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where his part really begins, and ends where it ends; so that all the parts together make up one perfect whole. What a saving of time is realized, and what a heightening of the general impression. If, in addition, all the performers are animated by evangelical fervour; if they show the spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind; if their hearts are enlarged with Christian affection, and their mouths open to express with freedom the variety of tender, dignified, and holy sentiments, which the occasion naturally inspires; no scene can be more interesting, or more delightful.

A HEARER.

To the Editors of the Panoplist. GENTLEMEN,

I HAVE observed with pleasure, that it is one object of your work to revive attention to the characters and writings of eminent divines of the two last centuries. Many of these men, in point of scriptural learning, deep views of the things of God, and Christian experience and piety, have not had their superiors, and rarely their equals in modern times. Their works will ever be read, and the characters of their authors revered, by all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth. There is a savour in their writings, which refreshes the heart of the experienced Christian. They are admired and relished notwithstanding the uncouthness of their style.

I have lately been reading that celebrated work, entitled "The fulfilling of the Scripture," by Robert Fleming, and take the liberty to send you an extract from

it, which I think suited to the design of your work, and adapted to the present times. If you are of my opinion you will give it a place in a future number.

Showing how discord and contentions among Christians fulfil the scripture, he says,

"Those sad jars and divisions, which are so frequent in the church of Christ, may seem very strange, and be the cause of stumbling and offence to many; that whilst the world is at such an agreement, and of one mind to oppose the truth, those are oft found at war, most bitterly contending amongst themselves, even those who should stand in the breach, for the truth, and in defence of the gospel, the fellow servants at strife and smiting one another, when they should be striving together about their Mas ter's work. I confess, this is sad, and is a rock whereon many have split; of which they have made that use to a further heightening of their prejudice against the truth: yea, it is strange that this destroying plague doth so observably attend any peace or calm, that the church hath in her outward condition. But there is no cause for such stumbling; if we will allow it some serious thoughts, it may rather help to fix and establish us in the way of the Lord, and instead of being a poison, may be an effectual antidote against the same, I mean the atheism of the time, which pretends so great an advantage from this. For the scripture is clear,

I. Though it is a sore stroke on the church, and the most sad departure of GOD from a people, which we have upon divine record, we find usually attends

the introductory prayer often is at an ordination. Yea, after very long performances preceding, I have sometimes heard a closing prayer quite as long, as the whole of Solomon's prayer at the dedication. Nor does such length of prayer commonly appear to flow from the fulness of the heart, nor from any remarkable copiousness of ideas. The lengthening out of prayer frequently appears the effect of mere labour, which is equally uncomfortable to speaker and hearer. They, who lead in this exercise, seem not unfrequently to be influenced by the opinion, that a prayer is excellent in proportion to its length. There could not be an opinion more unnatural and groundless. Tedious length is often given to the other performances, as well as to the prayers. This fault is connected with another, which is, Thirdly, The introduction of much impertinent matter. How remarkable for sacred pertinence was the prayer of Solomon above mentioned. He entered directly into the spirit of the occasion. Though he said much, he said nothing but what was perfectly adapted to the great object of the assembly. But at ordinations it is frequently otherwise. Expressions are abundantly used, and thoughts expanded, which, though suitable on ordinary occasions, are by no means adapted to this. The greatest part of the first prayer, which ought to be merely a well adapted introduction to the solemn business of the ordination, is frequently made up of things, which are heard every Sabbath. The sermon is commonly, though not always, less exceptionable. The consecrat

ing prayer is sometimes such, that during a considerable part of it, we should hardly be able to conjecture, what is the peculiar object of the performance. While attending to the concluding prayer, we are frequently, for a long time, wholly unable to see, that the performer has any suitable sense of the occasion, or any design to close it.

Fourthly, The parts commonly intrude upon each other. If the parts are really distinct in their nature, they ought to be kept distinct in the execution. But instead of this, the introductory prayer generally contains much of that, which is the peculiar province of the consecrating prayer. The sermon often anticipates the ground of the charge and the right hand of fellowship. The consecrating prayer consists in part of what belongs to an introductory prayer. The right hand of fellowship frequently returns upon the ground of the charge. The last prayer, which should be considered as a devout and easy close, generally rehearses a considerable part of the consecration, and sometimes takes as formal and particular notice of every subject involved in the occasion, as though there were no other performance. Of course, instead of being four or five minutes long, it is fifteen or twenty.

What sacred improvement and pleasure does an ordination afford, where every performer has the true spirit of the occasion, and executes the part assigned him with readiness and propriety. When every one enters immediately on his appropriate ground; knows what to say, and which is almost equally important, what not to say; begins

where his part really begins, and ends where it ends; so that all the parts together make up one perfect whole. What a saving of time is realized, and what a heightening of the general impression. If, in addition, all the performers are animated by evangelical fervour; if they show the spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind; if their hearts are enlarged with Christian affection, and their mouths open to express with freedom the variety of tender, dignified, and holy sentiments, which the occasion naturally inspires; no scene can be more interesting, or more delightful.

A HEARER.

it, which I think suited to the design of your work, and adapted to the present times. If you are of my opinion you will give it a place in a future number.

Showing how discord and contentions among Christians fulfil the scripture, he says,

"Those sad jars and divisions, which are so frequent in the church of Christ, may seem very strange, and be the cause of stumbling and offence to many; that whilst the world is at such an agreement, and of one mind to oppose the truth, those are oft found at war, most bitterly contending amongst themselves, even those who should stand in the breach, for the truth, and in defence of the gospel, the fellow servants at strife and smiting one

To the Editors of the Panoplist. another, when they should be GENTLEMEN,

I HAVE observed with pleasure, that it is one object of your work to revive attention to the characters and writings of eminent divines of the two last centuries. Many of these men, in point of scriptural learning, deep views of the things of God, and Christian experience and piety, have not had their superiors, and rarely their equals in modern times. Their works will ever be read, and the characters of their authors revered, by all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth. There is a savour in their writings, which refreshes the heart of the experienced Christian. They are admired and relished notwithstanding the uncouthness of their style.

I have lately been reading that celebrated work, entitled "The fulfilling of the Scripture," by Robert Fleming, and take the liberty to send you an extract from

striving together about their Master's work. I confess, this is sad, and is a rock whereon many have split; of which they have made that use to a further heightening of their prejudice against the truth: yea, it is strange that this destroying plague doth so observably attend any peace or calm, that the church hath in her outward condition. But there is no cause for such stumbling; if we will allow it some serious thoughts, it may rather help to fix and establish us in the way of the Lord, and instead of being a poison, may be an effectual antidote against the same, I mean the atheism of the time, which pretends so great an advantage from this. For the scripture is clear,

I. Though it is a sore stroke on the church, and the most sad departure of GOD from a people, which we have upon divine record, we find usually attends

them in such a torn and divided case; yea, though in all the records of after times, this may be traced in the breaking out of a judgment, as a very immediate forerunner thereof; yet, have we no warrant to expect the church militant shall be in that condition in which there shall be no such discord and breath. No, that is heaven, and it is there only that perfect peace and concord will be found; read 1 Cor. i. 10. Rom, xv. 5. And what an early trial was this to the church, which did occasion that grave and solemn meeting of the apostles and elders, Acts xv. to let us see how the Lord can serve himself of the greatest evil for the advantage of his truth. (2.) There is no cause of challenge here or reflecting on the truth, whatever be on those, who profess it, since the scripture shews that we know but in part, and prophesy in part, and such a prevailing mixture of corruption, that some will preach Christ out of strife and contention, not sincerely. Phil. i. 15. whilst there are such different sizes amongst the saints, that those who eat not, are ready to judge them who eat, and those who eat, are ready to despise him who eateth not. (3.) If we consult the scripture, we shall find that peace and concord within the church, which is so excellent in itself and desirable, must be severely qualified with a respect to holiness. Heb. xii. 14. For else such an agreement would not be the true peace of the church, but her plague. And is not that wisdom, which is from above, first pure, and then peacea ble? It is sure, they are its best Vol. I. No. 9.

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friends, who have least latitude to take or give in the interests of truth; but it is oft found, how such indirect tamperings for peace, have in the judgment of the Lord caused a further breach. There is no true jar betwixt the zeal of GOD, and an ardent desire and endeavour for peace, but what our corruption causeth. O this is a blessed peace-maker, whọ can go the furthest length to yield in his own things, whether credit or private interest, yea, overlook the most sharp personal reflections, to promote that excellent design: but hath nothing to yield or quit upon his Master's interest, and can resist whosoever they be that would prejudice this, even to their face! Have we not that heroic practice of the apostle (Gal. ii. 5.) upon divine record to this day? to whom we gave place, no not for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. Is not that also a special remark, that those who cause division in the church, and were therefore to be noted (Rom. xvi. 17.) were those who did op pose the doctrine of the church? For it is men's falling off from the truth which is indeed the cause of a schism and rent; but not their adherence to it, though for this they should be men of contention, and looked on as signs and wonders in the time. (4.) What ever advantage some may take to challenge the way of the Lord, from these breaches, I am sure, they cannot deny, there is a fellowship and concord in the church of Christ beyond any in the world. There is a communion of the saints, even here, with one heart and mind: yea, in such a mea

'sure, as may show the world this is a bond that exceeds the most near and strait ties of natural relations, Eph. iv. 3. 16. and truly

every jar and difference amongst the followers of Christ, makes not a breach."

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Selections.

ENTERTAIN

In the life of the celebrated Judge Hale, by Mr. Thirlwall, are the following observations respecting the Theatre, suggested by the determination of the Judge never to see another play acted.

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"Hale had reason," he says, "to congratulate himself on his fortunate escape from snare, in which thousands of both sexes have been entangled and ruined. His example cannot be too earnestly recommended to the imitation of the young and inexperienced, who wish to preserve the principles of chastity, modesty, and sobriety, which they have imbibed in their education, pure and untainted. Though I am fully aware of the tender ground on which I venture, I hold it an imperious duty to warn every parent, who wishes to promote the present peace and future happiness of his children, to discourage, by his example and advice, a propensity for dramatic entertainments. Allow these exhibitions all their boasted advantages; concede to their advocates the rational and harmless satisfactions, which are to be found in the charms of music, poetry, and painting; in the specimens of brilliant wit and refined sentiment, the graces of elocution, the delineation of the passions, and

the exhibition of human nature under all her forms, and even in her most amiable dress; yet will it not at the same time be allowed, that the gratification arising from these sources is purchased at much too dear a price, when they court an alliance with profaneness and immorality, and the path to these pleasures is strewed with temptations to vice of the most bewitching and alluring nature? If, by chance, the character and moral of the dramatic composition itself be free from objection, yet when the circumstances, which are inseparably connected with the representation of a modern playhouse, are gravely considered, is it not at least unsafe for the sober youth and unspotted virgin to visit it? Is not the danger of corrupting the morals and inflaming the passions too great to justify a participation in these amusements ?

"It is possible, indeed, to imagine such a regulated theatre, as shall be exempt from the evils which are the ground of complaint; but until such a theatre can be realized, it will be diffi cult to prove, that these evils are not interwoven in the very constitution of a dramatic exhibition, and vitally essential to its success and popularity.

"There is implanted in our nature a veneration and respect for the majesty of virtue. Even

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