A FEW THOUGHTS ON THE FOLLOWING PORTION, ISAIAH XLIV., 5., Entended to have been delivered at Jireh Chapel, LORD'S DAY EVENING, APRIL 4TH, 1847, BY EBENEZER BUT WAS VINALL; Hindered through the prevalency of unbelief and carnal reason, WHICH WILL BE RELATED IN THE LITTLE ACCOUNT OF "GOD'S GRACIOUS DEALINGS," &c. "So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.' Heb. iii., 19. LONDON: Printed and Published for the Author, by E. PALMER & SON, 18, PATERNOSTER ROW; And Sold by him at his House, 54, CLIFFE, LEWES, 1847. SUSSEX. A FEW THOUGHTS, &c. "One shall say, I am the Lord's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel."-Isaiah, xliv, 5. I purpose, by the help of God, my dear friends, to consider, I. The character: "One shall say, I am the Lord's ;" which I shall divide into six heads, as follows: 1st. We are the Lord's by creation. 2nd. By the gift of the Father. 3rdly. By the right of redemption. 4thly. By the purchase of his blood. 5thly. By the conquest of his grace. 6thly. By voluntary surrender. II. I shall drop a few ideas on the words, "Another shall call himself by the name of Jacob." III. And lastly, on the words, "And another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel." A 2 1st. We are the Lord's by creation. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. But one, in a certain place, testified, saying, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands." "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." 2ndly. We are Christ's by the gift of the Father, "Thine they were, and thou gavest them me. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them." And again : "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." Encouraging words to the coming sinner, who is feelingly convinced that without Christ he can do nothing, cannot raise one good thought, one desire, or one affection, to heaven, or heavenly things, being bound down to earth and earthly things, yet feeling like a fish out of water, out of his element, often thinking he is neither fit for the world, nor fit company for the dear people of God, feeling himself so depraved and polluted. The only character that seemed to suit me in this situation was one mentioned that composed part of David's army-discontented; although my character was described in the whole of his army, for I was in distress of soul, and also deeply in debt, and had nothing in myself to satisfy my Almighty Creditor; therefore he was come to take my two sons, soul and body, and cast me into prison in my apprehensions: for the law, which laid fast hold of me, demanded complete satisfaction, perfect obedience, not enly in deed, but in thought, and he that offends in one point, is guilty of all. I felt discontented with myself, with everything I did; everybody and everything about me; could find no happiness in the world, no pleasure in former pursuits; and when I heard the Word of God read or preached, it seemed, a dead letter to me, yet I was persuaded, unless I knew Christ for myself, I must perish to all eternity; then I strove against sin in my own strength, making vows and resolutions, which were no sooner made than broken; striving in prayer to feel that awe of God, which I thought, a poor criminal, condemned as I was, both by myself and the Word of God, ought to feel, struggling when hearing the word, to bring something home to comfort my poor distressed soul, but could get nothing. Oh! what rebellion did I feel rising against the sovereignty of God, wishing myself anything but a responsible being, thinking the doctrine of God's election and reprobation a cruel doctrine, kicked against it for a long time, but was persuaded in my mind of the truth of it, yet fearing I was not one of the elect. Oh! what horrid blasphemies did I feel in my heart, within myself cursing everything I did; but, blessed be God, he did not suffer me to belch it out, although, at times |