"MODERATE MEN," AND "EXTREME MEN." To the Editor of the Gospel Magazine. DEAR BROTHER,-Having written to | taught to be waiting-not on Himself, you on one error of the day, that I be- for his own time, and to fulfil his own lieve through its plausibility misleads | purposes-but on the convenience of the many a young minister, I am now led to address you concerning another stumbling-block. My last letter, which you inserted in your Magazine for this month, was on the cry, "No System," &c.; and now I desire to testify of another evil of the present time, viz., the fear of being thought "extreme," which many a minister shrinks from. worm, when it may please that worm to desire a preparation for heaven, ever will be popular; for men are everywhere so puffed up with ideas of their own ability and strength, that the preaching of free-will will be lauded, while freegrace will be scouted as narrow-mindedness, and bigotry. Yet even here, “moderate men must not in these days reject entirely the expression free-grace; but rather use (I should, perhaps say, abuse) the term, teaching that free-grace in its work, depends upon the exercise of free-will on the sinner's part. Indeed, "moderate men" seem to find no difficulty in reconciling things that the inspired Apostle teaches are utterly at variance (see Rom. xi. 6.) There is a constant demand for "moderate men -men who hold "moderate views ;" and advertisements in the papers assure rectors, &c., that the persons seeking spheres in which to preach the Gospel, hold "no extreme views." What indeed is meant by "moderation" I have never yet discovered; for men who pride themselves on possessing this quality, deny the conclusions which I am inclined I cannot think I speak uncharitably, to draw from such a word, My idea of or that my representation is a caricature. a "moderate man," is one who is "nei- That many who pride themselves on being ther cold nor hot;" i. e., "lukewarm;"" moderate men," are truly good men, and therefore such as the Lord speaks of and would utterly renounce such views with abhorrence (Rev. iii. 15, 16). Or as I here impute to them, I doubt not. it may mean one who ever desires to But I would ask them to consider whespeak so smoothly, that none who hear ther "moderation" in Christian doctrine him can be offended; but the whole con- and practice must not tend to such a regregation, whether godly, formalists, or sult? The Apostle Paul was no "moopenly worldly, shall all be pleased. Yet derate man ;" and while in matters of such" moderate men as these come secondary importance he taught, "Let under the Master's condemnation, who your moderation be known unto all men" said, Woe unto you, when all men (Phil. iv. 5); yet he plainly tells us, shall speak well of you! for so did their" It is good to be zealously affected alfathers to the false prophets" (Luke vii. 26). Such "moderate" preaching is surely daubing" rotten walls "with untempered morter;" and speaking peace to all, even when there is no peace! If it be not, I know not what it is. 66 وو ways in a good thing" (Gal. iv. 18); and he who in the days of his ignorance and unbelief had been "exceedingly zealous of the traditions of his fathers," became afterwards, under the constraining influence of the love of God shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost, "exceedingly zealous" in "testifying the Gospel of the grace of God" (Acts xx. 24). وو That congregations will be pleased where such moderate" views are propounded with eloquence-that numbers will throng the church or chapel-and crowds even be found at the sacramental "Moderate men never "turned the table-I doubt not; because now, as world upside down" (Acts xvii. 6). formerly, men like to be thought reli-" Moderate men" never affected any gious on their own terms, and say to the great reformation; but men burning with prophets and preachers, "Prophesy not love to their Master, and zeal for his unto us right things; speak unto us cause; knowing the power of Divine smooth things: cause the Holy grace in their own souls, and therefore One of Israel to cease from before us trusting to the efficacy of that grace upon (Isa. xxx. 10, 11). A religion in which others; assured that their "work of man is the sovereign, and the Lord Jesus faith and labour of love" could not be "give efficacy to the word of his grace." From the faithful preaching of that word many may now (as of old) turn away, in vain; but that since salvation is "of grace," it is "sure to all the seed" (Rom. iv. 16), and the simple exhibition of Gospel truths must be attended with" rejecting the counsel of God against blessed results. Such preaching will themselves;" but others will receive it; ever be distasteful to the carnal hearer; for "as many as are ordained to eternal but the preacher who remembers that life will believe" (Acts xiii. 48). More he is the servant of Christ, will not de- than these, no preaching can convert and sire to please men: his desire will be to bring to heaven; as is clear from Rev. be found faithful to his Master. Many xx. 15. a hard saying" must be uttered, for Christian people should pray much for they form a part of that "counsel of their ministers, that they may be deliGod" which he dare not shun to declare. vered from "the fear of man that bringHe may be called "extreme,' 'injudi- eth a snare "-and have grace and wiscious," &c., but still will he go on, know-dom to "speak boldly as they ought to ing that man's wisdom is not to be the judge of Gospel preaching; and while smoothing, and squaring, and moderating Gospel truths may please men, it cannot please the Lord Jesus, who will alone speak." January 8, 1856. faithfully, in the Lord Jesus, ALIQUIS SECUndus. UNION TO CHRIST. ST. JOHN'S GOSPEL, 14TH CHAPTER. THIS Consolatary address of our blessed | thou in me, that they may be made perLord to his disciples, was not intended fect in one.' This astonishing and mysfor them alone, but for all the Church of terious union of Christ and his Church, the living God in every age. He began is far beyond the comprehension of the with the highest source "Ye believe in natural man! "Yea," says the apostle, God, believe also in me: thus showing" It is foolishness to Him;" therefore the divinity of his Person, his being equal is the Holy Spirit promised to reveal with the Father." And, dear friends, those glorious truths, for the comfort this is the ground-work of every believ- and establishment of those to whom He er's hopes for time and eternity. This gives grace to believe. Our blessed Man, whose name is Wonderful, has Lord says, "I will send the Holy Spirit dwelt in this our world as one of us, and the Comforter, He will teach you all is the only medium through which we things, and guide you into all truth;" can know God nor ever ca for God, in therefore He is represented as the his essential nature, is a consuming Fire. Teacher, Remembrancer, Interpreter, &c., It is through Christ alone that He has &c. Our Lord proceeds to say-"In my revealed Himself to his people, who are Father's house are many mansions; I go more favoured than the angels, for hav-to prepare a place for you." Can any ing taken into union with his Divine Person, our nature, see Hebrews, 2nd chapter, 16th verse, we have a relationship which they cannot claim. In how many familiar and endearing names has He made Himself known to us-a Husband, a Brother, a Friend, &c. What wonderful condescension in this mighty God, to take into union with his manhood, which He assumed for that very purpose, such vile sinners, such worms of the earth. We have his own gracious words to that effect-"I am the vine, ye are the branches." And again in his inimitable prayer, He says, "That they also may be one in us; I in them, and language more sweetly express the loving heart of the Saviour! He would have his people comforted here, in this timestate, by the revelation of the Divine Person, who is to be their Teacher and Guide! and would also lead their minds away from the sorrow they must have felt at the prospect of losing such a Friend, by opening to their view the glorious anticipation of another, and a better state, where they should dwell with him for ever. And as if this was not enough, He assures them, “He would come again, and receive them unto Himself, that where He was, there they should be also." Our unbelieving hearts, t like Thomas's, will often raise doubts, and fears, as to the reality of those blessed truths, and of our interest in them; how graciously does our Lord anticipate the doubts and fears of the trembling believer, by leading them away from any hope or trust in themselves, to the true object of faith-"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father, but my me." Here, dear friends, is the grand secret, hid from the world, but revealed to babes-"That there is salvation in no other but Jesus." we well know that the heart is deceitful, and desperately wicked. Who can know it? What does the great apostle say of the natural heart, "There is none righ teous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. There is none that doeth good, no, not one." No; nothing but the blood of Jesus-God's holy Onecould satisfy Jehovah's justice; and he was a willing sacrifice; for He says"Lo! I come, in the volume of the book it is written of me; I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart." The proud rebellious heart of the carnal man cannot receive this humbling After reading the 12th, 13th, 14th, doctrine-they think they have some- verses, He spoke with much earnestness thing to do on their part to obtain salva of the vast privileges of the believer in tion-that a holy life, deeds of charity, having such nearness of access to his regular attendance on ordinances, read heavenly Father, by his beloved Son; ing the Bible, &c., &c., will please God, "Whatever ye ask in my name, that and that then He will accept and pardon will I do," &c. Here is encouragement them for Christ's sake. A fearful delu- for the poor trembling sinners, Jesus sion of Satan this-read the 11th verse speaks to thee; and remember, this book of the 50th chapter of Isaiah, and the where these glorious truths are declared 10th chapter of Hebrews, 29th verse, is no fable; but God's revelation of his we are told there is but one sacrifice for mind and will; and He condescends to sin-" But now, once in the end of the make known to his favoured ones, the world, hath He appeared to put away sin vast plan of salvation. Jesus the Saviour, by the sacrifice of Himself:" again the Redeemer, is the subject from begin66 So Christ was once offered to bear the ning to end; and most blessed is that sins of many." And, dear friends, when favoured one who has the key to unlock we read the history of Christ's sufferings its vast stores. Human wisdom, or rea-his agony in the garden, when He son, cannot accomplish this mighty work, sweat drops of blood, the agonizing but only lead to error; it is the office death on the crosss-if all this was need- of the Holy Spirit to unfold its glorious, ful for one who was holy, harmless, un- and mysterious truths; blessed are defiled, and separate from sinners, but those who are under his gracious teachwas truly the Sin-Bearer, surely some-ing; and remember we have the invitathing more is required than the imper- tion and the promise, "Ask, and ye shall fect services of the most perfect crea- receive." ture that ever lived on the earth. But THE DAY OF GLADNESS. WITH cheerful steps we wend our way The Saviour's presence there. Deign, dear Redeemer, to draw near, The hearing ear and contrite heart, We long to hail the happy day, A. G. M. I GREAT I! THE child of God is never, in reality, hap- claims, "Come and hear, all ye that pier than when he can stand behind the fear God, and I will declare what he cross, and hold up Christ to the wonder- hath done for my soul." For ourselves, ing and admiring view of the poor broken- we are free to confess, that we love to hearted sinner. But, in doing so, he often see the great and glorious declaration of experiences a difficulty. He represents the word opened out, in the experience of Christ as a great, a gracious, an all-suffi- the Lord's dear people, we delight to cient, and a willing Saviour. Such his see the practical illustration and confirtext-book-the word of God-declares mution of covenant verities. Hence we Him to be. But (with reverence we call upon our beloved readers to testify speak it,) there is something more of the love, and the grace, and the faithwanted. The simple appeal to this must fulness, and the power of our God, as be clothed with power, and this power realized in their own individual cases. is of the Holy Ghost. "Not in word What a cheering word-and what a help only, but in power." And this power is-do we often get, in communing with inseparable from, if not part and parcel the family; and were not silence enjoinof that warm, heartfelt, unctious, personal participation of the great and glorious realities brought forward. "He is," says the soul, "a great, a gracious, an all-sufficient, and a willing Saviour. I know it, not upon Scripture testimony merely (however clear and conclusive that testimony may be) but upon proof. I have realized in my own personal experience, the truth of the declarations concerning my most glorious Christ. Here, then, comes the difficulty. In giving out a warm heartfelt statement of of what Christ is, and what Christ has done, there is a fear of calling attention to self rather than to the Lord. And one exposes himself thereby to a charge of egotism. We believe many a child of God has been driven into the oppositenamely the silent-extreme, upon this principle, and suffered many and many a precious mercy to ed upon us, how should we love to put our readers in possession of facts which warm our own hearts, and which we should love to tell to the praise of our covenant God. We are often wont to indulge in this train of thought. We have been led at the present time to give utterance to it, in consequence of the subjoined letter just to hand : This London, Jan. 18th, 1856., MY DEAR FRIEND,-It appears to me that more facts or records of the Lord's dealings with his people, such as the "Old Shepherdess," and "The Dead raised to Life," in this month's Magazine, would tend to raise its interest. Even our Lord Himself, when preaching discriminating truth, did it by stating FACTS (Luke iv. 25, 26, 27). I thought perhaps if you are led to see it to be the right way,-you could suggest this to some of your correspondents. I think many are kept back from stating facts of personal interest because of the great "1." must be a delusion of the enemy, which I have proved to keep back that which would interest others, and glorify God, because when looking closely into the matter, if we refrain for this reason, it is because we supposed to be writing of ourselves; instead of which, as no good thing dwelleth in us," it must be Christ, of whom we would speak when stating our personal interest under varied circumstances. Why, then, should we be afraid of the letter "I" any more than the Apostle Paul, who used it so often, and in such language as I suppose would now-a-days be thought most Pharisaical, for instance, "I do not frustrate the grace of God," &c. (Gal. ii. 21). Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am," &c. (Gal. iv. 12). --"lie buried in uuthankfulness, And without praises die." Whilst it behoves him to seek to lie low in the dust of self-loathing and abasement before God, he must beware that Satan-yea, and a proud heart (for God only knows how much pride may be hid under such a surface)-does not seek to seal his lips. How solemn that rebuke of Jesus," Were there not ten cleansed, but where are the nine ?" and how equally significant his counsel to the restored Gadarene, who "prayed that he might be with him,” "Go home to thy friends, and show how great things God hath done unto thee. Moreover the Psalmist, in the warmth of his heart, and in a becoming love and gratitude to his Lord and Master, was willing to brave all such charges, as he, ex-. c are M. L. R. MY LITTLE IDOL-MY ROSY-CHEEKED BOY. A We oftentimes admire the way in which inquiry. The weight of some poor soul our Lord and Master times his mercies. at present dead in trespasses and sins, He does, as it were, so dovetail events deeply laid upon the heart Go, speak as to make his wisdom and goodness so my words unto them." Say, "Set thine marvellously to appear. We must waive house in order;" for "this year thou the charge of egotism, which doubtless shalt die." Delivered the message; left some will lay at our door, whilst we speak it to the Holy Ghost to apply it. Verily of the following to the praise of our gra- believed-and still venture to hope, if not cious and indulgent God. We never re-believe-that it shall pierce like an armember to have left home with greater row to some poor sinner's heart, and reluctance than upon the present occa-bring him to the foot of the cross. We sion. We have-we are free to acknow- may never hear of it, but the matter is ledge it—an idol in one of our dear litttle with our God. Spent a couple of hours, ones. That child has entwined round in the interval of the services, with the the heart most peculiarly. We have dear Old Pilgrim's Widow and other known, felt, and acknowledged before friends. Felt an assurance that the God that he has had too large a share of Lord would be with us in the evening. the heart; and we have long, long been He was, blessed be his name. Subject, upon the look-out for rebuke. A few " My grace is sufficient for thee." Next months ago the two next in age, both morning, ran down to Saw "H." younger and older, were laid low by afflic- and others of the Royal household. tion; but the Lord, in mercy, raised parting word with "H." upon the subthem up. Daily were we anticipating the ject of idols. Confessed it in reference third-the idol-to be taken ill; and we to the dear first mentioned. Retook for granted that that would be the turned to -held meeting and summons to surrender his precious life. started for- by night-train. Arrived But no, still he continued in the best of a letter awaited us. The dear child health-robust and rosy. New Year's was smitten with measels. Oh, the reday came, and with it the farewell! It buke! Yet it was in felt-love. But the seemed next to impossible that we should | yearning, and the cry, and entreaty. Five see that dear child again. What would hundred miles away, and one's-self under we not have given to have foregone that responsible and unfulfilled engagements. journey? However, the next day found "To whom can we go but unto Thee ?" under the good hand of our One was smitten down-laid lowGod; and we sang in our heart the praises crouching at the Lord's feet, with many of our God for above a week. Thursday and many a plea for submission; many a eve, the 10th inst., darkness set in. cry that he might be the Lord's in life or Subject, in preaching, Phil. i. 6. Satur- in death. Next morning came the letter day following, to in much con- about the death of Mr. HUNTINGTON'S flict. Verily, it was the burden of the last-surviving child, and what a timely word of the Lord." "Where is the word it was. Lord God of Elijah ?" was the mental <us in اور -, Jan. 19, 1856. Notes of the Month. A CONFERENCE will be shortly held in London for the establishment of a General Association, as a centre of information upon the important subject of the prevention of juvenile crime, and the refomation of young cininals. The Conference will probably be interesting to all who are engaged in one or other of the hundred reformatories, refuges, industrial schools, and other similar institutions, in Great Britian and Ireland, and we are informed that they may be invited to deliberate on this occasion by men who have had the largest experience on the subject. Among these will be found the Earl of Shaftesbury, Mr. R. Hanbury junior, representing "The Boys Refuge" (for 100 boys); Dr. Guthrie and Dr. Bell, from Edinburgh; Mr. Playfair, from the House of Refuge in Glasgow (for 240 inmates, soon to be increased to 400); Sheriff Watson and Mr. Thomson, from the Aberdeen Refuge; Mr. Bowker, from that of Brix |