proceeds from the wishes of ministers to avoid offending their Arian hearers with the truths of orthodoxy, or their orthodox hearers with the doctrines of Arianism.

Hence originates a third evil, -the ignorance of the people. Where ministers have studiously avoided doctrinal preaching, the people are consequently unac. quainted with the distinguishing principles of the gospel; and, educated in religious ignorance, are prepared for the reception of any specious error to which they may happen to be exposed.

9. But we cannot close our observations without hailing the happier day that has now begun to dawn upon the orthodox Pres. byterian churches. The spirit of prayer that descended upon our forefathers, has begun to be shed abroad upon their sons. Prayer meetings begin to be common in our congregations. The family altar, whose fire had so long been extinguished, begins to be again rekindled at the morning and evening sacrifice. A spirit of religious inquiry has begun to exhibit symptoms of activity. Zeal and devotedness in ministers, and elders, and people, are springing up in renovated vigor. The dry bones begin to live, and to stand upon the earth an exceeding great army.

Nor should we overlook another happy symptom of reviving health in our churches. The re. ligious spirit that is reviving amongst our people, while distinctly Presbyterian is not sectarian. The Orthodox Presbyte. rian extends the hand of fellow. ship to all who hold the truth as it

is in Jesus; and rejoices in that spirit of reciprocal kindness, with which he is greeted and received by the evangelical Christians of all other outward communions.

Presbyterians are likewise beginning to exhibit another symptom of revival, in the direction of their eyes rather to the doctrinal principles, than to the government and title of their church. Presbyterian is, no doubt, a title of which we are not ashamed; the form of our church govern ment is, no doubt, a matter of se rious importance; but the doc, trines of our church constitute her real characteristics; the lights of our hope and confidence, for time and for eternity...

10. When we look back to the days of our mighty fathers, we feel shamefully diminished in the contrast. In Scotland, and in England, and in Ireland, they exhibited, of old, a knowledge, a skill, and a power, in theology, with which we dare not venture into distant competition. But while we admire and venerate the works they have left behind them, and utterly despair of any rivalry in their labors, we would most willingly, and not hopelessly, imitate their devotedness and zeal, and follow them in support and defense of the truth. They had to war with superstition: we have to contend with scepticism. They had to struggle against ignorance: we against false learning. They had to contend against the errors of Popery: we against the heresy of Arianism.

Lastly; it is pleasing to trace the happy change which has of late been exhibited in the few Presbyterian publications which

the press of the country has produced. For years gone by, Presbyterian publications (few indeed in number) were absolutely deficient of any religious character. Latterly, this fault has been happily amended. Little indeed has been done. The laborious avocations of a Presby terian minister, leave him little time for the more learned studies. And, no doubt, to preach, to pray, to visit the sick, and to catechise, are of far more importance than any other work in which a mipister. can be engaged. Yet, we are happy to state, that in these latter years, Presbyterian publications have possessed a tone of

religious decision, utterly wanting in their predecessors; and that the labors of several Presbyterian ministers have afforded examples of some of the best defenses of gospel truth.

How far our own humble publication may become worthy of its name, it rests not with us to determine. The success of our labors depends upon the blessing and grace of God. But, according to the grace given to us, we shall endeavor to be plain and faithful. We shall assail error; we shall defend the truth; committing our cause to Him, who will, in his own time, "bring forth judgment unto victory."

Reverence for a superior being is a fragment of the original constitution of human nature. It is a principle of action in men of all nations, and kindreds, and tongues. We discover its exist. ence in the sanctified devotion of faithful Abraham; and it is the perversion of the same principle that created the gods, which Ra. chel stole from her father Laban; and gave existence to the Divi

and PENATES of ancient Rome.

Being made for the purpose of knowing and serving the Creator, our first parents received from him corresponding principles of

action. They were made after the image of their God, and were called Adam, in testimony of the likeness.* "Nevertheless, man, in honor, abideth not." By transgression he fell; and in the fall, all his principles became corrupt. Still he stands in awe of invisible power, although he knows not how to perform an act of worship so as to be accepted of Without a revelathe Creator. tion from God, it would be im. possible, indeed, to know that there is forgiveness with him that he may be feared. But he sent his own Son to save us, and to teach us what is the object, and what the mode of religious worship. Christ teacheth us, “God is a Spirit: and they that wor ship him, must worship him in spi

*Gen. v. 1, 2. † Psalms xlix. 12.

rit and in truth."* Christ Jesus calls upon us, accordingly, in the gospel so to worship God, and assures us that, in so doing, we shall be accepted of him; "for the Father seeketh such to worship him." Let us, therefore, have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear.

The apostle, in this verse, makes a practical application of the destinies which he taught in the preceding verses. He had been teaching the excellency, the permanency, and the safety of Christ's kingdom, and from thence he urges the duties of de. votion. This is the principal ob. ject: but, besides, the text leads us to the fountain of grace for our support in the service of God, and proclaims that state of mind with which the true worshiper must always approach the Creator. We shall now submit the following topics of consideration: The excellence of the system of grace is an argument for person. al piety-The exercise of grace is necessary in religious worship -And every act of worship is to be performed with reverence and godly fear.

I. The excellence of the gospel system is an argument for personal religion. "Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may serve God."

The apostle's design in the whole chapter is to encourage believers to perseverance in the Christian faith, and to a corres. ponding behavior. For this purpose, he urges the example of former professors, by whom "we

* John iv. 24.

are compassed about as with a cloud of witnesses," and the example of the Redeemer himself, who suffered in our stead. He explains the nature, the necessity, and the usefulness of our af flictions; and shows that the fear of suffering persecution ought not to discourage us, seeing all our afflictions are a just and gracious dispensation of God, "for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness." He explains the danger of undervaluing the blessings of religion, or neglect. ing the means of grace, by the example of "profane Esau, who, for one morsel of meat, sold his birthright." He displays, by a contrast of the gospel with the law, the superior excellence of the dispensation of grace, now made to the church; and quoting the prophecy of Haggai relative to the shaking of the nations, he applies it to events which occur under this dispensation. He presents, to Christian faith, its precious object, Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, "whose voice shook the earth, now, saying, I shake not the earth only, but also heaven." Referring to a memorable event, he predicts one of superior importance. Referring to the period when "the earth shook, and even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of the God of Israel, when kings of armies did flee apace," he predicted a period when all nations should be shaken, and their heavens and their earth removedwhen the Redeemer should abolish every system of carnal policy, and establish his kingdom over all the nations. The apostle declared that this system is al

ready by the gospel put in our possession; and that it will accomplish all its objects. A gracious system, which shall transfuse its own spirit through every department of social life, which shall restore moral order to the world; and which, suppressing error and licentiousness, shall establish permanent peace among all the nations of the earth. From these considerations, the apostle urges the Hebrews to attend to the duties of personal religion in the exercises of acceptable worship. Wherefore, let us have grace.

Grace is favor.

Divine grace is the favor of God, bestowed through Christ Jesus upon the unworthy-upon guilty sinners. Grace, in man, in our possession, is an interest in the divine favor; it is the influence of the Holy Ghost, communicating unto us a principle of holiness, exciting and directing the exercises of our faculties; it is that very principle itself, and those exercises, so communicated and directed. In this sense, the word grace is employed in the text. "Let us have grace." And, although it is the gift of God, it is urged upon us as our duty; because God in his unsearchable wisdom hath sanctified means to be used by us for receiving and exercising it in his own service. Exwuev xagi, let us have grace, that is to say, let us be sensible of the necessity of supernatural power for the renovation and sanctification of the heart; let us bless God for his abundant grace in Jesus Christ; let us earnestly pray that he may bestow upon us his good Spirit; let us highly prize the precious VOL. I JULY, 1831.

gift, cherish it by the word and ordinances, take pleasure in its growth, and diligently exercise it in our life and conversation; in one word, let us lead a life of holiness. Let us be Christians, for the Christian religion is eminent. ly excellent.

The duty recommended by the apostle, therefore, appears to be personal piety; and the motive to perform this duty is the supe. rior excellence of the gospel. By demonstrating its superiority to the law, he has demonstrated its superiority to every human system; for not one of these, not all of these, could compare with the dispensation of grace by Old Testament ordinances. By showing that the gospel shall eventually triumph over every opposition, and be received by all the nations, after human exertions have failed to establish general order and happiness, he has showed its vast importance to the interests of social life. The superior excellence of this system is a motive to secure a personal interest in it, because what is excellent is desirable-what is excellent throughout is so in all its parts, and without personal religion, all that excellence which belongs to the system of grace prohibits our happiness, and increases our mi sery.

It is the law of nature, that of all the objects presented to us we should prefer that which has in every thing the superiority; and as this law is an ultimate fact in our constitution, no process of reasoning can render it more obvious. When we prove to you, therefore, that Christianity is more valuable than business, or

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literature, or pleasure, we lay upon you an obligation to become true Christians; and when you concede the point to us, and yet are contented to live without hav. ing grace, you proclaim your. selves to be unreasonable, as well as destitute of pious principle.

The gospel of Christ is glorious. And, when we describe its abstract excellency, we necessarily describe the excellency of the plan of redemption as applied to every believer. This is not a delusive theory, uncapable of actual experiment. "The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. "When we describe the qualities of the gold, the description applies to every part. Divide it as you will, it still retains its value and its lustre. When we urge you to the practice of religion, because the plan of salva. tion is "ordered in all things," we teach you that it will be found even in your experience, who comply with the request, "that wisdom's ways are ways of plea. santness, and all her paths are peace."

The necessity of such compliance is evident from the perfection of the general system; because there is no other mode of receiving any permanent advantage from it. What shall it avail you that the Christian religion is true and glorious, if you shall never have an interest in it? It shall, in that event, increase your misery. Mercy is indeed offered to you; but if you finally reject the offer, as your criminality be comes more heinous, your misery shall be augmented. The gos

* 1 Cor. iv. 20.

In

pel is a sweet savor unto God, even in them that perish. them it becomes "a savor of death unto death." "For it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for you." Let us, therefore, be persuaded to submit to the service of God, and consider that

II. The exercise of grace is necessary to every act of acceptable worship. "Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably."

It is not to be expected that all who acknowledge the scriptures to be of divine inspiration shall in fact receive the truth in the love of it, or take the same view of the doctrines of grace therein exhibited. Such an expectation is not warranted by theory or by fact. Different persons, very frequently, embrace the same system from very different mo. tives, and understand it in different ways; and certainly no system has been more variously interpreted than the Christian religion, while its excellency is ac. knowledged. As various modes of worship have been adopted, so have the rites of religion been performed from very different principles and motives. The Christian religion, as we have already shown, requires not a bare approbation, or a merely apparent submission to its doctrine, but personal piety from all to whom it is declared; so the acceptable service of God is some. thing more than the diligent performance of external acts of wor

ship. "The true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth."* There are others,

*John iv. 23.