ark of safety for all thy Noahs. There are many of our goings in the wilderness that have been involved in mystery, that our shallow understandings could make no research into, nor in heaven may ever be able to apprehend them, but he whose name alone is Jehovah, is worthy of our unwavering confidence, and whose unimpeachable character demands our silent adoration and everlasting gratitude. Many of these circumstances that come with all the awfulness of a thunder clap, are faith's opportunities of glorifying God, then we are glad to lean on an arm that never gave way, and realize the blessedness of being on a rock immoveable as the throne of deity. The pleasures of being forgiven, and accepted before the divine throne, gives an holy boldness that proves the immortal value of an interest in him, in whose bosom we shall be folded when the creation rocks like a cradle, and all the present scene of things vanish away. To look at the various goings of the saints on record under the mysterious leadings of a covenant God, is pleasing employ: though oft they could not understand their own way; though oft confounded, mortified, and at their wit's end, yet their goings were of the Lord, for the honour of his name, and their ultimate benefit and happiness. Look at Abraham ascending Mount Moriah to offer up Isaac-Jacob in obtaining the birth-right-Joseph and the treatment of his brethren -the children of Israel under the oppressive hand of Pharaoh-Job in all his disastrous goings and after exaltation-David in all his steps to the throne, and subsequent delinquency, &c. &c. And many of our individual circumstances have been fraught with expressions of uncontrolable majesty, in which we have been gladly necessitated to shelter in the thought, that our goings are of the Lord; that he that is the Pilot of universal affairs, on whose shoulders is the government of all worlds, is our eternal God, and covenant Father, our continued Care-taker, and unchanging Friend.

O ye heaven-born, heaven-destined, blood-redeemed saints, think high of your gracious God, who has not trusted your destiny out of his own hands, nor one step of your wilderness journey in the care of angels; all your circuitous rout is lined out by his infinite mind, and directed by his eternal love. All your times are in his hand; all the hairs of your head are numbered; all your enemies are limited; all your wants known; all your needs anticipated; your days allotted; the time of your arrival in heaven fixed; and all the full glories of eternity ready to burst on your wondering spirit! Then trust in him at all times; pour out your heart before him, and unhesitatingly leave all in his dear hands.

"Then rest on the bosom of love,

And there all your sorrows forget;
Salvation in full you will prove,
While leaning on Jesus's merit :
All your sorrows allotted by heav'n,
Are drifting away like the snow;
But covenant blessings that's giv'n,
No change or mutation can know."

Golden Square, London, Feb. 14, 1830.

E. M.

REVIEW.

Help for the True Disciples of Immanuel: being an Answer to a Book published by the late Rev. A. Fuller, entitled, The Gospel worthy of all Acceptation; or, the Duty of Sinners to believe in Christ. Second Edition, mostly re-written and newly arranged, including an explanation of the Scriptures usually adduced on the subject. By John Stevens, 8vo. p.p. 380. Palmer.

MR. Stevens has been long known to us as a controversialist of no common order; and this work, the first edition of which was published some years since, must be considered by all who love the distinguishing doctrines of sovereign grace, a most useful and able defence of truth, furnishing_arguments which we do not believe all the host of Arminians and Fullerites combined will be able to overturn. The present edition is very superior to the former, which was in 12mo. This is handsomely printed in 8vo. and is well suited for the library, as a book of reference on the subject.

Our author has followed Mr. Fuller in all the subterfuges to which he resorted in defence of his favourite system, and has critically and very ably examined the various passages of scripture brought forward by him. These we consider him successfully to have rescued from the perverted use to which they had been applied; but we will give one quotation, from which our readers may judge for themselves. We do not select it as being more excellent than other parts of the volume, but its length suits our limits better than some of the longer sections.

"Repent, therefore, of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if, perhaps, the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee."-Acts viii. 22.

"The person here addressed, was Simon the magician, whom Philip had baptized on his professing to be a believer in Jesus Christ. But, he shortly made it evident, that his motives, in making such profession, were wicked, and that he had neither part nor lot in the matter; but was in the gall of bitterness, and the bond of iniquity. Now, because this wretched man was evidently an unregenerate character, and yet was by Peter exhorted to repent, it is imagined, that all the unregenerate are to be exhorted to evangelical repentance, and every other spiritual exercise. But, this is, I am persuaded, an inference not upheld by the premises. The repentance required, did not refer to the sin of nature, and to transgressions in general, in which Simon was a sinner in common with other men; but, Peter said, "Repent, therefore, of THIS thy wickedness, and pray God, if, perhaps, THE THOUGHT of thine heart, that the gift of God may be purchased with money, may be forgiven thee." This peculiar thought of Simon's was a heinous sin, and it appears by ver. 24, that Peter threatened him with certain judgments, as punishments, which he greatly dreaded, and, therefore, said unto Peter, "Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken, or threatened, come upon me." But Peter could only say, "Perhaps the VOL. VI.-No. 71. 2 R

thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee." The averting of those things from him, which were spoken by the apostle, was all that was meant by the thought of his heart being forgiven him: forgiveness being an exemption from deserved punishment. But, I see no evidence of any thing supernatural being designed, either in the conduct required, or the benefit held out as a matter merely probable. I have already spoken of this natural repentance and providential forgiveness, or deliverance from outward sufferings in this world.

"1. We have no account that Peter ever prayed for him, nor is it to be expected that we should, after he had told Simon he should perish, and that he had neither part nor lot in the gift of the Holy Spirit.

"2. Had he intended spiritual repentance and prayer, in his exhortation, he would have held forth pardon as a certainty, for to those spiritual exercises forgiveness is sovereignly annexed; and not have spoken of forgiveness as dubious, saying, If, perhaps, the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee." Pardon of sin, with regard to an eternal world, is either a certainty, or an impossibility. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

"3. There appears no room for any man to infer from Peter's address to Simon, that all unregenerate men are to be exhorted to repent and pray in a spiritual manner. The circumstance of Simon's conduct is not analagous with the cases of sinners in general; neither does Peter make any reference to any sin, but that one thought, so plainly pointed out.

"4. Many favours, of a natural and temporal kind, are granted to men, distinct from spiritual faith in Christ. Neither can it be sinful in any man to call upon his Maker for the natural good he may want, although, with regard to supernatural things, he must be a total stranger, and, consequently, feels not the want of them; neither does God bestow them, indiscriminately, on mankind, as the mere creatures of his creating power, and as he is the common parent of all. If historians can at all be credited, with regard to this sorcerer, he shewed himself to be an awful enemy to Christ and his followers, and lived and died in his sins. How, therefore, could the Holy Spirit inspire Peter to exhort him to spiritual repentance and prayer, when he had already determined to deny him any enjoyment of spiritual blessings? Neither will any sober-minded man expose himself to the contempt of thinking people, by calling out to his hearers, and saying unto them, "Your money perish with you; because, YE HAVE THOUGHT the gift of God may be purchased with money. I perceive ye are in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Repent, therefore, of THIS your wickedness, &c. Peter's words seem to intimate that, if Simon cepented, he might be forgiven perhaps, but that there was no certainty that he would be pardoned.

"The gospel assures the penitent, and the man who shall spiritually call upon the name of the Lord, that salvation shall be granted. I shall not multiply remarks, but must conclude, that the above passage is no proof of the point our author wished to establish. Let the sense of words be sought, as well as the sound of them; and due attention be paid to the arguments in the third section."

We must indulge ourselves in adding a short extract from the author's closing remarks, which we read with much pleasure, and which will furnish our readers with a ready answer to those who would charge the ministers of Christ with supineness on the subject to which it refers.

"It is often intimated that ministers, who are opposed to the exhortation system, as maintained by Mr. F. do not preach to sinners. By such insinuations, it is not intended to say, that their auditories are constitutea of innocent persons; therefore, it must be allowed that, either they do not

preach at all, or that they preach to sinners; the former cannot be proved, therefore, the latter must be the fact, and the insinuation must be false. Christ is certainly preached by those censured ministers, as the suitable, the necessary, the only and the all-sufficient Saviour. And while Christ is preached, though he be not offered on required terms, the hand of the Lord accompanies the preaching, and many are turned to the Lord. It was thus in the beginning, it is the same in our own times. How should it be otherwise, since God has chosen it shall be thus ? The hand of the Lord deter

mines the degree, as well as the reality, of the success.

"Some have affirmed that, we have nothing to say to sinners; whereas, we have nothing to say to any but sinners. We do not speak to the carnal of their ability, but of their weakness; we rather declare what they cannot do, than what they can do: though, with proper distinctions, we scruple not to say some things even on what they can do. For though they can do nothing spiritually acceptable to God, or that has any promise of salvation annexed to it; yet, they can do many things useful to men, to good men, and to the cause of God: nor will such conduct be without some advantages to themselves: we do not, however, so speak of their inability, as to excuse them from the inflexible claims of God's holy law. Natural men are usually confident of their ability; we endeavour to beat down their towering no.. tions on that head, by the demands of the law, and the provisions of the gospel. We do not find all natural men alike; some have a theoretic knowledge of the law and of the gospel: they really believe the leading truths which we are commissioned to preach. Of these, some are for reckoning themselves christians indeed. We insist upon it, that if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is no true disciple of his. We plead, that spiritual faith and knowledge are accompanied with unfeigned humility and love; and that faith, without evangelical works, is dead. Others of them disclaim all pretence to being true christians. To such, we aim to unreservedly shew the nothingness of all profession, if inwrought experience be wanting; and that a profession of the religion of Christ may be made, while the professors remain still under the claims of the law. If love to Christ and his spiritual disciples be wanting, the chief evidence of the true christian character is not there. Without love, said Paul, I am nothing."

Gideon, and other Poems. By the Author of "My Early Years." 18mo. p.p. 110. Simpkin and Marshall.

THIS little volume of Poems, is dedicated to those who feel interested in the past and future glory of the Jewish nation; and as no christian can be indifferent to that very interesting subject, which forms so prominent a feature in the prophetic scriptures, we think many of our readers, particularly the younger part, will find much satisfaction in perusing this unassuming work. Some parts of the poem, entitled Gideon," possess much originality and beauty. That on the death of a beloved christian friend we have subjoined, as a fair specimen of the author's poetic talent.

ON THE DEATH OF A BELOVED CHRISTIAN FRIEND.

"Wouldst thou view the field of glory?—

Seek it not 'midst thousands slain:

Wouldst thou hear the victor's story?
Go not to the ensanguin'd plain.

"Wouldst thou see the triumph splendid?-
Look not on the pageant gay,

When, by shouting crowds attended,

Conquering warriors tread the way.

"Is the voice of exultation

To thy rapturous feelings sweet?-
Not to a rejoicing nation

Will I lead thy willing feet.

"No :-behold that chamber yonder!-
Softly tread the hallow'd floor!-
See the power of grace, and wonder!-
See the Saviour, and adore.

"Lov'st thou glory?-Lo! descending
Glory fills the encircling air;
To that dying Christian lending
Brightness, such as angels wear.
"Hark!—she sings, in accents glorious,
Victory, with expiring breath:
Rising, thro' the Lamb, victorious
O'er the powers of sin and death.
"Round the bed cherubic legions
Watch the spirit leave her clay
Shout, and to their heavenly regions
Joyful lead the shining way.

"JESU's name she's softly sounding;
Open fly the pearly gates!

Harps of gold, with praise resounding,
Echo thro' the ethereal heights!

"Scarce she hears the salutation;

She has reach'd the eternal throne :
Lost in love and admiration,

There she makes her praises known.

"He who died on Calvary's mountain
Stands before her raptur'd sight,
As the sweet perpetual Fountain
Of her happy soul's delight,

"Silence seals the harps of heaven,
While her glowing praises prove
Every joy or trial given,

Sprang from covenanted love.

"Hark, the strain again renewing!

With their harps she joins her own:

God tri-une for ever viewing,

Lo, she worships near the throne!

"Now I hear her voice no longer,
It is lost the saints among :
But in accents sweeter, stronger,
Flows the everlasting song!"

Predestination Vindicated from the Scriptures of Truth; being a Series of Remarks on a Work lately published by Mr. J. Jarrom, of Wisbeach; entitled, Discourses, Explanatory and Practical, on the Ninth Chapter of Romans. By William Felton, Minister of the Independent Congregation, March, Isle of Ely, Cumbridgeshire, 12mo. p.p, 207. Higham.