volumes are handsomely printed on toned paper, attractively bound in bevelled cloth, and published at an exceedingly low price. They well deserve to be placed on the table of every lover of the gospel of the grace of God for a daily or occasional halfhour's reading. Twenty Reasons why I object to the Church of Rome. By S. T. London: M. Walbrook, 180, Brompton-road, Price 11⁄2d., per post 2d. The present tract discusses the first of the twenty reasons, a list of the remaining nineteen being given, papers on which are preparing for publication. The writer, a lady, desires the co-operation of friends in extending the sale of these papers for the sake of the truth therein maintained. The series promises to be a useful collection of facts and arguments, proving the Church of Rome not to be the Church of Christ. No. 2 of the series is also ready. Baptists and Pado - Baptists: their Radical Differences in Faith and Practice. London: Sold by E. Stock. Price 1d. An American production, reprinted in this country, which finishes with the following words: "These principles (i.e. Baptist) secure a vantage ground in opposing all forms of error and heresy, and churches organized upon them ought to be pure and noble, ever alive to learn, and quick to do, the will of the Lord and Master." Why Baptizest Thou then? Price d., or 25 for 8d. An eight paged tract, just issued by the Baptist Tract Society. It is an answer to the question why we immerse, and that believers only, when other classes of professed Christians adopt a different course. By arguments drawn from scripture and other sources, and by a number of facts, the writer proves our position to be the right one in the matter. Christian Baptism. By A. C. B. Aberdeen: Free Press Office. Price 1d. Another excellent treatise on the subject, founded on the words, “And now, why tarriest thou? arise and be baptized." Many points are here well put, and a few difficulties, as they appear to be to some, clearly explained. The author's object is to lead people to study the scriptures for themselves, in doing which, truth being mighty, will prevail. The Morning Star. A Sermon preached by Mr. HAZELTON, on Lord's-day morning, Feb. 9, 1880. Price 1d. Briscoe & Co., 28, Banner-street,E.C. Four copies sent post free for stamps. This is No. 35, vol. ii. of Mr. Hazelton's published sermons; the text being, "I will give him the Morning Star." The subject is handled in an exceedingly instructive and interesting manner, and many useful and weighty thoughts are presented to view, which is only saying what may be said of all Mr. H.'s discourses. The following sentences are extracted from the first head of the discourse: "Christ is now before us as the Morning Star, or the Great Lightbearer, which is, I believe, one of the meanings of the word. Does not this apply to the person, the work, and the gospel of our great Lord? Has he not brought light from another world? light from the bosom of Deity, light from the heart of his eternal Father, and information from the infinite mind of God? and does he not continue to shine as the bright and morning Star, indicating the fact that night is gone, that eternal midnight is for ever past, and that a great and glorious day is approaching? Yes, our Christ has brought light into the world and into his church, and into the hearts and spirits of sinners. . . . . The morning star is the precursor of day, indicating the end of darkness and the approach of morning; that one state is passing away, and another is coming and will soon break upon the world. And the Lord Jesus is the Morning Star in all these respects.". 3 o the Readers of the Gospel Herald and Voice of ruth, AND THE MINISTERS, DEACONS, AND MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCHES GENERALLY. THE report of the proceedings at the annual meeting of the Metropolitan Association of Strict Baptist Churches, in the last number of the Gospel Herald and Voice of Truth included the information that the magazine had become the property of the association, and would henceforth be carried on under the superintendence of its committee. We take occasion, from this change of circumstances, to appeal to the ministers, and members of Strict Baptist Churches generally, to favour us with their continued and increased support. From its commencement this magazine has consistently advocated the principles of truth and righteousness, and, in our hands, it will be our first care and constant endeavour to maintain its character in this respect. We shall endeavour, at the same time, to make it generally acceptable to the churches as a publication in which their various meetings may be advertised, their passing events recorded, and in which whatever relates to their general interests may find expression. We learn, with some surprise, that an impression has extensively prevailed that the Gospel Herald was not so much an organ of the Strict Baptist denomination as that of a small but pretentious party in London, who treated those outside their ring, and especially the smaller and weaker churches, with indifference. We do not think that this impression had any real grounds in the past, and we are resolved that, at all events, it shall have none in the future. The primary object for which we are associated together is, that the stronger may help the weaker, and the richer assist the poorer among our churches. And we purpose that the columns of our magazine shall harmonize with the basis of our association, both in a doctrinal and practical sense. A Gospel magazine is not like a secular newspaper, carried on as a commercial enterprise; it must not be expected, therefore, that we can employ reporters, or pay agents to collect intelligence for our pages; the utmost we can do is to invite communications of interest from our friends, with the assurance that the weakest shall have the same consideration as the largest, having regard, of course, to the number of communications as relating to the amount of space at our command. At present our limit is twenty-four pages; but should we succeed sufficiently in securing the support of our friends, we purpose, at the beginning of next year, to add another eight pages, without additional charge. This addition would, we believe, make room for all the claims upon our space, which we, no less than the writers, desire to recognise. We, therefore, solicit the earnest effort of all our readers, to so increase our circulation that we may be enabled to serve them better. Especially we take this opportunity of appealing to the ministers and members of our kindred assoNo. 569.-MAY, 1880. I ciation in Suffolk and Norfolk, to renew their attachment to an old friend of theirs. The Gospel Herald owes its origin to them, nearly fifty years ago, and its venerable founders still survive "to shew that the Lord is upright," by their "bringing forth fruit in old age' What may have occasioned the falling off in the support formerly given by brethren in those counties we do not stay to discuss. Probably the removal to London of the management may have contributed to the feeling that the Herald was no longer their magazine as it formerly was. But, whatever the cause, we ask them affectionately again to look favourably upon their offspring. Our principles, our interests, and our aims are, we believe, identical; and it is our fervent desire that not only the churches in each association, but all churches of the same faith and practice, may find in the Gospel Herald and Voice of Truth a really representative organ-a medium for the interchange of fraternal feeling, and a chronicle of such matters as from time to time, in affecting one part of the body, affects us all; for "we are members one of another." May the great Head of the Church make use of us and of our efforts for the advancement of His kingdom, and "let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen." We are, beloved brethren, Yours on behalf of the Committee, THE FAITH OF GOD'S ELECT. (FROM "WAYSIDE NOTES," BY G. COWELL.) J. L. MEERES, President. THERE is a kind of faith where there is no spiritual life; while, on the other hand, there is a genuine faith, which is the result of life; the one being the faith of the head, the other the faith of the heart; the one standing in the the wisdom of man, and the other in the power of God. And lest any to say, serve I. That the precious faith of God's elect will be evidenced by the substance looked for. Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the GEO. W. SHEPHERD, Vice-President. Jesus." substance is Jesus. "Looking unto Is He, dear reader, the substance of your joy? Is He "the chiefest among ten thousand," and the "altogether lovely" to you? Do all your thoughts and heart affections turn to Him, so that you feel that it is impossible for you to have any solid enjoyment unless He is the substance of it? Is He your hope and confidence, and are you saying "Other refuge have I none, Hangs my helpless soul on Him." Oh these are very blessed proofs that you are in the possession of the like precious faith of God's elect; and if you would have further joy, and comfort, and solid peace, let me remind you that this expression, "Looking unto Jesus," embodies the thought of looking off from every other object to Him alone. II. Saving faith will be accompanied by repentance and self-loathing, and some measure, at all events, of a sense of forgiveness of sins. As Peter declared in his memorable sermon to Cornelius and his company, "To Him give all the prophets witness that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." And how sweet is a heartfelt sense of the Lord's forgiving grace. Oh, it is this which brings the matter personally home! Theological disputations, and religious controversies -how unimportant they all seem compared to this felt forgiveness! And would we, dear reader, give up what we have experienced on this point for all the world calls good or great? No, we would not; and we can look back to certain spots, by the way, where we have fallen upon our knees and pleaded, not in vain, to feel and realize that our sins were forgiven. Such pleadings were answered. We realized peace in the revelation of the Lord Jesus as our Saviour, and felt they were "clean gone." True, doubts and misgivings as to the reality of it have been engendered by the "father of lies," and he has tried all he can to rob us of our comfort and confidence; yet, with it all, we can never forget the time of first love, and the sacredness of the moments when Jesus assured us, 66 Thy sins are forgiven thee; go in peace." Oh reader, if are passing through such experience, dot it down, so that in future life you may put your finger upon spot and stone, passage and promise, and say, Well, I know then and there I was not mistaken; the Lord did assure me of it. My brokenness of heart was real, and the sense of His forgiving mercy was no delusion." Such spots are precious to look back upon. They tend to reassure us, and bring us to feel that the Lord would never have shown us such things if He had meant to destroy us. you III. Saving faith will ever be striving to gain access to the throne of grace. The true child of God must pray, it is his element. You might as well tell him not to breathe, as not to pray. His hidden life is made up of secret sighs and cries, tremblings and tears, mixed with "groanings that cannot be uttered." But all this tells the tale that the wrestling one is in the possession of the faith of God's elect, which makes him hover about the throne, and not rest until the King gives him an audience. Bring a man whose heart is estranged from God into a prayer-meeting, and he will be uneasy and miserable. Take a Christian into such an atmosphere, and he is at home and happy. And often the words of an untutored and poor man at the throne of grace are as apples of gold in pictures of silver" to the soul. 66 And then, beloved, not merely will faith find its element in prayer, but the many, many ever upturning trials of life will give plenty of errands to the throne, and ofttimes they will be of such a character that none but Jesus must know them or be told of them. What a wonderful thing that we can tell Jesus what we can never tell a fellow creature! Faith, then, if it be the like precious faith of God's elect, will ever be feeling after Christ, and that, too, in the sigh and in the cry, in the wrestling, and in the longing, and will be saying, "I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me !" IV. Saving faith will be ever anxious for Divine teaching. And this faith will distinguish between truth and error-the real and the counterfeit. And when we say there will be the desire of the child of God for divine teaching, it is the desire for the unfolding of Christ in such a way that his faith will claim Him more and more as the "All in all." Yes; the outgoings of the soul will be, "Tell me, O thou whom my soul lovest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon; for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions ?" The fact is, a genuine faith feeds upon Christ, who is 66 the Way, the Truth, and the Life," and can no more live without Him than the body can without natural food. V. Saving faith will enable us to fight a daily warfare. "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God P" Ah! and what a fight it is. How sharp the conflict-how constant the warfare! One may say, "But is it not written that the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord ?' It is; but what steps? These often are rough steps, rugged steps, tangled steps, thorny steps, careworn steps, erucifixion steps. These, and the like, will make up pretty generally the Christian's pathway. He will learn, experimentally, the need of the promise, Thy shoes shall be iron and brass, and as thy days thy strength shall be." And is it not true that the Christian is brought just to live by the day, strength for which is given 66 none over, none to spare? True, he is not without the hope of a bright home, and the anticipation of a final rest; but the way and the warfare are of that character that such hopes and such anticipations are only as a momentary* gleam of sunshine. For the most part it is a battling with life's cares fears within and foes without. VI. Saving faith will issue in Christian watchfulness, which will be connected with a waiting for the second coming of Christ. Here a most imimportant subject opens before us, and, perhaps, to be clear, it will be as well to take, first, the negative view of it: secondly the positive. First, what is not Christian watchfulness. We reply 66 1. Yielding to some easily besetting sin. We are told that Christ will dome as a thief in the night," in an unlooked-for moment. Now, if He should come at that moment when sin is being yielded to, would not the sentinel be off his guard? would not the watchman be asleep? The Lord keep us from every easily besetting sin. 2. Again, we are not in a state of Christian watchfulness when the pleasures of the world are entered into. It is often the anxiety of a Christian parent as to what is, and what is not lawful. Now, to our mind, the touchstone is *Not "only momentary" in every case, dear friend B. H. here: I should not be any where or doing any thing that would bring me into confusion if Christ should break in upon me. In one's lawful calling there could be no fear of this: but how would it be if Christ should find us in the ball-room, the theatre, the concert room? The very idea will be repugnant to the matured and solid Christian; but to many professors we fear not. May the Lord keep us from the temptations which abound, and keep us watching. 3. It is not Christian watchfulness when we are carried about with every wind of doctrine. It is a day of itching ears, the "Lo, here is Christ!" and "Lo, there is Christ!" is being fulfilled, and even Christians are being carried away by plausible, yet false, teachers; and such are not certainly watching for the Lord. The writer is more than ever convinced that there is nothing like the good old paths, and he is constantly thanking the Lord that the new whims ever arising have no charm for him. So once more, it is not a state of watchfulness when Christians are quarreling. It would be an awkward time for Christ to break in upon them when backbiting and slandering each other. May the Lord keep us loving, as brethren, yielding to one another's weaknesses, forgiving one another for Christ's sake. Now for a few words upon what Christian watchfulness is. 1. It is made up of the active graces of the Spirit.-Faith looks out; Hope is an anchor sure and steadfast, fastened upon a precious Christ within the veil. Love is on the watch for her absent Beloved, and joy springs up at the thought of His return again. 2. It is the diligent use of the means of grace.-In the house of God, at the meeting for prayer, at the Bible-class, we need have no fear of Christ's coming when we are thus engaged. Our attitude would be suitable for the event. 3. In work for the Master's glory.→ "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit |