they sit down to enjoy themselves in their spiritual 
 sloth, being relieved from all temporal care, under the pretence of giving 
 spiritual service ; while the faithful in the land are mourning at the state 
 Zion is in for lack of the Spirit of Christ. There is indeed mourning and 
 lamentation to see the formality which now exists ; for we see that those 
 men who pretend to be the friends of Jesus are his foes, they refuse to 
 avail themselves of the medium of communication which he has opened 
 for every faithful soul, to keep up the converse with him, that they may 
 have the constant supply of the Spirit of his grace to enable them to walk 
 as he did, that they may live to him from whom they are deriving their 
 life ; but they only want to get a living for their bodies by his Word ; 
 they want not to know him by subjecting their spirits to his Spirit, that 
 they may live in him. 
 
 Oh! that there may be deep humiliation of spirit before God in the 
 church for the dishonour which has been done to him. Let prayer and 
 supplication be made for our brethren; though there is not a trace of 
 spiritual life to be found in them, yet their case is not hopeless. We want 
 the pride of their flesh, which has risen and openly says it will set the Word 
 of God at defiance, to be destroyed. With all the heart and soul, every 
 faithful disciple will say, Lord, save them; bring them to belittle in their 
 own eyes ; bring them back to that purity of spirit in which state alone 
 they can see thee and promote thy honour and glory. If they had remained 
 perfect in Christ Jesus, as they at first received him, they would not have 
 presented this sad sight of spiritual corruption which they do. We may 
 say, as Mary did, Ah ! Lord, if thou hadst been here, our brethren had not 
 died ! Jesus is still the resurrection and the life ; and if we believe, we 
 shall see the love and glory of God. Though our brethren appear to be 
 dead, they shall live ; and if they live believing on Jesus, drawing virtue 
 from him through an obedient faith in the word, they shall never die. I 
 know some are ready to say, if the Lord would make wonders in heaven, 
 then might this be. Let us not be faithless but believing : there cannot be 
 many mighty works done we know, when unbelief reigns ; but faith 
 knows nothing of impossibilities — it is God that we are depending on. 
 l^et us imitate the example of Esther ; she could not endure to see the 
 destruction which was coming on her people : but here is far more. It was 
 only to destroy the body, for which Haman's plot was laid ; but this plot 
 is to destroy both body and soul for ever, through pride in despising the 
 
211 
 
 grace which can lone make us meet for the inheritance of the saints of 
 light ; and our brethren, while in the act of fighting against using the 
 means to obtain it, are proclaiming to the Church that they are become 
 strangers to it. Oh ! let us, like Esther, go in unto the king, not accord- 
 ing to the law of works, for then we should perish, but according to the 
 law of faith wholly on the blessed authority of the gospel. Will he not 
 hold out the golden sceptre of his grace ? Will he refuse to grant our 
 petition ? He will grant it; our brethren shall yet live, and we will with 
 them unite together in the strength of our king, and in the unity of the 
 spirit of love, to build the temple ; all drawing virtue from him who is 
 alone to build, and who alone shall have the glory ; none attempting to do 
 any thing without him ; but each feeling it the highest honour to be 
 a worker with him. 
 
 The Church which now seems doomed to destruction by them, and can- 
 not appear but with shame in the world through their unfaithfulness, shall 
 then stand forth in majesty and grace. When they resolve never to enter 
 the gates of Zion, but as they have been waiting on Zion's king for a 
 message, and come in Lis name and in his strength, trusting that his spirit 
 will bring to their remembrance that on which their hearts have been 
 communing with their Lord for the benefit of their brethren; — then, 
 wherever they went with the king's message throughout the world, he 
 would be in the midst to bless that word he had given to his servant; in 
 waiting upon him there would be light and gladness — a feast and a good 
 day. 
 
 The gospel day is to be a day of joy and gladness; the ransomed of the 
 Lord are to go forward to Zion with songs of rejoicing, if they are faithful 
 to live in a state of dependance they will rejoice evermore, Oh ! that the 
 conduct of our brethren may be a warning to all Israel to look that their 
 rejoicing is in Christ Jesus; that they have no confidence in the flesh; 
 and, like little children, afraid to stir a step unless guided by the hand of a 
 kind father. His spirit first taught them to depend on Jesus alone, and 
 his spirit is daily wanted to teach the same lesson of dependance ; he 
 teaches us our constant want, and supplies that want out of the fulness of 
 Jesus, Oh ! for more of this deep feeling sense of our poverty and 
 helplessness; the child-like dependance: " hold thou me up, and I shall 
 be safe ;" save me from myself, and keep my soul humble at thy feet. 
 Let our only glory ever be that which will be a never-failing spring of 
 happiness — -the glory of being dependants; living daily as having nothing, 
 but in Jesus possessing all things. 
 
 I must now take leave of my Chelsea brother: he has come into this 
 field of controversy an Amalekite against an Israelite; but I hope ere 
 now he has felt the edge of the Spirit's swopd. He is at war with God, 
 resolved that man needs not the grace of Jesus Christ. Poor man I may 
 God open his eyes ! Of all states to be feared are those who are in the 
 
^12 
 
 Church, yet show that they are become gospel-hardened : such an one 
 knows not the value of the pearl he is thus trampling beneath his feet: he 
 honours not the blessedness of the man that has parted with all his natural 
 riches, and takes the Word as his portion, because it is the joy of his heart 
 constantly by faith to be viewing the pearl of great price contained in the 
 sacred field of the Word, which to the natural man is only a name 
 unknown. He is in the midst of food, and yet perishing: busy defending 
 the externals of a system which have not been meddled with, but blind to 
 that which concerns his own safety. Let him beware, lest, while he is 
 fighting against receiving the truth in the love of it, it should be said of 
 him, " He is joined to idols, let him alone;" for gospel-trifiers grow hard- 
 ened till they cannot seriously regard the truth, or feel any impression 
 under it. " Hearing they hear and shall not understand, and seeing they 
 see but do not perceive." They are fast locked in false security : they 
 hear of Christ as a fable, and the Scripture as a story. 
 
 My brother certainly shows that his Bible is regarded by him as a story. 
 It will be well for him if, through this controversy, he is led to see that he 
 knows nothing of the spirituality of religion. He has come out to tell a 
 daughter of Zion that she is a rude, impertinent, miry-fingered assailant, 
 though she has done no evil, only brought the pure and perfect law of her 
 Father in her hand, to shew her brethren how they are despising that law 
 that is to keep them pure ; and neither they nor he has attempted to show 
 that she has spoken a word contrary to the law of Zion's king. He has 
 brought forward the practice of one vvho has broken the law of faith : but 
 no one of common sense will think it lawful for one man to break a law 
 because another did it. If this was the way in which matters were to be 
 settled, a judge could not condemn a criminal because he would be con- 
 stantly told of others who had been so clever in committing crime that 
 they deceived all around them, and appeared like honest men when they 
 were the greatest thieves. This sort of evidence would not bring an 
 acquittal to the accused, yet this is all the evidence which my brother has 
 brought to show that men do not need grace from Christ, for they purify 
 their meditations and bring them to perfection by oft-repetition. I hope 
 he will see his error and be brought a humble suppliant to sue for that 
 grace which he now, I believe through ignorance of his own true character, 
 despises. The daughters of Zion would then rejoice over him : their first 
 care being to watch over themselves with zealous care, lest even in 
 thought or any other way they should take the honour which is due to God. 
 They fear nothing but to offend their God; and having this sacred fear of 
 offending him, like obedient children they submit their spirits constantly 
 to the guidance of his spirit in the truth ; knowing that this is God's 
 appointed way to keep them while in the world as not of the world, and 
 through this faithful submission of spirit they are kept pure in heart, and 
 have the clear inward witness that God is with them : this is their joy and 
 
213 
 
 strength. Their next care would be diligently to look that he did not 
 fall into the error which all are so prone lo fall into. When he is admitted 
 into the family, he will learn not to call the daughters such names; their 
 Father does not allow their brethren thus to behave towards them when 
 they are only seeking their benefit and their Father's honour. 
 
 My brother says, I have no commission to appear against gentlemen 
 who are distinguished for integrity, learning and the better sort of useful- 
 ness. Now these are qualifications which I have proved them to be 
 destitute of. They are here distinguished as destitute of integrity, of 
 spirit, and the learning which can be of any use to the Church of Christ, 
 they have themselves proved that they are deficient of. They say they 
 will not learn of Christ, they want not his teaching : the knowledge of the 
 letter does not bring his meek and lovely spirit; there is nothing will 
 give that but a constant communion with him, which they refuse to hold. 
 They are the characters our Saviour found his Father's house filled with 
 when he was on earth ; and, like my brother, they wanted to know by 
 what authority Jesus cast the buyers and sellers out of the temple. He 
 gave them a sign; and as a witness that that sign was fulfilled; and 
 that he lives, and that there is life imparted to the believer through his 
 name, I now appear. What greater commission can be wanted than love 
 for a father, to rouse every feeling in the bosom of a child to strive against 
 those who would dishonour his name and trample on his Word ? There- 
 fore let my brother know, that my Father's house is dishonoured and 
 become a den of thieves : men united together to trample upon his hon- 
 our : making merchandise of what was to be devoted to his glory. They 
 have resigned the vocation by which they earned their daily bread; but 
 we see it is because they get a better living by spiritual fraud. They 
 seek not the word of Christ, because it is the glorious medium of com- 
 munication between God and their souls : because, through the exercise 
 of faith daily in it, their spirits are miraculously sustained, and they are 
 kept pure ; being in this way, temples for God to be honoured by : they 
 only want as much of the Word as gets them a more comfortable living 
 than they could otherwise have got; for the flock of Christ they will not 
 feed ; their new creation is of no use to them : they will not exercise the 
 spiritual power he has purchased for them. 
 
 Their conduct towards this circuit, may be taken as a fair specimen of 
 their management ; the Ex-President having been the last Superintendent, 
 and the present one being a man exceedingly loud in profession of love 
 for the Church. Look at their spiritual service ! At Salisbury Street, 
 during sixteen successive Sabbaths, we have four sermons from these paid 
 men, some of the chapels from which they receive support, have not that. 
 They act at the large houses, the smaller being unworthy of their notice 
 any farther than receiving the tax to keep up the revenue; and Mr. Young 
 tells them, they ought, in propriety, to stop at their own chapels ; and 
 
214 
 
 those members of society, both from Hinde Street and Salisbury Street 
 that have, taken sittings at the new chapel, get the old sermons they had 
 heard at both places before. There is no means of grace provided ; they 
 have their bibles at home, and the word in their heart to meditate on : this 
 is their daily means of grace, but there is none now furnished in a Wes- 
 leyan Chapel. It is a spiritual theatrical exhibition : a pastime for the 
 people: a mockery of the spiritual worship, a robbery of God, and a de- 
 ception on the Church, both spiritual and temporal, as they are performing 
 no spiritual service. Any man can learn pieces and repeat. They say 
 the love of Christ constrains them; but we find that is false; as they 
 would, if they could, violently destroy those that say that, as his ministers 
 to his people, they ought to wait upon him in his word, to fit them to be 
 workers with him. So their pretensions of love, and performance of 
 spiritual service, is a mere blind to get an independent living ; but they are 
 the most degraded of all dependants. They are paid in such a mystified 
 sort of a way, that it is hard to get a proper statement of what they really 
 do receive as the wages of their spiritual plunder. Our first preacher has 
 for himself, twenty-seven shillings a-week, an allowance for his wife and 
 each child, and one servant ; a furnished house in Beaumont Street, 
 which, at a moderate calculation would cost two hundred pounds a-year, 
 and I believe coals; family expenses that other men have to spend both 
 labour and anxiety; that they may be enabled to meet the expense is no 
 care to them, the bills being sent in to the stewards. So here is good 
 loaves and fishes for men who, had they followed the vocations they for- 
 sook to be spiritual hirelings, the majority of them would not have earned 
 more than the twenty-seven shillings, to maintain themselves and families : 
 but they are now under the pretence of performing spiritual service ! 
 Gentlemen provided for during their life, and provision made for those that 
 they leave behind. As hirelings, they accomplish their three years, pack 
 up their wearing apparel, and their few sermons, and, as strolling spiritual 
 actors, go to another circuit. Every thing is ready for them, to enable 
 them to carry on the same fraud. 
 
 Let no one mistake me : these men ought, if they were faithful to the 
 faith they teach, have every comfort; and their minds kept free from all 
 temporal care; but as it is impossible the way they act, that they can be of 
 any spiritual profit to the Church, it is a cruel tax, extorted under a false 
 pretension : the majority of those that pay it, would be exempt from 
 church-rate through their poverty, and these men we see would not be 
 entreated to suffer one of them to come into his presence if they com- 
 mitted the crime of thinking that God ought to be honoured by true 
 spiritual devotion, although they receive the comfortable provision under 
 the pretence that they are devoted to perform spiritual worship; but they 
 come not to serve God : Baal is their God ; and him alone they are resol- 
 ved to honour and serve with the word of the God of Israel. 
 
215 
 
 When Jesus overthrew the work of merchandise, he had none to help 
 hira, and not one of them dared to oppose him. Although my brother jeers 
 at my oblivion, and says I am a singular personage, he will not find among 
 the hundreds of men who are shining in their own name and strength, one 
 who will dare to oppose me with the sword of the spirit ; they have vilelv 
 cast away their shield ; and although they have used fleshy violence, 
 hoping to hide their sin, yet they know well that they have exercised a 
 power in this matter, which they cannot defend, as it springs from the pride 
 of the flesh. 
 
 The cruel tyrant and usurper Abimelech, found a tower in Israel which 
 he could not conquer ; and there his proud head was laid low by a stone 
 from the hand of a woman. He said, '* Let it not be known that a 
 woman slew him." There is yet in Israel, and ever will be, notwithstand- 
 ing all our ingratitude, a strong tower in which the faithful are safe. They 
 who are in it, are under the shadow of the most High : no ungrateful 
 usurper can harm them. The stone which is thrown from that tower at this 
 time, by the hand of a despised woman on the head of pride, will not be 
 resisted : it is the stone of truth on the heads of ungrateful Israelites, who 
 are robbing Israel's deliverer of his honour, and destroying his people. 
 Jesus, when he drove them out of the temple, made an impression on 
 their minds, which kept them from resistance. They will not resist his 
 word now : not one of the shining Doctors who are deceiving the Church, 
 getting a livelihood by it under the pretence of giving spiritual service, will 
 be able to bring forward a word that I have said contrary to the faith of 
 Christ, so that by their silence they will aoknowlede their guilt : that they 
 are living in the constant violation of the precepts and principles of the 
 New Testament, the crime which they charged me with, but refused to 
 bring forth evidence of my guilt. I charged them with the crime, and 
 they have given abundant evidence to the Church that they are not the 
 ministers of Christ, but of Baal. If this evil comes before the Church, it 
 will be after they have rejected it, and then the Church will know the cha- 
 racters of the men : that they are unworthy of their confidence, as they 
 are resolved to remain the betrayers of Christ's cause — the destroyer of 
 him, and of their own souls. 
 
 Stephen, the first martyr, told those men who were trusting to the letter 
 that they were the uncircumcised in heart; that they were resisting the 
 Holy Ghost : they gnashed upon him with their teeth. We have now the 
 same faithless generation, banded together in the Church, to resist the 
 Holy Ghost. They refuse to worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ 
 Jesus, having no confidence in the flesh. 
 
 As I trust my brother will see himself to be an enemy to Christ, come 
 out to despise hxs grace, saying that men have no need to hold converse 
 with him, to enable them to perform spiritual service, resisting the Holy 
 Ghost, whose office it is to manifest Jesus to their spirit, that they may be 
 
216 
 
 fitted to offer acceptable service to God ; so I hope he will (and I know he 
 will if his eyes are ever opened) see that he has come out to defend men 
 who have alienated themselves from the life of God, which consists in that 
 which is inward; the praise is not of men but of God : not, as my brother 
 vainly supposes, fine oratory and a mere twisting of body into different 
 forms to amuse people; this is all of the earth, earthy; it is sending to 
 Egypt again for help, trying to get a little glory to proud flesh, the fruit of 
 unbelief in their own inability, as it is in the faithful quiet submission of 
 their spirits to the word, and the simple trust in his help that strength is to 
 come. As I hope my brother will be led to see, from what I have written, 
 that he is an alien to the commonwealth of Israel, and a stranger to the 
 covenant of promise; he will then see how foolishly he has acted in 
 coming out before the world to defend gentlemen, as he calls them, in 
 being regardless of their word, and behaving in the Church in so disgrace- 
 ful a way. He must study the Word of God, and make himself better 
 acquainted with the Apostolic practice he says he is defending. He will 
 not find any such conduct in them; the Church was united in love; all 
 brethren ; no lording it one over another. Those who were chief, were 
 servants to their brethren ; they had the honourable place of waiting con^ 
 tinually on the Lord in his Word, and he manifested his spirit of love to 
 them, for the enabling them to fulfil his law of love, that they might be 
 examples to their brethren. It was only by their love that they were to be 
 known, and by that they were to be conquerors : it is by love our king 
 conquers. 
 
 My brother finds fault with me for my allusions to the Old Testament, 
 and wonders what in earth the history of the early ages of the Church can 
 have to do with this age of the Church. He will find that the Apostle 
 Paul and I agree : he uses the history which my brother thinks cannot 
 concern us, as a warning for us, that we perish not, as they did in the 
 wilderness, through unbelief; but when my brother is taken into the fold 
 of Christ, all this wonder at what I could mean in thus using the Old Testa- 
 ment will cease ; the wonderment will then be lost in grateful praise for 
 the grace which has delivered him from the awful darkness within him, 
 while he was surrounded with the outward light. 
 
 When Jesus rose from the dead, the first lesson he gave to his disciples, 
 while their hearts burned within them, began with Moses : so when my bro- 
 ther is raised from spiritual death, the first lesson will be there also. The 
 work of regeneration being completed, God will pronounce it very good, by 
 again taking his new-born child from the dust of self-abasement, to the 
 bosom of his love. Then the renewed soul will praise the Author of its 
 being : then all my brother's notions of what man can do will be laid low : 
 he will begin, as every new-born child does, to learn his Bible — it is his 
 inheritance. He will then be a child of promise, born not of the flesh, nor 
 of the will of man, but of God, through the word and Spirit. All the 
 
217 
 
 promises of the word are his, throagh the new relation he stands in to 
 God : the Lord is now his strength and song : he is entered into the rest 
 of faith, and exults in his glorious liberty. Having been made to feel 
 the truth in himself of the first chapter of Genesis, that he was as the 
 earth, without any knowledge of God until the Spirit moved upon the 
 natural darkness of his mind, then, when the breath of life was breathed 
 into him, he was enabled to look around and see the awful state he had 
 been delivered from. I can assure him, that all God's family take great 
 delight in the history of the Israelites, for they find it is their own history. 
 In it they trace their spiritual bondage, and deliverance from the power of 
 sin and Satan. My brother should not say that no one can tell what I 
 mean, for I venture to say that every living child in God's family under- 
 stands the allusions to the Old Testament Church. Those who have not 
 passed through the process, hut are come into the Church, regard it as my 
 brother does, which is because they have not got the sight. 
 
 Every spiritual Israelite has passed the red sea spiritually, and has been 
 brought to it step by step, as the Israelites were. Singly and alone the 
 spiritual Israel are brought by the word and spirit, which is to them, as 
 Moses and Aaron were to the typical Israel. Pharaoh's obstinacy is the 
 struggle of the pride of their flesh, to submit to the grace of the gospel. 
 The design of God in the work of regeneration is to bring down man's 
 natural pride, and bring him to a state of dependance on his mercy and 
 grace : to this by nature he is averse, and is permitted to try every device 
 he can think of, and is prompted to by the old nature, that he may be 
 independant of God's grace, till he is made experimentally to feel that all 
 is a total failure, the Israelites could not fulfil their task when no straw 
 was given, and we are brought to feel that we are utterly unable to fulfil 
 the law of love ; without the grace of Christ, man is utterly in himself 
 helpless. All the man's unaided efforts to keep the word and command- 
 ments have only plunged him deeper in misery ; he is as the Egyptians 
 were, in darkness which he feels. Their first born were all slain, and 
 then they let Israel go. They were now safe ; the blood of the Lamb, 
 which had been slain, had been sprinkled on their doors, and the plague 
 departed from them. Thus when the first-born hopes that man inherits 
 from the first Adam have all been destroyed through the sense of his 
 inability to fulfil the law, it being his schoolmaster to bring him to Church, 
 he is fitted to appreciate the salvation which comes through Christ Jesus 
 the second Adam, and submits to be saved on God's terms. It is then felt 
 to be mercy to the undone, hopeless and helpless ; the blood is sprinkled 
 ou his conscience, he is enabled to believe, and feels that his burden of 
 guilt is gone. The flesh will make another bold struggle. Pharaoh fol- 
 lowed the Israelites with all his power ; the prince of darkness is unwilling 
 to lose a subject: pride rises in rebellion ; the law brings its accusation 
 and the soul may begin to reason, but all shall be overcome by the blood 
 U 
 
218 
 
 of the lamb. The typical Israel was commanded not to fear the foes; the 
 Lord would fight; they were to hold their peace and go forward. The 
 justified soul must by faith hold his peace, which is Christ, and go forward, 
 believing that his enemies shall nottriumph again over him. The adorable 
 spirit who has patiently watched over all his waywardness through the 
 work of regeneration, and whose office is to glorify Jesus, encourages him 
 by the word to go forward. By faith he enters into the sea, and the way of 
 full salvation is opened to his astonished view ; he sees Jesus as his law- 
 fulfiller. The blood of atonement arises as a defence on every side from the 
 enemies which had so long oppressed him. The Israelites were baptized 
 into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, so the believer is now baptized into 
 Christ: he sees now how God may be just, while he is the justifier of him 
 that believes in Jesus. He sees how the Trinity in Unity are united for 
 his salvation ; he now sees the high way of holiness, in which the redeemed 
 are to walk without fear. Thus is he brought from bondage, and conduc- 
 ted by the spirit and the word into newness of life ; and that word he now 
 finds to be what he never found it before — spirit and life to his soul ; and 
 I believe, if from the day of his new creation, until the day that his spirit 
 shall behold the author of his life, he were to meditate in the word, he 
 would then only feel himself a child in the knowlege of his bible, I think 
 it will be part of the blessed employment of the glorified to explain the 
 wonderful depth contained in this sacred treasure — the believers present 
 inheritance. This is the only sustenance for him in the wilderness; how 
 that is I need not show my brother ; but according to his faithfulness in 
 feeding on it daily by faith with thanksgiving, is his peace and happiness. 
 His food all come through the exercise of faith in the word, from his 
 Lord's hand; and the whole family, from generation to generation, are 
 thus sustained. Those who are faithful and preside in the assemblies, 
 receive a portion for the people from their Lord's hand, and his presence 
 and blessing come with it : all feed on the same provision. 
 
 The habitation of the spirit in the soul and in the assembly, is the well 
 of water springing up into everlasting life. The fashion of this world 
 has passed away; they are led by the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, are 
 builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. The fruit 
 of the Spirit is love ; " he that dwelleth in love, Jwelleth in God, and God 
 in him." Thus, from generation to generation, the spiritual Israel are 
 brout'ht to receive the earnest of their inheritance, and thus a living 
 temple is raising up to the praise of his grace. The inscription on the 
 topstone will be to the praise and glory of his grace, who has made us 
 acceptable in the beloved. The generations of Israel travel in company, 
 but each comes to Jordan alone. The hosts of the Lord passed over in 
 company : the people, we are told, removed from their tents ; so the spirit 
 is removed from the tent which has been its habitation in this world. 
 This is the last effort of the Spirit through faith while in the body. 
 
 On the day that the typical Israel passed over Jordan, we are told " the 
 
219 
 
 Lord began to magnify Joshua in the eyes of the children of Israel." 
 They then kept the passover, as they had also done in Egypt on the night 
 in which the first-born were slain and they were delivered, yet the re- 
 proach of Egypt was not taken away for forty years ; for God says, " This 
 day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you;" and on the 
 morrow they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan. Oh I how will our 
 Joshua be nuagnified in our eyes on the day we pass over Jordan ! on the 
 night that our first-born hopes were slain, the pride of the flesh laid in 
 the dust, the blood was then sprinkled on the conscience which saved us 
 from the curse of God's broken law, and brought to us peace and pardon, 
 and power to derive grace from Christ to keep flesh in subjection; but 
 the vile body has now suffered death ; the first-born is now really slain : 
 we hear it now boasting how well it can perform spiritual service of itself, 
 but great is the humiliation it has to undergo before it can offer spiritual 
 service. 
 
 When we have passed over Jordan, there remains another act of faith 
 to be realiEed in the blood of atonement through Christ our passover. 
 The spirit rests in faith, that the tent he has left in the wilderness will 
 be preserved when the final destruction of unbelievers, and those who are 
 found in their natural guilt and pollution, comes : it is left in the wilder- 
 ness to crumble into its native dust, apparently a useless thing, but it will 
 yet own the spirit. Never until now has the reproach it has caused the 
 spirit been wiped away; it has been more or less the reproach of his 
 bondage all the time he has been in the wilderness; now the reproach is 
 for ever done away. Proud flesh will fight no more against the obedience 
 of faith, bringing the spirit again into bondage : it is now swallowed up in 
 love. The manna has ceased ; he feasts on the fruits of Canaan without 
 the effort of faith. Oftentimes, through the exercise of that precious gift, 
 he has rejoiced in his Lord with a joy unspeakable and full of glory ; but 
 now the vail of flesh is done away ; he wants not the blessed written 
 word which has been his treasure, his precious inheritance, his joy and de- 
 light in the wilderness : he wants not now the aid of the loving faithful 
 witness of Jesus. The sacred Spirit who has borne wllh his infirmities on 
 the journey, and comforted him under all his trials and caused him to 
 triumph amidst difficulties, is wanted no more as a guide to Jesus, to 
 maintain in him the feeling sense of his dependance while in a state of 
 grace. He now sees his Lord face to face : the warfare is over. 
 
 When Joshua was by Jericho, he saw the captain of the Lord's host 
 with his sword drawn in his hand : he was told to put off his shoes for the 
 ground was holy. When the spiritual Israel see their Captain, the armour 
 of the Gospel will all be laid aside ; the preparation of the Gospel of 
 peace, with which they have walked in the world, will not be needed; the 
 ground will all be holy. Through the might of their Captain's sword, with 
 which they were equipped when he betrothed them to himself, they have 
 conquered the world, the flesh, and the devil; and have now shouted 
 
220 
 
 victory through the blood of the lamb. The bliss will not be completed 
 until the last Israelite has passed over Jordan; then the ark of the testi- 
 mony, the Spirit and the Word, will come up ; it will be needed no more 
 to encourage and strengthen the helpless Israelite, In a moment, in the 
 twinkling of an eye, the trumpet will sound, and all the generations of the 
 hosts of the Lord will arise : singly and alone they passed through the 
 Red Sea, and alone each have passed over Jordan; all having the same 
 conductor. The word has been the staff that has supported every Israelite 
 during his pilgrimage : through it the grace has flowed from the fruitful 
 branch that was set apart by God, that through him the perishing family 
 of man might be rescued from the impending ruin. All the typical family 
 were born before Jacob returned from his pilgrimage but one; and just 
 before he arrived at home Benjamin was born. His mother, Jacob's best 
 beloved wife, called him the son of her sorrow, but his father changed his 
 name and called him the son of his right hand. Now all the types are 
 fulfilled : the family of grace is completed : the Son of the Father's right 
 hand now returns to the world which he loved, and to which before he had 
 come from his father's house on a pilgrimage of love, and he endured in 
 it hard service ; was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He 
 suffered death for his bride that he might bring her to glory : he returned 
 again to his Father's house that he might prepare a place for his beloved. 
 Now the end is come : the beloved of God that had glorified him in the 
 world, and has since in our nature dwelt in his presence, supplying the 
 wants of the whole family, now returns to the earth in power and great 
 glory. The end of the meditorial reign is now come : the power of death 
 will be destroyed : the earth will acknowledge the power of her Lord and 
 conqueror, and deliver up all that has been entombed in her since the day 
 the curse was pronounced on the first guilty pair. The whole mystical 
 body is completed : the first-born is now brought from the dust of death : 
 the natural body will be raised a spiritual body : this vile flesh, the body, 
 •will rise in the likeness of its glorified Lord : Esau and Jacob will for ever 
 unite in harmony to praise the author of their life. The corruptible will 
 have put on incorruption, the mortal, immortality : all glorious bodies 
 through the grace and power of their glorious deliverer, who triumphed 
 over death for them that they, with him, might be glorified. Oh ! how he 
 will them be magnified in their eyes ! The millions of the redeemed will 
 all appear together through the power of his Word ; all will unite together 
 in the song of salvation : all purchased by the same blood : all purified by 
 the same Word and Spirit. The imagination of man cannot conceive the 
 glory that shall then be revealed. The Captain of the Lord's host will 
 conduct the ransomed Church into the new Jerusalem. Oh! what a 
 triumph for the bride when she beholds the glory of the heavenly bride- 
 groom. Knowing the degraded state in which he found her, and remem- 
 bering all his love and compassion, with her own unfaithfulness, how 
 often she grieved his good spirit by slighting her Lord and neglecting to 
 
2^1 
 
 hold converse with him through the appointed medium, and so frequently 
 bringing dishonour on his name, yet he rested in his love, pitied her 
 weakness when she came to him, and deplored her unfaithfulness, for he 
 had loved her with an everlasting love. He has now brought her home to 
 reign with him in glory. She will never again grieve her Lord, but adore 
 bis grace, mercy and love, through the countless ages of eternity. She 
 will then see far more clearly than it is possible for her now, what she has 
 been saved from, and the wonderful wisdom employed to rescue her and 
 afterwards preserve her. The everlasting gates will be thrown open that 
 the Lord of hosts, the King of glory, may enter with his spotless bride, 
 to present her to his Father, who so loved her even in her low estate that 
 he sent his only and well-beloved Son to suffer and die to redeem her. It 
 pleased the Father to put him to grief that he might bring her to glory. 
 Oh ! the depth of his love, the riches of his grace ; they pass all know- 
 ledge. The Father will joy over the bride with a joy that we can never 
 know : all the multitudes of the heavenly host will join in the universal 
 chorus of praise to God and the lamb for ever. 
 
 Thus will terminate a life of faiih ; grace will end in glory. Who 
 then is willing to be found fighting against living by faith, refusing to hold 
 converse with the Lord of heaven and earth ? Oh ! let proud flesh be 
 now humbled. Why will men thus vilely cast away the shield that was to 
 defend them, and give the sword that was to keep their pride low, into the 
 hand of pride to destroy them ? 
 
 My brother will see that the scriptuial children of God look upon the 
 history of the typical Israel, as a type of their own, so that his wonder- 
 ment, what it can have to do with us, proceeds from this : that he is still 
 in his natural pride and pollution, not having entered into the school of 
 Christ, to be taught by his Spirit the wondrous things contained in the 
 Word ; it is therefore foolishness to him, and he thinks it is making the word 
 of God an absurdity, in endeavouring to extract articles of faith and practice 
 from these early ages of the church. Poor man ! he is to be pitied : he is 
 busying himself about externals in the church, while he is dead to God : 
 fighting against men subjecting their spirits to the father of their spirits, 
 that they may live. He thought I was retired into oblivion, ashamed of 
 what I had done I He will now find he is mistaken. Here again he 
 shows the ignorance of his mind. He and I, though both in the Church 
 are serving two masters : the servants of the master I serve, while they 
 grasp the sword he provides them with firmly in the hand of faith, looking 
 stedfastly to their Lord, are never put to shame ; they cannot be overcome: 
 and while they are in the combat, they bless their Lord and king for the 
 honour he has put upon them. My brother's master has sent him out 
 without any armour; all his servants have nothing but outward show; 
 they have disquiet while they are in the act of service; they never feel 
 that they are honoured for doing his work, and are conquered with the 
 sword, which, through the grace of my Lord, I now withstand him and his 
 
222 
 
 servants with. He knows he cannot stand against the sword of the spirit J 
 all the conquests that are gained against him, are gained through the clear 
 manifestation of truth, therefore he is opposed to it, and always sets his 
 servants in some way or other to oppose it: but he neither rewards them in 
 their labour, nor for their labour. If my brother still remains in his 
 service, fighting against the grace of the gospel, he will not in that great 
 day, when the Lord cometh, have to charge me with not faithfully telling 
 him his danger. In all I have said, I believe I have spoken according to 
 the mind of the Spirit; I have not de&ignedly said any thing to hurt any 
 ones feelings; God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit, that my 
 eye is single. To expose the treatment I have received I would not have 
 written a single line; and the evidence to man for the truth of what I say 
 as regards this, is, that the book will not be circulated, if they acknowlege 
 and promise to forsake their sin. If this is not done, the safety of the 
 Church, the honour of God demands that their spiritual fraud and wicked- 
 ness should be fearlessly exposed. They are destroying their own souls 
 and bringing the Church to shame in the world. Will Israel plead for the 
 honour of Baal ? 
 
 We now find all the order of God cast aside, and foolish blind men 
 say that they purify their meditations by oft repetition, instead of the 
 faithful devotion of their spirits to renewed meditation purifying them. 
 They gainsay the Word of God, and bring strange fire to his altar. 
 There has been no kindling from above; there has not been the sweet 
 secret converse of love with Jesus: they received nothing from him; 
 they refuse to do him honour by receiving of the fulness of grace, 
 God has treasured up in him for those who wait upon him lose it. 
 They use the strongest expressions of love for his honour and glory, 
 and the salvation of his people Israel, but it is all lip-service ; the love 
 of Christ does not constrain them, as they avoid receiving that grace 
 which can alone give them a single eye to his glory. The end will 
 come : the gainsayers in the wilderness perished in their sins for offer- 
 ing strange fire, and so will they if they repent not. There will none 
 enter the new Jerusalem who will not submit their spirits to him in the 
 silent homage of a grateful dependance now : their blood will be upon 
 their own heads; there was grace enough in Jesus, but they refuse it : 
 they shall never join in the silent homage which will be offered to him 
 when the feelings of adoration will be too great for utterance, when 
 the millions of the redeemed shall be prostrate before him in mental 
 adoration, from which they will arise with the pulses of afi'ection 
 beating higher and higher, awakening in each other the pealing anthems 
 of praise to his adored name, through whose grace they have been 
 conducted safe to glory. 
 
 In the chief places in that temple there will be no liars, who here 
 promised that it should be considered, whether it was necessary that 
 those who came into his house to offer him spiritual service should 
 
223 
 
 hold converse with him in his word, to fit their spirits to worship God 
 in spirit and in truth. Men may show now that they are regardless 
 of God's Word and their own, but those who refuse to speak with him 
 from heaven, that they may receive the Spirit of his love to fit them 
 for his service, will never reign with him in heaven. 
 
 Into that temple there will enter no deceiver, telling the worshippers 
 what great things he has done. His Lord cannot be deceived by his 
 saying, " in thy name I have done many wonderful works." He will 
 say, I know you not ; you did not hold converse with me ; the works 
 could not be done in my name, nor in my strength; there was no 
 fellowship held with me that my grace might be imparted ; you would 
 not sufi'er a disciple of mine to come into your presence, although she 
 entreated you so to do, because she said, that without me ye could do 
 nothing; you would not sufi'er her to converse with my people on 
 earth, while you was feeding on pride, and reigning as a king in the 
 house in which you was to be a servant. Depart from me ! ye worker 
 of iniquity ; I know you not! You derived not your energy from me. 
 
 Men may continue in rebellion now, and mock at God's word : tell 
 those who would remind them, that they are uneducated, and do not 
 speak grammar; but they will find that the only education to fit them 
 for the heavenly temple is love; and in no way can they receive it 
 but by constant converse with Jesus in the word. Those who fight 
 against being dependant on Jesus for grace to perform their duty now, 
 he will never own as his before his father and the holy angels. 
 
 In that temple there will be no sons of Belial, who know not the 
 Lord, and refused to honour him in their ofi'erings, and came into his 
 house on earth to raise a clamour against his disciple, who would have his 
 name to be honoured. No son of Belial to bring a false accusation, 
 because men want to use the inheritance of the Lord as a convenience ; 
 and the Israelite that would withstand them must be destroyed through 
 the false accuser; all this will be done away. 
 
 In that temple there will be no faithless servants, who now bring their 
 fellow-servants as culprits before them — they setting as judges, supported 
 by ruffian-spirited men, from whom they extort the cry of shame I shame ! 
 the spirit of the devil is in her ! 
 
 There will be in that temple no insult or abuse, no casting out, no tears 
 will be there for being hindered from uniting in any way with his people. 
 Oh, no I there will be no flesh rise up to rob him of his glory, and grieve 
 the hearts of his faithful ones. Nothing will find entrance there that 
 would defile : all will join with sincerity in the chorus of adoration a'ud 
 gratitude which will be ofi"ered to his adored name : " Worthy is the Lamb 
 that was slain, and has redeemed us to God by his blood : he alone is 
 worthy to receive riches, honour, glory and blessing : the glory will be 
 ascribed to him that sits upon the throne and to the Lamb for ever." 
 There will be no rival to deceive his people and rob him. On his praise 
 
224 
 
 they shall all for ever dwell in the fulness of glory. Sorrow will be all 
 done away : the Lamb who led them and guided them by his spirit, while 
 they passed through the wilderness, will now guide them to fountains of 
 living waters, and all tears will be for ever wiped away. With one heart 
 and voice all the worshippers shall for ever unite in the blessed anthem of 
 praise : " Salvation to God and the Lamb for ever and ever !" 
 
 "While in this state of trial, may those who are called to suffer for his 
 name's sake be kept faithful and humble at his feet: no one need fear 
 trials who trusts him for the help of his grace. May persecutors be 
 brought to see their error, and deplore their unfaithfulness, ere it be too 
 late: all that they have done he will forgive: it will not be reckoned to 
 them if they see it and bow to his mercy and grace. He will forgive their 
 backsliding, and love them again freely, if they are willing to forsake all 
 they have, and be his disciples; learn of him his meek and lowly mind ; 
 they will be honoured by the faithful as his disciples. When they are 
 willing to submit their spirits to wait upon him for their message, they will 
 then be workers with God, the messengers of the Churches, and the glory 
 of Christ. Without this the knowledge of the letter, with all their natura' 
 endowments and acquirements, are useless. If they return to him from 
 whom (this manifestation of the evil spirit that is in them is evidence) 
 thev have deeply revolted, they will be as instruments of blessing to his 
 Church ; they will then see that the dew of the Lord will be upon Israel. 
 God is faithful when the ministers honour Jesus, by giving themselves to 
 the Word and prayer ; then the Spirit will be poured out from on high, the 
 Church will revive and spread forth her branches on every side; and 
 instead of her enemies justly pointing at her the finger of scorn, through 
 her unfaithi'ulness, they will see that she is the blessed of the Lord, and 
 unite themselves to her; all will grow up into Christ their living head, 
 when his faithful ministers are growing into his image, and reflecting his 
 glory through the grace they are constantly deriving from him by their 
 faithfulness to the law of their union with him. 
 
 The foundation of the spiritual temple being laid in grace, when there 
 was an entire renunciation of self, the work must be carried on in the 
 same way; the dependance on Christ must not be in word only, but in 
 spirit and in truth, both with individuals and the Church, if they fulfil the 
 design of God, which is to glorify him in the world. The whole design of 
 the Gospel constitution being, that God may be glorified; therefore the 
 inscription on the top stone of the spiritual temple shall be when it is 
 brought forth with shoutings, " Grace, grace unto it." No flesh will ever 
 glory before him ; for of him and through him and to him are all things, 
 and to him alone all glory shall be ascribed now and without end. Amen, 
 
 FINIS, 
 
II I 
 
 lllilfil 
 
 III 
 
 ^m