have written upon the subject, that it is best to drop all ideas of the man, and view him in his character of priest; and then, methinks, we have in a most blessed type, the everlastingness of Immanuel's work, as the king of righteousness, and king of peace and the impassibility of his priesthood, which was not of, but far above those

of the sons of Aaron.

We have several other characters of whose origin, birth, and parentage, we are entirely ignorant. Why were they hidden but to set forth, in type, the blessed doings, and worth, of him whose generation none can declare. The priesthood of Melchisedeck appears not to have been conferred upon him by any predecessor, nor does he appear to have had any successor in office, a most striking emblem of him, who, because he continueth ever, hath an impassable priesthood." In this sense, the language of Paul is quite apposite to the grand subject he was aiming to bring before the believing Hebrews, I merely state it as my thoughts upon the subject, and should any of your respected correspondents take a different view of the subject, their communications may benefit your readers. Your's in a precious Jesus, Boston.

W. FELTON.

OBITUARY OF WILLIAM ALLEN, ESQ.

ON Friday, August 19, 1838, at his house, at Hackney, at an advanced age, died, Mr. William Allen, the founder of Gloucester Chapel, Hackney Fields.

During his early residence in that neighbourhood, he found its religious condition exceedingly low and neglected. The little chapel, in Dove Row, was closed for want of support, and the few friends met for public worship in a house in Park Place; to these he attached himself, and by increased exertions, the chapel was soon after re-opened, and the sabbathschool instituted. In the year 1817, that place of worship being considered

too delapidated for use, he planned and executed the present edifice, and although the expense incurred was doubtless too great for the condition of the church and congregation then assembling, the difficulties resulting are mainly to be attributed to the want of co-operation and effort on the part of those who engaged with him in building, they having left him to bear the burden unaided and alone. With the school his efforts were more successful; when it was comparatively without friends, he advanced all that was necessary for carrying it on, and after having beneficially filled the office of Treasurer for fourteen years, he resigned it in circumstances of prosperity, both as to its funds and efficiency. These incidents are not recorded to attract the praise of men, but to induce imitation, and magnify that grace to which he ever ascribed them, for when mention was at any time made of the success of any of his attempts at usefulness, he would himself interrupt it by exclaiming, "Not unto us, O Lord, but unto thy name give glory."

In private life his character was exemplary. He was respected and beloved by his family; esteemed and honoured by his friends and acquaintances; in him the fatherless, and the widow, found a constant friend, and the tale of sorrow and distress never reached his ear in vain.

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him. The hymns beginning, "Jesus thy blood and righteousness," and Begone unbelief, my Saviour is near, were great favourites with him; they expressed his feelings and accorded with his experience. The 8th chapter of Romans, he used to say, was a treasure to him; having been enabled to adopt its language and feel its truth. While deprived of attending the outward means of grace, he found a profitable companion in Mason's Spiritual Treasury, which, in the Lord's hand, contributed much to his edification and support.

On Sunday, October 26, a Sermon

was preached from Isaiah lvii. 1, 2, to a crowded audience, by the Rev. Benjamin Isaac, on the occasion of his decease, in the chapel of which he had been so long the warm supporter. Mr. I. alluded to the kind deportment which Mr. A. had always manifested towards him during the many years he had been pastor of the church, and also stated the disapprobation with which he had regarded the conduct of those persons, who in the year 1835, had endeavoured to disturb the peace of the minister, and the people of his charge.

Reprobation and Election. A Sermon, preached at the Surrey Tabernacle, Borough Road. By James Wells. 12mo. pp. 70. London, Palmer and Son.

Sermons preached at the Surrey Tabernacle, Borough Road, London. By James Wells. Vol. 1. 12mo. cloth. London, Palmer and Son.

THE doctrines of Election and Reprobation ever have been and ever will be, while the church is in her militant state, cavilled at and hated by every carnal mind; and while poor puny man claims a right to choose both objects and subjects for his own pleasures, he protests against the Creator of all things for selecting from the creatures he has made some as his own peculiar people, who shall shew forth his glory through a neverending eternity; while he passes by others, who, following the bias of their own depraved nature, add actual transgression to original sin, and become vessels of wrath fitted for destruction. But these doctrines, however they may be opposed by unenlightened men, whether professors or profane, are clearly revealed in the

scriptures of God, and will be found fully verified at the consummation of all things; when the whole election of grace shall be gathered into the heavenly garner, and all whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life, shall be judged, and condemned for the deeds done in the body to everlasting punishment with the devil and his angels.

Mr, Wells has chosen for his text, Rom. ix. 13., Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated:" and in entering on the subject, which is one requiring much wisdom and spiritual understanding, he has shewn a mastermind proving himself fully adequate to the scriptural discussion of it. After glancing at the doctrines as exhibited in the sacred page, he first treats of reprobation: under which he first notices those things connected with the reprobate which the Lord does: and next, those which he does not. 1. Every reprobate sinner is by the Lord's appointment an accountable being, and under that law (whether Adamic or Mosaic) which he has broken, and by which he will be judged. 2. Every reprobate sinner is the recipient of providential

:

blessings, for the abuse of which he is accountable. 3. Every reprobate sinner has a punishment awarded him according to the measure of his iniquity. 4. Every reprobate sinner will be judged at last by the Lord himself. In connection with these things which the Lord does do, there are,' says the preacher, two things which he does not do in the reprobation of those that are lost:-he did not infuse sin into their nature he does not tempt men to sin.' On each of these particulars, which are very fully amplified, much judgment is evinced and the conclusion concerning the doctrine of reprobation, at which the preacher arrives is, 1. That God has sovereignly permitted the existence of sin for ends of his own glory. 2. That the justice of God in permitting the existence of sin, and that to the final condemnation of fallen angels, and millions of the human race-the justice of God in thus permitting sin to exist, is founded in his right to do what he will with his own creatures. 3. That God is not the author of sin. 4. That a scriptural reception of the doctrine of Reprobation does not tend to make light of sin, but brings the creature into the dust of self-abasement; constrains him to tremble at the word of God, hate sin, seek for mercy, and fly for refuge to the hope set before him in the gospel.'

He then repels a few of the charges brought against the doctrine of Reprobation, and passes on to the great doctrine of eternal election, which he considers in a threefold way, the grace of it, the justice of it, and the publicity of it; on each of which his observations are very excellent. We regret that there should be one sentence in this faithful discourse to which we object, but our duty compels us to notice it; on page 61, in reply to objectors, who argue that if men are lost, it is their own fault, Mr. W. asserts that it is not their own fault, and refers to Pharoah, and

Judas; we admit it was not Judas's fault that he was born into the world, for in that he was passive, nor was it his fault that he was the individual foreknown as the betrayer of the Lord of Glory; but it was Judas's fault, and Judas's sin too, that for the love of money he did betray our most glorious Christ for thirty pieces of silver, and then completed his crime by selfmurder, and went to his own place; and for these crimes Judas will be judged, and condemned, by him, whom, in his humiliation state, he thus treated.

From the whole tenor of this discourse, we are satisfied that Mr. Wells's views are in unison with our own, and that it is in words only we differ, we trust our friend will take our hint as it is meant in kindness; the phraseology used is not scriptural, and ought, therefore, to be studiously avoided.

The second article is simply the four sermons which have been separately published, handsomely bound in cloth, at the very reasonable price of 2s. 6d.; we earnestly recommend it as the commencement of a very valuable series, from the perusal of which, we can for ourselves say, we have derived both satisfaction aud edification.

Plain Sermons for Plain People, Nos. 1, 2, & 3. By Rev. Alfred Hewlett, 12mo. London, Palmer & Son.

WE rejoice very much to see this cheap series of Sermons by a Clergyman whose writings we have frequently introduced to the notice of our readers, and always with commendation. Their low price, twelve pages for one penny, puts them within the reach of all, and renders them well adapted for distribution by the rich. The first number contains the substance of Three Sermons preached by Mr. Hewlett to the people of his former charge, from Jude 3., in which he gives a summary of the fundamental doctrines of faith, and illustrates them with much conciseness

How blest the paths of those who go
From strength to strength in God alone;
Who their own weakness daily know,
And seek for succour from his throne.

Passing through Baca's mournful vale,
Where weeping willows thickly grow;
They dig a deep capacious well,
Whose waters make their graces show.

This vale of corn supplies the need
Of all the chosen race below;
Here they on heavenly food oft feed,
And here their Saviour's goodness know.

The rain of heav'n oft fills the pools,
To cheer their fainting spirits here;
Water of life revives their souls,
And they more vig'rous oft appear.

Oft in this vale Philistines dwell,
Who would destroy the chosen race;
They go from strength to strength, and tell
The wond'rous pow'r of sov'reign grace.

They're blessed now and must o'ercome,
Through him who died and rose again :
In his own time he'll take them home,
And free their souls from ev'ry pain.

Among this blessed, favor'd race,
Daily, my God, let me be found;
Make manifest in me thy grace;
Lord! let thy love in me abound.
Thus as I pass through Baca's vale,
My harp suspended on the tree;
I shall rejoice to tell the tale,
That sov'reign grace has rescued me.

This, this alone can cheer my soul,
When enemies around me press;
Lord, how thy comforts round me roll,
E'en in the depths of great distress.

Called and chosen here, I know
I shall in Zion soon appear
Before my God; his love he'll show
To all the ransom'd shelter'd there.

There all the family complete,
Encircled with his arms shall stand;
Nor can one chosen soul retreat,
But ever dwell at his right hand.

How bless'd their lot we know not now,
But there we all shall know full well;
Releas'd from ev'ry care and woe,
His highest praises there we'll swell.

High hallelujahs from the host

Of those redeem'd from sin shall rise.
To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
And ever sound beyond the skies.

To join their song, for ever new,
My soul would stretch her utmost pow'rs;
With joy anticipate the view,

Without the thought of tedious hours.

How sweet the song no tongue can tell,
But God's own word the truth reveals;
The theme which shall those anthems swell
Shall far exceed earth's loftiest peals.
Cliff House, Bristol.

J. HARDING.

EVERLASTING LOVE.

Sweet theme! I love to hear,
And though I oft rebel,
And sometimes doubt and fear
That all cannot be well;
Yet, sometimes I can soar

These doubts and fears above, And all my comfort draw

From everlasting love.

Dear Jesus, in thy word,
Almost in every line,
A promise is declared,

With beams of love divine; That all thy saints shall come,

And reign with thee above, In heav'n their destin'd home, Through everlasting love.

Some tell me I am wrong,

And but myself deceive, When thus I tune my song,

And they my spirit grieve: