Imatges de pàgina
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to the King on his throne; while the mortal ear shall be deaf to all the music which ever gave it pleasure, while it shall be deaf to the kindest friends, the spiritual ear shall be listening to the loud hosannahs of the glorified hosts of heaven, while human tongues shall be crumbling to dust in the silent grave, the soul shall be hymning Jehovah's greatness with eternal delight. Yes, while the withered form of the man of God is in death's charnel house, his inner man is at home with Jesus in his kingdom, robed like the king's son, and crowned with unfading glory. When we leave our body we shall not weep after it; nor shall we be willing to enter it again, till it be put in thorough repair. It shall be raised a body suited for a glorified spirit to dwell in. No aches and pains then, but all will be perfect, and all will be peace. Seven days dead to the people of God will be seven days in glory. Absent from the body, present with the Lord. Seven days dead to the sinner will be seven days in hell. Let the followers of the Lamb rejoice in this, that although worms destroy this body, yet in our flesh shall we see God. That is in our risen bodies, which will bear the identity of our earthly bodies. What will it matter whether our bones sleep in the grave a thousand years or one week, so long as our spirits are with the Lord in his unchanging glory?

The first Adam brought us all into the grave. The Lord, the second Adam, shall bring us all out. As in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive. We gain more by Christ than we lost in Adam, so our praise for Jesus must be more than our blame for Adam. Oh, what a morning will that be when the sun shall rise on our sin-stricken earth for the last time; when man shall go forth to his labour for the last time ; when the shutters of our city shops shall be taken down for the last time; when the wealthy merchants shall meet in the market places for the last time; when our trains and ships shall leave their stations and harbours for the last time, when the slumbering inhabitants of the mighty city shall rise from their beds for the last time. When ungodly sinners shall have worked their deeds of wickedness against God and truth for the last time, when saints shall have worshipped their Lord on earth for the last time. Oh, what a morning will that be, when the church shall hear the voice of the Bridegroom, "Come, my beloved, enter the joy prepared for you from the foundation of the world." May the Lord give our readers grace to walk before him as becometh the sons of God, that when that cloudless morning shall come, they may hear the Saviour's voice and enter through the gates into the city. Oh, the bliss of that morning when Jesus shall be then seen face to face.

VITAL FAITH.

FROM the conversion of St. Paul, Augustine, and Luther, and from the great leading feature of their ministry, The Dublin University Magazine gives a long article on the vitalizing power of that faith which comes from, and leads unto the Son of God, for salvation. The St. James's Chronicle says

The author institutes a comparison between Paul, the great Apostle of the Gentiles, Augustine, the mightiest thinker from the converted Pagan world, and Martin Luther, the most famous vindicator even to an extreme of the tenets of justification by faith only. Much learning and power of

analysis is displayed, and so wide a canvas admits a picture of the whole duration of Christianity. The essay, from the importance of the subject, and from its mode of treatment, will repay an attentive study. The writer, at its conclusion, lifts up the voice of warning and of remonstrance. "Are there not (he asks) signs amongst us of a reaction from reality towards symbolism, sacramental salvation, and abandonment of that liberty which is the privilege of those who believe in Christ Jesus? Are we not rapidly losing hold of the faith, and clinging to human means? Are we not tending from a spiritual towards a stock and stone worship; to a worship of the cross, rather than of the Crucified One, towards looking for the real presence, not with the eyes of the spirit subjectively in the soul, but with fleshly eyes objectively in the elements? We are determined to have sacrifices, though Saul declared that where there is remission of sins there is no more offering for sin. We are turning the supper table of the Lord into an altar, and shedding His blood afresh-that blood which was once shed for all. Worship, instead of being spiritual, is becoming material, and the same arguments used in the earliest times by the Pagans against the reproaches of Christians are now advanced by the defenders and advocates of this material worship: "We do not worship the images, but the gods whom they represent.' If an apology be required for this long extract, it must be found in the fact of this language occurring in the Dublin University Magazine. It is a proof of the extent of the disease when such a publication departs from its normal tone of essays to offer the note of warning and of earnest reproof and expostulation.

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When we saw the Dublin University Magazine, and for its first paper found this on "Vital Faith," we were greatly interested ;" and considered it a good sign, proving that the conviction still lives, that the existence, the energy, and the evidence of our salvation by the Son of God, all are immediately and essentially connected with the doctrine of the justification by faith in the great Redeemer.

A CHEER IN THE NIGHT.

IT was darkness itself which enveloped the mind, fearful sorrows almost overwhelmed the soul, when the following note came to hand. We really need encouragement. God ever help us to do, and to be, as this correspondent exhorts. He says:—

We are quite one with you, both in doctrine and practice being Particular Baptists. You have preached in our chapel, though it was some years ago; there are some who speak kindly of you, and wish you every comfort and success in the Lord's work. Thank God there are even now some faithful men; men of courage; men of energy; men of a sound mind; men who are not ashamed to maintain, assert, and defend, at all hazards, the honour of our glorious Lord. Accept, then, beloved, a cheer from a "brother and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. Yours is a glorious work ; up and at it never give up! All

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power is on your side! Cut with the
"sword" strike with the "ham-
mer!" Fight as directed by our
glorious leader, and in his strength;
and every foe (be he man or devil)
shall flee before you. Truly the
times require great men, great in
the knowledge of God's Word, great
in faith and great in the never-fail-
ing power of believing prayer. Let
us then labour on, "in season and
out of season," and study, write,
preach, pray, and in all these things,
say as the noble Luther used to say,
"But what is best of all is, God is
with us. ""
Yours in him, T. R.

Earth's Eventide, and the Bright Dawn of the Eternal Day. By the Rev. J. G. Gregory, M. A., Rector of Bonchurch, Isle of Wight. Third Edition. London: S. W. Partridge. All the leading subjects connected with the closing up of the Gospel Dispensation and the coming of the Lord in the New Jerusalem are here consecutively illustrated and argued out with much simplicity and zeal.

NEW BOOKS.

The Sword and Trowel for March has a bold and intelligent paper on building chapels, orphanages, colleges, &c., which is followed up by an announcement that one "A. B," has recently sent to Mr. Spurgeon no less than £3000 to help him in the various branches of his work. Most certainly it must be acknowledged he is wonderfully supported in all he puts his hand unto. It is not every one can comfortably read the first Psalm, except its application is carried to the spiritual prosperity of the true believer in Jesus; but, literally, in Mr. Spurgeon's case, it appears true to the letter. Deep in the secret of our soul is the desire that the glorious Gospel of our blessed God might find as successful a representative as Mr. Spurgeon has been of benevolent and philanthropic efforts to educate the young, to evangelize the nation, and to provide dwellings for the aged and the poor. Our very soul is full of agonizing emotions to go forth into the lanes, and courts, and alleys, and garrets, and cellars, yea, into all the haunts and holes where sin and Satan, poverty and misery, death and darkness reign, and to scatter among them, the words of eternal truth on the one hand, and the absolute necessaries of this life on the other, but we have neither the purse nor the We have pleaded for the power. poor, we have printed and published for the advancement of pure Gospel truth, we have striven hard to effect a unity, and the exercise of an energy among the living in Jerusalem; but while the sun of prosperity shines powerfully on the heads and efforts of the hosts now everywhere rising up, "Satan hath hindered us," and we solemnly feel the need of that special measure of grace to say most sincerely, "Not my will, but Thine be done."

Lever Lines for Spare Minutes; intended as Helps to a Higher Life, author of "Upward and Onward, &c., &c. London S. W. Partridge & Co., 9, Paternoster row. Mr. Partridge, considers the time present to be made up of "perilous days of

worldly excitement and spiritual enlargement," and, believing that the people have not much time for long and large essays, he has thrown together (in a neat little volume) a number of single lines, with rules between each, so that every line is distinct, complete, and strikingly expressive of some moral or spiritual theme easy to be remembered, and useful to be considered. We give one or two out of between six or seven hundred.

"How many pray, who have not learned to wait."

"Christ empties first the heart that He would fill."

"The world is mad, Christians alone are sane.'

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"Fear not, but leave thy future with the Lord."

"Be often quiet, and alone with God."

Mr. Partridge's book and the Bible might well be laid together. After reading God's word, a line for the day might easily be gathered from this bed of mottoes.

This is a

The Revelation Unravelled: an Outline Exposition on a new Plan, by the author of "The Coming Crisis." With a preface by the Rev. Richard Chester, Prebendary of Killenmer, and vicar of Ballyclough, diocese of Cloyne. London: S. W. Partridge & Co., 9, Paternoster row. plain, brief, and intelligent,_commentary on the Apocalypse. Every reader may easily enough comprehend the writer's meaning; and but very few will altogether reject his testimony. We are quite certain of three things; 1. It is incumbent upon the believer to study carefully this grand part of New Testament revelation. There is, certainly, a blessing promised to such earnest seekers after heavenly knowledge. 2. We believe no one can be fully persuaded of the mind of God in this book, unless the Spirit of all truth lead him into these great mysteries. 3. The antagonistic writings of men upon this portion of the New Testament have greatly perplexed the reading of portions of the Christian family; but in this volume there is very little but what may be received as being a well-grounded attempt to draw aside the curtains of

In

imagery, and let the holy truth be seen clearly and distinctly heard. The Curate of West Norton, by G. R. Wynn. London: S. W. Partridge & Co., Paternoster row. this attracting little volume, we have the exodus into clerical life of a young Ritualistic curate, which furnisheth lessons for all who willing to learn. The pictures drawn of the old rector and his family, of John Brown, the village Methodist minister, John Allen, the miller, the schoolmaster, the young ladies at the rectory, &c., are all well done, and while the narrative is interesting to all, the teaching of the book is just such as should be read and digested everywhere.

The Watchmen of Ephraim. Mr. John Wilson, the editor of this interesting magazine has been ill; but he has arisen to his work with much power, and succeeds admirably in furnishing some first-rate papers on subjects of much importance to the Christian. In one of his notes, Mr. Wilson says, "A troublous sea is before us a peaceful shore beyond." The part for March of The Watchmen of Ephraim commences a new series. It will in future be issued in shilling quarterly parts; which alteration will, we hope, render the work of much greater advantage both to the readers, and to the editor, for his labour in this book alone must be great. We hope to notice this part, with extracts, next month.

The Thirteenth Article of the Creed of the Church of Rome, and, Christ our Great High Priest, are two neat two-penny pamphlets, by F. G. H., (published by R. Banks,) of considerable merit. Speaking of the latter, The Rock says:

Christ our great high Priest-is devoted to showing that the doctrine of transubstantiation, either as the Romanists accept it, or in the diluted form in which our Ritualistic countrymen offer it to us, "strikes at the very root of the blessed doctrine of the atonement, the only rock on which the Christian builds all his hopes of eternal life. You rob (the writer eloquently proceeds)-you rob Christ of His office of High Priest;

you deny the sufficiency of His death to secure to sinners eternal salvation ; as a sacrifice that requires to be constantly repeated is certainly no sufficient sacrifice made once and for all, and you teach men that Christ is not the one, the only Mediator between God and man, but that other means exist to effect our everlasting salvation."

To counteract such poisonous errors faithful men must preach and print and publish too, or they are verily guilty. We know, bitterly do we know, that to contend for truth now requires sacrifice. We have made it.

The Rock is, certainly, the best and the cheapest Protestant paper extant. Its circulation already is very large.

The Book of Martyrs, by John Foxe. A remarkably cheap edition of this wonderfully horrible book is issued by "The Book Society." The trial and burning of Ridley and Latimer are fully given, and it is a kind of key to the large plate we are publishing of the martyrdom of these two valiant men at Oxford. For twenty-four stamps we send our large plate, and Foxe's Book of Martyrs, to any address, post free, from 4, Crane court, Fleet street.

SHIRLEY HIBBERD, Esq., sustains most nobly, and usefully, his editorship of the "Gardener's Magazine" which we know is found to be a pleasant and cheerful companion to amateurs, professionals, and all interested in the cultivatisn of fruits, flowers, shrubs, greenhouse plants, &c. It is published by Allen, in Ave Maria Lane.

OBITUARY.

MR. WILLIAM SAWYER.

A deacon of the church at Farnborough, Kent.

Mr. William Sawyer was one of three who founded the little church at Farnborough, about twenty-one years since, and during that time has held the office of deacon. He has suffered considerably of late from affections of the brain, and after a long illness succumbed to the hand of

death on Feb. 15th, 1868. He had much mental darkness at times during his affliction, but the clouds cleared away at last, and he was enabled to say with a smile on his face, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded He is able to keep me until that day." And he was kept. His departure was very peaceful, he waved his hand as a sign (according to previous arrangement) that he was going home.

And a smile on the face,

Showed delight in the soul. He was interred in Down churchyard, on Friday 21st, followed by a very great number of friends as well as relatives, enough to fill the Baptist chapel at Down, into which he was taken. A service was conducted in the chapel, brethren Isaac Ballard, the pastor of the church, and Geo. Webb, of Little Wild street, each taking a part. After which the body was taken to the grave and there interred, brother Webb making a few remarks as the body was lowered. The Church service would have been read, but it was the wish of our departed brother to be buried as a Nonconformist, and like two of his family, in the same grave, buried in the same way, because they had not been christened, so he said let me be buried. But some member of the family set the bell tolling, and it was a novel sight to see so many following a corpse tolled by the church bell into the dissenting chapel just by. They are sturdy Non. Ĉons. at Down.

A REVIEW OF THE GOSPEL MINISTRY.

(By a Correspondent in America.)

(Continued from page 91).

I have at different times and places, here in New York, heard discourses, one in particular by a professed Gospel minster, where, throughout the whole discourses, was there but one sentence (like an oasis in the desert) of a soul-enlivening description, and that was a passage of Scripture, quoted; how those who profess to have been set free and preciously at times favoured to know what it is

to soar aloft as upon eagle's wings, and behold, afar off, can settle down (if any such there are) under such ministry is past my comprehension; for my part, I want to lie down in "the green pastures, beside the still waters" of life and liberty, not the turbid waters of death and bondage. I would especially call the attention of such ministers to the 28th chapter Isaiah from 23rd verse to the end, and may the blessed Spirit give an understanding heart while reading; they will there perceive there is something else to do in the Lord's vineyard than belabouring, ploughing, and harrowing up the poor soul with the law, or even dinning into his ears, from which he is already suffering, the terrors of the law and his own innate filthiness. "Doth the ploughman plough all day to sow? verily not. For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him." Then what shall we say of those who do otherwise, to speak charitably they must at least be counted foolish teachers, the Word of God being the test. the fitches are not threshed (with the law) but beaten out with a staff, neither is a cart-wheel (may be compared to Divine justice) turned upon the cummin, but it is beaten out with a rod, and what is this staff and rod? Not the terrors of the law. Mount Sinai, bondage, captivity, the law of sin in their members, verily not. The Psalmist (and all Christian members can join in) says, "Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me; go what that meaneth, I will have learn mercy and not sacrifice."

"" 66

For

I leave these reflections to be pondered over by those who seek to justify such preaching. Ministers of law, bondage, and corruption, for that is what, in most part, their ministry consists, rather than of Christ and His cross, should such be called; and as the tree is known by its fruits, so its effects are visible upon those who sit under such ministry. Like priest, like people, yea, many of them are brought into such a state, that they even love to have it so, hugging their very chains and fetters; they are like milestones on the road, 'tis true, but from one year

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