when man fell-but thanks be to God, he was shamefully disappointed. A new attribute burst upon created being in all its glory-I mean new to finite being, because neither good nor evil angels could have any idea of its existence-nevertheless, it did exist in the thoughts and purposes of love which inhabited the bosom of God from all eternity. Mercy burst in all its glories on a benighted world!-and what must have been the joy of our first parents when the promise was first given to them. Some divines have thought they spent a whole night in all the pangs of guilt and remorse before God visited them. Whether this be true or no, know not, but their misery must have been great in the extreme, perhaps greater than that of any of their descendants on this side eternal torments. What then must have been their joy when the promised Messiah was announced to them by himself in consequence of the eternal purpose of God. They were then driven from Eden in far greater glory, notwithstanding all their infamy, than when called into existence. They were re-called into a new state of existence in consequence of--what? of the thoughts and purposes of God."

In the third sermon, discoursing on the leper under the Mosaic law as typifying the sinner under the gospel, are the following beautiful remarks:

"It is absolutely necessary we should know and see and feel that we are lepers. It would appear that no one could tell the individual whether he was a leper or not, but the priest. The priest was taught by God himself to distinguish the plague of leprosy from any thing else, and to pronounce him clean or unclean. No one can teach us that we are sinners but Jesus Christ. The High Priest of our profession alone can convince us by his Holy Spirit that we are transgressors.

"An individual pronounced unclean by the jewish priest of old was nevertheless not healed by him. He was healed indeed by types and methods prescribed by God himself; but our High Priest never convinces of sinnever shews to any one that he is spiritually leprous without inviting him to himself to be healed. He healed lepers while here below, to teach us his power and disposition to heal diseased sinners.

"No physician was to be applied to by the lepers of old, probably none would have presumed to attempt to heal the leper. His case was evidently beyond the reach of all human skill. The priests looking at the leper, and confining him seven days, had no necessary tendency to remove the disorder, but it was God's appointed method. Sin is incurable by every one but God alone. The Saviour is a physician as well as a high priest. Taught and disciplined by the truth and Spirit of God, we see every thing provided for us wonderfully appropriate to the end God has in view. "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth."

"I hope some who hear me now are not only convinced of their spiritual leprosy, but honestly desirous of being healed by an infinitely glorious High Priest and Physician.

"It now and then happens that individuals who are exceedingly distressed in mind are in a very safe state: others can see it, although they do not see it themselves, and this is very strikingly illustrated in the history of the leper." If a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague, from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh, then the priest shall consider, and behold if the leprosy have covered all his flesh," (one would be led to suppose this was a most desperate case-but let us read on)" he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white, he is clean." Medical men will tell you that when there is health in the constitution it fights against disease, and drives it from the vitals to the extremities; and then though appearances may be bad, yet the skilful physician knows that all is wellhealth is in the full possession of the vitals of his patient."

We might go on to select many parts of these sermons which met our decided approbation, but our limits will not permit. We would rather refer our readers to the volume itself.

We cannot close our remarks without observing, that there are several subjects which our author dwells on quite contrary to our views. In his thirteenth sermon, he considers, "the obedience of faith" as a duty due to God from every one who hears the gospel. Here we are at issue with the preacher. If faith is the gift of God, then is it not a duty required of fallen men.

We might refer to many other similar observations, but we forbear: he is, we doubt not, entered into that eternal rest prepared for those that love God, and are the called according to his purpose; and although his mighty-genius could not stoop while on earth to the mighty sovereignty of Jehovah in all his ways, we are quite sure that he now looks with holy admiration on those mysteries which while here below he often endeavoured to bring to the standard of human

reason.

Pastoral Letters from a Minister to his Flock. By James H. Evans, 32mo. pp. 82. London, Shaw.

These Letters will be read with much pleasure by those who constitute the church and congregation among whom Mr. Evans statedly labours, as they evince a sincere and affectionate attachment to the people of his charge, and an earnest desire that they may indeed grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ-while they must be considered as possessing more immediately a local interest, still they may be perused with much profit by others, who may not be personally connected with the respected author.

An Essay on the Deity of Christ. By John Burnett, second edition, 12mo. pp. 174. London, Relfe and Fletcher.

The divinity of Christ is a fundamental doctrine of the first importance in the christian system; and we doubt much whether any who have been truly convinced of sin by the Eternal Spirit, are ever permitted after conversion to fall into this snare of Satan. We do not find any scripture ground to believe that a regenerated character can deny the all-sufficiency of that atonement which saved his soul from deserved wrath. There are, however, many who under the first dawnings of divine light on their minds may be much perplexed on the doctrine of Christ's divinity, especially in the present day when Satan has his emissaries constantly on the watch, aiming by argumentative discussion to embarrass and confuse the sincere seeker after truth to such the present volume will afford much information, and may furnish arguments wherewith he may be better enabled to combat the wily sophistry of the impugners of Christ's divinity.

This Essay is written in an attractive style, and the author appeals to the holy scriptures to establish the arguments adduced. There is

an appendix annexed, which contains a reply to many of the leading objections to the deity of Christ brought forward by socinian writers.

Proposals for a Reformation of the Church of England, in a Letter to a Friend about to secede from that Communion, 8vo. pp. 91. London, Ridgway's.

State of Politics, 1835. By a Member of the Church of England, 8vo. pp. 59. Ridgway's.

Remonstrance to the Bishop of London. By C. Lushington, 8vo. pp. 56. Ridgway's.

These three pamphlets, on the all-prevailing topic of the day, have been sent to us for review. Our sentiments on the subjects are well known; although Dissenters ourselves, we join not with those of the party who are so eagerly craving after college titles and this world's honours, "remembering that this is not our rest;" far less have we fellowship with those who, because of its imperfections (and what institution with which poor fallen man has ought to do can be a perfect one) would rend the "Church of England" to pieces, and leave our land destitute of that which for so large a period has been its chief ornament, namely, its national profession of a national belief in God and his revealed word.

Many of our readers, it is probable, will take much offence at this statement; be it so, such will approve the three pamphlets at the head of this notice; but we will not hesitate to raise our feeble voice, whenever opportunity seems to demand it, against the ambitious projects of worldly-minded dissenters, and the revolutionary spirit of the times.

It is painful by such harsh epithets to characterize objects, after which, esteemed but erring friends mingle in the pursuit. But let them examine these things by the word of God, and tell us if therein they can find any authority to strive to overset the powers which be, and which are so because ordained of God; or any commendation of such as imitate the character of Diotrephes who strove to have the pre-eminence.

POETRY.

THE DYING HUSBAND.

OH! Weep not so, my love, thy frequent tear
Makes me still longer wish to linger here;
And could you see, 'tis there, the dazzling view,
Of heaven and angels beckoning me thereto;
Could you behold the far off glittering throne,
And see a precious Saviour sit thereon;
And hear him smiling call my soul away,

Oh! then, my love, you wonld not wish my stay.

Weep not-our God doth hear the widow's prayer,
And I, my love, when a bright spirit there,
Remembering then the tie so blissful now,
Will ask, and our kind Saviour will bestow,
To be thy guardian angel hovering round,
And whispering comfort when thy cares abound;
Bethink thee, Mary, in the hour of gloom,
Unseen thy trust, and still is in thy home.
Our children!--but I feel my love will shew,
As mother's only can, what they should know-
To see them lisping on their mother's knee,
Their little prayers is joy denied to me.
Kiss me, my boy!—my blue eyed girl, again;
Let not a father's prayer, Lord, rise in vain,
To their lone mother may they blessings prove,
And give them both to know redeeming love.
Again, Christ calls, and there are seraphs now-
Love, dry the death-dew from my throbbing brow-
They come as convoy, and the chariot waits,
And open stand, they say, the pearly gates :-
I come, bright beings! yet again, one kiss-
Weep not so bitterly, I go to bliss,

To bliss not perfect, till my wife be there,
The crown, the palm-branch, and the joy to share.
Farewell! farewell! the dazzling car I see,
Remember, but I know thou wilt remember me;
I come, dear Lord, what glories now are given,
I'm all unworthy of so bright a heaven.

How shall I praise thee! Death, is this thy sting?
And this thy victory, grave? poor captived king;
In honour of thy Conqueror, soon I'll swell,
Such loud hosannas! Mary! fare-thee-well!

THE

Spiritual Magazine;

OR,

SAINTS' TREASURY.

* There are Three that bear record in heaven; the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST; and these Three are One."

Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

MAY, 1835.

THE LORD DOTH ALL THINGS WELL.

1 John v. 7.

Jude 3.

TRULY varied are the Lord's dealings with his people here below; but still, the saints of the Most High must all agree that the Lord doth indeed do all things well: though oft-times they appear to walk smoothly, yet the way in which he generally leads them is strewed with many a briar, and the path they have to walk in seems crooked and uneven, which often causes them to think it very mysterious and unaccountable: yes, often do their hearts repine and murmur at the trials they are called to pass through, forgetting or losing sight (through the gloom that pervades their minds) of those precious words, "For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory," 2 Cor. iv. 7. But Satan ever does and ever will harass and perplex the child of God in whatever situation he may be. If in a less tried path than others of the Lord's family, and especially if their outward circumstances are easy, he will suggest to them that they cannot belong to the Lord's family, because the Lord loveth whom he chasteneth: " and if ye are without chastisement whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons," Heb. xii. 8. Thus turning these precious truths, which are given for the comfort and consolation of the Lord's tried ones into a source of grief and uneasiness to their poor doubting souls, and but for the blessed Spirit causing them to hope in the Lord would drive them to despair; but this he will never accomplish, for the blessed Redeemer of their souls has said, "All that the Father hath given me shall come to me," John vi. 37., and that not any of his little ones shall perish, neither shall any pluck them out of his hand, John x. 28.

But Zion's pilgrims have mostly to travel through the valley of Baca, and to drink of the waters of Meribah, to meet with crosses VOL. XI. No. 135.]

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