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profound research, necessary to accomplish the designs of him who could raise up a company of poor and illiterate fishermen, to lay the foundation of his kingdom, and evangelize the world. Consider this, my friends, and be not discouraged by a sense of your weakness, your unworthiness, or your fears. Call up to recollection, also, instances of marked success; and surely there are few that bear the Christian name, that have not seen, or heard, or read, of numberless instances, where the meanest and most unlikely means have been productive of the most important ends; while increasing wonder will, doubtless, be excited in the celestial world, by the recital of the various ways in which our God is pleased to bring his wandering sheep with in his fold. Consider, lastly, the promises of scripture "Whosoever," saith our divine and compassionate Redeemer, "shall give a cup of cold water to a disciple in my name, shall in no wise lose his reward;" and, "whoso," says the apostle James, by the inspiration of the same gracious Saviour, "shall convert a sinner from the error of his ways, shall save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins."

OUTLINES

OF

E. D.

MR. BIRT'S MISSIONARY SERMON, Delivered at Zion Chapel, in June last.

MR, BIRT took his text from Eph, iv. 13. "Till we all come into the unity of the faith."

The substitution of INTO the unity, for, IN the unity, he thought, would be fully justified by an examination of the text, or by a reference to its marginal reading.

He observed, that the apostle was admonishing the Ephesians to union, by various reasons,some of them, on account of their oneness, bear directly on the point, and those, which are in themselves diversified, have, in their design and operations, the same tendency.

Our Lord having, by his incarnation, labours, and death, laid the foundation of his kingdom, received in his exaltation, gifts for men; and to maintain, extend, and perfect his empire, he gave, first, extraordinary, and then ordinary ministers, and these will be continued as workers together with him in the ingathering and edification of the church, "till we all come INTO the unity of the faith."

He considered the whole verse as an amplification of the subject contained in his text; and proposed to shew what it is to "come into the unity of the faith;" who will arrive at this state; and to fix on the period when it will be accomplished.

In shewing what it is to "come into the unity of the faith," he observed, that by the faith he understood the word or system of faith" the faith once deli vered to the saints." It sup. poses a previous commencement and progression; coming into its unity is the consummation. This led him to speak of the perfection of the faith, its a daptation to men, and its rela

tion to the Saviour, as the high | supposes the full accomplish

and complete standard to which God will raise his people; the form of doctrine, a mould, into which the disciples are all delivered, and from which, the whole church will receive the full impression and likeness of the Son of God.

As the faith is a system of knowledge, coming into its unity, supposes a perfect agree ment between our ideas and its truth and doctrines. "Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now we know in part; but then shall we know even as also we are known." We shall then come into the unity of the knowledge of the Son of God, for we shall see him as he is.

As the faith possesses a distinct and peculiar spirit, to come into its unity, it will be necessary for our dispositions to be in perfect conformity to the spirit exemplified and inculcated in the gospel-for the same mind to be in us which was in Christ Jesus-to become perfect men.

ment of its many great and precious promises, so that our persons and circumstances shall be a complete illustration of divine promise. Then we shal come to "the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." We shall be "conformed to the image of the Son of God;" and the church will evidently be "the fulness of him that filleth all in all."

Having compared this state of blessedness with the glories of the world, he proceeded to point out the persons who will arrive at this consummation. We are directed to them by the word of God, in a great variety of particulars, but all of them in relation to the faith. They are partakers of the grace revealed in it. They have known, received, trusted, obeyed, and loved the faith. They have been interested in its cause, fought its battles, experienced its gracious supports, and expected its high rewards. All these will come together into its unity, though here they have been separated by the ages of time, by seas and continents, by different languages and manners, by various imperfections, sects, and parties. In the present state, they have all had a com

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The faith being an exhibition of the will of God, to come into its unity supposes such a supreme respect for his authority, and perfect compliance with his commands, as to render our conduct an exact counter-mon relation and sympathy of part of the divine prescriptions. spirit, in the faith; and, ulti"There shall be no more curse, mately, they shall, all of them, but the throne of God and the with inexpressible affection and Lamb shall be in it, and his ser- joy, meet in its unity. vants shall serve him.".

The faith being a system of the most supreme blessings, combining all the best interests of men with the highest glories of God, to come into its unity

In attending to the period of this consummation, he observed, that there is not any past time that has an appearance of it: that we are not yet arrived at it: that the latter day

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glory does not promise it ; and, | lief, and conversion, are as es that the present state of heaven sential to the system as glori does not contain it. This su-fication. On the tendency of preme blessedness is reserved the subject to excite mutual for the day of the resurrection, kindness, forbearance, and aswhen our Lord Jesus shall sistance, whilst we are progresscome to be glorified in his ing in the faith, through the saints, and to be admired in all imperfections and trials of the them that believe. The patri- present state, and to teach us, archs will wait for their youngest with ardent desire, to be “lookbrethren in the faith; and, on ing for, and hastening to the com that auspicious day, the whole ing of the day of God,” when.we and long-separated family shall | shall all come into the unity meet their glorious Head, and of the faith, and of the knoweach other, and by him be intro | ledge of the Son of God, unto duced and welcomed "into the a perfect man, unto the meaunity of the faith." “ He shall | sure of the stature of the fulsee of the travail of his soul," ness of Christ." and say to them, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." "And so shall we be for ever with the Lord."

BRIEF MEMOIR

OF

E. W. HARLAND, WHO WAS EXECUTED FOR FORGERY

IN THE OLD BAILEY,

July 27th, 1815.

The improvement was by observations, on the perfection, the immense value, and the vast importance of the word of God: on the extent of our obligations to give all possible E. W. HARLAND, from a countenance and energy to the child, had been accustomed to exertions which are now made read the scriptures, and sit unto translate, to disperse, and | der an evangelical ministry. publish their blessed system of By these means he became acfaith: on the duty of ministers quainted with the leading truths to respect the perfection, the of the gospel, but never was a adaptation and sufficiency of member of any Christian church. the faith; to preach it only and | Before his apprehension, he fully; and on the great concern was not considered a renewed they should possess and manifest | man. Unhappily for himself, to bring their hearers to it, to he possessed a proud, ambitious connect them with it, and to disposition, that induced him build them on it: on the fallacy to make appearances far above of expecting the end, but by his circumstances, by which he .the use of the means; and en- was involved in debt. forced the great necessity and this state of embarrassment, he importance of an immediate was led to extricate himself by commencement in the faith by criminal means; and thus was observing, that repentance, be-verified the language of Solo

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mon: "Pride goeth before de- | broken and a penitent heart." This was spoken in so affecting a manner, as to excite a hope, that a divine impression was made on his mind. During the early part of his confinement, his mental agony was indescri bably great. Many portions of holy writ which he had read; many faithful sermons which he had heard, with the remon strances of his own conscience, rushed into his mind, and produced deep despondency. As he had, formerly, so evidently turned a deaf ear to the voice of the Lord, he was justly apprehensive that God, in his wrath, would say unto him,

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struction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Doubtless many recollect the late circulation of fictitious notes, resembling those of the Bank of England; but, with this difference, instead of, "I promise to pay the bearer one pound," it was "one penny." He first exercised his genius in making a note like these. His next attempt was to make a one pound Bank of England note, which he completely effected, and then proceeded to make one of two pounds, and, afterwards, one of five pounds. Thus we observe the progress of sin; it is, generally, small in its beginnings, rapid in its" Because I have called, and growth, but awful in its consummation. When he had passed the notes, his mind was filled with horror at his own wicked and dangerous practices; and he resolved that he would never make another; but this resolution was overcome by the sinful propensity of his heart, and he persevered in transgression until his iniquity found him out. On the 1st of March, he was seized on suspi-bound in fetters; and, though cion of forgery. Immediately afterwards, he requested a magistrate to receive from him a full confession of his crimes, to be sent to his prosecutors. This disclosure relieved his mind from an intolerable burden, and, from his apprehensioned at the bar, he was determined till his death, he never denied or concealed his guilt; nor did he offer the least extenuation of it, but, on the contrary, aggravated it to the utmost. To a friend, who saw him at the police office, he said, "Do pray for me, that God may give me a

VOL. VII.

you have refused, you have set at nought all my council, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity," &c. Prov. i. 24-31. In this state of distressing fear, the case of Manasseh afforded him a degree of hope. Manasseh, like himself, had received religious instructions, but afterwards committed grievous sins, for which he was ultimately

he had not previously sought the Lord, yet, even then, God was intreated of him. He also found encouragement from 1 John, i. 7," The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin." When he was arraign

not to aggravate his crime by falsehood, therefore he pleaded. guilty; which prevented any trial, and he received judgment of death on his own confession.

In the cells of Newgate, he was regularly visited by several evangelical ministers, who al

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creased in knowledge of divine things, and his hope of salvation was strengthened; but his hopes were generally mingled with fears, and, to the last hour of his life, he retained a jea lousy lest he should deceive himself, and come short of eter nal happiness.

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ways found him in a very serious frame of mind. In this state, he readily received the humbling truths of the gospel, and seemed deeply to lament the depravity of his own heart, The crime, for which he suffered, was not the only object of his painful remembrance, but the whole of his conduct in life appeared to pass in review, and overwhelm his soul with grief. Hence he became as conspicuous for humility as he had formerly been for ambition and pride. Though he fully believed the consolatory truths of the gospel, as applied to real penitents, he retained a constant fear that he was not of that number. When he was reminded of the fulness and freeness of redemption by Jesus Christ; the nature of his promises, and God's willingness, through him, to receive the chief of sinners, he shook his head, and replied, "I know it is all true, but I cannot lay hold of it; I want to feel an application of divine truths to my own mind." Pardon through the precious blood of Christ, and that salvation which is wholly of GRACE, were the only grounds of his hope, and he was earnestly concerned to bear the Saviour's moral image. Feeling, as he did, the awful prevalence and dreadful effects of sin, he took a particular pleasure in contemplating the Lord Jesus as a complete Saviour; one who could save him to the uttermost. Christ, and Christ alone, was the refuge of his soul. By repeated conver-cross." sations on these important sub- We have reason to believe jects, his mind gradually in-that, in his cell, much of his

During the five months of his, imprisonment, his conduct was uniformly consistent; and though he separated himself from those prisoners whose behaviour was unbecoming their awful situation, he used every means of impressing upon the minds of all, the absolute necessity and vast importance of true religion. In one instance, at least, these endeavours were ap parently successful, and we hope it will form an interesting article in a future number. But he felt the greatest interest in his own relatives, whose eternal welfare occupied his most serious attention. His HABITUAL seriousness led him to reprove, even the smiles of his fellowprisoners. He was at no time the subject of great joy, but seemed almost afraid of receiving consolation, even from the promises of God. On one occasion, when he felt his mind more supported than usual, he said: "I am afraid I am too comfortable, and think my former distress the best evidence of grace." He would also fre quently say: "It would ill become me, particularly me, to be seen triumphing: all I seek, and hope, is, to live and die a weeping penitent at, the foot of the

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