of God the Holy Ghost, they prove themselves Egyptian task-masters, making no distinction between the blasts of Sinai's lightning, the crash of its thunder, the soul-terrifying sentence of its trumpet, and the peace-speaking blood of Calvary. I shall not digress from the subject in speaking of another evil so evident in the church A. D. 1839, as seen not only in the divines of low degree, but in others of whom we expect better things. I advert to the neglect of setting forth in the most clear, transparent, and uncompromising manner, the grand foundation truth of our most holy faith, the doctrine of the holy and ever-blessed Trinity. Many of the ministers of A. D. 1839, will state in a lucid manner the Father's love, and the Son's atonement, and having done thus much they think they must stop, having as their little minds suppose achieved wonders, proving that the Holy Ghost forms but a very restricted part of their ministrations. Here, Mr. Editor, is the death-blow to the comfort of the church; such a mortiferous mode of preaching preys upon the vitals of eternal truth. If each glorious Person in the Godhead, and their distinct work in the gracious plan of salvation and in the spiritual kingdom within, does not constitute the prominent feature of our ministry, it will at the best prove but a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal. What I have advanced on the subject may be considered only a statement, permit me, therefore, to substantiate the same by evidence; I know that in these matters, probatum est is necessary, Some time since I was invited to supply a large chapel and numerous congregation in a populous town, where once laboured a faithful minister of Christ, who was very popular in his annual visits to the metropolis; I found in this town that they held their monthly missionary prayer-meetings; during my stay it came to pass that the said festival was appointed, to be held at the chapel I was preaching at. Being the minister for the time being, I was requested to preach the sermon. I begged to be excused; my refusal however had no effect, preach I must, and preach I did. Knowing that a number of ministers of a certain class would be present, I was determined in the Lord's strength to be faithful, whatever might be the issue. I thought, and so it proved, my probationary and farewell missionary sermon. I shall not exceed the limits of truth by adding, that no vindictive feelings or personal reflections were indulged on my part. I will not be prolix, Mr. Editor, in giving you a scope of the subject. It was briefly as follows. First. That the gospel, in the hands of God the Holy Ghost, was the means by which the Almighty Jehovah has brought, and is still bringing sinners to a knowledge of himself. Secondly. That it was the determination of Jehovah, that the election of grace, given to Christ in an everlasting covenant, should in the fulness of time be made willing in the day of his irresistible power. Thirdly. That no effort or plan would accomplish the designs of mercy in gathering together in Christ, the great Head of the church, the dispersed of God's people, unless such plans were made effectual by the supernatural power of God the Eternal Spirit. After delivering the sermon to a crowded audience I left the pulpit. The Rev. a very popular minister, concluded with prayer, in which he declared as follows, "That if the gospel trumpet had been blown ages ago to the heathen, millions now in hell that night would have been before the throne." This was a bold stroke at the truths I had just before delivered. There was an indignant sensation felt at the announcement of such a sentiment by numbers who loved the truth. Through mercy it added nothing to my bonds, nor hin drance to the gospel, The chapel continued crowded during my stay, the word of truth much blessed; and though the people were secretly cautioned against high doctrines they remained firm: and being at that time without a pastor, the officers of the church wished to know whether I was moveable. And from what I have heard, from the period I have mentioned to the present, the truth in its glorious fulness has never entered the walls. This is the state of the church A. D. 1839. I cannot refrain saying the above gentleman was firm and lofty in his attitude, but so far was his opposition from injuring the truth, that it only proved the mystic vision of his myopes imagination. Such prayers, sermons, and characters have nothing to recommend them but naked ignorance, decked with the swelling words of vanity and the dogmas of academical arrogance, vainly supposing they are the only sources of spiritual knowledge. And these are the gentlemen who insidiously attempt to elevate themselves on the pedestal of popularity, though I must add, they are not by nature endowed with great mental powers, nor much improved by their close atten tion to the classics. Devonport. ROMANIUS. REVIEW. Heber, Records of the Poor, Lays from the Prophets, and Other Poems, by Thomas Ragg, 12mo. pp. 236. London: Longman & Co. THE principal poem in this volume is entitled " a Lay of the New Creation,' and depictures in its opening scene Heber and his family as inhabiting the renovated world. In the subsequent books Heber narrates to his children an account of the deluge, of the siege of Jerusalem, of the battle of Armageddon, and of the escape of Nitsol during the intervening period antecedent to the heavenly state. Each book is rendered more peculiarly interesting, by comprising an individual history, illustrative of the scenery and circumstances of the period. Our readers will perceive Mr. Ragg has thus opened to himself a field wherein he may profusely scatter the flowers of poetry and imagination, and thus charm his readers at the same time that he blunts the edge of a criticism, which might otherwise suggest that though beau tiful it is not altogether scriptural. But upon a subject where sage and hoary heads have, even in sober prose, rambled into the regions of fancy, it must be regarded as a venial fault with the poet. Some of the minor pieces possess great attraction; as a specimen we have extracted one in our poetical columns, and we thank our friend Mr. Ragg for the gratification which this, which we believe is his fourth volume, has afforded us. The Changes of Ephraim; or, the Backslider's Warning. By John Macgowan. 12mo. pp. 26. Brighton, Tyler. The recent disputes in reference to this subject have, we presume, occasioned this republication. Mr. Macgowan judiciously and very scripturally characterizes the backslider in this first page :— "Backsliding in heart necessarily supposeth an antecedent rectitude of principle, and a cleaving to the Lord, with sincerity and ardour; therefore is inapplicable to those who had put on only an outward profession, and for a time followed the form of religion, either with some sinister view, or from an heated imagination. None can be said to backslide in heart, but those whose hearts have followed after Jesus; but those swine and dogs that returned to their mire and vomit, never adhered to the Lord with their hearts, notwithstanding for a season they associated with his people. The words can therefore be applied only to the subjects of faith, who, being bewitched with the idols of earth, draw back from their simplicity; by a deceived heart being turned aside from the corn of Paradise, to feed upon sordid ashes; forsaking the pure streams of the river of God, drink of the polluted waters of Albana and Pharpar; flee down to Egypt for help and refuge, and trust not in the Lord in the day of their trouble.” The text selected is Prov. iv. 14. and the awful proposition therein recorded the author illustrates by the history of Ephraim, which he traces throughout, with much ability, pathos, and beauty. We cordially recommend this Sermon to the attentive perusal of all our readers. The Peaceful End of the Upright, a Sermon, Occasioned by the Death of W. Townshend Esq. By Edward Andrews, LL: D. 12mo. pp. 33. London, Palmer and Son. FROM the frequent notices of late of Sermons by this author, our readers will be well aware of the general character of his writings. Truth, decidedly scriptural truth, is here to be found, but it is splendidly arrayed, and sometimes, like our modern fashionables, super-abundantly decorated with gorgeous ornaments. This undoubtedly prevents their being of such general usefulness as might other wise be the case, at the same time however rendering them doubly attractive to some. This sermon, on the death of an aged member of his congregation, contains one paragraph which we feel much gratification in extracting for the perusal of our readers. "O jealous self-distrusting soul, being settled in the knowledge of thy fallen state, and having set out in the way to heaven, thou findest thyself unable to do anything but to hasten thy ruin: but all is undertaken for thee and secured to thee for both worlds, in the covenant of the everblessed Trinity: remember, these truths lie at the very foundation of thy comfort and safety. May the Lord teach thee, keep thee humble, daily learning, ever reading the scriptures, and advancing in the glorious fellowship of the Sacred Three. Be not so startled at God's standard as to be driven to despair: remember Christ has fulfilled the law fallen man has no innate knowledge: but the Holy Spirit has been given to thee to see thy danger; and he is daily making thee more and more willing to be accepted in the Beloved. No ethics, no metaphysics, no fancied light of dark nature, no lawless law of rebel mind, no human science whether real or pretended can either alarm or guide the conscience savingly. All the mistakes thou hast made will only make Christ more precious while they empty thee of self: thy continued self-loathings, fervent prayers, devout aspirations for the sanctuary and longings for more grace; yea, thy envyings of others their graces, and sometimes thy sweet relapsings into real joy; all these things are proofs of thy dearness to Christ; thy uprightness in him; be assured, the victory no less than the battle, the peace no less than the anxiety are thine. Dead men feel nothing all those infirmities that war against God in thee, thou wouldst not feel, thou wouldst not know had not the Spirit of Jesus, more jealous than : thyself, and his love, more cruel than the grave, secured thy spiritual sensibility and put a cry into thy heart for saving and sanctifying mercy: perhaps he exercises thy grace by some besetting sin, perhaps by some hard domestic trial, perhaps by some lamentable drawback on thy spiritual privileges; whatever the case may be, rest assured that the whole is to soften, melt, and stimulate thy soul: pardon and assurance will follow; not only because God is faithful, but because also, the heart can never be duly melted and humbled, till sin be first pardoned." A Treatise by Christopher Savery on Original Election of the Church of God in Christ. 12mo. pp. 124. Plymouth Thomas. If we understand rightly the drift of this author's argument, and we are not certain that we do, it is that the church and the world-the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent-are, positively and actually, the latter the children of the devil by natural generation, and the former the children of Adam. That thus all the descendants of Cain are reprobate, and all the descendants of Seth are God's elect. There is nothing novel in this statement, but so decidedly is scripture contradictory to such fleshly assumptions and carnal conclusions, that we should scarcely have thought it would again have been brought forward. Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated:" they were both children of one earthly father. "I will take one of a family," &c. These are sufficient not to mention innumerable exemplifications of this in scripture history, as well as in the personal knowledge of every one. There is much that is very good scattered up and down the volume, but we cannot recommend to our readers a work which takes as its groundwork such a monstrous and unscriptural notion. A Dialogue intended to set forth in a Plain and Scriptural manner, the Doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ as the only Object of Divine Worship. 12mo. pp. 32. London: Newbury. THIS pamphlet is said to be by a late member of the church at Gower Street Chapel. Truly it was time he should be no longer a member; for if the sentiments recorded in this tract are what he advocates, he is a fitter member for Count Swedenborg's community; but, indeed, with whatever sect he may associate upon earth, living and dying holding these tenets he will, at the great day, find himself not only excluded from the church at Gower Street, but altogether an alien from the church of the living God. It is in the form of dialogue, and as is the case with almost all similar productions, the author has all the argument and his miserable opponent, being selected by himself and armed with panoply of his appointment, soon gives way and they agree to become brother heretics together. It is for this reason we very much dislike controversy in dialogue. Let a man give his own opinions if he will, but let him not thrust foolishness and imbecility into the mouth of an imagined opponent, while at his pleasure he decorates his own brow with a laurel which a real antagonist could soon wither, by bringing a "thus saith the Lord," to overthrow his sophistries. POETRY. A VOICE FROM THE VALLEY OF BACA. DEAR Lord, and wilt thou condescend, The Spirit of supplication give, And though I am most sorely tried. My body is with sickness worn, I've sinned against the Holy Ghost, Till, softened with a ray of love, But oh what horrors overwhelm, I've viewed the brutes with envious eye, An atheist I longed to be, Oh then what different thoughts arise, Oh then the Lamb for sinners slain, For he who did our sins atone, Will guide her through this dreary waste. His Spirit shall their souls uphold, At his dear feet my soul I cast, 'Tis watched by His omniscient eye, A grand and glorious compact this, Soon, very soon will time be gone, Methinks I'll raise the highest song, ONE OF A SORROWFUL SPIRIT. STARS. Spanglets of heaven! ye seem to me Shine on, shine on in your depths of blue Beautiful stars! 'neath your rich beams, |