THE SLAUGHTERED FLOCK FED.

"I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock."-Zech. xi. 7.

SUCH is the gross darkness that envelopes the mind of all Adam's posterity, as born into this sinful world, that it defies all language fully to describe. True it is, that many of them are, if I may be allowed the expression, very keen-sighted in natural things, they are endowed with a capacious understanding (which is the gift of God), and this obtains for them the flimsy applause of their fellow creatures; but at the same time, the unequalled mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are shrouded from their penetration. Such characters as these, feel not a little agitated if they are told, by one who has a genuine experience of christianity, that the one thing needful is concealed from their view. Thousands there are, who think that they have attained to a correct knowledge of the true import of divine revelation, yet remain as ignorant of the same, as those who never heard the proclamation of the gospel sound. I make no reserve, but unflinchingly declare that none but the living members of Christ's mystical body, can know anything truly, relative to experiJune, 1839.

mental religion: the way which God the Holy Ghost takes in shewing sinners their lapsed condition, is confined to them; and it is very obvious, that all his teachings are in unison with the volume of inspiration.

The portion of holy writ at the head of this paper, contains some of the secrets which I have hinted at above; and in humble dependence on divine assistance, I will first notice the flock mentioned in the text. The term flock in scripture is often put for believers in Christ (see 1 Peter v. 2. Acts xx. 28); they are called " a little flock" (Luke xii. 32), a chosen flock," &c. We have a true description of them in Ezekiel's prophecy; they are called by the Lord a diseased flock," a scattered flock," sickly flock," a wounded flock," &c.

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and after pronouncing some heavy judgments against certain characters who had presumed to take upon them the office of shepherds, he (the Lord) pledged his word that he would preside over them, and feed them himself; moreover he testifies, that his vigilant eye is continually upon them for good, and that no affliction should ever befall them, but what should ultimately work together for their happiness. If, dear reader, you want further confirmation of

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the goodness of God to his flock, as recorded in the scriptures of truth, you will find a most authentic account relative to the same in Ezek. xxxiv. 15, 16, which is very consoling to the chosen flock of God, as the Holy Ghost seals it upon the heart: it is thus written, "I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord; I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken," &c. and to crown the whole, in the close of the chapter the Holy Ghost has it thus-" And ye, my flock, the flock of my pasture are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord."

2. I will endeavour to shew what we are to understand by the Lord's flock being slaughtered before they are fed: also to shew, that as literal sheep are first bound before they are killed, so are the sheep of Christ. I will endeavour also to point out the spiritual slaughter-house, and notice the instrument that slays the flock, and make some few remarks relative to the very acute pains they feel when dying, &c. You know, beloved, that the word slaughter signifies to deprive of life, &c.; but to illustrate this part of the subject, I will refer you to the language of one who had a very correct knowledge of this mystery, I was alive (mark that, alive) without the law once, but when the commandment came (with irresistible power to the heart), sin revived and I died; and the commandment which was ordained unto life (if man could have kept it), I found to be unto death, for sin taking occasion by the commandment deceived me, and by it slew me,' Rom. vii. 9, 10, 11. Thus, brethren, in this ever memorable portion of God's word, we have a most striking proof of the necessity of his slaying his sheep before he feeds them with spiritual food. Sheep, when they fall into the hands of the slayer, struggle hard for liberty, but to no purpose; they sensibly feel the

cords that bind them, and not the least lenity is shewn by the executioner and thus it is if we speak spiritually; when the law by the Spirit is exhibited to view in the elect sinner's conscience, the pangs that then tear the heart are better felt than

described, a spirit of bondage is sorely felt, and whilst the sea of indwelling sin (if I may be allowed thus to call it) is running mountains high, and the waves of corruption lifting up their heads, and Satan pouring in his fiery darts into the soul, the sinner being dreadfully alarmed would fain do something that would compensate infinite justice; but alas! it is to no purpose. I am sure that I can never describe one thousandth part of what I felt when I was here. The spiritual slaughter-house is the darkness that envelopes the mind. Love to a doing covenant, or if you please love to our own doings, in seeking salvation by the deeds of the law, is the neck that holds all the bond-children to that covenant. And here all the Lord's flock are held, whilst living under satanic influence. And the sword of justice is the instrument that cuts, if I may so speak, this neck in twain; and then, and not until then does the sinner die, or give up seeking eternal life from what his puny hands can do. There is plenty of room for expansion here, but the limits of this paper will not allow me to enlarge. This is what I understand by the flock being slaughtered before they are fed. The sinner knows that the law cannot administer the smallest relief, any more than a dead husband can help a surviving wife: Job said to God, "Thou hast taken me by my neck and shaken me to pieces," &c. Joh xvi, 12.

O ye that know what these things mean,
O was it not a gloomy scene,
When Justice stood in open view,
Did it not pierce you through and through?
O was it not a painful death,
When you gave up your dying breath,
Of seeking life by Sinai's law,
Which is most pure, without a flaw ?

3. I come now to make a few remarks upon that sweet expression recorded in the passage of scripture under consideration. I will (said God) feed the flock, even you O poor of the flock." Poor indeed they are that are taught at this school, they feel their poverty of spirit; wounded they are, and want healing; weak they are, and stand in need of spiritual strength; ignorant, and feel the need of heavenly wisdom; sickly they are, and long for spiritual cordials; tempted they are, and want the Lord to bruise Satan under their feet; naked they are, and want a righteousness that far exceeds their own, for that they know is but filthy rags; forsaken they are, that is they. are in a widowhood state, their first husband is dead, or in other words, they are dead to the law (Rom. vii. 4), and long to be sensibly united to Christ; hungry they are, and the Lord has promised to feed them; which proves that his everlasting love was and is intensely set upon them; which is an eternal truth-he chose them in the indestructible person of their great representative, namely the Lord Jesus, and in him he has deposited all that his slaughtered flock

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shall stand in need of for time and to all eternity, for it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; and out of his fulness have we received, and grace for grace,' John i. 16.

When this flock is conducted by the heavenly Agent, namely the Lord the Spirit, into our heavenly Father's banqueting house (Song ii. 4), they are filled with great astonishment at what by faith they behold; the bleeding, dying, and all-conquering Lamb is exhibited to their view, and while they gaze upon the scars of honour that crown his immortal brow, their souls are filled with wonder, love, and praise. There they see rich fruits in abundance that are most delicious to the taste, they are indulged to feast upon the fatted calf (Luke xv. 23).

They have likewise the high privilege of being admitted into the King's presence, and to hold sweet fellowship with him (1 John i. 3). This is what at one time they did not expect, but they are told for their encouragement, that none but self-condemned, guilty sinners, can rightly appreciate the expiating blood of our great High Priest, and none but those whose hearts have been renewed by the omnipotent power of God, can ever feel as they do. Such glad tidings as these, under the sweet teachings and holy anointings of God the Holy Ghost,

Exhilarate and warm their hearts,
When God his love to them imparts,
Aud at his feet they fall;

The poor, the halt, the weak, the lame,
Shout forth the praises of his name,
And crown him Lord of all!

Great Wakering, Essex. W. WESTHORP.

RECOLLECTIONS OF THE LATE REV. W. HUNTINGTON.

BY A MEMBER OF HIS CHURCH.

(Continued from page 108.)

THE following has I believe been published before, but as it is not in of the editions of Mr. Huntingany ton's works, and very little known, I think to many of your readers it will be interesting.

Dear Madam,

I received your's, which I suppose was written from the country of Moab, as the pleasing name of Naomi is laid aside, and that of Mara adopted. It appears to me, that God intends to make thee and me experimentally acquainted with his sovereignty. He has taken away all thy independency, and brought thee into this extreme poverty, that he may display the mysteries of his providence, and likewise give thee an opportunity of trying thy interest with him, and the strength of thy faith. Thou hast read of my trials, and of the Lord's kind dealings with me;

and it appears as if thou must tread in the footsteps of thy poor father. I know it is hard to flesh and blood, and thy present situation is singularly deplorable-no money, husband no employ, pregnant, and destitute of every necessary all these things, saith unbelief, are against thee. But thou art not in a worse case than the virgin Mary was! for if thou hast a place and every necessary yet to seek, so had she there was no room for her in the inn, she was obliged to put up with a stable: the manger was the cradle, and swaddling clothes must serve instead of a complete set of child-bed linen. There were no fortune-tellers to stick the pincushion, nor do we read of any ladies of quality attending the groaning. God had put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted one of low degree; but if carnal reason had been judge in this matter, she would have said, 'Poor exaltation this!' But we know that the dignity of the saints centres in their God; and their honour and comfort consists in a saving knowledge of him, and of the blessings he has conferred on them. But you see providence interfered wonderfully on Mary's behalf, for though the Jews lodged the Lord of life in the manger, yet the wise men of the east adored and worshipped him! and no wonder, when he was to be the light of the Gentiles, and the salvation of the ends of the earth. I believe poor Mary was almost, if not altogether as poor at that time, as thou art now; but God sent her a supply by the wise men-they offered gold, frankincense, and myrrh—and that served to defray the expenses of Joseph and Mary into Egypt, and to keep them there, until Herod had filled up the measure of his iniquity, by the destruction of Rachel's infant progeny, for which cruel slaughter she is represented as weeping, and refusing to be comforted: and no wonder, when she who had her anxiety for children so long crossed with barren

ness, should have such a destruction come on the very fruit that she had begged of God; just as if the blessings that God gives to faith, are to be nothing but sport for the children of the devil. But God tells her to refrain her voice from weeping, and her eyes from tears, for her work [of bringing forth, nursing and swaddling] should be rewarded, that her children should come again from the land of the enemy; for there was hope in her end, that her children should come again to their own border. If Rachel is represented as weeping at the slaughter of her little ones, surely she must rejoice much more to see two thousand grand children (from the son of her sorrow) arrive in hea

ven at once.

Give not way to unbelief; I tell thee in the name of the Lord, that he will provide for thee. He has promised to bring to the birth, and to give strength to bring forth; he has done this already for thee in a spiritual birth, and as the God of providence, he will do the same in a natural one, for no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. I have had a thought of printing those little manuscripts that you sent me, as I think they might contribute a little to your present relief, but the poetry wants a little mending; I have therefore enclosed the poem on the precious stones of Aaron's breast-plate, and desire you to correct it: I see no cause why it should be ashamed to shew its head before any female performeress or performance that I have seen in my days. The experience and judgment that God has given you, and the sweet communion and fellowship that he has indulged you with, has brought your soul nearer the equinoctial of the Sun of Righteousness, by many degrees, than any I have read of, except those in the Bible. Some indeed of our female writers, have given us a few more human flourishes and empty expressions than you have

done, which serve to obscure the soul-barrenness of the author from the eye of the reader. Sound divinity, flowing from the experience and enjoyment of it, though it runs in rugged verse, is better than all the human flourishes and tinkling sounds, that are sent into the world by moon blind souls, who never get one degree from the frigid zone. I expect that you will signify your pleasure in your next, and let it not be dated from the country of Moab; for the Lord shall recompense thy work, and a full reward shall be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. Thou hast got Christ in hand, and heaven in hope, and both secured by an inviolable oath, and an immutable promise; and depend upon it, that heaven and earth shall end in a shadow, before one jot or tittle of truth shall move from the eternal mind, or fail an heir of promise. The Lord forbid that I should sin against God in ceasing to pray for you; you have an interest in my poor petitions, and in my best wishes. And in the bonds of the gospel I remain, dear Madam, your affectionate father in Christ, and willing servant for his sake,

WILLIAM HUNTINGTON. Winchester Row, May 10, 1787.

One of the earliest friends of Mr. Huntington, the late Mr Chapman, a market-gardener of Petersham, near Richmond, had fitted up a room purposely for his accommodation when preaching in that neighbourhood: the following lines were penned by Mr. Huntington upon the occasion.

Kind christian, hear thy simple doom
Before you use the prophet's room;
Dare not defile this place with sin,
And you are kindly welcomed in.

Art thou to Christ the Saviour wed?
Then use the consecrated bed;
His tender care thy soul will keep,
And guard thee while composed in sleep.
This room, erected on the wall,
Receives the saints of heavenly call;

'Twas furnished by the Shunamite,
For those who in the Lord delight.

The bed, a type of gospel rest,
With which the saints are sweetly blest;
The pillow shews the Saviour's arm,
On which we rest secure from harm.
The curtains which preserve from cold,
The Saviour's mystic robe unfold;
This vest by gospel faith is seen,
From wrath reveal'd the only screen.

The tester or the canopy

Proclaims the Covert now on high;
The helmet hope in precious blood,
That shelters from the wrath of God.
The table doth the heart proclaim,
On which God writes his law and name;
Whene'er thy hand this table move,
Reflect thy heart is prone to rove.

The candlestick, the church or host,
The dwelling of the Holy Ghost;
The candle shews the soul of man;
The light 'presents the heavenly flame.
Whene'er thou put'st the candle out,
Remember darkness makes thee doubt;
And as it dies by mortal breath,
It shews a puff brings all to death.

The glass 'presents the righteous law,
In which we see each mortal flaw;
And as the glass is often us'd,
It shews the law is oft abus'd.

But when thou dost thyself adorn,
Think on the resurrection morn;
And as the glass reflects thy face,
So Christ adorns the chosen race.

When thou shalt use the lowly chair,
Remember thou art welcome here;
Free grace prepared the room and bed,
The whole was left by him that's dead.

Such lib'ral acts we must approve.
And leave a proof of gospel love;
This sum shall pay the whole affair,
The simple rent is-faithful prayer.

The two following extracts are from letters written by a friend in Buckinghamshire.

"I now sit down to inform you, that Mr. Huntington was at Wycombe on the 2nd instant, and preached from Rom. iv. 18. "Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be." He shewed