THE CONCORDAT WITH AUSTRIA. The Concordat with Austria is the greatest march the Pontiff has stolen on Europe for centuries. The sovereigns of Austria have ever been catholic, but never have they so far given their dominions into the hands of Rome as the present emperor has. The most intolerant and bigotted, swayed by jesuits, have trembled to admit the supremacy of the pope over the crown. The effects of this concordat is silently working; the protestants are alarmed, the liberals are aroused; and we need not be surprised if the discontent which slumbers in the Empire breaks out in a revolution. THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. The new dogma of Rome, the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary, has been celebrated with the greatest splendour, abroad, the service was very imposing;and in England attempts have been made to create a sensation. Processions of boys and girls, in white, with large tapers, have marched to the chapels; where, in many instances, a representation of the Virgin, most gorgeously attired, was placed at the high altar, surrounded with many brilliant lights. Many persons do not understand the nature of the new truth which the Romish church has just discovered. It is not the immaculate conception of Jesus by the Virgin Mary, it is the immaculate conception of the Virgin by her mother, so she is entirely free from sin. The drift of this new truth is to prop up the worship of the Virgin, and to place her on an equality with Christ; therefore both are declared sinless,—and as here it is presumed that a son will obey his mother-so it is assumed that there Christ will listen to his mother!-What creed is there which cannot be supported if we can when required invent new truths and support it. This new dogma is a confession of the internal weakness of the Catholic church. THE SEAT OF WAR. The interest, which has been sustained by the stirring events at the seat of war, has been greatly lessened by the absence of active operations. The soldiers are enjoying a little rest after their labours ; and the great anxiety of the generals is to keep them within due bounds. Drunkenness is rife in the camp,-the soldier knows not what to do with his pay-and falls into the temptation which the canteen booths supply; active measures are being taken to prevent it ;-fines are imposed-libraries are furnished-amusements promoted-lectures given-and the post-office authorities have just opened offices for the issuing of money orders in the camp on the same terms as in England. Many a mother will now rejoice in the substantial remembrances of her son-which before were consumed in deadly drink. The Asiatic campaign has drawn off the attention from the Crimea. Kars, after twice defeating the enemy and sustaining a heroic resistance for six months-has been forced by famine to capitulate; and Russia will not fail to announce to the world the splendid success of her arms. This victory, however, is somewhat tarnished by the defeat which they have twice sustained by Omar Pasha, who has again defeated the Russians and captured Khoni. NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE. All hope of peace, however, is not abandoned. Austria again attempts to mediate between the powers-and her special messenger has departed for Saint We should hail peace with delight, if it Petersburg to present a fresh ultimatum. could be procured on safe and honourable terms; but it would be far better to prolong the war and the campaign, and extort peace on a right basis, than to conclude a hasty treaty, which would serve only the interests of our common foe. These rumours of peace are advantageous to this country. So long as they do not put us off our guard. They give ease to commercial difficulties. Stimulate for the time commerce. Sustain hope and labour, and diminish very considerably that speculative tendency to demand high prices for articles of consumption. It is beautiful thus to observe how God makes every thing work out good. The extravagant prices direct men's attention to economical measures-by which great saving may be effected for the poorwhich will not be again wasted in prosperity: and they call out the benevolent affections to relieve the distress-into which the present season has thrown so many. ་ NEW HYMN BOOK FOR SCHOOLS. A friend at EBLEY writes:-" It affords us much pleasure to know you have made arrangements to publish an edition of the New Hymn Book' for schools at a price they can afford, and thus by using one book in the school-room and chapel, congregational singing will be facilitated and your very valuable hymn book be more widely circulated. As a congregation we are placed under obligation to the compilers for the great care they must have taken in making so excellent a selection, and hope its specdy adoption and extensive circulation may soon show the estimation in which it is deservedly held by the Connexion. I send you one pound for twenty copies. WINTER WORKING PARTIES COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY. We beg to apprize our ministers and congregations, that working parties are young friends throughout our several being formed for the purpose of making useful articles for sale next Summer in aid of our missions and schools at home and in Western Africa. Instead of sending out these for sale in Sierra Leone, it is proposed to dispose of them in this country. Useful articles of every desand it is hoped that all our ministers will cription are considered the most saleable, of our young friends in this good work use their efforts to enlist the sympathies during the present winter months. We understand our friends at Spa Rochdale, are beginning in good earnest Fields, Worcester, and St. Stephen's, in which large sums have recently been in this good work; places, be it observed, raised for the enlargement or improvement of their own churches; and it is hoped that all our ministers will copy their example in aiding this plan. Every information will be furnished on application to Miss S. Thompson, Piercefield Park, Chepstow. Lotice. Zion Chapel, London.-Rev. T. Dodd supplies the last Sunday in 1855, and will supply the first Sunday in 1856. The Rev. J. Jones, of Birmigham and Rev. J. Bridgman, of Chester, supply Worcester. Rev. J. Thomas, B.A. of Manningtree, has engaged to supply Sion for one year. Bristol. Not yet supplied with a minis ter. Ebley.-Rev. S. Dodge, of the College. is supplying. IMPROVEMENT TIME is flying, flying, flying, Like a waterfall that's rushing, Catch the seconds as they're passing, OF TIME. And for some important purpose, See-humanity is bleeding, Aid-thy fellow-man is needing, Hundreds, thousands, millions-hear them With the deeds of man, THE HARBINGER. FEBRUARY, 1856. "THIS MAN," OR, THE ONE PRIEST. Hebrews x. 12. There had been a long succession of, fore, was peculiarly dignified and gloripriests, but none like "this man." A ous. He was the Son of God, higher long array of names from Aaron down- than the heavens, but "made a priest." wards had graced the priestly office, but Heb. v. 5. none that obtained this appellation. The Holy Spirit would distinguish him from all other men. The expression "This man," asserts his superiority and establishes his pre-eminence. He is thus distinguished, for the glory of his person-the holiness of his character-the perpetuity of his office and the perfection of his work. In all which repects, as in many others, he merited the distinction. All other priests had infirmities, he had none. Their office was temporary, his permanent. They offered often; he once. They offered for themselves as for the people, he only for others. They died, he ever liveth. They offered the the blood of the victim, he his own blood. They sacrificed bullocks, goats, and lambs, he sacrificed himself. How worthy then was he of this honour! How appropriate is the appellation, "this man!" His How dignified and glorious his person! Aaron could lay no claim to such dignity. His dignity was that of high and elevated rank—“ the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature." glory that "of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." He is declared to be like unto Melchizedek, who had glory and dignity peculiar, and all his own. Heb. vii. 3, 4. "For this Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the most high God." Therefore "the Lord sware and would not repent,' that "this man" "should be a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek," and not after Aaron. His person, there His holiness of character was likewise remarkable. He was touched with a feeling of our infirmities, but in no way sinfully partaken of them. He became man, without becoming a sinner. He was Abraham's seed without partaking of his corruption. He was a sinner legally, but not actually-by imputation, but not by contraction. He became the son of man, without being the son of Adam by ordinary generation. There was no sin in his nature. He stood alone in the holiness of his character. His perpetuity of office was also singularly distinctive. The priests under the law continued not by reason of death, but "he continueth ever." Aaron ascends Mount Hor and dies, and leaves his robes and his office to others, "but this man hath an unchangeable priesthood." They were "made after the law of a carnal commandment;" but "he after the power of an endless life." "Wherefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for us." Heb. vii. 25. But though his office was Aaron's, his order was Melchizedek's. "His descent is not counted from them." Heb. vii. 6. "For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning the priesthood.' Heb. vii. 14. "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also in the law." Heb. vii. 12. To those who insist on the necessity of a priestly succession as imperative to the constitution of a valid ministry, this cir B There is merit sufficient in it to meet the necessities, and cover the guilt of the whole world, yea millions of worlds-it is infinite. No sinner need perish-no sinner will, because his sins were too numerous to be forgiven, or his guilt too great to be removed, or its stains too deep to be erased. There is eternal salvation for all that believe. "The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanseth us from all sin." Its completeness also is beyond dispute. It gave to the law all it required-it satisfied the demands of divine justiceit appeased the wrath of God—it secured the salvation of the sinner. "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will to men.' cumstance presents a singularly awkward | Earth's most valuable things are corruptfact. To such, it would have been a fatal ible, perishing. But the sacrifice Christ objection to Christ's ministry, that his offered is infinitely costly. He gave Orders were out of the line of the succes- himself. His body, he offered; His blood, sion, (even as it was to the ecclesiastical he shed; His life, he laid down. authorities of the day) that he had not received his authority from the chief priests. They would doubtless have joined with the priests of the day in the enquiry, "By what authority doest thou these things, and who gave thee this authority "But the priesthood was changed, and those who adopt the Aaronic as their model of a gospel ministry, either forget, or wilfully overlook this change. Christ set up a new order. He stands alone. He is the only priest of the new dispensation. He was not preceded, and cannot be succeeded. The priesthood of the gospel begins and ends in him. But if there be no priesthood, there can be no priests—if there be no succession, there can be no successors. A priesthood therefore is as inapplicable to the New Testament as it is absurd-as presumptuous in its pretensions as it is unscriptural in its claims. We are "able ministers of the New Testament." not priests. A priest must needs have something to offer. But "this man" by his one offering has perfected for ever them that are sanctified-there is nothing to offer, nor altar nor sacrifice. The priesthood and its succession ceased with the Jewish polity, to which it necessarily belonged. The gospel ministry, on the contrary, is fulfilled by an order of men CALLED TO IT, not succeeded in it. Here then is the doctrine of the succession torn up by its roots. And we leave its advocates on the horns of a dilemma; either to renounce their pretensions, or honestly to go back to Judaism ! But "this man's" work was strikingly distinct. It was perfect. All previous priests left it to their successors, and it seemed perpetual. But "this man" "finished the work the Father gave him to do." "By one sacrifice he perfected for ever them that are sanctified,"-perfected it, nothing can be, or need be, added to it. Salvation is finished! The sacrifice, however, was costly meritorious and complete. We have no comparisons by which to estimate its value. The richest treasures of earth are mean and worthless beside it. Heaven poured forth its treasures in this offering. "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ." The reason men are not saved, is, they do not believe in the complete efficacy of the atonement-they cannot credit the wondrous statement. But simple faith in its saving and sanctifying power will bring them salvation and cleansing! And the reason many christians are not established and blessed in their souls is, they do not accept the atonement in its freeness and completeness. They receive it with certain reservations in favour of themselves reserves which leave them something to do, which something keeps them from "joy and peace in believing." "He But how runs the commission? commanded us to preach to the people .that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." Acts x. 42, 43. The man who will but look to Christ, however great be his guilt, or enormous his crimes, or crimson-dyed his sins, shall be justified freely, sanctified wholly, and glorified eternally. There is infinitely more merit in that one sacrifice, than of demerit or defilement in all sin. Faith in this atoning sacrifice will bring glory to God, honour to Christ, and salvation to the soul. Venture on it, reader, as you are. Believe the testimony concerning the blood-roll your soul on the faithful saying. It is purifying, sanctifying, saving. Millions of sinners, vile as you, Have here found life and peace; B. P. THE DAY OF WRATH. "The great day of his wrath." God's wrath! Withheld for ages, once witnessed in a lost Paradise,-again in a drowned world,-proved before all nations in the sorrows of Gethsemane and agony of the Calvary death throes, when the Creator bore that wrath that the created might go free: but this is the great day of his wrath. The wrath of an earthquake is terrible, when the riven land and the upheaved ocean vibrate, yawn asunder, and engulf cities and navies in their dread collapse. The fiery torrents from ruinous volcanoes -as they leap high into the air, and paint the sky with lurid glow, or stream in desolating rivers of smoking lava, over vineyard and olive-yard, hamlet and town, and still, with thirst insatiate, demand more! more!-are terrible. So are the thunders of heaven and the swift lightning; that tremendous roar of the canopied darkness, those thick flashings from the cloud-encumbered sky. So is the avalanche crashing down the mountains. So is the waste and haggard form of pestilence stalking through the land, filling the grave-yards as it goes. But what are these? They are the hailstones and coals of fire of the Almighty's wrath. How will it be in the GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH? Then shall the old earth reel, and in one mighty earthquake rending its giant crust from pole to pole, splitting its continents into chasms, and swallowing the mountains in its scoriated surge, shall the old things begin to pass away. How busy then the mighty deep, no longer raging to engulf, but to give back the dead; then shall the sun's face turn pale, and the moon glow red, while the smoke of a burning world goes up, fire leaping from below and vengeance lightnings flashing from above. But more terrible than crashing mountains and a crumbling world,-louder than the thunder of the end,-heard above the Archangel's trumpet, shall be the wail of the lost. The great day is come! The human race is ended!! Oh that cry! They fly to the toppling crags, they bare their breasts to the fearful lightnings, they plunge down the yawning gulfs, but the eye of Omnipotence is on them, and they must look on Him whom they pierced. What troops of the living lost! What myriads of the doomed dead! The suicide rises from the cross-roads, the murdered man confronts his murderer, the slain quit the battlefield, the cathedral vaults and the churchyard turf give up their inmates; they pass by like a locust storm; they darken the air with their crowding millions; they rend the heavens with their awful agonies. But see! There is one bright spot in the midst of all, and whereunto these all are tending is celestial glory, the sound of harps and hallelujahs; there are white robes there; there are saved souls there; "these are they who came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." It is the great day of his wrath, but these fled from the wrath to come, found the great salvation, and now are glorified for ever. J. W. M. THE DAY OF SALVATION. Creation's morning rose upon it, and its last sun will not set till time shall be no more; it was the day of salvation, even before the day spring from on high visited us,-it is our day. It is the longest, the greatest, the most glorious of days. Man commences in what we call time, an existence, the reality of which belongs to eternity. Life in time is but the first chapter of eternal being; and so the great scheme of human redemption, conceived in an eternity before time was, is designed to receive alike its justification and its glorification in an eternity, when time shall be no longer: betwixt these two eternities stretches the day of salvation. Fore-ordained before the foundation of the world; promised while the shadows of Paradise yet rested on our first parents; for two-thousand years foretold by prophets and shadowed forth by type and symbol during the magnificence of the Mosaic economy; the Redeemer came, the sun of righteousness-a light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of his people Israel. Then commenced the glorious gospel day, the light of which must spread till all are the subjects of king Immanuel, and the last enemy, death, is destroyed; but from the promise of Paradise, to the angel song of Palestine, from the star in the east, to the trump that shall wake the dead, it is all the day of salvation-one long evidence of the amazing long-suffering and forbearance, |