HEAVEN'S CURE FOR ADAM'S SICK SONS.

BY E. J. SILVERTON,

PASTOR OF TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH,

TRINITY STREET, BOROUGH.

THE cure for souls is the most important cure ever made known to the public. Its value is to be measured by the eternal worth of the soul it cures. To cure the body is a great work, but to cure the soul is the greatest work heaven can engage in. The making of whole worlds is not so great a work as making souls whole. God spake worlds into being, but it cost Christ his life's blood to bring the soul to glory.

We have many doctors who attend to the person, but there is only one who can attend to the soul. The business of soul-healing is only in the hands of Jesus. He is the only person who can cure the sinner of his sin. There is no other name under heaven, and Christ is so skillful in all cases that a better souldoctor is not needed. All who have been raised from spiritual sickness say he is the chief of ten thousand, the best friend they ever met. He is only praised by those whom he hath made whole. It is only the sick who seek him, and it is only the sick cured ones who praise him. Those who still have no faith in Christ, are near unto death, yet they, like many dying people, think they will soon be as well as other people. Oh how hard it is to make men believe they are dying creatures. The blind think they see, and the dead think they live, the sinner in his sin thinks he is as good as any saint. There is always most danger when people are ill, and yet believe they are in the best kind of health. This is the state of every sinner, till he is undeceived by the Holy Spirit. He is walking to hell and thinks he will come to heaven's gates at last.

He

is working against heaven, and yet thinks heaven will take him in when his work is done. He is living like a sinner of sinners, and yet hopes to die the best of saints. Sleeping sinners live near hell; there is hope for a man in a burning house if he is awake; but if he is sleeping, there is

little hope of his getting from the flames. Sinners sleep over the burning pit. But they are dreaming all is well. Now I say that Adam's sons are all sick; all have sin's fever, and yet they are not willing to be cured; they would all die to a man if the Lord did not interfere. Jehovah has sent out a great physician to heal the diseases of the soul, and this he has done, using much wisdom, inasmuch as the sons of Adam do not wish to be doctored by heaven's physician. His wisdom is seen in that he does not listen to the objections of the sinner, but applies his holy cure at once to the soul. Earth's physicians often have to say that they can do no more for this dying sick man or woman, they have done all they can to save them, but still they must die. But Christ has no incurables in his hospital, he never tells the poor soul he cannot be cured; heaven's physic cures the worst cases, it matters not how bad a man is, if the Holy Physician undertakes to cure him, he will be made clean and sound. This is a wonderful remedy, it gives sight to the blind, speech to the dumb, strength to the weak, and makes those who take it new creatures. Oh that men knew the value of this medicine; oh that they knew what a state of danger they were in; did they but see how diseased they are from the foot to the crown of the head, there would be hope for them. Let no sin sick sinner sink in despair, thinking his is too bad a case to be cured; if he is willingto take the medicine, Christ will undertake his case, and will save him. By the conduct of Jesus he seems to delight to treat the worst cases, indeed he will not treat a person at all, if he is not very bad; he must feel so sin-sick, as to think he will soon die. The glory of this divine doctor, is to heal those who were the worst of all those who were diseased by sin. He takes the devil's worst, and makes them the most healthy of all saints. The bigger the sinner the greater the saint. But no thanks to sin for a great saint; but thanks to Christ who takes the biggest sinners to make saints of. God has shewn his mercy and his wisdom in that this

holy remedy is without money and without price. Sinners get it for nothing; all that God required, Christ has given; so it is made free to the sinner, it is wine and milk without money and without price. Oh, what a bill we run to cure the body, and after all the body dies and rots away; but the soul's Physician cures for nothing, and saves it from death. Would that we were as thoughtful of our soul as we are of our body. We feed the last and starve the first; we dress the body, but if the Lord did not dress the soul it would go eternally unclothed. The Lord has said, Bring forth the best robe and put it on him. It is a mercy heaven's medicine is cheap to those who use it, had its inventor marked it at ever so low a price it would have been beyond the reach of every poor sinner; when a man is penniless, he could not buy the world if it were to be sold for the lowest price (a farthing). The sinner has not one tear of repentance to give God for his salvation, and if his salvation depended on a single tear, he has not that tear to give; by nature he is repentanceless. Bless the Lord, he cures and saves us all for nothing, he has no doctor's bill to send in; he makes no charge, all that we can ever pay him is our praise; and we receive, of heaven's remedy to do this. we cannot sing without his grace. Now those who have been healed by the use of heaven's divine balm, are cured for ever. They are never more to be sick, they will never suffer a relapse, they cannot be as they once were, their old disease cannot come upon them, they will live in a state of health for evermore. No more spiritual sickness, no more dead in trespasses and sins, no longer a stranger to self and God; but saved and blessed with eternal salvation, never again to be under the curse of sin. It is not considered a good cure when the patient goes back to his former state. This cannot take place with the sinner, he is not cured or he is cured for ever, never to be sick again. He is healed once for all, heaven's physic not only heals all the wounds of the sick man, but it ever prevents the like sickness coming on again; it not only makes him

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healthy, but it keeps him healthy. Those who have been led to try this wonderful medicine never wish to try any other. They have no mind to change doctors, they feel they can trust their lives in his hand who has raised them from the mouth of the grave. It is a great blessing to be raised from a state of weakness, to be made strong. But the blessing is double when we are put beyond the power of sickness, so that no disease can reach us. Christ cures the soul; he cures it for nothing, and he cures so well that it will never need to be cured again. Those whose eyes Jesus opened, did not die blind, and those to whom Christ gives life shall never die. Pardoned. once, pardoned for ever; saved once, saved for ever; loved once, loved for ever; healed once, healed for ever. This is a favour, sin is killed, and we live to the Lord. The proprietor of this remedy for sin-sick souls, has seen fit to put the medicine in the Gospel, and the Gospel in "Earthen Vessels.' He uses human means to dispense his cures. Cured men are used in the cure of others. These can well tell the sick and the dying the power of this remedy. They know its efficaciousness, they have proved its value, they can speak well both of it and its maker. The Lord of heaven be praised for the success of his salvation cure for souls; we must all have been shut out from the pure and the holy, but for this healing, cleansing, curing, and saving physic, medicine from heaven. We are now washed, blessed, and sanctified, and are on our way home; our Father has told us we shall neither die nor be killed. Bless his name!

NEW BOOKS.

Our Clifton packet contains-Mr. Sears's "Little Gleaner," for October, and "The Sower," with "Clifton Sermons ;" all of them full of excellent reading for Christians and Children. The Gospel Magazine contains a long epistle from the late Rev. W. Parks, of Openshaw, who has since been called home. The Sword and Trowel has articles of both kinds answering to its title, some of a critical and others of an edifying cha

racter. We are sorry to learn Mr. Spurgeon has been a great deal hindered in his work of late by illness. He has preached occasionally; but we hope this bad cold, and all its painful consequences, will speedily pass away. The Scattered Nation holds on with articles of rare literary talent, and much evangelical effort. “ England's Past, Present, and Future," is a large and cheap twopenny demy octavo. History and prophecy are here portrayed in a gifted and instructive medium, free from speculative extravagancies, and full of fruits, which speak more powerfully of the character and course of all erroneous principles and religious pretensions, than many volumes of high price and lofty exhibition. Mr. Westfield's " England" might, with good effect, be placed in the hands of all Sunday school boys and girls. Its influence would thereby be of incalculable benefit. Protestant teachers, Protestant masters of large firms and factories, should certainly aid the circulation of this most seasonable pamphlet. "The Dreadful Prayer Meeting" is issuing in some quarters with accept

ance.

We should like to see it flung by hundreds into all the omnibuses and railway carriages in the United Kingdom. It is fitted as an arrow to pierce hard and flinty hearts. We send 100 copies of it through the post for 30 stamps. It is the first number of series called, "Tracts to Tell the Truth." The second number is entitled, “The Great Fire: or, The End of the World-What will it be?" These two, certainly, ought to go together; there is no sentimental falsehood or flattery in either. The most awful time ever this world saw is depicted in words of wisdom, drawn from biblical, from geological, and from natural sources. It is undeniable.

We have lately received from Mr. Nichol, of Edinburgh, a volume of Puritan Divines, bearing the title— "Dæmonologia Sacra," by Dr. R. Gilpin. It is a book as full of Satan, of his devices, of the dangers he prepares, and of the destruction he leads many into, as it can well hold. All who read such a work, and see the plight and peril of poor fallen man in the world, will surely

(if from the great enemy they are themselves delivered, be more than ever anxious to use all means to warn the children of men, against the terrible malice and power of the great adversary of souls.

The Agonies of the Church of England; with a View of the Halfway house between the Anglican and the Apostate Communities. Men of high and refined intellectual training; men who are not easily carried away by the false alarm of "The wolf is coming; men who throw their thoughts well into any subject before they publicly write books and papers thereon; great and careful scholars are coming forth to warn this country of its near approach to a crisis more painful than any it has known, since the Reformation delivered us from the black doings of the deluded Papal power. The writer of "The Agonies of the Church of England" (who is none other than one of the Editors of The City Press, for in that paper, of October 12th, the article first appeared) has, in few words, shown us where the cause of all our sorrowful anticipations as regards the safety of our Throne, our Parliament, our Church, and our nation altogether, is found. The bold penny pamphlet, "The Agonies of the Church of England," now publishing at G. J. Stevenson's, 54, Paternoster row, will cause an excitement which must produce good results if our doom is not sealed.

Our London Baptist Churches. No. I. contains Mr. H. G. Maycock's farewell sermon, in outline, and his farewell address, in full, on leaving Hope chapel, Bethnal green. It is certainly becoming quite popular now-a-days, for ministers to resign their pastorates when their churches are enjoying prosperity. Mr. Bloomfield and Mr. Anderson took the lead in this singular line of action. Now, Mr. Maycock has done the same. We understand none of the church at Meard's court wished Mr. Bloomfield to leave; and none of the people at Deptford desired Mr. Anderson's departure; and certain it is the flock at Hope chapel had not the most distant wish that their highly-esteemed under-shepherd should forsake them. But between the two former-named

brethren and Mr. Maycock there is this difference: they (Messrs. Bloomfield and Anderson) were exclusively devoted to the ministry; Mr. Maycock is the manager of a large manufacturing business in the city; and he has conscientiously realised the fact, that a man whose mind, whose physical and mental powers are engaged the whole six days in secular enterprises, cannot fulfil the important duties of pastor and minister of a London church. We have ourselves painfully suffered from this attempted amalgamation-to serve God and Mammon; and we know, effectively, it never can be done. Before Mr. Maycock so far injured himself as to be fit for neither the city nor the Church, he has resigned a pastorate where the people loved him, and where the Lord honoured him. His printed address, in which all is clearly and affectionately explained, can be had at our offices in Crane court.

Unto What, then, Were ye Baptised? Such is the interrogatory title of the first published reply to Mr. Thomas Edwards, of Tunbridge Wells, whose letter, attempting to negative the ordinance of baptism, appeared in our pages not long since. supplementary pamphlet can be had at J. Paul's, or our office; six copies free for six stamps. The author of this reply to Mr. Edwards, in a private note to us, says :

This

"The copies of reply to Edwards are safe to hand. I do intend, with the blessing and help of my God, to circulate the whole of the copies. The 22nd and 23rd verses of the 15th chapter of the 1st book of Samuel, have, for years, been

a light to my path; also, a bar to my feet, or I should, long ere now, have done as Saul did in his day, and as many in ours have done, and I fear will yet do. It is not a man's respectability or popularity is anything to me, either in the Church or out of it, in religious concerns; neither do, or can I believe that it is any account with my God, But I believe with the ancient Rutherford, "that when Christ shall bring all out in our blacks and whites; at that day when He shall cry down time and the world, and when the glory of it shall lie in white ashes, like a May flower cut down and having lost the blossom; there shall be few, yea, none, that dare make any point that toucheth the worship and hon

our of our King and lawgiver, to be indifferent. O that this misled and blindfolded world would see, that Christ doth not rise and fall, stand or lie, by men's apprehensions."--(Letters, pp. 11 and 12.) I am quite in harmony with the above; for I do believe that my God's ordinances are as his word, for it is a part thereof; and woe be to him who lives and dies an enemy thereto. I am able to make a difference in the case of Rutherford, and others, who may have been cradled, as it were, in the lap of ignorance and superstition; although I do not see how it is that they, as taught of God, do not in time find out their error, as Mr. Philpot, Mr. Tiptaft, and many others; but for one who hath been delivered from such mire to turn again to it, or what is the same, to turn his back on those things they once received, as they believed from heaven, it is painful to the last degree to think of. May my God ever keep you and me faithful not only to his ways, &c., but also faithful to those who turn away, not adding soft words or flattery to any of them."

It will be seen from this extract that the writer of the pamphlet, "Unto what then were ye baptised?" is more zealous for "the obedience of faith" than many in this day. We have not, from any impure motive, used flattery, or soft words; but, when we have received a man as one sent of the Lord to preach His Gospel, we fear to treat him in any other way than in the "spirit of meekness." Besides, broken bones, a broken and contrite spirit, a fear to wound and to grieve any of God's children have, for years, been our inward portion. And the wounded are not fit for war; unless the Lord. fill us with the power of His Spirit, we can only do as Paul said to one of old, "For love's sake, I rather beseech thee."

he was then sound and strong in the faith, and spoke like one who lived in the closest communion with the Lord. Truly, we thought, "the life he lives in the flesh is by the faith of the Son of God, who loved him, and gave Himself for him."

The book for young students of divinity is Owen Jones's Church of the Living God.'" It has been laid before some of the best theological booksellers, who pronounce it a valuable and respectable volume; its printing and binding are of the best kind. We send it from our office, post free, for thirty-six stamps.

Paradise Restored, &c. Dr. John Mason's volume on "Jerusalem during the Millennium," is declared to be a perfect gem; but then, as we printed it, we will only say it has been reviewed at great length by Mr. Isaac Pegg, in his Christian Dial, for October; and if Anti-millenarians wish to read a cutting criticism they have it there. We have suffered so much in this sin-smitten world, and we have so anticipated the final conquests, and gloriously revealed and possessed triumphs of Jesus, that we cannot but believe Dr. John Mason, in many things, is of one mind with the Spirit and Word of the living God. Seeing so many despise these lively hopes, we wish, like the Church to say, Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountains of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense." There, we sometimes wait in hope; there we often weep in sorrow; but there, we are favoured at times to say, "Master, it is good for us to be here!" And,

"If such the sweetness of the stream,

What must the Fountain be!"

A Conference betwixt a Papist and a Jew, &c. Published by G. J. Stevenson. This rare old tract was first printed in 1678; the riots around Mr. Murphy's tent in Birmingham has caused its reproduction. It is a grand old discussion, and to Jew and Gentile, to Romanist and Protestant, to Ritualist, and every formalist, we commend it with all our heart.

On our table we have two sermons by Mr. James Wells. The one is headed, "Independents Wrong

Strict Baptists Right;" the other, "What it is to Baptised by the Holy Spirit." We believe these are out of print. If so, if we had permission, we should be inclined to make some extracts from them on another occasion.

We should be disposed to make our December VESSEL a DOUBLE NUMBER, and give some good replies which have reached us; but we cannot decide upon it yet.

The Three Graves, &c. The Narrative of the Great Oakington Commemoration has been issued by Hatfield and Tofts, of Cambridge, in a neat tract.

NOTTING-HILL.-On Tuesday, Oct. 15th, the annual meeting of the Building committee was holden in Johnson street chapel. Mr. James Wells preached in the afternoon; Mr. P. W. Williamson presided in the evening; and presented a report altogether pleasing; and furnishing ample proof that the ladies and friends altogether had worked well and successfully. Mr. Williamson has been the pastor of that church now nearly twenty years; and he is still surrounded by an affectionate, and numerous Christian family; and the hope was expressed that he might work on with them for at least thirty years longer; and that his ministerial jubilee might be witnessed by hundreds who should be as seals to his ministry, as souls for his hire. The very venerable C. Woollacott delivered a faithful and affectionate address. The brethren Henry Hall, W. Flack, C. W. Banks, and Timothy Baugh also addressed the meeting. Mr. Williamson baptized the last Sunday evening in October, and we were favoured to converse with some young friends after the meeting who were anxious to be united to the happy church there assembling together. On the same evening, Mr. J. A Jones's birth-day meeting was holden in Jireh chapel, East road. The patriarch was present at this his eighty-eighth natal day; and addressed the friends. The chapel was crowded; and several ministers spoke good words on the occasion. We have noticed before Mr. Maycock's resignation address at Hope chapel, Bethnal Green; and Mr. Wilkins's pastoral celebration at Soho. Shalom chapel, in the Oval, Hackney road, has been replenished and re-opened. Mr. Myerson has been working too hard,

and has been unwell.