Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Let him, therefore, who would murmur at the sovereign grace of God, take heed to his ways. He murmurs, not at the injustice of God towards himself, nor towards any of his fellow-men, but at his mere goodness towards the subjects of his grace. He murmurs, where the first laborers did. His eye is evil, because God is good. And if he perish in such murmurings, he will perish justly. God never left a humble, penitent sinner to perish. He pardons and saves every penitent believer. And if the murmurer will repent and believe in Christ, God will pardon and save even him, But let him remember, and while he remembers, let him rejoice, that God saves the penitent, because he is a Sovereign in the affairs of grace; because he has determined to do this, for his own glory; and thus, because he doeth what he will with his own. J. A. G.

of sinners, which had no exist- should do what he will with his ence; but at his own glory. He own; and that he should have was limited, not by their worthi- formed eternal purposes of grace, ness, or even their unworthi- respecting guilty men. ness; but only by the most perfect display of Divine goodness. In doing what he would with his own, or in determining the number of those, who should be renewed and saved, his good pleasure was, to give full scope and operation to his benevolence. He united the salvation of his people, with the most perfect display of his glorious attributes. Hence, he chose them all in Christ: he predestinated them to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace. Of all possible methods, this was the best for lost sinners. And it must be remembered, that the whole scheme of grace, from beginning to end, has immediate relation to sinners. It was from a race of such beings, that God chose his people, in Christ Jesus: even of those, who, in themselves, were utterly vile and unworthy. And his sovereign purpose, originating in his own goodness and grace, included a far greater number of such beings, than could otherwise have been included. Indeed, had not the display of grace been the object," and had not mere benevolence and grace determined this number, we know not how even one sinner could have been included. We know of no other method, which could, consistently with Divine justice, or with the Divine attributes, have ensured the salvation of an individual of our guilty race.- -It is, then, desirable, beyond all expression, that God should determine and act as a Sovereign, in all the affairs of grace. Yea, it is of unspeakable importance to lost sinners, that he

For the Christian Magazine. AN EXPOSITION OF 1 CORINTHIANS, II. 14.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

SINCE the Bible is our only rule of religious faith and practice, and is that, by which we are to be finally judged, it is of the highest imaginable importance, that it should be correctly understood. This remark is, of course, applicable to the passage before us.— It is probable, that few passages of the Bible have been more the

on the part of some, and of irreverence and presumption on the part of others. It is desirable, that all occasion for such effects should be removed. This can be done only by a correct exposition of the passage in question.

occasion of darkness and distress brance, whatsoever I have said unto you.' Soon after the ascension of Christ, Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, Men and brethren, This scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost, by the mouth of David, spake before concerning Judas, which was to guide them, that took Jesus.' In quoting a passage from the Psalms, the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews began by saying ;

1. Who is the natural man? The apostle opposes the natural man,' to the spiritual man. After asserting, that the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God,' he says, in the next verse,But he that is spiritual, judgeth all things. It hence appears, that 'the natural man,' is the opposite of him, that is spiritual,' or the spiritual man. Who, then, is the spiritual man, but he, that has been born of the Spirit? "That which is born of the Spirit, is spirit,' or spiritual. It will not be doubted, that the spiritual man is a subject of the spiritual kingdom of God, and will be finally admitted into heaven.

But says an infallible teacher;- Except a man be born of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.' The conclusion is obvious, that the spiritual man is the regenerate man;-he, who has been born of the Spirit.' As the apostle directly opposes the natural man,' to him that is spiritual,' or has been born of the Spirit,' it follows, that, by the natural man,' he intends man in a state of nature;-the unregenerate man. 2. What is to be understood by the things of the Spirit of God? The Spirit of the Lord,' says the Psalmist, spake by me, and his word was in my mouth.' Christ, some time previously to his departure from his disciples, said unto them; The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remem

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith, To day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." Again it is said; All scripture is given by inspiration of God. The prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.' From these passages it is abundantly evident, that the Bible claims to have been given by inspiration of the Spirit of God. Hence, there can be no doubt, that, by the things of the Spirit of God,' the truths of the Bible in general are intended.

3. What is it truly to receive 'the things of the Spirit of God?' In truly receiving them, a speculative belief and acknowledgement of their truth are of course implied. By him, who does not even speculatively believe the scriptures, nor acknowledge their truth, they are not, in any, even the lowest, sense, received. A simple intellectual perception of the meaning of any particular passage of the Bible is not, however, all that is implied in a complete reception of it. Such a perception may be possessed by the avowed infidel. By the aid of an improved intellect and of the true science of interpretation, he may clearly unfold the general meaning of any particular passage, and, at the same time, as

saying the 51st Psalm, and the people exceedingly rejoicing and giving thanks to God for his constancy. His wife and ten children by her side, with one at her breast, met him by the way, being the only opportunity they had even of seeing one another any more in the flesh; but neither did this very affecting scene seem in the least to shake his confidence; so graciously was he supported in the trying hour, by HIM who hath promised, I will never, never leave thee; never, never forsake thee. When he came to the stake, he showed great constancy and patience; but, not being suffered to speak many words, he briefly exhorted the people steadily to remain in that faith and true doctrine, which he had before taught them, and for the confirmation of which he was not only content patiently to suffer all such bitterness and cruelty as had been already shown him, but also, most gladly to resign up his life, and to give up his flesh to the consuming fire, for a testimony of the same. They then again brought him a pardon, upon condition that he would recant; but he, with the magnanimity of a true martyr, refused it; not preferring life upon such terms, to the cruel death of burning; which he suffered with the greatest patience and fortitude; washing as it were his hands in the flames, and ejaculating with his last breath; "Lord, receive my spirit !"

It is remarked of Mr. Rogers, that during the year and a half that he was imprisoned, he was always cheerful, but very earnest and intent upon every thing he did. He wrote much; especially his examinations, which were wonderfully preserved: For they frequently made diligent

search for his writings; and it is supposed, that they refused his wife visiting him, lest she should convey them away. And when he was taken out of Newgate and led to Smithfield, they again searched his room; but found nothing. They, therefore, readily admitted his wife and son Daniel into his apartment, upon their return from Smithfield, who looked in every corner, as they thought, and were coming away, supposing others had been before hand with them, when Daniel spied something black in a dark corner under a pair of stairs, which proved to be his examinations and writings, to which the reader has been already referred in Fox's martyrology, where they are inserted at large. He was charitable to the poor prisoners, agreeing with Mr. Hooper

and others to take but one meal a day, and to give the rest to those on the other side of the prison that were ready to die for hunger; but the cruel keeper withheld it from them. The Sunday before he suffered, he drank to Mr. Hooper, being then underneath him, and desired them to commend him unto him, and to tell him, "There was never a little fellow would better stick to a man, than he would stick to him;" supposing, contrary to what happened, that they should have been both burned together.Thus died, triumphant in the faith, this blessed proto-martyr, and proved the reality of the ancient observation, that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church; for, instead of being intimidated, multitudes were encouraged by his example, and those who had no religion before, were put upon inquiries; What was the cause for which such pious and learned men were contented to

die? and so, from being atheists or papists, they were led, by God's blessing, to a knowledge and profession of that gospel, the darkening of which was the main end and design of all this bloody persecution.

No one is justified in sitting still
until he knows more.
Let pre-
sent duty be influenced by the
truth which is at present known.
But, then, it must be a truth; for
otherwise, the principles opposed
to the Gospel are exercised and
strengthened by it. A man who
performs the external duties of
life strictly, who is a liberal
contributor to the necessities of

others, and who attends divine ordinances regularly, with the expectation, expressed or understood, of thus creating to himself a claim on the favour of God, and a plea for the pardon of his past sins, is hourly strengthening a principle in most direct opposition to the cross of Christ, and is hourly becoming more inaccessible to the glad tidings of salvation. It is quite absurd to recommend to such a man to go on in this course, with hope that his faithful walking will be rewarded by farther light. The farther he advances on that road, so much the deeper is he involved in condemnation and darkness, and the more unlikely is it that he will ever return. Erskine.

Ordinations and Enstallations.

Feb 3,-Rev. MOSES INGALLS was installed Pastor of the Congregational Church in Barnard, Vt.; and on the same occasion, Rev. PRESTON TAYLOR was ordained as an Evangelist. Sermon by Rev. Ammi Nichols, of Braintree.

Feb. 21,-Rev. GEORGE W. EL

[blocks in formation]

BOUR was ordained Pastor of the
Congregational Church in New
Ipswich, N. H. Sermon by Rev.
Mr. Fay, of Charlestown, Mass.

March 8,-Rev. OREN BROWN was ordained Pastor of the 2d Congregational Church in Hardwick, Vt. Sermon by Rev. Mr. Worcester, of Peacham.

April 19,-Rev. AUSTIN DICKINSON was ordained at Amherst, Ms. as an Evangelist. Sermon by Rev. Dr. Humphrey, President of Amherst College.

Poetry.

SOLITUDE.

From the Christian Spectator.

A MOUNTAIN lies along the clear cold west,
Treeless and shrubless, like the smooth bald head
Of comfortless old age; and on its top,
Swept clean by wintry winds, the evening star
Lights up its cheerful rays:-and yet it seems
Lonely and fallen from the neighbourhood
Of sister stars. Each night, when all the heavens
Are lighted up above with clustering fires,

It takes its constant stand and vigils keeps
Close by the bleak and barren mountain top.
I wonder that it does not flee away
From that unseemly dwelling-place, and join
In happy concert with the train above.
And yet, mild star,

I would not have thee go, for thou dost seem
The semblance of myself. I too, alone,
On the bleak bosom of this barren world,
Light up my wintry fire,-sole counsellor,
Sole partner too of all my joys and cares.
For I have learn'd, from many a bitter proof,
That sin has rendered false the heart of man.
Unstable as the ever changing tide :--selfish
And prone to selfishness; what careth he
For joy of others, or for others' woe?
How little skill'd in ministering relief
To wounded sensibility, the common mass:
How much inclined to violate the trust
In unsuspecting confidence reposed.-
And I have learn'd the end of noisy mirth,
With all the hollow joys the world can give.
Then why forsake

This soothing wisdom-teaching solitude,
And mingle in the throng of joyous men-
Joyous and ruined? Rather let me keep
Conceal'd from mortal sight my joys and woes,
And hold still converse with the Sovereign Lord
Of heaven and earth, and pour into His ear
Each rapt emotion, each consuming grief.

Then tarry where thou art, mild star of eve;
Brief is thy dwelling on the mountain top,
And brief my sojourn in this barren world.
A little more, we both shall flee away:

I to the concert of the blessed above

So hope deceive me not-and thou-with all

The high-sphered family from which thou seem'st
An exile-thou shalt fall no more to rise-

In terror shalt thou fall, and thy bright rays

Shall be extinguish'd in the burning day
That flashes from thy Maker's chariot wheels.

CLIFTON.

TO CORRESPONDENTS AND READERS.

The Poetical effusion of C-Remarks on "The Exclusive System," by an anonymous writer-and P-are received.

In our last number, p. 116, 2d col. 10th 1. from bottom, for solution,' read selection. Page 117, 1st col. 2d 1. from bottom, and 2d col. 4th 1. from top, for conception,' read corruption.

[ocr errors]
« AnteriorContinuar »