and approve; but they remain unchanged the same cold, formal, worldly-minded Christians as he found them! Nay worse: there are among them many who do not scruple to live in open violation of God's holy commands, and yet think themselves pretty good Christians! The farmer will settle his accounts and pay his labourers on the morning of the Lord's day before he goes to church; and the shopkeeper is ready to accommodate, before the hours of divine service, those poor customers who, not being able to get their wages sooner, could not purchase the necessary articles on the Saturday. Yet their Minister is solemn and earnest in his exhortations to a holy life, and insists much on the importance of true religion and the evils of sabbath-breaking and profaneness. But then the fact is, he only deals in generals. He does not tell them in what particular ways they break the sabbath, or act dishonestly and covetously. The dread of appearing personal in his addresses, of offending those whom he wishes to conciliate, makes him stop short of pointing out expressly those particular evils of which his parishioners are guilty; while each individual interprets in his own way those general declarations, with which his Minister is satisfied, but which will seldom or never excite the awakened soul to exclaim, "What must I do to be saved?" To be faithful, to gain souls, it is almost needful to address sinners, as Nathan did the King of Israel, with "Thou art the man." And though it is to be feared that not many will receive the unwelcome message as David did, yet God will sooner or later bless the upright endeavours of his faithful servant, and crown his efforts with success: at all events, the blood of souls will not be required at his hands. Court not then the smiles nor fear the frowns of thy fellow-mortals. Fear not the frown of man, whether the rector or the squire; neither fear to be called a methodist or an enthusiast; but fear that awful Judge who has declared, "that if thou warn not the wicked to turn from his wickedness, his blood will I require at thy hand." Take heed that not a single sentence which it would seem that God would have thee speak for the benefit of one soul, be kept back from the dread of giving offence. Too many ascribe to prudence and caution that which God sees to arise from far different causes. How often, when a faithful Minister, from the knowledge of his own heart, has been speaking closely to the consciences of his hearers, has some one in the congregation felt assured that the preacher must have been made acquainted with all the secrets of his past life, though perhaps he never saw him before; thus exemplifying those words of the Apostle, 1 Cor. xiv. 25. One of the old divines used to say, that he was resolved his hearers should either quarrel with him or with their sins; and the excellent father* of the late Rev. John Venn observed, that he who would succeed in saving souls must first draw the sword and then throw away the scabbard. From the backwardness of preachers to attack particular sins or insist on special duties, many persons at first setting out in a religious life, through mere ignorance, persist in things quite inconsistent with the Christian character. Two instances of this kind came under my own The Rev. Henry Venn, formerly vicar of Huddersfield, and afterwards rec tor of Yelling, author of "The Complete Duty of Man," """Essay on the Prophecy of Zacharias," &c. The effect produced by the bold, decided, and evangelical preaching of this eminent servant of God at Huddersfield was most astonishing. Vast numbers were converted, and the character of the place for a time almost changed; some remain as witnesses to this day, and multitudes are fallen asleep. 3 observation: the making use of the Lord's name as an expletive in common conversation, and the practice of requiring servants to deny their masters when at home; neither of which was supposed to be a transgression of God's will, till it happened to be mentioned in the pulpit. By this plain dealing then it is that the ungodly are convinced of sin, and believers built up in faith and love; and though the Minister who preaches thus practically and faithfully may by some be deemed a legal teacher, he will be of all men the most likely to exalt and recommend the Saviour. Some, no doubt, are altogether misled by an erroneous judgment on this momentous subject; but still I must repeat the conviction, that many are too anxious to stand well with their neighbours, and afraid to give umbrage to certain individuals, to expose to them plainly their real character and condition. Yet, after all, what is their applause? what is their censure? How will it appear in a dying hour? Then, at least, we shall think with St. Paul, "It is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: He that judgeth me is the Lord." O that every one who bears the sacred character of a Christian Minister might be enabled to say, with the same Apostle, "I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men; for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." Φιλόψυχος. The Rev. E. Ward, Minister of Iver, has for several years circulated among his Parishioners, at the commencement of the New Year, an ADDRESS on some important topic*. On receiving a copy of that for the present year, it appeared to us so calculated for general circulation, that we were induced to request Mr. W.'s permission to insert the whole in our pages. With this request he has kindly and promptly complied; and we have only now to express our earnest desires that his work of faith and labour of love may not be in vain in the Lord. DEARLY BELOVED, I WAS led by the circumstances of the times two years ago, to give you a word of caution against the mischievous designs of those, who, having cast the fear of God behind them, were labouring to spread the poison of infidelity, and rob us of our confidence in that blessed Book, without which we are poor, though we have all besides. and lip-service are of no avail in the sight of a God that requireth truth in the inward parts; and that, unless with the heart man believeth "unto righteousness, he cannot with the mouth make confession unto salvation." Let me beg you, then, for the present to look at home, and deal honestly with yourselves, as to your real belief in those articles of faith which we call the Creed. You profess to believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; that there is a great and glorious self-existent And when I last addressed you, it was my earnest recommendation, as the agents of evil were still at work, that you would besiege the throne of grace with fervent intercession, that He who has pro-Being, of unbounded power, of mised the gates of hell shall not prevail against his Church, would lift up a standard against the enemy, would pour out his spirit largely from on high, and turn the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. But forgive me, if I express a painful apprehension, lest some of you may be be not sound in that faith, for which you have been exhorted to contend and to intercede. You bear the name of Christ, and very zealous for his cause, and yet not be a Christian. You may ery loudly with the Jews of old, The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, are we; and yet not be the Israel of God. You may repeat your Creed with the utmost precision, and diligently teach it to others, and yet have no saving knowledge of it yourselves. Ever bear in mind, that profession is not possession; that head-knowledge unerring wisdom, and unceasing Now, do you really believe this? *Eleven of these Addresses have been published in a neat form, price sixpence, sewed. FEB. 1822. I do you feel yourself thus constantly surrounded by God, thus constantly accountable to him? do you give him an undivided place in your affections? do you practise no secret idolatry in the heart? do you seek to approve yourselves in his sight, rather than to find favour in the eyes of men? Does your conduct correspond with such a belief? do you set him before you in all your dealings with the world? do bring up your you children in his fear? do you hallow his Sabbaths, and reverence his name? do you prize his word, his house, his service? Do you say, with David, in his love to the sanctuary, "One day in thy courts is better than a thousand?" Do you say, with Joseph, when tempted to evil, "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Do you say, with Job, in the season of adversity, "What, shall I receive good at the hand of God, and shall I not receive evil?" or with a far greater than Job, "Not my will, but thy will, O God, be done?" You next profess to believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. Do you really, and from your heart, believe this also? Be not too confident of yourselves. Remember, no man can effectually say, that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.-Inquire then of your own convictions: do you see your absolute need of such a Saviour? do you know yourselves to be guilty perishing sinners; con And do you really believe, that, in pity to our lost and ruined race, Jesus Christ, the Saviour anointed, the Son of the Most High, consented to leave his Father's bosom, and come down on earth, that he might take our nature and our sins upon him, and make our peace with God; that in a divine and wonderful manner he was born into the world, the seed of the woman alone; that, as man, he was in all things tempted and tried as we are, yet without sin; that he hungered, and thirsted, and wept, and was weary; that he was despised and rejected of men, and had not where to lay his head; that he was forsaken, denied, and betrayed by his friends; and mocked, and scourged, and crucified by his enemies: that he thus became emphatically a curse for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him? Do you believe, after he had pronounced upon the cross, "It is finished," that he yielded up the ghost; that his lifeless body was laid in the grave, and his soul withdrew to the place of departed spirits; that on the third day after his death, he rose triumphantly from the tomb, thus vanquishing the last enemy; and having proved incontestably the truth of his resurrection, that he ascended, in the sight of his disciples, into heaven,-to resume the glory which he had with the Father before the world was; from whence you look for him again,but not, as once in great humility, a mere mortal prophet, the equal of Abraham and of Moses, but as the everlasting Son of the everlasting Father, the Sovereign of angels, the Judge of the living and the dead? Now, if this be your real belief, you can never sufficiently admire the wonderful plan, by which God can be just, and yet the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus! you can never sufficiently adore the love, stronger than death, of Him who gave his life a ransom for our souls, and opened in his own blood a fountain for sin and for uncleanness! You can then venture your salvation simply on Christ crucified, renouncing not only your sins, but your selfrighteousness! You will then be content to lay yourself at the foot of his cross, and be indebted to him for all! You will then desire to be freed, not merely from the punishment of your sins, but the power of them! You will be ready to take up your own cross, and follow Christ through evil report and good report, submitting, if need be, to ridicule, and reproach, and persecution, for his sake! And does your life bear testimony, that you are the devoted servants of a meek and lowly Master, who went about doing good? Can the world see any evidence that you have been with Jesus? Are you meekly contented with your lot in life? are you humble, and kind, and tender-hearted, forgiving others, as you hope God for Christ's sake has forgiven you? In a word, is Christ your all in all? is it your chief concern to live to him, and to live like him? Can you address him, like Thomas, "My Lord and my God!" Can you, with Peter, appeal to him, "Lord, thou knowest that I love thee?" Can you, with Paul, "count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of him?" Can you join in John's impatient longing for his glorified presence; "Even so, come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!" You believe in the Holy Ghost, that blessed Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, who enlightens the mind, touches the conscience, melts the heart, and quickens those who are dead in trespasses and sins. It is his gracious office to make the Scripture plain to the humble inquirer, and to take of the things that concern the Lord Jesus Christ, and show them to us by effectual demonstration. He too is the Comforter, that cheers the fainting traveller to Zion, that helps our infirmities, and teaches us how to pray, and what to pray for. Does this belief lead you to seek his heavenly consolations, and yield yourselves to his divine direction? Do you read the Bible by his interpretation, and desire to have your bosom a sanctified abode for him to dwell in? You believe in the holy Catholic Church: a church, not of man's building, but of God's; composed of living stones; of all, of every class and every country, who worship God in spirit and in truth; a spiritual house, a holy priesthood. Do you form a part of this sacred building, and do you offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God in Christ Jesus? You believe in the communion of Saints, that mutual affection and fellowship which subsists among all the followers of the Lamb, who love their Lord and love one another for his sake. Do you feel the influence of this holy sympathy, constraining you to weep with those that weep, and to rejoice with those that do rejoice? Do you bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ? You believe in the forgiveness of sins, a blessing purchased by the blood of Christ, and savingly applied by the Holy Spirit to the sinner's conscience; and are your sins a burden too heavy for you to |