ing their three sermons in the week, and indulging in ease the rest of their time, let us whisper in their ear the fact, that Church JEHOVAH T: TSIDKENU. of Englandism is rising up in mighty "The Lord our Righteousness."-The watchword forces, determined to banish Nonconformity from its position. Congregational, Wesleyan, and General Baptist Unions, are straining every nerve to enlarge their circles-and Mr. enlarging they are too at a rapid rate. Spurgeon is sending his students out into all parts and places, where an entrance can be made. What the result of all this professed evangelization may be, we cannot decide. But, this we know, that by all the bodies we have named, the Strict Baptists are scouted, scorned, and derided; therefore, in the midst of this immense army of preachers and people, who, divided as they may be in most things-in one they are united-that is, to root up and cast away all the ministers and churches, who for every branch of truth stand unmoved. Let free-will, duty-faith, open communion, and some other things come in, and away goes the DISTINCTION between the Church and the world; the whole company of Gospel professors will become like the ten virgins in the parable-wise and foolish all mixed up together and after they have toiled hard to do what they never will do, they will fall fast asleep, and in this state they will continue, until the midnight cry is heard"Behold the Bridegroom cometh." And it is to this general slumber, the people are driving us now with all their might. At least, that is our humble conviction. It is, then, a mercy that in this evening time, there are a few veterans who will never make shipwreck of their faith, nor of a good conscience: but, through grace, enduring steadfast to the end, shall be saved. In attempting to write a short notice of Mr. Foreman's nice "Thoughts on Heaven," we have been involuntarily and unintentionally drawn out to make these remarks which are made in all sincerity; and but for want of space, we should call over the roll of faithful men, and shew that neither London or the provinces are yet left without witnesses for all that Jesus Christ our Lord commanded, but the review of our Ministerial Roll, and a review of Mr. Foreman's book has yet to be written. of the Reformers. I once was a stranger To grace and to God, And felt not my load. I oft read with pleasure, And John's simple page; Like tears from the daughters I wept when the waters But when free grace awoke me In self could I see- My terrors all vanished Before the sweet name; My breast-plate, and shield. The shadow of death, Forwarded by T. J. MESSER. Dumfries, Dec. 21, 1863. "Strait is the gate and narrow is the What did way that leadeth unto life." Christ mean by "narrow?" Evidently to convey the truth that there is no room for superfluous baggage upon it, such as works of righteousness that poor man does in hope It is so "narrow" that all of eternal life. merit, all supposed goodness, all fancied holiness must be left behind, and the travellers must trust solely to the merits and righteousness of Christ, who is the Way." FORGIVENESS: ITS AUTHOR, ITS SOURCE, ITS SECURITY, ITS NATURE, AND ITS BLESSEDNESS. BY JOHN BLOOMFIELD, OF SALEM CHAPEL, MEARD'S COURT, SOHO.* "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered."-PSALM Xxxii. 1. 66 THE views of men under worldly influence are widely different from the views of men who are taught by the Divine Spirit the importance and the preciousness of the salvation of the soul. Men who have no right views of their own condition, or the claims of God and the eternal world, their views are limited in their range, being confined to this present life. The godly man knows that godliness is profitable for the life that now is and that which is to come. It is only by real religion that the best can be made of both worlds-the present and the future. The ungodly man, such are his views, that he would say, Blessed is the man who hath large possessions, who hath property." Therefore he wears his mind and his body to amass wealth, forgetting, however, wealth is only useful to us, and life is only useful, really so, as they are wisely used. He forgets that riches sometimes take to themselves wings and fly away. Others would say, "Blessed is the man of high station, of princely titles;" forgetting, however, there are titles of far higher value, far more durable in character, for those who possess real and vital religion. Princely titles, which men wear in this world, are all as passing shadows. Riches and titles will fall from the man who wears them; or the man will fall and soon leave the princely titles with which he has been honoured in this world. Some would say, "Blessed is the man of lofty intellect, who belongs not to the aristocracy of blood, but of mind;" forgetting that the loftiest intellects, sometimes in this world, have been employed in opposition to God, in strenuous opposition to the cause of Christ; and though not so employed, the greatest mind may soon become humbled, and the loftiest intellect may be soon enfeebled. Others would say, Blessed is the man who is in possession of power, who sways a sceptre over thousands and millions of his fellow-creatures;" forgetting that there is nothing more uncertain than the possession of power; the man who sways a sceptre to-day may have it dashed from his hand, and the crowu from his head, and to-morrow he may become the scorn of his subjects. Being the substance of a sermon delivered on Sunday morning, January 5th, 1862, in Salem The godly man would say, "Blessed is the man who hath a genuine religion; who possesses Christ's everlasting righteousness; the man who possesses Christ's Spirit; the man who imitates all that is imitable in Christ's example. Blessed is the man who hath a saving knowledge of God, who is influenced by the fear of God, and who is found faithfully serving God; blessed is the man who knows the Saviour, and who is watching for His coming. Blessed is the man who breathes the spirit of the Saviour, and imitates all that is imitable in His example. Blessed is the man who understands what it is to be burdened with a sense of sin, and has lost that burden through faith in the cross of Christ. Blessed is the man who understands his own righteousness to be but as filthy rags, and hath been clothed in the righteousness of Christ, the fine linen, clean and white. Blessed is the man who depends for completeness in Christ ;. not like the Pharisees of old, looking to their own doings for a standing in completeness." The godly man says in the words of our text, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven-whose sin is covered." These words contain a great deal of the mercy of God in His plan of salvation; so the apostle Paul thought, for he quoted them in the fourth chapter of Romans. We are never pleased with the men who tell us the Old Testament believers knew nothing, or very little, about Jesus Christ. We think they knew a great deal more than many imagine. We think they saw through the types and shadows with more clearness, with more light, than many give them credit for. We think men misrepresent the Old Testament saints when it is asserted they knew but little of Jesus and His work of mediation. We think, on the contrary, the saints of the Old Testament ages understood the ground of pardon for sin; they understood that ground was the system of Mediation, by which sins are covered, by which their debts were blotted out, and the sinner finds peace with God. We shall discover as we read the Old Testament, in the spirit of the New Testament, the grounds and principles of the great system of salvation, which are more clearly exhibited in the Gospel of the grace of God. out. I. My first point is, THE MEDIATORIAL GROUND ON WHICH THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN IS SECURED. We think we can prove that God never forgave sin but through sacrifice-a sacrifice that reveals the wisdom of God's mind, that declares the love of His infinite heart, and vindicates the honour of His moral government. We shall notice, then, first, The sacrifice under the Levitical dispensation; and then our second point will be to show, that Christ's sacrifice was more efficacious than all the types. He was the Great Sacrifice; that He is the Great Mediator, through whose works the forgiveness of sin is granted. We shall notice, therefore, in the words or teaching of this delightful theme. I do of our text,-First, The mediatorial grounds not suppose that sin was really put away on which the forgiveness of sin is granted; by the slaying of these animals. It was my second point will be, The nature of that not possible that the blood of bulls and of forgiveness of sin which the believer enjoys; goats could take away sin. The animals and, thirdly, I shall show, The blessedness sacrificed could not even take away moral of the man so forgiven, whose sin is blotted guilt, but they did what God intended they should do; that was to teach the great sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ; they were to adumbrate, to show forth the only sacrifice on which sin can be pardoned-the only way in which transgression can be really carried away. Christ was the reality, shadowed forth by all the priestly works under the Jewish economy. The priests that served God in that dispensation were men of infirmity-they were to offer sacrifice for themselves before they offered one for the people. But they were types of HIM, that Great High Priest, who comprises in His own nature all that priceless worth that gave efficacy to His own work in Himself; He was not a priest who had infirmities for which He must make an First. The mediatorial ground on which atonement. He came expressly to put the forgiveness of sin is granted. Now, for away sin; He came that He might make an the first Scriptural proof, I would direct atonement for the sins of His people. He your attentions to the 14th chapter of Le- came and was wounded for our transgresviticus and the 20th verse. You will there sion; He came and God laid help upon One find, the priest that offered an atonement that was mighty; He that was just, suffered for the people who were convinced of sin, for the unjust, whereby He might bring who sinned through ignorance, and were them to God. Christ hath made a full and brought to acknowledge their sins before perfect atonement, by which God might be God, the priest had to offer an atonement just, yet the justifier of the ungodly, of all for himself first. In the passage referred that believe in Jesus. Were the sins of to, it is thus written,-"And the priest God's ancient people put away by the types shall offer the burnt-offering and the meat and sacrifices that were offered, Jesus offering upon the altar, and the priest shall Christ came and put away sin really and make an atonement for him, and he shall truly, and for ever, by the sacrifice of Himbe clean." The atonement, you see, pre-self. He is our propitiation; He is our cedes the act of forgiveness. The atone- covering, "not for our sins only, but for ment is the ground on which forgive- the sins of the whole world." This sacriness is granted. This truth is taught fice was not for the Jews simply, but for plainly in all the Levitical services respect- all God's people, of every nation, kindred, ing the sacrificial work which God early tongue, and people under the heavens. taught to His people. Read again the 16th Now, without an atonement, God has never chapter of Leviticus, that beautiful and im- then forgiven sin; when God forgives a pressive chapter which I read in your hear-man his sins, He does it for Christ's sake; ing this morning. There we find there were "two goats, one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat." One was offered for a sin-offering; the other was let go into the wilderness, and carried away the transgressions of the people. But, mind there was no forgiveness but by the atonement; one goat was offered to God for an atonement; the other let go into the wilderness, and carries away the sins of the people into the land of forgetfulness, teaching us still the same doctrine as taught in the first Scripture, that atonement must precede the doing away with or carrying away the sins of the people. Secondly. Now let me notice the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus answers to this view, He does it for His own great name's sake; He does it on the principle thoroughly in harmony with the claims of His own moral government; He does it without giving up one right of His claims of justice without one blemish on His character, as the moral Governor of the universe. Do not think, then, that God forgives sin apart from the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. The Old Testament saints believed this; when they asked for pardon, they said, "Pardon me, O God, for my iniquity is great." But this prayer is generally preceded by, "Pardon me for Thy great name's sake." Ah! poor sinner, look to this, the mediatorial ground, as the only way thy sins can be forgiven. This is the root of all; here lies the foundation of your salvation. The anxious and thoughtful mind may say, "I hope to be forgiven; I hope to escape the consequences of sin; I have repented, and acknowledge my sins before God." This we must do; but that ferms no ground on which we can expect God's pardon. You may make promises of what you mean to do; that you intend to lead a better life; you acknowledge you have led an evil life, and if God will pardon you, you will lead a life more in harmony with the holy Scriptures. But, remember, this can be only done as under the influence of God's Spirit, and we can only expect mercy from God, in the forgiveness of our sins, by the way He hath pointed out, and there is no other ground on which we can acceptably plead for pardon but by and through the full and perfect atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. As we have shown, under the old economy, atonement was offered by the priest, first for himself, then for the people, ere sin was pardoned; and the sacrifice being accepted, sin was carried away, and the people were forgiven. II. Now, secondly, let me notice THAT FORGIVENESS THE MAN OF GOD ENJOYS. First. It is a Divine forgiveness. "There is forgiveness with God that He may be feared." The Lord loveth mercy and forgiveness. Forgiveness for sin is the right of God, and none can exercise that right but God. Jesus Christ, when on earth, forgave men their sins; but, then, Jesus Christ was God incarnate, as none can forgive sin but God, and Christ forgave sin; Christ is therefore the eternal God. "I have blotted out as a thick cloud," says our God, "thy transgression, and as a cloud thy sins." This is the act of God. What would it be for us, dear friends, to be forgiven by some priest, some minister, or some prophet? To have a cheering prospect of heaven, to enjoy peace of conscience, to realize the blessings of God's Word-to have these cheering prospects, you must be forgiven by God, against whom you have sinned, upon whose rights you have trampled, by HIM whose laws you have broken. Forgiveness of sin, then, is a Divine act; we see the Psalmist believed in this: of whom did he ask pardon but of God? David sought pardon of none but God. "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy loving kindness; according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions." And, "For Thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity, for it is great." The poor publican, when he was filled with a sense of guilt, cried, "God be merciful to me a sinner." My dear hearers, have you sought pardon of God?-hare you sought forgiveness for your sins of Him who alone can forgive ?-remembering, "There is for giveness with God, that He may be feared;" that He may be sought unto; that He may be trusted in, as the only one who can remove our guilt. Second. Again, it is a free forgiveness. When man forgives, he may say, "I forgive you freely;" but, then, there are conditions respecting the future. But, with God, it is not a conditional forgiveness; it is forgiveness out of His rich grace and sovereign favour. You can never deserve it, nor attain it by thy own sacrifices if you try. God forgives; but He forgives like a God. He forgives out of the riches of His grace; He forgives, but it is an act of sovereignty; He forgives, but it is through the mediation of His Son; He forgives, and it is freely. O, poor sinner, this should cheer thy heart. Art thou a burdened sinner?-if you are, remember God freely forgives through Jesus Christ. Are you seeking pardon for your sins?— then let this cheer your soul, that God delighteth in mercy. Do you earnestly desire mercy?-let this thought cheer you, that God pardoneth poor sinners through His rich sovereign grace. You will never be able to say, "I am pardoned, for I bought my pardon;" never say, "I am pardoned, but I deserved my pardon." You can never say, "I am pardoned, but, then, it was obtained on certain conditions-certain of my works appeared before God to atone for my sins." No, no, this will not do; there are no conditions at all; if forgiven, you are freely forgiven out of the loving kindness of God Himself. Did the Lord forgive the Psalmist? Then He forgave him freely, and freely blotted out his transgression, and put away his sins. Did God forgive Saul of Tarsus his sins? Then it was freely and without any merits on the part of Saul that he received pardon of God. Did He forgive Mary Magdalene, out of whom He cast devils?" Did she earn forgiveness? It is certain she never deserved it; it is also certain she could never have procured it, were it not for the provisions made in God's free grace. 46 seven Perhaps there is some poor sinner here, saying, "I have never enjoyed pardon for my sins; this is what I want. O that I could believe my sins were pardoned. O that I had my pardon in possession." Pardon to the condemned culprit must come from the crowned head; the pardon may be sealed by the royal hand, and then some time elapse between the sealing of that pardon, and having it in possession. Now God's people are all forgiven, every one hath his pardon signed and sealed by the royal hand; but it is only as the man is brought to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, with all his heart and soul, he can Jan. 1, 1864. have the pardon in his own possession; or, NEW BOOKS & PAMPHLETS. in other words, as the soul becomes conscious of his state as a sinner, forgiveness is sought, and he desires to know that his Truths for the Day of Life, and the Hour of Death. London: Virtue Brothers and Co., iniquity is blotted out. It is only as you 1, Amen Corner, Paternoster Row. 1864. believe in the Lord Jesus you can be saved; it is only by trusting in the merits THAT earnest and most laborious writer, the of His atoning blood, only as you cast all author of "God is Love," "Our Heavenly your care on Him, look to Him, and trust Home," "Grace and Glory," &c., &c., has here given us another handsome, weighty, in His blood and righteousness you can re- and every-day seasonable book. "The Asceive pardon. You may have to wait for surance of Faith is the leading subject in the knowledge of pardon; but, as certain this volume. "Causes why the Assurance as the Scriptures are true, "He that be- of Faith is not enjoyed by all Believers," are lieveth and is baptized shall be saved, and traced out in the author's own way; with he that believeth not shall be damned." "General Observations to Doubting BelievHe who hath faith in Jesus, hath the wit-ers;" and an attempt to shew ness in himself; He who believes in Jesus, surance of Faith may be obtained." It is evident from the Preface, that the and trusts in His atoning work and peer- author's mind was deeply exercised while less character, hath certain evidences in his own soul of a sense of pardon, and that his writing out the different branches of his great theme; he has issued many volumes before, iniquity is put away. but in none has his own heart and soul been more fully drawn out than in this. We live in a day when the "Assurance of Faith" ap (To be concluded next month.) How the As AM I ON THE RIGHT WAY? pears to be but little known or enjoyed. If, BY REV. W. PARKS, B.A. "I ONCE knew a young man who was therefore, this writer has found and furnished a genuine antidote and remedy for the almost universal reign of unbelief, he has conferred a blessing indeed; but as the work is newly from the press, we briefly announce it, being confident that however sharply some of the author's conclusions may be controverted in some quarters, the careful and prayerful perusal of this elegant and appropriate new year's gift-book cannot fail of conferring good to the souls of many. We are really fearful that the converting power-the Christ-revealing and extolling power-the soul-establishing, truth-unfolding, and promise-applying powers of the Holy Ghost, are much withdrawn in these days; and without His quickening, illuminating, and sealing powers, no soul can have ASSURANCE of its own salvation. That the Holy Ghost works by means more generally-that where the honoured means are neglected, the blessing is withheld, we know most painfully. But this is not a review. Grace Victorious. The Experience of Mr. Francis Collins, Minister of Howe Street Chapel, Plymouth. Published by J. Paul, Chapter-house Court; to be had of the Author, 4, Constantine-street, Plymouth. A SERIES of tracts on themes of the highest value to man, have been issued by Mr. Collins during his pastorate at Howe street: they are all ably and faithfully produced; but, in this last one, Mr. Collins opens his heart, and freely details the work of God upon his soul both in giving him grace, and in putting him Mr. Collins's ministry into the ministry. commenced in measure under his former pastor, Mr. James Wells, for whom he entertains the deepest Christian affection. well-known Surrey Tabernacle deacon, Mr. Barnes, was instrumental in sending Francis Collins into the work, in 1849; and from that time the Lord has upheld and honoured him; and in that very difficult town, Plymouth, he The late |