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cially with fome which have been already explained by the New Testament writers, appear to have been fulfilled in the Apoftolic age. But alas, in the tranfactions of those times is feen no fplendour fuitable to fuch "glorious defcriptions," and the unfatisfied countenance is turned away from those things which many righteous men, and prophets, and kings defired to fee; like the Jews of old, whofe carnal minds could not difcern their expected Meffiah in the person of the humble and lowly Jefus, and fo fumbled at that Stumbling Stone. Nor can we admit the fanction which Dr. M. has advanced for this opinion, in his fuppofed "improvement of the human character." The connection which fubfifts between the character of man as a member of fociety, and the ftate of civilization to which he has arrived, fully accounts for an improvement of his character in that capacity. But to know whether the Gospel has improved the human character fo as that men have been growing naturally more pleafing to God fince its promulgation, (for if his "improvement" amount not to this, it means nothing) we must fearch for that criterion by which the Gospel itself forms its eftimate of characters. Now as men of old fhewed that they hated GOD by rejecting his fon Jefus, men at this day muft evince their "improvement," by giving ready credence to the word which concerns him. But is this the cafe? Even if the fcriptures did not affure us it never would be the cafe, we need but look abroad into the world for full conviction. Yes, look abroad, ye advocates for human nature, and amidst the accumulated advantages which your hypothefis grants to the men of this generation, arifing from perpetual acceffions of " improvement" for

near

near 2000 years, collect for us fuch an affemblage as were turned to the Living God on the very first preaching of the Refurrection of Jefus: fuch, not in number only, but in fimplicity of faith, and in fervor of love. It is vain for you to alledge that the power of GoD was there fpecially exerted: we defire not miraculous gifts as proofs of the amelioration of man; we shall be fatisfied with his reception of the teftimony which Peter then declared. But true: the Arm of the LORD was there ftretched out, and more than ye imagine, not merely in beftowing fupernatural powers, but in opening the understandings of all that multitude, that they might receive his record. Nor is his Arm now fhortened that it cannot fave; it is now extended to pluck finners, even whomfoever he willeth, as brands from the burning: while others, however improved they may fuppofe themselves, are, inafmuch as they reject his teftimony, as far from the one thing needful as the " infulated favage" who is the object of their fupercilious compaffion; and thus are they daily fulfilling that truth which they hate and reject, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a remnant, we had been as Sodom, and been made like to Gomorrah. But indeed, to bring the matter to a speedy iffue, we do not hefitate to declare that offenfive but clearly revealed truth, that the only wife GOD our Saviour hath fent his revelation, not for the purpose of improving the world, as thofe who think their own natures improved vainly suppose; but in order to purify to himself a peculiar people, who are therefore not of the world, but chofen out of the world, redeemed from amongst men, rescued from their ignorance, and delivered from their fins; while that world from which they are fnatched,

ftill continues an ungodly world, the kingdom of darkness, and that lieth in the wicked one; of which when Chriftians are hated, they are bid to rejoice as the bleffed of their Father; with which to live in friendship, is to be at enmity with God.

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We heartily coincide with Dr. M. in opinion, that the Chriftian who affumes the military character, is expofed to peculiar temptations, and is liable to the influence of habits hardly reconcileable to a Chriftian fpirit. Thefe dangers he has justly delineated, at the fame time directing the attention to thofe illuftrious characters spoken of in the New Teftament, who have furmounted them all. We fincerely hope, that such real Chriftians as now at the call of duty encounter them, will, under the guidance of the fame Spirit which counfelled them, walk in the fame path which they have trodden. Let them not forget their more important poft as foldiers of Chrift; their more formidable enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil; and that good fight, the fight of faith, to which they have been called. Now, if ever, they need uninterrupted watchfulness now, if ever, they require the whole armour of God.

We shall not make any further remarks on this discourse, the remainder confifting merely of a forcible application of the point last insisted on, as claiming peculiar regard from those to whom he addreffed himself from the pulpit. He concludes with urging them to vigilance against those feductions to which they were fo eminently expofed, by motives drawn from their future prof pects in this life, from their hopes of happiness in another world, and in fine, from the example of their predeceffors, the members of the former College Corps.

D.

OBSERVATIONS

ON THE

SKELETON of a 'SERMON by the Rev CHARLES SIMEON, Fellow of King's College, Cambridge.

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THE character we have heard of Mr. Simeon

and the accounts that have reached us of his zeal and exertions to promote the study of the Scriptures in the Univerfity to which he belongs, have afforded us no small pleasure. Confidering him as engaged in the fame caufe with ourfelves, we have contemplated his labours with fatisfaction and heartily wifhed him fuccefs. It is therefore with deep regret that we enter upon a task from which a sense of duty will not fuffer us to fhrink: to cenfure, where we defire to find praife due. But as the Advocates of Revealed Truth, we are bound to expofe every departure from that truth, even in thofe whom we may have reafon to regard as its friends: and more especially when the errors of fuch perfons are likely to have a wide circulation. This, from the ftation Mr. S. fills, and the publicity of his character and writings, is eminently the cafe in the prefent inftance. If to this be added, the dangerous nature of the error advanced in the Skeleton Sermon upon which we fhall proceed to animadvert, we feel that it would be a dereliction of our moft important duty to pass it over unnoticed.

The

The title of the Sermon under confideration, is the "Penitent Thief." The text, taken from Luke xxiii. 42, 43. contains the thief's prayer with our Lord's answer.

Mr. S. introduces the subject with some judicious remarks on the history of our Lord; every part of which, he fays, " is replete with wonders; and throughout which a mixture of dignity and debasement may be traced."

He next proceeds to confider the thief's petition, of which we are inclined to think he would have given a very different view, if thefe words of the Apostle Paul had been more deeply impreffed upon his mind: by Grace ye are faved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Eph. ii. 8. Though this is not the part of the Sermon against which our chief objection lies, yet we cannot forbear remarking, that Mr. S. appears to us, rather too anxious to discover and point out fome merit in the thief's prayer. He talks of the thief's " acknowledgment of our Lord's dignity;" of his, "proclaiming him Sovereign of the vifible world," at fuch a time, when he was "on the crofs:" of his "affiance in our Lord's mercy ;": of his afking, not for temporal, but "for fpiritual bleffings;" not " to have his life prolonged, or his pains mitigated, but that his foul might be faved:" of his "not expreffing a doubt of Chrift's power and willingness to fave:" and lastly of his "deep humility:"-he remarks that the thief" did not prefume to offer fuch a request as the ambitious disciple had done, but, like the Canaanitish woman, was contented with the smallest expreffion of mercy, Remember me."

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