to be a blessing in his hand for good. So prays, yours to serve in the bonds of christian affection,

Essex, Nov. 16. 1833.

J. G.

OBITUARY.

DEPARTED this life suddenly, May 29, 1833, Mr. F. HARRIS, North Road, Shepherd's Bush, aged 70. He was steward to James Scott, Esq. thirty-two years; which office, by the grace of his covenant God, he held and fulfilled to the honour of his profession, and entire satisfaction of all that knew him. This is that blessed Gaius we wrote of in this Magazine, and the church in his house: yes, our beloved friend was a kind brother, Gaius in deed and in truth, supplying the temporal needs of Zion's pilgrims, and entertaining them with prayer, reading the word of God, and spiritual conversation. This vessel of mercy was brought to love the truth as it is in Jesus early in life; to cast anchor in Christ, the Rock of eternal ages, by the regenerating grace and power of God the Holy Ghost, under the ministry of the late Rev. William Huntington; and verily we know that he has not left his equal in all that hamlet. He, with his dear household, were the means of keeping God's truth in that neighbourhood for years; but the good Lord hath been pleased to take them all home, except one, whom he hath wisely ordained and sent to help and support his gospel in this dark place, which is almost overrun with free-willers, work-mongers, ranters, revivalists, universalists, evangelicals, yea, with every name and species of false professors of christianity, that the devil and his artificers are permitted to invent, in order to deceive, if it were possible, the very elect; and these the Holy Ghost says, 2 Tim. iii. 13. “shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." Yet, blessed be God," there is a remnant according to the election of grace."

O, christians, ye regenerate children of the Most High, stand fast in the freely-given liberty, holy communion, and fellowship wherewith Christ our Lord hath made us free; and be not entangled again with the yoke of yea and nay, do and live, nor by cunning crafty dead letter preachers, that lie in wait to deceive and entangle the simplehearted, Prov. ix. 13-18. Stand in your Mizpah, Hab. ii. 1-3. watch unto prayer, for dearly beloved, you will gain infinitely more in sitting daily, if but for a few moments as humble suppliants at your most blessed King Emmanuel's feet, than an age spent by running to the moderns lo here and lo there: this will keep you in sad soul-distressing uncertainty, but buy the truth (in faith and prayer) and sell it not, for the applause, the smiles, nor the approbation of men. It is the truth, grace, and power of our most glorious King Jesus that makes and keeps his redeemed subjects free; "It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing," John viii. 36. The words that 1, your Lord Redeemer, speak unto you, my redeemed, dropping my unction into your heart, they are spirit and they are life.

No more pain, sorrow, nor sighing. Gaius, thou art now in the enjoyment of all thy soul through grace longed for when in this vale of tears. But why was thy flight so sudden? because thy Lord would have it so. Here, as in ten thousand other instances, we are taught to see, admire, and bow to his infinite wisdom and sovereignty. But wast thou indeed prepared for the speedy and eternal change? Oh yes! sanctified by Jehovah the Father in eternal election, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called to a saving knowledge of thy sonship by the power of Jehovah the Spirit," Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ," Phil. i. 6. "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace given (not earned or bought by the church, no, but freely and eternally given) us in Christ Jesus, before the world began," 2 Tim. i. 9. "For whom he did foreknow, (as his everlastingly beloved in Jesus) he (the holy Father) also did predestinate to be conformed to the holy eternally glorious image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. Moreover, whom Jehovah did (in the ancient settlements of grace) predestinate (to eternal life in Christ Jesus) them he also called: and whom he called, them (and no more) he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? (these sovereign, free-grace acts of the Triune Jehovah.) If God be for us who (or what) can be against us; he (the Father of all mercies) that spared not his own Son,-but delivered him up for us all, (and gave him to be Head over all things to and for his church) how shall he not (in the love of his heart, knowing our entire dependence on him) with him also freely give us all things? Then who shall, (who can) lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth; it is Christ that died," rose again, gone into heaven for us, ever living to intercede for his own, to see them all brought home to their Father's house, and to cheer them all into the regions of eternal day-see Rom. viii. 29 to the end.

May the Lord in infinite mercy cause all the children, and surviving relatives, to tread in the steps of their deceased parents. Remember the wholesome counsel so constantly and kindly given, both by precept and example, and may God give them grace to shew the same to their children. Satan hath his auxiliaries, which all the powers of hell hath assiduously employed ever since the creation of this world against the kingdom of God and his Christ. "Be vigilant therefore, be sober, because your adversary the devil, like a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.-Seek the Lord and his strength: seek his face evermore." You will behold Him with soul-ravishing delights, shining brighter and more transcendently glorious than millions of suns, by the illuminating Ruach Jehovah, in the blissful countenance of Israel's blessed Ishi, 2. Cor. 17, 18. "Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory

to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." And the promise is, "that their heart shall live that seek Him."

Now to the church of our most glorious Christ, I would in tenderest love say, let us not dishonour our Lord, by fostering doubts and fears of which we have no just cause; but contrariwise to rejoice in hope; trust with confidence, and not be afraid with any amazement, for Jehovah Jesus is our refuge, portion, and strength, a very present help in trouble; therefore, though the earth be removed; the mountains be hurled into the depths of the sea; though the waters thereof roar, and be troubled, there is a river overflowing from the ocean fulness of our blessed Alehim, of everlasting love, grace, wisdom, and mercy; the streams ever descending through the God-man, to refresh and comfort his poor thirsty Zion. Read Psalm xlvi. with Rev. xxii. The salvation of the righteous is of the Lord, who is also their strength in time of need; yes! and "God will supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

We remember, with pleasing reflection, the many happy hours, dear Gaius! we and other ministers and saints of God have enjoyed in thy sweet company while here below; but now we hail thee and thine, gone to see, be like unto, and dwell for ever with the blessed Saviour of sinners: ye have cast your crowns at his majestic feet. Sudden death to thee, dear brother, was sudden glory; yes! now absent from the body, thou art present with the Lord of life and glory. Your golden harp is now sweetly and for ever strung and tuned with highest notes of hallelujahs to electing love, redeeming grace, atoning blood, justifying righteousness, quickening and regenerating power of Israel's Triune Jehovah. Thou art now singing, "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own (most precious) blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto Godand his and our Father; to him be glory and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen.

Birmingham, June, 1833.

REMARKS ON 1 COR. XII. 20.

66 BUT ONE BODY."

(Continued from page 359.)

W. W.

HITHERTO We have principally treated this striking similitude doctrinally; and have shewn the necessity of the covenant offices of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in order to constitute from the degenerate branches of the Adamic family the vital and mystical body of the Lord Jesus Christ. Without the Father, we have no design; without the Son, we have none competent to fulfil the design; without the Spirit, we have no communicated life.

We may now consider the subject in a more practical form, comprehending the great privileges resulting to each individual member through a conjunction so divine, and involving the respective duties attaching unto all reciprocally, as thus graciously united together.

The first privilege to be remarked, is the symetry or beauty

the whole work being effected by God, not a single particle designed by man this will at once decide the unexpressed beauty of the production. And if, indeed, we cannot find words to convey the feeling we entertain of the splendour of that typical temple which was eventually reduced to a valley of ashes by the exasperated soldiers of Titus-if this stately edifice, where the presents of earthly kings and emperors were reposited, and where the offerings of the Jews themselves were treasured, fill with astonishment the minds of those whose mortal eyes never beheld its inconceivable splendour, how much more the living and spiritual temple, whose every stone is precious in the sight of God!

Imagination dies whilst labouring to comprehend its glory, and the most exalted conceptions of the creature are not worthy to be compared with the undescribed reality. If, however, we would know some little of the vast value of its component parts, let us remember they are figuratively represented by the most costly treasures which the wide lap of nature contains; " And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my

JEWELS."

Again, that which is beauteous is not only valuable, but it is also pure and fragrant. Thus, the purity of the bride, the Lamb's wife, is declared in the words: "Thou art all fair, my love, there is no spot in thee:" and her fragrance is such as for ever dilates with holy joy the heart of her Beloved-" Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! How much better is thy love than wine: and the smell of thine ointments than all spices! Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon !"

Well may we feel ourselves lost in amazement, and more especially when we "look unto the rock from whence we were hewn, and unto the hole of the pit from whence we were digged." Oh! mystery profound! the glad mystery of Zion's beauty, value, purity, and fragrance! losing the angelic intellect in unlessening wonder, and for ever opening a fountain from which perpetually doth flow rivers of gladness all over the heavenly plain

"Expressive silence, muse his praise."

The second privilege which merits attentton, is that of pleasing diversity and distinction. And in this all the members of the body are equally interested; the four open strings of the violin G. D. A. E. whilst they may be in union maintain as well their distinctness, their separate sounds and uses; thus, though they unite in one melodious symphony, G. is not D., D. is not A., nor A. E.; throughout the sweet sympathies of union they preserve their useful diversity.

Agreeably with this is the state of the church militant, and doubtless that of the church triumphant; for as diversity is neither disunion nor deformity, we can see no objection, but rather an advan

tage in its endless preservation. All creation breathes diversity; but the chirping of the linnet, bespeaks equally with the chorus of christians. The creating God, and every atom that floats in the air, while it maintains its separateness from fellow atoms, with them unites in the fact of an Omnipotent, to bestow and to preserve existence. Thus, whilst diversity adorns, degrading dissilition there is

none.

The same truth is confirmed in the animal and intellectual natures of man. Divers are the members of the body! various are their curious functions-distinct are their movements-and vastly different their appellations. But whilst in this matchless mechanism, this divine adjustment of matter, we observe the estimable charm of distinction, let us not forget the overruling and directing soul, which as some maiden skilled in music, permits them never to be sounded or exerted but in closest union.

That this peculiar privilege equally dignifies the one body of Christ, we may satisfy ourselves by an appeal to the 15th of the 1st of Corinthians, or, perhaps, we had better confine ourselves to the 12th, as from that our foundation has been obtained: "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit ; and there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord; and there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all and in all," From this it is apparent, that the glory of union is diversity, and the charm of diversity is union; this also, is maintained in the only wise God whom we worship-three eternal Persons. Here is diversity and distinction--one eternal God! here is sameness and union. Again, in the person of the Redeemer, two distinct natures. Here is diversity and distinction-one complex person. Here is sameness and union.

Nor is there a greater necessity for the distinction in the person of the Redeemer, than for that in the members of his mystical body. Had he not been God and Man-had he not possessed two different natures (natures not at war with each other, let it be remembered, although essentially different from each other) - had he not thus in his holy and divine person partaken of a twofold nature-he had been incompetent to redeem the church, to fulfil the conditions of the covenant, or to establish everlasting dominion.

Abstract Deity, and no descension in the tomb, is possible; abstract humanity, and no resurrection, can be predicable. Hence the necessity of diversity as well as union in the person of Christ.

Just so then, in the body: the church, which is admirably explained by St. Paul in these words-" If the whole body were an eye where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling! Is it not, then, most obvious, that the distinction pervading the members is ordained for their advantage, and tendeth not to inculcate independence, but to augment their dependence; so that we may truly say, diversity fastens the chain of dependence, which union contrives for the felicity of the united.

The same miseries which would destroy our civil constitution, could