My DEAR FRIEND,

To MR. P.

Cranbrook, July 28, 1829.

It having been reported that I was going to Lewes next Sunday, I thought I would let you know by a line that I am disappointed of a supply, so that I shall not be there. I was informed there were some at Lewes who wished to hear, which inclined my mind, but it may be there was something of self in it, and you know self can do nothing good, and is best to be denied. If I am to speak to them at any time, the way, no doubt, will be open; at present it is shut.

I have not been very well in my health lately, and mostly low in mind; scarce any good feelings, and my faith very weak, and sometimes questioning if I have any; and what can you think of such a person speaking to others? Sunday being so wet, we had but few from a distance; my subject was one that many years past was much on my mind. Joshua i. 8: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then shalt thou make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

The book, called the Book of the Law, contains both law and gospel, for God made known his ways (in the plural) to Moses, and the Spirit that was upon Moses was also put upon Joshua, when he was to take the lead in the government and instruction of the people; and this Book of the Law was put into

his mouth by the Lord himself, and not in his mouth only, but into the mouth of all that he sends to teach his own people. For even of Christ it is written, "I will raise them up a prophet, and I will put my words in his mouth," &c.; and again, "I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of my hand," &c. "My Father gave me a commandment what I should say, and what I should speak." Joshua was commanded to set great stones at mount Ebal and mount Gerizim. Six tribes to curse, and six tribes to bless, were to stand on these mounts; and Joshua wrote the Law plainly on these stones, both the blessings and the curses, and omitted nothing that Moses had commanded him. These were to teach them both law and gospel: the law to teach them the want of a Saviour, and the ceremonial law, which was their gospel, to point him out to all that had true faith. This very work has been carried on to this day by those whom the Lord sends into his vineyard. They must know the law and what it can do, and what it cannot do, in order to keep these things apart, and each in its place, that the Lord's trumpeters may not give an uncertain sound.

Isaiah saw his lost estate by the holiness of God in the law, and felt the need of forgiveness, and when the live coal touched his lips, his sin was purged; then he knew law and gospel. God puts his words in Jeremiah's mouth; the same with Peter, Paul, and others; and when the sweet contents of the gospel are possessed in the heart, it becomes the meditation of the mind: such delight in the law of the Lord, and meditate therein day and night. You know this is needful for those that labour in the word and doctrine, though the asserting of it cuts off many

foolish shepherds, blind watchmen, and dumb dogs. But God's servant must observe and do according to all that is written therein, which, in short, means, he is to explain the law in its true light and application, and the effects that follow, that by this is the knowledge of sin; that it entered that the offence might abound, and sin become exceeding sinful; and the sinner, to whom it is applied, will see that by the deeds of it no flesh living shall be justified. This is according to all that is written in the moral law.

Paul says the language of the law is not of faith, but its language is, "The man which doeth those things shall live by them." But the righteousness of faith speaketh on this wise: it does not say, who shall go up to heaven and fetch Christ down, or to the dead and fetch him up; but the word is nigh thee, and in thy mouth, that if thou shalt confess the Lord Jesus, when set forth as Philip did to the eunuch, as suffering for sins, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead for our justification from the condemning sentence of the law of works, thou shalt be saved; for with the heart (not with the hands, or by works) man believeth unto the obtaining of righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation; this is according to all that is written in the gospel, however by words it is diversified. No servant of God, no sensible sinner, will ever prosper in any other way. Christ was anointed with the Holy Ghost; God's word was put in his mouth, and the pleasure of the Lord in his hand; and so it is with all his own servants, from the day of Pentecost to this day. Sensible sinners can prosper in no other way than by faith. You read in Psalm i. that "whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." The

Syrophenician woman prospered in this way, when

she said, Lord, help me!" and " dogs eat of the crumbs ;" and the answer was, "O woman, great is thy faith," &c. The lepers and blind prospered in the same way. Abel, the first martyr, Enoch also, Abraham, the widow with her pot of oil, and she also with the handful of meal and cruse of oil; and in no other way can we prosper in the kingdom of God. It is true, many of the ungodly prosper in the world, and the tabernacles of robbers too, but then they only stand as the tops of the ears of the corn to be cut off. Good success attends faith: "I have fought a good fight," says Paul, "I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord shall give me in that day, and not to me only, but to all” whose faith works by love.

Kind respects to Mr. N.

Your affectionate friend,

ISAAC BEEMAN.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

and Mr. N

TO THE SAME.

Cranbrook, January 18, 1830.

This inclement season confines you at home, whom, though absent, I cannot forget, for I fully believe that, while absent in body, you both are present with us in spirit. No doubt you saw, when you were last here, my inability in body, and this proceeding from an affection of my head, has been no small trial to your poor friend this

last week, knowing that should my mouth, through weakness, be stopped in the pulpit, the enemies would say, Aha, aha! so would we have it." The workings of my mind on this head have been various and sometimes severe, attended with many fears lest I should not find that support from the Lord which my soul desired, and which I so often sought at his hands; and when waiting long for that in which you want your fears removed, you know it tries us sorely, for faith and patience is not our own to exercise, and unbelief suggests you will not be heard, till the heart is ready to faint; but go we must, and sooner die at his feet than give up. This work I had the exercise of almost the whole week, and not until it was nearly time to go to chapel could I get any relief from my fears, nor until after I was obliged, if I may so say, to cast myself unreservedly upon the Lord, to do with me as it seemed good in his sight. Then did these words come to lift me up: "Fear not, thou worm Jacob, I will help thee, saith the Lord." And these, "Fear not thou (saith the Lord), for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee, with the right hand of my righteousness." faith being communicated with these good words, so fitly spoken, it relieved me greatly, and I hoped in him for all here said; and, thanks be to his holy name, he fulfilled it all.

Some

My subject was 1 John iii. 1-3, which I spoke from about thirteen years since. I was refreshed by it myself on the previous Thursday, although it did not dissipate my fears respecting speaking to the people. The chief thing in this text is— sonship: this first proceeds from love; predestination is next, seeing we are predestinated to the adoption