not her strongest tower! Corrupt as may be the church establishment, debased as may be many who call themselves her ministers, still do we believe, that the public profession of the Lord's name, made by the association of his worship with the law of the realm, conduces more to the preservation of the land, and to Jehovah's smile thereon, than the statesman or the thoughtless can conceive. Yes, God be praised, numerous as are the disciples of mammon there, numerous too is the number of those who have not bent the knee to Baal; and for their sakes-as would Sodom have been-is England and her church still preserved by the God who is too frequently mocked instead of worshipped therein. We see little new in this Second Letter of Mr. Beverley's: he rages against the secular vices alluded to, and alas! there is too much room for his charges. We do not think, however, that this second epistle will afford the satisfaction with which many perused the first. Letters to the Rev. H. B. Bulteel, occasioned by his Departure from the Doctrines of Truth, commonly called Calvinism. By Henry Fowler. To which is added, a Word of Counsel and of Caution to God's Children. 8vo. pp. 24. Fowler. TRULY a word of counsel and of caution God's children much need in seasons such as these. In how many instances recently have we no sooner marked one coming out, apparently called by the Lord for the accomplishment of some great work-even while congratulations are abroad in God's church for that a mighty man hath arisen in Israel-than we have also marked him wandering afar off from the true way into paths unknown: adopting some destructive and wide-spreading error, and thereby fearfully convincing the saints that it was only a wandering star, a meteor gleam, a fatuus light, which had they followed further would have led them only to betray. While with grief we make these remarks in speaking of the Rev. Mr. Bulteel, we think it our duty to extract from his own letter to Mr. Fowler, the confession of his faith on the subject of general redemption; only adding thereto, that Mr. Fowler's reply fully proves the certainty of that scripture assertion," I have chosen the weak things of this world to confound the mighty, and the foolish things of this world to confound the wise." "That, as Adam in his flesh disobeyed for every man, so Christ in his flesh obeyed for every man; and this gift of Christ to every man by the Father, is the manifestation of the love of that Father to every man. Every man's rejection of that love and that Christ so given to him, justifies God in his rejection of him; and from this condemnation a few only are preserved in consequence of God's especial love to them in electing them unto salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth," p. 66. Fervent Prayer; or the Door of Heaven Opened to every One that Knocketh: Tract No. 1. By Henry Heap. 12mo. pp. 28. Palmer, Hamilton and Co., R. Baynes. THE subject which Mr. Heap has selected for the first of a proposed series of tracts, is of the most vital importance. Fervent persevering prayer, is so intimately allied to the very existence of a spiritual life, that we hesitate not to say, the individual who lives without prayer, let his professions be ever so high and towering, is dead in trespasses and sins, without God and without hope in the world. Mr. Heap has very judiciously shewn the nature of true prayer, the medium of approach through Christ, and has deduced scriptural proofs of the certain success that every praying soul shall meet with in his supplications to the divine Majesty through the meritorious atonement and all-powerful intercession of his great High Priest, who ever lives to present his prayers on the golden altar, before the throne of the Eternal. Mr. Heap has happily combined the duty of watchfulness with prayer, agreeable to our Lord's directions; "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation." We should be glad to find some of those who taunt at high doctrinal preachers, blend duty and privilege together as ably as they are exhibited in this tract. We recommend it to our readers, convinced they will derive much profit from the perusal. Divine Breakings; or, Spiritual Meditations, suited to the occasion of Breaking Bread, or communicating in the Lord's Supper. By John Beart. Ipswich, Read and Burton. THE author of this small manual, wrote a duodecimo volume, entiled, "The Eternal Law and Everlasting Gospel;" a new edition of which we some time since introduced to the notice of our readers. We gave that our recommendation; and on a perusal of the one now before us, we see no reason to withdraw our approbation from the author. It is well calculated to give a right view of an ordinance by many much neglected, and by many more thoughtlessly and improperly partaken. The meditations are very excellent, and with much pleasure we avail ourselves of the opportunity of inserting one of them within the pages of our Treasury; hereby also the reader will be able to form his own estimate of the book. "We come to a banquet of wine, let us come with our petitions; our God does (as it were) say unto us, what is thy petition, poor soul, and what is thy request at the banquet of wine? Is there nothing now thou wouldest ask? Let us think upon Hannah; she had a petition she would make, and she brings it before God when she came to his house at Shiloh, and uttered it there, so that her lips only moved, but her voice was not heard. Howbeit, the Lord heard and answered, and she fulfilled her vows, 1 Sam. i. 10-13. v. 26-28. What lust wouldest thou have subdued? What grace wouldest thou have strengthened? What wantest thou for thy soul? Bring it before the Lord in faith, and it shall be done for thee, not only to the half of a kingdom, but a kingdom is allotted thee. Here our God shews us not only what he has done, but what he means to do for us. Then open your mouths wide, and he will fill them. Lord, that I may see thy glory! O that I might be like to thee! Shew me thy love, and let me love thee with all my heart and soul. Give me some token for good of thy favour. Put thy Spirit upon me, that I may do great things for thy glory. Are there not such breathings in thy heart as these? Then wait and watch what God will answer thee." POETRY. SABBATH MORNING. ONCE more the Sabbath Day, With unction from the skies: O let me have a sight, Bring down that world with all its bliss, O may the speck of time, Of mercy's streams in crimson blood, Break up thine early thoughts, The cross of bleeding love, When justice smote his brow: Blest shield and covert from the storm, On thee let all my musings turn. Let me have fellowship, And glorify free grace: Though void of good through Adam's fall, O let a stream of grace, E. M. THE GLORY OF THE GOSPEL DISPENSATION SUPERIOR TO THAT OF THE LEGAL. "For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory."-2 Cor. iii. 9. How awful and how glorious was, The ways of man to try; How glorious in its origin, And in its nature too; Obedience it demands; Its sentence too is such as well Be number'd with the dead, To hear his awful doom, Conscious that he does well deserve Eternal wrath to come. J To raise from earth and deep distress, Them in his name rejoice. From Satan's heavy chain, To the Redeemer's reign. To save them from the pow'r of death, In it is full provision made, And plenitude of grace; Here's bread the hungry soul to feed, Yea, endless fulness here. Through which they all descend, Through Him who's with the Father one, And yet the sinner's friend. Of this most wond'rous plan; To sinful dying man. And when this gospel is applied, Most glorious fruit appears; In humble faith, and ardent love, And penitential tears. And when the whole for whom that On Calvary was shed; One with their glorious head. Then shall all heav'n in wonder praise, Th' eternal great I AM, The conqu'ring Surety's name. EBED. 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. MARCH, 1832. (For the Spiritual Magazine.) SEASONS MOST TO BE DREADED. THE children of God are never so insecure from the temptations of Satan, as when they exist in a state of inactivity, arising from a spirit of instability and discontentedness. Although the members of the body may be suspended in their various functions, the faculties of the soul can never remain in an unexercised condition. Man is an intelligent animal; and on this account has a stronger resemblance to his Maker than any other creature: the soul which he possesses can never sleep, although through imperfection and depravity it may oft exist in a somnulent strain: it is reasonable to suppose it feels some weariness by reason of its union with distempered flesh; nevertheless, it cannot be prevented in its natural operations, it must be the subject of thoughts good or evil, desires consistent or inconsistent, affections moral or immoral and thus whilst the soul of a christian is engaged in stimulating the acting organs of his body to the performance of spiritual actions, in true devotional exercises, there is comparatively little danger to be apprehended of his being ensnared in the nets of his great adversary the devil; but when the body is at rest, and the soul dissatisfied in sacred occupation, then occurs the greatest opportunity for the display of Satanic insinuations and unsanctified overtures;-then is evidenced an encouragement of the depravity of the human heart, in attention to its VOL. VIII.-No. 95.] 20 |
