I was once near upon loosing my life on a race-course the horses were coming full speed into the goal, and I suppose I being eager to see them come in, got too close, when one of them struck me with violence to the ground, which blow left me completely insensible for a time. This was indeed a narrow escape, and I have since been led to consider how miraculously was the special providence of God extended towards me at this time. At two different times, I have been brought so near to death's door, by reason of inflammation and other disorders of the body, as for the most scientific medical men to pronounce me incurable. These are no small matters in my account, considering they all happened before I was brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ by faith. I remember I had a vision in one of these fits of sickness to this effeet: I thought I was standing in some open plain, looking up to the sky and presently there appeared innumerable blazing stars, and they were the means of setting the elements in a blaze; then I thought a fiery blast came sweeping along the ground from the west, and it burned up every thing and spread destruction all before it I thought I ran for shelter here and there, and although it followed close after me, it did not quite overtake me and being much terrified by this, I awoke, and glad I was that it was only a dream. The interpretation of this vision was very plain to me, as it so exactly corresponded with the state of mind I was then brought into, being under fearful apprehensions of divine wrath, and not having experienced forgiveness of sins by the blood of Jesus Christ; which forgiveness of sins, and deliverance from the curse of the law I must now hasten on to describe. But previous to this, I must observe a few things, in reference to that pitch of legal striving to keep the law, unto which I was now arrived, and the point at which I aimed was to attain to a living epistle or copy of the Common Prayer Book, for I verily believe that this book was to me at that time, as his holiness the Pope is to the Papists: a strict attendance upon the externals of religion, together with the legality of my mind was that which brought me to be a self-righteous pharisee; and I often looked upon these splendid attainments as far surpassing the generality of religionists. And although there was stripping, wounding, and slaying going on within, during all this time, yet so foolish and ignorant was I, that I was again and again found going to this Mr. Legality for a plaister for the wound, and I did think sometimes it was almost healed, until it broke out afresh, and then I knew what David meant when he said "my wounds stink and are corrupt :" and in this plight it was, that the following things overtook me. It so happened on one occasion, that I was sent on an errand to a neighbour's house, who was a Dissenter, and the man perceiving me to be in earnest about soul-matters, began to enter into conversation on spiritual things, and after asking me a few questions to which I endeavoured to give an answer, he invited me to attend a Dissenting place of worship at which invitation I paused, and after a while I said I will endeavour to consider of that, as I am not a Dissenter; however, the man did not press me on that point but only said, "that he was accustomed to attend where the truth was preached," upon this we parted, and in the space of a few days after, a message was sent to me, informing me of Mr. Jones' coming to Brabourne Street, to preach on a week-day evening; and by the help of God I was enabled, and by his wisdom directed, to hear the joyful sound of deliverance from captivity and bondage under the law, whereby my chains were broken off, and I was set at a happy liberty: the Scripture was this "by the grace of God, I am what I am" my soul received the word as from heaven, and as he was led to describe the way of salvation by grace alone, I was led to discover such a beauty and excellency in the Lord Jesus Christ as a complete Saviour for my lost soul as caused me, (like the Eunuch,) to go on my way rejoicing for some time after. I have been constrained to look upon this as a mighty deliverance wrought for me in several points of view for as it was a deliverance from my bondage state, so it was likewise a deliverance from the dead formality in which my soul was enveloped, by reason of the task-masters under which I was bound, while in the Church of England: it gave me to see with new eyes indeed, in these matters. Not long after this, I was in attendance again, at the same place, when Mr. Tappenden was engaged preaching from these words "Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba Father." This was another blessed sealing testimony and confirmation to my soul of the reality of what had gone before, inasmuch as I was then favoured with the solemn witness of the Spirit of God with my spirit that I was a child of his, and adopted into his family, Although this matter has been called in question very many times since that, yet I dare not speak of it in any less positive terms, Besides these two, there were other means whereby my soul was blessedly enabled to rejoice in being brought into the liberty of the gospel of Christ; and among them, was the reading of the first volume of hymns, by Daniel Herbert, which a friend lent me, at this time; they were to me, like honey, dropping from the honey-comb, so sweet and precious to my soul, that I used to get into secret places by day and by night, and read them, rejoicing in God. Now I could read the Scriptures with great pleasure and delight and discovered Christ in them, almost in every page; sweetly meditating on the precious promises God has given to his children therein; and what made them the more precious, was, that they all appeared to belong to me; every thing that a covenant God had to give to sinners in his dear Son, appeared mine; this was appropriating faith indeed. And as to prayer, it was my very element to breathe in the atmosphere of spiritual communion and fellowship with God. It is not necessary to lengthen this narrative at present, or I might go on to relate a long succession of trials, temptations, persecutions, and afflictions which have fallen to my lot since those golden days referred to above. Let it suffice to say these days of darkness have been many. I said on introducing this statement, that I have thought it would be incumbent on you to demand a testimony from me: by this expression, I did not intend to intimate any necessity or compulsion on your part; by no means. Only, supposing you were somewhat moved on receiving such a false statement of things; and that you might be A wilderness I'm trav'ling through, But though he comes with deadly aim, For Him I sigh, for Him I pine, ELIZA. charge of God's Elect ?" desirous to make some enquiry after a proof Who shall lay any thing to the of real and vital godliness, among such a people thus represented; and this supposition has been the means of inducing me to send the foregoing testimony to you; in the humble hope that the blessing of God may accompany it. Lord, wilt thou hear a sinner's plea, I find, indeed, they're with me still, Hail! brother Banks, thou poor despised one, Ere worlds were made, or nature drew its breath, May God the Spirit with his mighty power, To preach his grace and love that sav'd thy precious soul; To preach his power, that did the waves control, Who dare condemn, 'tis God that justifies : Who sings the loudest song, among the blood bought host? But he to whom his dearest Lord forgives the mos*? A few more smiles from him that died thy soul to "THE ROD OF THE WICKED SHALL NOT REST UPON THE LOT OF THE RIGHTEOUS." To the Church and Congregation meeting for worship at Crosby-row, Southwark BELOVED IN THE LORD, I RECEIVED While in the country a request to publish the substance of a discourse which the Lord enabled me to deliver on the first Lord's-day in March; but that is impossible: I am constrained to present you with a brief outline of a discourse from the third verse of the 125th Psalm-"The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth his hand unto iniquity." After some days of inward darkness, and many fears arising out of temporal circumstances, these words came to me with a fulness and richness I can hardly express. I have felt moved to give you this little fragment, hoping it may be made a blessing to you. Moreover I have found that in many parts of the country where the people of God are not favoured with a living ministry they ofttimes get comfort and encouragement in the public reading of such discourses as the Lord has enabled some of his faithful servants to preach and to publish. It is a fact, that believers in Jesus are known to walk many miles from distant and obscure parts of the country only to hear a gospel sermon read. May our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be pleased, by the anointing of the Holy Ghost, to bless the following to many hungry souls; and to him shall all the praise be given. "The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous." This is surely, a most glorious promise. Believer in Jesus! may you be able to weigh well the contents of this word; and by faith to realise your interest in it! First-You will notice this promise has character in it—the Righteous and the Wicked. Secondly-It speaks of an implied authority-" The rod of the wicked." Fourthly-An implied permission-The rod of the wicked may touch, may scourge, may much afflict-but shall not rest on the righteous. Fifthly There is an implied precaution-lest the righteous put forth his hands unto iniquity. First-Here are characters: the wicked and the righteous. There are some solemn contrasts in God's word, whereby the distinct characters of the two are thrown out. 1-"He will keep the feet of his saints; and the wicked shall be silent in darkness." God's elect shall be raised up, their feet set upon the Rock, their steps ordained, their ways preserved. He will keep the feet: the heart may be entangled, the affections ensnared for a time; but the saint's standing in Christ VOL. II. PART XV. shall be for ever; while the wicked shall lay in the stillness of death, in the awful weakness of sin; in the silent grave and filthiness of their natural state! neither praying to, nor praising a triune God. 2. Such as do wickedly against the covenant, shall satan corrupt by flatteries; but the people that do know their God, shall be strong and do exploits. Every unregenerated professor-every self-righteous, and presumptuous professor, is doing wickedly against the covenant. What is it to do wickedly against the covenant? A man that wants to add something to the covenant: to bring something to the work of Christ-he does wickedly against the covenant. A man that professes to espouse the cause-to believe the gospel-to embrace the ordinances of Christ, and yet goes on to live in open sins, or in secret sins, he does wickedly against the covenant. A man that preaches the truths of the cross and the covenant without any living faith, or manifestation of interest in them, or spiritual likeness to them; such a man doth wickedly against the covenant. "But the people that do know their God"-Oh, what an expression is that! "The people that do know their God"—this knowledge lays in the communication of what a covenant God in Three Persons is to the people. God is light, and he is light in them; God is life, and he is life in them; God is love, and he is love in them; he gives them life to live spiritually; and light to see spiritually, and love to love spiritually. Each person in the Trinity bestows a trinity of blessings. In God they have life, light, and love. In Christ they have peace by his blood; justification by his righteousness, and access unto God by his intercession. In the Holy Ghost, they have faith, hope, and perserevance. Faith purifies: hope encourages: perseverance strengthens. These "shall be strong, and do exploits"—while the wicked shall be flattered, deluded, and destroyed. II. In the text you have an implied authority-"The rod of the wicked." It is the wicked that are in authority, as Pharoah was over Israel; Nebuchadnezzar had power over the three Hebrew children; Darius had power over Daniel; Herod laid hold of John, cast him into prison, and took off his head. In what dreadful scenes has this authority been manifest! through the permitted power of the devil, wicked men have ruled over, and persecuted the saints of God to an awful extent. It is so now, although persecution for Christ's sake, has nearly fallen asleep, yet, still, in wicked ministers, in wicked men, in wicked lusts, and in wicked bodies, there is an unholy power against the saints. The church and people of God have always been a poor, despised, low, mean part of the world. Men are apt to look with contempt upon the Gospel kingdom;-and the flesh looks upon grace as an intruder; flesh says to grace, "What do you want here ?" and grace sometimes seems afraid of its existence. III.-The text supposes a possession, "The lot of the Righteous." What is the peculiar lot of the Righteous? What not the lot of the Righteous? Fatal delusions are not: it is not possible finally to deceive God's elect. Eternal destruction is not-"For they shall never perish." Everlasting misery is not-for they shall dwell with God in endless bliss. The word lot in the text means" a choice portion"-a pre-determined and well appointed inheritance: something set apart expressly for them--and so secured as never to be violated or wrested from them, or them from it. What then, is the lot of the righteous? It is a perfect lot :-Seven-fold in its constitution. 1. The fulness of the Godhead-2. The glory of Christ's person3. The work of the Holy Ghost-4. The mysteries of the gospel kingdom5. A meetness for immortal glory-6. Security and safety in the article of death-7. An abundant entrance into the blissful presence of God and of the Lamb. 66 Oh, yes, this is a choice, a pre-determined, a well-appointed portion. Look at its many parts separately.-1. The fulness of the Godhead bodily. That is, the love and mercy, the grace and power of God, is our portion: this is the promise "I will take you to me for a people; and I will be to you a God." They shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US." In his love, mercy, justice, holiness and power, God is with us; and is the foundation of our heavenly lot. 2. The person of Christ-The husband is the glory, the comfort, the nourisher, the refuge, of the wife. So is Christ, the glory, the comfort, the nourisher, the refuge of the church. All he is, and has, is her's: his holy person, his healing blood, his justifying righteousness, his loving heart, his sovereign arm, his pleading and prevailing lips, his lovely mouth, all are her's. He is her lot. 3. The work of the Holy Ghost. Quickening grace to live; repenting grace to sorrow and to turn from sin; praying grace to cry; believing grace to lay hold on Christ: all this is in the lot of the righteous. 4. The mysteries of the gospel kingdom-" Unto the righteous it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom." Predestination unto life, election in, and union to Christ; redemption by him, and glory with him. 5. Meetness for glory, that is a being crucified to the world; dead to the world; and alive unto God; longing for God; loving the holiness and peace of God. This is peculiarly the experimental lot of the righteous. 6. Deliverance from the sting of death; preservation in the article of death: a safe passage through the Jordan of death. Oh, what a lot it is. 7. An abundant entrance-He will present the church unto himself with a full and happy welcome. In winding up, notice an implied permission-" The lot of the wicked shall not rest." The rod of the wicked did touch, did afflict, did crucify the person of Christ:-It has and does afflict the persons of his people:-But the hidden inheritance it can never destroy. It can never so rest upon any attribute of God as to destroy it. No, he shall reign until all enemies are under his feet. "The rod of the wicked!" What can it do? It may cast Joseph into the pit, and take him down into Egypt; but God himself will govern the rod. It may ensnare David; it may overcome Peter; it may bring strong temptations and bitter persecutions upon a poor coming sinner; but it can never rest upon the lot of the Righteous. No people on the face of the earth are more tried, more afflicted, more distressed, and filled with harassing fears, than are the people of God. As with Job, and with Paul, they are sometimes called "to suffer the loss of all things”—all earthly comforts, and all spiritual mercies, are frequently taken away by the rod of the wicked; but the covenanted lot of the righteous remains. The rod of the wicked can never mar the righteousness of Christ-it can never impoverish the blood of Christ-it can never resist the intercession of Christ-it can never eclipse the glory of Christ-it can never dissolve the union of the church to Christ-it can never stop the work of the Holy Ghost.-Life in the soulrepentance in the heart-faith in the mind, can never be destroyed; apparently they may be lost, but destroyed they cannot be. It can never bring back the sting of death, nor close the doors of sovereign mercy and electing love against the chosen saints of God. Finally-An implied precaution: "Lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity." But for the completeness of this lot, and the absoluteness of this promise, the whole election of grace would bring ruin upon their own heads -but God has prevented it-"The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous." Beloved, the wicked may have, and, for a time, may exercise, the rod of authority and power, so as to afflict the poor saints and servants of God: but the lot of the righteous is hidden-safely hidden, in the fulness, of God in the person of Christ, and in the immortal glories of that upper and better world, where neither moth nor rust can corrupt; where thieves cannot break through nor steal. Your's to serve in the Gospel, C. W. BANKS. 6, Pagoda-terrace, Bermondsey-new-road, Southwark. |