Jesus, by grace a new creature, and with the law of love to Jesus in the heart, the desires will be continually going upward, and the soul panting for that holiness without which "no man shall see the Lord." But is this holiness in the old Adam nature? Oh, no! the flesh must see corruption ere it will arise a glorious body; we must awake up from death in the Lord's likeness, then we shall see him as he is; and then shall the heaven-born soul be satisfied; and there is on earth, for the Spirit-taught sinner, satisfaction only in Jesus. What satisfaction is there in self? Look at our obedience-there is nothing but condemnation; our duties, our walk, conduct, and conversation in every respect, is it not condemnation? our time, our talents, search into the heart's core, what but condemnation arrests us on all sides? Every effort of the flesh after perfection puffs it up; every sight of Jesus, what he is to what he has done for the sinner, humbles him to the dust, and makes him glory only in the Lord. An outward sanctity may be put on, the going about doing good continually be gloried in, "touching the law blameless," yet the heart full of all uncleanness, out of which proceedeth all evil. It must be the love of Christ constraining us, the Spirit helping our infirmities, by which we mortify the deeds of the flesh; but, be assured, we must lower our Lord's divinity, if we allow that any human being can attain unto the perfection of Jesus; or if we set him up as the standard of what we should be, if he be, in truth, one with the Father, he is far above what mere man can be; and we tread very closely in the Socinian's creed by making him the example for our attainments, which would lead some into boasting and self-glory, but a greater number of renewed Spirit-taught souls into despair. I most heartily respond to these pre"As he is so are we in this world." Is he beloved?-s SO are we in him. Is he holy?—so are we in him. Is he risen ?—so are we in him (Eph. ii. 6). It is, indeed, our mercy that we are one with Jesus, and that we, his redeemed, partake of all he has, all he is, and all he has accomplished; and though we feel that he is too far above us for us to be like him while we remain in these bodies of death and sin, yet we do not despair, but rejoice that Jesus is all in all. A work is most certainly going on in the renewed soul; it cannot but be so. One striking feature is the humbling of pride, and bringing the soul meek and lowly at the feet of Jesus continually, knowing that, as man, he feels for our infirmities, and in his union of person as God and Man, we rejoice in Christ Jesus, having no confidence in the flesh.

cious truths.

Yours in this eternal bond of Christian love,

(EXTRACT.)

A RECLUSE.

A TRUE MEMBER OF THE TRUE CHURCH.

By a true member of the true Church of God, I would be understood to mean, a man or woman, who possesses not only a human body with all its wants, infirmities, and lusts, and a human soul with all its capacities, but also a heaven-born spirit with its holiness; a man or woman in whom this spirit does not acquire such an ascendancy as to resist effectually, and at all times, the desires and motions of the natural body and soul; this would be perfection; and in whom the natural body and soul do not acquire, or retain, such an ascendancy as to overbear effectually, and

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at all times, the motions and desires of the spirit-this would be unconverted nature; but a man or woman, in whom nature born of Adam, and spirit born of God, both live, and live contrary the one to the other, so that the Christian cannot do the things that he would do. To will is present with him, the spirit is willing, but how to perform that which is good he finds not; the flesh is weak. the law of God, with the flesh the law of sin. With the mind he serves nature cannot. Nature would be unholy, the spirit cannot. The spirit The spirit would be holy, would be like God, nature cannot; nature would be like Satan, the spirit cannot. A bird of paradise is detained in a cage of fallen humanity. The cage cannot kill the bird, the bird cannot free itself from the can it transform the cage into its own likeness.

cage, neither It flutters and falls back.

It sighs for liberty and flutters again. It quiets itself in patience, and sings in hope of deliverance; aud thus it must flutter, and sigh, and sing, and wait, till the cage be removed."-Rev. Hugh M'Neile, on the Church and the Churches.

A VILLAGE FUNERAL.

DEATH had invaded once again our little company. large and almost helpless family had been seized with most malignant The mother of a fever. That day three weeks she had formed one of our congregation, one of the most healthful of the whole; but now her mortal relics were about to be consigned to their last long dwelling-place. affecting scene. I had dreaded the services of that day greatly, so vivid It was a most was the recollection of the anxious moments spent by her bed during the previous week; the alternating hope and fear that she might be restored to her now sorrowing husband and bereaved family; the apprehension of the fatal spreading of so malignant a disorder; confronting once again the people of one's charge, fresh from the dying bed; passing anew in painful reverie one's former scenes of suffering; all, all conspired to fill one with intense emotion.

It was true there was abundant cause for hope in her who had departed; but still the voice was no less powerful to us survivors. clause from the 90th Psalm, "So teach us to number our days, that we A may apply our hearts unto wisdom," fell in due course for that day's service, and formed a subject for our contemplation. These closed, next came a deeply solemn scene. The bell immediately began to toll, and the mourning group assembled. the majority of whom were Roman Catholics-had congregated, who Some eight hundred souls or morewalked becomingly to church. Many-very many-entered, and listened with attention to the service. But a yet more striking scene awaited us. Arriving at the grave, this vast company took a quiet and attentive stand around. All were uncovered; all hearkened with peculiar interest to the solemn burial service; and then whilst I addressed them from the words, "I am the resurrection and the life," &c., each betrayed an interest and a thoughtfulness I shall ne'er forget. It was a solemn yet most animating season; a precious time for preaching! A concourse of immortal souls, standing upon the roofs of tenements now occupied by those who once had lived as they, but whose mortal relics were now crumbling into dust!

It was in perfect contrast with many a church-yard scene, the which to enter, until very recently, was to expose the Romanist to the severest penance. Lord, if it be thy sovereign will, make this the harbinger of good. Eternal Spirit, grant some word may reach beyond the ear, and drop into the heart. And may the cry be thenceforth heard, Sirs,

what must I do to be saved?"

Bonmahon, Ireland, Nov. 19, 1849.

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THE EDITOR.

Reviews.

Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver; being 365 exceeding Great and Precious Promises for the Year, gathered out of the Word Divine; together with a text for every Lord's Day in the Year, having especial reference to the Ministry of the Word. To which is added a Plan for reading the Scriptures through once a Year. Collected and arranged by J. A. WALLINGER, Minister of Bethesda Chapel. Bath: Binns and Goodwin. London: James Nisbet and Co. Dublin: John Robertson

and Co., Grafton Street.

A PRECIOUS pocket portion. Any means which familiarizes us with the written word, is good. A daily text-book is eminently among those means. It was the constant practice, if we mistake not, of dear Dr. Hawker, to have an open Bible upon his dressing-table; from which, during the operation, he would commit to memory a fresh portion of the word: and the venerable Watts Wilkinson was in the equally constant habit of repeating to himself a passage of Scripture as, night after night, he closed his eyes in sleep. The present season suggests the propriety of possessing such a precious little volume as that before us.

Noon-day Meditations: being a Reflection upon a Scripture Text for every Day in the Year. By ELIZABETH SEARLE. Pp. 432. London: H. G. Collins, 22, Paternoster Row.

THIS partakes of the character of the previous book, as far as a daily reading is concerned; but it is varied by a precious and practical commentary on each portion brought before the reader. Did we know nothing of the writer, we should be disposed to pronounce this an invaluable book. It is fraught with such a clearness of conception and sweetness of spirit, together with so powerful and practical a knowledge of the word, that we could not but be prepossessed in its favour. But we have an interest in the volume altogether distinct from its own intrinsic value. The writer is among one of the oldest supporters of this Magazine; a private correspondent of the late Walter Row; and the individual to whom we referred in page 587, December Number, 1847, and again in page 190, April Number, 1848, in the following terms :

"The introduction to the bishop was, as our correspondent conjectures, from another and totally distinct source-a lady (an old correspondent of this Magazine), to whose soul the bishop had been blessed whilst expounding the word of God upon the security and blessedness of those-and those only-who

were found in the ark Christ Jesus. She was previously of Infidel principles; was sojourning merely temporarily for a few months in Ireland, in or about the year 1830; and, in the order of God's providence, was in a family with whom the bishop tarried for the night. Taken ill during the night, he returned home the next morning without accomplishing his journey, and ignorant of the Lord's purpose in conducting him to that house on that occasion. This was the lady who, fifteen years afterwards, had her first interview with the bishop, and proposed-she knew not why-the introduction that has resulted in our entering the ministry in the Church of England.”—ED.

These circumstances, together with the worth of the work itself, prompt us strongly to commend it to our readers' attention and support. It is published at an exceedingly low price, in order to render it a gift-book to the poor, and to give it a more extensive circulation. We have upwards of 430 18mo. pages for half-a-crown. We shall content ourselves with a couple of extracts :

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“ОсT. 10.—I pray thee, let me go over and see the good land that is beyond

Jordan.-Deut. iii. 25.

"No, Moses was to die in faith, he had no inheritance in the earthly Canaan ; he was not to pass the earthly Jordan. Moses prayed to the Lord with the desires of the flesh; but he did not pray according to God's will, therefore his prayer was not answered. Moses desired to see with his fleshly eyes the good land, for which he had been the instrument in bringing the children of Israel through the wilderness, fighting the battles of the Lord, that they might go in to possess it; but the Lord would not hear. Moses must be content to view the land afar off. The Lord will not comply with the requests of his people, just because they ask. Ah, how vain is man to suppose that God will change his purposes at his creatures' importunity. "The Lord is of one mind, and who can turn him?' 'If ye ask in faith, nothing doubting, it shall be done :' but God must give the faith, and this can only be given in accordance with his will. Men continue their fleshly petitions, saying, Surely God will hear for our much speaking, he will give what we ask for our importunity. But the Lord says to Moses, 'Let it suffice thee; speak no more to me of this matter.' And Moses was satisfied to view the land from Pisgah's top, and there to die, happy in having been the servant of the Lord; faithful as a servant, but not as the Son abiding for How merciful the Lord is we know not, in withholding from us that which flesh desires. No good thing will he withhold,' as we have lately meditated upon. He knoweth what is best; and if, my soul, thou hadst power to leave all with him, how truly wouldst thou live by the day, leaving the morrow with him, living by faith, and not desiring more sight than he be pleased to give. A child-like reliance in faith is assuredly better than fleshly importunity without the faith which is of the operation of God. Lord, evermore give us this faith.""

ever.

“OCT. 13.—Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her Beloved?-Song viii. 5.

"Who is this but the Church; the holy city, the new Jerusalem (which John saw) coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband;' those 'predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ, to the praise of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved;' 'the bride, the Lamb's wife;' the Church which Christ loved, and gave himself for it, that he might present it to himself a glorious Church, without spot,' holy and without blemish. Wonderful mystery! glorious truth! What a sweet figure; look at it, my soul. See the redeemed coming up from the wilderness in companies, one generation passeth away and another cometh; they move on in succession, walking in the narrow path, the same Spirit guiding all, the same eye watching all, the same arm supporting all-leaning on the Beloved!' Fancy a tedious journey through an unknown region, a rough and thorny path, no way-marks, no directing posts, alone in a howling wilderness; stumbling upon

mountains (of error), getting into whirlpools (of affliction), falling into pits, and taken in snares; straying from the path, and scrambling, with sorrow of heart, to regain it. Imagine a friend suddenly standing before thee-and a friend, too, beloved-will not joy fill thy heart, will not the rough places appear smooth, the mountains a plain, the whirlpools still water? the pits avoided, and the snares stepped over with the Beloved by thy side! The arm to lean on, the eye to guide, the voice to comfort, wisdom to direct, and power to uphold; all this, and much more, is Jesus to his Church. The daughters of Jerusalem may say, What is thy beloved more than another beloved?' The Church replies, 'He is altogether lovely; he is the chiefest among ten thousand.' He is the beloved of the Father; he has loved the Church from everlasting, and lay down his life that she might live for ever. He has loved the members individually; he calleth them by name, and gone to prepare a place eternal in the heavens. And what have each to lean on, coming up from the wilderness, but the Beloved? what strength, if Jesus be not there? what hope of getting safely to the end, without the Beloved to lean on? what peace, after being 'allured into the wilderness,' if Jesus 'speak not comfortably?' Blessed Lord, thou dost support through all the journey; there is no other arm to lean upon. But we often travel on as if we saw thee not, nor knew that thou wert near. We withdraw from thee, and take an arm of flesh, or try our own strength; then thou holdest our eyes, that we cannot see thee, and we stumble and fall, and should perish if thy arm were not ever-present to save to the uttermost. Thou wilt never forsake the sheep of thy pasture, which are coming up from the 'washing, pure and clean,' leaning on the Beloved."

The Descent of Christ in Human Nature from Eve to the Virgin Mary. A Discourse briefly showing how a Consideration of the above Subject illustrates some of the leading Points in the Mission of the Redeemer. By the Rev. J. H. TITCOMB, M.A., of St. Peter's College, and Perpetual Curate of St. Andrew the Less, Cambridge. Cambridge: J. Deighton, and Macmillan and Co. Svo. pp. 23.

"YEA and nay" (2 Cor. i. 18). This Sermon contains some good points, but these are neutralised by the preacher's laboured attempt to establish the general redemption theory. He dwells somewhat sweetly on the covenant union of Christ and his Church; enforces the necessity for Christ taking the flesh and blood of that Church; and in its very nature presenting himself a sacrifice, thereby placing himself in a position to demand its rightful acquittal from curse and condemnation; and yet in the most gratuitous and uncalled-for way, the preacher endeavours to prove that that sacrifice was of universal extent. If this be true, how can there be a unity in the Trinity, or how equity in Divine justice? If God the Father gave the Church-and the Church only-to Christ, to redeem, then, upon the universal scheme, hath Christ died for a multitude the Father never gave: hence a discordance in the Trinity. And if Christ died for the whole world, and thus paid the debt contracted by the whole human race, then is Divine justice demanding, in the person of every lost sinner, that which it has before received at the hand of Christ. Thus a second or double payment is sought. Moreover, if Christ died for the whole world, and the whole world is not saved, then it follows as a natural consequence, that Christ hath not power to accomplish his purpose or pleasure. We might enlarge, but forbear, contenting ourselves with throwing out these hints in proof that every sermon which attempts to mingle covenant union with a universal atonement is marred, and may justly be termed "yea and nay,"