LETTER FROM REV. W. HUNTINGTON TO (Not Printed in his Works.) Dear brother and fellow-labourer, This is to inform thee, I am sick, yet in the sweet enjoyment of the best health; to let thee know I am very low, yet surprisingly exalted; that I am exceedingly weak, yet stronger by far than the world, Satan, death, or hell; that I can hardly walk alone, and yet am able to travel to heaven in one day; that I stagger through weakness, yet have more props to support myself than heaven or earth; that my pains have been violent, yet have felt nothing; that I am as happy as my soul can contain, and yet craving after more; that Satan has often looked at me, but dared not speak to me either good or bad; that I am as poor as a church-mouse, and yet my estate increases daily; that I have lost my appetite, and yet feed daily on marrow and fatness, with wines well refined; that I am wasted sadly, and yet thrive like a cedar of Lebanon; that I am nothing but a bag of bones, yet flourish like the palm tree; that I have been occupied in great waters, and have gained much by trading; that I have been in the furnace, but none heated it but my matchless Lord; I have put my hand on the cockatrice's den, but he dared not come out; I have played on the hole of the asp, without one sting on my fingers; that I laid down with the lion, but arose with the lamb; that I have been preaching every day, yet have not seen a pulpit this week; that my soul loves Jesus, because he loves me; that I brought nothing into the world, but shall carry Christ out; that heaven is eternally mine, but I am not my own; that my soul loves S., and I know he loveth me. Go on S., we shall at last reach the third heaven, as sure as there is a God. W. H. SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND EXPE- The subject of the present narrative was born in the village of Houndscraft, near Stroudwater, in Gloucestershire, of which place his parents were natives, following the business of broad cloth weaving. In consequence of protracted illness during his boyhood, and the restraints of pious friends, he was not permitted to go such great lengths in sin as others have done; but as far as health permitted, vice blossomed, bringing forth its fruits. Thus proving, that nothing but the sovereign grace of God can stop the sinner in his course of sin, and keep him from bringing forth fruit to death eternal. He was about fifteen years of age when the first thoughts arose in his mind in reference to a future state, but the company of his associates prevented its laying with much weight; and though he regularly attended the word, and had many checks of conscience, and sometimes was driven to a private corner to say the Lord's prayer, the impression gradually wore off. After this, the Spirit of truth came with a little more power; he was led to see the necessity of personal religion: he seemed to discover a singular beauty in the people of God, particularly such as were employed in any "I was standing (he said) in our or no conception of. I saw God the Father, by the eye of my mind, as the righteous lawgiver; I saw the Holy Ghost in his divine operation as appointed in the covenant to convince a sinner of his lost estate, by applying the law to his conscience; I saw also the Lord Jesus Christ as the Saviour of such convinced sinners. I saw each in my mind, as distinctly in their several operations, as I think I ever saw any thing in my life, and I am sure the effect it had on my mind proved it to be true. I cannot attempt to tell the thousandth part of the love I felt in my heart towards God for this blessed discovery: this was the pearl of great price I had so earnestly sought with tears; and had I had ten thousand worlds, I could freely have parted with them all to have obtained this blessed portion; it had the effect of establishing my mind in the doctrine of the Trinity. Being taught this in my soul, it has kept me from Arianism, Sabellianism, and Arminianism. While these feelings lasted, every thing took a spiritual turn in my affections; I thought God was preparing me for heaven, I never once dreamt he was preparing me for the field of battle.' " After this, the Lord was pleased to remove the sun from his tabernacle, permitting him to walk awhile in the dark, suffering the corruption of nature to work, and the law to meet it, thus gendering fear and bondage. But our space will not allow us to detail more than that by all this the Lord was himself fitting him for that usefulness in the ministry which he afterwards attained. The leadings of God's providence brought him about this time into London, where he suffered many privations, and was sometimes in a state of almost absolute want: here, at the age of twenty-one, he married a young woman, who was a member of the Tabernacle, but who being ignorant of the furnace-work in which he was frequently engaged, was cause of frequent grief to him: during which time many promises were brought home to his mind with much power and comfort. Several years after this, having joined the church at Zion Chapel, London, he was there invited to itinerate in country villages, which after many and repeated refusals, and not until he deemed himself from many circumstances specially called thereto by the Lord, he consented. He preached first at Leytonstone, from these words, "A Saviour." His connection, however, with this society soon ceased, but he continued preaching at Walthamstow about five years. After this he supplied for a short time for Mr. Garrett, in Lant Street, Southwark; but feeling no union in spiritual matters with him, it only served to introduce him to Sevenoaks, Kent, afterwards to Otford, and eventually to Edenbridge, where he began to preach in 1808. Here he was comfortably settled, though never in a state of affluence. "It appears (he said) from circumstances that I have a place in their affections, and I believe I can venture to say they have a place in mine. I have not been without my crosses here; (and sometimes have been cross with them.) My income being so small, (only £40 per annum) the presents of the people have been a considerable help: many helps I have likewise had from other quarters, friends at a distance have been very kind. How plainly have I seen my Master's words made good. Were he to ask me whether I lacked any thing, I must say I had not; and as he first sent me out, so he still keeps me. I go about the country carrying my Master's messages wherever a door is opened. To about four or five places I go as often as opportunity will allow; in each of these places the hand of providence has appeared, and I believe God's word has not altogether fallen to the ground. These places are private houses, where I preach on week nights; Edenbridge is my home on a Lord's Day. In this place I believe. God has blessed his word to many at Churchyard, amidst a numerous condifferent times." course. Mr. Crouch gave the address on the occasion. In the year 1818, Mr. Payton preached several times in the Chapel at Conway Street, and met with much acceptance, and very shortly after published a narrative of the Lord's dealings with him, from which this very brief to above.] summary is extracted. We subjoin a letter from a friend, giving an account of his death, and likewise the last letter which he wrote to a brother minister just previous to his departure. In our poetical department will be found a few verses to the memory of this obscure but faithful servant of his Lord. Dear Friend, I find Mr. Payton did not recover the illness that came on him at Banstead during his last visit; still, however, he was enabled to minister in holy things, to the increased astonishment of his people. At the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, a little before his death, he was observed to be overcome with enjoyment. August 29, his last Sabbath upon earth, he preached to his flock at Edenbridge twice; his text, "God who spared not his own Son, but freely delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" The Tuesday following he wrote a letter to Mr. Birch, (a Minister of Jesus Christ) and observed to Thomas Chandler, if he departed ere the morning, that he was to direct and send it to him. At nine he retired to bed, and observed, "What a mercy it would be for such afflicted creatures as himself to be delivered out of this vale of tears." At two o'clock he rang his bell for his nurse, who slept in the next room, and bade her go and call Thomas Chandler. His last words were, "You have been long looked for, Death, but have come at last." Mr. Chandler entered his room only time enough to witness his dying breath. Thus died in the Lord, our beloved friend, Mr. Payton. His mortal remains were interred in Edenbridge Your sincere friend, JAMES CHURCHER. [The Letter to Mr. Birch, alluded My Dear Friends, I thank you very kindly for your welcome letter: I was glad to hear of your safe arrival, and of finding your home so comfortable. What a great mercy it is to have a comfortable habitation for our poor perishing bodies; these, with all other favours, are free gifts bestowed upon us unworthy sinful creatures; we have no claim upon him that bestows such favours; these are favours he is pleased to bestow on many of his open enemies, and such are all by nature, but he is pleased to make some sinners to become friends to him; this also is a free gift, and it is done in such a way that they all agree to give all the honour and praise to him, who has wrought such a strange and wonderful work on them, and left so many to be strangers to this strange work, which none can work but God only. Who can take away a stony heart but God? Who can give a new spirit but God? Who can break up the fountains of the great deep but God? And who can turn the course of sin in man but God? Who can write a law in the heart but God? Who can put the law of faith in the mind but God? Who can bring a man to hate himself but God? And who can bring a man to love an unseen object above, or more than himself, but God? Who can give a man to see invisible riches to be more valuable than all visible things, but God?" And who can give a man to taste unspeakable sweetness in unseen things but God? Who can give a man to taste of joys to come but God? And who can give a man a will to choose a cross, rather than to be without it, but God? And who can bring a man to love the light, because it maketh GEORGE PAYTON. THE INVITATION OF THE GOSPEL. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.". Matt. xi. 28. . manifest, when we all love darkness now farewell; grace, mercy, and peace rather than light, but God? Who be with you. So prays, your old can make a man love to be searched friend, to the very bottom, and all the secret parts searched into, that no hidden Edenbridge, Aug. 30, 1837. secret sin might be there, but that all may be brought to light and truly repented for, and hated and abhorred, but God? Who can bring a man to love another's righteousness, and to cast away his own, and to count it as filthy rags, or dog's meat, but God? All these, and many more such like things, make up the good work to make a man a friend of Jesus Christ. These things in a little while will fit us to sit down with the Bridegroom; and such will be the bride. This will make a most blessed match; He will be admiring of us, and we admiring of him; He is the altogether lovely, and we without a spot. Who could have thought of all this taking in rebellious sinners but God? His thoughts to us-ward were thoughts of peace and not of evil: our's were evil enough, and still are so, to our great grief and daily sorrow; but there is one thing to comfort us, and that is, flesh and blood shall not inherit incorruption; that we shall leave behind as a thing hated; the “thing I hate that do I." Since you left me I have walked out a good deal, and I feel my strength rather increased, but I have caught cold, and my cough is come on. Mrs. Lightfoot will be home, if God will, the last day of this month: she enquired very kindly after you, I told her you had been here. She is better than she was; Mr. Akehurst left here on Tuesday last. My love and thanks to you both: I wish I could offer you something better, but I am too poor, for I can assure you I am almost too poor to find thankfulness for any one thing either to God or man. Such is my poverty, I have nothing, and yet I possess all things. Please to give my love to my friends I know in the flesh, and to those I know not in the flesh, and my poor thanks to them also. I hope they are all as well as usual; and How sweet and precious is this blessed invitation to every Christ-needing, Christ-seeking sinner, when they are enabled to taste the sweetness of it, and are led by the Holy Ghost into the enjoyment thereof; for surely it is a most encouraging and cheering invitation to all who are labouring under a sense of guilt, and who are led to feel their lost, undone condition, and who have been striving, vainly striving, to obtain the favour of God by works of their own, but convinced by the gracious teaching of the Eternal Spirit, of their utter inability to fulfil the righteous law of God; knowing that whoso faileth in one point, is guilty of all, and that the very thought of foolishness is sin. When a soul is brought into this helpless state, feels palsied in every limb as to spiritual things, and that he has no power nor might to help himself; then, Oh then it is, that this precious invitation, as well as many equally precious in God's holy word, become valuable, encouraging, and supporting to the poor sinlabouring, sin-condemned sinner. Such an one is encouraged to hope, and says within himself, 'I am a poor lost undone sinner, I can take no comfort in the world nor its vanities, I find sin to be an intolerable burden, greater than I can bear what can I do? whither shall I flee? I will look to the Lord for help;' and he finds abundant encouragement, and the most free invitations, to all poor perishing, needy sinners; for though the full soul loatheth the honeycomb, yet the bread of life is earnestly craved after by the hungry soul; and such, our gracious God says, shall be filled; I will satisfy the longing soul, and fill the The precious invitation of our dear Lord to come unto him, is sweetly suitable to all who are wearied and heavy laden, and who have been convinced of the unsatisfying nature of the things of time, to afford them any rest or comfort; thus they find it most alluring and cheering to them. But to suppose that it is suitable to such as have never felt sin a burden, as to cause them to require deliverance from it, is to me surprising. No, dear traveller to Zion, we have I trust been taught far otherwise; for the whole have no need of the Physician, but those that are sick-yes, sick of sin, self, the world, and every thing in and of themselves, and are constrained to say, undone, undone! Such are welcome to come to this precious Saviour; and all suggestions to the contrary, my fellow pilgrim, are from the great enemy of souls; and surely you would rather trust in the words of our dear Lord and Saviour, than listen to the father of lies; for it is delightful to think that our dear Redeemer, who hath promised to give us rest, is no less than the Mighty God, and therefore, what he hath promised he will most assuredly perform; for " God is not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" Yes, God is faithful, and will fulfil all he hath promised. Oh then may we be enabled to take up our rest in Jesus, for if we look "All the fitness he requireth, 'Tis the Spirit's rising beam. RUTH. LETTER TO THE EDITORS. Dear Sirs, Ir is gratifying to the few who love and value the great and glorious doctrines of the everlasting gospel, to hear them advocated, and see them spread more extensively in this dark and gloomy day, when the votaries of a freewill, and creature-perfection system are overflowing the land like the waters of a mighty flood, a land once justly famed for the preaching of the pure and unadulterated doctrines of the gospel ;-witness the writings and histories of the reformers and nonconformists. But mark the rapid progress of error; now free-will is the fashionable doctrine of the day; the freegrace gospel which then sounded from most of the pulpits in our churches, is now despised and accounted dangerous by the generality of professing christians, as they are called; but nevertheless, there are a few still left in our Sardis who love the truth, and who are not ashamed to "contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints." Here and there may still be |