The Association of Historic Baptists

The Earthen Vessel

AHB Library — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:59:43 +0000

Preface

The Earthen Vessel is a 19th century magazine promoting the values of Strict and Particular Baptist Churches. Its 21 volumes comprise the complete set of monthly publications extending over a 20 year period (1845-65). The magazine was printed in London by the following publishers: (1) James Paul, 1846-55; (2) Banks, 1848-55, 1857-65; (3) Houlston & Stoneman, 1855-6; (4) Patridge, 1856-8; (5) G. J. Stevenson, 1859, 1862, 1864-5. The editor was Charles Waters Banks and by 1859 its circulation had reached to more than 8,000. The content included a variety of materials including theological essays, devotional articles, sermons, anecdotes, poetry, biographies, reviews, letters and reports on churches.

The following items are a selection of articles which appear in the second volume dated 1846. Each entry has been preserved without abridgment and its choice based upon perceived relevancy. It is hoped today’s reader will not only be informed on issues which confronted churches in the 19th century, but will also be challenged to consider these subjects in light of the Baptist witness in the 21st century.

AHB Library

1. Why, Tempted Soul, Complain?

AHB Library — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:58:57 +0000

Speak Ye Comfortably To Jerusalem

Dear Sir,

The few lines now sent were written after visiting two poor distressed aged females, who lived in a garret in Doctor’s Commons, and who complained much of the roughness of the path through which they were called to pass. On my second visit I read these verses to them, which, from their own statement, was made a blessing to them. They have long since been called into an eternal world, and though poor and destitute in this world, in temporal matters, they were rich in faith, and I have no doubt they are now singing the high praises of a covenant God—where all sorrow and sighing, is for ever done away.

Should these lines be deemed worthy of a place in your “Vessel,” they are at your service.

Yours, truly,

J. F. (1846)

Why, tempted soul, complain
Against thy Father, God?
Why gloomy thus remain,
Because thou feel’st his rod?
Shall not the Judge of all do well, 
Who snatched thee from the gates of hell?

He will not always chide,
Nor show a frowning face;
But own thee as his bride,
And cheer thee with his grace!
 Tis for thy good he treats thee thus,
And can’st thou think this path a cross?

This is the good old way
The saints of old did go,
And this must be thy way,
 If thou wouldst reach there too:
Dream not of flowery beds of ease,
Since some have passed through bloody seas.

What tho’ the road be hard,
And nature seems to shrink;
The God of Hosts thy guard,
He will not see thee sink:
 Stand fast, thou tempted soul, stand fast,
Thy God will cheer thy soul at last.

He faithful is, and true,
To all the chosen race;
And he will bring thee through
The furnace to his grace.
 Like gold is tried, he’ll try thy faith,
And thou shalt conquer by his death.

Why then, poor soul, complain?
And why give way to fear?
He knows what thou canst bear,
And thou shalt have no more.
For as thy day thy strength shall be,
And thou shalt his salvation see.

What though thy faith seem small,
And much beset with fears:
His grace shall sweeten all,
And drive away thy cares.
“One look from me would cheer thy heart,
And I will grace to thee impart.”

Lord! ’tis enough! my soul’s at rest,
And I shall see thy face;
For thou hast said my heart thou’lt cheer,
And keep me by thy grace.
Blow on ye winds, ye tempests roar,
Since Jesus smiles, I’ll fear no more.

When he has tried my faith,
I shall as gold come forth;
For Jesus to me saith,
 I will thy soul support.
Come sickness, sorrow, pain, or death,
Ye cannot touch my soul, ’tis safe.

Lord, give me patience then,
To wait thy sovereign will;
Whatever trials may come,
Oh, that I may be still; 
And wait, and watch thy hand, my God,
And trace thy footsteps alI the road.

Then shall my heart rejoice,
Tho’ rough may be the way:
If I can hear thy voice
Behind me thus to say: 
“This is the way, press onward still,
Until you reach yon heavenly hill.

“Where all my chosen sheep
In robes of victory shine,
They bow before my feet,
I saved them, they are mine!
Without thee they are not complete,
For thou must worship near my feet.

A few more weary hours,
Before thou reach thy home,
Then shout with all thy powers,
Thy Lord will surely come!
For thou shalt conquer through his blood,
And he will bring thee home to God.

Farewell, all earthly friends,
My soul is on the wing;
I see my Jesus stands,
My soul to welcome in:
I mount above all earthly joys, 
To sing my dear Redeemer’s praise.

April, 1827. J. F.

2. The Believer’s Two-Fold Legacy: Grace and Glory

AHB Library — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:57:29 +0000

Grace! What a great word is this! The eternal favor of the Eternal God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, without fluctuation, variation or change; in which divine favor, God’s people everlastingly stand; nor can sin, death or hell, get them out. And when this great and glorious gift is bestowed on its elect objects, instead of tending to what is called Antinomianism, it leads to soul-astonishment; clothes its unworthy recipient with humility; bringing him, or her, to wonder why, or wherefore, God should have been thus gracious to them while so many are passed by.

This amazing gift—grace—is converting, consoling, and confirming. “Except, (says Christ,) ye are converted, and become as little children, ye shall, in no wise, enter into the kingdom of heaven.” What is conversion? Being turned from one thing to, or into another; a being made to differ from what we once were, and what thousand still are; turned from darkness to light, from the power of satan unto God; from the love and practice of sin to a delight in, and love to holiness, from the ways of the world to the ways of the Lord; from death to life; from self to Christ; from carnality to spirituality; from the pursuit of the pleasures of a dying world, to the pursuit of peace, by and through the blood of Christ; from all that is earthly, to all that is heavenly; from all, that is here, to all that is hereafter. This, then, is one of the glorious effects of grace, when given of God. It is, also, consoling grace.

Truly, many are the afflictions, trials, crosses, losses, difficulties, exercises, and sorrows of the heaven-born, and heaven bound soul; he learns by deep and solemn experience, that through much tribulation he is to enter the kingdom, his destined port of holiness and happiness; he often eats the bread of adversity, and drinks the water of affliction: yet, has he “something secret sweetens all;” it is more grace given; and this he fully proves sufficient for him, according to the blessed promise; this, then, comforts his mind, affords him peace and joy, which none can know, but God and his own soul.

By continual communications of this consoling grace, he continues to hold on his way rejoicing in the grand declaration that “though a troop (of sins and sorrows, trials and temptations, doubts and fears, enemies within, and enemies without, men and devils) often overcome poor Gad, yet he shall overcome at the last, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”

Again, it is confirming grace; and he finds it is a good thing to have his heart established with grace; it works in him effectually, and confirms him in the great and glorious doctrines of the gospel; in the faith of the great mystery of the Trinity of Persons; in the undivided essence of the Godhead; in the decrees and purposes of God; in the absolute certainty of the fulfilment of all the promises; in the execution of every awful denunciation against the wicked, or reprobate world; in the sure protection of the church of God, from the final injury of every foe; in her’s and his ultimate victory over all enemies, and final admission into the kingdom above, to sit with Christ on his throne, and to go out no more forever; wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace (that is our great desire,) whereby we may serve God, acceptably with reverence and godly fear: and no man can serve him so, that is destitute of this grace.

Secondly, Glory; “he will give grace and glory.” O, matchless gift! this is God’s prerogative alone; having the one, the other is absolutely sure; the connection is God’s, and quite indissoluble; having not the one, (whatever else a man may have,) he will never have Glory, the one is indispensably necessary for, and essential to, the other, but the mercy is that both are gifts; “not of works, lest any man should boast.” Glory, what is it? Who can tell? Not so much is said of it in God’s word, as the immortal soul shall eternally realise in full fruition. Confine it for a moment to two things, viz., the glory of God in the soul, and the soul in the glory of God; his image, his holiness, his peace, his perfection, his pleasure, his power, his praise, his purity, his person in the soul, his brightness and blessedness, filling the soul with dazzling splendour, and perfect beauty; his love without the least interruption reigning through all the soul, filling it with vast delight and boundless joy; his smile filling the soul with ten thousand times ten thousand pleasures, and the light of his glorious countenance shining on and in it, in such high perfection as would eclipse ten million suns in their meridian splendour.

Again, the soul in the glory of God; the redeemed, blood-washed, grace-saved disembodied soul wafted home by angels, and ushered into the presence of God with an abundant entrance; clothed in a saviour’s imputed righteousness, and pronounced all fair. “Where is he?” Job says. We answer, In the Glory of God in heaven, where God is glorious in holiness, where the glorious sun (Christ) everlastingly shines, filling all the regions of bliss with uninterrupted peace and pleasure: where there shall be no night, no darkness, no devil, no death. Sorrow, and sighing quit those glorious regions; no inhabitant shall ever be sick; here the soul shall and does realise fulness of joy, and the undisturbed pleasures of peace, pardon, and praise for evermore. Yea, it is filled with all the fulness of God, and thus absorbed in everlasting delight.

“O, glorious hour, O blest abode,
I shall be near, and like my God;
And flesh and sin no more control,
The sacred pleasures of my soul.”

Watts.

The Lord will give Grace and Glory. Happy is that people who are called by grace even now, yet shall they be much more happy when crowned with everlasting glory.

T. Stringer.

3. Heaviness of Heart

AHB Library — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:56:17 +0000

“Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion!”

“Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh him glad.”—Prov. 12:25

I believe all natural men are the subject of heaviness in the heart, and sadness of heart, at times, to a greater or less degree, produced by disappointment and vexation, blasted hopes and blighted affections; and I believe that all natural men are, at times the subjects of gladness, produced by worldly advantages, prosperous circumstances, and smiling prospects; but the diversity of feeling expressed in the above words of the wise man contain something more than nature can produce—more than nature, sense and reason can understand; or in any way enter into. But the manifested elect have it revealed to them by the Holy Spirit, to and in the heart feelingly, and not in the head. I am sure that a view of the holiness and majesty of Jehovah, and a sight of our sinnership, will bring heaviness into the heart.

The feeling of standing before a God of such infinite purity, whose eyes are as a flame of fire, searching the innermost parts of the belly, discovering the hidden things of darkness, and bringing to light the gloomy shadow of death—manifesting sins long forgot, and causing them to fall on the conscience as a huge load—this will produce heaviness of such a nature as no man or angel can in any measure alleviate; God himself must do this deed. This heaviness will have its effects; it will cause the heart to stoop; in this is seen the grace of faith working beneath the burden of sin, causing the individual to abhor himself and his sins most heartily, to sink low in his own feelings, and to cry, “God be merciful to me a sinner,” at the feet of Jesus, feeling himself most unworthy of hope, and in his soul acknowledging the justice of God. But though faith thus works, it is imperceptible to the possessor, consequently he is in heaviness, he does not know that he is a fit subject for mercy, he does not know but he shall be sent to hell, he feels that he cannot pray (though he prays often), he cannot believe Christ will save him, this makes him stoop, indeed, not only in his natural feeling, but before God; he will begin to sit lower and lower with his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope, it is not “will he be saved?” but “can he be saved?” It is not “what creed shall he take up so as to go on comfortably in the world,” but “is there mercy for my soul?” Will God look upon one so vile as me? Will he hear me? Will he bless me? This is praying from necessity; from the heart, and not from a creed in the head: this praying, God will hear, and does hear, and will answer, and does answer in his own time. God suffers his people to continue crying and praying sometimes a long season before he answers them; thus he more effectually empties them, and causes them, and causes their hearts to faint and to sicken, till at length a good word comes which fully recompenses them for waiting. It makes them glad in the Lord while they hear him say, “Eat, oh, friends, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.” The blood of Christ—the wine of the kingdom makes glad the heart, (the oil), the unctuous powers of the ever blessed Spirit maketh his face to shine, and (the gospel bread) the body of Christ, fed on by Faith strengthens his heart—he is melted down to less than nothing; and, as before he wept for sorrow of heart, so now he weeps for joy of heart. But I know that the non-elect experiences heaviness of heart, and that of a deep nature: they sometimes see the majesty of God, and the holiness of God; and they see themselves and feel themselves sinners; and they believe they shall go to hell, and they may go from outward sin for the time. But does heaviness make the heart stoop? Yes, it does make them stoop very low; so that they fear to be alone. But it does not make them stoop before God, so as to be humbled? No; they hate him more and more; and let them but get rid of hell, and they will show how heartily they love sin, if they can but brand their consciences with “no hell,” they will try to dethrone Jehovah himself with their tongue and pen; not only with the heart.

Reader, to which do you and I belong?

Another thing which will produce heaviness in the heart, is a sight and feeling sense of the filthiness and scum of the heart, so depraved, that it is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: this is called, in Ezekiel 8th, the chambers of imagery, in which dwells every lust and sin that one can read of, hear of, or imagine, and a thousand times more murders, adulteries, blasphemies, and a host beside, (see Mark 7th). These things are there portrayed, and there live and rage; they are not there by the infusion of satan now and then, but that is their residence—the heart of man. Now, when the Christian begins to feel these things raging and boiling up in his heart, it will bring him to a great stand in his feelings, and he will find and feel as Mr. Hart says he did—

“Swarms of ill thoughts their bane diffuse,
Proud, envious, false, unclean;
And ev’ry ransack’d corner shews,
Some unsuspected sin.

His feeble faith gives way to doubt,
His spirit yields to fear;
Struck with the sight, he’ll straight cry out—
“Can ever God dwell here?”

I know it was so with me; I did not know what would become of me; I thought I should be left to fall into open sin, and disgrace his cause: and indeed my feet did almost slip, I went to the edge of the pit, another inch and I must have gone. Hope seemed almost expired, I could see nothing but hell before my eyes, life was a burden, I did not know what to do; I wandered about in great heaviness, as full of all manner of sin as I could hold without running over, satan distressing me sorely, sometimes stirring the utmost filth, sometimes blowing on the coals of pride, most abominably telling me I should shine amongst God’ s saints if I minded and looked very sanctified; and I was fool enough to look in the glass one day to see if I looked sanctified, though, I must confess, I am no judge of sanctification in the face; oh, how dreadful is the human heart? At another time he would say I was a hypocrite and reprobate, therefore I should go to hell, whether moral or not, provoking me to the sins most suiting my carnal taste. But I hated sin, and I groaned to be kept from it, and the Lord kept me outwardly. At other times he sorely pressed me to self-destruction; oh, the mercy of God! how did he shew himself a sovereign in my case—preserving me when the razor was opened, when my feet was at the waters’ edge on the awful business. One place especially, (I shall never forget it,) for in two years after, satan had his ends with two in the same spot. Oh! These are solemn moments to my soul; these brought perverseness in my soul, and they made me stoop before God. They made me sometimes in agony of mind, they made me wrestle before God for internal evidences—a word from his mouth, with power to my heart. Nor did the Lord deny me; but he made me stay his time. I know that the hell of sin felt within, as I felt it, made me hate it a thousand time more than I did before; I felt it, and so it always will; it will make the soul pose the least drop of consolation as a jewel, it will crucify him to the world and the world to him—he will seek for ministers who preach expmentaly tbe whole truth, and when he finds them he will love them, and though their remarks may often wound him, yet there he will go, for he is persuaded that these men are the (only) servants of the Mout High God. But the Lord will not leave his people altogether without a witness, as I said, be heard me, so will he hear others; sometimes by dropping a secret promise into their souls, sometimes in hearing according to his own plan and purpose: these may not last long—they make the soul glad while they do last; and though they often after wards fear it was all a delusion—they would not be without these things for all the world when their soul was alive to God, they would rather have five minutes communion with God that a thousand pounds. But the world often hangs upon them, and often spiritual things lose their weight with them, so that they often call in question all that they have felt; they would believe but fears prevail; they see not their signs, and they mourn for the light of God’s face, and are in heaviness; this proves they love him, for if they did not love him they would not mourn his departure, nor lie in heaviness when they see him not.

Jabez.

Particular Redemption

AHB Library — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:33:34 +0000

Kevin Price sits on the committee of the Strict Baptist Historical Society. He has also served as a pastor for more than thirty years and has enjoyed an itinerate ministry in both the United Kingdom and the United States. His commitment to the historic values of the Strict Baptists has secured for many congregations a stedfast voice of support and encouragement.

Is Jesus Christ merely a potential Saviour, or is He a certain Saviour? Did He die to make redemption possible to all sinners, or did He die to secure redemption particularly for those whom the Father has given Him? The answers to these questions strike at the heart of the Gospel message. This lecture begins with an historical overview of the “Doctrines of Grace”, and then proceeds to open the Scriptures with more than a dozen references affirming the truth.

A Heart Experience

AHB Library — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:16:17 +0000

Kevin Price sits on the committee on the Strict Baptist Historical Society. He has also served as a pastor for more than thirty years and has enjoyed an itinerate ministry in both the United Kingdom and the United States. His commitment to the historic values of the Strict Baptists has secured for many congregations a stedfast voice of support and encouragement.

While creeds and confessions have their place in the life of a Christian, they are insufficient to secure for the believer a relationship with God. Luke 24 highlights a four-fold ‘heart experience’ that should characterize the life of every child of God.

Authorised Version: Safeguard of the Gospel – Part 1

AHB Library — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:49:25 +0000

Dr. David Allen served as pastor of the Free Baptist Church, Belvedere, Kent from 1983 to 1990. He has subsequently served as a Deputation Speaker for the Trinitarian Bible Society from 2000 to present. He is a Senior Speaker with TBS and highly esteemed for his defense of the Gospel as preserved in the Authorised Version.

“What think ye of Christ?” This is the question with which Jesus confronted the Pharisees and it is the subject which comprises Dr. Allen’s first challenge on why the Authorised Version remains the most reliable English translation of the Bible today.

Authorised Version: Safeguard of the Gospel – Part 2

AHB Library — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:48:51 +0000

This is the second study on why the Authorised Version remains the most reliable English translation of the Bible today.

Strengthening the Bonds of Brotherhood

Jared Smith — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:34:14 +0000

An exposition of 1 Thessalonians 5:14,15.

The Apostle Paul uses the term “brethren” fourteen times with reference to the recipients of his letter. In this study, the letter as a whole is first expounded, providing a backdrop for the precepts announced in the text. The text itself is then unfolded with special emphasis on the peacefulness and faithfulness each believer is to demonstrate in his relationship with others. Encompassing the whole subject of Christian brotherhood is the Sovereign Grace of God that not only ushers a sinner into fellowship with Himself, but also sustains the saint in his relationship with the brethren.

Earnestly Contending for the Faith

Jared Smith — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:16:17 +0000

An exposition of Jude 1-25.

Two of the greatest challenges facing any church is the persecution brought against her by oppressors, and the perversion of truth wrought within her by deceptive members. It is Jude’s purpose to deal with the latter problem, wherein he provides a helpful guide in not only identifying the true Christian, but also exposing false professors. This study seeks to challenge the testimony of every professing believer, by bringing all claims to Christ under the scrutiny of His Sovereign Grace.