place their relation to Christ at the head of their titles.

How much greater confirmation of his faith would we have received, had he feen our Saviour's prophecy ftand good in the deftruction of the temple, and the diffolution of the Jewish œconomy, when Jews and Pagans united all their endeavours under Julian the apoftate, to baffle and falfify the prediction? The great preparations that were made for rebuilding the temple, with the hurricane, earthquake, and eruptions of fire, that deftroyed the work, and terrified thofe employed in the attempt from proceeding in jt, are related by many historians of the fame age, and the fubitance of the story tellified both by Pagan and Jewish writers, as Ammianus Marcellinus and Zamath-David. The learned Chryfoftom, in a fermon against the Jews, tells them this fact was then fresh in the memories even of their young men, that it happened but twenty years ago, and that it was attefted by all the inhabitants of Jerufalemn, where they might ftill fee the marks of it in the rubbish of that work, from which the Jews defifted in fo great

fright, and which even Julian had not the courage to carry on This fact, which is in itself fo miraculous, and fo indifputable, brought over many of the Jews to Chriftianity; and fhews us, that after our Saviour's prophecy against it, the temple could not be preferved from the plough paffing over t, by all the care of Titus, who would fain have prevented its deftruction, and that inftead of being re-edified by Julian, all his endeavours towards it did but ftill more literally accomplish our Saviour's prediction, that not one flone fhould be left upon another.

[To be concluded in our next.]

THE

CHRISTIAN RELIGION

SUITED TO THE STATE OF MAN,

MA

AN confidered as a fallen and redeemed creature owes and muft pay to God a duty very dif ferent from that which would have been demanded from him in a state of integrity and uprightnefs. Sin and redemption neceffarily fuppofe other difpofitions than virtue and merit: difpofitions as indifpenfible, and relations as invariable, as are required or borne by man, confi dered under any other character nay, and perhaps more fo.

An inattention to this real state of man has caufed many to overlook or at least to misunderstand the great and characteristic doctrines of the Chriftian religion : while they have confidered human beings, as owing a duty to God only under the character of Creator and Preferver, they have ftrangely mitaken the grand purpose of the gofpel, and as ftrangely perverted the fundamental principles of it.

But whoever will attend to the truth of the cafe; whoever will confider man, in his real ftate, will not only be convinced, that the duties and doctrines enjoined in the gofpel are perfectly confiftent with, but abfolutely neceffary to, his prefent condition. Repentance and faith become in this light, not only proper but neceffary duties; and the facraments of baptifm and the Lord's fupper requifite to the very being of that faith and repentance.

For

The Chriftian has not,cannot have any difpute with the Deift c unbeliever of whatever denomination-refpecting the duty unqueftionably to be paid to God, as Creator and Preferver of the univerfe; he has no difpute with them refpecting the eternal and unalterable difference between right and wrong, virtue and vice; the ami

ablenefa

ableness of the one, and the deformity of the other; the neceflity of cultivating the former, of difcouraging the latter. He agrees, cordially agrees with all this. But at the fame time he avers, that we ftand in another relation to God, and owe him a duty in that relation alfo: he avers that we are by nature corrupt, and however we may approve, unable, without affifting grace, to practice this ever amiable virtue; he avers, that we are finners, and want pardon, and fo imperfect as to want it even for our best deeds, fo unworthily do we perform them; and fo incapable are they of bearing the fcrutiny of his holy eye, who difcerns impurity even in his brighteft angels. And for the truth of this he appeals to the heart of every honeft man; and to the gospel of Jefus Chrift, which upon no other view is intelligible; and which, in this view, fuffici. ently difplays its own divinity.

Let a man fay, "I have made my heart clean: I am pure from all iniquity, in thought, word, and deed: I dare ftand the appeal to God's holy law." Let a man fay this, and we will grant, he hath no cause to concern himself with the gofpel of Chrift. But if no man can fay this, if all men are guilty before God; and if God will not pafs over a tranfgreffion of his law, unpunished-how much doth it behove every man to confider feriously that revelation, in which God hath made an ample discovery of the terms upon which he will pardon the guilty?

Let it be obferved, that man is not left to judge for himself, whether he is or is not guilty: in no cause whatever, is any one both judge, law, and criminal.

"

And

why should a man expect it, in things of eternal moment? God is the judge; and he hath dealt fairly with mankind: he hath given them the law, whereby he expects them to act, and whereby he af fures them they fhall be judged

if they are not intereffed in his fon's redemption. And before a man can acquit himself, or hope to be acquitted in the fight of God, he must have a good foundation to believe, that he is acquitted by the fentence of God's law: which, not to fpeak of its perfect purity, (and who of mortals can abide that purity?) which it is to be feared, only in thofe ten commandments delivered from the mount will leave few, very few, nay, none of us without excufe! And if this be the cafe, how can any thinking man reject: how, can any man do other than rejoice in the gospel of Chrift, which provides fufficient pardon for the paft, and ftrength for the time to come?

Repentance, in this light, becomes at once a natural, a neceffary, and a reafonable duty. For what fo reasonable, as for an imperfect creature to be forry for his deviations from the law of God, for his offences against a Father fo great and fo pure? What fo reafonable, as a total change of purpofe and of life, and a continued endeavour to testify true forrow for the past, by a new life for the future? And while this duty appears to unprejudiced reafon in fo just a view; we are de lighted with obferving, upon look. ing into the bleffed gofpel, that this was the grand duty, which the Baptift, as the forerunner, and which the Meffiah himself first preached, when he opened his glorious commiffion of good-will and falvation to mankind!

It was equally reasonable too nay, and equally neceffary, that faith fhould be enjoined as the grand inftrument, by which this falvation and good-will was to be conveyed, For fince fomething

was

to be done for man, as an atonement for his fins, done in his nature, and confequently (as that nature is in itself finite) at a cer tain time and in a certain place;

and

and as it was impoffible that all the human race could be eyewitneffes of that fact, or of its concomitant circumstances; there was, no other human method, whereby it could be conveyed, but by historical tradition: and therefore, no human method, whereby it could be received, but by faith. Accordingly we find, that the Meffiah enjoins this faith as the important mean whereby his falvation is to be conveyed; and attending to what hath been just advanced, we fee, that it could not have been otherwife, and therefore fhall not be furprized, that fo great a ftrefs is laid both by .Chrift and his apoftles on faith.

But of the neceffity, excellence, and foundation of faith, it is neceffary, that we fpeak more largely; and of this, we propofe to do, God willing, another opportunity.

My dear Brother.

HR

AD it pleafed God, to prefervet the life of our affectionate father, as the care of your education would not then have fallen upon me, fo there would have been lefs occafion for any advice of mine, and confequently I fhould have felt less folicitude on your account; but providence early depriving you of fo great a comfort and blefling, as the parental guidance, and the whole direction of your affairs devolving upon me; I have not only felt all the anxiety of father for you, but carefully ftudied every means in my power to promote your felicity. To this I was naturally led by a tender fenfe of the unfpeakable obligations I owe to our dear parents; and whofe folicitous affection for me fhall never be forgotten, while memory holds a feat in my bofom; refolved as I am, by God's

affifiance, to act towards you, and I hope towards all others, in fuch a manner, as I know would give them pleasure, were they ftill with us; as I truft will give them pleafure, if peradventure the happy fpirits of the deceafed have any knowledge of what paffes amongst us erring mortals.

But let me add, with great truth, that though this due regard to our parents, as well as a compaffionate feeling for your orphan itate, endeared you to me with more than a brother's love; yet your own behaviour has been fuch, as would alone have been fufficient to have interefted me greatly in your welfare: friendship is now engrafted upon affection; and every winning motive thus confpires to make me anxious for your fuccefs and felicity in life. You will bear me witnefs, that I have not been deficient, hitherto, in ufing all my best endeavours for your fervice: I have not omitted, in our frequent converfations together, to give you fuch directions respecting your ftudies, and that fate of life, which you have chofen, as appeared to me moft neceffary and advantageous. You know alfo very well my opinion refpecting every branch of the clerical function. I have talked with you often and freely upon this head, and pointed out to you the path which will lead to the favour of God, your own peace, and to the refpect of the world; at least, fo far as it is defirable.

But as the time now draws nigh, when you are to enter into holy orders, and to affume the high and arduous character of a minifter of Jefus Chrift, and an inftructor of men in the things which concern their falvation; I have thought, that a few letters from me on the fubject might not be unacceptable; in which though perhaps I may have nothing new to fay to you, nothing more than what I have repeated many times in converfation; yet fince what is written is apt to remain longer with us, at leaft may be preferved always before us, I have determined to write down my fentiments to you on all the branches of the paftoral office, and to

give

give you my opinion of the manner in which you should difcharge that office; after which I will speak of the general behaviour and deportment requifite for your function; and conclude with fome advice refpecting the course of study you fhould purfue, and the books you should read; a lift of which I will give you, in compliance with a request you once made to me; when, you may remember, you were complaining of the want of fome fuch information.-Now though these letters may have no great merit in them, and convey to you, as we before obferved, no new stock of knowledge; yet I beg you to receive them as a pledge of my fincere affection, and most tender friendship towards you a friendship, my dear brother, which I pray God to continue to the end; and which I flatter myfelf we fhall endeavour to preferve by the most harmonious concurrence, in very action and opinion.

I remember, that a certain bifhop begins his letters of advice to his nephew, with remarking, that " It was much against his judgment and inclination that his nephew had made choice of divinity for his profeffion." A remark, which in itself favours ftrongly of a difcontented wafpifh spirit, but which comes furely with a peculiar bad grace, from a man "who had arrived at the highest rank in his profeffion." A profeffion, which relations feem defirous to dif countenance their children from embracing; because it is not productive of the greatest temporal emoluments, or the readieft road to exorbitant riches! Men, who talk and reafon thus, if they have any reflection, ought to blush: but when churchmen join in the affertion, we cannot but obferve, how much they are like the foolish bird, and cause the difcerning eye to fee the object of their main attention. Believe me, my dear brother, you will find the clerical function a moft unpleafing one, if you enter into it with the views of fuch men:-if you propofe it as the stalk

ing horfe to worldly and ambitious defigns, I cannot tell where you could fix to meet with more chagrine, dissatisfaction, difappointment, and ma levolence. But on the other hand, allow me to fay, that if you take upon you this office, as a good man ought, and a wife man will take it; and as E do from my foul believe and hope is your fincere refolution; then let me be bold to fay, you will find it the most happy, as unquestionably it is the most honourable profeffion upon earth.

The reafon is evident, why it is not commonly found the most happy s men do not esteem it the most honour. able; and confequently, inattentive to the one thing needful; they run out in purfuit of extraneous objects, and bring home nothing but difcomfort and difcontent.-But do not fo, my dear brother: confider the office in which you are engaged, and the duty to which you are called: make it your fixed and steady refolution to be confcientious, active and unwearied in the proper discharge of your duty: and I will venture to affure you, of an inward peace and real fatisfaction, which no other method of proceeding will, or can afford.

It does not follow from hence that you are to be unconcerned as to the things of this world, or wholly regardless of temporal advantages. The labourer is worthy of his hire. And it is certainly confiftent with the higheft elevation of piety to take a wife and prudent precaution fo to live in this world, as not to be unhappily diftracted by its preffing neceflities from a juft and becoming attention to the other. And I muft obferve, (for me. thinks it is a matter of much comfort and encouragement to all pious and zealous clergymen) that I have never known or feen an instance of any fuch clergyman, in real want or diftrefs; except where it might well be accounted for from his own imprudent and unwife conduct; for all good men are not not wife and prudent men; they are often not careful enough to blend

the

the fagacity of the ferpent with the fimplicity of the dove.

I hope you will always unite them : make it your motto, "Wife and harmless;" and then while free from the uneafy follicitudes of life, you will never come under the cenfure which they incur, who loving this world

more than God, are perpetually hunt ing after its emoluments, to the dif grace of their functions, the prejudice of religion, and the total deftruction of their own private felicity.

Excufe the reft till another oppor tunity, and believe me always, Your's, &c.

J. G.

THE

SENTIMENTAL COMPANION.

No. I.

OLOMON, the wife, the weak

Sking Solomon, made one re

queft to his fon, it was a very comprehenfive one: My fon give me thy heart-Mariamne, the good Mariamne, has a heart; not for the toilet; not for the card-table; not for the fashions and follies of the age: Nor for you, empty coxcombs! Who in praising a woman's beauty affront her good fenfe. Mariamne has a heart, a tender, fympathetic heart, for the friendlefs orphan, the deftitute widow; the woe-bearing Chriftian in rags, and for any man of fenfe who can afcertain the just value of it. Α few days ago, I went with a good morrow to Mariamne: I found her in great perplexity about a mere trifle. You, who have no hearts may here ftop, and turn to page, blank-I found her much perplexed, how to get rid of a little prifoner, which her maid had entrapped the preceding night. What shall I do with this little night prowler, faid Mariamne?— Throw it to the cat, or into a pail of water. I received a look: the pencil of a Raphael cannot defcribe

it.

It was a look from Mariamne. Well, faid I, fuppofe we walk forth this fine morning and take your

charge with us; an expedient may prefent itself in the way more agreeable to your amiable fenfibility. Who has not feen the fun difpelling a mift and forming the ruddy blush of morn into a perfect bright day? It is certainly a very pleafing fight. We were foon in the ftreet, and the firft ftriking object that drew our attention was a poor, lame, dirt-befpattered fheep, whom one of the worst of brutes, a man-brute, was worrying with his four legged affociate, and beating unmercifully with a tick: -A fecond look from Mariamne. -Do you call that a Chriftian? Would I could fee, this moment, that rational a fheep, and that dog a Smithfield drover! Bleffed Jefus! thou too was fpit upon, buffetted, pierced with fharp thorns, and at last led thus difgracefully, like this dumb, innocent animal, to be flaughtered! We had not walked far, before I faw a cellar, belonging, as I imagined, to an old ruined tenement untrodden by human feet. Suppofe, Mariamne, you here release your little captive: O yes, in the humble dwell. ing of poverty-The house is not in fo ruinous a ftate, but it may af ford a comfortable shelter to fome wretched, friendlefs females. At that moment, while Mariamne was taking out her handkerchief to wipe from her cheek a precious tear; at that moment, a female, decent, though in rags, approached

the