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changes of our state of grace or sin, our most considerable actions, are always present, like capital letters to an aged and dim eye; and at the day of judgment God shall draw aside the cloud, and manifest this manner of his presence more notoriously, and make it appear that he was an observer of our very thoughts, and that he only laid those things by, which, because we covered with dust and negligence, were not then discerned. But when we are risen from our dust and imperfection, they all appear plain and legible.-Bp. Taylor.

GODLY SORROW.-Godly sorrow is that feeling which rises in the soul under deep and sincere conviction of sin. A man who is living in unrighteousness, or is careless about religion, or engrossed with the world, knows nothing of it. A man whose religion is merely formal, or who makes a profession to deceive others, or who wishes only to preserve appearances, and perhaps gain reputation thereby, knows nothing of it. It is felt when the soul awakes thoroughly from the sleep of death, and first becomes sensible of the importance of eternal things. Some worldly disappointment comes, some stroke of sickness is felt, some sudden death arouses, some minister of God alarms, some messenger of peace awakens. It matters not who, or what, under God, may be the immediate cause of producing the effect. God deals with his people in various ways, according to his good pleasure. But the moment conviction of sin is really felt, godly sorrow begins to act. It speaks thus, "I have all my life been offending my good and heavenly Father. I have been slighting and despising my blessed Saviour. I have been grieving the Holy Spirit. Miserable sinner that I am, what must I do to be saved?" And when, to the inquiry, "Am I not too late? Is there mercy for such an one as 1?" the word of the Gospel answers, "Enter thou into the vineyard;" then godly sorrow is doubly felt, and tears of grateful penitence begin to flow. The heart is deeply touched by a Saviour's love, and by a still stronger sense of gratitude for having so long refused to come to him. The hope of forgiveness, and a view of the love of Christ, always increase godly sorrow. The rock is smitten, and the waters flow abundantly.Sermons in India, by the Rev. J. Bateman.

HOW A MAN IS SAID "TO PRAY CONTINUALLY.' Though in the old Jewish law the priest did not continually offer sacrifices unto the Lord, yet fire was continually burning upon the altar, and never went out. So, though we do not continually offer to God "the calves of our lips," yet the fire of devotion, and spiritual fervency, must be continually burning in our hearts, and never go out. And this is the true meaning of the apostle's exhortation, "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess. v. 17); not, pray continually with the tongue, as though that should never lie still; but pray without ceasing, meaning with that part which doth indeed never lie still, except we be still-and that is the HEART.-Sir Richard Baker on the Lord's Prayer.

Poetry.

THE PASSAGE OF THE STAR.

BY DR. BADELEY.

(For the Church of England Magazine.)

"And, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was."St. Matthew, ii. 9.

IN Syrian skies a lovely star

Is travelling fast and beaming far;

It rose not with pale Hesper's ray,

It set not with the rising day:
O'er Egypt flash'd the beacon-sign,

And Ishmael's desert-dwelling line,
Where Hagar fainted on the wild,
And angels fed her famish'd child;
The Magi, men of lore, and eld,

That Heaven-commission'd light beheld;
And donn'd their shoon, and in their girdles roll'd
Treasures of frankincense, and myrrh, and gold,
For Him whose harbinger before them went
To shew his virgin mother's lowly tent.

On, on it mov'd, o'er plain and spire,
A lustrous flood around it throwing;
Seem'd Sarem's battlements on fire,
And Lebanon's high cedars glowing;
On, on it swept, o'er moor and swamp,
Pois'd in mid air that guiding lamp,
Valley and flat, and rising ground,
In one broad blaze illuming round;
And lake, and wilderness, and sea,
Laugh'd in the glorious fulgency!

King Herod slept-but his pale guards with dread
Survey'd the passing planet as it sped,

Like a strange sun careering through the night,
Till Bethlehem's stable-roof flam'd in the standing light.

Why doth it shake its brilliant hair
O'er such a low and lonely hovel?
Can aught divine be harbouring there,
Where scarcely grooms would deign to grovel?
So deem'd these venerable men,
As the stay'd orb suspended high
Hung balanc'd to their wondering ken
Between the pent-house and the sky;
And at each hurrying step they trode
Along a thicklier crowded road.

In went the Magi-in, beneath the star,
'Mid opening skies, and loud hosannas ringing;
While sentrying angels pac'd the poor bazaar,
Towhich their costly gifts the pilgrim seers were bringing.
All bright in that forlorn repair,
And negligent her golden hair,
They found the maid of Jesse lying;
Whose lowliness God did not scorn,
A cattle-crib her bed supplying;
And on her lap the Virgin-born!
Entranc'd with awe the star-lit seven
Gaz'd on the Saviour-child of heaven,
While burst more high the loud hosanna's tones
To Him who sits upon the throne of thrones.
And as before the glorious Babe they kneel'd,
Earth's symbol-tributes from their zones untying,
They sung redemption, and God's grace reveal'd
Through Christ, the King of kings, in his lone manger
lying.
Chelmsford.

HINDER ME NOT. "HINDER me not, ye little ones, Unto my fond heart prest; Warmly as ye may nestle there, I dare not love you best." "Hinder me not," still to the last Thus will the Christian say; "I must be pressing on, kind friends, And work while it is day.

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INDIAN SUPERSTITIONS: WALKING ON FIRE.*— Hearing that the superstitious ceremony of walking upon fire was to take place this afternoon, near the Mount Road, I repaired to the spot indicated, in company with the Rev. J. H. Gray. After some inquiries, we found that the pagoda was situated behind the buildings, with a communication by a narrow street. Passing through this, we entered the court of the pagoda. Here was an idol in a sitting posture, very gaudily painted, and at least fifteen feet high. It was the figure of a man, with large staring eyes, and two tusks protruding from the upper jaw: a black, sharply-pointed sword was placed vertically in the right-hand: at the left leg was a small figure, in a fighting posture, with a shield in one hand, and in the other a weapon something in the shape of a battledore: the whole had the appearance of brick. Some of the attendants broke cocoa-nuts at the feet of this monster; and we perceived on the pedestal flowers, and a mess like a mixture of barley-meal for a dogkennel. We proceeded directly to the gate of the pagoda, where a crowd was assembled. Our appearance seemed to produce confusion among the attendants, one of whom inquired what brought us there. On our replying that it was the desire to see what was going forward, he said it was not permitted to us to come so near. We accordingly withdrew to a position which commanded a view of the pagoda and the space in front, and which the very urgent entreaties of the attendants could not induce us to quit. They were anxious to explain that the walking on fire would not take place for nearly two hours; but on our giving them to understand that we had resolved to remain, we were rather surprised to see two arm-chairs brought for us, and placed in the shade; the object seemed to be, to have the vehicle in which we were seated taken out of the court; but although we availed ourselves of the chairs, we would not allow this; as, to reach it again, we must have walked some distance, under a burning sun. We soon observed a native ascend the pedestal, and take from some part of the body of the idol a large knife; with which he returned, followed by a crowd, to the middle of the court, where a circle was formed round three fine sheep, which were killed in succession. A rope, held by a native, was attached to the head, and drawn tight; and at the moment when the animal drew back and stretched its neck to the utmost, a single stroke of the knife severed the head from the body, and the creature fell on its side, struggling convulsively for a few seconds. I saw the head of one of these sheep lying at the gate of the pagoda: it appears that this is the portion of the priest, and that the body is taken away by the person who offers the sheep. A very large fire, fed with green branches, was burning fiercely in the centre of an excavated parallelogram, about twelve feet long by six broad, at one end of which, and of the same breadth, was a hollow filled with water from a channel: the whole was surrounded by a fence of stakes and ropes. About an hour after the sheep had been killed, two idols on stages, supported on men's shoulders, were brought from the pagoda, and paraded, first round the court, and then through the narrow street: a man astride on an ox was thumping furiously on a pair of tom-toms slung over the shoulders of the animal: the sound, with that of other instruments, was quite stunning.

From Mr. Elouis' Journal, published in "Missionary Register," Sept. 1839.

Indeed, nothing can be more discordant than the music at these festivals, and in marriage-processions: as much noise as possible, and as little harmony, would seem to be the objects aimed at. One of the figures was adorned with flowers, and seated on a green peacock larger than life: it was shielded from the sun by a faded pink parasol. Although quite close to the other idol, I could not make out what it represented. In the meantime, the boughs which were not consumed were taken away, and the ashes of the fire, forming a large heap, were spread over the excavated space, so as to present a level surface. At first we found it difficult to maintain our position, on account of the heat; but its intensity was much diminished before the re-appearance of the idols, which returned in about half an hour, and were stationed at the edge of the water: no live coals were then perceptible. Ten or twelve persons, with necklaces of white flowers, and led on by a native, on whose head was a pyramidal frame covered with flowers, rushed twice over the ashes, passing through the water to the idols before which they assembled. The man with the frame on his head began, as usual, to wheel round; and several individuals addressed him in a kind of chant, keeping time with a sort of rattle, one grasped in each hand. Near this man was a native with a large earthen pot of fire on his head, the flame issuing from the mouth and through the apertures in the upper part: he also was decked with white flowers; and I perceived some strings of these between his fingers and the pot, as if to protect them from the heat. Although the votaries were barefoot, not having any clothing but a piece of cloth round the middle, it was certainly no great exploit to pass over these ashes at full speed, especially as any embers which might adhere to the feet would be instantly extinguished in the puddle of water. Indeed, there was manifest deception throughout the whole affair. When the ceremony was concluded, many of the spectators drew near, took some of the ashes in their hands, and rubbed them on their foreheads: some did not choose well; and it was rather ludicrous to see them dropping the ashes from one hand to the other, and shaking their fingers. I observed one man pray, with great apparent fervour, to the idol on the peacock; but only one. Having taken shelter from the rays of the sun under a palintree which almost overshadowed the spot where the idols were placed, I was much struck with a curious tissue of fibre, which closely embraced the lower extremity of the fan-like leaves at the point where they issued from the stem: it was evidently designed for protection; and it would have formed an excellent model for cloth, where the art of weaving was unknown. It was quite a relief to turn from the sad spectacle of idol-worship before me, to this and numberless proofs of the existence and providence of the one only true God in the works of his creation; and it was with no ordinary feeling of delight that I joined, that evening, at family worship, a little band of native youths, who, rescued, through missionary effort, from the miserable soul-degrading superstitions of their countrymen, have long been instructed in the way of salvation through faith in our compassionate Redeemer.

THE LITURGY.-I know no prayer necessary that is not in the Liturgy but one, which is this, that God would vouchsafe to continue the Liturgy itself in use, honour, and veneration, in the Church for ever; and I doubt not but that all wise, sober, and good Christians, will give it their Amen.-Bishop Blackall.

London: Published by JAMES BURNS, 17 Portman Street, Portman Square; W. EDWARDS, 12 Ave-Maria Lane, St. Paul's; and to be procured, by order, of all Booksellers in Town and Country.

PRINTED BY

ROBSON, LEVEY, AND FRANKLYN, 46 ST. MARTIN'S LANE.

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THE CHRISTIAN ARMOUR.

JANUARY 11, 1840.

"Put

BY THE REV. W. STONE, M.A. Curate of Whitmore, Staffordshire. THE weapons of the spiritual armory of the Christian warrior are enumerated and described by St. Paul, at the close of his epistle to the Ephesians; a wholesome and excellent practical conclusion to the ministerial charge given to his flock. He calls upon them to put on the whole armour of God," shewing them for what purpose it is needed, and notifying its several parts and properties. "Put on the whole armour of God," says he, "that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil;" "for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." These are the enemies of our souls; Satan, the great adversary of mankind; evil spirits leagued with him in accusing, calumniating, tempting, and destroying man. Yet God has furnished his believing servants with strength for the conflict, so that "sin shall not have dominion over them, that they should obey it in the lusts thereof." He has provided means of defence, various and mighty, in full proportion to the methods of assault from the subtle and powerful adversaries; in Christ, the great head of the Church, he supplies abundant resources of every kind, so that we may have power and strength to have victory, and to triumph against the devil, the world, and the flesh."*

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These means of spiritual warfare are such as all, who have in baptism taken upon them their profession of Christ's soldiers and ser

Baptismal Service.

VOL. VIII.-NO. CCIII.

PRICE 1d.

vants, are intimately concerned in knowing; the subject, therefore, deserves serious attention and earnest consideration.

In the passages referred to are drawn out in detail the different parts of that spiritual armour of defence and combat: on each of these a few remarks will be made. The first part of the armour adverted to by the apostle, 1. The girdle of truth-"having your loins girt about with truth."

This is mentioned first, because it is the girdle which holds most of the other pieces of armour together. Without sincerity and truth in our religious creed and practice, there can be no true religious spirit and principle. It was prophesied of Christ (Is. xi. 5), "Righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins." That which Christ was girt with, which was a constraining motive and feature in all his intention, temper, and conduct, when on earth he lived our bright example and pattern-that, of course, all Christians, as bound to reflect the image of his character, must take as their girdle. By profession we are followers of his steps and partakers of his spirit; if we are so, not in appearance only, we shall have on " the girdle of truth." God, "the God of truth," requires this: himself just and true in all his purposes, words, and works, he "desires truth in the inward parts" (Ps. li. 6). As he cannot be deceived by any outward show, so he cannot be pleased with any outward act of obedience not rooted and grounded in the inward "truth" of love. Truth, therefore, must gird the whole heart and mind. Sincerity must prompt all our feelings, words, and doings, in religious and moral practice, before we can be said to pos

[London: Robson, Levey, and Franklyn, 46 St. Martin's Lane.]

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sess this essential part of the Christian armour, "the girdle of truth."

2. "The breastplate of righteousness" is another portion of the Christian armour. The "breastplate" is that which fortifies and defends the vital parts. It is very important, as protecting a very tender and vulnerable part, the seat of life. Breastplates were made of the strongest and most impenetrable material, covering the whole front of the body, so that darts and other destructive instruments would bound off from them without inflicting wound or injury. The assaults of the Christian's spiritual enemies are all directed against the soul, the seat of life. How they may gain and keep possession of the heart; how they may wound, injure, or disturb it, when it is in possession of another, even God,these are the chief objects of the snares and temptations, the crafts and assaults of Satan. The taking and putting on this part of "the armour of God," "the breastplate of righteousness," is taking and keeping close upon the heart "the righteousness which is of God by faith in Christ," that divine clothing which is "unto and upon all them that believe." Neither the girdle, the breastplate, nor any other part of "the armour is of man's own making or providing, but of God's. As" truth in the inward parts" is of his gift, to be sought and derived from him; so the "righteousness," which is to cover and guard the heart as a breastplate of mail, is also from his heavenly armory. The righteousness of Christ is that defence, which through faith is imputed to the believer in his name, to cover and hide the soul from the sentence of merited

judgment. "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God." As soon as man believes from the heart, God accepts him, passing by his transgressions, through the merits of Christ. He is thus saved from wrath, and "accepted in the beloved, by grace through faith;" the signet on the heart being "the breastplate of righteousness."

Another part of this breastplate, inseparable from the former, is a righteous spirit implanted in us; an humble, earnest, habitual and conscientious spirit of obedience to the will and law, the mind and precept of Christ. If any one pretending to have the former have not this, its rightful evidence, in vain does he profess to take the righteousness of Christ for his dependence, "he is none of his" (Rom. viii. 9). As our Lord and Master, in his life on earth, "put on righteousness as a breastplate" (Is. lix. 17), so are his soldiers and servants to take and arm themselves with the same; in faith to receive it to their hearts, embrace and obey it in their lives.

3. The feet are to be "shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace."

In former times, the feet and legs were armed, to enable the soldier to march through difficult ways, to stand in difficult situations, to keep off missile weapons; consequently strong greaves and buskins were fastened and bound round them. "The preparation of the Gospel of peace" is that spiritual defence with which the believer is exhorted to equip himself in his Christian course of warfare. It implies those motives and encouragements to obedience, with which the Gospel furnishes us for running the Christian race. The great motive of "love" makes the hardest road of obedience light and easy; and the encouraging promises of Divine help and protection, peace, safety, and final victory, are able to sustain the weak and tottering footsteps, to keep stedfast the course of the Christian pilgrim in his weary and often slippery paths. To advance safely and smoothly in his heavenward journey, let the Christian warrior take this motive, which "the Gospel of peace" provides and inculcates "love.' Let the love of God in Christ reign in his heart, and rule his steps. Let him take the promises of Christ, his presence, his watchfulness, his final deliverance of his people; and, with the grace of God, he will feel, even when the feet are most feeble, the Divine "strength made perfect in weakness;" he will be able to tread down all enemiesdoubts, fears, disquietudes, despondencies; he will, with the great Shepherd's "goodness and mercy," "his rod and his staff," be enabled to overcome the ruggedness and inequalities of the way, so that "the mountains shall be brought low, the valleys shall be exalted, the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain."

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4. Next follows "the shield of faith." This part of the armour is introduced to notice by the expression, "above all." "Above all," because this sacred shield is to gain the victory. "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1 John, v. 4). The girdle braces the armour tight together; the breastplate defends the vital parts; the greaves, or feet-preparation, preserve against the ruggedness of the way; but the shield is for the whole body, to be directed for defence on every side. Faith is all in all in the day of trial and danger. Faith is the stronghold of the Christian's safety. The composition of "the shield of faith "is this: to trust in Christ for pardon, guidance, preservation, victory, resignation; to cast all upon God; to surrender all to him, in patience, obedience, hope, and love. It is this divine shield that makes the invisible appear as visible; which reflects, when looked upon in the midst of fiery trials, "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not

seen;" which makes an almighty arm appear present to help in the midst of the dark, raging battle; which gives blackness and confusion to the enemy, while it affords light and joy to the Israel of God:

"As evening's pale and solitary star

But brightens while the darkness gathers round;
So faith, unmov'd amidst surrounding storms,
Is fairest seen in darkness most profound."

5. "The helmet of salvation" follows next. "The helmet" is a covering for the head. The apostle (1 Thess. v. 8) says, "We have for an helmet the hope of salvation." A good, well-founded hope of the present favour of God, and future happiness with him, is a cheering and crowning principle to the other Christian graces and properties. A sound, well-sustained expectation of victory cheers and animates the soldier "in the day of battle." It elevated the godly courage of David, when he said, "O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle" (Ps. cxl. 7). This assured hope will keep the mind firm, calm, and stedfast unto the end; it will give consistency to the character, decision to the designs and resolutions, and crowning energy to the plans, purposes, and endeavours. Satan and all spiritual adversaries would perplex the believer with doubt, tempt him to distrust God, try to bruise our heads, drawing us into captivity to "many foolish and hurtful lusts.' But faith, which affords "the shield" to defend the members, brings with it "the helmet" to arm and protect the head. The promise is to faith: hope links in with this promise, lays hold of it, and keeps close to it. As a man in battle would keep his head covered with his helmet, so the warring Christian combatant will cling to his "hope;" and as a ship holds to her firm anchor, so he holds to his bright hope to the last, rocking perhaps to and fro at times under the heavy swell of the billows of life, but still preserving his place for the most part, and abiding undismayed; directing his mind uniformly to the sure haven and inheritance in store the mansion eternal prepared by the lovingkindness of God his Saviour for all his faithful and trustful flock, who "hope to the end." "The hope of salvation" is a goodly well-polished helmet; let the Christian warrior take it, but let him not be mistaken as to its true temper and material. It is not of earthly or fleshly mould: it is holy, spiritual, and heavenly. A helmet it is as of polished steel, or solid gold, beautiful, precious, and imperishable; not like some "potter's vessel," which any slight accident may dash in a moment to pieces. To be genuine, it must be built on Christ; it must spring from faith; and it must be kept bright through the Spi

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The sword is a weapon of attack, as well as defence. "The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword." divinely wrought; fabricated in the courts of heaven; of unearthly temper, power, and execution. It was this divine weapon, which our Lord employed against the wiles and assaults of the arch enemy. "It is written," and "thus saith the Lord," are the two keen edges of this invincible sword. These the Spirit first employs within the heart, to pull down Satan's dominion, "piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow; a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb. iv. 12). And then, when the kingdom of darkness has been overthrown within, the same Spirit shews this weapon's use without, in meeting and overcoming every fresh encounter.

must

To keep this sword well polished and sharpened for constant service, we have recourse continually to "the word of God." We must read, search, examine, pray over the great truths therein, which "accompany salvation." We must not be novices in the sacred tongue; but "read, mark, and learn," so as to be intimate and familiar with its true sound and sense. We cannot, for example, be considered armed with the sword, so long as we are unacquainted, either in mind or practice, with the written testimony to the truth of Christ, the nature of sin, the need of salvation, the necessity of repentance, the sufficiency of grace, the efficacy of justifying faith, the hopes, the sanctions, the promises, the principles and rules of right doctrine and discipline. These it will be necessary for every man to know, both to "prove himself, whether he be in the faith," and to be able to "give to every one that asketh, a reason of the hope that is in him;" to strengthen a weak brother, or

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put to silence" (as occasion may require) "the ignorance of the foolish." Thus may he possess "the sword of the Spirit," being

"well instructed in the word of God:" so that when the world, with its many snares and deceits, of prejudice, bigotry, unbelief, evil advice, bad example, wild notions, wrong imaginations, tries the temper and strength of this spiritual weapon, he may, through its divine excellence and grace, "be thoroughly furnished unto all good works," having the

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