A LITTLE CLOUD.

"There ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand."-1 Kings xviii. 44.

BEFORE the appearance of this little cloud, the heavens had been shut up, there was a sore famine in the land, and there was neither dew nor rain for a space of three years and six

months.

appearance

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"He that holds the waters in the hollow of His hand, that speaks and it is done, that commands and it stands fast, had immediately preceding this of a little cloud rising out of the sea," come down with fire and consumed the sacrifice of Elijah; yea, the wood, the stones, the dust, and licked up the water in the trench.-"Verily our God is a consuming fire."

I think without straining the passage in the slightest degree, this little cloud may well be compared to the visible church rising out of the sea of profession. God has said "The wind bloweth where it listheth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, nor whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of God."

This Church consists of many portions, Christ being the chief cornerstone. The breath of life having been breathed into the soul by the Holy Spirit, this being the second birth, there is soon evidence of light where there was darkness; hope where despair reigned; yea, faith in God, not as the devils believe and tremble; not historical belief; not that reformation and conversion are one and the same thing, as is preached in this mighty day of profession and revivalism; but saving faith, converting faith, soul-stirring faith, in contradistinction to dead faith. 66 Having a name to live, and yet dead while they live." A shaking among the dry bones; bone to bone uniting until we see an exceeding great army gathered together from the four quarters of the earth; here a little and there a little cause, "like a man's hand rising out of the sea of profession, spreading and increasing until it becomes a great cloud, and is followed by abundance of rain refreshing the Word, causing it to bring forth fruit, some thirty,

some sixty, and some an hundred fold."

We see in this figure of the cloud great beauty, and it is often used in Holy Writ. A cloud went before the Israelites and then behind them, yea, were they not all baptised in the cloud? A cloud overshadowed the Saviour; caught up in the clouds; He shall come again in the clouds, &c., &c. Then there are bright clouds, dark clouds, yea, clouds of every shade and colour in the living Church of Christ are to be found but then the whole of the building is to be fitly framed and joined together in Him. Oh! what a blessed union. "Gather up the fragments," the Church will not be complete until every portion is brought together; those that are hid from the world, yea, even the very dust that has been scattered to the four winds, and those yet unborn.

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While the soul feed upon the husks of an empty profession, Satan does not trouble. No warfare, no shield, no sword, no helmet, no breast-plate are required; yea, nothing we feel we need, until God has said, "Let there be light," then that moment the conflict begins, foes without, foes within, troubles on every side. Just notice a little cloud of creeping things" uniting together, they take a room if it is only "an upper one" to worship the Triune God according to His revealed Word to them; they love a free grace Gospel; they feel without Christ they can do nothing; they love the good Shepherd; they rejoice in a finished salvation; but lo, an army of empty professors, with their false Christs, unite to scatter these sheep. But what saith the Scripture? "It were better for him that a millstone were hung around his neck, than that he offend one of the least of these little ones." And surely it is a fearful thing to be found fighting against the living God.

Brethren, pray for these little clouds that are rising out of the sea of profession. Rise in all the power of thy might, put on the whole armour of God, the Captain of thy Salvation shall lead on to victory. The sword of the Lord and of Gideon is thy war cry, and with the lamp of God's

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CUT FLOWERS FROM SPIRITUAL GARDENS. BY MR A. PEET, OP SHARNBROOK. When thou art in company with any that contend for erroneous principles, sound them with the following questions; Is there any harm in playing a game at cards, singing a jovial song, spending an hour at the theatre, or at dancing? If they answer, No, I do not think there is; religion never was designed to prevent my pursuing such innocent amusements;" then set them down as strangers to the power of God and godliness, for His children are not found in this path.

Some boldly and impiously affirm, that all mankind universally are endowed with a will and power to turn from sin to God whenever they please. Is it so? Why, then, do not all men universally turn and believe, and be saved? Why, then, do any go to hell? The reason is this: They are both destitute of will and power, therefore, being left to themselves, they embrace death rather than life.

As the fly, that plays about the candle doth often burn its wings at last, so the Christian, that parleys with temptations, is in danger of having the wings of his soul so shortened by the fiery darts of the devil, that he will not be able to rise again towards heaven, till God shall give him renewed affections.

Two main branches of Satan's work are these: First, he labours to stumble and throw down, as much as he may, those that are coming to Jesus Christ; and, secondly, he endeavours to hinder those that are come from living a life of faith upon him.

Young converts are very desirous of being thought much of and applauded by others; but after receiving blows from that quarter whence smiles were expected, they

grow in experience; and as they grow in experience the desire of vainglory loseth strength.

As they, who for every slight infirmity take physic to repair their health do rather impair it; so they, who for every trifle are eager to vindicate their character, do rather weaken it.

There must have been one first man; this first man must have had some maker. This maker of him must himself be unmade; therefore, there must have been eternally some unmade Being, and that is God.

Those that are resolute in the cause of God shall never want for enemies and opposition; and blessed be His holy name for providing strength sufficient to endure it. God's wisest children are the world's greatest fools.

External evil cannot prevent that internal light and comfort which flows from God; nor can external good prevent that internal darkness, sorrow, and confusion which His absence occasions.

Rather than the Lord's children shall be exalted above measure, or be overcome of pride, He will send a pride-wounding, soul-humbling messenger to buffet them.

The devil may obtain permission to wound some of the Lord's followers so deep, that it may be a means of making them run lame all their journey through; nevertheless, those lame take the prey.

Ir is an old proverb, "Out of sight out of mind." So the more our eyes are off from Christ the more unmindful we are of Him, of what He has done and has promised to do for us.

Notional knowledge is like the light of a candle, which enlightens but does not warm; true and saving knowledge is like the sun, which not only enlightens but enlivens.

What is prepared for an elect sinner cannot be kept from him; and what is given to him cannot be taken from him.

As Noah's dove found no footing but in the ark, so a Christian finds no contentment but in Christ.

The greatest comforts are often found beneath the greatest and heaviest crosses.

baptized at Mr. Higham's, Camden Town, and again seven others, at Mr. Foreman's, Hill-street, Dorset-square, (both chapels most kindly lent by the respected pastors.)

Also two members have been added from other churches, and it is most pleasing to add that others are asking for the good old paths, with their faces Zionward; the attendance being good, and our limited accommodation presenting many inconveniences. A site for a chapel has been secured in the Birkbeck Road, near the "Rise." The building, as above shown, will seat about 300 persons (with provision for future galleries). The cost for the erection, including seats, &c., £587.

And now committing our way to the allsufficient God of Israel, who turneth all hearts whithersoever He will, we most respectfully solicit your aid, in the name of Him who gave Himself for His Church; and in thus doing, ye serve the Lord Christ. Pastor, Mr. Waterer, Newbury House, Hornsey Rise.

Subscriptions and donations will be most gratefully received by the Collectors, the Bankers, or either of the Officers.

MR. BLOOMFIELD'S FOURTEENTH

ANNIVERSARY.

"CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED." FOURTEEN years, how much is comprised in these few words! How many changes, how many expectations, how many disappointments! Who has lived in the same circle? who has served among the same people even for so brief a period, without being painfully reminded that this is a world of change, a world of decay? This truth forces itself upon the minds of us all; to us who move comparatively in obscurity, and live in seclusion; but how much more so to the public man, the minister of Christ, whose duties call him to live daily among a numerous family, to watch over their interests, to sympathise with them in their sorrows, and to soothe by counsel and by prayer under the most trying circumstances. Anniversaries then we hold must always be seasons calculated to awaken in the mind of the prayerful and heaventaught minister, humiliation and thankfulness for the past, with hope and anxiety for the future; knowing if he has been blessed to the souls of the people, the work is of God; feeling if he is still to be blessed, he is dependent on the same gracious aid and divine power.

Without further comment we proceed briefly to narrate the fourteenth anniversary of Mr. Bloomfield's pastorate at Salem Chapel, Meards-court, Soho. On Sunday, the 4th of February, he preached, as is his wont, his annual sermon, "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness." Mr. Bloomfield reminded his hearers that he commenced his pastorate at Salem with "We preach Christ crucified," and he had always brought the same subject before his

people, though not the same sermon, on every anniversary occasion. Many changes he had seen, many friends had passed away, scarcely a month but some member had gone into the world of spirits. Only last week they had lost one, the week before one from the congregation, and likewise one of the eldest of the members of the Church. Few places he thought had lost so many by death, considering the number of the Church and congregation, yet God had raised up others to fill the places of those He had taken away; and these new friends bore testimony to the pleasure and profit they experienced in their attendance for worship at the house of the Most High God.

Mr. Bloomfield proceeded to show that the same principles he first taught he still endeavoured to teach; if any difference he held the great doctrines of grace more firmly, and more prayerfully, for the longer he lived he learned more of himself, and had a growing desire to learn more of the fulness of the Gospel of the grace of God. During his ministry at Salem he found many stanch friends, with whom he had lived and continued to live in the sweetest intimacy, and whose intimacy he hoped to prize while life should last. But where were many professed friends? he had painfully experienced the sage advice of an old man when he first came to London, who used to say "Bloomfield, beware of hot 'uns;" certain it was, these often the soonest became cold. But the great thing after all was to have Christ for his master and friend, to serve Him with purity of nature, to set forth His finished work and the excellences of His character. It was not for the minister to pander to the taste of the people, but to be faithful to his work, and to have faith in his work, irrespective of cold hands or cold hearts. The faithful minister should find his soul's interest in the heart of Christ, warmed by the warmest of hearts and living under the smiles of the noblest of beams, the invigorating smiles of the Son of God. "Christ and Him crucified" was a neble theme; sin was the oldest malady in the universe, and in the "cross we had the oldest and most powerful remedy.

Mr. Bloomfield then proceeded to show how Paul preached Christ in contrast to human wisdom, in contrast to the ceremonies of the Jewish law, and in contrast to human works and moral virtues.

On the Tuesday following, a tea and public meeting was held, when a numerous company rallied round. Among the various ministers, were Messrs. Foreman, Wyard, Palmer, Milner, Higham, Hazelton, Meeres, Anderson, Alderson, Dickerson and Webb, &c.

The public meeting was opened by Mr. Anderson engaging in prayer.

Mr. Bloomfield presided, and proceeded to give an interesting and somewhat encouraging account of his labours, peace reigned in the Church, and they had been

blessed with a small increase, and there were signs that the Lord was at work in their midst, by bringing some to a knowledge of themselves, and in comforting others in the truth of the Gospel.

The love, grace, mercy, truth, and the peace of God, were the subjects for the evening's addresses; all were spoken to with a thoroughly Christian spirit by the abovenamed brethren. The meeting was neither characterised by levity nor weariness. The softening effects of love, the tenderness of mercy, the freeness of grace, the calming influence of truth, and the solid and abiding worth of peace, were pourtrayed in a manner alike worthy of the speakers, and profitable to the hearers.

A LETTER FROM THE UNITED STATES ON REAL RELIGION. DEAR SIR, With affectionate feelings you have my sincere thanks for the sermon, "The Scarlet Line;" I have read it twice over, and if I can find a way-faring man in my locality it shall be shown him. But alas! they are indeed few and far between. Well, although pilgrims grieve that they so seldom meet with travellers Zionward, yet the will of the Lord be done; we are ever certain, that as many as are ordained to eternal life, will believe, and if the number here are few that be saved, it is the regenerated man's privilege to make the evidence of his calling and election sure. I may tell you, that like England, there is plenty of religion and religionists here. But of the Wesleyan stamp, Baptists and all preach a conditional salvation. There is a Presbyterian church here also, who, after a certain form, hold to the Westminster Confession of faith, but the preaching is not consistent with the form of "sound words." As it is, I cannot make myself comfortable with such people, as they all run headlong into rebellion against the freest and best government extant; and for myself I can never see, how a child of God can raise his arm in rebellion, which is as the sin of witchcraft; and be guiltless, against the cautious precepts laid down by St. Paul, in the first seven verses of the 13th chapter to the Romans. No, those religionists and so styled religious people bought and sold niggers, and flogged them into the bargain. Now the retributive hand of Jehovah is upon them, and if you could see some or all of them down here, you could not well pity them; they have been cruel, lazy, and licentious taskmasters, dissipated men, who have suffered the soil of Virginia to run waste and wild for want of cultivation; certainly they grew tobacco, and niggers for the market and that was all. All their towns and highways, highways did I say? why they have not a turnpike highway fit for driving cattle, let alone taking waggons from town to town. These men have left their foot-prints, and face-prints, behind them, in the great quantities of

Mulattos to be seen here. I can indeed well see that they have filled up the measure of their iniquities, and lost their niggers into the bargain. And the fine uncultivated land should be taken off them, and given to men that would cultivate it. Virginia is endowed with every natural advantage that fertility and climate can give, but let us hope better things are yet in store for this country. Emigration from Great Britain will flock down here, and build houses such as you meet at home. I should like you to send a VESSEL, occasionally, to cheer me up in this dark corner of the earth. My situation is as comfortable as I could expect or wished for; I have got on well considering that I landed in New York with three shillings. It was very hard to bear, but I now find that Jehovah was bringing me by the right way after all. I regret to find that some of your Baptist churches still hold their old heresy, on the sonship of our glorious Redeemer, which heresy Mr. Nightengale has so ably denounced in the "Scarlet Line." I oft think of my old country sometimes with regret leaving dear old England; and that is for the sake of the doctrines of free sovereign grace and the loved ones, who stand fast by them. They are all my salvation, the covenant ordered in all things and sure. Oh! if there is one man in the world, more than another that can adore Jehovah for His everlasting love, it is your humble servant. Dear sir, I do hope the Lord is dealing graciously with you, and that you do get enough and to spare of the things needful for the body. I received a letter lately from the Rev. Mr. P., of Openshaw with three of his sermons, "Beware of false prophets." I liked them much. I hope that you will not fail to thank that unostentatious man of God, the Rev. M. Bb, of Plymouth, for his kindness to me in my afflictions and who relieved my necessities, and that Jehovah Jireh has been mindful of me, in not casting me off in my old age. I would be glad to hear from you, only the postage is too much; 1 wrote you some time ago, my continued wishes are with you, and may Jehovah be gracious unto you, for you have oft refreshed me in body and soul. Surely indeed I am persuaded our covenant God will not forget such works of faith, and labours of love, but will amply repay you. I don't know that I can say much more at present, I notice that there is a disease amongst your horned cattle, which must be hard upon all classes. However, these visitations will come, for the cattle upon a thousand hills are His, and He will make the farmers know it to their cost. If His mercies are forgotten, His judgments will surely follow to bring people to their senses. I hope the Fenian movement has been put down in Great Britain. It was a miserable juggle and barefaced swindle, another of the offshoots of rampant Popery in America. But the bubble has burst here, amongst these radiant pests. They are a