"Hardly sure can they be worse, Who have never heard His name." Leaving the mercy seat is the needy one leaving the fulness that alone can supply him; the helpless one ceasing to lean on the only arm that can hold him up; the sick one leaving the physician; the sheep leaving his green pastures; the parched one leaving the fountain of living waters; the famishing one leaving the well-spread table ; the child leaving his father's roof; the bride leaving the bridegroom's company; the traveller leaving his guide. Oh! leaving the throne is "forsaking our own mercies." I know your helplessness, for I feel my own; but I know also my idleness. I feel quite sure, and want to learn experimentally, that the diligent soul shall be made fat; but, alas! I know too well, the idle soul shall suffer hunger. My dear friends, the life of religion is living prayer. It is spiritual respiration, it is indeed the heaving and breathing of the spiritual lungs. Lord, make me and my dear people wise enough to leave off speculating, and begin in earnest praying. "The feeblest prayer, if faith be there, While others quarrel and split hairs, may we be led to take the martyr's advice-" Pray, pray, pray;' or what is better, may the Gospel precept be ours practically, "Pray without ceasing." But who is sufficient for these things? What can weakness do? Nothing; no, nothing right without the gracious teaching of the Holy Spirit. I believe those make a serious mistake who think they are not to try to pray until they are sure they are led by the Holy Spirit. I believe we are to wait upon the Holy Spirit, as well as wait for the Holy Spirit. O may you be enabled at all times to go, whatever you may have to groan about, and cast yourself in all your nakedness, pollution, and poverty, at the foot of that throne where mercy is to be found, and grace to help in time of need is given; and may you never forget your poor, and needy, and unworthy servant in the Gospel. In this land of superstition and darkness I often think of our home mercies. It is awful to see here open bowing down to senseless images, and to know that the people are by thousands confiding their souls to the care of creatures as dependent as themselves; and it is sad to find no Gospel preached in English, nor even any little gathering of spiritual people to worship God. Two poor Frenchmen preach, I hope, the Gospel of sovereign grace; but, out of many thousands of their countrymen here, not thirty will hear them, both put together. I have found one Frenchman and one English woman with whom I can have communion, and that is all at present. I long to proclaim a full salvation to the masses here, but know I must now rest. O that all of you who know the Lord could make it a matter of conscience to let nothing but the most lawful hindrances keep you from your place every time the chapel doors are open. We know not how long we may have the light of these privileges, and while we have the light let us walk in the light. I have had the manifest people of God in view in this letter, but I do not forget others. Some will hear this letter who know nothing of crying from their hearts for mercy through sin-atoning blood. Oh, my dear friends, may the Lord in great mercy open your eyes, and lead you to Him who will never turn a deaf ear to the cry of a supplicant whose only plea is the promise sealed with blood. I rejoice much to hope that several young people have their faces turned Zionward. I often am thinking of you, my dear seeking friends, and anticipate the glad voice of thanksgiving that I hope soon to hear from some of you. Seek, dear friends, seek and wait; plead the promises, throw your perishing souls at the foot of the cross, and there condemnation can never reach you. You will all be glad to learn that I quite hope to return to you with my health and strength greatly increased, though at present I am still suffering with my arm and neck, but a little amendment makes me trust it is beginning to get well. May the Lord greatly bless my visit. Everything in nature here is lovely, but nothing outward can be a substitute for communion with the saints, and the preaching of the precious Gospel of Christ. I must now say adieu. God bless you all, is the sincere desire of,-Yours affectionately, S. SEARS. To MR. C. LENTON. Red Bank, Manchester, Dec. 16, 1863. MY DEAR BROTHER,-I trust I have found much liberty in speaking the Word here, and have reason to believe the joyful sound has found an echo in many hearts. The six sermons are to be taken down and printed, if the Lord will, so that I am very anxious to be led to preach upon subjects of most need in the churches. Pray for me. I believe it is good that I should seek to minister at times from home, or I would much prefer being kept with the dear flock at Clifton. May we still more and more love each other in the Lord Jesus. I trust I can say that time, which often enfeebles attachments that are earthly, only strengthens my affection to you and the saints at Clifton Chapel. Let them know, when it is given out, that I hope to meet them on the 25th, and that I desire to be remembered affectionately to them and prayerfully by them. We join in love to you and dear Mrs. Lenton. And now, dear brother, to Jesu's loving heart, bleeding side, guiding eye, and Almighty arm, I commend you, remaining,-Yours in gospel affection, S. SEARS. To MR. C. LENTON. Saturday, October, 1864. MY DEAR FRIEnd and BrotheR,-May the everlasting peace of God be with you, setting you sweetly free in your conscience to serve the Lord Jesus. Amen. I am just pencilling you a line to tell you the Lord has mercifully brought us here in the midst of kind friends, and gives me the hope I shall be enabled to use my voice to-morrow to exalt the dear Lamb of God. I found my voice worse yesterday, but a mustard plaister last night was a means of allaying this extra inflammation. Praise the Lord for His mercy, and pray for me that I may be restored to the dear saints at Clifton Chapel in soul health, and in strength to minister His truth. I know you do pray for me, and that the Lord has graciously answered your prayers in measure. I try to pray for you and dear Mrs. Lenton, and all the dear friends. Give my sincere Christian love to them. Will you give our love to my dear father. since I have been here. to us, and be fruitful in be thankful about him! My wife desires her love. She is finding the change beneficial to her health. We find we shall not be able to reach home before Friday. I feel a desire to see you, and greet you once more in the name of the Lord. May we meet in the Spirit. May our communion be gracious. May we be a lasting blessing to each other. I know you will say Amen to this desire of Yours in much affection, I have thought much about him. I hope he will still be spared his soul. What cause I have to S. SEARS. To MR. C. LENTON. Brighton, December 16, 1864. MY VERY DEAR BROTHER,-Through God's great mercy I am here in safety, and have been preserved from taking cold, and although the weather is rather severe I am finding the change very bracing. My head is remarkably better, and I quite hope to return in good health, for me. What encouragement for you and the Lord's dear people that have had poured upon them a spirit of prayer for me! Go on, dear brother, to pray for me, that I may be "spiritually minded," and be an "enabled minister of the New Testament." I hope to have strength to preach twice on Lord's day, and a reporter is engaged to take down the two sermons. May the Lord clothe them with power. Will you give my love to dear Mr. Fraser? I trust you will have together |