the

Oh, have we not all degenerated deeper and deeper, in Apostacy from our supernatural, heavenly, and Spiritual calling, into a mere minding of earthly things? Are we not all bred and brought up in a Babylonish element, and fed upon its daintiest food? Earthly morals, Earthly glory, Earthly honors, Earthly aims, Earthly hopes, Earthly joys and fears, hold us in Captivity! From Heaven to Earth, are we descended and fallen down! Such are the consequences of our having quenched the Spirit and despised His gifts of prophecy,-given for our edification, exhortation, and comfort! Such consequences of our having utterly forgotten our true inheritance of glory and power- the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire! But oh! the day is come for an awakening of the dry bones, that they may be re-invigorated-re united-fleshed, and inspired with the breath of Heaven again! The day is come for the manifestation and recognition of the Angel ascending from the east, with the seal of the Living God in His possession; to seal all His servants who sigh and cry for their deep, deep, abominations before the Lord;not as accusers of their brethren, but as accomplices in their apostacy and sin. It is that sealing with the Holy Ghost alone, that shall deliver and save an elect and penitent remnant in all lands,-from those SPIRITUAL WOES which are overtaking the Baptized. That Angel or Messenger appearing in the heavenly horizon of the Church of God, before the judgments are let loose upon the earth, and all that dwell upon and mind earthly things-(Rev. VII.) IS. (mark it, oh my reader) A RESTORED APOSTLESHIP, SENT BY GOD THE FATHER AND JESUS CHRIST, TO THE WHOLE CATHOLIC CHURCH MILITANT HERE UPON EARTH; who by the imposition of their hands according to Christ's ordinance, shall be the Divine means by which the penitent remnant, shall again know, what it is to partake and share,-in the full Baptism of the Holy Ghost! They shall thereby escape the judgments upon the unbelieving and impenitent, and be prepared by that Holy Oil in their lamps and vessels-to go forth to meet-patiently to await -and joyfully to receive their returning Lord; and so finally,-to enter into the marriage of the Lamb, at His glorious appearing in His Kingdom!!

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PRINTED BY T. H. STEVENSON, MIDDLE PAVEMENT, NOTTINGHAM.

THE

CRY IN THE DESERT;

OR,

EARNEST WORDS OF WARNING ADDRESSED TO A SLUMBERING CHURCH, TO KNOW THE DAY OF HER VISITATION, AND TO PREPARE TO MEET HER GOD.

A MONTHLY TRACT.

IX.

THE EFFECTS OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, IN RELATION TO THE HEADSHIP OF CHRIST-TO THE ORGANISATION AND INCORRUPTION OF HIS CHURCH-AND TO THE POWERS, OFFICES, AND ATTRIBUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN PRIESTHOOD.

I.

THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, IN RELATION TO THE HEADSHIP OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Col. i. 18, 19. 66 "He is before all things, and by Him all things "consist. And He is the Head of His Body the Church-for it "pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell.”. Beware lest any man spoil you through philo"sophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, after the rudiments “of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwelleth all the

Col. ii. 8-10.

66

"fulness of the Godhead Bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which "is the Head of all principality and power."

Col. ii. 19. "Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary "humility and worshipping of Angels, intruding into those things "which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding the Head, from which all the Body by joints and bands "having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with "the increase of God."

The Lord Jesus Christ-true Son of God, and Son of Mary, is the one sole fundamental rock, on which the superstructure of the Catholic Church rests; and when a man was found able to discern and confess,-with, and for his brethren, Who He the Son of Man is, the Lord designated him—"a Stone "-which He could use and build upon Himself. He, Who is the fundamental rock, is also the great Architect Who builds that Spiritual House upon Himself; saying, "Upon this rock (now manifested, discerned, and confessed), I will build my Church; and the gates of Hell (the principalities and powers who ruled this world and held the power of death and Hades) shall not prevail against it." But the Lord Jesus Christ, our Brother and our God,-became the rock and chief corner stone of His Church, by His resurrection from the dead,-ascension into heaven, and plenary endowment,-(in an imperishable and immortal Body, animated with an eternal life),—with all the communicable fulness of Jehovah ;-with that Anointing with the Holy Spirit, which He poured upon His Church at Pentecost. Then, He first used the keys of the kingdom of Heaven which He promised to give ; -Then, He opened that celestial Kingdom to all believers. Then, He began-being proved to be the Holy One, and the True One,―to open that door, which is the gate into the Holiest of all; the very house and dwelling place of the living God. Then, He became the chief minister of the true Tabernacle of God with men ;-bearing the burden, having the keys which unlock its most secret treasures, and innermost recesses, laid upon His shoulder. Then He began " to open, and none could shut; and to shut, and none could open.' HE, is the primary rock on which rests the house of God. HE, is the architect who knows the plan,-in whole, and in part; and erects the superstructure. HE, holds and possesses the keys of the house; and though He lays upon Himself the "foundation of Apostles and Prophets," though He deputes to "wise master builders under His instruction and control, the edification unto completion, of the Spiritual fabric,-yea, though He "gives the keys of the Heavenly

Kingdom" to Apostles and those sent by them,—yet, never so as to cease Himself to be-BOTH THE ROCK, THE ARCHITECT, AND THE ETERNAL, RIGHTFUL HOLDER, AND POSSESSOR OF THE KEYS OF THE HEAVENLY HOUSE. In one word, Christ Jesus, the risen Saviour,-in real contact with His Church, is her only preservation from fluctuation, decay, and destruction. He is her Rock of defence,-her high tower, and her deliverer. His constant communications with her, in all the practical ways and ordinances which He has appointed for such ends, can alone build her up, onward to perfect completion;-and His openings and shuttings,-His bindings and loosings-His remissions and retentions, are those which His servants under Him are alone authorised to administer, adjudge, and proclaim. Their power is all derived, delegated, and responsible; for they are "stewards of His mysteries," who holds and concentrates in Himself, all the "manifold grace of God." As therefore the Catholic Church rests upon the risen, glorified, and anointed God-Man,-as she permits the stream of constant communion, and mutual interchange of feeling-thoughts, and will, as a recognised, tangible, practical reality to flow between Him and herself. as there is this mutual giving and receiving between Him who is the sole Head, and His one Body,-she is made to share in and with Him, of His very LIFE, LIGHT, AND LOVE! Thus, and only thus, and only while this is her actual condition, is she saved from stagnation, retrogression, weakness, and corruption, and led forward to apprehend that fully, for which she has been apprehended of Christ Jesus her Lord. If in any way or measure she cease to hold to the Head,--she forsakes the one fundamental source and spring, of all incorruption, durability, perfection, and defence; and then, all assumption on her part, of infallibility— indestructibility, sanctity, and Catholicity, are mere presumptuous sins, while such is her state and condition. Ah! then, it is to be feared, He, who promised her His presence all days even to the end of the world, will still indeed be present in her midst, but as an adversary;-present as a just Judge, to take vengeance on her crooked ways of whoredom, and the many inventions which she has set up to supply His place, fill His office, and do His duties. Yea, then, He will be present to throw down His own Temple, so that not one stone shall be left upon another, however rich, costly, and precious, those stones are in His sight; and this He will do in order to make her know, that without Him-separated from Him, she can do nothing; except to become a by-word, a curse, and a

woe among all the nations, which should have been blessed in and through her. CONSTANT AND CONTINUOUS INTERCOURSE WITH CHRIST, THEREFORE, THROUGH THE CONSCIOUS POSSESSION, UNIMPEDED MANIFESTATION, AND PRACTICAL USE OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT-in the midst of the Catholic Church, is that which will alone redeem the Headship of Christ from being a mere idea, theory, dream, or figure of speech, and render it a true and real office;-held by a living Person,-held to be exercised—at all times, and under all circumstances,-for all those legitimate ends, practical uses, and unforeseen emergencies, for which such an office, with all its duties and responsibilities, was committed, in the counsels of Jehovah-to His sole charge.

Nothing, in practice, has been more fearfully forgotten by us all, in all portions of the Church, than the place and relations of the Lord Jesus Christ-AS OUR LIVING HEAD! He Has been to us all, as a dead Man-out of our sight, and out of our mind. We have not thought of Him, and dealt with Him, as a real, living, thinking, feeling, knowing, and observing Person! We have decided, that all certain, recognized, practical, communications between Himself and His Body, have ceased-till He comes again! That He, since the first century, did not intend to say anything more to us ;and that, therefore, the Comforter's voice, making known His mind and will, was thenceforward to become silent and dumb! That now, therefore, we must call in foreign and extraneous aid from philosophy, science, and vain deceit,—to illuminate our darkness, and cheer our cold and ice-bound affections! Thus have the spoilers wasted, spoiled, and led us into captivity Like Nadab and Abihu (who were smitten by Jehovah with instant death for their sacrilege) we have refused the light and heat which fell from heaven, kindled by God Himself, and have daringly brought strange fire to God's altar which we have kindled ourselves, or this world has kindled for us;—and its light and heat we have substituted for that which Jesus in the heavens sent forth at Pentecost, never to go out, but to abide for ever! The sin which hindered the Lord at the first and grieved Him at His heart, and for which cause he permitted Apostles and Prophets to die out and cease as living, acting, ministries,—was this very leaven, OF WORLDLY PHILOSOPHY, AND FLESHLY SCIENCE! Therefore, St. Paul warns us against its spoiling and withering effects, in this and almost all his Epistles. He says, We need no help from either the traditions, the rudiments, the knowledge, the