gospel alone makes this revelation, and the law is silent, or the subject of the law and the gospel are the same. If they are distinct things, and the gospel publishes salvation by Christ, and is preached for the obedience of faith, then the law never did contain a command to believe in Jesus to the saving of the soul.

February, 1829.

HENRY.

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)

A PLEA FOR POOR GOSPEL MINISTERS.

CAST by Providence into a different situation to that in which I once moved, I have witnessed many of the straits and difficulties of the poor, but faithful and laborious gospel minister; and am persuaded that, were our more opulent brethren acquainted with their real situation, something would be done to relieve both minister and people.

I would ask, what provision can that minister make for a dependant family, whose income does not exceed forty or fifty pounds per annum? And, suppose such families should be visited by affliction, (seeing none are exempt) from whence can those comforts be supplied that, in such a season, are particularly needed? Nor, is it in the power of the people, though ever so desirous, to be making those presents, which, in some cases, quite augments the salary; for, they meet with as many difficulties in raising the small sum, as the minister does in supporting his family on the slender income.

Some, perhaps, would say, when a people cannot support their minister it is his duty to leave. I would ask, is this a season for the watchman to quit his post, now vice and error are more and more abounding? Are faithful shepherds less needed because the wolf makes his appearance in sheep's clothing? Or, do heaven-bound pilgrims less need counsel, support, comfort, or reproof? Who would not make a sacrifice (that knows its worth) for the continuance of the gospel at home, when they could not hear to their satisfaction within many miles of home? But, suppose all their exertions inadequate to the desired task; is there no christian friend that would come forward and endeavour to assist them? Is there none that would lend a helping hand?

I would also ask, to whom are the rich consolations, and sweet supporting influences of the gospel most sweet and refreshing? To the man attended by smiling affluence, or to him who walks the vale of adversity, who, by hard labour, and the strictest frugality, can scarcely obtain the necessities of life; and, who has his name cast out as evil? He is equally dear to his God; his soul is of equal value; and his name is as indelibly written on the heart of the Redeemer. Should he be denied the gospel because he is poor? No; surely not: for, speaking after the manner of men, he stands more in

need of its consolations than he who is unacquainted with temporal necessities.

And, what minister would feel at liberty to leave his people, when he had satisfactory reasons for believing that he was placed amongst them by Him, who fixes the bounds of their habitations, and has continued proofs that his labours are crowned with the divine blessing; and added to this, the most strenuous exertions of his affectionate people to supply his necessities. No; he cannot leave his faithful few to be scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd; and yet he knows not how to continue, fearing he shall not be able to live agreeable to his profession, and, thereby bring a stain upon that gospel which he desires to honour.

This is a trying situation for a christian, who wishes to live honorably; more especially, to a christian minister. I am convinced, from observation, that those who are favored with a competent income can form no proper idea of the straits and difficulties of their poor brethren. These are equally aware of their important situation; have the same anxiety for souls; the same difficulty in searching into the word of God, and endeavoring to bring forth to each his portion in due season. Yes, the sorrows, the perplexities, the sighs, the groans and tears, the sleepless midnight hours are theirs, in common with those who know nothing of outward distresses. They are equally obnoxious to the derision and persecuting spirit of a world that lieth in wickedness; and who more severely feel the sharp sarcasms of modern professors; who, to make them more eminently the subjects of contempt, impose on them a most terrible name, which runs before them, turn which way they may. What, less than an arm divine, can support the man called to endure such accumulated sorrows? Ministers are but men, and subject to like infirmities with ourselves. Although I cannot enter experimentally into their exercises, yet, I believe, of all characters, the tried gospel minister claims our sympathy and most fervent prayers. He spends his strength and the prime of his days, in the service of the church, and is oftentimes bowed down beneath the double weight that continually oppresses him, ministerial anxieties, and temporal cares; and, with the sweet singer of Israel, he is ready to exclam, "O that I had wings like a dove," &c. yet, when he turns his languid eyes on those, who are dearer than life itself, he cannot suppress the involuntary sigh, and mentally exclaims, what will become of you when this oppressed heart shall be sweetly resting in the silent tomb, and my disembodied spirit is enjoying the full glories of unveiled Deity!

Hitherto, I think the ministers of small churches have been too much forgotten. I sincerely wish that an abler pen than mine may take up their cause, persevere, and prevail. But I leave my feeble efforts with him who can make use of "a worm to thrash a mountain;" he has the hearts of all in his hands; the silver and the gold are his, and he can dispose of it as he please. I am aware that ministers can do but little, in some respects, in the present case; but,

they can use their influence. It is those, whose hearts, like Lydia's, are opened; and whom the great disposer of events has been pleased to favour with the ability to relieve the necessities of others, that I would more particularly recommend their case. I believe that it is because they are not aware of the real situation of those whose causé I would plead, that they do not exert themselves on their behalf; the numerous institutions plainly evince there is no want of charity.

I leave their cause in his almighty hand,
Who has all hearts at his supreme command;
He his broad sceptre o'er creation sways,
And every circumstance his power obeys.

Z.

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)

GRACE AND NATURE.

EVERY heaven-born soul is made sensible that he possesseth two natures, or principles, which are as opposite the one to the other as darkness and light, bitter and sweet. These two opposites create a continual warfare in the soul, and will, so long as they meet in one character; "for the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh." Gal. v. 17. Nature seeks no other enjoyment than the gratification of sensual appetites; grace seeks something more substantial and refined. Nature feels no need of a Saviour; grace sees the impending ruin, and flies to the cleft Rock for refuge. Nature is content with her own ragged righteousness; grace seeks the perfect robe of imputed righteousness, which alone can cover the deformities of the guilty soul. Nature endeavors to fulfil the broken law; grace looks to the perfect obedience of a surety. Nature seeks praise; grace casts her laurels at the feet of Jesus, and crowns him Lord of all. Nature trusts her own strength; grace leans on an arm divine. Nature murmurs at the difficulties by the way; grace is willing to follow where the Redeemer leads. Nature rebels at divine sovereignty; grace bows to Jehovah as her rightful lawgiver. Nature repines at the rod; grace is submissive, and says, "Thy will be done." Nature views the rod as in the hand of an oppressor; grace, as in the hand of a tender father. Nature views all as coming from an incensed God in wrath; grace, as from a reconciled Father in love. Nature seeks her own emolument; grace has the glory of God in view in every movement. Nature looks forward to dissolution, and shudders at the gloomy prospect; grace rejoices in anticipation of the glorious rest where the warfare shall for ever cease, carnal nature be annihilated, and the pure principle which sprang from Deity be fully satisfied; yes, fully satisfied!

Oh! who can tell what that satisfaction is which God hath prepared for them that love him? What is that glory's full, eternal weight? VOL. VI.-No. 63.

G

Or, what is the light of uncreated day? What the enjoyment of that blest estate, where God himself wipes every tear away? When, O my Father shall I rise to prove it? When wilt thou call thy wandering exile home? I long to behold thy glory; to see thee face to face, without the darkening veil. "Then shall I be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness."

O blest exchange! O bright abode!

I shall be near and like my God.

Yes, like Him, transporting thought! pure as he is pure; this sinful clod for ever, yes, for ever left behind. This fascinating world, with all its snares, for ever banished: and my adoring soul safe beyond the reach of every fiery arrow. Rise, rise, my sluggish soul, and contemplate more that everlasting glory, that undisturbed repose. There is nothing here that is worth a thought; nothing that yields solid satisfaction

"Heaven is my home, my portion fair,

My treasure, and my heart are there."

Well, a few more beating storms, and I shall be there

"O that the happy hour were come,

To change my faith to sight."

Why, O my Father, is thy chariot so long in coming? When wilt
thou call my ransomed spirit home? When shall I hear thy gentle
voice say,
"come up higher?" I am tired of this vain world, with
all its noise; I sigh for that, where pleasure never cloys.

A weary, wandering exile here I roam,
Waiting a convoy to conduct me home.

CHARLOTTE.

FRAGMENT.

Though the word imputation be made use of in scripture, as best suited to our capacities, and as expressive of the vicarious undertakings of the Lord Christ, yet is the righteousness of Christ more than imputed to a believer. It was as much wrought out by all the spiritual seed, in their first fœderal head, as the law was broken by all the natural seed, in their first foederal head, Adam; in whom, as saith the apostle, "all have sinned." In the same manner then, as by the disobedience of one many were made sinners; by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." And if all the elect really wrought out a perfect righteousness in Christ, as being one with him; then they must have union with him, and this righteousness must be theirs, even before it is "revealed to them (as the same apostle speaks) by faith" though, as considered in the first Adam, they are," by nature, the children of wrath, even as others."

ORIGINAL ESSAYS.

L.

THE AGENCY OF JEHOVAH IN THE PERSECUTIONS OF HIS CHURCH, HER HAPPINESS AND GLORY.

"He turned their hearts to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants."-Ps. cv. 25.

DOUBT and fear seize the mind upon reading our motto; because it appears to make God the author of sin, and of the hatred and persecution which his people endured from their enemies. Nay, it seems to rank him among the numbers of those armies, as their leader, and the soul of all their counsels and movements. That he, who was their covenant God and Saviour, who had bound himslf by his oath, and who acted from pure love to them; that he should be found in the number of their enemies, and turn "their hearts to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants," at a time those enemies possessed absolute power over them; and when they were suffering for their attachment to him, and were unable to assist themselves, is, apparently, an act so opposite to his covenant and character, and so full of injustice and cruelty, that we cannot for a moment conceive it possible for him to commit. We, therefore, instantly conclude, that the words were either never uttered by the Almighty, or, if they were, our translators have mistaken his meaning. I do assure you, suffering people of the same God and Saviour, that they are his words, and that our translators have given us his real meaning. And I am equally confident that that meaning is worthy of himself, and will be satisfactory to you.

Oh! thou who art the light of thy church and ministry, unfold that meaning to our understandings, and apply it with power to the hearts of all thy afflicted ones, that it may conduce to their comfort and edification, and thy glory.

It is a self-evident fact that the people of God have been hated and treated with cruelty by their enemies. The hour to which our motto alludes was a terrible one to the seed of Jacob, which their God has taken effectual means to preserve with their history; that it may travel in all languages, among all people, as a memorial of his power and great name; and a beacon of hope and terror to his church and her enemies. The Jews were compelled to labour under task-masters, who afflicted them with burdens, and deprived them of the fruits of their labours, with the vain hope of breaking their spirits and taking away their lives. I say vain hope, and vain it was. "For the more they were afflicted the more they multiplied and grew. And the Egyptians were grieved because of the children of Israel."

Pharaoh, who seems to have been a complete modern royal infidel philosopher, well suited to this age of reason and march of intellect,