tians are candidates for glory: they are adorned in the white garments of Christ's righteousness for their justification before God; Rev. iii. 5 and they wear the sacred robe of personal holiness as the justification of their character before men. The former is incapable of defilement; and is that "fine linen clean and white in which the bride, the Lamb's wife," is to be adorned in the grand solemnization of her muptials in the last day. The latter, when under the inspection of Omniscience, and compared with the extensive purity of the law, requires to be "washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb." Rev. viii. 14. It is this last robe, the Christian's walk and character which it is incumbent upon him to keep unspotted from the world; and as a white garment shews any accidental defilement on it sooner and more conspicuously than one of a diferent colour, this application of the emblem poin's out the greater necessity of watching against every inconsistency that would disgrace his profession and bring his character into suspicion. The world watches forhis halting, and will be ready upon every occasion to impute faults where there are none, and to aggravate and triumph in real ones. If defamation, false-charges, inisrepresentations, untruths, could really blot the Christian's garment, it would be never white: but the blackening of the wicked, in this respect, is all their own. Happy and blessed the Christian, who, when world says all manner of evil of him," proves, by his conduct, that it is "falsely for Christ's sake." ・・

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From the price of this volume, which is a Guinea to Subscribers, to prevent the charge of extortion, it is proper to state, it was intended as a benevolent compliment to the surviving family; and on this account, we are happy to see prefixed so numerous and respectable a Subscribers' List.

The Christian Mirror: exhibiting some of the Excellencies and Defects of the Religious World; containing Essays in Prose and Verse. 58. boards.

WHILST the enemies of the gospel have left no expedient untried to convey their destructive poison to readers of every class, the friends of truth have not been inactive in attempts to provide suitable antidotes; and amoug these, the Essay-writers of our own nation deserve no common praise. Taleats of the first order have this been honourably and usefully employed in

unmasking Vice, abashing Infidelity, and countenancing Virtue and Religion. Our Bacons, Adlisons, and Johnsons, can only be forgotten with our language; and whilst they live as Classics, will tend to form and influence the morals of succeeding ages. On subjects peculiar to Christianity, however, few have written: it may be considered indeed as a field almost unoccupied, though, in our judgment, of great promise to the ingenions Christian writer. The work before us, as its title intimates, takes this ground: The author does not, like the Spectator, profess to enter places of public resort, nor pretend to set up as a censor of general custom, nor presume to direct the taste and regulate the fashion of the age: his observations are chiefly confined to the professors of vital Christianity; and his thoughts are mostly directed to subjects which relate to what is contained in the pages of Revelation. His aim is to unite the utile et dulce, by making the pleasing manner of former Essayists the vehicle of recommending the Holy Scriptures and the study of their important truths. This volume contains twenty-seven Papers; in which we perceive a happy variety of topics, masterly characters, and well conducted allegory. The Papers are not indeed of equal merit; but we sincerely hope this volume will meet with such encouragement from the religious public, and especially from our young readers, and those who have the tuition of youth, as to excite the author and his associates to prosecute their labours. Many topics yet remain for their ingenuity, which, by the talents they possess, or may ac quire from others, would be rendered highly interesting and beneficial to their readers. Our limits prevent us from giving more than a specimen of one kind: See No. X, p. 94.

"Dr. Easy, amongst other papers, has given me one containing the parti culars of the disease which is reprepresented by the patients as a natural, but which, he thinks, bears the symp toms of a moral disorder. I shall give his history of it in the present number.

"There is a disease, at this time, too prevalent in our neighbourhood, an account of which is not to be found in our popular books of medicine: I shall, therefore, endeavour to communicate some particulars respecting it.

"The disease to which I refer, is evidently of the intermitting kind; and in all cases that have fallen under my notice, has attacked the patients by violent paroxysms, which return every

seventh day. It may he thought to savour of superstition to mention it, and yet it is a fact, and therefore must not be passed over, that these paroxysms en only on the Lord's Day; on which account the disease is called The Senday Sickness: and the 'faculty know it by no other name than Dici Dominici Morbus. On account of its periodical attacks, some have thought it to be a singular kind of ague, especially as it is attended with a great degree of coldness, tho' I do perceive the symptoms of shivering, which are usual in that complaint.

I have observed the paroxysms comance at different periods, but generally in the morning of the Lord's Day; and, in many cases, it seizes the patient before he has left his bed, and makes him indisposed to rise till a later hour than usual. A coldness has been first noticed about the region of the heart; and a ddess in the head, which stapifies the brain, not unusually succeeds: this is followed by yawning, and a sort of lethargy. The patient is sometimes, deprived of the use of his limbs, especially the legs and the feet, so that he finds himself indisposed to walk to the house of God. So.ne, indeed, have gone up to the solem assembly; but they have generally entered it later than their neighbours; and even there the paroxysins have seized them, and the symptoms of yawning and lethargy have been so violent, that they have fallen into a dead sleep, even when the preacher has been delivering the most solemn truths in the most animated manner: and others have been extremely uneasy at their confixement during the time of service, though they have been known to sit very contentedly,, in a play house, for several hours together.

"This disease appears to stupify those who are subject to it; so that, however they may appear to suffer, they are slow (if ever) heard to complain. I have known persons under other diseases mourn, on account of their confinement from public worship; but the victims of this extraordinary disorder were never heard to exclaim,

tion; but I have since found it very common, after the paroxysms are removed, for the patient to appear perfectly well till the approach of the next Sabbath; though most of the faculty agree, that there is a low fever- » ish heat to be perceived during the days of interval, called Febris Mundi, or the Worldly Fever. There seems also to be a loss of appetite for savoury food, and an entire want of relish for panis vite, which, it is thought, might be of service to remove their disease, as a very skilful and experienced person has asserted, that it was more to him than his necessary food ;" and another has recommended it as peculiarly agreeable to the taste, "sweeter the honey, or the honey-comb." One circum. stance I had almost forgotten, namely, that those who have not laid aside all · attention to the form of religion, if they are subject to the Sunday sickness, generally feel somewhat chill, and listless about the hours of secret retirement and family devotion."

This volume contains also a few ex-' cellent speciens of poetry; among which we were particularly struck with the Epistle from Abraham to Sarah, and the verses on the Death of a Son.

Four Sermons, preached in London, at the Elecenta General Meeting of the Missionary Society, May 8, 9, 10, 18c5, by the Rev. E. Williams, D.D. Rotherham; W. Nicol, London; J. Slatterie, Chatham; and T. Thomason, A. M. Cambridge. Also the Report of the Directors, and a List of Subscribers. Published for the Benefit of the Society. Price 2s. 6d.

THE first of these discourses, entitled," Apostolic Zeat recommended," is founded on Ron.ix.3,“ For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ,” &c. The judicious preacher conside.s the remarkable expression in this verse, in the exposition of which so much ingenuity of learned criticism has been often employed, as importing a "* separation from that very church of Christ, of which the apostle was represented as a selfish, partial, and bi gotted defender,” on a sentence of excommunication onder an anathema from all Christian society and privileges: the heaviest censure of the apostle's dearest friends. This interpretation had been before proposed by Hammond, Selden, and Grotius; and it seems a matter of just surprize, that it has not been generally adopted. After Dr.

Willaims has given an ample paraphrase of his text, according to this view of it, and as expressing the most determined and affectionate zeal, he proceeds to recommend this holy and apostolic temper of mind, especially in reference to the glorious cause of Christian Missions. In the first place, he treats on the excellent nature of apostolic zeal: it is meek and inoffensive, kind and beneficent, noble and disinterested, diffusive and universal, rational and steady.

The second general division is on the relative character of Christian zeal: it bears a strong resemblance to the divine benevolence, it exemplifies the characteristic temper of the Lord Jesus, it is a genuine effect of evangelical truth, and it is the native effort and expression of a heavenly principle.

Having largely expatiated on these intrinsic excellencies and engaging characters of the sacred temper which he recommends, the worthy author advances his final argument to enforce its exercise; namely, its happy effects, and particularly with a reference to Missionary exertions. These he describes in their application to the individual believer; to Christian families, where the Doctor introduces an affectionate reference to the severe trials and the praiseworthy deportment of the Missionary family at Otaheite; and to the church of Christ at home, and through the whole world. He concludes with scriptural and faithful observations on the way, first to obtain, and then to employ our zeal.

The second sermon is on the Charge and Encouragement given to the Jerusalem Church, from Isa. lii. 11, 12, "Depart ye," &c. With a peculiar unction and richness of gospel-truth and a gospel-spirit, the author enlarges on this text as a charge primarily intended for the first Christian church upon earth; and containing important instruction and rich encouragement to Missionaries and Missionary Societies in all future ages. First, He

takes a view of the church at that remarkable period; the place of its residence; its ministers, officers, and members; and the reasons why it was first planted in that wicked and apostate city. In the second place, he considers the charge given to the Jerusalem church, and in particular to the apostles to " depart," &c. This command is four times repeated, in order to conquer the reluctance of the Lord's servants: a sentiment which the author forcibly applies to valuable young

men, who have grace and talents for Missionary labours; and to shew that this commanded departure, was a matter of the greatest importance. The command further prohibits all communion with the unbelieving enemies of Christ, and enjoins the utmost personal and doctrinal purity. But they were not to go out with the confused flight of slavish fear, or with rash precipitancy. Each of these sentiments is enforced by a very pointed and happy application to the object and the measures of the Missionary Society.

Mr. Nicol proceeds, under the third head of discourse, to consider the arguments by which this charge is enforced; the assurances of the Divine Presence, direction, preservation, and victory.

This very serious and interesting sermon is concluded by an applicatory address to ministers and other descriptions of hearers. An oversight appears to have escaped the worthy author, near the close of his discourse: "Jesus is not now personally present,'

&c. Undoubtedly, it was intended merely to express that our Lord is not visibly present, or that his human nature is not present: but the human nature of Immanuel is not a personal substance; and his glorious Deity is ever present.

[To be continued.]

Plain Truths, or the Presbyter's Reply to all his Anti-Calvinist Opponents; with a few Strictures on the Christian Observer, 8vo, is. 6d.

It has been objected to the Bible, that it is so obscure and equivocal, that sects most widely differing, can interpret it in their own favour. The Scriptures, it is certain, were not written systematically; but what shall we say when we see Articles formally drawn up by a convocation of wise and learned men, for the express purpose of "avoiding diversity of opinions?"What shall we say when we see these very Articles interpreted with the same latitude of meaning, and men differing wider than Calvin and Arminius, both claiming them as decisive in their favour? What, but that when mens' prejudices and interests are so strong in favour of their system, Scripture, Creeds, or Articles, are opposed in vain. A number of learned ecclesiastics have therefore entered the lists to prove that the Articles and Services of our church, though professedly compiled by Cal