is not the concomitant of destruction; that present trial is no argu ment against future triumph, that temporary conflicts are no preventatives of eternal conquest.

Unbelief dwells upon the cloud, and forgets the bright sun beyond it; drowns the spirit in the waters of murmur, and rolls the impure current to inundate every power of the mind; but faith descries an unchanging God in all transitions; faith sees the haven in the blackest storm, and feeds upon the promises in the midst of inexplicable providences.

66

Cast down, but not destroyed;"' troubled, but not unto death; rocked in the sea of life, but still within the vessel, saved from the vengeance of a flowing and merciless tide; denied, but not forgotten; smitten of men, but known and loved of God; uncomfortable, but safe, and heir to comfort.

Trembling, timid, tempted penitent! If such should cast an eye upon these pages, why wilt thou not remember that thy salvation is of God, and cannot be frustrated by men, by Satan, by thyself, or any infernal enterprize? Why wilt thou not take the holy record in connection? Why wilt thou not cease to hope to satisfy a soul that cannot be quite happy until perfect before the throne ? If God have said by the mouth of his apostle John, that love to the brethren is an evidence of the new birth, an indication of interest in covenant favour, (1 John iii. 14.) why wilt thou let Satan tell thee thy love is too small, or too divided, or too self-interested? Why should the Father of lies (for such is Satan) decide upon the degree of love? or thus rob thee of thy assurance? Thou mayest be cast down in the knowledge of thy infirmities, thy sins, thy unworthiness, but underneath thee are the everlasting arms; they on all occasions shall support thee, they through every maze shall point thee to the promised land; therefore, be of good cheer, "let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Take down thy harp from the sweet willows, tune it to the key of full assurance; let it not gradually decline to the note of doubtfulness, but the Lord grant thee grace to hymn to the end of thy journey, SAFE though SAD; CAST DOWN, but NOT DESTROYED.

Brighton.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

J. M. D.

In the press, and nearly ready, Psalms and Hymns, selected by the Rev. J. S. Sergrove, L. L. B.

Preparing for publication, Twelve Discourses, by the late Rev. Philip Bearcroft, D. D. Master of the Charterhouse, Prebendary of Ely, &c. &c.

This day is published, "Joseph Corrected." By J. A. Jones. Also, by the same Author, and will be ready in a few days, "The Errors of Joseph Exposed," &c. Second Edition.

Just published, Rev. E. Smith and Rev. H. G. O. Dwight's Researches in Armenia, with a Visit to the Nestorian and Chaldean Christians of Oormiah and Salmas, 8vo.

Just published, by John Must, price Threepence, a Poem on the Profanation of the Lord's Day. Also, by the same Author, price Sixpence, a Poem, in two books, entitled, God's Universal Dominion in Providence and Grace.

REVIEW.

A Catechism according to the arrangement of, and chiefly extracted from the Assembly's shorter Catechism, two editions with or without the scripture proofs. By William Nunn, Minister of St. Clements. Manchester, 18mo. pp. 12, pp. 34. Manchester,

H. Smith.

Dr. Watts' first Catechism improved by W. Nunn, 32mo. pp. &. Manchester, H. Smith.

WE are at all times pleased when we see ministers who love and preach the grand truths of the gospel, directing their attention, and devoting their abilities to those practical efforts which adorn the christian character. The compiler of these catechisms is known to many of our readers, as the clergyman who preached one of the anniversary sermons of the Gospel Tract Society, which was afterwards published, and also as the compiler of a collection of hymns for Sunday Schools. Our prayers accompany the authors, that the eternal Jehovah may sanction these endeavours to promote his truth among the rising generation.

The Life of the Rev. Rowland Hill. By the Rev. Edwin Sidney, 8vo. pp. 444, Second Edition. London, Baldwin and Cradock.

We have read this very interesting piece of biography with much pleasure. Mr. Sidney has performed an acceptable service, and furnished a volume which exhibits a most correct portraiture of the deceased. The days of Whitefield and of Berridge seem almost present to us in the glowing narrative which is given of Mr. Hill's early life, and throughout are interspersed numerous striking ancedotes, which while they display the eccentricity of the deceased, at the same time clearly shew him to be a true disciple of his Lord, and one honoured in his own peculiar sphere as the instrument of much usefulness. Who can read the following, without at the same time that they lament the volatility which characterized Mr. Hill to his latest hour, cherishing affection for the individual.

A gentleman of his acquaintance once met him at Brighton where he heard him preach a sermon, in which there was such a mixture of the humorous that the congregation were excited by it to a considerable degree of laughter. This was followed by such an awful address to their consciences, and a pathos so deep and melting, that there was scarcely an individual present who did not weep. In the evening the conversation at the house in which he was visiting was of a very lively nature. After Mr. Hill retired, the gentleman before alluded to thought he heard some one in the passage, and on going out found him at the foot of the stairs. He feared he was unwell, but on enquiring the reason of his remaining there, he discovered him to be in deep agony of mind, to which he gave vent in confessions of sorrow at

having been such a trifler, and mourned over his unseasonable drollery with the simplicity of a child. Before he went to his room, he said, "I never wish to say a single word to excite a smile which would prevent an immediate approach to God in all the solemnity of spiritual prayer." This scene was most affecting, and was a striking proof of his contrition, when he reflected that by giving way to the natural sprightliness of his disposition, he might have prevented his real usefulness, or have forgotten for an instant the character of a messenger of the gospel.

Again, who could write a more faithful and admirable letter than the following to his assistant at Wotton, Mr. Jones.

My dear Youth. While God blesses you, I trust it will be my happiness to make you happy, and to uphold you to the utmost of my feeble powers. I trust Wotton will be a place of profitable and active retirement preparatory to a sphere of more extended usefulness on a future day. If you were to continue the same plain bawling Welshman you now are in your present situation, I might say, go on, never mind breaking grammar if the Lord enable you to break hearts and bring souls to Christ; but if you could acquire a little more culture without losing any of your zeal and holy simplicity of heart, your usefulness might be more extended. I would not give you a single sixpence to have your tongue dressed at any of our modern academies they are in general sad soul starvation places; only take the hint, and work on, and blunder on as hard and as fast as you can.

Alas! that such a man thus evidently a partaker of the grace of God, should strive so bitterly against those who better taught are enabled by the Holy Spirit to tell the whole counsel of God, without mangling or concealing doctrines plainly revealed in scripture, but which should not be brought forward in their naked simplicity, says the popular essayist, Mr.Foster," that evangelical religion may not be rendered repulsive to the man of taste!"

An Antidote against Arminianism; or, a short Treatise to enervate and confute the foul Heresies of the day. By Christopher Ness, M. A. a new edition, 12mo. pp. 92. Devonport, H. Granville. This admirable work is now too well known to need any recommendation of ours; the present reprint is without the notes, &c. of Mr. Jones, with which all the former new editions were accompanied, and which we are free to confess we esteemed as valuable enrichments to the volume. The Editor announces at the close of his preface an intention of publishing a stereotype edition, to be sold at 9d., thus making it suitable for distribution in price as it is indeed in importance.

Black Gowns and Red Coats; or, Oxford in 1834, part 5: on the Admission of Dissenters, and on the Character of the London University, 8vo. pp. 32. London, Ridgway.

A poetical satire on the Church of England; it is talented and may be true, but Dissenters will gain little in the opinions of real christians by such a mode of warfare.

POETRY.

MUSINGS AT ESHCOL.-No. II.
PISGAH-Deut. xxxiv. 1.

THE joy of Moses, when from Pisgah's brow
He gazed on Canaan-lovely land, where vines,
Fig-trees, and olives grew spontaneous, where the hills
Crown'd with the spreading cedar, and the vales
Blushing with roses, perfumed tributes paid
To the bright streams meandering-Moses' joy,
Steeped in remembrance of the murmuring
Which closed to him its gates, was dim to that
Which glads a christian, when by faith inspir'd
He climbs the Pisgah of his hope, and sees
Fairer than Canaan, and to him secured,
Above contingencies, the promis'd land
Of his inheritance. His raptured eye
Roves the domain, the golden city sees,
And now the sparkling mansion, which for him
Long ere he knew life's sorrows, was prepared:
Pondering now, his soul hath gone to Golgotha,
Counting the purchase price, reflecting now
His vast unworthiness of such a boon,
Now wreathing hallelujahs for the grace.

REZENEB.

THE PRISONER'S DESIRE, CONFESSION, AND PRAYER.

LORD, set my soul from prison free,
And let me find true rest in thee;
Since grace is free, and thou art kind,
Full pardon let a rebel find.

Confined in chains, Lord, here I lie,
While Satan whispers, "I must die;'
Tells me I am a sinner vile,
And Jesus on me will not smile.
Thus doth my soul in darkness dwell,
While my sad foes in earth and hell,
Against me all their force unite,
And bitter things against me write.
My interest in thy precious blood,
They make me doubt, Almighty
God;

They shake my hope, they spoil my

My best desires are faint and few,
Dear Jesus, do my 30ul renew;
Do thou my faint desires revive,
And keep my dying faith alive.
My soul shall still the means attend,
And seek the dying sinner's friend ;
And if to perish is my fate,
I'll perish at the mercy-seat.
From prison, Lord, my soul dis-
charge,

And let a sinner walk at large;
Knock off my chains and set me free,
And thou shalt often hear from me.
So will I praise thy holy name,
And all thy wondrous love proclaim;
While thy dear saints shall join with
me,

And aid my soul in praising thee.
And while they compass me around,
Songs through thy temple shall re-
sound;

With joy we'll of our Jesus tell,
And sing he has done all things well.
Thus bountifully do thou deal,
And all my sad diseases heal;
Then shall my soul to rest return,
My heart with love to thee shall
burn.

A COUNTRY MINISTER.

WHAT IS PRAYER?

PRAYER is a high and holy thing,

He only who can say;
When at the footstool of the King,
Lord, teach me how to pray.
May hope sweet answering to gain,
May hope for Christ to plead;
Well ordered words are all in vain,
And eloquenee is dead.

Pray'r often speaks in groans and
sighs,

And often too in tears;
It penetrates the gloomy skies,
Of rising doubts and fears.
Pray'r is a privilege 'tis true,
But only so to such,
Who can in low abasement view

That pray'r containeth much.
Pray'r is a breath that God inspires,

Within a broken heart;
And all that real pray'r desires,
The Lord will sure impart.
Pray'r is the spirit of the mind,

And faith's companion there;
And hence it is we often find,

How few know what is prayer. Pray'r is the converse of the soul, With God in Christ as one;

And if there's sorrow, pray'r will roll,

The burden on the Son.

And yet the throne is oft a task,
To those who visit there;
Scarce knowing what they say or
ask,

Except, can this be pray'r?

Yes, trembling soul, tho' words be few,

Thou need'st not yet despair;
Thine heart has Christ alone in view,
And this indeed is pray'r?

'Tis God the Spirit thus inspires,
Thy fainting soul to pray;
'Tis he that gives thee such desires,
And he will be thy stay.

Pray'r is the spirit's native air,
Akin to that on high;

And of it much the children share,
Who" abba Father" cry.

This is the foretaste sweet of bliss,
Where saints their anthems raise;
Then let my daily prayer be this,
Lord, change it into praise!

LINES ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

THE day of judgment soon will come, When men must know their final doom,

In either bliss or woe: Christ our great Judge will then descend,

And at his call the dead attend,

And to their stations go.

Lo, he descends with dreadful sound,
To rouse the nations under ground,

And raise the sleeping dead:
Their graves no longer them detain,
But all their dust do now resign,

They leave their dusty bed.
Great day of wonders that will be,
When we must wake our Judge to

see

Upon his great white throne;
When sinners unto rocks will call,
Upon their guilty souls to fall,

And hide them from his frown.
Alas, alas! in vain they call,
For rocks and mountains too must
fall

Before the dread I AM :
Naked and guilty they appear,
For sinners no acceptance there,
Bnt in the bleeding Lamb.

S. O. L.

The wrath of God with fury blaze,
The heavens all in vast amaze,

Before him pass away;
The stars now from their orbits fall,
While seas and graves obey his call,
In this surprising day.

Though flames attend him from
above,

He's clad in robes of endless love,

And saints shall him admire ;
He comes to call them from their bed,
To reign with him their living Head,
And sing to Gabriel's lyre.
Upon his throne he does appear,
His rising saints to him draw near,

To hear his welcome voice;
Say, Come ye blessed of the Lord,
Receive the joys my grace afford,

And evermore rejoice.

O happy, happy, happy day,
When saints adorn'd in bright array,

Shall join the blissful throng;
And when the last great trumpet

sound,

May I with rising saints be found,
To join the sacred song.

A COUNTRY MINISTER.