no saving knowledge of God, will doubtless mind earthly things; and if grace prevent not, ultimately perish eternally. Our author then refers to some services of the church, which he denounces as unscriptural; he defends his dissenting brethren in their endeavours to obtain relief from church cess, and advocates the voluntary system. The work concludes with extracts from various writers on the subject.

The True Church of God, as described in the Oracles of God, in her Essential Constitution, Holy Orders, and Efficient Discipline. By Joseph Irons, of Camberwell, 18mo. pp. 48.

This is a very suitable work at the present time, when so many are contending for a supposed right and order to the priesthood, as appertaining exclusively to such as have received an university education. Mr. Irons has well defined what is intended in the term Church; he has also described her constitution, orders, and discipline. We strongly recommend it to our readers: it cannot be read without profit.

Walworth Hymns; to which is subjoined a Short Essay on Church Fellowship and Social Religion. By Joseph Swain, 32mo. pp. 190. London, E. Palmer and Son.

It affords us much pleasure in introducing to the notice of our readers, this very neat edition of these beautiful hymns, which for sublimity of language and pure spirituality are equalled bý few, and perhaps excelled by none. We have attached one short

hymn as a specimen.

Oh what a garden will be seen,
When all the flowers of grace

Appear in everlasting green,
Before the Planter's face.

No more expos'd to burning skies,
Or winter's piercing cold;
What never-dying sweets will rise,
From every opening fold.

No want of sun or showers above,
To make the flowers decline;

Fountains of life and streams of love,

For ever spring and shine.

No more they need the quick'ning air,

Or gently rising dew:

Unspeakable their beauties are,

And yet for ever new.

Christ is their shade, and Christ their sun,

Among them walks the King,

Whose presence is eternal noon,

His smiles eternal spring.

The Philosophy of God: being the scriptural solution of the mys tery of the divine Tri-unity; in which that doctrine is simplified and explained, the Athanasian version refuted, and the objections of Unitarians paralyzed; humbly and devoutly designed for the

furtherance of truth, and the benefit of the Church of God. By a Baptist Minister, 18mo. pp. 56 London, Stockley.

The title of this book is so totally at variance with the simplicity of the gospel, that had we not felt it our duty to guard our readers against its insidious attempts to undermine our most holy faith, we should have passed it by in silence; but as the writer may be known to some of our friends, though he has not given his name, we shall make a few observations thereon.

The man of Uz, who was better taught than any of our selfopinioned religionists of the present day, asks, "Canst thou by searching find out God-canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?" And never did the darkness of the human mind appear more conspicuous than when attempting to explain that, which is a mystery for faith to acknowledge and receive, and not for puny finite reason to comprehend or explain. Faith is above, though not contrary to reason. How fully is that scripture verified in the attempts of such men, "Vain man would be wise, though he be bornlike a wild ass' colt."

The author of this work professes to contend for the unity of God, at the same time unfolding in what sense God is One, and in what sense he is Three. He informs us he had been long dissatisfied with the Trinitarian view of the Trinity. In prosecuting the subject, he commences by rejecting the existence of three persons in one God; he then assumes the position that God is one person, combining three self-existent and infinite spirits, each differing in their nature and properties, and that these three essential spirits are neither of them perfect divinity or God, but each necessary to the perfection of God; the Father, with omnipotent, omnipresent love and will; the Word, with absolute consciousness, and omnipresent and omnipotent wisdom; and the Holy Spirit, with omnipotent and omnipresent vitality, sensation, and force; and these three are held forth by this author as the one God.

The Writer then proceeds in a laboured strain to advocate the system (a brief sketch of which we have given above) of their being but one God, with two powers or agencies; and this supreme Being, though he sustains the majesty of Deity, he alone acting in the character of God, yet the divine Word is his thought or reason, a word which this author would substitute for Logos; and the Holy Spirit is his vitality or physical energy, and this Holy Spirit he informs us has communicated a portion of his essence to most or all parts of matter. But we have already wearied ourselves in tracing the various methods adopted to overturn the scripture doctrine of the Trinity by this arch-enemy of truth. In conclusion, he boldly denies divine worship to Christ, and also to the Holy Spirit; and we decidedly assert that the God, here set forth as the Father, is not an object of worship, for he is dependent on some powers derived, and as such

this author ultimately denies the being of a God, and probably will ere long declare, like some other rationalists, that space is Deity. From such men and from such creeds, good Lord deliver us. May all our readers be preserved from the errors of wicked and designing men, who lie in wait to deceive."

POETRY.

THE LORD IS RISEN.

"LET ME GO, FOR THE DAY BREAKETH."

What! let thee go? Then what am I
A wretch undone and sure to die,
What! let thee go? Not while I live,
While thou the strength to me dost give.

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."

1 John v. 7.

Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."-Jude 3.

JULY, 1837.

THOUGHTS ON THE SPIRIT'S TESTIMONY OF CHRIST. "He shall testify of me."―John xv. 26.

THE whole work of efficient testimony to Christ, belongs exclusively to the Holy Ghost. Hence the apostle affirms, when treating of the things which God hath prepared for them that love him; "God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. Others bear witness of Christ, it is true; yet only in an instrumental and subordinate sense: "and ye," says the blessed Saviour, when addressing his apostles, "shall bear witness of me, because ye have been with me from the beginning." And indeed there is scarcely any thing, which takes place either in the church, or in the world, but what may be made an instrumental testifier of Jesus: all proclaim his worth, either by shewing what he has done, or by bespeaking the need of him.

"

Amongst the things that the Holy Ghost testifies of Christ, salvation perhaps may justly be mentioned first; for by this door we have an introduction to all other things. Salvation is said to be of the Lord; and it consists in that which delivers from all sin, and every evil consequence of sin. By it we escape from all wrath and curse; 'Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." Condemnation—“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Guilt and tormenting fear- Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Death in trespasses and sins" But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ." And in a word, from all VOL. XIII. No. 163.] 2 C

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fatal error, blindness, perversity, hardness of heart, stubbornness and rebellion of will, uncleanness, enmity, and coldness of the affections, with the dominion of Satan, and his power really to hurt, &c. His name shall be called Jesus, because he shall save his people from their sins.-And for this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” The gracious heart of our most kind, indulgent, and ever propitious Father of mercies is laid open, respecting this glorious business of salvation by his beloved Son, in such expressions as the following" It pleased God to bruise him." "But God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. It pleased the Father that in him all fulness should dwell." "He suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God."

When the Holy Ghost bears witness to these things, by his revealing light and heart-affecting power, the salvation of the Lord appears truly glorious to the soul; it is seen to be full and complete indeed, and neither needs nor can admit of any addition. The gospel is compared to a feast, where all things are ready for the entertainment of the guests; and here all things appear with a blessed and inexpressible readiness and abundance indeed. How the heart, under full spiritual discoveries of this salvation, is filled with admiration and wonder! How it longs, when it is seen somewhat at a distance, to be brought to the very heart of it; when yet remaining without a direct sense of interest in it, how it pants for a glorious manifestation of this interest: O! the heart that truly sees Christ's salvation, earnestly covets to be wholly absorbed in it. And as the soul enters by faith, how peaceably it begins to look up with confidence to God: and when this is realized with any fulness, what heart-ravishing and unspeakable boldness before his sacred majesty springs up within, especially if sin and guilt have previously lain with awful weight upon the conscience. Oh! now salvation seems no light matter to the christian: nor can it easily be described how amazing freely he sees it to be given to the believer, he can truly set to his seal, that it is without money and without price; he perceives that no sin, however black and multiplied that no unworthiness, however great, can be any bar to the believing sinner's participation of it. The very way of enjoying it, not by working, but by believing, appears full of glory to the mind. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed." Oh! the divine wisdom, infinite goodness, and unspeakable glory that is here discovered. How the heart, under this blessed testimony of the Holy Ghost, utterly discards, and throws from it with the utmost contempt, all workings for life and salvation. Nor does any stupidity or besottedness in the world, seem to exceed the folly of endeavouring to climb up some