source, that the learned could immediately discover the traces of a cognate dialect. Indeed, judging by those specimens of the oracular words which I have seen, the learned must find some region as yet unknown before they can meet with a people speaking these truly unknown, or rather unknowable, tongues. But if the advocates for the inspiration of the oracles should urge that the same obscurity and uncertainty attended the gift of tongues in the days of the apostles (and some of them do put forth this plea), we see at once how this is confuted in the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, where those who had received the gift spoke languages recognised by various foreigners, who immediately attested the wonder and truth of the miracle; and, doubtless, this miracle was, by the grace of God, one means of converting 3000 persons in one day to the faith; for, as Paul says, tongues are for a sign not to them that believe, but to them that believe not,' (1 Cor. xiv. 22.) It seemed, however, to have been a practice in the Corinthian church, till Pauf corrected the error, for those who were gifted with the power of speaking various languages to rise up in the congregation, and utter exhortations in a language unknown to the majority, and yet a language with which the learned were acquainted. For Paul says, 'If the whole church be come together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say ye are mad?' (1 Cor. xiv. 23.) To correct this error the apostle gave an excellent rule,' If any man speak in an unknown tongue let it be by two, or the most by three, and that by course, and let one interpret; but if there be no interpreter let him keep silence in the church, and let him speak to himself and to God,' (ver. 27.) Now, if this rule were observed in the effata of the modern oracles, we may safely say that a perpetual silence would be kept; for no interpreter can be discovered to the words of the oracles excepting those very persons who deliver them; and, indeed, if any other interpreter could be found, these exhibitions would wear a very different aspect.

"If, therefore, the advocates for inspiration should (in despair of finding any interpreter of the sounds but those persons who utter them) boldly claim the gift of a miraculously taught tongue, which not only is unknown, but is always to remain unknown, as if it was the language of another world, I think they will be drawing upon the faith of the believers too largely, excepting from persons whose credulity can make them believe any thing. But if, on the contrary, the sounds are to be considered a miraculous gift, let the miracle be proved at once, by that very easy and plain proof offered in the apostolical age-let the supposed gifted persons give an exhortation in some of the ori

ental dialects-in the Chinese, for instance, or the Burmese, the Mahratta, the Persic, the Assamese, the Malay, the Japanese, the Arabic, or any of the languages of the South Sea Islands, or, in short, any real language of any real people; let it be proved that this gifted person never knew the language before, and then a ready acknowledgment of the miracle must be conceded by every one, whether he be unlearned or an unbeliever.

"But a miracle, to be a miracle, must appeal to the senses, and be proved by the senses, or else it is only a pretence. If our Saviour had called up Lazarus from the dead, and Lazarus never had left the tomb, who would have seen a miracle therein? But the senses of the beholders were appealed to for the proof, and this was an argument not to be resisted. But to claim the power of miraculously speaking languages (without ever having known the language before), and yet not to be able to produce that language, is much like the pretended miracle of the Mass, which claims to change bread into flesh, though all the senses contradict the fact of the change, and positively prove its falsehood. It is, therefore, important to remember that sounds without meaning are not a language, but they are only sounds; and unless they are words that either are, or have been, used somewhere to convey meaning, and have been understood by some people to be the expression of thought, they are of no more value than the noise of thunder, the murmur of waterfalls, or the pattering of hailstones; which, though they express the motion of matter, are not to be considered, in any sense, the representation of ideas.

"I find, however, with some, that a strong impression has been made on their minds by what they term the supernatural voice, in which the oracles are delivered; now here it should be noted, first, that other persons who were present perceived nothing supernatural in the voice; and, secondly, that supernatural is a vague term, which should be well understood. It means above or beyond naturesomething more than nature's laws exhibit: if, therefore, these sounds were uttered with such prodigious loudness as to be distinctly heard ten or twenty miles off, they would then be supernatural; but if it is only meant (and, indeed, this is the only meaning) that the voice seems to some to be very awful, solemn, and mystical, then there is nothing supernatural in this-it is only deeply impressive, though the very impression will depend on the frame of mind and aptitude to belief with which the listener hears the voice. A dying person, whose faith is strong in his redemption, and whose affections are spiritually fixed on things above, will speak to those that surround his bed with very solemn and awful tones, but they are not supernatural."

Mr. Pilkington's pamphlet is a singular

production, and well worthy of perusal. It lets out facts which certain folks would doubtless have liked to conceal. We are not quite sure, however, whether Mr. P. would have objected to the extravagances of the Scotch Church had he met with more courtesy among its more distinguished authorities; nor do we know from any thing that his pamphlet contains whether he may not look out for other miracles in some other quarter. If we have done him wrong in these conjectures we shall be very sorry, and shall be glad to communicate with him, personally or by letter. We think he owed more to himself than simply to narrate facts. He should have shown the whole thing to be wrong in principle.

Dr. Burn's discourse is a most pious and judicious defence of the truth, worthy of the venerable church to which he belongs, which has been mournfully caricatured in London ever since the arrival of Mr. Irving in the British metropolis. His introductory remarks are pointed and forcible, though it is much to be feared they will have little effect upon those whom nothing will satisfy but miracles. He has, however, borne, during his short visit to the metropolis, an honest testimony against flagrant error; and if, at an earlier period, Dr. Chalmers had done the same, instead of pronouncing a most exaggerated eulogy, the Church of Scotland might have been spared part of that humiliation which she has now sustained.

DISCOURSES ON THE SABBATH. BY RALPH WARDLAW, D.D. 12mo. pp. 295.

Hamilton, Adams, and Co.

WHETHER WE Contemplate the social, moral, or religious interests of a community, we must regard the settled influence of the Sabbath as essential to its real and permanent well-being. It were easy to show, that the tone of a nation's morality must, in a great measure, be regulated by the degree in which the Sabbath is kept holy to its original and grand design. The public has been furnished of late with many treatises on the subject of which this volume treats; some of which have been very valuable, and others in a high degree pernicious. A work on such a momentous topic, from the pen of Dr. Wardlaw, was a thing greatly to be desired. His calm, patient, inductive, and scriptural mode of handling any branch of theology, greatly fits him for the discussion of a subject upon which great variety of opinion has obtained among many wise and excellent men. Our author belongs to that class of divines who hold the distinct moral obligation of the Sabbath

; and we may venture to add, that among this class he takes high ground. In this we greatly rejoice, as we happen to know that in certain quarters the good oldfashioned doctrines of better times, on this

and other subjects, begins to be unpopular. Dr. W. is a staunch advocate for the comprehensiveness, universality, and permanence of the Decalogue; and those who have had their faith in any measure shaken upon this vital point, will do well to peruse the volume before us, irrespective of any reference to the main theme to which it is devoted. In the second discourse he has presented a view of this momentous question the most clear and satisfactory it has ever fallen to our lot to examine. Indeed he appears to us for ever to have settled the dispute, and to have furnished a most valuable caveat against that dangerous theory, which would confound moral and positive precepts, and which would represent the law of the ten commandments as among the things which waxed old and vanished away when Christ entered on the throne of mediatorial dominion. In our opinion, the rising ministry cannot be too solemnly warned by their theological tutors against the error of supposing that none but the Jews were concerned in the law of the ten commandments; and to aid them in the discharge of this wholesome part of duty, we beg respectfully to call their immediate and close attention to the admirable and conclusive reasonings of this volume.

But the original and most striking portion of this elaborate treatise is that which relates to the sabbattical and moral character of the

day celebrated among Christians in remembrance of Christ having finished the work of redemption. We do not say, that others before Dr. Wardlaw have not held his views on this subject; for, indeed, Dr. Owen, in his exposition of the Hebrews, has thrown out the same idea; but we may, without hesitation, assure our readers, that the argument for the first day of the week being a Sabbath has never before been placed in a light so convincing and satisfactory.

The contents of the volume will show the completeness of the Doctor's plan. I. The origin and universal obligation of the Sabbath. II. The comprehensiveness, universality, and permanence of the Decalogue. III. The moral nature of the Sabbath-the duty of holding sacred the entire day-and the evidence, from New Testament example, of the change of the day. IV. On the more direct authority of the New Testament for the change of the day. V. On the sanctification of the Sabbath-the supposed difference in strictness between the Jewish and Christian Sabbaths considered ;--and the question how far the Sabbath may be the subject of enactment by human laws, under the Christian economy. VI. Same subject continued. On the principle, or state of mind and heart, necessary to the right observance of the day; on some of the spurious motives from which the merely outward celebration of it may arise; and on its public, domestic, and personal duties. VII. Same subject continued.

;

On the various modes of Sabbath profanation. VIII. On the benefits accruing from the due observance of the Sabbath, to individuals, families, churches, and civil communities and on the evils resulting from its neglect and profanation. IX. On the means of checking the profanation, and promoting the due observance of the Sabbath.

We cannot hesitate for a moment in affirming, that this volume deserves a place in every public and private library throughout the kingdom. At such a crisis, too, when the Sabbath is so much profaned by some, and so laxly observed by others, we cannot but regard its appearance as peculiarly serviceable.

THE OFFICES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: Four

Sermons, preached before the University of Cambridge, in the month of November, 1831. By the Rev. CHARLES SIMEON, M. A., Senior Fellow of King's College. 8vo. pp. 102.

Holdsworth and Ball.

THE pious author of these sermons is well known to most of our readers as a distinguished advocate of evangelical truth, who has, for many years, borne an uncompromising testimony to the peculiar doctrines of Christianity, in a sphere where they have not always found a congenial soil. When we look at the simple and faithful character of these four discourses,-how pointed they are in their appeals,-how fully they disclose the corrupt and fallen state of human nature, -how entirely they throw the apostate sinner upon the help of God,-how they establish the necessity of a divine influence to originate, carry on, and perfect the divine influence, we feel ourselves compelled to honour the venerable preacher, and to congratulate the members of a University, who were privileged to listen to such excellent instructions. The text upon which Mr. Simeon has founded the four sermons now before us is Rom. viii. 9: "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his ;" and the topics discussed are the following:-1. Who is that Spirit whom all Christians are expected to possess? 2. Why the possessing of that Spirit is indispensable to our being Christ's acceptable followers? 3. What that Spirit will work in us, in order that we may be Christ's? 4. What he will work in us when we are Christ's?

As all solid and scriptural works on the character and offices of the Holy Spirit are peculiarly valuable at the present moment, when the doctrine of Divine influence is so lamentably perverted in certain quarters, we rejoice to be able strongly to recommend this brief but excellent treatise to the attention of all sincere Christians and devout inquirers. How eminently is it to be desired that the work of the Spirit should become every day

Those who have read the life of Dr. Payson will be anxious to peruse his sermons. He was a man singularly endowed by nature, and his standard of personal religion and ministerial qualification rose far above mediocrity. We are truly glad, therefore, to be furnished with these discourses ! They realise, to a most happy extent, our ideas of their departed author. There is a tone of decision, in almost every sentence of this volume, which well answers to the character of a man who was one of the boldest and most successful reprovers of sin in the age in which he lived. In those views of transgression and its consequences which are fitted to rouse the slumbering consciences of the unconverted, Dr.P.'s sermons greatly abound. We do not wonder that his ministry was a source of great excitement, both to the church and the world. Such "a son of thunder" must have often roused into action the pride, enmity, and persecuting tendencies of the human heart. But that Master whom he so faithfully served rescued him from the cruel effects of human malice, and constituted him the instrument of great revival to the church of Christ. Of the pointed and direct mode of assailing the human conscience, and driving the guilty sinner out of every refuge of lies, we regard these sermons as a happy specimen, and, for this reason, in particular, commend them to the serious attention of the rising ministry. The subjects selected for this volume, by the judicious editor, are such as to afford ample opportunity for the public to judge of the characteristic tendencies of Dr. Payson's discourses. -1. The Bible above all price. 2. God's ways above men's. 3. All things created for Christ. 4. The old way which wicked men have trodden. 5. Sins estimated by the light of Heaven. 6. Men tried and found defective. 7. Our sins infinite in number and enormity. 8. The wicked, through pride, refuse to seek God. 9. Recollections of God painful to the wicked. 10. Sinners wilful and perverse. 11. Amiable instances of holiness. 12. The promised fruit of Christ's sufferings. 13. Messiah's victory promised and desired. 14. Sinners entreated to hear God's voice. 15. The difficulty of escaping the damnation of hell. 16. The dead in sin made alive. 17. Universal law of forgiveness. 18. Fraud exposed and condemned. 19. The mark of deliverance. 20. The Christian manner of expressing gratitude. 21.

The timely presence and salutation of Jesus. 22. A festival kept to the Lord. 23. The second coming of Christ. 24. Equality of men with angels. 25. The punishment of the wicked dreadful and interminable.

CHRIST'S FAMOUS TITLES, AND A BELIEVER'S GOLDEN CHAIN; also a Cabinet of Jewels, or a Glimpse of Sion's Glory; together with Christ's Voice to London, during the Plague. By the Rev. WM. DYER. London Book Society. 28. bound in cloth.

out.

WHEN good old Dyer published this delightful little work in 1665, he said, "I hope no one will blow out such a candle on earth." It has not been blown out, nor suffered to go It has been for many years the light of many cottages in Scotland; and it will, we trust, become so in England. We well recollect being attracted by its brilliant title long before we were capable of comprehending its contents; and it became an early favourite, because it was a special favourite with our pious parents. We have seen them reading it with delight on Sabbath, during the interval of sermons, with which secondrate sense or savour could not have been combined. Had not Dyer been sappy as well as sound, he would not have been tolerated, after the orthodoxy and unction of the preachers we refer to. The Book Society have done well in thus keeping Dyer's "candle" from going out; and their sub. scribers and friends will do well to keep it from being put "under a bushel."

THE CHILD'S MONITOR.

666

Whittaker and Co.

THIS little volume of Texts and Verses, compiled by a lady who has had great experience in the education of the young, is admirably adapted to the capacities of children. The poetry is invariably an exact illustration of the passage of Scripture introduced. The pious writer observes, that it is to be regretted, that a CHILD'S DAILY MONITOR' has not yet appeared, though in almost every other department of instruction children have been furnished with books adapted to their capacity and early feelings. In the hope of supplying this desideratum, the compiler of the present little volume has endeavoured to select the most simple as well as important texts; and the accompanying verses may tend to elucidate or enforce the sentiments."

WORKS RECENTLY PUBLISHED.

1. The Christian Pastor Visiting his Flock, and the Flock Reciprocating their Shepherd's Care. By JOHN MORISON, D.D. 2s. in Cloth, and 3s. in Silk.

2. Just Published, Ignorance and Intemperance the Source of a Nation's Calamities. A Sermon occasioned by the late riots in Bristol. By W. R. BAKER.

3. The Offices of the Holy Spirit; four Sermons preached before the University of Cambridge in the month of November, 1831. By the Rev. CHARLES SIMEON, M.A., Senior Fellow of King's College. 8vo. 2s. 6d.

4. Sermons by the late Rev. EDWARD PAYSON, D.D., Pastor of the Second Church in Portland, in the United States. 8vo. 10s. 6d.

5. The Substance of Four Discourses on the Signs of the Times, practically considered, as delivered on the Sabbaths of Nov. 13 and 20, at the Independent Chapel, Stansted, Essex. By JOSIAH REDFORD. Price 1s.

6. God's Terrible Voice to the City. Wherein you have, 1. The Sound of the Voice, in the history of the two dreadful judgments of plague and fire in London; 2. The Interpretation of the Voice, in a discovery of the cause and design of those judg ments. The Fifth Edition. By T. VINCENT, some time Minister of Maudlin's, Milk Street, London.This is a most seasonable reprint of a most invaluable book.

7. The Righteous Man's Habitation in the Time of Plague and Pestilence; being a brief Exposition of the 91st Psalm. By WILLIAM BRIDGE.

This work, first printed in 1665, is eminently suited to the present times.

8. Three Discourses on Practical Subjects (never before published). By the late Rev. RICHARD CECIL, A.M., formerly Minister of St. John's Chapel, Bedford Row.

9. The Laws of Christ; being a complete Digest of all the Precepts contained in the New Testament, in the very words of Scripture; with Devout Meditations on each topic of duty: arranged for the daily perusal of the Christian closet throughout the year. By JOSEPH TURNBULL, A.B., Minister of the Gospel.

10. Anthologia Sacra; or, Select Theological Extracts on subjects Doctrinal, Practical, and Experimental. Selected and arranged by the Rev. BERNARD GILPIN, M.A., Rector of St. Andrew, Hertford; and WILLIAM HENRY VALPY, Esq., Hon. E. I. C. Civil Service. Imperial 8vo. 24s.

11. Sacred Imagery; or, Illustrations of the Principal Figures of Speech from the Bible. Intended for the instruction of little children, by assisting them in the acquirement of the great principles of lang" age, and enabling them better to understand the susime and beautiful imagery of the Holy Scriptures. By JOSEPH FINCHER, Esq., Author of "The Achievements of Prayer," &c., and Secretary of the Royal Institution.--A very useful little volume.

PREPARING FOR PUBLICATION.

1. The Rev. C. Colton, of New York, now residing at No. 9, Amelia Place, Fulham Road, Brompton, has a work in the press, and nearly ready for publication, on the important subject of American Revivals. It is distributed into twelve chapters, as follows:I. Definition of American Revivals. II. Peculiar state of society in America favourable to revivals. Insulated conversions, as distinguished from conversions in a revival. III. The sympathetic economy of revivals consistent with the operations of the Spirit, and greatly enhancing the power of the Spirit relatively. IV. The connexion of American Revivals with the spirit of the pilgrims. V: Historical progress of American Revivals. First appearance-catastrophes - decline-long protracted check-re-appearance-present state and prospects. VI. The means of originating and promoting revivals-and hindrances. VII. Evils of revivals considered-and scandalous reports. VIII. Is an American revival, properly so, peculiar to America?And can these revivals be expected in England and other countries? IX. Is religion in America in advance of religion in other parts of the world? X. The philosophy of religion considered, especially in application to revivals. XI. Prospect of American

Revivals for the world. XII. Concluding remarks, and practical reflections.

2. Maternal Sketches, with Minor Poems. By ELIZA RUTHERFORD.

3. Preparing for Publication, in 1 vol., early in 1832, Church History through All Ages, from the First Promise of a Saviour to the Year 1830; with Biographical Notices of the principal Promoters of Religion. Designed especially for young persons, families, and schools. By THOMAS TIMPSON.

4. In a short time will be Published, vol. 2 (which completes the Work) of A Concise View of the Succession of Sacred Literature, in a Chronological Arrangement of Authors and their Works,

from the Invention of Alphabetical Characters to the Year of our Lord 1300. By J. B. B. CLARKE, M.A., of Trinity College, Cambridge, and Chaplain to H. R. H. the Duke of Sussex.

5. Shortly will be Published, in 12mo., price 4s. 6d. boards, The Christian Servant; or, Spiritual Exercises of Elizabeth West. Corrected by ROBERT STODHART, Minister of Mulberry Gardens' Chapel, Pell Street, Ratcliffe Highway. To which are added, The Dying Experience of Mrs. Jane Stodhart; the Substance of her Funeral Sermon, preached by the Rev. John Rees, of Crown Street Chapel, Soho. Also, The Dying Experience of Mr. William Stodhart, and Mrs. Mary Davis, of Middle Street, Brighton.

LONDON.

PROPOSAL TO OBSERVE A DAY OF PUBLIC

HUMILIATION, FASTING, AND PRAYER.

In the Supplement we pressed upon the attention of our Christian friends the high importance of holding, as speedily as possible, a day of humiliation and prayer, in consideration of the gloomy and afflictive signs of the times. It is gratifying to know that while we were reflecting upon the propriety of such a measure other minds, both in town and country, were powerfully directed to the same subject. The Congregational Board has, we find, agreed to meet on Wednesday, the 28th Dec., for humiliation and prayer; and we doubt not that from that meeting will issue a recommendation to the churches relative to the propriety of observing an early day of the kind proposed by our dear brethren Messrs. Redford and James. We regret that we cannot keep the press open to announce the decision of our brethren. We attempted, with much effort, to get a special meeting of the Board convened, and stopped the press for that purpose, but, after all, failed.

EDITOR.

TO THE PASTORS AND MEMBERS OF CHURCHES IN THE INDEPENDENT DENOMINATION.

Beloved Brethren and Friends, Reluctant as we are to obtrude ourselves upon your notice, especially when we bear only the burden of the Lord, yet, after taking counsel together, we have agreed to bear all risk of blame for thus stepping out of our proper sphere to disclose to you the deep convictions which oppress our hearts. You feel, probably, as intensely as ourselves the interest which attaches to the present state of public affairs-you, possibly, with us conceive the present era to be pregnant with great events we hope, indeed, they are for good; but, at present, their pointings are, to say the least, ominous. We will not here recount those signs of the times which should arrest the attention of the church, but simply

remind you, that, to a very unusual extent, the present is a day of adversity. In such times the duty of God's people is plain. "The Lord's voice crieth unto the city." Public affairs are in state of extreme agitation-commerce, as well as trade of all kinds, is at a low ebb-the fatal pestilence, like a destroying angel, has set its foot upon our shores, and pauses only till the Almighty Sovereign shall seal its commission-infidelity vaunteth itself at the corners of the streets and in the markets-crimes, unexampled, have been brought to light-violence has been rampant in our cities-wasting and destruction have entered into all our bordersthe church languishes-its vintage failethfanaticism and speculation, like a wrathful bolt from the skies, have scathed some of the cedars of Lebanon-we have seen contention and strife among brethren in the city-and a breach is made in an institution which we had deemed a high tower, and the glory of our times and of our profession: shall we not then weep for these things, like one of old, between the porch and the altar?-Are not these distinct and imperative calls to humiliation and prayer? We respectfully and affectionately implore you to join us in the design of keeping "a day unto the Lord." He has threatened, but the threatening bespeaks forbearance; yet only when it brings our sins to our remembrance, and our souls into the frame of penitence. Let us arise and go to our Father;-let us confess our sin and deprecate his wrath, so shall we take hold of his strength; and thus the plague, both in the city and in the temple, may be stayed.

It is our humble but earnest entreaty that all our brethren will consider the signs of the times; and that they will either agree sepa rately, as may suit their convenience, to set apart a day for fasting and prayer; or that, if any proposal with such an intent should be made to our churches generally, it may be observed with the utmost unanimity and seriousness.