the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord our God hath commanded you? Then thou shalt say unto thy son, we were Pharoah's bondmen in Egypt, and the Lord brought us out with a mighty hand, and commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is this day." Here are recorded hosts of people rejoicing in and worshipping God acceptably prior to divine calling;' and here are statutes (and many more might be cited) directing parents to inculcate religious principles in the minds of children,-directing them to sow sacred seed in a rational, intellectual soil, which soil is productive of fruits well pleasing to God. But an exposition of these texts would resemble a torch presented to show the mid-day sun.

As your correspondent is a parent, I would ask him whether he cannot discern a moral difference between the two following lines of conduct practised by unregenerate men-whether he has no preference in respect of which his child pursues-and, whether the two supposed individuals will be awarded in equal proportion, in the tremendous dispensation of God's retributive justice? That of deriding the doctrines of grace, contemning the scriptures as a cunningly devised fable, reviling the person of Christ, and persecuting his ministers as impostors. And that of defending the scriptures as a revelation of the will of God, vindicating the discriminating truths of the gospel, administering to the necessities of the servants of Christ, and supporting his claims as the true Messiah and only Saviour of sinners. If he alledge there is no moral difference, such allegation would tend to destroy the distinction between vice and virtue, sin and duty. If he admit there is a moral difference, the admission would go a great way towards overthrowing his own proposition, above quoted; for, true morality approved of God, is performed in obedience to commands which either expressly or implicitly require such conduct; and a real, a reverential observance of a divine command, is very near akin to, and not always easily distinguished from, "worship acceptable to God."

This correspondent informs us that his mind was much exercised for three years about the duty of teaching children to pray; and on his first becoming a parent he was led to the contemplation of bringing up a child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; that he felt disposed to propose a question thereon in some periodical work, but was finally led to the fountain head to ask wisdom of him with whom wisdom dwells. Now, as he has been three whole years contemplating the subject matter of that very important and well known scripture, "bring up a child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord;" and, moreover, has received light therein from the fountain head; it is natural to suppose that he has formed some very correct, if not comprehensive views of the text: a scriptural delineation of the passage, would supercede the necessity of further enquiry. Resting in hope of seeing this request complied with, I now, and for ever resign the controversy. SHELUMIEL.

January 6, 1827.

ORIGINAL ESSAYS.

XXIV.

ON POVERTY.

A STATE of poverty, in the literal acceptation of the term, the majority of the human race too well understand to require explanation; neither is it requisite, for the information of those who are favoured with bountiful supplies of the mercies of providence, that they should be told what it is to be poor. It would be well for society if many of the latter did not need often being reminded of the condition of their fellow men; and if the scenes of distress and misery, constantly passing before them, were alone sufficient to excite a kindly benevolence for the mitigation of human woe, or the prevention of many evils to which man is subject. The alleviation of worldly sorrow, and a grateful acknowledgment of the timely interposition of friendly aid, are an ample reward to the generous mind, and ought more frequently to operate as an inducement to sympathetic feeling and prompt assistance from the ungenerous and selfish.

In the vast and unparalleled exertions of the benevolent, to feed and clothe the destitute, to stem the torrent of disease, to soften the pillow of the languishing, and to afford instruction to the ignorant, "to guide their feet into the way of peace," notwithstanding abounding ostentation, and unworthy, and in the eye of God, unacceptable sacrifices,-our beloved country is without competitor among surrounding nations. And yet, though large, how small and inadequate the help afforded to the necessitous, in comparison with the almost unlimited demand. Yea, to meet the diversified claims of the poor, and to ameliorate the condition of the needy, who are at the present time wandering forlorn and hopeless on the face of the earth, would seem to require the utmost energies of the liberal,—and the desired supply might then fail. Such are the doleful and universal effects of sin, such the distressful consequences of human transgression, to which every individual of the family of man is the living witness.

But we have to speak of spiritual poverty. And its most prominent characteristic, apparent in the conduct and pursuits of the fallen children of Adam by nature, is this-that though all are equally desperately poor, and all are living evidences of the sad condition, all do not know it. There are no privileged orders in this extensive fraternity: the same line of demarkation bounds the whole. To whatever degree the affection of sympathy may be excited in the enlightened mind towards others, its possessor, scanning the wide

range of his species, can behold no individual more involved in the common degradation than himself. However urgent the demand for spiritual relief and instruction, no claimant can possibly stand more in need than those who observe this universal poverty, and are concerned to point out the means of supply. But the knowledge of spiritual poverty, though it opens to a scene of universal desolation and ruin, becomes the medium, in unnumbered instances, by which its possessor is conducted to high honors and lasting privileges. The various schemes projected for the amelioration of human misery, answer to a certain extent the benevolent design of their founders and patrons: but has any plan devised by the wisdom of, man, for the renovation of our fallen nature, in any one instance effected the object for which it was originated? Here lies the amazing, yet obvious distinction: the poverty of man as a citizen of the world, though great, and in some respects understood by all, is not universally endured, the poverty of the citizens of Zion is universal, but understood by few.

Our gracious Lord places first in the beatitudes, Matt. v. 3. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." What boundless love, that beings who of the whole creation of God feel and know themselves to be the most worthless, and the least deserving of the riches of grace and salvation, should be told expressly by him whose "own arm hath brought salvation" to the church, that they are already" blessed," and that, even now, "theirs is the kingdom of heaven!" The state of the church as described by the holy apostle, Eph. i. 6. "accepted in the beloved," is rarely contemplated by the believer with the earnestness of enquiry its importance demands; nor does he apprehend it so clearly as it is his privilege to do, and the plain declarations of the inspired writings warrant. The blessedness of that state consists, primarily, in the mystical union subsisting between Christ, the beloved, and the objects of eternal choice and favour; and, secondarily, in the evidences they exhibit of that intimate and indissoluble union. But to prove

the genuineness of those evidences of being one with Christ and accepted in him, it is not indispensable that the Lord's poor should be assured of interest in him:-were this required of them, who, of the whole family, would afford unfailing proof of the high relationship? Few there are who possess an habitual assurance of interest in Christ; while the number is large of those whose work of faith and labour of love testify their possession of that good portion which shall not be taken away from them.

The divine wisdom, in thus managing the spiritual affairs of the church is exhibited with refulgent splendour. And did the believer more diligently mark the progress of its manifestations in the Lord's dealings with his people, he would discover in the poverty of spirit he deplores, a blessedness answering to his Lord's gracious declaration, and readily exchange the spirit of heaviness for the garment of praise. When, by the power of the Holy Ghost resting on him, the poor sinner is

made acquainted with his true condition before God, he is brought into a state exactly, and then only, suited for the reception of Christ; and he is then, and not till then, capacitated to receive by faith such apprehensions of the glory of his person, and the suitableness of his salvation, as are calculated to fill his soul with all joy and peace in believing. And why does he not with full purpose of heart, with joy and rejoicing, take hold of the divine affirmation, "blessed are the poor ! How is it that the discoveries already made, of the preciousness of Christ and his own necessities, lead him not to embrace with open arms the author and finisher of faith? The poor in spirit know well how to frame an answer to the question; while those who are rich, increased in goods, and wanting nothing, need not be interrogated on the point.

So seldom do the subjects of grace unite, in their contemplations the blessed' state of acceptance in Christ, with its legitimate evidences, that a twofold error of no ordinary magnitude is the result. Some may be heard boldly presuming, or, with a levity bordering on wantonness, laying claim to an interest in covenant blessings, when the heart and affections do not yield the fruits of righteousness, and the life is not governed by the restraints of the holy principle implanted at regeneration. Others, whose life and conversation bespeak the sincerity of their profession, and whose experience proclaims the influence of a work of grace in the heart, are instigated by satan to doubt of being accepted in the beloved, and to mistrust the inseparable connexion between that privileged state and its effects as displayed in themselves. The one does not sufficiently regard the severe lesson learned by broken-hearted Peter: the other forgets the error of doubting Thomas!

It is an undeniable and glorious truth that the Lord the Spirit can alone reveal spiritual knowledge to the heart: but let not poor sinners, under a fear of acting in their own strength, neglect the volume of their Father's will, wherein all things pertaining to life and godliness are recorded and divinely explained. Neither should they, from the same apprehension, disregard the throne of grace, the court of their heavenly King, where the poor in spirit' are all welcome, and their petitions are never rejected. Oh! they lose much in spiritual advantages, who slight these ever-accessible means of grace. What though the sacred volume appear, at seasons, a sealed book to them: is not the Lamb in the midst of the throne" worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof?" This he hath done. And does not the Spirit of grace engage by weeping and supplications to lead the poor, and the blind, and the lame, and the woman that travaileth, yea, a great company, by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble ?" Be it their happiness as obedient children to sit at their Father's feet, waiting to hear his gracious words spoken home to their hearts; and whether he speak in the still small voice, or in the tempest-in the resplendent displays of his grace, or in the cloud of dark providences, may they still recline

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there, listening to the melody of his sweet voice, or patiently submitting to his will, till they are enabled exultingly to apply their Lord's words thus: "this is the rest wherewith the weary are caused to rest; and this is the refreshing we seek after !" And by those who wait longest, and whose patience, they fear, is almost exhausted by reason of great trials and sore affliction, that gracious promise will ere long be verified in their experience: "it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light."

While we thus call on our poor brethren to accompany and follow us in the investigation of these most encouraging scripture arguments, we pray them also to join us in exalting the person and the glories of Christ:-that he to whom is ascribed by the Father and by the whole church, the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, should declare of such sinners as we,-" blessed are the poor in spirit: for THEIRS is the kingdom of heaven." And that we should not fail of arriving at the possession of our inheritance through our own poverty, and the innumerable obstructions we meet with by the way, he has engaged by the immutability of his counsel and promise," when the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them!"

Sir,

(To the Editor of the Spiritual Magazine.)

THE insertion of the following letter from the Rev. Dr. Hawker in your Magazine, will oblige the Committee of the Gospel Tract Society, who avail themselves of this opportunity of expressing their sincere regret, at the loss of the valuable services of their highly respected President. They most earnestly pray that he may be long spared as a faithful labourer in the Lord's vineyard.

January 24, 1827.

By request of the Committee,
(Signed)

H. PETO, Chairman.

TO THE COMMITTEE IN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE GOSPEL TRACT SOCIETY.

Brethren, beloved in the Lord!

Having through sovereign mercy lived to see your Society after three years trial, now, as I hope, well established; I beg to give in my resignation of President and final Editor, in order to withdraw, as time admonisheth me, from all public places, but the church of God; to wait in retirement, and meditation, and prayer, for the hour of my Lord's call, to take me to himself, that where Jesus is, I may be also.

I find cause to bless the Almighty Author, from whom alone cometh every good and every perfect gift, for his gracious act in disposing the minds of his chosen to the original formation of this Society. And I cannot contemplate the wonderful aud unlooked-for success it hath found, in the great circulation of Tracts, without eyeing his band in the appointment; and bowing before him in praise for his blessing upon this humble Institution.

Though from age, and increasing infirmities, I find it expedient to withdraw myself from forming a part in your Committee, where I have no