Page for the Young. BIBLE DICTIONARY FOR YOUNG PERSONS. SECOND BOOK OF KINGS. This interesting book contains the history of the Jews for a little more than three hundred years,— from the year 896 to the year 588 before the coming of the Redeemer. Consequently, it is drawing towards 3,000 years, since the early events recorded in this book, took place. There are some very surprising incidents preserved in this history; such for instance as Elijah's wonderful power from God to destroy his wicked enemies (chap. 1)-his memorable ascent to heaven (chap,2) -Elisha's miracle with the widow's oil (chap. 4)-his bringing to life the dead son of the Shunammite (chap. 4)-and the restoration of the man about to be buried, when he touched the bones of the dead prophet (chap. xiii. 20, 21, v.) As proofs of the direct power of God in connection with human affairs they are not exceeded in interest by any other events recorded in the Bible. They show us what mortal men can do when permitted to employ the power of God. From chap. i. to chap. xvii. the book contains a contemporary history of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel; that is, to the end of the kingdom of Israel. The wickedness of the people ruined that kingdom, and God permitted them to be carried away to a far distant land (chap. xvii. 6, 18, 20, 23 v.) This kingdom had lasted from the time of Saul, the first king, 538 years; but from the period when it became a separate kingdom under Jeroboam (1 Kings, chap. xii. 16, 19 v.) it had existed 254 years. Its kings were for the greater part, among the most wicked men that ever disgraced the earth. From chap. xviii. to the end, the record contains the history, decline, and captivity of the kingdom of Judah. The wickedness of Manasseh filled up the measure of its iniquity, and God would not pardon it (chap. xxiii. 26 v.-chap. xxiv. 3, 4 v.) Even the great piety of Josiah failed to remove the curse of God (chap xxiii. 25, 26 v.) He banished the people from the land they had so fearfully polluted, and this book carries forward the history to the 37th year of their memorable captivity. This kingdom continued for about 508 years. Our young friends should learn from chap. xix. what fervent prayer can do. It destroyed a large army -one hundred and eighty-five thousand men, without drawing a single sword, and God is the same prayer-hearing God for ever and ever. ANSWER TO THE ENQUIRY AT PAGE TEN OF THE JANUARY NUMBER. DEAR SIR,-I have, according to your request, read carefully over the verses you referred to, namely (Isaiah, Ixii. 6, 7) And in doing so, it seems quite evident that we all should pray earnestly for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the hastening of that glorious time when all shall know and love the Lord. In Isaiah lxii. 1, we read, "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth." Also, in Ezekiel MY DEAR BROTHER,-Allow me to direct the attention of your readers to a subject which I consider of great importance to the peace and prosperity of the kingdom of Christ. Does it not sometimes happen that our churches ignore the discipline of each other—that persons who may have been excluded from one church are received into another, even while lying under the sentence of excommunication? This is the more likely to occur where there are rival interests, or churches differing from each other on some points of faith and order, as open and close communion, Calvinism and Arminianism, or different shades of Calvinism. I once knew a case of a Presbyterian minister being baptized, after having been deposed by the Presbytery for drunkenness, and immediately set a preaching in the new locality as a "convert" from Presbyterianism, though the circumstances were well known to all the inhabitants. It is not to be wondered at, that he soon disgraced the Baptists, and they certainly deserved to be disgraced. Other denominations, I believe, are guilty of similar depredations; but as I am principally concerned with our own, I shall chiefly deal with it-if our Pedobaptist brethren, however, find my observations applicable to them in any degree, let them by all means take the benefit. It is a lamentable fact that persons sometimes profess to change their sentiments while fleeing from discipline, and find protection in a rival sect. This loose system I have always looked upon as being fraught with the most pernicious consequences. 1. Its tendency is to destroy discipline altogether. How painful to think that a minister or member should be solemnly excluded from a church of one denomination of Christians for sin, and that a church of another denomination, professing to be more scriptural in its constitution, should receive him while under censure! How unseemly for one church to assist a culprit in evading the discipline of another, or for one denomination of Christians to oppose another in maintaining the purity of Christ's house! 2. It is calculated to harden the transgressor in sin, and lead him to treat church-discipline with indifference or contempt. How different an effect would be produced on his mind, if, on applying to all the churches in a town successively, he were to find every door shut against him, until he would return and confess his fault to the church that he had sinned against! 3. It is a fruitful source of jealousies, murmurings, and animosities between churches of different denominations, aud sometimes even of the same denomination. How is it possible for churches to live in harmony, if, notwithstanding loud professions of liberality and brotherly love, they can place no confidence in the integrity or honour of each other? 4 It gives to the world a very bad view of religion, in leading them to suppose that it is altogether a mercenary thing, and that churches act on the same principles as the men of the world, being more anxious to promote their private or party interests, than truth and righteousness. I am convinced that if the golden rule (Matt. vii. 12) were written on our hearts, these things would not be. If a person come from another church, or even another denomination, it would be an easy thing to ask credentials. "For us it would be safe," and "to them it would not be grievous," as it would be treating them with becoming respect. Besides, they could not then say, as they sometimes have reason to do, that we receive the refuse of other denominations. I do not say we ought to receive all who may present such certificates, because the terms of communion in the bodies from which they come may be much lower than ours, and consequently, we might be led into the absurdity of receiving back our own excommunicants; but I do think we ought to require applicants to furnish us with testimonials of good standing in the churches from which they came before receiving them into fellowship, or, in the event of their being refused, to ascertain whether they have been withheld on just grounds. Yours in Christian love. JOHN BROWN. Newtownards, 3rd Feb. 1864. BAPTISM WITH FIRE. To the Editor of the Primitive Church Magazine. DEAR SIR,-In reference to the fulfilment of the prophesy of John the Baptist (Matt. iii. 11) "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire," there are at least three interpretations. 1. It has been affirmed (see "Tongue of Fire," pp. 34, 37, &c.) that the "cloven tongues, like as of fire, which sat upon each of the disciples" (Acts ii. 3) were the fulfilment of the baptism with fire. 2. Some understand the Holy Ghost and fire to be one and the same element, and pray that men may be baptized with the Holy Ghost, even as with fire, meaning, suppose, that the Holy Spirit is to refine and purify the pollution and dross of the inner man, as fire will take away the dross, and leave the gold pure. So far good, but can the copulative conjunction (Kai) be rendered even, or even as in this text? 66 3. Others judging from the context, understand the "fire" to be the "unquenchable fire that shall burn up the chaff," when the wheat shall be gathered into the Master's garner. If you will say which of these interpretations is, or is any other the true one,-You will much oblige, AN INQUIRER AFTER THE TRUTH. [We prefer giving some of our readers the opportunity of briefly answering this question!-ED.] I have been acquainted with the periodical from its commencement, and highly approved of its principles; but since the editorial department fell into your hands this has been more especially the case. The sound judgment, and faithful adherence to truth, which you have at all times exercised, led me to hope that the church would long continue to be favoured with the services of one who could "speak the truth in love." Fearing the time-serving spirit of the age, I trust that whoever may be the future Editor, the Primitive Church Magazine will continue to maintain the principles of the New Testament, with as much clearness and power as it has hitherto done.— I am, dear sir, yours respectfully, March 13th, 1864. A PASTOR. [We hesitated about the insertion of the above, but again we thought it was due to the long-standing and unswerving fidelity of our brother to allow it to appear.-ED.] Poetry. THE SHEFFIELD FLOOD. BY WILLIAM STOKES, MANCHESTER. "Thou carriest them away as with a flood."-PSALM xc. 5. Eternal God-unseen-unknown! When sunk in sweet and silent sleep, "Be still,-and know that I am God." * Micah vi. 9. + "When morning dawned, the house was found standing a perfect wreck, with a yawning breach in the outer walls. One of the chambers could thus be observed, and seated on a bed was found Wright's youngest child, an infant, innocently unconscious of all danger, and playing with the bed clothes. Within a few feet of it was a burning candle. The little creature was rescued, and placed in the care of a friend." Reviews. * NICHOL'S SERIES OF STANDARD DIVINES. Works of THOMAS GOODWIN, D.D. Vol. VI. Edinburgh: James Nichols, London: James Nisbet & Co. Dublin: W. Robertson. 522 pages. This valuable volume is devoted to the great theme of "The work of the Holy Ghost in our Salvation." It is divided into ten books, each containing a number of chapters,one of them thirteen,—and these are occupied with various views of the primary doctrine which fairly exhaust the subject, and leave scarcely anything to be said by others who might follow. A brief statement of the leading topics of each book will show the accuracy of this opinion. Book 1, gives a brief scheme of the whole work committed to the Holy Spirit in our salvation;-the 2nd, the necessity of regeneration;the 3rd, the necessity of regeneration, as reconciling us to God;the 4th, regeneration as being begotten unto God;—the 5th, the new creature, being a change of heart ;the 6th, regeneration, as a work far above the greatest enlightenment of natural conscience; (this is a most valuable dissertation in thir teen chapters)-the 7th, the difference between the Holy Spirit's work in temporary believers and the truly called of God;-the 8th, the three parts of regeneration-humiliation for sin-faith in Christ for justification, and practical holiness; the 9th, the greatness of the divine power in our regeneration; By some unaccountable oversight, this volume was not noticed in its proper place. This is regretted, and care will be taken that a similar omission shall not occur again. and the 10th, the inherent and essential properties of holiness. To those who are at all acquainted with the writings of Dr. Goodwin, it is superfluous to say that this volume is among the most valuable in our British Theology. John Howe, in his masterly work on the Holy Spirit is, both profound and comprehensive; but we question whether even that great man has equalled Dr. Goodwin in the elaborate view taken of the subject. Howe deals chiefly in principles, but Dr. Goodwin goes deeper into detail; and while the former appears the more majestic, the latter presents himself as the more useful man. We should be wanting in common justice to our readers did we not urge upon them by all possible means to purchase this volume and to master its contents. It is no ephemeral production like too many works of the present time; but it is a profound, elaborate, and experimental work, on one of the most important questions that can occupy human thought, and one that demands to be better known in order to counteract the loose and dangerous views that a large number of Arminians, Baxterians, and DutyFaith men, are active in propagating to the great dishonour of the Holy Spirit in the mighty work of our redemption. As the present is "the dispensation of the Spirit," it follows that we who are privileged to live in it, to enjoy its ordinances, and to partake of its fellowship, should above all other men be well acquainted with the nature and work of that Adorable Person, whose divine power and grace are the source of our life, the |