attention of all our churches, per-upon the Son of God; Christ will mit a humble individual to address be exalted in a preached gospel, a few words on the subject through and the "savour of his name shall be as ointment poured forth," every the medium of your magazine. The low state of religion among heart shall rejoice under the manius, has been-long lamented by all festations of his love: then they those of whom it may be truly said, that fear the Lord shall speak often "Their conversation is in heaven." one to another, and our hearts The absence of spirituality, and shall burn within us while we exthe substitution of other attain-perience the fulfilment of the as"Wheresoever two or ments for scriptural knowledge; a surance. too great conformity to the cus- three of you are met together in toms and pleasures of the world my name, there am I in the midst among the professed disciples of of you." If we have failed of these Christ; and the studious concern things, (and do not our public and manifested to avoid the reproach private meetings, our social interof religion, have almost obliterated views, testify against us?) surely the line of distinction between the it is because the Spirit of the Lord church and the world. This I ap- has departed, and we have too prehend to be the state of things much substituted a form of godlifrom which the church is now hap-ness for the power. Let us look pily in some measure arousing. to the mote in our own eyes, and But what is the revival we are to begin the work of revival at home. expect? is it in the church or in Who among us are found sighing the world? Is it a revival of spiri- and crying before the Lord in tuality in the souls of those who secret, wrestling down the blessare already called by grace, a re-ings of Divine grace upon ourselves membrance from whence we are and the church. fallen, or are we half sleepy people to be employed to arouse others without being first ourselves awakened to a sense of our low estate, to a subsequent perception of our high privileges, to the dignity of our birth and character, to the glorious inheritance reserved in heaven for us? Can it be expected that without a real savour and enjoyment of spiritual things, we should become adequate instruments to exhibit to our perishing fellow sinners, the riches, the fulness, the sufficiency of Divine grace? Are we not beginning at the wrong end? "Make the tree good and the fruit shall be good also." When the Lord shall turn again the captivity of Zion, we shall be like them that awake from a dream, we shall be aroused to a participation of the realities of vital godliness, to a life of active faith Let us try and realize the former days, in which ministers came down from communion with God, into the assemblies of the saints, and their faces shone with the resplendence of Divine communications; when the people came, each from their retirement, expecting the gracious presence of a covenant God in his own appointed means; when the Holy Ghost was poured out from on high, and the Spirit of grace and supplication pervaded the church; when professing Christians were not ashamed to speak out all their hearts unto their brethren, and ministers spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Surely we have not these things because we Let us try the Lord hereask not. with, and see if he will not open the windows of heaven and pour us out a blessing, so that there shall not be room enough to con living be. tain it; then shall our overflowing | if we go to hell. If a sinner, when hearts pour forth the rich consola- he has destroyed his own soul, tions we shall enjoy; sinners shall could say, I have injured only hear us tell of the preciousness of myself, his reflections would be Christ, and shall glorify God in very different from what they will us;" while we become epistles, read and known of all men." life eminently become "the power of God unto salvation," and the principles of Divine grace shall be seen acting out in the experience and lives of the saints: sinners shall no more doubt the sincerity fruit an hundred fold. He also of the concern we profess to manifest for their salvation, when our lives shall be thus hid with Christ in God. "We are the salt of the earth, and if the salt have lost its savour wherewith shall it be salted ?" The influence of an evil word or Then shall the word of action in the way of example, may surpass all calculation. It may occupy the attention of the sinner only for the moment; but being communicated to another, it may take root in him, and bring forth A BAPTIST. THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSISTENCY IN PROFESSORS OF RELIGION. may communicate it to his connections, and they to theirs, and thus it may go on to increase from generation to generation. In this world no competent idea can be formed of those effects; but they will be manifest in the next, and must needs prove a source of bitter reflection. On the other hand we can form no competent ideas at present of the effects of good any more than of evil. What we do of ETERNITY! Were this one word either is merely the kindling of a to vibrate with its full force on fire; how far it may burn we canany human spirit, how would that not tell, and generally our minds spirit watch, and weep, and pray! are little occupied about it. Who And as every thing we think, or can calculate the effects of a mosay, or do, will assuredly give a dest testimony borne to truth; of colouring to our everlasting des- an importunate prayer for its suctiny, nothing can be deemed tri-cess; of a disinterested act of selfvial which is capable of producing denial, of a willing contribution, one right or wrong feeling. If then, of a seasonable reproof, of a wholefrom only one right or wrong feel- some counsel, of even a sigh of ing, may issue results of intermin-pity, or a tear of sympathy? Each able gain or loss, how guarded, or any of these exercises, may be how circumspect, how watchful the means in the Lord's hand, of will those persons be who are fully producing that in the bosoms of apprized of their real situation! individuals, which may be commuIt is a very affecting consideration, nicated to their connections, and remarks the excellent Fuller, that from them to theirs to the end of we are so linked together in so- time. ciety, that we almost necessarily communicate our dispositions one to another. We draw and are drawn, in both good and evil. If we go to heaven, we are commonly instrumental in drawing some others along with us; and it is the same Let those, says an excellent living author, who bear the Christian name, ponder well the important consequences which are associated with the character which they maintain. What solemn words are those, "Woe to that man by whom the offence cometh." In all | ORIGINAL LETter of the Rev. GEO. probability, there is many an in WHITFIELD. Bath. London, Feb. 1768. DEAR MADAM, AND is another bird flown out of this earthly nest?—I trust into Abraham's bosom-the remainthe wing, and singing every day, ing one, I suppose, likewise upon Come Lord Jesus, come quickly. dividual in the world of despair, To Mrs. Bridget Bethel, in Queen Square, who is thus upbraiding his companion in misery. "It was your bad example which brought me here. You were professedly a religious man, and yet you would lie and cheat, and live a licentious life. I therefore concluded, without further trouble, that religion was useless and needless, if not absolutely false. Thus did I en-Yet a little while, dear madam, courage myself in sin and unbelief, till death arrested me, and hell received me. It is true, that the inward cause of my arriving at this sad conclusion respecting the gospel, was the ill will I felt towards God and goodness, and things divine. I now see, (though too late,) that such a way of judging was as un and He that cometh will come and ven. reasonable as it was fatal. I now see that I made too much of the faults of professing Christians, and I suppose good Mrs. Brown is in the same circumstances. Worthy thought too little of their virtues. Still Lady Huntingdon holds up a lityour bad life was the immetle, but joins in saying we groan diate cause of the prejudice with which I viewed the people in the dened. Blessed be God, the day in these tabernacles being burways of God, and as long as eter- of complete redemption draweth nity lasts, I shall without ceasing, nigh. Your old servant informed torment you with the recollection that it was you that brought me me of your dear sister's dissoluhere!" tion. He is lodged at our clerk's Let then the disciples of Christ often reflect on the respon- be daily admitted into the holy of house, near the chapel. May he sibility of their station, however holies. humble it may be. The mere posThat you, dear madam, sibility of your becoming the means may pass from glory to glory is of the final ruin of a relation, the hearty prayer of, friend, or neighbour, makes you tremble. Your anxious wish is to save and not to destroy your fellow men. Out of love, then, to your fellow creatures, as well as from love to God and to yourself, avoid all sin. Watch and pray lest ye enter into temptation. A WATCHMAN. Your sympathizing willing Servant in our Glorious Head, P.S. Most cordial respects await Mrs. Brown, the bowels of many are refreshed by her bounty. Lord Jesus remember her for good in that day. BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST. POETRY. What hand is this that, half reveal'd, A spell, as strong and deep as Death, Is heard in oft repeated call, No more the sweet lute breathes its sigh But hark! a voice the silence breaks- A destiny thy soul must hear Of heavier wrath, with darker fear: REVIEW. Illustrations of Prophecy; in the course Nothing is more injurious to themselves, of which many Predictions of Scripture nor more adapted to throw discredit are elucidated; together with numerous Extracts from the Works of preceding upon revelation itself, which it exposes Interpreters. Also, new Illustrations of to the scoffing and the scorn of unbeProphecy, in five Dissertations on an lievers of every class. Infidel Power; the Abyss, or Bottomless Pit; the Symbolic Dragon; a Millennium; and the coming of Christ. To which is appended, a Sermon on the Kingdom of Christ. Two volumes. Price One Guinea. Richard Baynes; Holdsworth and Ball. The Illustrations were written many years ago, by the Rev. J. L. Towers, son of Dr. Towers, and formerly Librarian at Red-Cross street. They were tinged with the political enthusiasm of that period (1796), and to such a dewould be in danger, if the work went gree, that it was thought the author into the usual channels of a regular transcribing must have been immense. We cordially recommend his work, as containing extracts from the most respectable writers of this and other rited observations, quite his own. Some countries; with many sensible and spiof the principal writers he has laid under contribution are Joseph Mede, Vitringa, Goodwin, More, Owen, CresI. Newton, Lowth, Fleming, Bengelius, sener, Jurieu, Brenius, Chandler, Sir Daubuz, Whitby, Gill, Lowman, Bishop Newton, and Bishop Hurd. THAT a great part of Scripture prophecy has been verified in historical facts, will be, we suppose, universally publication. His reading and labour of granted. That a great part remains yet unfulfilled, is equally unquestionable. And the world is growing old! Six days, each of a thousand years, have nearly passed away, and the seventh is the sabbath of the Lord our God, the long expected millennium of peace and joy, of victory and triumph. Wonderously diversified have been the times that have gone over us, since we ourselves have been in existence; and, as the end draws nigh, great events are fast crowding upon us, for the time that remains is short. Soon the mighty angel, standing upon earth and sea, will swear by Him that liveth for ever and ever, that "time shall be no longer." It cannot be surprising, therefore, that the eyes of many should be turned towards the lamp that shineth in a dark place the sure word of prophecy. Nor would we add a word to discourage the humble inquirer into the mysteries of the Apocalypse itself, for "blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy ;" and the same book shews that the temple of God will be opened in heaven, and the ark of his testament will be seen in his temple. (See Rev. xi. 19,) We are aware, at the same time, that nothing is more impious, absurd, or dangerous, than the unhallowed speculations that issue from the distempered fancies of men who would be wise above what is written. The following extract from vol. ii. p. 206. will give the reader Mr. Towers' view of a subject which at present en gages much attention. "Before I select from those passages of Scripture which point out the certain arrival of a permanent period of happiness on ideas of a millennium are; for I am aware earth, it will be proper to explain what my that against the more common representation of it, strong prejudices have with justice been entertained. By the disorderly imagination of some visionaries, it has been painted as a state of things altogether wild and irrational; and even many of a sober turn, and a cultivated judgment, have annexed to it much of the marvellous and improbable. By the Millennium, I mean a period of great length, eminently distinguished for the spread of knowledge and of genuine Christianity, in consequence of which good government will universally be established, virtue will not only be generally esteemed, but practised, and human happi |