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preaching of God's most holy word be brought down to the ground. Here may the glorious Sun of righteousness arise and shine forth in all his meridian splendor, and get to himself a great and a glorious name, in the gathering of many precious souls into his heavenly garner: so that while Satan's kingdom is being destroyed, the kingdom of Christ may be exalted and built up, and grow and flourish abundantly: here may the church of Christ be as a garden enclosed by grace out of this world's wide wilderness; here may the Lord be unto his people as a wall of fire round about, and his glory in the midst; here also may the spices of the redeemed of the Lord send forth a most fragrant smell, so that many may take knowledge of them, that they have been with Jesus; and see that they are travellers bound to a far better country even to a heavenly one, where the Lord Jehovah liveth and reigneth for ever and ever.

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We have my dear sir, been mercifully preserved through another year. In recalling over the loving kindness and the tender mercies which the Lord has bestowed upon us during the past year, have not again reason to erect our Ebenezers of praise, and say, hitherto hath the Lord helped us; and that while many have been called out of time into eternity, we are still spared the living monuments of a Saviour's love." Our ranks as a church have been thinned during the past year: the Lord has been pleased to remove from among us one of the oldest of its members, one who like a shock of corn was fully ripe, is now gathered into the heavenly garner. Our ranks also as a congregation have been thinned, the Lord has removed from thence one of the principle preps of this building; one whose earnest prayers were continually ascending upwards to the throne of grace, for a blessing to rest, not only upon the minister and the members, February, 1839.]

but also upon the various institutions in connexion with us but now the prayers of this righteous man are ended; and while pity would prompt us to shed a few tears to the remembrance of departed worth, yet we would not wish them to leave those happy regions of bliss, where the glorious Sun is for ever shining, to come down again to this cold atmosphere. Oh! no, we would not indeed; we would rather beseech the Lord to grant unto us that grace, that we might follow them as they followed the Lord. and so after a few more rolling suns, we also may be made to partake with them in their happiness. But again, notwithstanding we have not the prayers of these righteous men to ascend upwards to the throne of grace, at the commencement of this year, as we had at the beginning of the year that is now for ever gone by, yet my dear sir, do you not think that the Lord has yet many wrestling Jacobs, and praying Hannahs yet amongst us, for the Lord has promised that he will never leave himself without a witness upon the earth to show forth his praise, his glory, and his honour. For we are informed in the blessed word of God, that when Elijah fled from the hand of Jezebel, and hid himself in a cave, that the Lord who knoweth all his dear people by name, said unto him, what doest thou here Elijah?" and he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of Israel, for they have broken thy covenants, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets; and I, even I only am left, and they seek my life." But what was the answer of the Lord, unto Elijah, I have left me seven thousand in Israel who hath not bowed unto Baal." Here I find that the Lord had reserved for himself a perfect number. And my dear sir, do you not think that the Lord has even now a perfect number upon the earth, and that he will in his own time bring them out, and they also

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shall show forth the riches of his grace. May the Lord grant that there may be a great wrestling amongst us at the throne of grace, for a greater blessing to rest upon this hill of Zion: so that if it is the Lord's will all his people may become burning and shining lights in the world, till at last we are changed into his holy image, and made meet for the enjoyment of his heavenly kingdom.

My dear sir, I must now draw to a conclusion, humbly hoping you will again pardon the liberty I have taken in writing to you, wishing you and your dear partner in life, and the dear children the Lord has given you, and every one who loves the Lord Jesus, a safe and happy entrance into that land of pure delight, where saints immortal reign.

I remain therefore, my dear sir, one of your spiritual daughters.

DEATH CONTEMPLATED,

A. B.

With special reference to the decease of the late Mr. GARRÓW.

IT is death that dashes down the cup of earthly pleasures, to all whose hope and expectation are not founded on Christ, the immutable Rock; and at the very moment when the great "wheel" of life ceases to revolve, when it becomes "broken" at the grand supplying "cistern," Death to such will be a dark and gloomy day: "They shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way." Any day but this can be looked forward to with some degree of hope and relief, but this day draws a curtain over all. It may be said of the infidel and worldling as of Pharaoh, “Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed;" such die without hope. To the believer in a crucified and exalted Redeemer, death on the contrary is a day of joyful anticipation;

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and glorious are the prospects it unfolds before him, To him it is the entrance into life eternal, and the farewell to all sorrow and vexation. He carries about with him a principle which has overcome death, and all connected with it; and he possesses that which shall ensure him the victory, when he is brought into close conflict with this enemy; as much so as did Gideon and his army, when the pitchers were broken, the trumpets resounded, the lights sprang up, and the Lord's arm and sword were displayed for the salvation of his people. Faith in that mighty arm will be of the same use to us, as these feeble weapons were to these warriors of old, when the Midianites fell in the dark valley. Whosoever liveth and abideth in me, shall never perish : believest thou this?" Do you believe in Jesus? do you love his name? do you walk in his ways? do you keep his sayings? do you practice his commands? If conscience cleaves to Christ, even in the desire to do so, with a "" Lord, help me to do so;" then you shall as certainly obtain the victory over all your enemies, as that the word, oath, and promise of God are true, even when you come to be tried and placed in like circumstances with Gideon and his army. But you are not gloomily to prognosticate the issue of this day; faith lives day by day upon the bread of heaven. have now the victory, if in the possession of Christ; you will not have it more so then, when your house is taken down, and you are fully released from the captivity of sin. We are now like the Jews in Babylon: the believing Jew received the testimony concerning the seventy years, and could be assured almost of the very month, week, or day of their return; his returning made him not more assured of the fact itself (Eph. i. 14),

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Mr. Garrow's soul is now satisfied and expanded, all its desires are filled; and what he was as a poor sinner and servant is over. He was no ordinary minister, though like many others an obscure one, Shall I say too much, if I say he was a bright star? like the morning star, the harbinger of light. He spake out fully and freely "glorious things" concerning his Beloved and his glory. His ministry was one of light: it was too bright for the sight of many, and of those who discarded it. He took no middle strain. Christ was the Alpha and Omega of his song: Christ was his doctrine, Christ was his experience, and Jesus Christ the life of his practice. Loved of his God, he delighted to tell out all he knew and could of his love. His ministerial notes were sweetly in tune and harmony with all those essential royalties and glories which dignified the person, and shone with such brilliancy in the finished work of Jesus. His note was no lower than extolling him to the highest; and the effect was to sink the sinner to the lowest: there being nothing in comparison of him, nothing lovely, nothing worth knowing, nothing of any real joy out of Him. He looked to the Holy Ghost to give light, and make him precious to those who believe, and to those who were blind. He neither offered him, or begged the sinner's acceptance of him; but honoured him in exhibiting his fulness. At this some stumbled and are offended with him, some hardened, and some received and believed the testimony. He preached personally to none, and feared none in preaching; his object was to lift up his Redeemer.

But his note has now ceased, and is swallowed up in that bliss he loved to dwell on. But are we sure of it? What dying testimony did he leave behind? Asks the sceptic. My friends, it is the life and not the death that forms the key to unlock all these matters; even as the words of Christ

and the testimony of the Spirit,

Their works do follow them." The humility that clothed his Saviour clothed him. The Holy Spirit enriched his mind like a well-stored wardrobe, His external clothing shewed his true riches, for those who wear such are in kings' houses." The costly dresses of the Spirit are not to be bought, but are given without money or price: "He giveth grace unto the humble." The proud may have the gifts of grace and be resisters of God. He was like the leper," who fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan." He is now employed in that which all the redeemed and angelic hosts are, in extolling Christ, who is infinitely above all praise. But this is their joy, and adds none to him; his own satisfaction and pleasure rises high above the praises of the creature. And if they are cursed who curse Israel, how much more so Christ; and blessed is he that blesseth Christ, and cursed is he that curseth Christ, or dishonours him. He was one that was loud in his praises, though his voice was not much heard: he lived without making much noise in the world, as but few made Christ their all as he did. Christ was his supplying Fountain

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a place of broad rivers and streams;" his unsearchable riches; and from him he looked for strength for every good word and work: not for that mean, covetous, ignoble life to work for it, but from love; this is the believer's life. He exhibited and unfurled the great charter of Zion's privileges, and her blessings as therein contained. He handed out bread to the hungry, water to the thirsty, wine or strong drink to him that was ready to perish and all from one pure source -the Rock. That was his foundation, here his faith was built, as all godly, saving faith must be. It matters very little about a person's faith, if it has not the authority and testimony of God for its foundation, or

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His council, promise, and his pow'r; His honour and his name's at stake, To save me from the burning lake. On Christ the solid Rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand." His death was sudden and this speaks to the church to "hold such in reputation." Few Epaphroditus's are left, so few that a child may write them (Isa. x. 19); yet a few names remain even in Sardis, whose garments are undefiled.

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The hour of temptation" is fast approaching, "which shall come all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth;" to try the faith and principles of professing men by the word of God. For though there is much talk concerning religion, it is a day of small things and small doings; the great power of God does not seem to be much put forth, either collectively or individually. Barrenness appears around. There is but little lengthening of cords in the church; and personally but little power felt. We have need to cry out, " Arise, O Lord, into thy rest; thou and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests be clothed with righteousness, and let thy saints shout for joy." Not until the Lord gives the word, will the company be great that publish it (Ps. lxviii. 1).

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heavenly Father's countenance, to know, and be enabled to say by precious faith," I know that my Redeemer livǝth." Yes, blessed be his dear name, he liveth, to make intercession at the Father's right hand, for all his blood-bought family; he liveth, to see of the travail of his soul; yes, and he shall see all his sheep with him in glory, not one shall be left behind, for he hath declared (John xvii. 12), that those that where given him to redeem, not one shall be lost. He liveth, to protect them from all harm, while they are travelling in this wilderness; for what can harm those, who are under the care and protection, of an almighty, covenant-making and coveSin, death nant-performing God. and hell, may try, yea, they have tried all they can, but all glory to a covenant God, that hath made a blessed and suitable provision for his church and people; so that all that has happened, and all that ever shall, can never destroy the elect, or hinder them from enjoying those blessings, that were in store for them in their Covenant Head (Eph. i. 2, 3). So, that, although they fell in Adam, their earthly head; they could not fall in Christ, their Covenant Head, the second Adam, the Lord from heaven. Being chosen in him, from before the foundation of the world, in him, they ever stood complete; in him, they were ever viewed without spot or blemish; blessed be a precious Êmanuel, that undertook the cause of his church and people; that stood in their law place and stead; and that suffered for her, all that was due to divine justice. Blessed and praised for ever be a triune God, for contriving a plan, to deliver his church from the prison of hell, and bring her to glory, in a way, honourable to divine justice and suitable to lost sinners.

And how was this done, why it was the work of a triune God from all eternity; God the Father, hath given the church into the hands of his dear Son, and he being God, equal

with the Father, was able to take care of them; yes, and he hath pledged all the perfections of his Godhead, to bring them safe home, without spot, the perfection of beauty to glory. And, thus, in the fulness of time, the eternal love of God the Father, was made manifest, in sending his dear Son into the world, to take upon him our nature, and unite it to his divine nature, thus becoming God and Man in one complex person (1 John iv. 14, 15, 16). But in speaking of the Father sending his Son, it is not to be understood, that the Son was unwilling to come, oh no! for Jesus was as much determined upon coming, to deliver his church from the hand of divine justice, as the Father; yea, so much was his heart bent upon his beloved bride's deliverance, that the Holy Ghost hath declared by the mouth of the Prophet Micah (v. 2), that from everlasting, he was the Redeemer of a people; yes, he eternally was set up, to be the Saviour; the Mediator; the Elder Brother; in a word, he was from eternity, the covenantly-constituted, Christ of God, and stood for his church and people, as their eternal all and in all. Thus, he was God, really, equal with the Father and the Holy Ghost, and Man, virtually thus he became in time, what he was in purpose from eternity. And here doth God the Son, our blessed Lord and Saviour, display his love, in taking upon him our nature, and suffering all the wrath of God to be poured out upon him that was due to his church; in fulfilling the law, satisfying all the demands of justice, stamping eternal honour and dignity upon it, and working out an everlasting righteousness, to cover his beloved bride; for to be her presence garment, in which she shall appear before his Father's throne. He took away the sting of death; and rose triumphant over all her foes; and led captivity captive; and is gone up into glory; and took one of his jewels with him, namely

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the dying thief, as a trophy of his grace; and took his seat, at his Father's right hand, as an almighty conqueror: there he pleads the merits of his blood on behalf of his people, and sends forth the promise of the Father, namely, God the Holy Ghost, into the hearts of his dear children.

And here doth the blessed Spirit display his love towards his church, in fulfilling his eternal engagement in the covenant of grace, and bringing them out of the rubbish of the fall; and he being God equal with the Father and Son, knoweth where they lay, and searcheth them out in the dark and cloudy day, that is, in there unregenerate state, convinceth them of sin by his almighty power, maketh them to see and feel that they stand condemned by the law of God, and they have no hope in themselves; they see by his blessed teaching, that in them, that is in their flesh, dwelleth no good thing, that they are full of wounds and bruises and putrifying sores, and they are brought to confess that God is just to send them to hell, for the best of their righteousness is filthy rags. Thus they are brought by the blessed Spirit to cry "Lord save or I perish,"

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God be merciful to me a sinner;" there they are kept waiting, the devil persuading them that all is over, the day of grace is past, there is no hope for them, that they may as well give up, God only laugheth at their crying: poor souls, they think so to; but, blessed be God, the devil has lost his throne in the poor sinner's heart, so that he cannot get him to do as he would; he belongeth to the King of Zion and shall reign with him in glory. Therefore they are still kept crying for mercy, and when all hope in themselves is gone, and they think they are lost for ever (" for when they had nothing to pay he frankly forgave them both"), then doth the Blessed Spirit appear, and lead the poor soul to Calvary's cross; there doth Jesus appear in his

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