remain as she ever was- the common foe of God and man: thinking she does God service in the persecution and martyrdom of his saints; withholding from his people the right to peruse that most sacred word which he has placed in their hands as a lamp to their feet, and a light to their path; deifying saints; worshipping poor helpless mortals like themselves; and exercising an authority over the human mind which it is the prerogative of the Most High only to maintain. From such a power, with reverence and fervour, we exclaim, in the language of the Established Church, "GOOD LORD, DELIVER US!"

PORTRAIT-REV. JOHN WARBURTON.

WITHIN the pages of the GOSPEL MAGAZINE have already appeared the names of men of loftiest human intellect and attainments, as well as of a high standard in their vindication of the doctrines of the full and free distinguishing and unmerited grace of ar Triune Jehovah. But the subject of our present sketch is quite another order of being; instead of his being enabled to trace the origin of his present position of usefulness, more particularly among the tried and dejected of the Lord's family, to a respectable birth and a good education, we see Him who has said, "He giveth not account of any of his matters," going forth in his divine sovereignty, and calling into his vineyard and his service, a poor illiterate weaver, compelled to earn his scanty pittance by the sweat of his brow; whom having called, he instructs in the school of temptation, affliction, and sorrow, and thus qualifies him a fit messenger to go forth and testify to the church of the providential goodness, superabounding grace, and unchangeable love of our eternal God. There was a period when such a selection or choice on the part of the Almighty would have aroused all the bitterness and enmity of which the human heart is capable, among the majority of those whose supposed ministerial qualifications are nurtured at Oxford and Cambridge; but now-a-days that enmity is far extended, and displays itself with equal virulence among those who are tutored at our Dissenting colleges. These are now quite as ready as the former to reiterate the question, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" but we stay not to particularize the lengths to which some men of this class will go, nor to comment upon the contempt and spleen which they display towards those despised individuals whom God sometimes makes the trophies of his grace, and occasionally selects as the witnesses for his truth.

We love to see a minister possessed of human learning, where that learning is seasoned by grace; we are sensible that from the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge have emanated men who have boldly and unflinchingly declared the truth as it is Jesus, and who now, having delivered their message-finished the work given them to do, are gone to their rest; and we rejoice that there are still men of this description with whom our souls are in intimate communion-whom we have never

yet seen in the flesh, nor perhaps ever shall see, but whom we are expecting to meet in a world where all discord, strife, and division, shall for ever be done away. We believe likewise that many good and gracious men have received some of their earlier instruction in Dissenting colleges; but we lament to say, that some have we known amid the limited sphere of our acquaintance, whom once we had reason to think well of; in whose hearts a work of grace appeared to have been begun ; and who bade fare to run well; but who now, alas! have imbibed so much of the principles and practices of the day in which we live, and by which they are so greatly surrounded, that we look in vain for that simplicity, teachableness, and fervour, which formerly characterised them, and so highly raised them in our esteem. But, while we recollect a company of poor fishermen as our Lord's disciples and more immediate companions, and think of a tinker, a coalheaver, and others of equally low pedigree, we do repudiate that spirit of satire, opposition, and disgust which dares to sit in judgment upon the sovereign acts and discriminating choice of our most gracious God. Reader, if thou shouldst be among them, we warn thee: turn to thy Bible-read over and meditate upon the 1st chap. Cor. 24th to 29th verses. "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not to bring to nought things that are that no flesh should glory in his presence.

Mr. Warburton has now, if we remember rightly, been in the ministry about thirty years; the greater portion of which he has laboured over a church at Trowbridge, in Wiltshire; and we have heard, from indirect and undoubted sources, that his church is "knit together in love.” We could have furnished our readers with many deeply interesting anecdotes in connexion with him-more particularly the singularity of his call to Trowbridge; but we forbear, as Mr. Warburton has published his own account at a very limited price, and as we have a great aversion to copy from other men's writings.

A WORD TO OUR READERS.

It appears that from a portion of the contents of our last Number, some of our readers have been apprehensive that the GOSPEL MAGAZINE would become a vehicle-shall we say ?-of dark, dismal, gloomy forebodings; a medium of stifling rather than cherishing the hopes of its readers, and endeavouring to "build them up in their most holy faith." But we tell them that their fears are utterly groundless; for as the great Fountain of all life, liberty, and eternal blessedness, is pleased to communicate that life, liberty, and enjoyment, to our souls, so shall we, as

forth from time to time for the We have no wish to eat our mor

the Eternal Spirit enables us, bring it profit and well-being of our readers. sel alone; but we candidly tell them we cannot give them what we do not possess. We are like poor weary travellers waiting at the gates of some kindly benefactor; we knock again and again, but get no answer, until at length, just as we are inclined to turn away in despair, the Master himself comes, with a smile opens the door, and invites us in. And we do assure our readers, it is a very sweet season when such is the case; and our hearts are so full, that we long to tell them of the kindly reception we have met, and encourage them to go and knock likewise. But they must bear in mind one important fact, which is this, that before we can invite them we have to find out who they are, what they were, and where they are; and in order to discover these important matters, the Lord first leads us down into the depths of our own heart; opens to our view the chambers of imagery; and when he has kept us there as long as his wisdom sees fit, he bids us go forth and proclaim openly what he has revealed to us in secret. We do so according to the ability he gives us. When under his influence we can say no more nor less than he commissions us to say; if he says, "Go, show my people their transgression," we have to go forth and speak of the depths of iniquity of the heart; if He bids us speak of the crafty power of the great adversary, we are compelled to tell what little we know of Satan's devices: but if He says to us, "Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people; speak ye comfortably unto Jerusalem;" then we receive our message with gladness, and we joyfully go forth and cry unto Zion, "that her warfare is accomplished that her iniquity is pardoned-that she hath received at the Lord's hands double for all her sins." We should love ever to dwell upon this pinnacle of joy; but if He who lifteth up "the beggar from the dunghil to set him among princes," condescends to employ as his messengers such feeble worms as we daily feel ourselves to be, we are compelled to go down to the dunghil after them, ere they can be brought to occupy such a privileged position as that He has so graciously promised. We love to talk of the wonder-working grace, love, and power, of a dear Immanuel; but if neither sun, moon, nor stars, appear for many days, and the command again and again resounds in our ears, "Go forth, go forth," what can we do? Can we dare deliver any other message than that our Master has given unto us to deliver? Shall we speak at a peradventure; or shall we testify of what we have "tasted, and handled, and felt," of the good word of life-for blessed be God, it all has to do with life. The darkness and death of which we at times speak, are intimately connected with a life which can never die; a sight and sense of it spring from divine life and light in the soul and however that life and light may be hid amid the rubbish of the fall, and subject its possessor to disquietude and doubt; yet, in the Lord's own good time, it shall burst forth in a glorious and an eternal day.

:

But, in justice to ourselves, we ask our readers one simple question, and that is, when we accompany them down into the deeps of temptation, unbelief, and sin, is it with a view of keeping them there—of

making them satisfied and content in their darkness and misery? or is it, as God knows it is, for the purpose of exhibiting the craft of the great adversary, the power of unbelief, and directing the dim eye of faith to Jesus as a glorious hiding-place and strong tower of defence? This, this is the object we have in view.

CORRESPONDENCE.

To J. G., ESSEX.

THE special recognition of one brother in the common faith demands a special acknowledgment; and if our respected Editor will admit on the pages of his Magazine, a few words which may have the appearance of a private correspondence, we hope that in reality they may prove of no private interpretation, but be for the benefit of the "Members of the Invisible Church at large." To all who love the Lord in sincerity, I can offer the right hand of fellowship with delight, without desiring to know whether they worship in this temple, or that temple, feeling assured that all who are brought to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, do worship God in spirit and in truth. I must express, my brother, the heartfelt delight I experienced at your mentioning our late dear Editor, Walter Row, in terms of Christian affection. I am aware that an undue regard for the creature is not to be encouraged; but to revere the memory of a faithful servant of Christ, cannot be wrong. These mortal eyes never beheld him, but with the eye of faith have I loved him in spirit for Christ's sake; I loved him for the truth's sake; I loved him for the sweet spirit which pervaded all he wrote, whether in approval or disapproval; I revered him for the wisdom and judgment which shone so conspicuously in all his views and opinions. To those who also loved him, this little tribute to his memory will not be displeasing, and I feel that you, my brother, with those, will unite with me in saying, "Peace to his honoured memory; we would not forget him, but we would not recal him, and believe that God is able to raise up a faithful successor." And do we not hope he has done so ?-this hope is the joy and rejoicing of my heart, and while we cannot forget the dead, we would not forget the living; and this makes me advert to the excellent letter of "W. G." addressed to the Editor in September's Magazine, to express how heartily I join in the remarks-how fervently I unite in the desire that the admonitions conveyed to the brethren may be fully acted upon; and how sincerely I rejoice with "W.G." in the determinations of our Editor (to which "W. G.” has specially drawn the attention by the repetition), and from my heart I say may God the Spirit give the power to effect what he has already given the will to do. And here let me draw your attention, as also that of our brethren, to our Editor's remarks in the August No. on the Popish work, which he there reviewed. The horrid doctrines of Popery

-this "master-piece of Satan's devices"-this blasphemous counterfeit of the holy religion of Jesus, is rapidly increasing in our guilty land. I beseech ye, brethren, read again and again the remarks of our Editor -reflect on the cruel martyrdom of our holy contenders for the faiththe fires of Smithfield-the persecutions of bigotry; and say, will ye not hold up the hands-support with all your powers-assist and encourage one who has pledged himself to " wage eternal war" with the blood-chilling system of Popery.

I am induced to refer to the subject of unity. Unity is the cry of the world as well as of the professors of the visible church; but how deplorable that such a disunion should exist between the true believers of Christ; here the cry too often is, "Worship in our temple, hear our minister, or you are not one of us." Dear brethren, this ought not to be. This is a subject I much wish to impress on the minds of the Spirit-taught writers and readers of the GOSPEL MAGAZINE. Let the members of the invisible church strive to cast off the shackles of sect and party, looking unto Jesus, the centre of all perfection, and to God in him as the object of our worship: let us look unto one living Head as our example, not underrating his faithful ministers; let us cast off these outward things which indeed do but engender strife; and my prayer, dear brother, is, that the GOSPEL MAGAZINE may continue a little refuge for the followers of the Lamb; the spiritual writers and readers feeling themselves a little band drawn together for the truth's sake, looking to our Editor as a faithful watcher over all our words; praying that by the help of the Spirit, he may be kept from deserting his post. I now conclude under the assurance that you with myself believe that there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female, but we are all one in Christ Jesus.

And in the bonds of the everlasting Gospel,

I remain,

Yours, dear Brother, with Christian regard,

A MEMBER OF THE INVISIBLE CHURCH.

Sept. 17, 1840.

To the Editors of the Gospel Magazine. MESSRS. EDITORS,

Your invaluable periodical of this month accidentally fell into my hands, and I cannot help acknowledging the benefit I have derived from its perusal, trusting you will pardon the liberty I have taken in so doing. It is of a truly experimental character, and cannot fail to do the souls of the mourners in Zion good; the beautiful remarks in the leading article upon Jer. xxix. 11, "For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end," are soul-comforting truths to the tried of the Lord's family. My soul was greatly blessed while reading them; and they have left such impressions upon my heart, that cause my soul to sing and rejoice in the Lord Jesus, with joy unspeakable and full of glory, 1 Peter, i. 8. For the blessed Spirit enabled me to apprehend