Published in the Gospel Magazine April 1841.by Simpkin, Marshall & Co

The Baptism of the Spirit; or, Circumcision of the Heart.
WADE, Author of the "Rod of the Covenant," &c.
Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.

By JOHN
London :

THIS is a most blessed compilation, written, as the author informs us, "when his soul was passing under the heavy bonds of sin and death, and to correspondents in similar states, during a series of eight years' experience from 1832 to 1840." We have perused the first eight letters with peculiar pleasure, and have found them both "marrow and fatness" to our souls. We bless the Lord that these letters (which we are informed were never intended for publication) have been preserved and printed; for we doubt not that the same Lord who has "baptized" his servant in suffering, who has given him such support under heavy conflicts both of soul and body-so clear an insight into his holy word -and such an aptitude for bringing forth of the things which God the Holy Ghost hath instructed him in, that we doubt not the work before us will be eminently blessed to the church of the living God.

Mr. Wade is evidently one of those whom the Lord has been instructing in the school of affliction and sorrow, where he has received his qualifications to go forth as a suitable messenger to the tried members of the household of faith. He can now retrace his path, and praise the Lord for the way by which he has led him to enable him to speak with decision and certainty to those in whom he traces the footsteps of the flock.

AN ACROSTIC.

REFRESH'D with showers of grace divine,
E ach needful quality be thine;
Valiant for truth, each day proclaim,
E térnal life through Christ's dear name.
Raise up to view the bleeding Lamb,
E ternal love hath slain for man;
N or once forget that Jesu's love,
Demands that thou shouldst faithful prove.

Dependence still in Jesus place,
A nd he will with a smiling face,
Visit thy work with great success.
If thou art weak, the Captain's strong,
Despair not then, but still press on.

Dispel all fear, be valiant still;
E mmanuel will his work fulfil :
No servant of our gracious Lord
H as ever served without reward,

A crown and palm he holds in view,

M arch on then-they are both for you.

City Press, Long Lane: Doudney and Scrymgour.

NEMO.

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ENDEAVOURING TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE." "JESUS CHRIST, THE SAME YESTERDAY, TO-DAY, AND FOR EVER. WHOM TO KNOW

IS

VOL. I.]

LIFE ETERNAL."

MAY, 1841.

[No.-5.

TURN AGAIN OUR CAPTIVITY, O LORD, AS THE STREAMS. IN THE SOUTH.-PSALM CXXVI. 4.

were

OUT of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. But when a soul that has enjoyed pardon and peace, and the comfort of a good hope through grace, is, as the psalmist was, Iso troubled that he cannot speak;" or as Job was, when " he sat upon the ground seven days and seven nights," his words will be few. God had perhaps, in days that past, been very precious to him: he had had access to him had been indulged, from a sweet sense of dear covenant relationship, to call him, Abba, Father; had beheld the gracious leadings of his hand in providence as well as grace. All things seemed to conspire for his help, so that he had often stood with wonder and amazement, and exclaimed, "What hath God wrought? What a true and faithful, dear covenant God and Father thus to deal with his poor, helpless, worthless child! Come, ye that love him; come and adore him! Ye timid ones, trust in him! ye doubtful ones, rely upon No. V. Vol. I.-New Series.

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him! ye needy ones, seek the riches of his grace! ye guilty ones, come to the fountain which is everflowing and overflowing :

'Come needy, come guilty, come loathsome and bare;
You can't come too filthy, come just as you are.'

Ye weak ones, come to the strong for strength! ye ignorant ones, come to him who is wisdom itself! ye naked ones, come to him for the robe of righteousness! ye hungry ones, come and eat of the bread of life! ye thirsty ones, come and drink of the water of life freely! ye troubled ones, come to him who has said, 'I will deliver you out of all trouble!' Ye backsliding ones, come to him who has said, 'I will heal their backslidings; I will receive them graciously, and love them freely!' Ye dying ones, rest upon the promise, 'When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee!"" Such encouraging language as this dwelt upon the lips of a soul whose heart the Lord had touched; Jesus and his salvation were the burden of his song; his tongue was unloosed, and the wonders of Immanuel were continually upon his lips. New beauties were hourly unfolding themselves to his view in the person of Jesus, until at length his enraptured soul was obliged to cry out, "Stay, stay thine hand, thou lovely, all-precious Lord; it is enough, this earthen vessel is full. Thou must take me home to thyself, must rid me of this clay tabernacle, this cumbrous load of earth, ere I can bear more of thy glory." The oil is stayed, his raptures gradually subside, and soon again has he to combat with doubts and apprehensions whether it was true. Had he not seen a vision? Might he not have been deceived? Had not Satan been permitted to transform himself into an angel of light? Again his Lord appears, as described by dear Hart: :

"And ofttimes, when the tempter sly
Affirms it fancied, forged, or vain,
Jesus appears, disproves the lie,

And kindly makes it o'er again."

The blessed Spirit leads him on by little and by little, opening up the truth to him; showing him what is in his heart, and what there is in the heart of the Redeemer to counteract its evil workings. It may be his servant was at this time young in years, had little to do with the business of life, was indulged with comparative retirement, and called only in measure to mingle with the men of the world; but now, as he advances in life, fresh connexions are formed, under the appointment and, probably, with the evident leadings of God. He feels a holy freedom in consulting his mind and will; the Lord in return graciously leads him on, saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it." He proceeds, consequently, in the strength of the Lord God, and beholds his good. ness and love in everything whereunto he hath put his hand; a certain measure of success attends his every step.

But now we meet with him in captivity; "passing through the waters of tribulation, "through the rivers" of sorrow, and " walking through the fire" of temptation. A cankerworm has apparently been

gnawing at the root of his prosperity, death has invaded his family; his dearest ties, one by one, have been taken from him; the delight of his eyes has been cut off at a stroke, and he, Job like, is left barren and destitute, to mourn over his wretchedness and misery. At times the presence of his divine Master, through all and under all, is felt. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" he exclaims; "Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord, and shall we not receive evil? The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." At other times his grief appears too heavy to be borne; "Oh that I might have my request," says he, "and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand and cut me off." Satan sets in like a flood, "Where is your God now? Did not I tell you that this would be the end of it? Did I not always assure you that destruction would be the issue; that the deliverances which here and there you have experienced, and which you have ascribed to God, came not of his love, nor from his approbation of your steps, but merely under his permission; that your destruction might be the greater, and that he might exhibit to the world what a presumptuous wretch you have been, and hold you up as a beacon to others. Nothing but ruin now awaits you; what a stumbling-block will your downfal prove in the way of others! better far that you had never named the name of Christ. You were always a poor talkative fool, sure to be foremost in everything, and now see the consequences. God's word says, that 'he that believeth shall not make haste;' that you should be 'swift to hear but slow to speak.' You have acted just the contrary; and, so far from assisting or benefitting others, you have thrown many a stumbling-block in the way of the children of God. They are not all such dull miserable creatures as you are; they know what it is to walk in the light of the Lord's countenance; to dwell under his shadow with delight, and to find his fruit sweet to their taste. Then you come with your prating, and describe your experience; which, so far from comforting them, or taking up the stumbling-blocks out of their way, robs them of what little comfort they had, and throws greater stumblingblocks in their way; and you know the word of God pronounces its woes upon such as rob and spoil his little ones-that they are dear to him as the apple of his eye. Besides, your present circumstances prove that you are not a child of God, nor under his favour; if it were so, you would realize the promise contained in the first Psalm-the very subject with which David opens his book. There it says, 'He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.' There, mark that, and see how far it corresponds with your circumstances. You know your case is just the reverse; that a blight, a mildew, seems to rest upon everything to which you. put your hand; that the hand of the Lord is gone out against you. Again, in the 128th Psalm, it says, 'Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house, thy children like olive plants round about thy table;' and again, 'Thou shalt see thy children's children.'