CHRISTIAN FRIENDS,-My mother departed this life on Friday, the 12th September, aged eighty years, and was buried on Wednesday, the 17th. I was very much surprised to meet so many kind friends and neighbours to witness the last end of her who had lived to prove that Jesus "Hath done all things well." And I feel a want to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to all those who both in her lifetime and at her death and funeral manifested so much kind assistance and respect. All was judiciously managed, and, we may safely add, done decently and in order. A brother minister, Mr. Merret, spoke over the corpse, and threw out a few faithful and welcome hints respecting the last state of her soul. From a conversation he had with her a short time previous to her death, he found that the everlasting, immutable, and unchanging love, mercy, and grace of a covehant God was the foundation of her soul's hope, and that she had much of a feeling sense of these things in her soul's experience during her last days. Yea, so blessedly did the Lord reveal Himself to her that she could hardly bear up under it, and would often fall down at his feet, ascribing all her conquests to his all-glorious Name, praising and blessing Him for what He had done, telling Him that He had put away all her sins, and then singing her favourite hymn "Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood Be saved to sin no more." And as her son I can faithfully testify to the truth of these things, for I paid her a visit about two years ago, when she told me the real state of her soul. I shall never forget the two hours I spent with her. She asked me in a faithful inquiry," John, how do you get on?" I said, "Mother, I have very little else left save one riddle and one wonder, and that the riddle was the same as Samson's. That one of those things which appeared to threaten my destruction proved to be but a carcase full of honey, and things for my good; and my wonder was, that God should communicate with me as one whose sins were pardoned, and whose iniquities were covered." At this she exclaimed, "They are mine as well as yours. Ten thousand praises to his name." I spoke to her about God's covenant with Abraham, that I found God had kept to his word and oath. "Yes," said she, "I have proved that for more than forty years." I felt that all was right with her soul for life, and in death. To other friends she often spoke of the Lord's marvellous dealings with her in providence from quarters she least expected. She loved to watch his kind providences, and mark his wonder-working hand. Of these things she gave testimony to many persons. I heard many of the friends sealing this her testimony, and that she would, and was always, willing to deal out her soul to the really hungry soul, and strengthen the hands that hang down. But that she would always send the rich empty away; and that she had always been a good neighbour - ready to all. aid and assist, and give good advice to her faithfulness as a mother. And as her son, I can testify of always kind and sympathetic. All her rods, chidings, and rebukes were bathed in love. She gave us good advice, and though dead she yet speaketh. She was She was the mother of much prayer for her children that they might do and go aright, and above all be plucked as brands from the burning; nor bas her prayer fallen to the ground, for the youngest son of a thousand prayers has, previous to her death, testified of saving grace in his soul. I wrote to her a little time ago of the genuineness of the change in his soul. to satisfy her anxious mind upon this point Her reply was that she was satisfied, and that the letter had done her good in every way. After the funeral and tea was over I felt a little alone in my soul, and felt my loss very keenly in my spirit, and some sharp remorse for not writing to her more often than I did; but what was lacking in me my brother made up for her-I thank him for it. She has had to pass through deep waters both in providence and grace; but her saying was, not one thing has ever failed of all that God has promised; and as this is the tune which his saints pitched in the wilderness of old, she can now join them above, and, without a sigh the sacred song of loud hallelujahs to the or a tear, parade the golden streets and chant Lamb that sitteth upon the throne: and, as her name was Mary, we may conclude by saying "Let Mary sing and tell of grace, Brixton. "There are some churches, so called, who, for want of charity, monopolize a pure church state to themselves, as if Christ had no true gospel church in this day beside themselves; whose preachers and rulers are of soimpetuous a spirit, as drives them to the very precipice of anathematizing all but themselves; as if the doctrine of God's grace, and the form of a true gospel-church state, were to be found nowhere but among them. These are like violent storms and showers, which will not hold long; and, indeed, it is a pity they should. All I shall say further of such is, the Lord rebuke their furious and Bedlamlike spirit; and give them to see, and in time to be convinced, how far wide they are from what they fancy they attained to, namely, a Christ-like spirit, and a true conformity to the pattern of God's house; a thing so much boasted of and gloried in, and that without cause."—Barry, REVIEWS. The Friend of "Little Faith." We have before expressed our intention carefully to review the new edition of the late William Huntington's works, so recently issued by Mr. Collingridge, of the City Press; but labours of this kind cannot be done by us so hastily as by some; as a great portion of our time and our strength too goes into the more public labours of the vineyard; nevertheless, we are fully persuaded that very essential service will be rendered to thousands of sincere souls by furnishing analytical reviews of the entire works of Mr. Huntington; and this piece of labour, among many others, we hope to be able to accomplish. We wish here to call attention to a threepenny pamphlet just published by William Pamplin, of Frith-street, Soho, entitled "The Cry of Little Faith heard and answered, and his Innocent Cause undertaken and pleaded. In a Letter by the late William Huntington." With a good conscience, and with much confidence, we not only recommend, but we would entreat all such persons as are sorely and severely troubled as regards the genuine nature of their faith to read this work; with the Lord's blessing it must be a help unto them. The following " Prefatory Notes" will furnish our readers with the circumstances which led Mr. Huntington to pen and to publish this most comfortable and powerful essay on the true character and conflicts of a living faith. Of the "Cry of Little Faith" itself, we shall have more to say another time. The editor says:-"In the twelfth volume of the works of the late Rev. W. Huntington, there is some account of a person named Butler, a very remarkable character, with whom he became acquainted during his residence at Ditton. "Mr. Huntington says, 'This man was the most puzzling character in his profession that ever staggered or confounded me. His gifts and knowledge of the Scripture were such as I had never seen before. He would run over the Scriptures by the hour when I have not had a word of truth in my lips. Before this man I appeared for many years a poor dejected drone, or a mere idiot, burdened with a daily cross, and the hourly buffetings of Satan, while this wonderful man appeared as if he was in the third heaven. He was very conscientious and esteemed for honesty whereever he worked. He stood thus in a flaming profession near, or quite, ten years. I saw him on a sick bed, near unto death, and his joys were still the same.' "Soon after Mr. Huntington left Ditton for London, Mr. Butler began to circulate some heresy about the Trinity, but after continuing at this work for a time, he fell into black despair, without God, and without hope in the world. "Mr. Huntington observes,' The things in which this man's fall established me are these: "That those who run unsent of God may convert men unto themselves, but not unto God. "That whatever speculative knowledge a man may have, if he have not an experience of the power of God on the heart, his gifts will only puff him up with pride, until he fall into the condemnation of the Devil. "That a seducer of the Saints is the blackest character in this world, and the deepest sufferer in the next. "That to stumble and take offence at an essential truth is a certain prelude to a fearful fall. "That there is no such way to heaven, as some have cast up, which is termed a being drawn by love, and having the heart opened like the heart of Lydia.' "This Mr. Butler would say when he heard Mr. Huntington enforce a sense of sin, and a spirit wounded under it,' He is got upon his own dunghill again, he thinks to bring them Howall his own way, but he never will.' ever,' Mr. Huntington remarks, 'I know that my way is the path of the just, and they that die out of it will be damned, die when they may, for none but the sick need the physician, none are called to repentance but sinners, none are sons but those that are chastened, and those that never were lost were never saved. "Mr. Butler had no daily cross upon his back, nor the least appearance of an humble mind, a broken heart, or of that godly sorrow that worketh repentance. He had not the least appearance of that repentance that needeth not to be repented of, without which there is no Christ in the heart, no salvation applied, and without which, the higher the hypocrite flies the deeper he falls.' A Mr. Vessey, who first heard Mr. Huntington at Sunbury and afterwards at Ditton and Richmond, became acquainted with this Mr. Butler, and imbibed his heresy. Mr. Vessey afterwards became a preacher and reports soon spread of his wonderful gifts, knowledge, zeal, boldness, and success in making converts, and of his preaching in-doors and outof-doors. At this time his heretical tenets were not openly maintained. It appearing, however, that Mr. Vessey preached up that nothing was faith but full assurance, Mr. Huntington wrote the Cry of Little Faith,' the present reprint. The destructive heresy of Mr. Vessey was some time after this made public. Mr. Huntington says of Mr. Vessey, 'If he made a joyful and triumphant end (as some said), he died as he lived. I never once saw I knew him uphim in any other frame. wards of ten years, but the real ballast of a vessel of mercy, which is the forgiveness of sins, access to God, union with Christ, a "Luther in a letter to Melancthon says, 'Ask these prophets whether they have felt those spiritual torments, that death and hell which accompany a real regeneration. And if they speak to you only of agreeable things, of tranquil impressions, of devotion and piety, as they say, do not believe them, altho' they should pretend to have been transported to the third heaven. Before Christ could attain his glory, He was compelled to suffer death; and in like manner, the believer must go through the bitterness of sin before he can obtain peace.'” THE CHURCHES IN DEVON- | done great things for the salvation of his soul. Mr. Cousins in his younger days preached cessful one. "A Review of the Evangelical Churches in the West of England" is too long for this month; and although in some points rather critically severe, it will afford much material for future articles. This month we can only give (from another kind correspondent) the following: GOOD NEWS FROM DEVONPORT. to W. Overbury having left the Baptist cause in Morris-square, Devonport, they are destitute of a pastor, and seem to be making a stand for vital experimental preaching; and in seeking for supplies, they have found a young man, deeply and experimentally taught of God, and sent to preach the truth, and both old and young of the quickened family of God feel the word drop into their hearts with savoury power. We feel he has Jeremiah's commission"To root out, and to pull down; to destroy, and to throw down; to build, and plant." He is a native of Devonport; his name is James Cousins, about thirty-three years of age. He is a man of no ordinary talent, and a good powerful voice. The Holy Ghost has led him through fiery trials, and taught him the mind and will of God towards "the flock of slaughter." We feel humbled under God's almighty hand, in seeing his goodness passing before us in thus raising up such a man of God, whose words drop as the rain, and distil as the dew in our hearts. The people of Devonport are calling upon God to incline the friends at the Square Chapel to give him a call for a month on trial. The people flock to hear him. A poor soldier, called "Herman," went into the chapel, and heard Mr. Cousins preach, and the Lord brought him out of trouble into blessed liberty of the Gospel-one of the 54th Regiment. I believe he has a brother, a member of Mr. Milner's church in London. Mr. Cousins has since baptized him. He has joined the church, worshipping in the Morris-square Chapel. Herman is become a very dear friend of mine, feeling the Lord has HAMPSTEAD ROAD. A CHURCH, according to Gospel principles, has been formed, and meet statedly for the performance of the ordinances of God's house, at 63, Stanhope Street, Hampstead Road, under the pastoral care of Mr. R. Alldis. This place (which is capable of containing, 250 persons) was opened for public worship' church was formed consisting of forty-eight on the 30th of March, and on 13th of April a persons. We have been directed and supported through six months of our career as a church, and have abundant reason to bless the Lord for all his goodness to us; we have increased in numbers, and we hope in grace. Fifteen have been added to us, four by baptism, three male and one female, who were baptized at Soho Chapel, the friends there kindly lending us their pool, and eleven on their experience and by dismission. We held our second quarterly tea meeting on Tuesday, 30th of September, when Brethren Dickerson, Hazelton, Ware, Pepper, Shipway, and Mote gave addresses from 1 Peter ii. 5, 9. small portion of the one church, we ask for the prayers and sympathies of our fellow travellers to Zion. It is our desire to commence a fund for the purpose of building a chapel in Camden Town, and when we are more prepared it is our intention to make an appeal to the churches, and such friends as may feel disposed to help. our future prospects can be had after any of our week night services, Monday or Friday evening. JOHN GARROD. As a Information of MR. GADSBY'S LECTURES ON "EGYPT AND THE BIBLE." AT Liverpool, Mr. Gadsby delivered the three Lectures as announced in your last impression, on the 13th, 14th, and 15th October, on the "Manners and Customs of the Eastern Nations." He being better acquainted with the life and habits of the Egyptians, confined himself more especially to them. There were twenty-one (not 100) persons each evening "arrayed" in the various costumes which he explained one by one. To Bible readers it was exceedingly interesting and instructive, made more so by its being his main object to unravel those pas- that she was 'what your correspondent sages in Holy Writ that are obscure to the represents her, viz. "an ungodly woman," people of this country, who have not any I presume we have no tangible proof that practical or theoretical knowledge of the customs of the people in the East, such as she was a daughter of Belial; but in order "making bare the arm," "girding up the to prove his point, he quotes Exod. iv. 25, loins," "the shadow long in coming," "forty 26, and refers to "Zipporah" calling him stripes save one," passing under the rod," (Moses) "a bloody husband." This very "bones at the grave's mouth," and many scripture I believe puts a negative upon others, which when explained, are very beauti-his supposition. Are we to suppose for 66 ful and striking figures. In addition to his having the real costumes before the audience, to enable him to exhibit to the eye the figures set forth in the Scriptures, he also produced many curiosities which he procured in the East;-amongst others were" sandals from the tombs," "tear bottles," "kneading troughs," "Pharaonic and other Egyptian bricks," with and without straw, believed to have been made by the Israelites, "a window of lattice-work," pillow made from the palm," and "mummies hands and feet." 66 a Wm. Brown, Esq., M.P., Wm. Rathbone, Esq., an extensive merchant in this town, and Lawrence Heyworth, Esq., M.P., presided on the respective evenings; there were between 800 to 1000 persons present each night. On the last evening, after the usual vote of thanks being given to the chairman and lecturer, the audience joined in singing the "National Anthem," which terminated in so appropriate a manner the proceedings of the evening. Mr. Gadsby will most likely visit Liverpool at some future period, having been waited upon by a deputation from the "Sunday School Institute," requesting that he would re-deliver his lectures for the benefit of the Sunday scholars. JOSEP PLAW. Liverpool. MOSES AND HIS WIFE. DEAR MR. EDITOR,-I have read in the October VESSEL, a piece entitled "A Biblical View of the Ordinance of Marriage," by R. Mower, of Shipton. The article is an excellent one. I read it with pleasure and profit. I believe thousands have, and will do, the same; but allow me to show "Mine opinion." Although I am but "A Little One," the question I wish to put, is simply this, "What authority, or scripture proof, has R. Mower, for putting the wife of Moses among the ungodly women?" If I am right he has none; if wrong, I am willing to be put right by "the law and the testimony." We find that "Zipporah" is the daughter of Jethro, the priest of Midian. Jethro, without doubt, was a good man, and he gave her to Moses to wife. Now as the "Word" neither expresses nor implies one moment that the words were uttered by her, as your correspondent says, to express reproachful and perverse railings?" Verily, no! see Exodus iv. 24-26, already quoted. We find that by the command of God, Moses is to return into Egypt (v. 20); that Moses took his wife and sons, and set them upon an ass to return into Egypt (v. 24); the Lord met him by the way, and by some dangerous disease, or in some fearful form, threatened to take away his life, for neglecting to circumcise his son. "Then Zipporah took a sharp stone (flints and other hard stones formed the cutting instruments of the ancients), and with it circumcised her son, and cast it at his feet, saying (twice), Surely a bloody husband art thou unto me;" or, "An husband by blood;" or, in other words, "Surely I have redeemed thy life, and, as it were, wedded thee anew to me, in the bloody circumcision of my son." Now, does not this set forth her faith in the circumcision, and by blood, her son's initiation into the covenant; also her husband's covenant relationship by blood, "Surely an husband by blood art thou unto me"? And so may the Church say of our all-glorious Christ, "This man is near of kin unto us, even an husband by blood, the blood of the everlasting broken heart, a daily cross, never appeared in | hin, nor the least sign of them. Without this ballast, popular applause and pride are sure to fill the sails and make shipwreck of the highest profession, either in this world or in the next.' subject is a large and a serious one. Our ministers and our churches are divided: they are awfully dwindling and declining (with few exceptions), but we do not think sermons of this character will remedy the evil. For one minister to get into a pulpit and rail against other ministers, is not good; but in the present unhappy state of things it is diffi"Hart's Hymns," and "The New Testament cult to know how to keep clear from counof our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." We tenancing evil, and at the same time to avoid have often wished we could have an edition smiting or afflicting the children of Zion. To of Hart's Hymns, and a copy of the Scrip- warn the churches against dead, deluded, and tures, small enough to carry in the pocket. presumptuous preachers, is certainly one part Christian men, thrown about in the business of a faithful watchman's work; but when and bustle of this life (if they had these this is done in the flesh, and not in the spirit volumes in their pocket) might often-in-when it is done under the influence of mere their leisure moments-open upon something party feeling-it too frequently engenders that would serve as a spiritual stimulant to strife, and increases, instead of lessening the their weary and oppressed minds. evil. Mr. Warburton's sermon is by no means wanting in weight and value. It is a discourse that may be more useful in print than it was when preached at Biggleswade; but there are so many difficulties, so many branches, so many evils, connected with the subject Mr. Warburton has taken up, that we must more fully consider it as soon as time and a gracious Providence will permit. We are thankful the sermon has reached us for review;-it will open a channel for noticing a variety of phases now developed in the professing churches of our land. The Irish boys at the Bonmahon Schools In Christ's atoning blood, Corruptions rise up thick, And Satan says, 'the med'cine's vain!' Our hope 's in Jesus cast, We shall be well at last." We trust these little books will be circulated and read to profit by tens of thousands. They are safe companions, and faithful guides, for heaven-bound travellers. John Warburton's "Word of Exhortation." -A sermon was preached at Biggleswade, on the 15th of last June, by John Warburton, Jun., which is now in print, and can be had at John Gadsby's office, in Bouverie-street. The preface says: "This sermon raised a tumult in the camp." The preacher was advised to publish it; he has done so, and a copy is before us. The text is exceedingly appropriate to the present condition of most of our churches: "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain." The main drift of the discourse is, first, to set forth the true character and spiritual work of a living, God-sent ministry; and secondly, to enter a protest against what the preacher terms a dead-letter ministry. We candidly confess we fear there has been great occasion given, by some ministers, for such warnings as this:-and although the subject in this discourse may be a little overwrought in some parts, still we believe it would be a real blessing to Zion if our ministers generally answered more than they do to the description given in this sermon of "the ministers of Jesus Christ." The "An Exposition of all the Books of the Old and New Testaments," &c., &c. By Matthew Henry. Published by Partridge and Co. There is at the present time a mighty effort putting forth to circulate commentaries, expositions, and illustrated editions of the Bible, of every size, and of almost every sort. To recommend, and to aid in the circulation of, any of these commentaries, is, therefore, a work to be done with the greatest care, and only under the influence of a watchful, prayerful, intelligent, and well-balanced spirit. With a mind, in some measure, thus prepared, we hope we have gone closely to investigate and to examine the true character of the commentary now before us. As practical printers, we hesitate not to call this a beautifully-executed work-it forms three handsome quarto volumes, and is illustrated by 740 wood engravings, besides maps, and engraved titles; as theologians, we purpose to let the work speak for itself, and to present our readers with faithful extracts from those portions of this exposition, which will do more to convince our readers of the pure, the truthful, and the comprehensive character of the work, than all that we can possibly do by criticism or comment. Passing for the present, "The Life of Matthew Henry" (in which there are striking features of true discipleship), leaving also unnoticed here "the preface," which is a valuable record, illustrative of the divinity and heavenly authenticity of the Bible, we have pitched upon two portions, in order to make a fair beginning. "Let us make man in our own image," is the first: the offerings brought by Cain and Abel, is the second: and we must confess we were pleased, even to much edification, to find Matthew Henry so distinct, so discriminating, and so decided, |