pence of the reward.' How came Abraham to ‘sojourn in the land of promise as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise?' He looked for a city which had foundations, whose builder and maker is God.' Thus the Hebrews took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing in themselves that they had a better and an enduring substance. Thus it is that we are preserved from the power of worldly temptations. Narrow and barren commons may urge the sheep to wander; but it is otherwise with the green pastures and still waters. Fill a Christian with all joy and peace in believing, and he has no room to 'covet after evil things -His exposure is when 'the consolations of God are small with him.'

"But this hope, as an anchor of the soul, is 'sure and stedfast:' and as to certainty, the truth far exceeds the figure. In other cases the anchor does not always save the ship, but the ship is driven from its holdings and dashed to pieces. But this hope always secures the Christian; there never was an instance in which it was known to fail. This is an incomparable recommendation. Nothing is so wretched as the disappointment of hope. And yet what is more common than the wreck of human expectation, with regard to all earthly things? But nothing can equal the disappointment of that hope which regards the soul and eternity! How dreadful for a man to live in expectation of all that God has promised, and come short at last: to go with confidence to the very door, and knock, Lord, Lord, open to us; and then hear from within, I never knew you-Depart! Yet such will be the issue of every religious hope but this. It is this, and this alone, that 'maketh not ashamed:' and is assure and stedfast' as God himself can make it.

"And therefore the thing is, whether we can say which hope we have.' It is not only desirable, but possible to know this. Only, in deciding, there is nothing concerning which we should be more careful. What reason can we shew for having this hope in us? Have we any better evidence than a form of knowledge,' or 'a form of godliness,' while we deny the power thereof? How is this hope founded? Is the Lord our righteousness and strength its only basis? How does it operate? For a dead hope is no better than a dead faith. The hope of Christians is a living and a lively hope it will induce us to value, to seek after, and long to enjoy and resemble the glorious object of it. He that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure.' pp. 54-57.

We will next copy the Exercise which happens to be dated on the day when these remarks will meet the eye of our readers.

"August 1. For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the Lord unto the gate of Jerusalem.' Micah i. 12.

"This refers to the invasion of the Assyrian, the rod of God's anger. He had subdued and ravaged Israel, and now entered the kingdom of Judah. The prophet laments the horrors and miseries of the scene; and describes the effects of them upon the places lying in the line of his march. The village of Maroth was one of these. It was very interior, and was situated nigh Jerusalem; for which reason probably the inhabitants themselves thought that they were safer than those who lived on the borders of the country: For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the Lord unto the gate of Jerusalem.' This may serve to remind us— of the disappointments of life of the source of calamity-and the season of deliverance.

“They ‘waited,' waited 'carefully for good ;' but in vain: 'evil came’—Is such a disappointment a strange or an unusual thing? What is there in life that is not uncertain, and does not expose the hope that is resting upon it? Is it substance? Is it health? Is it children? Is it friends? Does the Scripture only cry, All is vanity;' and, Cease from man, whose breath is in his nostrils? Does not all history, observation, and experience tell us the same? Let therefore the young, let those who are entering into new connections and conditions, let all be sober in their expectations from every thing earthly. It is the way to escape the surprise and the anguish of disappointment. And let us make the Lord our hope. He will not deceive us: he cannot fail us. If creatures are broken reeds, he is the rock of ages-' Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.'

"See also the source of calamity-' Evil came down from the Lord.' This at first seems strange we should have been ready to say, 'evil came up from another being.' We We are assured that 'every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights.' But 'let no man say, when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for he cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.' And this is true of moral evil, or the evil of sinning. But Micah speaks of natural evil, or the evil of suffering. And what calamity is there that the Scripture has not ascribed to God? Is it a storm at sea? He breaketh the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.' Is it barrenness of soil? He turneth a fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.' Is it the loss of connections? 'Lover and friend hast thou put far from me.' 'Is there an evil in the city and the Lord

hath not done it?-War is the evil here peculiarly intended. We often connect this more with the follies and passions of men than other evils; but the hand of God is no less really in it. He has created the waster to destroy.' Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.' Let us never view our sufferings, public or private, personal or relative, abstractedly from God. Especially let us beware that instruments do not lead us to overlook his agency. They could have no power at all against us, except it was given them from above. The Chaldeans and the Sabeans spoiled Job: but says he, the

Lord hath taken away.'

"The question is, how this evil comes from him? Much injury is done by our separating what the Scripture has joined together. Some view God's mercy as separate from his justice; and some his justice as separate from his mercy: the one of these partial views genders presumption, the other despair. These extremes would be avoided by our considering God as at once the righteous Governor and the tender Father. Every thing in his present administrations is adapted to shew the union of his holiness and goodness, and to awaken both our fear and our hope. The evils he sends are the effects of sin; yet they are the fruits to take away sin. We deserve them, and we need them; the one shews that we have no right to complain, the other that we have no reason to complain. What is required of a Christian is a ready and cheerful submission; but this can only be produced by our seeing the reference our affliction has not only to our desert, but to our improvement. The thought of God as a sovereign may repress murmuring; but it is the belief not only that his judgments are right, but that in faithfulness he afflicts, and in love corrects us, that enables us to acquiesce, and say, Here I am, let him do what seemeth him good.'

"Mark also the time of deliverance. Though God saves his people, he may permit the destruction to draw very nigh. This was the case here. He could have hindered the calamity at the frontier, but evil came down from the Lord unto the gate of Jerusalem. So far the overflowing did come; and the insulting foe encamped in the fuller's field adjoining the city; but no further. Here were his proud waves stayed. Here ended his power and triumph. Hezekiah conquered him upon his knees. The Lord put his hook into his nose, and his bridle into his jaws, and drew him back. Yea, the angel of the Lord slew in his camp in one night upwards of one hundred and eighty-four thousand of his troops-Shewing us not only that God can deliver, in the greatest straits, but that he frequently does not interpose till the evil has reached its extremity. Thus Peter was not released from prison till a few hours before his appointed execution: and Abraham had bound Isaac, and seized the knife, and stretched out his hand, before the voice cried, Forbear. Whenever therefore he seems indifferent to our welfare, and does not immediately, or even for a length of time, interpose on our behalf, let us not accuse him of unfaithfulness and inattention. Let us distinguish between appearance and reality. His kindness, wisdom, and power, are secretly at work for our good. The delay is not abandonment. He is only waiting to be gracious; and the season in which he will appear to our joy will display his glory, and draw forth our praise. In the mean time let our minds be kept in perfect peace, being stayed upon God; and let us remember, if things are gloomy and discouraging, that the lower the ebb of the tide, the nearer the flow. It is often darkest just before the break of day. IN THE MOUNT IT SHALL BE SEEN.'" pp. 99-102.

These two "Exercises" may be sufficient to shew the general character of the work; but we must pause a few moments at the dedication. It is inscribed to Mr. Wilberforce, with whom the author says he has enjoyed a friendship of more than forty years' standing, and whom he speaks of-as all who know that revered senator must speak of him-in the language of the warmest affection, esteem, and admiration. After alluding to the pleasure and profit derived from his private conversation, and the eminent usefulness and brilliancy of his public career, Mr. Jay adds, in reference to his friend's character as a Christian,

"All other greatness is, in the view of faith, seducing and dangerous; in actual enjoyment, unsatisfactory and vain; and in duration, fleeting and momentary. The world passeth away and the lusts thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. The expectation of the man who has his portion in this life' is continually deteriorating; for every hour brings him nearer the loss of all his treasure; and as he came forth of his mother's womb naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour which he may carry away in his hand.' But the good hope through grace' which animates the believer, is always approaching its realities; and therefore grows, with the lapse of time, more valuable and more lively. As it is spiritual in its quality and heavenly in its object, it does not depend on outward things, and is not affected with the decays of nature. Like the Glastonbury thorn, fabulously

planted by Joseph of Arimathæa, it blooms in the depth of winter. It brings forth fruit in old age.' 'At evening-tide it is light '—' For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.'

"And this, my dear sir, you are now happily experiencing, at the close of more than 'threescore years and ten.' And I hail you, not as descending towards the grave under the applause of nations, but as an heir of immortality, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.' Attended with the thanksgivings of the truly wise and good on your behalf, and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost, and with an unsullied religious reputation, you have finished a course which you have been enabled to pursue through evil report and through good report; undeviatingly, unabatingly; forgetful of none of the claims of personal or relative godliness, amidst all the cares and engagements of a popularity peculiarly varied and extensive; neglecting, in addition to the influence of example, no means to recommend the one thing needful to others; and even from the press defending the interests of practical Christianity, in a work so widely circulated, so justly admired, and so pre-eminently useful, especially among the higher class in society." pp. iv.-vi.

The allusion to years that are past, and many of them no ordinary ones, leads Mr. Jay to speak of his own and his friend's estimate of their good and evil. The sentiments expressed are so analogous to those which we have often and often penned, that we are glad to avail ourselves of them to strengthen our own statements; more especially as there is in many quarters a disposition to undervalue our public mercies, and to represent the nation as in a state of almost unmingled deterioration in all that is good. True indeed it is, lamentably true, that the overflowings of ungodliness abound; but not less true is it that religion abounds also, and to an extent which causes us to cherish bright hopes even in the darkest night. The following is the passage alluded to:

"I am sufficiently aware of your sentiments, and fully accord with them in thinking that while, as men and citizens, we cannot be indifferent to the state of public affairs, but ought to be alive to the welfare of a country that has such unexampled claims to our attachment and gratitude; yet that as Christians, we should judge of things by a rule of our own; and esteem those the best days in which the best cause flourishes most. Now while we have suffered much, and have had much to deplore, yet the walls of the temple' have been rising in troublous times,' and our political gloom has been relieved by more than gleams of religious glory. Let us not ask with some, What is the cause that the former days were better than these?' The fact itself is, at least as to spiritual things, certainly inadmissible. Conceding that eighty or ninety years ago we had fewer taxes, and many of the articles of life were more cheaply purchasable, how much more than counterbalanced was this, by an unconverted ministry, a people perishing for lack of knowledge, a general carelessness with regard to the soul, and an entire unconcern for the enlargement of the Redeemer's kingdom! "At our first interview we could refer to none of the many glorious institutions which are now established. I have not space to enumerate them, nor must I yield myself to enlarge on their claims. But, reluctantly to pass by others, one of these has been surpassed by nothing since the days of the Apostles; and when I refer to the importance of its design, the simplicity and wisdom of its constitution, the rapidity of its growth, the vastness of its success, the number of languages into which it has translated the Scriptures, and the immensity of copies which it has distributed, I need not say, I mean the British and Foreign Bible Society, which may God preserve uninjured, and continue to smile upon, till all shall possess the unsearchable riches of Christ! Since then too, what an extension has there been of evangelical doctrine in the Establishment and among the Dissenters; and, I fearlessly add, of the genuine influences of Divine grace in the hearts and lives of thousands. Surely no unprejudiced individual can trace these things, comparatively with what preceded them, and not exclaim, 'God hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.'" pp. vii.—ix.

While alluding to this review of the past, and estimate of the present, we are glad to fortify our own often repeated hopeful belief as to the future, by adducing the coincident opinion of Mr. Wilberforce and Mr. Jay. It is cheering to turn to such measured, and, we think, scriptural statements, after those glowing and exaggerated predictions which of late have been obtruded upon the Christian church, to the no small consternation of many, but we fear with little of spiritual profit, or peace or joy in the Holy Ghost. This immediate topic leads Mr. Jay to advert to some others connected with it, and particularly to certain notions, prevalent of late, relative to

prophecy and miracles. The whole passage is so important that we shall extract it at length. It abounds with judicious and striking observations; but it is deformed by that occasional forgetfulness of the claims of a duly cultivated taste to which we have already referred. The author will thank us for two or three erasures, and we might have added more; for these things are very like the author's own simile of the mushrooms springing up in the richest soil.

sea:

:

"I rejoice, my dear sir, that a person of your consideration is in the healthful number of those who, notwithstanding the contemptuous denial of some, and the gloomy forebodings of others, believe that real religion has been advancing, and is spreading, and will continue to spread, till, without any disruption of the present system, the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.' You do not expect that a country called by his name, and in which he has such a growing multitude of followers, will be given up of God; and the fountain from which so many streams of health and life are issuing to bless the world, will be destroyed. You justly think that the way to gain more is not to despise or disown what the Spirit of God has graciously done for us already and that the way to improvement is not to run down and condemn every present scheme, attainment, and exertion, because they are not free from those failings which some are too studious to discover, too delighted to expose, and too zealous to enlarge and magnify. If we are not to be weary in well-doing, we need not only exhortation, but hope, which is at once the most active, as well as the most cheerful principle. Nothing so unnerves energy and slackens diligence as despondency. Nothing is equally contageous with fear. Those who feel alarm always love to transfuse it. Awful intimations of approaching evils are not only congenial with the melancholic, but the dissatisfied; and while they distress the timid, they charm those who are given to change. It is also easy to perceive that when men have committed themselves inwoful announcements, they immediately feel a kind of prophetical credit at stake, and are under a considerable temptation to welcome disasters as prognostics: for though they may professedly pray against the judgments, they know, and this is a great drawback to their fervency, that their avowed creed requires the calamities as vouchers of the wisdom and truth of their interpretations. If, to preserve his reputation from suspicion, after he had cried,' Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be destroyed,' Jonah himself was sad and sullen, and thought he did well to be angry even unto death, because the city, with all the men, women, children, and cattle, was not demolished according to his word, what may not be feared from human nature now, if exercised with similar disappointments?

"As owing to the mildness and justice of the laws of the paternal government under which we are privileged to live, there is now no outward persecution; and yet, as religion always requires to be tried, we must expect that from among ourselves will men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them:' for 'there must be heresies, that they which are of a contrary part may be made manifest.' In such cases many are tossed about by every wind of doctrine' till they make shipwreck of faith and a good conscience.' Others, who are not destroyed, suffer loss, especially in the simple, affectionate, devotional frame of their spirit. If good men are injured, they are commonly beguiled: they are drawn aside by something piously specious. Any proposal directly erroneous or sinful, would excite their alarm as well as aversion. But if the enemy comes transformed into an angel of light, they think they ought not only to receive, but welcome a heavenly visitant: if he enters with the Bible only in his hand, and claims to fix their regards to any thing on that holy ground, they feel themselves not only safe, but even following the will of God:-not considering that if, even in the Scriptures, the speculative entices us away from the practical, and the mysterious from the plain; and something, though true and good in itself, but subordinate, engrosses the time and attention which should be supremely absorbed by repentance towards God and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ-his aim may be answered, and Satan get an advantage over us.' Such persons, acting conscientiously, become as determined as martyrs; and continually musing upon one chosen topic, they grow as passionate as lovers, and wonder that all others are not like-minded with them.

The worst of madmen is a saint run mad.' There is not only a pride in dress, and beauty, and riches, and rank, and talent; but of opinion also: a kind of mental vanity that seeks distinction by peculiarity; and would draw notice by separateness: as that which stands alone is more observable, especially when noise is added to position. In this case the female is easily betrayed beyond some of the decorums of her sex; the younger will not submit to the elder; the hearer sits in judgment on the preacher; and he that is wise in his own conceit will be wiser than seven men that can render a reason. For

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.'

Mushrooms, and less saleable funguses, are ordinarily found in a certain kind of rich

and rank soil. When religion, from being neglected, becomes all at once the subject of general attention, many will not only be impressed, but surprized and perplexed. The light, good in itself, may for the time be too strong for the weakness of the eye, and the suddenness of the glare may dazzle rather than enlighten. It is very possible for the church, when roused from a state of lethargy, to be in danger from the opposite extreme. The frost of formality may be followed by the fever of enthusiasm. Whenever, indeed, there is a high degree of religious excitement, it cannot be wonderful considering human ignorance, prejudice, and depravity, that there should be some visionary and strange ebullitions. We have witnessed some of these during the years that are past: but the day in which we now are is singular for the revival (with some perhaps perfectly new pretensions) of most of the notions that were fermented into being at the time of the Commonwealth, and which were then opposed by Owen, Baxter, and others, who had more divinity in their little finger than is to be found in the body, soul, and spirit, of many of the modern innovators and improvers, who imagine that their light is not only the light of the sun, but the light of seven days.' "A review of history will shew us that at the return of less than half a century, some have commonly risen up eager and able to determine the times and the seasons, which the Father hath put into his own power, and which the Apostles were told it was not for them to know. And the same confidence has always been attended with the same success. No gain has ever followed the efforts worthy the time and attention expended upon them; no addition has ever been made to the understanding of the Scriptures; no fresh data have been established from which preachers could safely argue; no practical utility has been afforded to Christians in their private walk with God. And as their documents were not capable of demonstration; as for want of certainty they could not become principles of conduct; and as no great impression can be long maintained on the public mind that is not based on obvious truth; the noise of the warfare after a while has always died away, and left us with the conviction that there is no prophet among us; nor any that telleth how long.'

6

"Some prove, in their spiritual genealogy, a descent from Reuben, of whom the dying father said, unstable as water, thou shalt not excel.' Yet they may strike, and produce a temporary impression in their favour, especially in a country like this; a country proverbial for its credulity, and its more than Athenian rage for something new, whatever be the nature of it. In England

(England, with all thy faults I love thee still

Thy follies too')—

and I can feel

in England, it has been said by a satirical yet just observer,' that any monster will make a man: 'that is, be the means of rendering him renowned or rich. Who can question this for a moment, that has patience to mortify himself as a Briton by reflection and review? Take prodigies. Dwarfs, giants deformities-the more hideous, the more repelling the spectacles, the more attractive and popular have they always been. Take empiricisms. Their name is Legion; from animal magnetism and the metallic tractors, down to the last infallible remedy for general or specific complaints; all attested and recommended by the most unexceptionable authorities, especially in high life! Take the feats which have been announced for exhibition. Whatever the promiser has engaged to perform, whether to walk upon the water, or draw himself into a bottle, what large crowds have been drawn together at the time appointed, and with no few of the better sort of people always among them! How has learning been trifled with and degraded! Two or three insulated facts, and a few doubtful or convertible appearances, have been wrought up into a science; and some very clever men have advocated its claims to zealous belief, and contrived to puzzle the opponents they could not convince. In the article of preaching, what manoeuvres of popularity have not been successfully tried, till there seems hardly any thing left for an experi

menter."

"But what exemplifications, had we leisure to pursue them, should we find in the article of religious absurdity and extravagance! Has any thing been ever broached with confidence that has not gained considerable attention? Did not the effusions of a Brothers, who died where only he should have lived, in confinement for madness, secure numerous believers and admirers? Had he not defenders from the press ? Did he not obtain the notice of a very learned senator in the House of Commons ? And as to the Exeter prophetess, without any one quality to recommend her but ignorance, impudence, and blasphemy; yet did she not make a multitude of converts, not only among the canaille, but among persons of some distinction? and had she not followers and defenders even among the clergy themselves?"

"All reasoning and all ridicule for the time only served to contribute to the force and obstinacy of the folly. But how just, here, is the remark of an eminent female writer- Such preposterous pretensions being obviously out of the power of human nature to accomplish, the very extravagance is believed to be supernatural. It is the impossibility which makes the assumed certainty; as the epilepsy of Mohammed confirmed his claims to inspiration.' And is there nothing now going forward far