INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY WAY OF SUPPLEMENT TO THE AUTHOR'S ORIGINAL PREFACE. THE venerable author of this Work has prefixed tions, its winter and its spring, its droughts and its a few remarks to his volumes respecting the nature floods; all to shew forth more clearly God himself and use of such a kind of history as that which as the doer of the whole, to sink the creature and his compilation furnishes. In it he adverts at the exalt the Creator; that thus men may not mistake outset to the inspired narratives of the New Tes- the hand by whose pressure the tide rises, from tament, as to the success of the Gospel in Apostolic whose invisible but resistless influence every ripple times. His sketch of this is very brief, as in- takes its form and course. All is God, and God is deed, was necessary and fitting, consisting of little all; man the mere subject or spectator of the more than a reference to the different passages in change. It is God's earth, made for his glory, and the Acts of the Apostles, in which mention is made he doeth with it according to his will; manifesting, of the success of the Gospel in different parts of at every new turn of its history some new marvels, Judea and of the World. We may venture a little of wisdom, love, grace, and power; alike in his farther back, and, for the sake of unity and com- dealings with a rebellious world and in the calling pleteness, point out the allusions made in Old Tes-in of his own chosen ones, whose names are in the tament history to the success of the same Gospel at different periods of the former dispensation. Lamb's book of life. God has had his single witnesses from the beginning, each in succession bearing testimony to the love of a redeeming God and looking joyfully forward through the gloom of night to the rising of the morning star. But it is not so much with the single witness-bearers that we have at present to do, as with those groups of them which God from time to time has raised up for the glory of his name. Our narrative is not so much designed to be the history of solitary stars, however bright, as of clusters and constellations, though perhaps apparently of inferior lustre. From the beginning downward, the work of the Holy Spirit presents to us many of the same features and characteristics as in our own day. Periods of revival and decay succeed each other. Iniquity abounds, and is allowed to proceed onward apparently unchecked, as if God had forsaken the earth. A few remain faithful and testify for Jehovah. All in vain. Then suddenly God steps in, makes bare his arm, does his own work, puts aside the instrument, manifests special grace, and reaps special glory to his name. Then, perhaps, judgment succeeds,-either the swift vengeance of his 1. The first indication of any great ingathersharp sword or a long night of death. Anon he ing of souls is in the fourth chapter of Genesis, draws nigh once more, puts forth his hand, and the where it is written, "Then began men to call tide rises in silent majesty, like the Ocean, along upon the name of the Lord." These words refer, all its shores. Again barrenness prevails and no doubt, to the effects of such an ingathering, desolation covers the land. Then he opens the rather than to the nature or manner of it; still, as windows of heaven, and the swollen torrents rush President Edwards remarks, this seems to have along the valleys, diffusing life on every side. Such been the effect of "a remarkable outpouring of the are his dealings with the children of men, and such the Spirit of God-the first remarkable outpouring that plan on which the kingdom of grace is administered, ever was." 2. There appears to have been some spehaving, like that of nature, its seasons and fluctua-cial work of the Spirit in the days of Noah, imme diately before the Deluge. We might have inferred this from the general tenor of God's dealings since, from which it is manifest, that always before the infliction of judgment he sends his Spirit, not merely to strive with men, but to gather the wheat into his garner before the chaff is set on fire. Probably this was the case in Noah's days. The mass of the world's population remained impenetrable, and went on recklessly in crime, with judgment hanging over them. But there were, in all likelihood, some with whom the Spirit not merely strove, but strove effectually, and who were safely lodged in the better ark before the deluge came, being taken away from the evil to come. 3. Abraham's day was, in many respects, a remarkable one. There was a band of I witnesses for God all raised up together, such as had never been seen, before nor since, till the days of the Apostles. Abraham, Lot, Melchizedec, Job, with his four friends, who, with all their failings, seem to have been men of God; all these coming together not only lead us to rejoice that God had such witnesses in that age, but also to infer that there were many more such who, though unrecorded here, are yet" written in Heaven." Surely the Holy Spirit wrought mightily in that period, when men, such as those we have named, stand forth as the representatives of the Church, and monuments of divine grace and power. 4. During the wilderness sojournings of Israel, there are several indications of a work of God at different periods. We read, for instance, regarding the people, that, "when he slew them then they sought him, and they returned and inquired early after God." (Ps. lxxviii. 34.) And though, with regard to the majority of the nation, this was done feignedly, and under the mere influence of terror, still it is almost certain that at such seasons, there was much real turning to the Lord, and much of the Spirit's awakening and converting power manifested before the eyes of Israel. While the soul of Moses was grieved at their falseheartedness and formality, yet doubtless it was oftentimes cheered by witnessing many real conversions. 5. The days of Joshua seem to have been days of blessing. The unanimity which prevailed among the people, the cordiality with which they followed him as their leader, and the zeal which they on several emergencies manifested for the glory of God, indicate something more of genuine religion than had before been manifested. And when, in answer to his dying charge, they solemnly declared with one voice, "The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey," (Josh. xxiv. 24.), we can scarcely fail to recognize in this the Holy Spirit's power, in giving them one heart and one soul to seek the Lord. 6. The next great awakening is that recorded in the beginning of the second chapter of Judges. The angel of the Lord " came up from Gilgal to Bochim," to reprove the people for their ingratitude and backslidings. On hearing man, his expostulation of mingled severity and love, "they lifted up their voice and wept." The Holy Spirit seems to have descended at Bochim, as he did at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, in convincing power. The whole camp was awakened. One united cry of conviction and alarm rose from the tents of Israel, and the sacrifice which they immediately offered shews that their convictions drove them to the blood of sprinkling. Surely this was the mighty hand of God. It must have been a solemn scene. 7. On several occasions during the period of the Judges, there were remarkable movements among the people, very similar to what had taken place in the wilderness. The seasons of alternate revival and decay are perhaps more marked during these four hundred years than at any other period. Israel forsook God, and worshipped idols. God gave them over to their enemies, and wrought against them with his terrible judgments. Then he returned to them in mercy, swept off their invaders, and poured out the spirit of repentance upon them. 8. In the days of Samuel, God seems to have made bare his arm. He seems to have wrought mightily in the midst of them through means of that holy who is truly one of the most wonderful of all Israel's mighty men, combining in his own person the offices of prophet, priest, and king, and presenting to us, from childhood to age, a most marvellous example of consistent holiness, childlike simplicity, manly boldness, and heavenly walking with God. 9. Under David there seems to have been a most extensive revival of the work of God in Israel. The Spirit seems to have been plentifully poured out on the nation in those days, when he fashioned the lips of David to utter those manifold breathings of his soul, which, while they guided the worship of Israel in that age, led their eye forward to Him who was the true theme of all these songs of Zion. 10. Solomon's days seem to have been days of refreshing. The Holy Spirit was manifestly present at the dedication of the temple, making the people's hearts to overflow with gladness when coming together to worship God in the midst of the varied types, which spoke of the manifold fulness of a coming Saviour. Jesus was then lifted up, and men were drawn to him by the Father. 11. Several periods in the history of the kings of Judah, seem to have been blest with the outpouring of the Spirit. In the reigns of Jehoshaphat, Josiah, and Hezekiah, God visited his people, and sent rain to his weary heritage, that his name might not be forgotten in Israel, and that a promised Saviour might not want many, even in the days of Israel's idolatry, to rejoice in his approaching advent. 12. Probably, during their captivity, God gave evidence that he had not forsaken his people, even in their desolation and exile. Many were raised up in Babylon to testify for the true God. Tribulation seems to have humbled them; and the hearts of the believing ones were gladdened by receiving a little revival in their bondage, as well as by having Jehovah as "a little sanctuary," in the land of their enemies. Even in Babylon, the Holy Spirit wrought His mighty wonders, and manifested His power in raising up and sanctifying such men as Ezekiel and Daniel, two of the most holy, heavenly, spiritual characters which the Old Testament presents to us. 13. At the return from Babylon the Spirit again moved upon the face of that long-desolate land, bringing order out of confusion, and light out of darkness," renewing the face of the earth." Something more was wrought than merely rearing the walls of Jerusalem or rebuilding and readorning the courts and chambers of the temple. Living temples rose by the Spirit's hand, not only in Jerusalem, but throughout the cities and villages of Judah. 14. The last scriptural record of a revival in Israel is that alluded to by the prophet Malachi. "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another." (Mal. iii. 16.) This description has manifest reference to some striking spiritual movement among that degenerate and God-forsaking people. It is not the picture of an ordinary state of things. It is not the mere "two or three" meeting together to talk of their common hopes and common joys. It is evidently some drawing together of God's faithful ones, a company whose numbers the Spirit had been adding to in a very striking way, a band such as the praying ones in the upper chamber of Jerusalem, after the Lord's ascension, a band such as that which drew around Wesley aud Whitefield, in our own land, a band such as that which God seems calling out and joining together in our own day. The Lord call out thousands and tens of thousands more than have been already done! The Lord link together, in blessed bonds of love, those whom he has already called! The Lord make ready a people for the coming of the Son of MAN! The present situation of the Church of Christ bears a striking resemblance to its condition in some of these past ages to which we have been referring. Iniquity prevails, and the love of many waxes cold; yet still there is a remnant witnessing for God amid a crooked and perverse generation; still the Holy Spirit is manifestly working among us, and reviving us in our bondage. True there are no scenes such as that of Israel at Bochim,—a whole people melted down before the Lord, and trembling at his word; nor are there scenes such as that of Pentecost, when three thousand were converted under one sermon. Yet still there are tokens of God's presence and favour even amid marks of his just displeasure against our sins. There are signs of his returning to bless us as in the days of old. In the days of Zerubabbel, when the Jewish Church was just beginning to raise her head a little amid the ruins of Jerusalem, the prophet Haggai was sent to comfort her under her desolations, with the assurance that Jehovah was still with her, and to cheer her with the prospect of coming, though still distant glory. Israel's consolation may be ours. We have the same assurances of unchanging love to take refuge in, and the same prospect of approaching glory and deliverance, not only for the Church of Christ, but for the whole earth. Nothing could make Jehovah break his covenant with Israel or lead him to forsake his people and his temple. It was not the extinguished fire and the shivered altar that could induce him to depart from the shrine where his glory had so long made its visible abode. It was not the ruined temple with its plundered courts and spoiled glory, that could lead him to forsake the Mount Zion that he loved. It was not the deserted city, with its fallen towers and dismantled bulwarks, nor the desolate land with its untilled untrodden fields, that could drive him from the beloved Jerusalem, or from the soil which he had given to Abraham, and to his seed as an inheritance for ever. Nor was it all Israel's long trangression, aggravated and multiplied, age after age, that could make him cast them utterly away, if only they would return unto him from all their backslidings. Even so may we take refuge in his grace, resting ourselves upon his promises, and looking to him to revive his work in the midst of us. True our iniquities have separated us from God. Our backslidings testify against us. We have sinned away his mercy. We have grieved the Holy Spirit, so that his hand works not now among us in the same mighty power as in other days. Our pride, in which we so much resemble Israel, has grieved him. He cannot dwell with those whose feeling is, "stand by, for I am holier than thou." Our unteachableness and stubbornness of heart have vexed him and constrained him to leave us to the blindness of our own dark minds. Will he always strive with those who will not be taught, and who prefer man's wisdom to his? Our " anger, wrath, malice, clamour, and evil-speaking" have grieved him; for he is the Spirit of love, his emblem is the dove, and how can he dwell amid the bitter strife of human passions? Our inconsistency and worldly-mindedness have banished him from our coasts; for how can he whose office is to glorify Christ abide with those who name the name of Christ, yet do not depart from iniquity? Nor can anything more certainly quench him than that formality and hollowness in religion which is but too prevalent in these days. The drawing near to God with the lip while the heart is far distant, is one of the sins which God most abhors, and which tends more, perhaps, than any other sin, to grieve the Spirit away. And oh, what an amount of formal, hollow profession is there amongst us! The churches of Christ, like Jeshurun, have "waxed fat and kicked." Like Ephesus, they have left their first love. Like Sardis, they have but a that they live and are dead." Like Laodicea, they 66 name fancy that they are rich and increased in goods, and have need of nothing, not knowing that they are "wretched and miserable, and poor and blind and naked." Yet God has not forsaken them; and he is making these, their iniquities and backslidings, the occasion of displaying yet more of the riches of his grace. He is lifting up his voice to awaken us from our security. He is stretching out his hand to shake us out of our slothfulness, and causing us feel that it is not for any Christian, or for any Church of Christ, to be enjoying the luxury of " ease in Zion," | and forgetting that this is the wilderness, not Canaan, Egypt, not Jerusalem, a place for the pitching of our tents day by day, not the city of everlasting habitations. Oh that the Churches of Christ would awake at the sound of his voice! Oh that they would turn unto him who hath torn and who will heal them, who hath smitten and who will bind them up! Oh that they would recognise the Holy Spirit's hand and power, from the beginning downwards to the present KELSO, OCT. 21, 1843. hour. Oh that they would cease to think of him as some vague diffusive influence, and acknowledge him as the Living Spirit of God, by whose personal indwelling and inworking in our souls, we are quickened, convinced, converted, comforted, sanctified, and made meet for the kingdom! Who can say how much of our present barrenness and backsliding may be traced to our not honouring the Spirit with that honour which is due unto his name? Dr Owen truly remarks, "there is nothing excellent among men, whether it is absolutely extraordinary, or whether it consists in an eminent improvement of their abilities, but is ascribed in Scripture to the Holy Spirit as the immediate operator and efficient cause of it. Of old He was ALL; now some would have him to be nothing." How can there be prosperity in a church or progress in a soul where there is not the distinct acknowledging and honouring of the Holy Spirit in every thing? "HE THAT HATH AN EAR LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAITH UNTO THE CHURCHES." AUTHOR'S PREFACE. ON THE CHARACTERS AND USES OF THIS KIND OF HISTORY. ALL who are acquainted with the New Testament, know what a considerable part of it is employed in historical narrations of the success of the Gospel. We meet with them in the Evangelists; the Acts of the Apostles are a continued series of them; and they are even to be found in the Epistles intermixed with doctrinal and practical subjects; a convincing proof that they have a tendency, by the divine blessing, to promote real religion. These Scripture narrations (the true standard of this manner of writing) are of two sorts: the first sort contain accounts of considerable numbers wrought upon, at one and the same time. And these accounts are sometimes more compendious, sometimes more diffuse and circumstantiate. The second sort contain large accounts of particular eminent persons, such as Paul, Cornelius, the jailor at Philippi, &c. The chief materials of the first sort of narrations are such as these; 1. The numbers that were converted, sometimes told in a more general way, as when it is said, "Believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women." And "the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly." Sometimes in a more particular and determinate way, as when we are told, that "there were added to the church about three thousand souls." And that "the number of the men who believed were about five thousand." 2. The religious instructions that were the means of this happy change, and the instruments employed in proposing these instructions. 3. The providences that brought them in the way of those that reaped such benefit by them. 4. The earnest prayers that preceded such times, and the uncommon influences of the Holy Spirit that attended them. 5. The blessed fruits of holiness in the lives of the converts, as when we are told, "They continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people." And again, "the churches had rest throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria, and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost were multiplied." And, in another place," Our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; and ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: so that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia." By the way we may notice, that the short descriptions contained in the passage just now quoted, of the blessed change wrought upon the hearts of sinners, when redemption is applied to them, the divine image restored, and the precious grace repentance, faith, and love, &c. implanted, are to be considered as explained more fully in the other parts of Scripture that are more strictly doctrinal and practical, which show more particularly the nature of those blessed attainments, and teach us to make proper allowances for the diversity of degrees in spiritual attainments of the same kind. As to the second sort of narrations, concerning particular eminent persons, we find these used in such cases as the following: 1. When the persons were made remarkably instrumental in promoting the Gospel; especially if they were formerly noted opposers of it, as Paul; or had denied it in any degree, as Peter. 2. When they were men of extraordinary gifts and graces, and of exemplary diligence and fervency, as Barnabas and Apollos; descriptions of such characters being very proper parts of a history of the success of the Gospel, both as such men were instances of it in their own persons, and as they were instruments in the hand of God to bring in others. 3. When they were men of exemplary fidelity and steadiness, in sealing the truth with their sufferings of various kinds, as Stephen, Paul, Silas, |