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“Let us first take a brief view of the efficiency of the Eternal Spirit who worketh in the hearts of the chosen of God, the heirs of salvation. A sinner dead in trespasses and sins is raised to newness of life by that power which raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and the Lord the Spirit never leaves the work of his own hands, but worketh in them to will and to do according to the good pleasure of his will; and after the implantation of grace, draws forth that grace into exercise, in all the subsequent operations thereof: the subject hath not the power. The gracious man whether he be minister or friend, who would wish to benefit those he loves, has not the requisite power. Angels are spiritual and holy; and therefore if a dependance might be placed on a creature-power, surely these spiritual beings should obtain our confidence, rather than a poor, polluted, depraved, imbecile mortal. But no! these holy ministers have not the power either to implant grace, or to draw it forth into exercise when implanted. That work is wholly and exclusively by the power of the eternal Spirit, who has the sole and sovereign control over the will of man, communicating his gracious influences according to his own good pleasure. Yet these holy agents may and no doubt do under God, effect good to the subjects of grace, having access to, and operating upon their minds, their understandings, their affections as rational creatures; and so as to counteract the malignant effects of the workings of the adversary. This appears to be consistent with the scriptures, and also with the nature of Angels."

And in the "concluding remarks" we find a passage equally worthy being quoted :

"But we further say that the principle implanted by the Lord the Spirit, in the heart of every believer, and as drawn forth into exercise by his power, induces the subject to ascribe glory, and honour, and power, to God and the Lamb. The sinner is saved with an everlasting salvation, arising from the eternal mind of the triune Jehovah and the Father glorifieth the Son, and the Son glorifieth the Father, and the Spirit glorifieth the Father and the Son. And it is the concern of the believer to glorify the God of his salvation, and he unites with his fellow saints and angels in the sacred anthem, "Glory to God in the highest." And the language of their covenant God to them is, "Thou shalt glorify me; Let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord;" and they are constrained in their hearts, their lips, and their lives, to glorify their Father who is in heaven, their Saviour who hath redeemed them, and the eternal Spirit who hath raised them from the death of sin, to the life of righteousness.

"It is also the will of the God of their salvation, that honour be given to his instruments : "Honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the king." And can we suppose it is not the will of God that honour should be given to those highly distinguished, holy, heavenly ministers of his, that do his pleasure? It may be from custom, or principle, or frequently from opinion only, we are very tenacious of giving honour to our fellow men; and is there any scripture or reason, why we should withhold what is due to the Angels, who are such affectionate, faithful, and disinterested ministers; who communicate to us mortals such innumerable blessings? Let it not be understood we here intimate any thing like devotion, that embraces worship; that be far from us: yet the tribute of acknowledgment for benefits received from the ministry of these holy agents, our fellow-creatures, our fellowservants, as to our fellow-men, is what appears to be both scriptural and reasonable. And when we consider the almost universal inattention, at least, in a comprehensive point of view, we are impressed with the idea that it must be allowed there is a great deficiency in this matter."

We think it probable the subject may be resumed by some other pen: if it be, we trust the argument will be pursued in the self-same spirit, and from similar principles.

A Charge delivered to Mr. William Leader, at his Ordination as Pastor of the Baptist Church of Christ meeting for worship at Providence Chapel, Maidstone, Kent, on Wednesday, August 1, 1827. By Henry Dowling. Palmer and Higham.

WE find in this charge a plain and honest statement of the duties of a minister of Christ, accompanied with the powerful persuasives of a mind devotedly employed in the great work of preaching the gospel. The speaker enters into numerous particulars incidental to the important subject, all of which are weighty-many of the utmost moment. The following paragraph is deserving the particular notice of our readers:

"As to the food which you are to spread in the banquet of free grace, I need only refer you to the "confession of faith" you have this day delivered, for a more particular enlargement of the glorious doctrines to be proclaimed among the people: especially shewing, that Christ, in his death, did not make an atonement for the sin of Adam's nature universally, but for the persons of his chosen, standing in union to himself; as it is written-"I lay down my life for my sheep." And, furthermore, in your encouraging invitations to the poor and needy, to come to and receive all grace from Christ, open to their view the fulness and freeness of that love and mercy which embraces the elect family, in the greatest depths of sin and wretchedness.

"This brings me to notice the feeding, as well as the food, which forms a striking part of your pastoral engagements. You must set forth the experience, which is spiritually promoted in the grace-taught mind, by shewing the fellowship which is enjoyed by the saints in believing in Christ, through the Holy Ghost. You are not to build up the people in experience of what they know and enjoy of grace blessings, but on Christ, in whom those blessings centre. Shew them that "joy and peace" is always the result of believing : and that the more they are receiving from his fulness, the more happy will they be in this world of tribulation. You must be bringing down from Christ, in the particulars of his office, characters, and replenishing grace, all that suits the broken-hearted, heavy-laden sinner, and mark out (in dependance on the Spirit's application) the completeness of the atonement, and perfection of the righteousness of Immanuel, as suited to and sufficient for all who feel their need of a complete salvation.

"In the act of feeding, you perform a service under which you have to point out family likenesses, relations, distinctions, and possessions; that the children of God may discover the life and blessedness of their character, expectations, and destinies. At the same time that you declare the doctrine of truth, and shew the experience and power of it upon the mind, you must not fail to enforce sound practice as the fruit of both. Perhaps in all your ministrations, you will find your greatest difficulty in this; and in order to do it successfully, you must lay privilege at the foundation of all exhortations to practical results. Begin with the gracious aid of the Spirit, and you will go forward enforcing the manifestation of the fruits of the Spirit in the heart and life of the regenerate child of God, to the divine glory, receiving the reward of a good conscience towards God, and the final approbation of your Great Master. You will find full directions on this head in Paul's epistles to Timothy and Titus; to which I may add, what no doubt has already impressed your mind, that the principle of action is spiritual life continually fed with the "love of God shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost ;" and the rule of obedience, the preceptive will of God in Christ Jesus."

We are always pleased when ministers of the truth evince a concern to enforce its practical influences; and could have wished Mr. Dowling had devoted more of his attention to the subject so ably stated in the quotation we have made.

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Observations on Affliction: accompanied with a Consolatory Letter to Christian Widows. By W. Jarman, late Pastor of Bethel Chapel, Somers' Town, Author of “ Thoughts on Prayer," &c. Palmer.

66

THIS humble attempt to afford consolation to believers in affliction, has already answered the design of its worthy author in numerous instances. We recommend the present edition, with "the Consolatory Letter to Christian Widows," to the perusal of all whom it may concern, imploring the blessing of the Lord on what is written exclusively for their profit.

A Declaration of Faith and Practice, read and assented to by Members at their Admission into the Church of Christ, under the Pastoral care of the late John Gill, D. D. which are annexed Scriptural Proofs. Palmer.

To

IT were to be wished, that this compendious statement of the principles of truth was as firmly maintained among the baptist churches now, as in the days of the learned and admirable compiler. Great satisfaction is afforded us by the knowledge that there are still some not ashamed to adopt so bold an avowal of their faith may their number be greatly increased!

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

THE WORKS OF THE ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH REFORMERS, Edited by the Rev. THOMAS RUSSELL, A.M.

IN common with our contemporaries we heartily congratulate every true and honest Protestant, on the commencement of a complete and uniform edition of the works of those illustrious men, by whose instrumentality we enjoy the inestimable benefits of the Reformation. The writings of TYNDAL, FRITH, BARNES, CRANMER, LATIMER, HOOPER, Ridley, Bradford, and others, whose names are immortalized by the vast acquisition consequent upon their united labours, have long been too difficult of access, and it amounts almost to a national disgrace, that the present design has not been hitherto accomplished: we hope it will meet with general support.

Just Published, "Metrical Essays, on subjects of History and Imagination," by CHARLES SWAIN, Esq.-"The Spiritual Man's Aim," by DR. SIBBS."The Compassion of God," by J. SAURIN." Recollections; being a Statememt of some things contained in Two Discourses, delivered at Brighton," by JOHN STEVENS.

In the Press, An Exposition of the Book of Psalms, Explanatory, Critical, and Devotional, by the Rev. JOHN MORRISON. Part 1 will be published on the 1st of December.

OBITUARY.

DIED, on Saturday, October 13th, 1827, in the 49th year of her age, Mrs. SUSANNA PEARSON, of Bildeston, Suffolk, after a protracted illness of six months. Mrs. Pearson was the Author of "Essays and Letters affectionately addressed to the Church of Christ." She was an esteemed correspondent to this Magazine, and has for many years been a bright ornament to her profession; her loss we doubt not will be severely felt by her bereaved partner and numerous family. It is intended to furnish the friends of truth with a memoir of her life, with extracts, &c. from her correspondence.

THE

Spiritual Magazine ;

OR,

SAINTS' TREASURY.

There are Three that bear record in heaven, the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST: and these Three are One."

" Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

1 John v. 7.

Jude 3.

DECEMBER, 1827.

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)

THE SPIRITUAL MARINER.

"They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters, these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep."-Ps. cvii. 23, 24.

IT is very blessed for the children of Zion when perusing their Father's book of books, to mark his condescension in adopting such various forms of expression, in order to meet, attract, and enlarge our comprehension, in the sacred mysteries of the heavenly kingdom, by and through the medium of earthly objects. But through whatever means or object the Majesty of heaven may reveal his eternal power and Godhead, personality attaches all importance to the grand subject of salvation.

Does he reveal himself as a King in Zion? It is mine to know whether I am one of his lawful and loyal subjects:-as a Father? it is mine to examine whether I bear the family features of a true legitimate child:- --as a Shepherd ? be the enquiry, am I one of his sheep? --as a Captain? am I spiritually fighting beneath his royal banner? -as a Pilot? am I one of his heaven-born mariners? This leads us, 1st. briefly to enquire more immediately into a few of the leading characteristics of a true spiritual mariner, as spoken of in the above selected words," they that go down to the sea in ships." 2nd. to notice the employment of such, "that do business in great waters," with the grand result involved therein," these see the work of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep." 2 C

VOL. IV.-No. 44.

One striking feature of a true spiritual mariner is, that in the day of Jehovah's power, the set time to favour Zion, he is pressed or arrested by the Holy Spirit, from the service and slavery of satan, into the free grace service of the Majesty of heaven. Like the literal mariner, till now he served not in the king's service, but worked and fought under the unhallowed banner of the prince of darkness; other lords had dominion over them, other captains were his delight, and he sailed calmly on the high seas of carnality and death, tossed to and fro by every wave of corruption. But the voice that said, let there be light, and light sprung from the chambers of his power, spoke from the high throne of covenant love, "thus far shalt thou go, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed." This is the mariner's arrest.

The next feature is, he must on entering into the king's service, be stripped, washed, and have a change of raiment. This holds good with the mariner literally, no one is allowed to serve under his sovereign in his own apparel. Precisely so with the spiritual mariners, though when taken or arrested by the Spirit, they be found decently, yea, respectably clad in their best suit of profession, or the more disgraceful (in the sight of man,) tattered rags of profanity, they must be both alike torn off, in order to discover and shew their native shame and nakedness. "Ah!" said good old John Berridge, in one of his letters on this subject," you cannot think how heartily I was ashamed of myself when my master stripped me stark naked." The spiritual mariner being thus unrobed of all by nature, is presented by Jesus himself with his own beautiful garment and robe of righteousness; he puts it on by faith, and wears it as the court dress of heaven bestowed whilst on earth to visit the king at his banqueting here; on his head is placed the helmet of salvation; on his bosom the breast-plate of righteousness; in one hand the shield of faith, in the other the sword of the Spirit; his loins are girt about with truth, and his feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

But not only is the spiritual mariner arrested and clothed by the king, he is fed also from the same source, and that without money and without price, except as a sense of poverty and wretchedness constitute both the money and the price for the bounties and indescribable dainties of his Majesty's table. And here the parallel fails between nature and grace, since the heaven-taught mariner is entitled and invited, yea, constrained, to feast with the commander in chief of all in heaven, earth, and hell. He sits at his table a welcome guest, and Oh! the luxury of the splendid spiritual entertainments. Here is wine to cheer the spirits, milk to soften the affections, bread divine, the staff of life. And whilst thus seated at the table of grace, clad in the wedding robe of Immanuel, the mariner often finds it sweet to hold immediate converse with the king, relative to the mysteries of his kingdom. It is then he brings them to his banqueting house, and his unfurled banner is waved in triumph over them. Tell me, ye mariners of Jehovah, does not thy beloved captain often feast thee by the use of the appointed means—the closet

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