NOT ALL LIKE CHRIST. 229 yesterday and to-day. God hears me, comes into my heart, kindles up my affections, restores unto me the joys of His salvation, upholds me by His free Spirit. I feel happy in His love every time I pray; and I know that I do those things that are well pleasing in his sight. * *** I am not under any condemnation, and I have daily answers to my prayers, but after all I do not feel that I am fit for heaven. I have not yet that inward and outward holiness which I desire. I am not all like Christ. Yet I am not conscious of having lost ground in religion, and yet the world may have in some considerable degree, been making inroads into my heart. I sometimes fear that I am not as meek, and patient, and dead to the desires of the flesh, and yet I do not know but what I am as much so as ever. **** From family affliction of late, I have not risen as early as I once did. I am now returning to my former habits of study. I feel resolved to do the work of an evangelist and make full proof of my ministry. God is now graciously reviving his work of purity in my heart. January 1st, 1839.-"I have now by the mercy of God entered upon a new year. The first feeling of my heart on waking, of which I was conscious, was the love of God-the joy of His salvation. I prayed and was happy. Heaven was in my soul, and my communion was with the Father, and his Son, Jesus Christ. My body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. Christ dwells in my heart by faith, and I am rooted. and grounded in love. But its breadth and length, its hight and depth, who can comprehend? It passeth knowledge. O that I might approach it and be filled with all the fullness. of God. Glory to God, I am filled with Him. O, yes, with His fullness. Yes, with ALL HIS FULLNESS. My love is full, my joy is full, my peace is full, and my hope is full. "O glorious hope of immortality." I am ripening for heaven and glory abovefor the immediate presence of God. My treas HOME AND HEART. 231 ures, my home, my heart are all there. On earth I am only a pilgrim, 'having no continuing city here, but seeking one that is to come.' 0, for a constant sense of the Divine fullness, to be lost and swallowed up in Christ. GLORY BE TO GOD. Amen." But few, perhaps, in so short time, have arrived at such maturity in christian graces, or have enjoyed such "fullness of joy" as Mr. Baldwin. January 21st, 1839.-"I am greatly concerned and drawn out in prayer for the conversion of my child, Mary Elizabeth. She is now. in her eighth year, and old enough to love and serve God." * * * * * This little extract reveals a beautiful trait in the character of Mr. Baldwin-his almost ceaseless prayers for the salvation of his own household. He had a burning desire both day and night, in health and sickness, to see sinners converted to God. August 14th, 1839.-"I received a letter from Lancaster circuit, descriptive of the state religion in that region-it also contains an invitation to a camp-meeting. Alas! I am in poor plight to go. I should love to meet my brethren and sisters once more. * * * While on that circuit I had many delightful meetings. I was often blessed to such a degree, that the SPIRIT COULD SUSTAIN NO GREATER WEIGHT OF GLORY WHILE IN THE BODY." O what a delightful spiritual frame of mind had our departed brother while preaching Jesus. But the same "fountain" is accessable to us all. Let us "go and wash and be clean" -drink and thirst no more. "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." "Hark! the thrilling symphonies, Join we too the holy lays, Jesus! Jesus!! Jesus!!! Jesus, Jesus, flow along." PREPARATION FOR THE PULPIT. CHAPTER XIX. Mr. Baldwin's manner of preparation for the pulpit is a "pattern" worthy of imitation by all true ministers of Jesus Christ. On reading portions of his journal and private papers, I was forcibly struck with his PRAYERFULNESS. It is said that the celebrated German Reformer, Martin Luther, "excelled other christians in the tone and spirit of his prayers." Mr. Baldwin was also a man not only of strong faith, but he excelled most of his brethren in earnest, daily “closet pleading." His family has often heard him remark, "Well, I think many persons who pray less than myself, may enjoy more religion than I do, but I find that I can not get along in religion without praying a great deal.” During his last illness, when confined to his chamber, he never omitted his regular hours |