me."

In how many instances have we thought it would be impossible to surmount the difficulties we saw before us.

How often have we resembled sinking Peter-looking on the tempestuous wind and boisterous sea, our hearts failed us, and we anticipated a sudden and a sure destruction. But the winds were hushed, the billows ceased to roll; we heard a well-known voice cry out to us, "It is I, be not afraid." He was present and we were not consumed. May these instances of his unlimited goodness and unfailing faithfulness, teach us the sin and folly of our doubts and fears, and indelibly impress on our minds the invaluable lessons contained in the following scripture, Isaiah li. 6-8, 11-13.

If in our real trials during the past year we had been left to our own resources, we should have been consumed. But the God of our mercy prevented us. The miracle of the burning bush is not too strong an emblem to represent the preservation of a believer in the midst of fiery trials. The bush was not burned because the God of Israel was there: we are not consumed, for the Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. Let us then call forth our trials, our fears, our enemies, and even our rebellions, as proofs and witnesses that the compassions of our heavenly Father fail not: they are new every morning, great is his faithfulness.

May you, my dear friend, richly enjoy the presence of our good and gracious Lord, at the commencement of the new year, as a sweet and sure pledge that he will be with you at all times. I can form some idea of your feelings at such a season as the preI know that you are acquainted with the difficulties of travelling through this great and terrible wilderness. But my hope of you is stedfast, knowing that as you are a partaker of the afflictions of Christ, so shall you be also of the consola

sent.

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tions. Though you have learned by bitter experience that all flesh is as grass, that all the grace of the fashion of this world fadeth away; that uncertainty and disappointment are written on all temporal things; yet have you received a kingdom which cannot be removed. The foundation of our best hopes is laid in eternity, and cannot be shaken by the convulsions of time. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. His covenant, the charter of your salvation, in which all your trials are enrolled, is ordered in all things and sure. His love is without commencement, measure, or end. His counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. His promise stands for ever sure. He has said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee," so that you may say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear." Our Lord Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever: he still lives, he still appears at the righthand of the Father, he still holds the sceptre of universal authority. Those blessed hands which were pierced for our salvation, still grasp the chain that binds together all the events of providence, for the sure fulfilment of the purposes of God respecting all the heirs of salvation. The Great High Priest of our profession is still touched with the feeling of our infir mities, having been in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Oh may the Lord the Spirit fill your soul with all joy and with all peace in believing; open to your mind the mysteries of his holy word; strengthen your faith in its precious promises: and render it at all times a source of consolation and a standard of direction.

In the best and in the highest sense I wish you a happy new year. May the joy of the Lord be your strength. Every spiritual and temporal mercy I desire for you, I would also seek on behalf of all your dear children; present my most affection

ate remembrance to them: tell them I fervently desire that they may all be brought to know the God of their father, and to serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind, for He searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts. My dear wife desires most affectionately to be remembered to you, and will be obliged if you can make any use of the enclosed, with the lady of whom you spake to me. We could easily, if desirable, give references to the parents of children who have been with us from the first. Once more praying that the morrow may be to you a truly good day, I remain, my dear friend, your brother and companion in tribulation,

W. G. LEWIS.

QUERIES.

Two of our Correspondents are desirous that some of our friends will

offer their thoughts upon the following passages of scripture.

"And the Lord God said, Behold the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil," Gen. iii. 22. Did Adam's fall bring him into that state of knowledge? and who was this one of us that Adam could stand in comparison with after his fall?

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," Luke xxiii. 34. Were the murderers of our Lord benefitted by that prayer, or was it offered to no purpose?

Exhortations, and Duty in its Own Place. By William Tant. 18mo. pp. 80. London: Palmer & Son. We have before noticed the works of this talented author with approbation. This little pamphlet displays much acuteness, and considerable acquaintance with the word of God. He will be a bold man among the free-will champions who takes up the gauntlet here thrown down, and advocates duty-faith and duty-religion in opposition to the arguments which Mr. Tant has brought forward. That our readers may form their own opinion of the work we give the following

same thing; but he who "studies to show himself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," will find that the opening up of the distinction between the two is one important part of his ministry. For the heirs of heaven need such instruction that they may be built up in their most holy faith; and “ gainsayers "need to be convicted of the flesh-pleasing systems in which they are entangled, "for there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers (about duty), especially they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped," Titus i. 9, 10, 11.

There are many evils arising from the fashionable plan of mingling crea ture duties and gospel privileges together. I will mention three. One is, it obscures the glory of grace: for if any one part of salvation depends

:

upon our performance of creature duties, then grace cannot be sovereign and if the communications of grace to the soul depend upon our fleshly doings, then grace is not free; and if grace does not cause us to be fruitful without creature endeavours, then grace is not rich. But unless grace is sovereign, free, and rich, who can indulge a hope of eternal life? Barrenness, weakness, and sinfulness, is all we possess apart from grace. Bless the Lord, then, that it is recorded" By grace ye are saved:"" and if by grace it is no more of works."

Another evil is, that it bewilders the living children of God, who are "asking the way to Zion." For it is impossible to have clear views of the plan of salvation, while the mind is entangled with the supposition that something must be done or God will not bless. This appears to have been a notion entertained by the Galatians, as introduced among them by those who" perverted the gospel of Christ:" for, says the apostle, Are ye so foolish having begun in the Spirit are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" We cannot live to God without the washing of regeneration, nor walk with God, without the "renewing of the Holy Ghost." But according to God's purpose and grace we are made partakers of both.

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"The third evil is, it builds up formalists, who are to be ministerially pulled down (Jer. i. 10); feeds selfsaving and self-righteous pharisees, who are to be sent empty away; encourages those who sew the pillows of carnal security to all the arm-holes of legality and freewill; and grieves the souls who know the truth, because the truth as it is in Jesus is so unscripturally withheld."

At the close is appended a statement respecting the author's dismission from his charge at Little Stonham, in consequence of denying the law of Moses to be the believer's rule of life. This appendix we read with conside

rable pleasure, and are confident that He who enabled his servant to be thus faithful, will speedily appear, opening to him a door to renewed and increased usefulness.

Seven Sermons, Founded on the Mes

sages to the Apocalyptic Churches, by Edward Andrews, LL: D. 12mo. London: Palmers.

THE topic discussed in this Discourse is "Weak faith;" in reference to which the author notices Instructions and Incentives. It is of similar characters to the former sermons in the series.

The Beauties of Christ as Described by the Church, Being the Substance of Seven Lectures upon Solomon's Song, by Richard Luckin. 8vo. pp. 32. London: Palmer and Son.

Ar a time when rational professors are seeking to undermine the canonical authority of this holy, mysterious, and to the renewed mind delightful portion of God's word; it is incumbent, and will be edifying to the Lord's sent servants, to seek even more assiduously to exhibit it to the people of their charge in its abun dance of excellencies.

While others wage war respecting its external evidences of inspiration, which are however undoubted except by infidels and infidel professors, they who by the unction of the Holy Spirit, who leadeth into all truth, are enabled and privileged to taste its fruits, and ranging the wide garden of its spices partake of its fragrance, will have a more sure word of prophecy, and will exclaim, We know it to be the word of our God, for our God hath spoken with it comfort, and joy, and peace to our souls.

This is the first of an intended series of seven lectures: we have read it with much pleasure, and can most cordially recommend it to our readers.

MARK V. 24.

"If I may dare

To touch the border of his vest,

I shall be heal'd."--Thus spake the sad
Afflicted sufferer, as she prest

With eager step towards the Lord;
And mingling with the listening throng
Assembled there to hear his words,

She touched his clothes, and hope grew strong,
For new sensations rise within,-
Disease is fled, sweet health returns,
And fear and gratitude to Him,
Within her breast alternate burns.
Trembling she stands, while Jesus turns
To his attendants, and addressed
Them thus, "Who touch'd my clothes?"
The multitude around thee press
Thou seest, Lord, then canst thou ask
Who touched thee? amazed they cry,
We cannot tell who is the one,
Among this crowd who can descry!
She knew, and fell at his dear feɛt,
For she perceived the blessings given
Were known unto the king of heaven,
And Jesus makes her bliss complete!
What words benign!" Daughter (he saith)
Arise, be saved, thy precious faith
Hath made thee whole, let sorrow cease:
Daughter, be whole, and go in peace!

Oh, for the same illustrious faith!
Jesus impart it from on high;
And may I virtue draw from thee,
Who doth not pass regardless by
The contrite sinner's humble cry:
And when so cold, so dead I feel,
My heart insensible as steel;
Cause me to touch thee, Lord, for cure,
To touch and prove deliverance sure.

But Oh how soon he kindly spake,
And all your chains and fetters break;
He said, I bore the curse for thee,
When suffering on mount Calvary.

Remember me, was his sweet word,
Remember your incarnate God;
Commemorate my dying love,
Until you reign with me above.
When Jesus took the bread and brake,
To his disciples thus he spake,-
'T is my command that this you do,
Remembering that I died for you.

My heart is filled with great delight,
To see you with his church unite;
Then while his death you keep in view,
Remember he 's ascended too.

Oh may you find our Jesus near,
When at his table you appear;
And while the emblems you receive,
May you on Christ the substance feed.

MARY.

THE LONGINGS OF THE BELIEVER AFTER CHRIST.

How low the saint is often brought,

As onward here he steers;

Though comfort still is by him sought,
His eyes o'erflow with tears.

With broken heart, and soul bowed down,
He sometimes calls to mind,
These seasons of sweet intercourse,

Which now he cannot find.

Once his dear Lord with love embraced,
And did his soul caress;

But now a cloud conceals His face,
And he can find no rest.

Inquiring still for his dear Lord,
His soul is often found;

Nor can the voice of creatures charm,
Its but an empty sound.

Observe how fervently he asks,-

Tell me, my love, Oh tell, Where are the pastures where thy flock At noontide feed and dwell.

This love e'en death cannot destroy,
Nor take it from that breast,
Implanted by the Holy Dove,
Who brings the promised rest.

The chirping birds begin to sing;
Sure this must be the approach of spring.
Could I but hear the turtle Dove,
With warbling notes from heaven above,
Then would I join the feathered throng,
And loudly sing the glorious song,
The winter 's past, the rain is gone,
The singing time of birds is come,
The flowers all o'er the land appear,

of him?"-Psalm

When musing on the majesty of God-
His power immense-the glittering awfulness
Of his abode the countless seraphim
Ever attendant to perform his wil!!—
Frail man may almost think himself too mean
To be observed or cared for. But our God,
Omniscient, Omnipresent, and All-wise,
Without exertion or impediment,
Surveys the wide creation at a glance,
And unassisted manages the whole.

Nor think him only terrible. His power
Filled the vast cistern of the spacious deep,
And whirls it round in tempests: but that

power,

Equally pleased, creates the chrystal spring
Where village children sport themselves.
Planted by him,

The mighty cedar and umbrageous oak
Lift their tall bulk: and 't is his finger gives
The lily and the rose their loveliness.
He taught the thunder-cloud to wear a frown:
And wreathes the infant's beauteous cheek
in smiles.

Nought is beneath his care, without his pow'r:
Noticed by him the little sparrow droops
Its head in its last agony; and think ye man,
The casket which contains a gem more rich
Than earth with all her mines, is unobserved?
The gipsey child, which on its mother's back
Itinerates in outcast wretchedness,
Within its nut-brown bosom, folded up
In wondrous complication, has a soul,
Whose pinions can outstrip the hurricane,
Climb the blue sky, and think its mysteries--
A deathless soul, which shall in heaven or hell
Exist eternally.

REZENEB.

THE RETURN OF SPRING.

Cant. ii. 10, 11.

How long the dreary winter 's been,
How cold my heart has felt within;
How keen temptation's wind hath blown,
How long the nights, how short the morn.
The rain descends, the snow and hail,
My heart is froze, my comforts fail;
Oh, when will Christ my sun appear,
And bring me from this dark despair.
But whilst I mourn, methinks I feel
A little warmth from yonder hill;

Oh, let me hear thy lovely voice,
Thou turtle Dove, my only choice.
Then haste away from sad despair,
And triumph over every fear.
Dear, precious Christ, I hear thee say,
"Arise, my love, and come away,"
With cheerfulness I'll follow thee,
If thou shalt bid my darkness flee.
St. Ives, Hunts.

w. c**

***L.