purchase. Who shall count these unsearchable riches of the Saviour's love, and who can reckon the inexhaustible treasures of his grace? No arithmetical numbers, not all the science of men, not all the calculations of angels, can sum up its worth or assign its value. The communication alone of this rich treasure can give to the soul of man some adequate notions of its excellence, and cause the man who is possessed of it to feel, that as the superabundant wealth of Solomon made silver as the stones of the streets, so the inestimable riches of Christ can make him trample under foot the gold that perisheth, and regard as dross all the passing vanities of time and sense. And mean as the Saviour appeared while on earth, who can speak of the glory which he now possesses, or who can imagine that which shall hereafter be revealed? Even here the works of his hands surpass those of the king of Israel, and how much more shall the creatures formed by his grace excel in splendour hereafter! "Behold!" said the Saviour himself, “behold the lilies of the field, they toil not," (but derive all their sustenance and all their beauty from me,) "yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these:" and how much more glorious in holiness are they who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb "”'

Having laid before our readers a few of the excellencies of this volume of Sermons, we might proceed to point out some of its defects, but the pleasure and profit received in the perusal, disarms us of criticism; and, had we room to spare, we should by far prefer adding to the extracts already made.

Refreshing Drops and Scorching Vials, severally distributed to their proper Subjects, according to the wisdom given to that precious Servant of the Lord, Christopher Goad, some time Fellow of King's College, Cambridge, &c. R. Baynes and Palmer.

Of the author of these Sermons, reprinted for the first time from the edition of 1653, the editor remarks," The page of biography does not appear to have preserved even the remembrance of his name, and every other source of information having been long since cut off, our friendly curiosity in this matter must be content to remain ungratified: the only earthly memorial of him is the work now before the reader-thence we collect, from the evidence of those with whom he took sweet counsel,' that he was a choice shepherd over the flock of Christ-a pastor after God's own heart, feeding the people with knowledge and understanding'-one, who not satisfied with merely preaching the truths of the gospel, exhibited also the practical, saving effect thereof, in his own life and conversation.”

The volume consists of two discourses on "The right Spirit of Christ, or the Son glorifying the Father"-four on "The invalidity of church censures, where Christ is not judge❞—" A paraphrase upon Acts xvii.”—two discourses on "Christ the only sacrifice and altar”—one on “ The Gospel-believer's motion from Mount Sinai to Mount Zion”—“ The mother of all mischief, or, the original of all wars and fightings"—" The safe and secret chambers”—three on “The majesty of grace, or the sovereignty of salvation"-and one, making the sixteenth, “Qu the destruction of death by the Prince of life."

We find they contain much valuable matter for the consideration of the believer, particularly such as understand what the apostle means

when he speaks of the trial of faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth,-and of the fiery trial which is appointed to try them. But we cannot approve of the doctrinal principles which form the basis of these sermons. In the first of the series, which is a key to the whole, we detect many low and degrading thoughts on the person and personal engagements of the Lord Christ, which but ill accord with the attempt expressed in the title to describe" the Son glorifying the Father." In all our efforts to glorify the Father, as displaying himself by his marvellous doings in the covenant of grace, let us never forget--and may our readers never lose sight of the same -the language of Christ: "That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father: he that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father which hath sent him."

From sermons VIII and IX. "Christ the only sacrifice and altar," several excellent extracts might be made. Speaking to the use of the doctrine of the text, Heb. xiii. 10-15. the preacher has the following observations :

ck "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually.” By him let us do it; that is the next thing to be considered here-that by Jesus Christ, in the name of Jesus Christ, in the power, in the light, in the love, in the Spirit of Jesus Christ, must our praise go up to God; and all that is acceptable doth go up so. "By him, therefore, let us offer," &c. All that comes to God, that is acceptable sacrifice, comes by him; it comes in his name, it goes up in his grace, it goes up in his love, in his light, in his power; this is by Jesus Christ. There is no sacrifice acceptable but that which is sanctified by the Holy Ghost, as in Rom. xv. 16. "That the offering up of the gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost." There is nothing that comes acceptable unto God, that God owns, that he receives, or where he smells a savour of rest, but that which comes up in the Spirit of Christ, by Christ, and in his name." There is nothing holy but what is by the Holy Ghost; it is he that sanctifies the people by his blood, as it is said before. Let us go forth to him, and "by him let us offer the sacrifice of praise."

"He is the Mediator between God and man; he is our peace, our wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification: if he be our sanctification God will own us; there is nothing that God can own but what comes by him. We are all an unclean thing; there is nothing comes from us but pollution, but only as we come forth by Christ and in Christ, else all our sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving are nothing but a form, a show of holiness: it is a fair show toward God, but tends only to the flesh, and to the world; our mind and conscience are defiled till taken into the Holy Ghost, till Christ be brought forth in us. In Christ we come forth a new creation: all this same old creation is lost and fallen into satan; in the new creation Satan hath nothing to do, "the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." By him:" all acceptable service goes to God by Christ: "all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him amen." The promises, saith the apostle, are to the seed: he doth not say, "to seeds, as of many, but as of one," and that is Christ, Gal. iii. 16. Coming, and not coming by Christ, we have no promise of acceptance: Christ is the heir of all, God hath given all to him, we can have nothing but by him, and in him we are co-heirs, as the apostle hath it in Rom. viii. God hath chosen us in him, hath blessed us in him; "by him let us offer the sacrifice of praise." Christ is temple, he is altar, he is priest, he is all, the whole body of our sacrifice: "by him let us offer the sacrifice of praise:" no acceptable sacrifice but by him.

"Every one then that deals by sacrifice, that deals in praise and thanks

giving, or supposeth that he doth so, let him consider by whom he comes. Do you come by a Mediator or no? If you come by a Mediator, do you come by him that is gone without the gate, and sits in the reproach of the world? if you come not by him, all that you do (whatever fair show it hath to men) is but abomination in the sight of God: there is nothing acceptable to God but in him: all the incense you offer up stinks unless there be the sweet odour of him. How is it then you bring your praise, you bring your thanks? by whom do you come? doth Christ lead you in? do you do it by him? We use his name, we come with words, and letters, and syllables; we say, Lord, we come to thee by Jesus Christ, we come in his name: when we say so, let us consider what commission we have. Remember what the evil spirit said to them that conjured them in the name of Jesus whom Paul preached, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye?" And that of the psalmist, "What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee." Is the name of Jesus in thy mouth? yes; but consider, is the love of Jesus, and the faith of Jesus, in thy heart? If we come by him, let us see that he is with us; let us look for his mind in us, for his Spirit in us. Are we spiritually-minded or carnally-minded? are we his reproach? or is he precious unto us? he must needs be so if we come by him unto God, and know him the only way, and the truth, and the life. Are we led unto God by his Spirit? to come by Jesus is to come in the light, power, grace, and life of Jesus: to come in our own names, what can we expect? to come by our own works, by our own righteousness, this is to make another Jesus, another Mediator: to use only the name, what an abominable mockery is this! and how hath satan and sin and all wickedness been brought forth under the names and titles of Jesus Christ? The devil hath brought forth all sacrifices to himself under the name of Jesus Christ, and such titles."

Should any be induced by our notice of the volume to give it their attention, we warn them of the "leaven which leaveneth the whole lump;" that they may be careful to reject what is inconsistent with the analogy of faith, while they " approve things that are excellent." We are free to confess our opinion, that the strange doctrines of a public minister, whose periodical writings have fallen under our repeated notice, are gleaned from this source.

Pilgrims of the Nineteenth Century; a Continuation of the Pilgrim's Progress, upon the plan projected by Mr. Bunyan; comprising the History of a Visit to the Town of Toleration, with an Account of its Charter, and a Description of the Principles and Customs of its Inhabitants, under the Similitude of a Dream. By Joseph Ivimey. Simpkin and Marshall.

IT is the opinion of Mr. Ivimey, as expressed in the advertisement to this volume, that Bunyan intended to write a third part of the Pilgrim's Progress, probably to shew the influence of real religion and evangelical principles on persons in business and domestic life; but that his premature death, August 31, 1688, prevented the execution of his plan. He attempts to follow the train of thought it is presumed that famous writer would have adopted, and offers " a just and impartial view of the sentiments, habits, and manners of the pilgrims, i. e. protestant dissenters, his descendants." The allegory

is taken up at the period when Bunyan concluded his "Life and Times," just before the glorious Revolution in 1688.

Before that time, Mr. I. remarks, whatever liberty the non-conformists possessed was owing to the king's indulgence, and was not secured to them by act of parliament. The happiness they enjoyed at the accession of King William and Queen Mary to the throne; the attempts to ruin them by the Schism Bill in the reign of Queen Anne; and the obligation they are under to the princes of the House of Brunswick, are circumstances strongly alluded to in the volume: the whole period since the Revolution being considered as affording suitable materials for the work.

It must be for heads more acute and ingenious than ours, to determine how nearly our author's "train of thinking" approximates the inimitable model before him, or whether the plan he has adopted was ever conceived by the writer of the " Pilgrim's Progress.' We are not of those of his readers who consider the statement given of the sentiments, habits, and manners of the pilgrims, as "just and impartial;" but must allow that the labour he has bestowed on the work, in collecting the various materials of which it is composed, is creditable to him as a gatherer of other men's stuff,'-and its usefulness in many important particulars cannot be disputed.

1. The Worth of a Bible, exemplified in striking Facts. Sixth edition. By D. Griffiths.

2. Tales in Verse, founded on Facts: intended as a Sequel to "The Worth of the Bible." By D. Griffiths. Westley and Davis.

THE unassuming pretensions of the author of these Sunday School Reward Books, have a claim on our favourable opinion; but more than this, the design to which his “ Rhymes" are made subservient constrain us to speak well of them. The well-authenticated facts, exhibited in easy and simple verse, are suited to make a lasting impression on the juvenile mind, and, by the blessing of God, to teach "the worth of a bible."

A SONNET.

WHEN sore opprest with galling loads of grief,
And on the sea of life I'm rudely tost;

When gloomiest fears assail my firm belief,
And faith and hope in doubt seem almost lost;

In such a darksome hour I sweetly prove

What God has promised in his word to me,

The faithfulness of his almighty love,

"And as thy trouble so thy strength shall be."

This precious promise as a golden ray

Bursts the thick gloom, and drives the clouds away,
Reviving faith and hope with cheerful day.

B. S. S.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

GOSPEL TRACT SOCIETY.

DURING the past month the Anniversary Sermons and Meeting of this Society have taken place, on which occasion the several places of worship were well attended. The Meeting of the subscribers and friends held at the Freemason's Hall, gave general satisfaction to those who have its interests at heart; and the various collections which were made added considerably to its funds.

On Tuesday evening, July 10th, a Sermon was preached at John Street Chapel, King's Road, Gray's-inn Lane, by the Rev. Edward Irving, A. M. Minister of the Scotch National Church, Regent's Square, from Titus ii. 12. "The grace of God that bringeth salvation."

On Wednesday evening, July 11th, the Rev. William Borrows, A. M. Minister of St. Paul's Chapel, Clapham, and Sunday evening Lecturer of St. Luke's, Middlesex, preached from Ecclesiastes xii. 11. "The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd;" at the Parish Church of St. Mary Somerset and St. Mary Mounthaw, Upper Thames Street.

On Thursday evening, July 12th, the Rev. George Comb, Minister of Soho Chapel, Oxford Street, preached at the Haberdasher's Hall Chapel, Staining Lane, Wood Street, Cheapside, from Romans i. and part of the 16th verse, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth."

On Friday evening, July 13th, the General Meeting was numerously and respectably attended, John Key, Esq. Alderman, in the Chair; who commenced by reading the 60th chapter of Isaiah's prophecy; after which the Rev. J. A. Jones supplicated the divine blessing on behalf of the Institution, and its patrons present. Mr. Alderman Key then opened the business with an earnest appeal in favour of the Society, of whose principles he expressed his entire approbation; and with considerable energy rebutted the false charges alledged against its constitution, and the character of its late Famented President.

After the reading of the Report, by Mr. E. Palmer, Secretary, the Meeting was addressed by the Reverends W. A. Evanson, Lecturer of St. Luke's, Middlesex, John Stevens, of Soho, Joseph Irons, of Camberwell, J. A. Jones, of Brentford, T. Upcraft, of Manchester, and several other ministers and gentlemen; and a liberal collection was made at the doors. A list of Donations, &c. was read by the Secretary, among which we noticed, the Right Hon. Earl Roden, Ten Pounds; H. Peto, Esq. Twenty Pounds; J. Irons, Five Pounds, &c.

PECKHAM ANNIVERSARY.

The Eighth Anniversary of the Baptist Chapel, Rye Lane, Peckham, will be held, by divine permission, on Wednesday, the 8th of August. Mr. Stodhart is engaged to preach in the Morning, Mr. Mann of Maze Pond, in the Afternoon, and Mr. Smith of Ilford, in the Evening.

Services to commence at Eleven, Three, and Half-past Six o'clock. After each service a Collection will be made.