Psalms, Christ is styled "the finest of the wheat."

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St. John, in his

first epistle, tells us, "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth." Therefore this darkness must refer to temporal circumstances, which will too often perplex and becloud the true light. The sun of righteousness ever remains the same to His believing people. His own words are, I change not, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." As long as we are tenants of these bodies (which are of the earth, earthy), and are passing through the wilderness of this world, we shall have dark trials. "In the world ye shall have tribulation, but in me, peace." Job saith, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him ;" his were temporal dark trials. The prophet Jeremiah's were national dark trials; he knew the Lord was his position. St. Paul was sorrowful about temporal circumstances, yet always rejoicing in the Lord. The prophet Habakkuk also saith, Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls (temporal dark trials), yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation." I think we are particularly to notice in the passage to whom the exhortation is addressed, "to them who fear the Lord and obey the voice of his servant; let them trust in the name of the Lord and stay upon their God:" no others will do so. "Without faith it is impossible to please God." There cannot be faith without love, where there is love, there will be a filial fear of offending. The name in which believers are to trust, is a strong tower, the righteous run in and are safe." "There is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." When the Lord proclaimed his name to Moses, it was, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth; keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin, and will by no means clear the guilty." Believers are not guilty. "God hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel :" (then the reason is given)" the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them." We find Christ saying by the mouth of his servant David, "They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay, he brought me forth into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put his statutes from I was also upright before God." So are all that believe in Him, without blame before Him in love. We find a beautiful promise in Isaiah, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusted in thee." Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name; for not only giving us the exhortation to fear, obey, trust, and stay on Him, but by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the power, will, and inclination. To Him be all the praise.

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me.

CORRESPONDENCE.

REV. GENTLEMEN,-Believing that sin is aschism against the Church of God, which is second only to heresy in doctrine, I can never become the advocate of that miscalled "religious liberty" which consists in causing unnecessary divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine we have received. Rom. xvi. 17. I think that it rather becomes us, Protestants, to deplore these irregularities and evils, which so sadly prevail (and, I fear, increase) among ourselves, than to make light of, or defend them. I would deplore the uncharitable and persecuting spirit, that crept along with the leaven of Arminianism, into the Church of England, in the days of Archbishop Laud, -when first the happy union, and communion, that had subsisted between the British and foreign reformed Churches, when Bucer and Martyr taught divinity at our Universities, was interrupted by the unhappy bigotry of that mistaken and ill-fated Prelate.

Again, I would deplore that most arbitrary and tyrannical act of the Puritans, who in their day of power had violently ejected from their livings so many men whose consciences would not allow them to subscribe to their "solemn league and covenant," and to declare WITH ONE OATH that " Prelacy (or the ancient form of Church government, which have been episcopal ever since the days of the Apostles, and their immediate successors in the ministry, the Ignatiuses, and Polycarps, of the first century) was as much to be abominated as Popery!" I hope, therefore, that while you unflinchingly maintain the Divine right of Episcopacy and are "high church" in that particular, you will with equal boldness maintain the ancient doctrines of grace, as taught by the Reformers, and embodied in our truly scriptural Articles, Homilies and Liturgy.-I remain, your's truly,

Foster Lane, Nov. 30, 1839.

H.A. K.

REV. SIRS, Feeling a desire to contribute to your excellent Monthly Publication, I shall venture occasionally to send a few lines, trusting if you, on perusal, find them unscriptural, or unworthy notice, you will cast them to the moles and the bats. My sincere desire is, to write to the honour and glory of my Triune Jehovah, and the good of immortal souls. Never was a day, when the voices and pens of real Christians (I mean those only who know the truth of Christ's words; “I, in them," and are enjoying the fruits of the Blessed Spirit) should be more earnest in telling of Christ being the only way, the only truth, and the only life; and that this way, truth, and life, must be received in the heart by faith, of the operation of God the Holy Ghost, than the present. Popery is gaining ground in all ranks of society, which may in time bring great persecution; and we may not be able to worship under our own vines and fig-trees; this I do not fear more than the principle of dissent, which is running over our land. I think I can prove Dissenters not only to be not Churchmen, but to be Papists and Arminians; therefore certainly not true Christians: all persons not born of the Holy Spirit, whether they pretend to worship in churches or in meeting-houses, (for the Searcher of hearts knows while they draw near with their lips, if their hearts be afar off) are Dissenters. They not only dissent from the Church service, which is truly scriptural, but from the blessed word of truth; which is able to make them wise unto salvation. At the root of this error we ought to strike; justification by faith, the doctrine of substitution, and union to Christ, is the language of the Church of England; all who dissent from these truths cannot be Christians. The Arminian tells us we

"To as

must be driven or hunted into Christ by the fear of hell, the terror of the law, or repentance for sin. Dissenters tell us the same. Is this scriptural ? Hath not God said by his prophet Jeremiah? "I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee." And by the prophet Hosea? "I will draw them with the cords of a man, with the bands of love:" also by the prophet Ezekiel," When I am pacified toward thee, then shall you remember your evil ways;" and again, "I will save you from all your uncleanness, and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you; then shall ye remember your own evil ways and doings, that were not good; and loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and for your abominations." It is written in the Acts of the Apostles," Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince and a Saviour; for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins:" therefore we must receive Christ in our heart by faith, before we shall truly repent of our sins, and desire to live godly. The Papists say, they go into purgatory, or some intermediate state: the Dissenters hold a similar opinion, which is, that all professors are in a state of misery, from the time they are called, until they can say with Thomas, " My Lord and my God." Is this scriptural? Faith in the word of God is the first step in religion. many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." Without faith we are without Christ; consequently without hope, light, and life; or power to act or think aright. "You hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins;" implying that after we are quickened we are made alive. From whence do we derive this life, but from our Living Head? who hath said, "without Me ye can do nothing." The Scriptures affirm that we are either alive or dead; seeing or blind; spiritual or carnal; children of God, or children of Satan; believers or unbelievers. When we live, our first cry is, "My beloved is mine and I am His:" when we see it is, "Christ as the fairest among ten thousand, and altogether lovely:" when we become spiritual, we are free: "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty:" when we become the sensible children of God, we know our adoption, and say without wavering, "Abba Father:" when we become believers, we believe the record God hath given of his Son; and this is the record," that God hath given to us eternal life; and this life is in his Son." In St. John's first epistle it is written, "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you; and again, "because you know the Father." Therefore babes in understanding know that they are heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. "They grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." Dissenters do not approve of this God-glorifying faith, which is more precious than gold, simply because they do not profess it," they shall be willing in the day of God's power." Willing to believe, to obey, to repeat our excellent form of prayer, and not only to repeat the words, but to acknowledge, that the service is " perfect freedom;" and willing also to cast off their tattered garments of doubts and fears, hopes and terrors, for that "righteousness, which is unto all, and upon all them that believe."

The burden of a true Churchman's song is praise and gratitude. Can he be thankful without faith? impossible! He believes his sins are pardoned; his name is written in the Lamb's Book of life; that God is reconciled to him through the death of his Son; he finds his affections raised to high and heavenly things; he feels within him the mind of Christ, and can say with St. Paul," For me to live is Christ, to die is gain. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God; who loved me, and gave himself for me. If Job could say, "I know that my Redeemer liveth," and he with the Old Testament saints could rejoice in a promised Saviour, and speak with confidence, (on whom the Holy Ghost had not descended as on the day of Pentecost,) surely we may, who live in this perfect day of gospel light, and are the temples of the Holy Ghost. St. Paul, writing to the Corinthians, saith, "Ye are the temple of the living God," as God No. I. VOL. I.-New Series.

D

hath said, "I will dwell in them and walk in them." We have confidence towards God, our hearts do not condemn us; the sins of the old nature of every believer are cast into the depths of the sea; the new nature is wholly spiritual, therefore cannot commit sin. God, who is greater than our hearts, does not condemn us, for He hath said in St. John's Gospel, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation." And again, "There is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Dissenting principles are not gained from the Scriptures, but from authors not taught of God. Isaiah saith, "The consequence of being taught of the Lord is great peace:" of this peace these authors know little or nothing, or of the glorious liberty of the children of God: they are therefore unable to teach others in private or public; they vainly fancy the Psalms to be the Christian's general experience. Christ said to his disciples after his resurrection, “All things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning me." In the Epistle to the Hebrews it is written, as he saith also in another place," (referring to the Psalms), "Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears, unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared. Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the author "of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him." No Christian can use the whole language of the Psalms. Can he say as in the 18th Psalm? “A people whom I have not known shall serve me.' "" Or, "As soon as they hear of

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me, they shall obey me." Or, as in the 85th Psalm, "Preserve thou my soul, for I am holy.' The believer drinks large draughts of comfort from this blessed book; he finds Christ interceding with the Father for him; enduring the wrath of God, persecution, and every trial, that he may go free: he finds the Father speaking of his dear Son, and of all who are in Him, with love and approbation. It is the believer's privilege, and unspeakable mercy to have an interest in these prayers, supplications, strong crying, and tears the trials and sufferings are Christ's, the benefits are ours. May the few lines the Holy Spirit has enabled me to write, be acceptable; and may many (if agreeable to the will of God) of those, who have a name to live, but are dead; whose eyes the god of this world has blinded, be brought to see the whole Scriptures, in their true spiritual meaning: then instead of dissenting, it will be assenting, and they will gladly join with us, “O sing unto the Lord a new song, for he hath done marvellous things." Also, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation." I will conclude with the beautiful words of the Collect for the one and twentieth Sunday after Trinity: "Grant, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen."

London, October 24, 1839.

GENTLEMEN,-A member of the Church of England, one who glories in her doctrines, and believes her to be firmly built on that rock, against which the gates of hell shall never prevail; whose articles, homilies, and prayers, are the joy and rejoicing of every true believer, sincerely desires the blessing of the Trinity in Unity, and Unity in Trinity, on the New Series of the Gospel Magazine; that the pen of each contributor may be guided by the unerring spirit of truth, so that they may write with a single eye to the glory of God. May the weapon of their defence be not carnal, but spiritual, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; and may they be enabled to pray for

all who dissent, in the words of their dear Redeemer, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

Hampstead, Nov. 15, 1839.

REV. GENTLEMEN,-Having been a subscriber and reader, for the principal part of the last forty years of this valuable Work, and been much blessed and profited under the sweet unction of the Lord and giver of life, the Holy Ghost, to the praise and glory of the Father of all grace; and having personally known and corresponded with the late respected, and faithful Editor, you will, I hope, excuse the freedom of my thus addressing you on the vast and important office you have entered on-the watchmen of Jehovah !!! in the Lord's vineyard and the public discriminators of the truth, and rejectors of every error militating against the Gospel of Christ and the doctrines of grace, so precious to the elect people of God, in every age of the world! Especially at this most awful epoch of their pilgrimage; so abounding in this highly privileged nation and among the myriads of inhabitants on the face of the globe, with sin, error, popery, heathenism, Mahometanism, and false professors of religion, and all led on by Satan, the great enemy of souls, and all his anti-Christian principalities, powers, and spiritual wickednesses in high and low places, whereby the heavens and earth, sea, and dry land, seem shaken to their very centre, and the groans of the Christian Church appear to be sounding in the streets of every city.

"Yet the Church's extremity is God's opportunity"-based on the rock of ages, the gates of hell shall never prevail against her; because Christ liveth she shall live also!

"A little spot, enclosed by grace,

Out of the world's wide wilderness."

In the worst days of persecution, oppression, and mourning of the people of God, the Lord of Hosts hath appeared in his sovereign, merciful, and allwise dispensations in bringing deliverance and defeating the machinations of their enemies in such a way and by such weak hands, that God may have all the glory.

Let every believer in Jesus now say, who is on the Lord's side, who? and pray sincerely that a double portion of the spirit of our late departed Editor may rest on you who are appointed to succeed him; and may all the Lord's flock," however distinguished in the world," be looking to Jesus their head, and adopt the motto of the Gospel Magazine. 66 Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy," and earnestly pray that God would be pleased to send forth his light and truth-shield his dear people with the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night; and that when the enemy comes in like a flood, Jehovah Jiralı may provide the way of escape by moving from before his people and going behind and between them and their enemies, so that as his never-failing power in past generations have not forsaken the Church of Christ, but hath delivered and doth deliver; and he will also yet deliver all those that trust in Him, see Psalm xviii. vers. 37 to 41, for your cncouragement. But may we not inquire the principal causes of the lukewarmness and present dead state of the people of God in this present generation? Have there not been, amongst the Protestants generally, too much an amalgamation of both with the outer-court worshippers, formalists, Pharisees, and even the enemies of those fundamental articles of our Christian religion, so much prized and held dear by our able Reformers and those valiant soldiers of the cross of Christ, named in some of the late numbers of the Gospel Magazine? viz. Luther, Calvin, Crisp, De Coetlogon, Newton, Toplady, Romaine, Hervey, &c. &c., and have not, I ask, their very names, and the precious doctrines of grace inspiring all their preachings and writings,