GENERAL COMMITTEE. THE monthly meeting was held at Sister English's, No. 412, New Cross Road, Deptford, on Monday, Aug. 9th. Present:-The President, Brothers Cuthbertson, Coman, Durley, J. Carter, Jameson, Sims, and Creswell. Brother Cuthbertson opened the meeting with prayer. The minutes were read and confirmed. The General Secretary was reelected for the ensuing year on the usual terms. Some matters arising out of the minutes were considered, and suitable action taken thereon. The subject of ways and means was further postponed. The Secretary reported the deaths of three brethren. One had been upon the funds 410 weeks. Another, aged thirty-eight, was killed at the Haydock colliery explosion. There were fifty-six upon the sick list, and ninety-five were annuitants. The total received from branches was £456 16s. 6d., the total paid to them, £380 6s. 5d. The following cases were then considered and determined :- Brother A. C., of L., aged 78, a preacher for 56 years, described as suffering from paralysis, with no income or earnings, except a small pension from the muster roll; is a widower; has four children grown up; has been chiefly supported by his family. It was ordered that he have three shillings per week. Brother G. B., of S., aged 73, a preacher for 47 years, has no income, nor earnings, nor wife, has seven children who have helped him during the last four years, and who hope to do so still as far as their means allow. It was resolved that he have four shillings per week from this date. Brother G. J., of D., aged 73, a preacher for 36 years, has no income from any source whatever; has been in two clubs, but both are broken up. His weekly labour produces on the average about 7s. He has a wife, aged 76, in delicate health. His seven children are married, and have large families to maintain. He suffers from rheumatism in his hands. It was resolved that he should have three shillings per week. An order was drawn on the treasurer for the payment of the publisher's account. Prayer was offered by Brother Coman, and the meeting was closed. The next monthly meeting will be held at Brother Gully's, 3, Montague Place, Poplar (near Poplar Church), on Wednesday, 8th Sept., at 5 p. m. DIED. June 26, 1869. John Crook, of Hinckley Circuit, aged 77. Claim £2. He died eminently peaceful, calmly resting his soul upon the atoning merits of Christ. He had been on the funds 410 weeks, and had received £82. Aug. 4, 1869. William Yeates, of Haydock, St. Helen's Circuit, aged 38. He died from burns, occasioned by fire damp in the Haydock Colliery. He stated before his death that if he had religion to seek, he could not have obtained it, his pains were so excruciating. He died in peace, June 13, 1869. Letitia Gayford, of Bawdeswell, Cawston Circuit, aged 70. Her husband relinquished his claim for funeral allowance, as the committee had just placed him on the superannuated list. She died happy in her Redeemer. July 3, 1869. Mrs. Garrett, of Newport Pagnell Circuit, aged 48. Claim £3. Her end was peace. CASH RECEIVED BY THE GENERAL TREASURER TO AUGUST 15, 1869. Holmfirth ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... York-Mr. Benjamin Wales, hm. £1 1s; Mr. Sherwood, hm. £1 1s; Mr. J. Hill, hm. £1 1s; Mr. Humphrey, hc. 10s 6d; less commission, 3s 6d Northampton 2nd—Mr. A. Hollowell, of Preston Deanery Kingswood-Mr. Butler, hm. £1 1s; Mrs. Butler, hm. £1 1s Nottingham-Richard Hall, Esq. Nottingham Park Launceston-John Dingley, Esq. 7s 6d; Edward Pethybridge, Esq. 7s 6d Rugby ... ... ... ... ... Sunderland-R. Wright, Esq. hm. £1 1s; J. W. Wayman, 0 12 0 250 4 10 0 0 12 060 1 1 0 206 ... ... Wellington (Salop.) ... ... ... ... Downham-Mr. J. L. Bennett, hm. qrly. 5s 3d; ... ... Mr. J. ... ... ... ... ... Leeds-Charles Atkinson, Esq. hm. £1 1s; H. J. Mawson, ... ... ... Ashton-under-Lyne-Mr. John Taylor, 2 yrs. sub. 8s 8d; Mrs. G. Thompson, hm. £1 1s; less expenses, 5s 1 19 0 030 0 18 0 24 0 1 10 0 1 4 0 2 8. 0 Folkestone-Thomas Rigden, Esq. hm. £1; Henry Rigden, Sleaford-A thank-offering from Edward Johnson for his annuitant pay of 4s. per week ... Leeds-Collected by Bro. Jos. Cheetham as under: Mr. ... ... Stroud-Collected by Mrs. Peaty for the old Local Preachers ... ... Cromford-John Smedley, Esq. hm. £10; W. Sims, Esq. hm. £5; Mr. Wildgoose, hm. £1 1s; Mrs. Wass, hm. £1 17 1 0 3 19 0 2 10 0 060 090 2 1 0 ... ... Bristol-R. M. S. Esq. 8s; Mr. F. 1s; for the poor Old Cleckheaton-Mr. Barrit, Churswell, hm. £1; Mr. D. Addingham and Keighley-Mr. John Dimsdale, hm. 2 qrs. 210 0 10 6 60 00 4 6 12 170 1 1 0 3.2 0 1 16 0 140 215 0 140 220 1 4 0 0 15 0 140 1 1 0 ... 0 18 0 ... ... Hereford-Thomas Pritchard, Esq. hm. Southwark-Mr. Sanders, Grimsby, 2s 6d; Mr. J. M. Stratton, £5; Mrs. Lee, hm. £1; Mrs. Barnett, hm. £1 1s; per Bro. Parker ... 0 5 6 ... Croydon-Mrs. Eliza Hill, Sutton, 32nd don. to aid the Original Essays. THEOLOGY; NATURAL AND BIBLICAL. CHAPTER X.-REGENERATION, ADOPTION, WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT. JUSTIFICATION, regeneration, adoption, and the witness of the Spirit, although distinct from each other, are yet so closely connected that they cannot be wholly separated. Without justification, there cannot be regeneration, adoption, and the witness of the Spirit. When a soul is justified, these blessings follow or accompany that great work. Mr. Wesley observes, "If any doctrines within the whole compass of Christianity may be properly termed fundamental, they are doubtless these two; the doctrine of justification, and that of the new birth: the former relating to that great work which God does for us, in forgiving our sins: the latter to the great work which God does in us, in renewing our fallen nature." Mr. Wesley is so very clear in distinguishing the work wrought for or in the soul at conversion, that I cannot do better than quote what he says in his sermon on "The great privilege of those that are born of God." "It has been frequently supposed, that the being born of God was all one with the being justified; that the new birth and justification were only different expressions, denoting the same thing: it being certain, on the one hand, that whoever is justified is also born of God; and, on the other, that whoever is born of God is also justified; yea, that both these gifts of God are given to every believer in one and the same moment. In one point of time his sins are blotted out, and he is born again of God. But though it be allowed, that justification and the new birth are, in point of time, inseparable from each other, yet are they easily distinguished, as being not the same, but things of a widely different nature. Justification implies only a relative, the new birth a real change. God in justifying us does something for us; in begetting us again, He does the work in us. The former changes our outward relation to God, so that of enemies we become children; by the latter our inmost souls are changed, so that of sinners we become saints. The one restores us to the favour, the other to the image of God. The one is the taking away the guilt, the other the taking away the power of sin: so that, although they are joined together in point of time, yet are they of wholly distinct natures." Theologians, although observing the distinction between these experimental blessings have differed as to the order in which they should be placed. It appears to me that the following is the natural order :—1st, Justification; 2nd, Regeneration; 3rd, Adoption; 4th, The Witness of the Spirit. Justification having been considered in the last chapter, we refer to it OCTOBER, 1869. VOL. XVIII. ν now only as in point of time accompanying the great blessings mentioned at the head of this chapter. Regeneration, or the New Birth, in its nature and necessity, was brought before Nicodemus by our Lord himself in that conversation which they held by night. Its necessity is shown by the emphatic language used by our Lord: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John iii. 3.) This abrupt introduction of the doctrine seemed so strange and unaccountable to Nicodemus that he asked, "How can a man be born when he is old?" (John iii. 4.) This inquiry is met by the Great Teacher by reasserting its necessity and stating its spiritual nature: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John iii. 5.) The doctrine of the New Birth is more fully explained by our Lord; but still Nicodemus cannot comprehend it, and he asks," How can these things be?” (John iii. 9.) We may learn from this conversation that a man may be a master in Israel and yet not understand the nature of the New Birth. The fact is, in regard to this doctrine, "it is only those who feel it know." The learned may talk about it, and try to explain it ; but it must be a matter of experience in order to be understood. Without subscribing to every sentence of John Wesley, in his sermon referred to above, we nevertheless say there are many things in it which it would be well for our readers to study, and which there is not space to bring into this chapter. The analogy which he there draws betwixt the unrenewed man and the unborn child, must be received with some qualification. The unregenerate soul is not in the unconscious, insensible state of a child before it feels the air, or sees the light, or hears the sounds of this world. Yet there is a striking resemblance between the two states; and this being the case, we must at once see what a glorious change takes place in a man when he is born again. To quote the words of Wesley, "His whole soul is now sensible of God, and he can say, by sure experience, Thou art about my bed, and about my path;' I feel Thee in all my ways: 'Thou besettest me behind and before, and layest Thy hand upon me.' 'The eyes of his understanding' are now 'open' and he 'seeth Him that is invisible.' . . His ears are now opened, and the voice of God no longer calls in vain. He hears calling he knows the voice of his shepherd. being now awakened, he has a clear intercourse with the invisible world." : and obeys the heavenly All his spiritual senses The internal change wrought in the soul is of the operation of the ever blessed Spirit and not only is it set forth by the figure, a new creation, but also of life from the dead. "You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." In the new creature there are all the lineaments of the divine image. "Old things have passed away, and behold all things have become new." The soul is renewed after the image of Him who created him" in righteousness and true holiness." |