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spectable clergyman of the national church, of evangelical principles, and contains many very useful and judicious hints to the hearers of the gospel. While we strenuously contend for the necessity of the influences of the Holy Spirit, to render effectual all the means of his own appointment, yet let it be remembered, that a far heavier responsibility rests on those who perish under the light of the gospel, than on those who have never heard its blissful tidings: for he that knew his Lord's will and did it not, shall be beaten with many stripes; while he that knew not his Lord's will, shall be beaten with few stripes. And our Lord, referring to the unbelief of those who had witnessed his miracles, and yet continued in their hatred to him, pronounces an awful woe upon them: "Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works which were done you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment than for you."

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While, however, we admit man's accountability, we do wish that those who minister in holy things, and who we have reason to believe have themselves tasted and handled of the word of life, would enforce the utter inability of man to perform any thing acceptable to God, until he be regenerated by the Holy Ghost; then, and not till then will he be willing in the day of God's power, "My people shall be willing in the day of my power." "I (Jehovah) will persuade Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem." And unless the Lord bless the word, moral suasion, however pathetic, will be unavailing. While we can read with approbation many of the productions of our present evangelical writers, we do regret that there is in most of them a deficiency which we much deplore. Let the ministers of Christ commence by showing the depth of iniquity in which man is involved, the enmity against God which is in every human breast, and then direct the enquiring sinner to the all-sufficient Saviour, who has promised to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins; and then show to the burdened conscience that the Holy Spirit has promised to lead such an one into all truth.

We are led to these remarks from the volume before us; which, as far as it goes we generally approve; but does not, to our view, fully develope the whole counsel of God and while we are convinced the soul quickened by the Holy Ghost will be studious to improve all those means of grace with which he is favoured, he will at the same time look up for a blessing from him with whom is the residue of the Spirit. And while the worthy clergyman's directions to the hearers of the gospel will be read with approbation by the humble christian, and he will desire to be found in the way of duty, he will do that which we think forms an important addenda to the work,-pray that the Lord the Holy Ghost may enable him "to adorn the doctrine of God his Saviour in all things;" well knowing

that if he performs one good action, or even thinks one good thought, it is from the Lord. He will indeed be anxious to walk worthy of his high vocation; but then he will best succeed by looking to the strong for strength; and however powerful Mr. B.'s arguments are, they will never operate on any but such as having tasted that the Lord is gracious, are aiming, under the teaching of the Holy Ghost, to live to his honour and glory; and are working from life in the soul, and not for life as a reward for their work. To all others the directions will, we are persuaded, be utterly unavailing.

Mr. B. has divided his work into fifteen chapters. We had intended to make some extracts, but our limits will not allow. We were much pleased with a considerable portion of the author's remarks, and would refer our readers to the work itself, as containing many sound and judicious observations.

The Miscellaneous Works of the Rev. Matthew Henry, containing in addition to those heretofore published, numerous Sermons from the original M.S.S. with an Appendix, on what Christ is made to Believers, in Forty real Benefits. By the Rev. Philip Henry, and a Preface by I. B. Williams, Esq. F. S. A. royal 8vo. pp. 1420. J. O. Robinson.

THE valuable exposition of the Rev. Matthew Henry, with his miscellaneous writings, have been long before the public; and while we are constrained to say that there are some statements made by that excellent Divine which we do not approve, yet the truly devotional spirit-the deep research-the practical godliness, and the ardent affection he evinced in the cause of the Redeemer, will long render his name dear to the church of God, and many of his writings will afford them instruction and edification.

The present Volume corresponds with the Exposition recently published by the same bookseller, and by the full page and very neat typographical execution, compresses the whole works of this writer in four volumes. This does most certainly recommend itself beyond any of the former editions, as it contains a series of sermons never before published, and an interesting appendix of forty-one short discourses, on what Christ is made to believers in forty real benefits, by the Rev. Philip Henry. To the whole is prefixed, an interesting memoir of the Rev. Philip Henry, with his funeral sermon. We have anew perused with much pleasure many of Mr. Henry's pieces, and would indeed pray that the Lord of the harvest would raise up in this our day many such as he was.

Strong Consolution, or Three Letters to a Friend in Spiritual Dejection, 18mo. pp. 54. Nisbett.

THE title of this pamphlet attracted our attention; for we live in a day when there are few to be found who can experimentally direct the enquiring sinner in his way to Zion.

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We regret that our author's directions do not meet our views. Much is said about the love of Christ to sinners;' and the dejected soul is exhorted to accept the gracious invitation of the Father of mercies.' Speaking of the name by which the church is designated, "the Lord our righteousness!" the trembling sinner is thus addressed by our author. Oh! take this name yourself,—and bind to your heart-say to the law, to conscience, to yourself, "the Lord our righteousness." Commenting on the fulness of God, he asks, can you be so daring as to ask whether the fulness of God CAN supply your emptiness? And this fulness of God is love. A love which is held out to sinners, and which they are invited to accept ; prayed to take hold of-invited to taste freely-to eat of abundantly. In this love God declares he will rest; and if God, in the riches of his grace, can make such a declaration, it ill befits the sinner not to rest satisfied and at peace.' This dejected sinner is to "joy in the Lord," though he can discern no fruits to prove his love-no feelings to evidence the reality of his faith. The writer concludes by quoting the apostle's words, Rom. v. 6. "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." And adds, this plea I would now use at the throne of grace, as I then would at the throne of judgment. Make it your's too.'

From the quotations given, our readers will perceive the drift of this author's strong consolation.' We rejoice in a free grace salvation; but let it be remembered the scriptures direct no sinner to accept the offered graces-to bind the righteousness of Christ to his heart. Nor does the Holy Spirit solicit sinners to take hold of, to taste freely, or eat abundantly of the love of God:-nor does that blessed Spirit ever call upon sinners to joy in the Lord, or furnish them with a plea at the throne of judgment.

Our author has entirely omitted the work of God the Holy Ghost, whereas the present is peculiarly a dispensation of the Spirit; and it is the work of that glorious person to convince of sin-to take of Christ, and shew him to the quickened sinner-to set forth the love of the Father in choosing his church in Christ, and then the regenerated soul thus taught by God himself, will indeed be willing in the day of his power. But is the sinner who, alarmed by the sudden qualms of a natural conscience, and who cries out, "What shall I do to be saved?" to be immediately lulled into false security by being exhorted to believe that Christ is his; though he be destitute of every scriptural ground on which to rest? This is our author's plan, but it is not the counsel of God; and he has denounced in his word a woe on those who cry, peace, peace, when he has not spoken peace. But we know that Jehovah will not suffer his people to rest on such a foundation. We have quite exceeded our limits, and must leave the subject, praying that each of our readers may be enabled to gather all their consolation from him who hath said, " I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before

me."

POETRY.

LINES OCCASIONED BY DEATHS IN THE CONGREGATION OF
BURY STREET CHAPEL.

THOUGH every time we draw our breath,
A num'rous band who living stood,
That instant bow their heads in death,
The sick, the healthy, vile and good;
And though on every side we see,
Sad tokens of mortality-

Yet when th' afflictive tidings come,
That a dear friend we highly lov'd,
Is summon'd to his heav'nly home,

From earth's vain vexing cares remov'd;

We start with sudden sad surprize,
And sighs and sorrowing tears arise.

And who shall bid our tears to cease,
When we sustain so vast a loss,
Let stoics proudly hold their peace,
They inly rebel at the cross :
Did not the Almighty Saviour weep,
When Lazarus lay in death's cold sleep!
God gave these feelings, nor does he,
Rebuke his people when they grieve,
But he has promis'd he will be,

Their help in trouble to relieve:
From God's abounding goodness flows,
A soothing balm for all our woes,

But as we mourn, a still sweet voice,
Tells us our friends are happy now,
And bids us rather to rejoice

And wear no more a clouded brow:
For they their happy home have fonnd,
Though we still tread enchanted ground!

ON THE LOVE OF CHRIST.

To soul's redeem'd from sin and hell,

What theme so sweet for them to tell,

As Jesu's ancient love;
'Tis this that kindles sacred joys,
And their united strains employs,
In earth and heaven above.
'Twas love that formed the holy tie,
And wrote their names above the sky,
Before creation's day;

Its bonds are firm as heav'n's throne,
And lasting as the Eternal's crown,

Which never fades away.

Loud let us triumph in its strength, Proclaim its boundless breadth and length,

And sing its conqu'ring power:

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It saves from gloomy guilt and fear,
And kindly wipes the falling tear,
And cheers the dying hour.
No sin, nor grief, nor deep distress,
Peril or sword, or nakedness,

Can rend us from our God;
His love in life and death the same,
Nor will he e'er dispute the claim
Of our Immanuel's blood:
Through Him we conquer though
we die,

And all the hosts of hell defy,

Whilst he our faith doth raise; "Tis he that loves us, bears us through,

And makes us more than conque

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"O GOD, THOU ART MY GOD."-Psalm lxiii. 1.

'MONGST all the fallen race of man, Not one but owns superior pow'r, Obedience yields to Satan, or

Jehovah and his laws adore.

The blinded worldling seeks to find
His pleasure in earth's gaudy toys;
The glutton on rich dainties feeds,
'Tis all his beast-like soul enjoys.

The rich man counts his treasures o'er,

Makes them alone his only trust : Deluded soul, vain is his hope,

Of gaining help from glitt❜ring dust.

Riches, superior far, has he,

Who on a cov'nant God relies ; Who's trav'ling from this vale of tears,

To mansions far above the skies. While others trust an arm of flesh, Jesus alone his help he owns, And safely rests his helpless soul On Him who's blood for sin atones.

My God, he says, I know is mine,
In bonds of everlasting love,

Who chose me long ere time began, To reign with him in realms above.

His ancient cov'nant well displays,

The love and pity of his heart, When he of free and sov'reign grace, Engaged to undertake my part.

Christ, the co-equal Son declared

His willing mind to bear my sin; To shed his own most precious blood, To heal my wounds, and make me clean.

The Holy Spirit too agreed,

To work conviction in my mind, To make me feel my load of guilt,

And where deliv'rance I should find.

The Father in his boundless love,

Well pleased accepts the sacrifice, Declares his chosen ones shall live, Though Jesus, his beloved, dies.

Thus by a firm and sure decree,

By blood and righteousness divine, By pow'rful efficacious grace, I am the Lord's, and he is mine. EBED.

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