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CriUB B'S Cx.., ..■x.xxw... „« .^ ^ SAINT JOHK, N.B: .C3r 1865. i*M««vv««««vw«*«««««v«%v*«««v«««*«^rvv«wv«v< A VOICE FROM AMERICA ; A, ■ M e3i OR, rduR SERMONS PKEACHED IN fcifSLAND ^^ THE REV. J. CAUGHEY, ■t ... THE GSEAT AHKRICAN HBVIVALI8T. On the ifollowing subjects : THE STBIVINGS OF THE SPIRIT, T THE STANDING DOUBT, THE STING 'OF "•DEATH, THE OMNIPOTENCE OF FAITH. Reported by d Manehetter Minister. ** ItBPaiNTED BT H. CHUBB & CO., PRINCE WM. STREET. SAINT JOHN, N. B. 1865. 160 PREFACE. CoIt/aCon.UU.e^st^ ^evSt Atlantic; it mov« over ma„y ipam^^^^^^^^^ "i"^;^«»^^! La, where "jany V^^^S^ where yct?howeyer, are to be found mwiy day to rise." O^^^'^^f.^lJlS where spiritual death BtUl slumbers Bobts of dark, dark niK^^*' /P°" T"*'. iSi ziB-zag—itB erratic course. KtSrbed. But i*e come tcommenc^^^^^^ Seel Ught gleams firom it; "8M°^kV' ^^^ hear? Sighs, sighs, loud sounds %oU forth. ^^^^t^^'SV^B^Seapd sweU on Sh^ breeze. Tnnans crics for mercy,— piercing wauB"» of iov,— My sins are par- ™°t°!'"„1nl_Whatdo you hear? _ A song of joy, ^, ^^^^ . „»oans cries for niercy,-piercing wails nse ^'j "yi^ii mg are par- lS SSn 1- What do you ,»»««J .^|j^^°VoKn thoLands mingle ; Sd,r!mfree. JaUelnj J^^ H^^l^^^ t J^^^^^ rises, s5rc«^,i^lU wound our isle, and "^^^^^ '^P *° ^a to the Lamb for ever and even Bim that sitteth upon the Jhron« ana to ^ ^^ ^f brilliant l«ht to The comet moves 0°-°^^,^.* an, seen a multitude of happy- people , mark its cotirse. In the tract ^^X^y^g . augumented churches. jS»n?d spiriU; P}»f fALTeftWoi^of stre^^^ The editor of tM. mUe mes.enge.^H ^^^^^^ vSe to go echohig over our l^^f ' J^Pi"? o"e place or another, as they Stalthlckan on th.lt i:«*?„'jSorioBtalh«l'««"'»'""",-'if°''^™ SS.tC^^!-^^'^"" k«p":&«o»>n«.a».n» ..God. :; ; i , ; >ti ». Bcroiees id— old Bng- «' in brighter found many itUl slumbers irratic course, ounds — awftil 9, sighs, loud n %6- breeze. sins are par- Lsands mingle ; spreads, rolls « Hallelujah to rer and ever." illiant light to happy- people ; nted churches, gladdened eyes t of the throne. L ision prompting ig words of the forth this little eds if not thou- mother, as they they will still be » God. He also ed to add a few wo instances, he by the^ preacher who he*cd these eir author. the fruits of Mr. talisman, hO that snare, or should te heavenly road ; ) allure them from r this littie voice, landmenta of God. i'X THE STRIVING OF THE SPIRIT. "Atidtlic L«rd said, My Spiritshall not always strive with num."— Goii.vi.3. , This is a declaration of God conce;-ning the Antcdcluvian' world. He was about to destroy them ; but could not lot fall one drop of water— one flash of lightning— one spark of fire,- Ho could neither droWn nor damn a man of them till the Spirit had done striving with them. For the long ■pace of an hundred and twenty years,— the period during which the ark was preparing,— the Holy Ghost strove with them ; and when the ark was ready, God went round it, and shut every window, and every door, and he shut in Noah and his family. The sound of those closin^g dpofs, as it ecfao^ among the hills, annourfced mercy fled and wrath begun,— th« door was shut. Then the fiiry of God broke forth; and rush met rush, and flood met flood, and cataract met cataract, and tempest met tempest, till the last sinner cursed God and went down. The storm raged on still ; in ftiry— in awfiil sublimity— it broke forth in one wild scene of boundldto grandeur. And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with ^m^ I wish here to observe, that I scK-cted a text tor tliis occasion,— a raet on which I could say thinps with prcatcr liberty, but, about eleven o'cloclf this forenoon, it left me, it went entirely away, and unother came. Well, thought I, perhaps God has sent mc tiijs text to humble me. Well, I again thought, I care not; I am willing to be humbled ; .1 am willing to be anything or nothing, if souls are only saved. But— but I received with (be text a message from God to some particular characters in this congre- gation. Oh, my soul is very.liappy ! Bloss God, I fee} he is with me I I feel on my heart I have a mcBsage from Godtoypu. Come, Holy dhost, aifd apply thy word. And the Lord said. My Spirit shall n<4 ilw&ys strive with man. . In my text we have two points, — ' Ii-*-A GBBAT FAOI STATBD-'-rBB St&IVINO OF TH« SrlKIT. II. — A DBBADrtn. EVBMT PBBDICTED — THH X^MSAnOlT OF tKk SiPiBit'd STBivnio: %r^ First, 1^ great fact stated, (^essity, and a pertainty . There is about this fact tjro things, fi^u- ■Sl''^ s4?^' JlfBi" A VOOK FROV AMBRI«A. l-irst, a Nccc8«H.v. What .lo you mean, says one, by a Noccggity? I niean, firstly, there, will l.e no Concern about tlie soul's salvation without the striv,n^« o. th.. Spirit. Without the Spirit man is in darkness-in ^ total darkness. H- ,. darkness itself; there is not a glimmer in his soul. He is in death's si. ul.m , and when a man is in the shadow, the substance M not far off. He is as dark as a Hottentot ; yea, he is as dark as a devil. It is by the Spirit he is convinced-olMineO. It i, by the Spirit the memory is refresh .^ the con^.icnce aroused. Yea, that unbidden tear, tellms that all is n..i yet lost; that softening t«ndem..y, that melting down into contrition, those throes of agony in the 8oul-a«, aU are the work of the Spirit. It I, by the Spirit he is enabled to look to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. Without the Spirit no con- ▼icuonof sin, no contrition for the past, no softening tendency, no meft- ing view ot cavalry, no concern for the soul, will ever be felt. These influences may be resisted, and this rosistence may bo carried on to a point m the history, until conscience lays down its functions. Then the heart is as hard ..s a stone, and the understanding as dark as hell can make it. Then the sinner is like a ^hip half foundered, in midnight darkness-on a stormy soa-niasts gone, helm broken, with compass lost, left to the mercy of the winds and waves. Then, though he may drop a tear over the grave of some loved one, he will turn up towards the God that redeemed hfln the brazen front of sullen rebellion ; the iron hardne«i will be on his soul, but an infidel he cannot become till the Spirit has given him up,-genuine infidelity can never dike place till the Spirit has ceased to strive. See him, on and on, and on he rushes : the space be- t-reen hira and hell lessens-lessens every step; the lightnings from the Bible flash around l.im-but, no feeling ! The thunder from Sinai roars —but, NO PBBLiNo ! The lurid flres of hell glare up in the distance- but, NO FEELING ! ! I-he is LET ALONE. Oh, py Godl of all the curses of heaven, save me and my friends from the curse of being £BT ALONB. I mean, secondly, there wUl be no success in the ministry without the ^int. There will be no real heavenly fire without divine influence Whatever sparks of liis own kindling there maybe on the minister's soul. ' I care not however .ioquent, however persuasive, however pathetic he may be-he may kijidle up with all the fire of Cicero, and thunder wifli the eloquence ofil Demosthenes ; he may have at his command all the »oge of Bible li^rature, be mastcr.of criticism, wield with giant intellect the doctrines of revelation, and all wUl bo no more than the chirpimrof a grasshopper. *^ * What is the best machinery without a moving power? What would your best laiMray engines do without a moving power? Of what use would be your great vessels on the deep without a moving power? i^ we teU you, tliat even all the grand machinery of the gospel wiU do without a tnovingpower^^^^te^ojwr^t^rJKI^Xo^ Bom hes embedded under thick layers of darknes's, and bound up in 'i*^%^% foccsaity? I ition without darkness — in !r in Ilia aoul. the aubatancc rlc 08 a devil. tie Spirit the ibidden tear, netting down are the work the Lamb of pirit no con- icy, no melt- felt. Theae rtied on to a I. Then the k. as hell can in midnight ompass lostf may drop a irds the God "on hardnem 10 Spirit has le Spirit has he apace be- iga from the Sinai roars I diatance — 1 of all the le of being without the a influence. lister's soul, pathetic he lunder wifli > Hand all the int intellect chirpings of Vhat would >f what use ■ror? ApA pel will do host: "The innd up id 'i|>ittc it i'rthw its ' ri^kxtu's tit' (he I uk' til vry nut, s Spirit. '' !■< Hr''t 8triv(>n ' I ill n cvid nt, 2. i'lii' i\p Ti- 'M i^ r>i|iii--j lie n I I'Orid'inn 1 1' ■"I'l • C I if.u;- V i!i I'r • ifn^)r.'~- 'J ■ "I. „ (fi, if . r>T I ■iiir A. VOICE FROM AMKRITA., Ibtters of iron; none but the Almighty Spirit can ■ bondage and snap iU fettera; 'tis under tho liixni Spirit— under Holy Ghost-preaching, that th«> aoul What must I do to be saved ? Secondly, there is a certainty about the striving oi I tell you, no man can go t« Hell fire till tho S|i jjritlj^lm, and given him up. That the Spirit ntriv • mm the following considerations: 1. Christ dit-dto ence of both saints and sinners testiff to it. 3. S i without it. 4. It is only on this ground that GdiI c i > , file wicked. He has been striving with you, and i ■ ters here that hare been grieving the Spirit of God tJp my heart, and I have from my God a message u : I felt his blessed Spirit with me, I feel he'is with n. 1. The first character I name 5« the Backslider, i' ing the Spirit of God. I would not seek to aroua > cite and Mghten you ; but I would first cslmlyapii.' • But, ah I why do I dothia? Your judgments arc «ii your duty; and, if you go to hell, you will go th«?n of heavenly light. But I don't want to shut you neither do I want io drive you to dcapsir. Wlutt a > it is, that you are not in the deeps of hell ! WImt' «re ill the house oC Gbd to-night ! I cannot tell >v ttiis congregation, or to some other, or to none f w " |toor, old or young; whether yon fell by little and i fell at once into some awful crime ; whether you' i <'- ' ^t of dishonesty, or by whoremongering ; thic 1 k tlider, a,nd you are A«r«. There are just two pu Tou have been very miserable fbr the last thret' lu'i . ing dove, you have had no re8t.j^|^w, I toll yoii, . , your winding sheet, or converted flrP)d. It will h t.h BiyOodhas sent me wkh this mesaAge to you." Td' J), vil rim|,„|,|. „f you, and the Spirit of Qod has hold of you, and "' iit . si, i , in^r with you; one or the other will soon prevail. Oh. rnv m * vr! it will xoon be Christ or the Devil, Hw^ven or hell. Salvation or D i„ri.iiioi.. Oli ! ia there nothing that can re(jch you? Let me cill you r ■ i, uibriim-to ili©-^^ 'tone when you were happy— happy as A prince -iwrpiiy in God. You walked, and tolked with God; and around him, n i,,." central point of Wiss, your spirit circled. With with what joy did yen k up to h«..«ven «s your home. Those were Messed diiys-rlmi 1 1 a i n- gone. I tou4cl pmy much to alarm ydk, but one poor sinner ought u.i to be harsh with„ pnothdK I know that I myseA ought to have lietr. .r„i t„ hellyoars ago, -*ut the Lord had meniy upon me, and pardom-d „'\ hh, imd sanctified JWy wwri, aB4hit8,ktt p t me for yea r a^ -atl-now i' Mty^ Tryi »t.-wrtir Trr CTicter iieart. Oh, ray blathers, your are on the ed^o of tii. ,,11 011 tin- itrink of '4iie burniag \akei Another step, and yota may \>.<^ tiie verge, and i' ■■■ .Ti ^'i ■>■- i>:i- to cx- 'ii'lr II ntJj. •II 'li : \ ■HI k 1 ivv •K il \>,i: ;i i ilo rts : ^ iiii-.t le, i>r tll;;li II . i\' 'Il ■V II 11 lil.lt you '■ you lii'loiitf to • ymi iir ril'li or ir wlii'iticr you V Hunniij^, tiy an VI. II ire a Back- ■ out your iMSB. - * like 11 wandcr- I' will ,r N f f . 6 A vitirs pitoM AMttBIOi. / •pUih on tlio flery waye. Ckme away f Come away f I Oh, COME- = AWAY TO JESUS ! ! I . Your distressing caHc remind* me of an affecting Incident connected . witli tlie explosion of an American steamer, a f«!w yeffTs ago. Tlie vcsiel was on her voyage from Savannah to New York. In a dangerous sea, •nd in the dead hour of night, the boiler tutst, and about one haudred souls were launched into eternity. The vessel wastorn to pieces ; a^ upon a tew fragments of the wreck, with the uuut lying across it, a num- ber of human beings floated out. to iea. They eonfiuued to tklii further and further from land, till oothing but siy anjj j^water met their view. During four days, the scorcliing sun poured his rays upon, their almost naked bodies, till they were blistered. ^They hitd no fowl to satisfy the craving of hunger ; their tongues were scorched with tlm^t ; and to drijik the salt water, they knew would only fticrease tlie dreadful fueling. > A hint was givpn by one of the sufferers tliat they should cast lots who should die for the sustenance of the rest. But the idea of 'outing the , flesh and drinkiqg the blood of a fellow being, was rejected with horror. ' As they were gazing intensely into the far-off l^orizon, they w^ro- cheered with what at first appeared a dark s'pot, but which soon brightened into a sail. Thoy raised their little flag of distress; but it wtu unnoticed, an^d the vessel disappeared. After some time another hove in view, but the signal was not seen, and she vanished away. In like manner two otben appeared, but, to their anguish, tliey also passed out of sight, "tiope deferred makcth the heart sick." After several hours elapsed, another; sail appeared— it seemed as if_it wa8T)asted on tlie sky. Spon its shapa altered; the outlines of a vessel could now be traced; and, Us their trembling joy, seemed to be nearing them. Ah, ^e captain of tlmt ship little thought how many eyes were fixed with a gaze of agonyjupon the white sail of his stately vessel I They hoisted their* signal of distress once mQre, and uttered their feeble criea; but, alas, she also appeared to be sliaping her course in ano.ther direction. One poor fellow, who had been dreadfully scalded, looked himself into despair, cried out, " She it gone," and laid himself down to die. . The time of extremity was Ood's opportiinity. One eye ftom the vessel caught thfe signal; the word was passed to the deck and resounded tjirough the ship, "A wreck 1 a wreck 1" Jn a few moments she began to bear^own towards them. One of the sufferers, perceiving the cliange in her course, uttered the jay, " She sees us I" " She is coming towards iis 1" ' Nearing them rapidly, the vessel loomed up within a short distance of them, and the clangour of the captam's trumpet rang over the waves, ,^ " Be of good cheer, I will save you 1" I need scarcely tell you they ;#ere soon o'n board, fill with adoring gratitude to'Ood, and thanksgiTing to their deliveref. Your state of soul reminds me of the perilous conA- ^on*of these shipwrecked passengers. You jwere sailing onwar d to liS^Ven with a Mpp^ sonl, and* <^e breeees of grace were propitioiu. ' But an explosion took place^ to the astonishment of heaven, and joa f Oh, COME. itrt connected . The vessel tn^oruus aea, oqu huadred ) pieces; ai^ 331* it, a nuD»- } ilriit further ct their viov. their almost tol sulisfy the ; und to dri|ik fueling. cast iotti who }f eating the with horror, w^ro-clieered ;htc'nod into a anoticed, aOjd riew, but t^e er two othect ght. "^ope pged, anothec, pen its shapa Lud, ia their 1 of tliat ship )nyJupon the d of distress ) appeared to ow, who bad }ut, " She it ity was Ood's the word was A wreck 1 a I them. One red the fsrj, lort distanoe ir the waves, b11 70a they thanksgiying rilous catM- t o nwar d to ) propitioiu. en, and joa ^ ;r A VOIOB FJR^M AMMIOA'. ' 7 " mado'jihipwreck of faith aM n (jood conscience." Thankr God, you have not pone down to h^ll, like many other baokHlldcTB. You have Abated out upon the mere f^'apments of yptir, hopes, into the .ocean of detpalr. Yon have grieved tlie Spirit, and of you it nmy be well said,-:- , Bis passage lies across tliu brinli^ Of many 1^ threatening wave :" ' . ^ And hell expec ts to see him sink, But JesuB livUPI^ save I / - /■ ' ■ ' . Yes, ^Josu8)rve« to save;" and i? is written, " He is able to save to tae uttermost/"^ The promises have bedn^jbscurcd fromtho eye of your &itlt by strong temptation. A0iia and'agjUn you hive found yourself »nable to roach them ; and, like the vessels which hovered for a little before the vision of tho8e>distressed persons, and then vanished ; so hive the proxoises to your apprehension. But the God of the pronjisos is at hand. If we could but induce you to repent— to lift up yourjignal of distress, your signal would be seen in heaven, flio Captafn of your salvation wouli draw nigh,' and you wou^d exclaiui, " He sees me ! He sees me 1. Ho is' coming towards me ! He is, Seel Lo I on the wings of rove ho flies, And biings s«dvatlon nigh. Oh I you would hoar the voice of your Great Delivpi-er, saying, ' good cheer, I will save you." But, persist in gHeving the Holy wBd~your doom is sealed. 2. There is another character in this coagrcgatiuu. I^dunt knov whethej>you are a backslider or not. You may be decent in your con- duct; you may rospject religion— belicYe iu'its great, awful, and solemn .verities, but you /re undecided, you halt. You have a father and a mother unconverted^ who, iifall probability, would give their hearts to' God if you would lead the ^ay. You have been laid on a ted of afffic-. ^on ; you, solemnly promised God to serve him, but your resurrection to health was a resurrection to Sin. God has been striving to convert yon, to make your conversion instrumental in the salvation of your parents, but you haveTstood out ; and my God has sent me solenmly to warn yon againat the soul-destroying sin of pjjtting off. I tefl ybnr if you tetunci God will speedily send Death,— the winding-sheet,— the coffin,— the white border round your fifice,— the shut eye,— the blanched cbeek,— the ieold, cold grave. I tell you, If'yoti refhse to let God pt^ich a seAnom lo your parents flrom your conversion, He will preach a senqpn to them from th&t coffin, ^ih your pale ^brpse, from your shut eye, your bof^ ^ dered fecc, your blanched cheA, your yawning grave. I tell you, ft will soon be the one or the other,— (Swwernon or JiaiAnation. i,Which . shall it be? TfiHyou nowyiel^ to God? You delay,— you grieve the Me ss ed g ]^t^imdhe^aOTae84eBfr«id^let»poiwyft^ every tinwi Go*^ ■ays. My Spjrit shall not always strive with m^^. Come, Oh my Godl and save this halting soul. •- ■ r tj 8 A VOIOK FROM AMEKICA. 8. There is another character in this congregation deeply impressed on my heart. Ton are a Pew-holder, and a friend to the preachers. I hope you are not too great a friend. I mean, you invite them to yoot homes on Sunday evening, after preachin|r> to your hospitality, to your ale, and wine. They make engagements to take supper with you, pre- vious to going to their appointments ; their word must be kept, and the consequence is, the prayer meeting is left, penitents are not led to Jesus, and the churches do not flourish. Ah, 'this hospitality! The alQ and wine have been the bane of Methodist preachers, and the curse iof Metho- dism. I tell you, you are a curse to the churches. I don't mean ^ say that you intend to 4o the preachers harm. No ; you love the miniftten^ and I honour you for it. If you saw one of them poorly clad, you wonid put your hahd in your pocket and give him a suit of clothes. I say, I honour you for your. love to God's servants ; still, your table, yQuf ale, your wine, have proved a snare. The Lord save you from being a curse to his Church I You are a Pew-holder, — ^you have had a seat in Qod's bouse for the last fifteen years. I might go further, — no ; I stop just ihere, — fifteen years, — ^jnst fifteen years. I will not attempt to say ho«ir much evil you have don^ by your example ; how many souls you haTe prevented from joining the people of Qod ; how much you have impeded the Redeemer's progress. I will not stop to say why God sent leanness into your soul ; why you have not prospered in business ; nor why Grod has cursed your property, and dhrsed your family. For fifteen years the blessed Spirit has been wooing, alluring, arguing, and trying to torn yM to God; but, while this planet lias rolled round die snn fiftieeh times, ybtt iiave been fighting against God I Let me now solemnly, in the sight of Mgh Heaven, ask you, — 1st Bow long do you mean to remain as yon are? 2nd. How long do you mean to rebel against God? . ^pend upon it matters will not continue long as they are. God has « CQQtroversv with you; He will ere long bring it to a dose ; \lie crisis, iM approaching. If you intend to be saved, you must make hatite, (toid ^elay not. ^Your conscience is almost seared; sermons ^re scucely ^ «Qy use to you ; under the soul-subduing scenes of CalT«;qr yotimelt not^ tbe judgments of God make upon you but little ^wpressioii. V^^our ^aiair tuition slnmbereth not. This message to ^qu* if not the s^^roi^ of, U^ Wto life, will be of dei^ onto death. Ohi I aro,i«&iwdl«ix^j|^|rfpud||ii|^ aome of yon fi)r the ferer* the peati}en<^, .the winding sheet; I ipean'^^^ who are resisting the Spirit. Y^qa bare bi^p i|f>^flQM^ H^'^^ r^^^^W^ x^tiie IsMckings of the Holy GUiost; button ^ye, Copied, fndjie^^ l^e door of your heart. The last knocking wiU (BOTfoe, fm ^e iiftri^ i^ Mf Sphit shall not aluray* ntnve with man. Ontt Qodl f^if^^h tt^n ' ibis Pew-bolder's bc^ot. ,',', „ .' :•_,. '[ ■■ ,r,, ~ C One duraoter ttore. Tou hare jwoed some Church) yoo ip«t^ a' CftriatUul; you go the toutd of ChrietieQ duties { but you l^lTe jHff Happiness, no livhig Joy, no bright Hope, no boniiag lore. I «*k 7^ A VOIOS FROM AMmUOA., 9 r imiMKued reachen. I lem to yoot lity, to your th you, pre- ept, and the ed to Jestu, The alQ and 3e«f Metho« mean ya aay leminiMen, t, you wbxitii 38. I «8y, I [e, y(^uf ale« eingf a cune leat in Qod's I stop just t to say haw lis you hare Eive impeded ent leanness lor why God en years the ' to torn y0it B times, ybtt the sight of God has f Ibe crisis, J* ) haste, ftn^ s,carcely ojf Qtipijeltnotf ■jf;^ur ^iaor ,TOlif ot ]S^ adJMiiinredi; dOijou think yQU have ever been cottiwrM ; When was it? Under if|ka< drcuTMtanca did it take place ? Is it possible that such » change oonld have taken place» and you know nothing of ij? There was a time when the Spirit strove with you. Yes, h§ has been striving with you by that hard heart, that lean tout, that standing doubt. And you cannot iell but that the influence that is now moving on your soul, may be the Idtil effort Heaven may make for your tdldation. What.! want to do to-night, is to arouse yon to a sense of the peril of your situation. What catk'be done to awaken you from your deep and deathlike slumbers P You are fcere,— here before Ood. I have .described your character — yoi Know It. You have a witness in your own bosom. You feel — ^you know yib*( Are not right; but it is not too late— you iriay yet bo saved. Bit, irnen the Spirit is gone, damnation foil I proceed to state the results of resii "•fit od's Holy Spirit. II'— The dkeadvol Evxnt Pbediotbo, — fHB Withdbjlwai- or tBB Spibit. ^irst, The fact. Under the Jewish economy there was a law of ex- tremity.; there were sins for which there was no fbrgiveness, — no blood, up lamb, no sacrifice, no provision madel Is there such a law under the phristian dispensation ? I answer, there is ; and that law Jesus Christ read up eighteen hundred years ago. It is contained in John xii. 31 ; ".411 manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiren unto men,*but the Uaajriien^ against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men." T^^io is not some sudden work, not some one deed, but a quenching of; the Spirit— a settled resistance, day by day, till the blessed Spirit i» rexed, quenched, driven a;way. JXti Chalmers observes, on this suljjecV <*The sin against the Holy Qhost is not some' awftil and irrevocable deed^, an^und which a disordered fisncy has thrown a snperstitipas array, and viiich beams ia deeper t^ror upon the eye of the mind^fh>m the very, obscurity by which it is encompassed." No{ it isresis^ng the Holj^. wooer, till he has left us alone : than being left aloye by the Spirit, there ffifatbiie thlbgmor^ awfhl can ^appbh to a sinnei', and that is PiUtxA- •kov. IkgtAA say, nothing this side of J9S!ff-jl^, is so had as to be gveeH ^bH'Od l^rH. ' BMoMdty, The Ooase^tieiices. '^t. taft wHltottt fceliitg ! as tiie Mble says, part yhOin^. Ji LMt'wHhWt d«sii^. »: HewllidlereirystiddiMf. (' ' ■ ~ I believe in my soul that the cause of multitudes of sudden deaths'is flie qtieaclung of tke ^$j>irit. I iohn v. (e, 17. " There is a sin untp' fplltti ; I ^0 lipt si^ .tli»t htf Bbfii^ prfy % i^*' ,.;.':,.. ' T^ sin miq^be «f a t^o^fold chiupju^prrraliti^rto hQ^,body uds'q^^ Betetijng first, to the body. Qt<4 lapr^ thatyonhgwoquw on jibe bt»l oJE difttb iq ^e monMng of her ^b-t\J^ ,tk» t^ hloon pf JMfe | fbe jm youpswsilt rou ^T« ^ lMkyQ% 10 A VOICE FBOM AMERICA. sinnied a sin unto the death of the body. There, amidst the pain of a dis- solving frame, she sheds tears of bitter repentance, and there in that last straggle— in life's last hour, finds mercy. She is just saved— saved Ab bj the skin of her teeth : the soul saVed, the body destroyed. Take care that some of you do not go to the grave before your time. I hope, in introducing my own experience here, I sljall not be thought guilty of egotism. I have had, lor years, a list of persons to pray for) and, when one dies, I strike off that name and put on aijother,— letter after letter comeif announcing the death of some one or other of them. Oh, how many has death struck off my Ust ! 1 hope you Christians have your lists. Whether you have or not, the great Jesus has you all upon his list, and he pleads for youj but there is a limit to his pleading. He is represented in the parable of the barren fig-tree, as saying, " Let it alone this year also, and if it bring forth fruit, well ; but if not, after that thou Shalt cut it down.* As soon as ever Jottis shall strike you off his list, the Holy Gh(ftt will give you up : then, when tlie Holy Ghost gives you up, damnation follows,— this is the conseqence. I ask, then, will you come out? Come out boldly, and take yont stand for God. You, backsliders ; you who aire nndeeided, who stand in the way of the eonver- sion of yohr father and mother; yon, pew-holdbr; you, unconverted professors ; will you decide for Christ?— Decide now. I tell you, you are reaching a point on which your destiny turns ; the fearftil crisis ap- proaches that decides your fate. Yes, doon it will bfe with you eonvtrtion or damnation. 1 know some of you do not like thiS kind of preaching. I know I may be sinking in the estimation of many intelligent persons in this congregation. I have sullfered more for this kind of prophetic preaching than foranythiilg else; but I have weighed well the conse- quences. I know what will win human ajpplausc, and I am willing to make the sacrifice. I am willing to be a fool for Christ's sake. Ah, says one, you are doing this for effect ! Atiien I Aheh I Before earth, hea- Ten, and hell, I proclaim it, I AM Aixnro AT EFFBOT. ,• Now, I tell you, when the Spirit has ceased to strive with you, you will present, on your dying bed, a horrible spectwcle. Not long since, in #certain town, a man was dying— a man who respected religion, who had sat in the house of God for yeiirs; and, as his #nd approached, his mind was in a fearftil state. One of the members connected with the chapel where he satVent to see Um, and freely heldouttohim the promises, and told him salvation was free as the, air. The dying nuui waved his hand and said, " Stop 1 stop I I ooold.l^eve all yon say, were I not offmring the drig$ of Vifi to God," Death seized him, and the last words he was heard to utter were, " I could believe all you say were I not offering the drege of Ufe to God." And you whom I now acldMss, I ' tell you, you are sinners agahist God. I do not cWge you with sweu^ ing, with saotwtli-DnftKmg; wHK WhoW*io¥|pii^irM^iaatet7,' but'yoBT •re sinners. And what is your sin ? I answer, it is mental rebOlion,— you refkise to yield to God's daiins. Who is the gtefttest sinner in tile A VOICE FROM AMERICA. 11 universe ? Why, the Devil, And what was the sin of the Devil ? Men- tal rebellion. Some time ago a number of ministers met together for the purpose of holding revival meetings. One of those ministers had a son whose heart was unsubdued, lie had been trained up at their family altar ; he had listened from time to time to the word of God ; had heard from day to day the pleadings of his Father with heaven for his conver- sion ; yet he still stood out. He had constantly before him the holy example of a devoted father and mother ; and, in answer to their private intercessions for him, had been the subject of deep convictions ; but he resisted the Spirit. He was seen one night at the revival meeting. One of the ministers entreated him to give his heart to God ; but," in sullen re- bellion, he still resisted. When the meeting closed, and he returned home, his anxious mother got him alone, and urged him to yield to God (you know how mothers, can plead). He gave that mother a look as fierce as that of a -demon, and said, " Mother, I tell you I wtJiild rather be damned than yield." No sooner had the words escaped his lips than he stumbled, and fell at her feet. When she raised him up he wa« « «erpse,—bi6 face was blanched in death. But I have not told you all; the last words she heard him say were, " I am damned, lam damned." Why such a tender mother's heart was permitted to be wrung with an- guish so deep, God only knows. Now, what was the sin of thiit young m«n ? Why, mental rebellion. God's Hoty Spirit is striving nojv with you, backslider; with you that ace undecided'; with you, pew-holders ; with you, unconverted profesiora ; and you tetaae to yield. What is' the sin you are now deliberately com>- nfitting I Why, •mantai rebellion. Now, I ask you, will yon meet me hk the school-room below this chapel; as soon as this service shall cloae^ will you meet me in the school-room below, to seek the forgiveness of your tins ? I tell you, if you leave this chapel to-night nnsaTed, you are guilty of mintai rebdlion. The yottng man said in words, "I would rather be damned than yield." You say, by conduct that speaks louder than wotds, " I would rather be damned than yidd." I leave the great Author of the Universe, before whose tribunal you must stand ; the Judge of men, to decide which is the greatest sinner, you or him. " And the Lbtd said. My Spirit shall not always strive with men." THte ST Ax\DmG DOUBT. «e.in refea" such a -0^^ *^' "'"' ^"'^ '^•'^°" "^ •>«»-«- ^ for a man to rejoice ev«rrLl .. ^° ^°" *>°^ ** *» P«»ible ICive thanks. ?nd L r;n?'"?hrir ""J^? "•' '" ^^''^ ^'^-^ the Simplest thing in thetoT,' iJ ^t" «t d!" ''T'^' "* «y to me.-re.d me, criticise me elZ " t^T J T"^ *ivihg. Ther Jl ^„l e«peneBce,-Joy, P«yer, Thank.- HiMMnir. and if vnn L »? ... ^ '*°'* P^^'"*' y»« ''•» "oon -top mt cearing," ftef .^^' ®^^**^ •''•™<>~' P'*y witb- First, the Privilege. ~ *. .>-.% %.. ^ .L;;.-;sMToZ^r:ir"2 1 „x A VOICE FROM AMERICA. It re thanks, for B8.v.l6,17,18. twtance of all f heaven. I iligion wordi it is pomible 1 every thing restament la It seems ia ill make 70a You eannoty J ways—two d Gratitude, er, Thanks- destroy one U soon atop ag; ceMe to ;he sjMt of >, pray witb- ro RKjoiov OT ATTAW the gospel, to paint a aw, clothed rnfhl step. ' was XH»*=^ that path the onljr sonnd that met her ear was the shriek of the death struggle, and the- chaunt of the ftineral dirge. No ; I would dip my pencil in the loveliert hues of heavetj, to paint a bright and beautifbl spirit from the skies, with the love of God sparkling on her countenance, and the glory of Oofl £ beaming on her brow ; clothed with garments of light, and crowned with • wreath of amaranth ; with a smile ^f such sweet sfei-enity as would tell that all within was peace,— the peace of God; and an aspect of hol^^ gladness caught fl-om every sight of beattty and every sound of melody; with a buoyant step becoming a traveller to the sKies, and an upward look raised rejoicingly to Him who is her hope and happiness, and to that heaven from which She came, and to which she is returning; walking amidst earth's snares with white robes unspotted by its defilements, or descending from her high and holy communings with God, to minister t» man's welfere as heaven's ministering spirit of mercy-^-entering the abodes of misery, and milking the broken heart to sing for joy^ visitmg the dwellings of rejoicing, and liallowing all their happiness with flie smile of God." Religion is from heaven ; she walks amidst the murky gloom of earth ; she is the true philosopher's stone, converting every thing to gold ; she is described in our text as imparting perpetual joy,— " Rejoice evermore." If you want this perpetual joy, you must tniltivate H ; you must keep breathing towards heaven after it. You, I say, must cultivate it ; and, like every thing else, it will improve by practice. There are within your rpach thousands of eonsiderations calculated t6 increase your joy— considerations from within, without, the past, present, the ftiture, hell, earth, heaven, and«ne spot above all others— CfaZ«ary. Very few seem to understand this happy philosophy, very few learn thii blessed art; and, consequently, they are up one day and down another. ' Life with them is a chequered scene, fWl of lights and shadows ; sadness, gloom, and despair, mingled with a few gleams of joy; sorrow, however; extends its dark shadow over the gieater part of life, and the sunny spotfr are few and fiu- between. Per a long time this was my own experience"; sometimes I was happy, but the momentary joy I felt was followed h^ days of darkness and distress. But God has led me into a higher ani happier state. My soul is very happy. Oh, how constantly happy a& I ! I have proved it by sea and by land, in perils and in sunshine. 1 hate been brought into chrcnnutances where all honum helps fidled ; and, when death has threatened, my soul has been happy. I have beefa wandering for some tiitae, a stranger m a strange land, but the joy of the Lord has been my strength;- my strengdiln travelling, lit labotirinfr, ii suffering; my strength in pmying, in proaching ; and, Iriien the hulft mortal struggle shall eome<~iiriien deailt sfaidl chill ^ci currbni of Hfe^ ^lien my heart and fl«sh thaU Atfl ^ 1 aLord all ye ^nds, sopve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with singing.". Ps. xcviii. 4. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice ye righteous, and shouf for joy all ye that are upriglrt in heart." Ps. xxxiii. 1. " Let the saints be joyful in glory, let them sing aloud upon their beds." Ps. cxlix. 6. " Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord." Phil.-iii. 1. "Let the priest bo clothed witli righteousness, and shout aloutfor joy. " Rejoice evermore." " Do you think," says one, "that all Christians have thisj^oy?" I answer, no; I never thought so. If you could follow many of ^lem into the domestic circle— into the scenes of business; could you draw aside the veil and look at them there; would you hear expressions of joy breaking forth from their lips ? No ; you would hear grumble, grumhle,~grumbUng at every tiling. If this gloomy, repining stoto of mind, in which multitudes of professing Chris- tians indulge, were put into words ; if wliat the heart says— for the heart often says to God wliat the lips would not for worlds utter; and remem- ber, God is always listening to the silent but most expressive language of the heart. JJf ow a believer's heart, when repining, says to God (Oh, may yourrnever speak it to Him), God of all my blessings— God of my salvation, I believe that tlie disposal .of all the events of my life is in Thy hands, and that thou hast promised to make them all work together for my good; but still I am so dissatisfied with the manner in which tl\ou art arranging those events, there is so much' undeserved harshness— un- necessary severity in Tliy dealings with me, that I wish either that Thou wouldest alter Thy mode of treatment, or that tiie guardianship were token out of thy hands. Is not this the appalling language of a repining heart? Ough^ He >ver to read it in your hear^, believer, who for your eTorlastinj happiness has drained the life-blood of his own? Think, then, how it must wound Him to look into your heart, and see that after all ho hiisdone, ali he has sufltered ipr you. He has failed to wiij for Himself your acquiescence, your confidence, your supreme afiection. Well, whatever be the course you pursue, hejre is God's will about you — " Bciipice evermore, pray without ceasing, ia every thipg give thanb, fiir this is the will of God in Christ Jesu^ •eoneerniag you." Here is the will, signed, sc aled, and delive red over to you. Rejoice evermore ! thU T» the will of God concerning you,— but when? When you come up to beayen? No; I answer, now/ His God's w^L this moment conceniipg , " Ah, they eir looks tell wqU clotlied, at>pcarance, Huy do their teras tliat!" God. the jers. " Be- . iv. 4. "O noise to<£^ ise unto the 16 before his , and rejoice heart." Ps. aloud upon n the Lord." , and shout I one, " that Light so. If the scenes here; would ? No; you g. If this Bsing Chris- For the hea^ and remem- ve language to God (Oh, ■God of my ife is in Thy K)gether for lich tl^ou art sihness — un- r that Thou insbip were f a repining 'ho for your n? Tliink, 3e that after d to wii^ for le afiectidn. 1 about ^011 pve thanka« Here is th^ rmnrft! .thU cpme up to coacernipg A VOICE raOM AMEBIcyi. *6 you; and he pow holds down to you a bunch of grapes— a bunch with three as fine grapes as ever grew in any part of the sunny ^J^orld. He bids you gather them and eat. He places t)iem near— within your reach. He offers them freely. He bids' you gather, and eat, and live forever I— continued joy, unceasing prayer, perpetual thanksgiving. Get- this joy, it will be to you what the wings are to the bird,— tfae bird does not feel hi* wings, they carry themselves and him too. The ship does not feel • the weight of the sails ; the sails carry tliemselves, and waft on the vessel too. The joy of the Lord, as a heavenly breeze, will waft-you onward. God says to you, "Come, and I will show you the length and the breadth of Immanuel's land. The church of Clirist is rising to a better under- Standing of her privileges. I have been, within the last few years, travel- ling many thousands of miles, and I have been astonished to |ee what multitudes of people, in different places around this planet, arc gathering to the Great Messiah. The Lord hasten the time when all shall know'him. II.— State the reasons why so many professors do not attain tP this happy state of experience. ^^ First. Many professors in the Christian chnrch have never been bom again. This is a fact as true as it is painAil. « Conscience lifts up its warning voice ; the Spirit flashes conviction across their minds ; or, under Bome alarming providence, or Holy Ghost-sermon, they become alarmed, convinced of sin ; and, under tho influence of these fbelings, they con- nect themselves with the people of Ood, and suppose that all is right. They are deceived, and th«y deceive ottiers. 'Tis true, there is a great change in them-^ change pervading their whole conduct. 'Tis tree there is stillness, but it is the stlllnesB of death; there is peace, but it is the j;eace of the tomb. The circle of ceremonies is filled up, but you never' hear them say, Oh, how I love the elo$et r All hail, sacred hovr of devotion ! Were you to listen ever «o attentively, lyou would n^ver hear tliem exclaiming, O, precious sabbath ! How calm I How sacred ! How holy thy hours 1 How my 80ul_ ravels in thy hallowed exercises 1 When wilt thou arrive ? No ; their religion is a religion of fear, and all -the hop0s they have of he^aven are based oq their fancied freedom from ©▼U J on* reformation ; on prptession. They are proof against every argument, and every appeal i th^ir profession acts like a lightning eqfi- ductor. See! seel that old thatched house tiicre in the distance : ^ook closely at it, and you wUl se^iaUttfe black,rod running up aloqg tiheisi^e . oMt, from the bottom to the, Y&ej^Ux^,. and extending, i^e^atMv« the chimney. It is a lightning cooflactor: it attracts wd leads off the bum- ing element. Ah t your profeaaion has many a .(j^ne acted Uke the lightning copdoctort When God's se^tinta, under the htflaeoce o^ the Moiy Gho^t, have made thp UgbtnmgB <^ fUriae ^tb fliishupoB yoa ^t t^ul4 M^i dtim olighed your refag a of U cSj^ dJycoTeredJ to jrou your gwlty state,, «nd have led 'ypu to , %e WflQd , of Chii«(, ttp fJboT joar ..lightning coaduptor, and every iinpreMi9ii w^i srad^d. .yQOrlp)«w 16 A VOro: FROM AMKRICA. nothing of deep, solid spiritnal joy ; you cannot rejoice evermore ; and one refcson ia, you have never been bom again; and, until thii Is the case, you may as well try to unite fire and water , heaven and heU, — make Ood' and tile Devil shake hands, — as try to rejoice evermore. Bring together wind and water, and you will have a storm; bring into contkct Are and water, and yon %ill have a coibmotion ; bring the holy principles of Christianity, and an unholy heart, /knd you will have a commotion, a storm, a tempest; they cailhot agrbe, they cannot harmonize: eitfaier ° yon must change the religion or change the heart— they cannot unite. 1 tell you, you tfiay as well try to make the Poles meet, stop the winds in their course, roll back the tide, or i>luck the sftn from the heavens, as perpetually to rejoice wittihut the new birth. " Marvel not that I say unto you, ye must be horn again." 2. Aaother reason why so many professors do not rejoice evermore is, ' they have a standing doubt of their acceptance with God,— a doubt a^ to whethe|^they are bom agaiqi ; and therefore they cannot rcijoice ever- more. Now, that is a bit of real mental philosophy. " What do ytpi mean," says one by a standing doubt?" I answer, I mean that the doubt has something to stand upon ; tluit is, you cannot tell. the time and place of your conversion. o " Yes," says one, " I.can tell the very tinie «ad place where God pardoned my sins, but I cai^aot rejoice evermo^^^" Ah 1 1 kno^ what you af^ ; you are « backslider! The devil could ja^l you that he was once in° heaireB'— onoQ a iiin of the momuig-~onpf^,igi Archangel in glory. That he QDoe^uog sweetly amidst tiie howwra, of Eden — that he once raised the high halleliuaba of'heavep; butwhftof that, he is a dtvif now. And what is it that you can tell the time,,pl40ite«Udg I Ton Mk^ oonplMel^ Aot rmore; and this Ks die hett, — make ore. Bring mto contkct ly principles tmmotion, a nize : eitter ° ot unite. I le winds 1h heavens, eu that I say syermore i«, —a doubt a^ choice ever- rhat do y^ an that the he time and le very tupiie evermpjT^" 'il could ti«ll ig— onoft.ioi lie bonr^raof but what of > time,:pUce luwl rhat year of ? In what Pyoornsta- uidpertuqps your Biith- iroice of j6y e Birth'day no spUltnal tialtoBeli- itanee, Attd lint;. I ha^e tiiestM»BttTah alle«ca|»tbat I^an'tknow. Ab4 tfaei«% «» ttrn ttdiwiZim^ ^ Jou miupotT^oice erermore. Qet this matter •ettlBd--get it tettted at S*^ fn*:**" «»ntto»er^with hMTen. "" Vosd, th« bliM of the LkU. I " 'SJ^^'^y* fly to the Uood^^ho 16 A VOIQK VROM ABIXBIOA. i fltMi4ing doubt will get you Into heU after M. Now, you are pardon^ or you are not pardoned.-yoi are covdcmncd, or you are ju.tifled. U there wa« a world where there was neitlier a God nor a Devil-neither ain nor holinew; if there was some middle sUte-iomp border 1«^ where you would be -asked no questions about your conduct; where thew would be no oped books- -no judgment day ; then you might ha^e t^pfi on with this standing doubt. But there Is no border land. There i» however a judgment day. There are boojts to be opened. There .8 # Kdge-an omniscient Judge. An^ ito all near at hand. Oh 1 wUl ^pti gft this standing doubt removed? |Will you get thu great quesUon set at.rest? j ' '< The congregation will please to ^eel down,-Come, now, every one Of you, No'w, my God here they ajo before thee. Give me souls-giye ma souls, or I die. Put thy net aroUd them ; Thou hw made us fishers of men.' Now, will you who are seeking pardon, the witness of the Spirit, and purity of heart-you three classes ; will you meet me exactly «t two o'clock this afternoon in ray select meeting, in the band-room be- Inw? Now, are you promising God? Some of you are-I know some Of you are, but not, enough. I hold you to it. I want you to promise my God that you wlU meet me in my Select meeting at two o'clock, m n pn*«%r Ifc^>|-;^» ^eep]"^'!**'*^ iKe object that swfeetii&i the toU, begutt<* til^ rime, f £<^««"_**y^ Tb^e two propjMitioi!* liej^ the f9l»%jir|t HUuf noun*, y A VOICE FROM AMKRIOA^ 19 B .pardon^ ittifiied. If ril— neiU)£r order lai))^ where "thc)re t hate go^ , There 'U There i« a h! will jrpti question set r, every one souls — give ide us flsben tness of the it me exactly ind-room be- [ know some u to promise o o'clock, ia rononnce the il»ti,letn8|j^ aace from sin / ■ I trdthof iii> terest ha] BtieeM liiM||L and the frost withered liim by mifht^it is said, " Jacobjaerved seven year!, for Rachel, and they seemed to himf^^ a few days, for the love he hadT to her." The deep interest ho felt in the object of his pursuit gave wingt to time, and made years fly a» day^. Again, a man is deep in debt, nntl' tl^ object he has before hi'm is to " owe no man anything"— to be able to loo|t every man boldly in jthe fi^ce. To accomplish this, what sacrlflces will he not make; what labour and toil will lie not endure t The deep' interest ho feels in the atUinnient of his object, calls him to toil ere tha sun hiis yet risen ; hurries him on through the whirl of business ; braces hla spirit ; nerves his arm ; and sweetens all his labours. The merchant is looking onward to retirement from business, when, in the calm evening at life, he can sit down and eiyoy his neat little country -j seat ; tliat is tK% object before him. The interest he feels in its attain-^*""*^ ment, gives zest to his jaded spirit, and throws a charm over what would otherwise be, from year to-yT?Kf^^ne dull scene of monotony. Tlie same principle actuates the warrior ou tlio battle-fleld. His objett is military gl^ry— a name in the annals of fame— the applause of the brave. To accoiuplisii this, he will bid adieu to the loved scenes of home, the smiling babe, the hearM)roken wife. - He will brave«flie perils of the deop ; and, in the face of the uleaming spear, the murderous battle shout, the shower of death, tW roaring cannotfs moutir, lie will rush to yictory or to death ; and all tp obtaiil the laurels of earthly, perishing fame. And < ■ were I to say that every real Christian in this congregation was not labouring to attoln an "object, your experience would^se up and contra- dict pie. You have an object before you,— a happy dying hour ;^re«t alter the storms of life are past— rest now and rest hereafter— sweet rest in the calm of heaven. A crown, a brilliant crown, a crown of life, ««J described in the poetry just quoted." To aboir < I ni.j TJi'""^^" '***'' •bofredoaanot go> beyond tiie^^fRfi,^^^)^ lOly UliristWn ou die happy, I wiU releryou to one fact,~Whin lookiog •TM my papers, I fonnd an account written eight or nine years ago jie porfectloh of re- lic cold shivGring' (1 can enable tho n setting in tho lecmii hushed} )h ! how tubllmo an dying happy ! piece fit poetry ^ lecd its upward ; Heaven opens early gates, tho > glory of God, he light. Now produce bursts aims,— ■e, howeyl oetry, thait will jrs one, " It is ire seen pooplo lanchod cheeky the thrbat, tod ath, aod some- tt nerer hare I ed ." T oiboiT' -Whea looldiiy jean ago; Sm A yoioi f BOM aISikrioa. 21 •otircewhence I obtained itgave me tho ftillcftassti^nce of its truth, Anitt- fldel's son, many miles distant from his father's house, heard of the illnaflt of his mother, and hastened home ; tlio »ttn was juM rising over hts native bilis when he alighted in the firont of his father's mansion ; his slsU-r flew towa^s him, pressed him to l^er heart, and leU the way to tho sick room of lii»;^afi|er ; the young infldel stepped forward to the bed, she.seemed *—■"'*--» palf and emaciated ; he nliiiost concluded her dead, till a (►l*yed upon her countenance, her lips moved, he leaned PoT#)i)an3"KJard her say : " I come ! I con)o !" opening her eyes gently; ^■*^! ' thought I was gohig.'' " Where, mother ?» he whispered, (she luianot j-ecognised him, but supposed it wa^is sister.) " Hark !" she ■ai^, and he imtinctively leaned forwards,— " * . " Hark ! they whisper, angels say. Sister spirit come ainay.^ . " I come to join your everlasting songs !" Again he heard his raother'a Toice, nor could fe resist tho Jittractive sound, but was there in tima in hear, ^ '• , " Then shall T see. And hear, and know, :•'''■ All I desired, and wished below." Ore^ome by his feelings, he left the room for a time ; on returning, h^ toother, who had been made acquainted with his arrival, received hii9 with a cheerftal smile, and said,—" One thing more I desired of the Lord, ■ad he hath given me the desire of my heart." The awftil hoot of dissolution had come, and after receiving the whole of her &mily around her bed, her last advice and parting blessing wa« tben given, beginning with t^ youngest and speaking to them one by one, till she came to the eldS^the iitHdel. Tears, which he tried in Tain to repress, ^hed from his eyes, as he thought to himself,- Hy mother thinks mine a hopeless case, and desires to leave me to pursue ^•y cfaosep path to roln. Agdn hti endeavoured to choke his emotions, \nx tears, and the inward monitor suggested,— '< DmI then ibel thesft arguments, Loreuor rose to leave the room ; bat the eye, the heart, the undying love of «a expiring nM>ther«>Uowed him; she called him back, and bid Um be «Mted by her side, making some allusion to^Bs infidelity. She took hint \(f the h»nd and said, «« tSj son, I know yoo are an InKdel,— I know y °T''l5T'~^''^^" «*»'* l^our mother to die a bettitier ifipL i^ereeAof ^aire or> Paine r tf «„; step forvyahJ witH me S^ tomb, Whi6h, in t'he light of infldeli^ is ais dark as. darkness iti|lf. »eath-an pternal >le^p-tiie utter eiiinction bf 'being-i^r8"iin'L.r ,-«on^gn^d ^pab.^ «o much .^,„aio„ and e:^'yZt,3 ^,^tbkeanes|,mrigtapei-cei8etoeJtI rXm tvLLW •nA;j»£ Holy Ghost, afld cii«cienc6 applied the feniimerit wfth poWer. "Doat thottifeel these Mpgumeirt«,ij;*reiizd?" Ur IS there nought but yengeanpe c«q be felt ? But, she continued, "While life recedes, my hopes-^y hopes-itty confidence m God strengthens. .:?p^e, ,^e a,rirer,lours irbalS fafluence over me; eternity .nd JmmariT Ufe open on my deliS visjPn; unutterable thoughts of God and heaverfiU mj LZ^. Mdei capacMes. I feel the assurittice th« God is my Father Cl^ ^ySavmur and the ridly Ghost my eotffi,rteP. I sl4 soo^ k^S unclouded v,s,on of the glory of God's palaees. All that is now St, S deep, or high, to my plreseflt liihited capacities, wUl be then unfolded hZ understood; nature, pif6tideb6^, ^ ^^ ^,i ^ .^^T^e^^ ^?^arch^,the perfections and ^ttri^tps of God an endless ip^uS ,|^t;r^de^p|,9i^_^ eternal, sopg. ,T^e Te^i,rrectipn>« JkdftJS ,Jhe stone fi^o,, ^e , sepulchre, ^d, iUunaaed ^.e^klS^^^ wallowed up death in victpry. .m^7^,Mmi-^Tti^^ ^•«inejr8,uj,^e8e^t, is sweetl is s-W-e-^lt * *T i j ^^ ^Jn"^^£^ -F9H!dhav^PW?^M-ga8ped, declined H^oa her ijw hTcS ,^A9y,>^^^^ nm htef^s. J^, father pank do^ u^f^^ZS! ^J,.pu.|jft^er w^t^, face beaming withr^^^^^^ hfiw^^e yphgftjn oOheJ^J,leco^d support ImS^^ Wself a lost sinner, but di^qov^r^d the .^^yiour.^ffi*^ rey£^ ^e pale of 1 .r 'h ^*^^i* """* ** c6nfe.«Kl, thi^ .aWtudes within ^ihVi^^SlL -S'fL^' P^ ^~^"?ff»^!°' ?'«»' "«*"«« Vithin the Pile %r80A^>li5iii'Mi„jti tmn &mJ i^Mkt inSilES'^Stjaf ■•n .-.'!(, (,f. ; 1.,,,;; .,,,:■;••,„, ; -.Hoi^ir i -rtTf^' ' .■7, A VOXOX r&OM AMXRIOA. S8 al^ witH ihe Wpe as. darkness itself, ng— ttiis tihfel^jj, yoytlient, n4u8{f|[b liothtng in Aiam% " It vr&smW^ ipdWer. if" sfelt? 4TOy hopes— lig^. .pours its balmy on my delighted I nay already ex- ly Patlier, Clftirt afl soon hacyh'ia It is now dlw^i,"^ hen unfolded and ernes for eternal idless i^t^U^py^ oj pon," — -j8he l?w. ,pe «J^ rn u^n «,cl}j|)t} ?n,,|{^Ot^^,c|fli^ I'M'*'- 'B?^ ekich is the end ittltitades within yithin the mIb onor eiilier Om ho^doii Hihtfiti ta tffiith fheir closing hours. I wonder not at their painftil death : they could not bear in life the searchiQg truths of God's word; and, if men cannot bear ieiurching truth — a strict examination — the scrutiny of conscience in Hie hour of affliction, how cafi they do in the swellings of Jordan ? 0, could we i|na1ce our doubts remove These gfiiomy'thouf^hts thai rise, And Me th» Caniwil that we love With unbeclovded «ve» » 1 9^t, t^'rcius, mortal) start, and shrink "" ,To cross this narrow sea ; ' And ttiger, sfiSveridg oh the brink, And fear to launch awky. The same poet. In another place, says,- / O, what are all my suQTeiiag* here. If, I«Qrd, thou cqnnt'st me meet. 44» I it is ,^e Wiuit pf meetness ! the gloomy doubts I the dread uncer- ti|ji|]^jy! that makes life's last hour 99 i^M>appy! ;There,she lies lingerin{^^ |jliye^|I^;Jlt,ti«po^t,,afra^to ^uncji ^a pPl^ere she lies enduring ^ stiiigp of ,d^tb. ^jie heqj|t;i8 not pjurifledf.sin is not all gone, and i^foma^^f^yr^jfiwer. jreyer.till you iip holiy, wUl you be a^le ^^Qok upon^d^iftth and not Jl^e aft^d i Br^^hren, heaven is f . suictiu^ ^ jjnria9h. ^o jl ^^notpuj^^d,l!tpmaUs^vdeathisjiriiie^^^^ ^^^f^^i ^P^ioh, ^Q]|r h,jfilil^faifrn^af.ju^ sting t^e soul in. U^e hour of ^«atbl ,.I.Wffi (Xiff^ 9fi^k. *nd won. did not teU you wh^t it ^J^LT^JTnT:'^'' *"*""• '^'^'r ".orjal can teUwh^ they endTLTtSwel^'JSo?^.^^ "' "» a calm hour in the last strumrlo „n„-T : *°^<^o«»-' ^ yoo wish dUmond, it will the^b^li^lVw n r^' ""U "^ " «'«« " « I««ing by a house the other iy"^^;'.^,'^,' T ^*- ^'•«'» window; another was also pl^ Zil^t^^t.^''^'^' °'*^« mint with these mirrors The font w« S: ' '^**°'^* ^' «" t^ey Ah I conscience wUl be a mC it iSl rl^lT ^'^' "" *^* "'"'^ life, and bring it again int^iL^^l^Tnl"Jr''u' "*" "^»* .«1^ look b«,k J it will force ev!^*(SS^ J^^vitX "Art"** •cene does it present I Where I. tho «..-^ . f ^"^ *•»* * heart, and say, I hare ke^ toJL , ?"* "" ^' "" »«»*» »Po» U. CwTtian iS? C^L„^ ^^ '*° '"''" during tbe whole rf my t«dlag. talentsF Nevc^^^e ^fvtof the wSTf "'^'"^^'^^ nnholy desiraa? p^« -« » ! • ® world, impure thon^ta 4 t ei among pro- nt been born " I could tell a backslider gh hallelt^'aha :ive you in a It yon cruci- 18 ia another ne doubt on their graves, fe," and " I i and found nd Christian lid not lead ' lo not know V u thought it k, and wore «n». They ish, and no ■f yon wish clear as « wt. • When side of the « can they he window, Ul retouph conscience nd what • i upon hit lie of my prosper!^ or wealth, *oiMfhtf» est touch >o! Th« ipark flJt r enongh uneqnnl- ring, "t A VOICE raoM ambsioa. 25 m^f^m. witnesses in my own breast. Conscience bears witness loud, distinct, and clear, but God has brought the wanderer back— ba^ck to the throne of grace, and your language is, — Though I have most unfaithftal been, Of all who e'er thy grace received. Ten thousand times thy goodness seen. Ten thousand times thy goodness grieved ; Yet, O I tlie chief of sinners spare In honor of Thy great High Priest! Nor in thy righteous anger swear To exclude me from thy people's rest. Ton feel how true these words are, how unfaithful you have been. If you harbour and indulge these enemies of God in your heart, what kind at a death will you have? Ah! we know, we have seen your brethren die, we know the whole race of you, we tell you there is before you s •tormy Jordan I What then is to be done ? The past cannot be altered. " What," say you, " are yon^alming at?" I answer, I want yon to be aroused, to be restored, to get this sUnding doubt removed, to be washed again in the blood of the Lamb, to get this sting of death taken away, to go on to perfection. Only get this sting removed, and yonr natnra puri- fied, and then yon will have a happy death-bed ! Bless God I you may start for glory, and never strike a rock! See! see! that vessel leaving the port of Liverpool. She passes the Pier-head ; she jostles her way llm>ugh the crowd of shipping that obstructs her passage ; she dear* every dangerous point; she escapes the sand-banks that lie concealed nnder the waters ; she gets fUrly out on the ocean ; by and by she gets ■a overhaul, and all's right. Every inch of canvas is now crowded on, and on she bounds before the breeze. At length the shout, " Land •- head," is beard; she heaves in sight of port; she reaches it. As the captain steps ashore, his fitends hail him wiUi sparkling eyes,~^,< Well, e^ttain, what sort of a voyage V " O, cipital ; *tis true we hav« had n few tremendous gales, but we have never split a sail, snapped a rope, or lost a spar; and'here we are, safe In harbonrT "Well, captain, we ooogratnlate you on yonr voyage." Olory be to Gk>d ! yon may yet get safe ont Of harbdnr; dear er^tf rook, and pass, fbll sail, into the port of glory, amidst the congratnlationa of flie heavenly host My grace is snffldent for you ; tmt this sting of death has remained, and, consequently, yoiir experience has been « chedcered scene, sometimes np, sometimes down. Now, I want to tak« yoa ont of this uncertain sUte— I want yon to get this standing don^ removed. If you want a triumphant And happy dying hour, then yo||. pout go on to perfection. I will not stop to cixpban the nature of Chrli^ mn Perfection, only to ask a question or two. Are jron a Protestantf W^, then stick to your Bible. 1 tell yon, there are !too may oreedi iMting about already; 111 stick ftst to my Bible I Gk>d's Book is trtttti I W«to|^^ra Myi,~ip«di$mnof Cted, " in Wmfi noTlnirtiil.* Doywr l||fit« W "Toi," sv* on«. '! i^ wUl h« blasp|«ea|iy to hdleri^ tho^q^ Ito A VOldK PROM AMBMOA. ^Z / 1L T '°""^* ""' ^°^ ^" "^^^ «'°"''«th in Wm, aidiie cannot sm because he i8 bom of God." Do you believe that? "P^rftrt toveca-teth outall fe.r,'M»«,,l.I you have not enjoyed thati Ye« ence Hks it n^t l»en ^f gu^h a chi»tac.ter? OoocTold ^nyan de,cribea P^uny of hem under tt,e JgV«,«ftjte'«I^^^ Calyunst, «ad thouglj.it^ a»^y in death^e .oulSd be c eZJ from 8 n ; but Beulah, however, was on thl. dde of the river. Wh^ "YntT h1'**^ "' HbpeftU « entbring the land of BeuhU., he m^^ l^u^^^ *' ''*° •l»«»eflWh^ »»d 4»yr. %y were got wte over ^ W»Wt^ 8ro^,^, Wd DppWng Ci^tfe ^a. qlean out Jf i^t; T vS JjA^^e yi^hecvne ipore and wre dl«tinc| ,^i c^^r ; it ,aa hSS tW^^wdRTwop. •te.|Jree^V««ofwereI««^ gx|!^. watj^ »*•• ^P«*^ta the ^way, and now the^^^^*^ SlJf*/** ;r^ #« m«*i M. for.1*e city'^^l^dTL thai 3jTmW,^CT,««,twop«nia|iave0t^ ThS «w arom ii^^t^, |Ig» l*»»»^ef «»V.,tt«»J^etWWn tl^im#nd,thBiJto ^ TV a .4W. ,u,4 «,ere ^a. ,o ^,,^4,, to go py«, iTtCSJ^J^ Wdw; J^,l*e K^t Qf.tlie fiver the pMgrima^rew mSSiS ffi ^i««j.,?'^M^.^.aMdt.,j^i^Q.ay.two ;S«t^ m^r <'|ffNI«be,^« at? "Perftit 1 that I Your secret expeii- lyan describes \i." Hewaaa >d be cleansed river. Wh^ iulah, he says, qjlite p7,»*kt it is to l#y qv^u^^a^^^j^ f^e. '» WeU« Captain," nays the peal^ Ofllce?*, '* th(?y f/Ki'lUMm' l^e^ triin, <^ean as a; pin; go in.go in^i^,*" y«)»,l!l^M«»>*WJ#l* ^^;^^ U Iwifore you." The otibft vessel looms Inaight, t^ piBcerf J9 m,ppf^ "W]m pqrt irpm, (?wtainr " The pprt ot4fiftm>^l^ '^fAJjgr,#Ji«l| aboard ?*• " Why afew of thi^jfan^ngefa^n^fjuy^yf^? R^iiiftpers E^a through the ye(iBel» to w» tb^ jitate «4 t|i(qg»,)%f^ ^i 9ae ^jjf^d awj^y in hia,,l^H^w«!>^u«^>»«'>^^>W#ft U^j|)ei;tb, j|ale,,|^^ and »BWcl^ed,^in.ft^.#9!WM P«WiW;rt» .-liBlJ* iiWP- " W^%" tji» Qfc^, , '« j^ l?^e Ij^ .•r.»<»f ^1^, bj^^,w«eather, ire ahwW \». gM^I j<» J<» **•" < '" W» »W»" HKlSl^ jpirp>-. -Sl'hJJt'o^^S,^**^-'-^. They will enter, at last AnVi nWi k • • - • • , •»«' a 'ong voyage JL pott ^e^:^^^^^^^^ TB»«eH« expected, "again a sai 1" Vh 1 r ™'''^ ''° *« ^'«' ' • ' «.g th«,ugh the dim haze Thr^^ sh t ^/'""'^v'^^ " ""'' ^'^ ' wan; Bhe comes nearer and nearer sSJ!^ ■^''' ^"^ °^ °° *• «Wny heart, are now beating Wg^lhtir'^'' ""'^ ""^ ""^^ <«»tinct, woman in the crowd gh« n~f ""* '""'^•y- See, that aged nnder. not, hoTflled that foT h "°" "''""' "^ ""* P'*'' «^««. ^^'^ 1. i- her eltenance ^he i«,?'^^^^^ ^Z' ^* '^^' "^^ '^'^'^'^ -^ ^. "Ye,," she siys, 'tl^ th^egsr. Vh^'^'r' '"**' **» "«» P^ the deck, I see hiL^'ti,C,J^^lHe!^'"' *'* "*'"" '"^ °°^ h% up for lost, bat h»h he tam^ **' *« ^- ««« »»y *«>»i /-I had gire* of h«»ine opens upon the view nf ♦!.- ., i^ ^ ^""^ " *» •Igi* -Hbme!-hoMeNl.^t LlflAh * A^^^ *''*' '*'"*• '"«" ''^^ i^ <*«««» tempe.tto«tm.rine„,^«t^* *•';/"''• " '*'«'«o»e ' wet \ ■ocUtaatlons of joy theTn«J*»ii ^,? ' ^* '""*"• *«*"' and Jonfl *>*. this .i-dorfortrrs^rwr**,"^"'' '-^"yi-de^ H^-; w*„itpa.,e,>s?^r:2-:j5^ garltiJiowtha h*«v»«i "il!!*!" ?H»^ «s£e^sSl!^ A YOIOB FROM AMKRICA. fb Cheer up, cheer up the day breaks o'er thee, Bright as thel summer's noon -tide ray, , Tlie stars genim'd crowns, and realms of glory, Invite my happy soul away. Away ! away !\ leave all for glory. Thy name is graven on the throne, Thy home is in\tho8e realms of gloiy, Where thy Redeemer now is gone. . 1 \ Go on to perfection ; and mayVou all at last be enabled to shout t1c> tory, victory, in thej^lood of tlie l^amb. I THE OM^OTEIS^PE OF FAITH. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire when ye pray* believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. — Markii. 24. The . congregation will recollect that thiise words were spoken by the Saviour, as he was passing from the Mount\of Olives to Jerusalem. By the way side he saw a flg-trce which looked \beautiful, and doubtless gave •igns of fruit upon it ; and being hungry he\looked up among the leaves for fruit, but there was none ; and he 8aid,\ no man eat fruit of thee henceforth for eveiv. He killed the tree, btot taifght a great doctrine. The next morning, as Christ and his disciQ^es wer^ passing by, Peter remem* bercd that the tree had been cursed, ^e looked at it, and said. Master it is withered, withered from top to bottom, driei up from the roots, cursed. Jesus said unto them have &ith in God; for verily I say unto you, that whosover shall say unto tliis mountain be thou removed, and be tho« cast into the sea, and shall not doubt iii his heart, but shall believe that .(hose things which he saith shall come to pass ; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore, I say unto you, if hat things soever ye desire whea ye pray, believe that ye receive them, ye shall have them. I should like to say to this audience, that whenerer our Saviour sidd^ " Verily, veriif ," He was about to deliver some veiy important truth./ He was now teach- ing the Omnipotence of Faith. In Manchester* within the last few day*, many things have been said abont this sudden conyersion. „ An old lady ■aid to me, "why Mr. C. I hoar that yon are fsot^vUkag them by scores, ^ttdbybQB^teed*. IA>tft ww d Mtt and t ! jiLi » id4 n «P' ? yi ^ r^q° - " ^^^ fliere is no snch a thing in the Scripture as gradual conreraionit or gradual polity ; there must be a last moment when shi exists, an4,a tpife ■oment when tt does not, and tiiit mnst take place in time, fat aam ^ A VOlCt »B0» AMEICA. moment after denth would be too late unle«/w» i^r Pardon and purity are dcjtrinea cLtri/taS^^ P^**"'^- ▼ery nature of thinire th\tr m...» iw. Zi ! ^*'®' *"«* >" 'he great de^ee.of power I have alretS^attafned fo L t^ " '''* diWatorship of the world? M„ «i.L ''^ assume the presentsituation shut a ske^h ofT " T ''' «'=<=«»P"''hed--™y There must be one u" versa? E„°! T'"" "^ "'^'' ' """"^ ^^' -ame money, the saZ weX ^^d -"^ ~""k" '''"'"^ "' '^P^^"'' '^^'^ currency th ou^h Europe i Ztt T' *'' '""^ ''^' «»"«' "^^e Btiropeanstates'and Pars IsTb T'^^ °"^ """- 0"t of all the Uncle remonstrated with hmani - -' f .T^' «^ ^'^'^ World." Hi, not to defy heaven and earth ""^ •^"^^^ "l'™ "»' ^^ ^^^Pt Providence, elements.lat the s^me 'Se 1 r™ "'"' ""' "'^ ^"--^ "^ ^^o .ink und^ the difflc'uL Jhe onlv" "'"":' '" ''^^^ ^'^'^^ '^ --'<» in keeping with bis ehracter^'r ^^^^^^^^^^^ f/^ °", T' ^" opening the easement he nointoH ! ^'dinal t6 the window, and yooderstar?" 'Tos^e"Zl "Pward, and -asked him "If he saw «e U an,we,«d NfpoZ'" wllt^ T""'*^' ''^''""^'- " «"^ ^ Har of faith, the great charterfoTe''"" "" *""* "' "'^ ^'"'^"^ wfeich slum^rs mnnLtenT-Is *f '""/~'°^^^^^ "^ P""^'P'« '» ft^ne of the Great eS * '"^*"'" that Jinks man to the /">« «reat Eternal-connecting man with God. Oa» text is the fulcrum— f&ith (L **„ i j» m me on doctrinal DointT «nH » a "»» o>«y, however, W«U. I l«ave aU controversv ^h^ Perhap. Iwveyo* » iibundyow. •li tho good .ou canf^od M«^J^ r" T' "^ *^" '**«^ fW.r*a«.i.. ^•'^ W«M you, perhaps Inwy neyersee you «Mia. •WW*, are alio #<»««Jafflb«aw*h«i« *_ «.. "••"•^ ««my» one, tan., l^^i^^Ti /" '*" **"^*« «>«~ «>•*» \ ^ A VOICE FROM AMERICA. 31 •hall conyert your soul before I leave this place, will you meet me in th9 •cipol room at the close of this service ui let me know it? Will you do iii Well, I believe you will. ^ And you who are seeking the viitneu of iht Spirit and putity of heart. IS God shall purify your heart before I leave this place, will you meet me' at the close of this seHice and let me know it ? You will all do it, wiU you? -Well, I will trust to your honor. Says one, then you ar« expecting souls to be saved before you leave the pulpit are you ? I am, I am expecting it, and Heaven expects it, and Hell expects it. I beUeve we 8 much faith, and no believing. It is not enough that there be a general conviction that God is true ; that the Bible is a revelation from him ; that the Invisible things of which the Bible speaks, are realities ; there may be aU this, and yet no salvation. God has given us his testimony that Jesu* Christ died a sacrifice for the sins of every man, and, consequently, for me Faith, tiien, is putting confidence in God's testimony ; it Is to be understood in a plain, cotnhion-sense way. The Bible was written for the people-the common people-the mass; and if God had not meant the; word faith to be understood in a common-sense way, he would have BTCfaced the Bible with a dictionary, and have explained the nature of believing ; bit. " *»»ere is no such au explanation given, »f e infer that we veto understand it just as It is understood in ordinary language amoag mei» As to the mystery of faith, there is no mystery about it. Just put confidence in God as you would in a firiend. Unbelief U the great sio of the age-the sin that shuts up heavcn-the pUgue-spot of eternal di^ on the soul-the Btnner'n miUimut to hell written in hiii heart-tho Mik ttiit ddmnt the soiil. Oh the other hand, faith o^ifens the hand of 53a. secures lilvation, conquers hell, an* places the sftul on the thi-one "'" "^ y« re"!" ftem, „d ,, J^ We then.," «»1 ,o. refto to beUe.e IM. t..On.oni. •■ wlll iS / bcne\ That otlte MQce given Lath char 6od 4n>ai dtcil wirl trhn y<>ai tctt mall tioD # Hvi . y c rod does not jr U8. God lirist, which 1 the object/ !nce of th» I suspended e— inugt^be lat i8 Ood's JC the folly given yoa How niany iished hito#» n, and ali»- trenfrdova iredon#Jo Jady^^^i igs aoeyer ihall hare .. I 80UB A ences. I rn with a ) acconnit partiality 1 to them 1 shall bo e on the ike one ry silly d argu- ay, " do }u pride receive 5ver ye 3 shall U, says do yoa ind the biaiii. rithoQt / 1 k mt ll^ Attiibci. ^^^^i^. xv^t-^ *nt^ff^^ woDld icroely be able to lift your Wd **',,X Jjlyir^^x^lo 1...' .„.IU, I. up and at It tUe next »T^»J.JluoJ. S^e'cSd^r to. Uod«e her .ou tUl \J tl'^" y::"^^^?^^*^^ *«- ^Mlng ^m up clean to hitJP^, Vke an E^ptun mumwy ^ *^T r T:;rch^-' -m "i ;aniS&:2ai^t. forth and pUy with oUier "^"T*' . . "V J^^ „f -ou iikti b^ are rtlff. It U a complete cripple. AMome of y°^^ ^^ ^ dage. all your Ufe; you are H»intual f I*^e. 0160^ l,*to ^^^^^^ will but beUeve, ho will aet your joint, all ^^';^;^\^y^nStm your limbs. «• What thing, «^ver ye desire when ^^JJ^^^ ^,,,„ ^ye receive ^^^^'^-^l^^^X.^:::^ him o" ^!^r^ ^« do will, bet weakly thM? •""»••." ,„> do*, be WMW^"' Sbe «,. Mm .P «.!». ••, or "ft, .!! »,„„46iiti»k«o (Ull aasumnce of faith eren for temporal blessings. But in reference to justification and holiness, wc may pray with unlimited fUth. "Be it unto theo according to thy feith," is the law of the kingdom : the kingdom of his grace his thrown open to you, and a voice ^from the throne says, " Be it unto thee even as thou "wilt " The veracHy of God, tjjb blodd of^Christ; yea, every attribute ofthe 'Deity, every person in the Godhead, is pledged to the ftilflknent df this promise* If you abandon sin, give up yourselves to him, trust in the Blood of h|B.Son, ho will save you ; nay he doth save you. There must be no t/» here; no perad ventures. Lpt tiiere be an uncompromising, unreserved trustja the blood of Christ; and if the Bible be a reveUtion from haareo, if there be a covenant of mercy, if there be virtue in the blood of Christ, power in th^ . Holy Ghost, 'truth in God, you will Jw saved. " What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye revive them, and ye shall have them." '■,,-. \ , V. HOMT OAM-WB REOONCUiB THB FHIUaBOl.OOY Of THE TBXX, AKD BPHEVB THAT WK Ba^K IN THE PRESENT, WHAT IS SPOKEN OF IN THE PCTaBBTBRSB? I was greatly perplexed on this point tiU, one day, I happened to be in company with two.mini8ter8, one was a Methodist and the other a Baptist brother. The Methodist said to the Baptist brother, " I have been think- ing much about the text, ' What things s^ver ye desire when ye pray, .believe that ye receive them, and ye shaU have them.' I think there must be some mistake about the translation; have you a Greek TesU- ment?" A good old Greek Testament was reached down; the Greek Lexicon and Grammar were also produced, to examine the root and Jhe tense of the verb. The words, Pisteute beUeve, and lambanete receive were carefUly examined. The Baptiijt brother fixed his finger on the words and s^dj " It mustbe in thie first ftiture." " No," said the Matho' dist; "8eei»Med.^tbatbyiH B , -:r: — . ^ ^ m-^ I take the blessingLfirom abov6. And wjondei^at t^ boandlus loy«. ^«l - tt ■mM' mt i^^ot. >ut with the Lord, wilt I; thoQ wilt itoniahment closely with )r temporal may pray ith," is" the )en to you, thou 'wilt," bute of- the nmit df tliis rust in the There muat ^promising, . revelation rtue in the ou will J)e , ve that ye TKXT, AMti OF IN THB ted to be in T a Baptist leenthink- n ye pray, link there eek Testo- the Qreek >ot and the 't receiTe, ger on the he Motho' nination," 'Other, see t be that." irerightly ad it thall By are yet > thii pas- The Greek scholar ^^'^y^'^'^'f^^l^Jn^ p«.agc U all the knowledge of ^ '^-^if^^J;^^^^^ deL. beliere that wrongly translated. It is. he», '' T^^r^.^o^i arc not to hcllcve ye receive them, and ^-^f J-:^*^^^, J Im do itat .ome future that it was done some ttmo agO , noi m period; but Wieve that Ho doth jt now. , . - VI. WHAT-PRBPAiuxioK """ ^ "f "p^^ation?" I ««wer, I , "What do you mean," says one, y ^ ^ nj^jtbe hi« convic, mean how many tear, a mau "°;* Xlamount of godly «>trow muBt he tion, how soft must be his heart; whatamount^K^^^^ I have read feei; how long mnt he f*™"" '" * ^^.^^ word of it. and I And no this blessed Bible through on my l^"**"' ^y^^^ » word said about how standard in it; ^-^'^^'^'''^TZ.^To^Zo.^- heart must be, many teaA a man must shed ; how soft or ha ^^^ ^^ ^ ^ ^, nothing of the kit>d : and. " ^od '.as '^^^^^^^^^^ are fer to'o many «reed. man in the world to make one^ l^^^ ^^^^ ^^^y. No ; th^re u and standards floating about tlio Chrt'"*" r am gUd of it, for it would no spiritual barometer, or thermoiMter, ana 1 ^^^ stress penitent greatly perplex a ""in*"**';./"^ '* T tea' if you wouliH^e them the souls. Some persons «oAl'» »"* ^^tl^ ^* ' es are dry. 6i«CT be to world; st« the heart -"^ "^^^^t^/J^U theSeart->^ God, he has put the power in M^^ng ^^\y feeling-, by 'o^^"^ Iti.nowhere said P-^^^^r^^t^L'ones; He has however, or hard ones, by deep ««°"'^°°' " "„ y^ pray, 6rf<«« tbat ye receive said, "What tWBge soever y«f -J^^^^^t^^j^ ^ confidence in God, , them, and y, .hall have *J«";- ' ?^^^* "^J of th Wier. of the doctor, and this methodjnll -^^f^^ZlZ^oii^^^ scrv«it, of the master, the hi^eV^the president of «>« J°"*8. ^^ „f ^ venerable sage,- of the ^bS .f the --'f^l^f Jes of a" «^' "'"^ ^^""^ of the matfof a, b, c, «f the P'^'^^T^^ .< You do not mean to ^e fl^dawn of reason up to '-^"^"^^"^^Zyr 1 amiwer. po, I do say,»saysone, ;' *^** ^ ^^7^";" «- 8in must be given not; fo'^»^«""°iTu l^^'a^ho^on to sin-indulging in things ^. ManyoftheMe*o^«^^bo»on^^^^^j^^^j^^^.. that grieve Ae ^"ly S^*" T^f ^^,^Sn» are a^ening up to ness, but, than thank Ood, ^^^'^T™,^ „^, gome of the Cal- these great doctrines,-«om0-of *«Caln^* ^^ ^^ ..jd, vinist ministers came to one ^^^^^^fftl ^« The C.lTinist« rnrreTth:^;:re::rtr^. doctrinea^nethodist. -butOodwiU^pi^eir^^ into this coarage. m 4 yo^ jmn *mmf up to ahqjr that then is no iniquity is them. You may leare th^ chuel M soon »s jou like, or if you have patience to tarry you may; butttell you itis 5)f no use, God wUi never purify your hearts till you give up the »ias to which you are clinging. See that poor fellow wandering on through the wildeme88,-thc night is dark, he stumbles, and falls into some deep dark pit; lie sets up a cry for hdis his cry breaks on the sUll- n3S8 of night, and is heard echoing on through the wilderness. See those three nnn passing on, now, as the moort just glimmers through the cloud ; « e ! see I they are standing lUtoning, they have hoard that cry for help,— n.|w they are making way to that spot whence the sound proceeds • one of thpm is standing on the edge of thaj deep pit,-he listens, and the cry IS h^ard again. » Who is down there?" "Oh! sir, I have fallen dreadftal irtace, my feet are stuck in the mire." " Be of good my friend* there are two strong fellows hero besides myself, we'll sooi have you up ;" now the rope is being let down. " There, take hold of tlfat lope, man, take fast hold, now give a strong pull;" now up cotnas tlife rope, the man in the pit has let it slip. " Why, what's the maftw d iwh there? Come, come, now take a firmer hold. Now com- rades, gi< another pull." Up comes the lope again. " Why man, you must son ly have something in your hands." " I have a few things, sir, that I 8h «M like to bring up with me, down here." " Come, cast them away*, an I take hold of the rope, and not trifle in this way." Now he casts the things oat of one of his hands, and they try again, but up conwu the Tope |gain. "I tell you man, if you don't cast away those things and take lold, we will leave you to your fate." Now he casts thj^qt all away, m I takes irm hold, and up he comet. Benounce sin. If y^^u i«. dnige tni( Hity in yonr heart yon may cry till doomsday.rfUHl God wiU not hear you prayer. What preparation is necessary ? I a«k, do you want pardon o purity? "What things soever ye deaire when ye pray, bo- Heve tha| ye roceivo Ihem, and ye sluU have them." Here, then, you in necessary. Ist, Desire; 2nd, Prayer ; 3rd, Eaitfa. your desires be sincere, you wUI pM away every evil, you SCO the Jktirt: will sac precioQB ace every idol, though they may be dear as a right hand, or . „^ a right eye; Desires, says ifii old writer, ar6 the taiU of the mtnd. What i« it that hurries the poor dmnkiM^a to the drunka^'a grave with a velocity swift as time ? Why, desire ; 4*ep, pntehse, burning Oe- ^ ; de« res hardly «urp«ii«l>y the damned, f^ th^y thirpt for the oc«Mr mg strew ». What u H that hurries on die tbiaf 19 ii,|wid«r his neighbor, to stamp hu own character with infamy, afld ondMiger his We? why d«.h-ofu| wealth not hi. own. What is it that work* up mn to a powt. when ho !an tommife a crime, the recoUeotiVP of.whkh chUU hit blood, a crime thi I bran^b^iiiii with the foul dwd of purser? Why, deai^s. If you Ifesire 'alvation, "then," says Wesley . " loo k for It BVAry .fjy— _ - — : _____ — z. w ... . -.r-M .i~-. — ?— - y— g y aifVTis a j nf Mbmeift;-- IThy not this hour, this momnitP Cer- u- °^*?|«* *>' It no^ if y«« beUeve It is to be obtoined by &ith. tainty, «n^ by > 1 ; » r ytu :3 K,::9mk im^ ^«»^. ST ^ .^rW 'if by woTlw, Tfln want somethinjjf to be done flw% TMtMnk ^X^dSlr V. Tben you a~l-^«S^* "^ L If you .eek it by frith, and if M you ««, tkn expe. To deny one of them, i. to deny all of ^"^^^.^l^^ ofE. to allow them all. Do you believe ^« ««; ""ffi'J^^ Be true to your principle, and look for ^^'"^^^^ neither better nor worse, a. a poor sinner that ha. •t^i"*^"*^?^?*^; Zt Christ died. John Fletcher says, ''^^T'?; ^^r^,^ naked fk.th." I mean by naked firith, faith stripped of »eel™8^** ^ heart, or a hard heart; just such a heart a. you haye ""y- J J^J seeking to weep more, to «et a softer heart befo« yo«^«^toC,^. then you. until now, are seeking salvation by wwka. ^•.T^J*' JT dltion God requires, Dni,r, Prayer, Fai^. ^"^^-^ *o??ifd«r mind Have you your sails up? Yes^some of you have. Ohlmydear ^tr,To^a«^ntheverye;g*ofthefbuntrin 8^^^^^ "In c^n but touch the hem of hi. garment, I ahdl ** °^^^^ The c«>wd presses around him ; I am weak with the '«" ^^^^ V » ^ I shall neveVreach him; I shall die in the attempt. Well, ifltany here I^^I^Tbut die. i wiU make the attem|rt. BorneAi. way and htrTay^tll^wave. of the people, now she U being l»™e ne^r^ newer If I can but touch the hem of hi. garment Now. tremMilg. rair.g«t*U *be wretches out her ha«d«dto«chej,a«di.mdew^^ CXer, Christ is in the crowd, he i.nightliee,hei.p«i*.gb5rt!»e.; tooeb Mtt, touch him, and Uve. In America, some years ago, there was an oI*geD|l«P|i* ?«*B*«^^««>r structeC electrifying n«chine. The .tudent.fW>m one of the collets wlitto S house to see thi. won^rfc^, n,«cM»f -, % ^ ^^^^ roundVand round, a.,d roou«^ tifl ^? W«*^!*« f^T^^ ^5^ eSc fluid. Nowmy lads, saiijl M*. **« »«»'*«« *!!* °*''" t^ ^ now you that stand before there, touch that br«. ball; he toucM. and im^.. lighting, the .hock wa. fe''«rs-»^j2:i?.s'j;J U ever thi. promiw wa. charged with Oedfifytng, g^ntMtn^, *attng -!!.r it U now " What thing, .oever ye dcire when ye pray, beUeve Sr;'eili r'them L ye ILl |«ve them." See t «« 1 ^t ve«el ^.ill ^port of Liverpool. (Now don't Uu^ ^ my -f^^,^' piag^.) 8Wp aho.oy! whither bound? New Yortc, .ir. New Wk? wSTn do you expect to get there. Captain? Good veml. .«, fcbwind; Te^t a'shortToyage. Why. man. you have not a -Hf of «il«^I tell^ where you'll get U you don't take care ; you'U get to the bottom. Sow'her^me. another Je.^*!. 8hip.boH>yI wUther bound? New SiXNewYork? When do yotteipec tto tnrlve tiH>re Ca pteto? Look aloft, .ir; the compaM .t«id. direct to l^'\^'^'!;^^' idr breeie. How finely .he'. rigg«l-main«U, top^U. *op-iUant.«a»' 8«e bowitobpwi^ on befewttwbw«»J Th« « ••»»• of A^t % ■u (Jiemind. Have fmm^^ ««, «f 1. ^*'° *^* ^*'°' «ail8 dpr Ye., yes, blew God; i,^ n««y pf you have.-manyof you iu the gaUeiy th.re. and many ^f you IxHaw there, have your sails up.— Come, . Blow, breeies Wow, a gale of grace, Kor Sfj ^I*'S^.'*/" '* "'^'^'' ^°' »'^ «^» tS^lt tent that the DerU di:»ad.,-beUeving that God does just now doT Tw! j^ly^iUUy taking God at hi. word is thegrJ« s^^'c^^e^^ dear brother, come^ nqr dear sister, don't be a&aid to si^ on the^ to J^u Peter ^ Sarkl he bid. you meet him. Norstep Z^ ^) on^the naked^promise, and the Spirit and the blood nSl folly ^; fT"Z?^''"^'''^^^°'''- Touch the promi.^ -4ou^ the hem of his garment I know some of you are uSi" Heissavmgsomeofyou. I know my God is saving some of you?£e; your inmoftt aoul ory out,— «»» wi you. i^t With Ibllsalvaflon blew! Bedliaiptton ttrough thy Mood I have. And spotteM lore and peace. 1^ "What ^ .oever ye dcire wheir ye pray, beUev8 that yo fecflive thorn, and ye ahaUluir^tbem," »»»fvf«^v^ ¥k^ * ■ ~r , . r, ,, ■ . - , , . ' • - ' ■ ■ ■ ■ . ■% ■' • ■ - . .' 1 1 :■! • ':. • .'•' ^^ ■ '•■; ^' " ■ , " ,. ' - •• Ifcj' . I * • " • V ' ■"t ' • • — — ^ "% .■o». i, V..'- iS^V'^./L ^ '■■ym r ^ M -V.-r^-ir 4*r ■■T*»2 i^Ai- -'^>