opinion, for provision of such a kind, for the support of the religion of the Divine Oracles in a national form; seeing God is honoured thereby and souls saved, through the medium of a state professedly Christian, and therefore is in duty bound tn make such provision.

We ought however to feel no objection to the forming of National Churches, because the Apostles did this in obedience to the instructions of their Divine Master, whose example we follow in baptizing infants, of whom the kingdom of heaven consists, as well as of adults. Matt. xxviii. 19. and xviii. 14. On this principle Dissenters make as real a part of the visible National Church as the members of the Establishment itself. The Jewish Church was a national one, because composed of circumcised infants as well as adults. And it is well known that baptists object to infant baptism among other

reasons, on account of its being friendly to the idea of a National Church; although such churches are foretold and promised in the Scriptures, in reference to the New Testament Dispensation, and the Saviour himself has added his sanction to it, as above. See Isa. lii. 15. and lx. 22. and lxvi. 8. and Rev. xi. 15, to which others may be added.

It is now perhaps only needful to observe, that when the state became Christian, after the Apostles' times, and in those of Constantine, National Churches were established through the empire, in accordance with the Scriptures above named, and have continued through the medium of the Reformation, in Europe at least, to the present day; aud ought therefore, in my judgment, to have our consent and approbation.

THERE is a nearness to God which we are not only allowed, but called to in the loving dispensations of the gospel, so that now we are not to be strangers any longer, but friends; we are to have fellowship and communion with God. Why do not our hearts even leap for joy! Why do not our souls triumph in those discoveries of love? Even because we know not the greatness of our privileges, the highness of our calling, the excellency of our advancement, the blessedness of this life, the sweetness of those employments, the satisfaction of those enjoyments, the comfort of this heavenly life, the delights of this communion with God. We know not the things which belong to our peace: and thus when God calls us to that which he sent

E. W. K.

his Son for; when Christ offers us that which cost him so dearly; we, with the greatest unworthiness, vilest ingratitude, refuse, slight, and contemn it, what think we? Doth it not go even to the heart of Christ, and to speak after the manner of men, doth it not grieve him to the soul, to behold his greatest love scorned, and the end of his agony to be more vilely accounted of than the basest of our lusts? Let us, therefore, according to that high calling wherewith we are called, enter into an intimate acquaintance with God; and, as we find our souls acting naturally towards those things which are naturally dear to us, so let us strive to lighten our spiritual affections.

JANEWAY.

THIS is obviously a wide field, requiring a vast fund of information, and involving many difficult and disputed questions. The writer

therefore, who engages in such a work must not be surprised if many of his readers are disappointed, and must be prepared to endure complaints from some, of having promised more than he has performed, and from others of having promulgated views inconsistent with, or subversive of some of their favourite ideas. Yet few readers we conceive will rise from the perusal of the present volume without feeling that its author has advanced much that is at once interesting and important, and that his work is deserving of careful perusal and extensive circulation.

The author's views are comprised in nine lectures, which treat respectively of the sins of the age and nation. The signs of the times. The duty of the unconverted. The duty of believers. On doing good and prayer. The believer's privilege. The millennium. Heaven; and Ceasing from man and living to God.

Among the sins of the age the author especially points out the evident lukewarmness of nominal Christians, of which he regards spurious liberality as a striking instance; he dwells upon the profanation of the Sabbath, drunkenness, infidelity, the conduct of dissenters, and the general impenitence.

Under the head of the Signs of the times, is especially pointed out luxury, the unprincipled conduct of public men,disobedience to parents, attention to prophecy, the amazing spread of popery, its causes and consequences, the danger of the

empire and the expectation of great events.

In the following lectures, both the unconverted and believers are urged to repentance, faith, union, and prayer. The believer's warrant for trusting in God, his safety amid general calamities, and the importance of assurance are stated in the Sixth Lecture; and the way is thus prepared for the author's views on the millennium, heaven, &c.

Now, valuable and interesting as these Lectures are, it is obvious some very important and prominent topics are almost entirely omitted. The sins of the age are a painful subject of contemplation; but surely an impartial view of the present state and prospects of the church and of the world, ought to contain some specific reference to the zeal for God, and the enlarged exertions for the promotion of his glory, which, notwithstanding every defect, constitute a striking feature of these our times. The labours and the success with which it has pleased Almighty God to bless the efforts of Bible, Missionary, Jews, and School Societies, require at least some passing notice. The first streak of light which appears in the Eastern horizon, is cheering to those who watch for the morning; and they who contemplate the movement which in the last fifty years has taken place in the Christian church, may well lift up their hearts with holy gratitude, and say, What hath God wrought?

This omission is the more to be regretted, since it leads to a defective view of the believer's duty in the present day. Our author shews that the Christian ought to be active in doing good, and to engage

in intercessory prayer; but he scarcely glances at the important obligation incumbent on all the disciples of Christ, to send forth his gospel to the world at large. We only learn from a casual note, and an extract or two in the Appendix, that the writer was at all aware of the existence of our great religious Societies.

In the Seventh Lecture on the Millennium, the author states that it shall be a period of great peace, of great light, of peculiar holiness, of great love, of pre-eminent spiritual privileges, of unprecedented happiness, prosperity, and abundance, and of unexampled exultation and thanksgiving. The question of the Saviour's personal reign is thus treated:

Whether the reign of the SAVIOUR ON earth shall be personal or not, is a problem of which the writer declines attempting the solution. Whichever view we adopt, the difficulties in reconciling Scripture with itself appears considerable. Several wise and pious men have espoused the affirmative of the question, maintaining that the Saviour will reign personally. On the other hand, the general and prevalent opinion of the Church has been contrary to this. Who then shall presume absolutely to pronounce which interpretation is the true? As Bishop Hall rightly observes, 'what riddles are there in that prophecy, which no human tongue can read! Where to fix the beginning of that marvellous millennary, and where the end, and what manner of reign it shall be, whether temporal or spiritual, on earth or in heaven, undergoes as many constructions, as there are pens that have undertaken it.' It is, indeed, an enigma which shall not be completely explicated, till "the day shall declare it." "At the end the vision shall speak." But till then, "the words are closed up and sealed."

The question then is one on which Christians must agree to differ: one, on which Jehovah seems purposely to have left his Church undecided, perhaps to exercise mutual kindness, candour, and forbearance. And while the writer cannot but lament the extremes into which some who have held the personal view have permitted themselves to be carried, the bears willing testimony to the beautiful moderation, meekness, and sobriety of others of them. Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded. Let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the

same thing. Deplorable, truly, it would be, were the Lord's people to be alienated and divided from each other by disputations respecting the particulars of their own triumph! This would indeed be turning their glory into their shame.

But how, it may be asked, shall this latter day of glory be consummated? We reply-Simply by the same agents, and the same instrumentality, at present in operation. If these will not produce the desired results, what will? Judgments? No: these cannot renovate the heart, as was sufficiently exemplified in the case of Pharaoh. Judgments have never reformed the devils; nor will they be more efficacious with men. The ungodly, when afflicted, may gnaw their tongues, and blaspheme the God of heaven, because of their pains and their sores; but they will not repent of their deeds. The day of trouble and of rebuke is often one of blasphemy.

Some are of opinion that the personal appearance of Christ will convert mankind. They insist greatly on that text"And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming." But what, in the plain import of the words, is the Spirit of his mouth, but the Holy Spirit? as it is written of the Saviour," he breathed on them, (the disciples,) and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost." And so again we read of "the rod of his mouth," and of "the sword that goeth out of his mouth,"

even the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." And this is parallel with "the brightness of his coming" mentioned; even the brightness of the light of religious knowledge, consequent on an abundant communication of the Spirit and the word. This at least is the primary meaning of the phrase; it may have a more full developement at Christ's coming to the last judgment. That error and irreligion will not be destroyed, and Christianity universally established, by any demonstration of mere physical or external power, is expressly stated in the prophet Zechariah; when, referring to this very event, he says, "Not by might, nor by power, nor by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." What is darkness, but the absence of light? What is sin, but the opposite of holiness? Well, the Lord will just abolish spiritual darkness by introducing knowledge; sin, by introducing sanctity. This is the fitting, and indeed only practicable mode. It is answerable to the nature of things. Spirit is suitably actuated only by spirit. The soul in its unconverted state is dead"dead in trespasses and sins." And can any outward or natural thing whatever infuse life into it? No-nothing but

"the Spirit of life" can be the life of the Spirit. The heavenly breath must breathe upon the slain, before they can live. Therefore says Christ,-" Ye must be born of the Spirit."

But it is alleged by respectable divines, that the means at present employed for the conversion of the world, never yet converted any one nation or city.' Absolutely and literally speaking, perhaps they never did. But do we forget the thousands that were converted on the day of Pentecost, at the preaching of one sermon? Do we forget that St. Paul was affirmed to have turned away much people after him? Do we forget, that the apostles were accused of having turned the world upside down? And in short, that, in no very considerable interval of time from the first promulgation of the Gospel, idolatry and paganism were nearly annihilated, over the surrounding nations ? 'The historians, who have written of this reign,' (that of Constantine,) says Bishop Newton, 'relate how even the most remote and barbarous nations were converted to the faith, Jews as well as Gentiles. Have we not witnessed similar results ourselves? Need we to remind the reader of the various conversions and revivals of religion in America, in the days of Brainerd, Eliot, Edwards, and Whitfield? or, of the marvellous changes produced among the Greenlanders, the Esquimaux, the natives of Southern India, the islanders of the South Sea, and those of New Zealand? And, shall the same spiritual apparatus, so to speak, which was effectual to produce results like these, not be effectual to regenerate the world? It seems unreasonable to doubt it. Admitting that even one soul had been converted through the gospel, that fact would establish its efficiency as an instrument to convert all. For what but an Almighty power could bring a clean thing out of an unclean? could 'create a soul beneath the ribs of death?' He that could do this, can do what He pleases. For, is the Spirit of the Lord straitened? or his sword blunted? or his arm wearied? Is he not "the eternal Spirit "the "Spirit of might?" Is any thing too hard for him, who garnished the heavens ? Oh, let us take care, lest, in thus depreciating the present mode of conversion, we dishonour the Spirit of the Lord! Where, in all the sacred volume, is the existing constitution for saving souls superseded and another promised? No where. The present times are "the last times." The present dispensation is the last dispensation: one that is to "remain," " a king. dom that cannot be moved;" and, it is the dispensation, or "ministration, of the Spirit."

That the millennial state, then, will be realized by any new spiritual system or

dispensation, we look upon as a mere chimera, destitute of all warrant or foundation in Scripture. Nor is it a harmless notion, but one calculated to defeat the very object which its maintainers have at heart, namely, the world's conversion. For if we undervalue the Spirit, we shall not earnestly desire him for mankind; and if we desire him not, we shall not ask for him; and if we ask not, we shall not receive. He honours them that honour

him.

Is it necessary to adduce further proofs, that the universal kingdom of Christ upon earth will be the work of this divine agent? If so, let the reader weigh calmly the following texts among others-" Thou sendest forth thy Spirit; they are created and thou renewest the face of the earth.' Here the renovation of the world seems expressly ascribed to the Third Person in the ever-blessed Trinity. To the same purport is this passage-" Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high. Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. And the work

of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness, and assurance for ever.' "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring, and they shall spring up as the grass, as willows by the watercourses.' So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun: when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him."

Once more-" And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daugnters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the hand-maids in those days will I pour out my Spirit." This prediction was partly fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. Then was vouchsafed a specimen of what the Lord the Spirit could, and subsequently would, perform. But that it was only a specimen is manifest; because the Spirit was not then

effused upon "all flesh; " and besides,

the apostle Peter stated on that very occasion, the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.' And be it observed, that the period when this prophecy was to receive its complete accomplishment, is termed "the last days." Therefore, these are they.

We hold then, that mankind will be converted, simply and solely by means of the instrumentality employed from the

commencement: only worked, we admit, in a manner immeasurably more vigorous and diffusive. In place of the promised blessing being imparted only in occasional sprinklings, it shall be poured out—and that in floods in place of dropping only on favoured spots, it shall be rained upon the wide expansion of the world.

:

In those days, moreover, Christians will exhibit far more faithfully and vividly, than, alas! they do at present, the proper genius of Christianity, and spirit of its adorable author. They will be burning and shining lights: showing forth the praises of the Lord, and illuminating the world widely around them. Useful, affectionate, meek, pious, and altogether

lovely, they shall be eminently instrumental in winning souls to the Saviour,-in alluring multitudes, who shall behold their good works, to glorify God in the day of their visitation. This seems predicated in the following passage of Isaiah, addressed to the church-" Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

And the Gentiles shall come

to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising."

Then also shall missionary efforts be vastly increased. Greater exertions than the world has yet witnessed, or even dreamed of, shall be made to advance the Redeemer's kingdom. In proportion as the warmth of divine love shall expand men's hearts, selfishness will decline, and costlier offerings be cast into the treasury of the Lord. "Then thou shalt see, and flow together, (or overflow with joy,) and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee. The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of the Lord."

Then, God shall give the word, and great shall be the company of its preachers. He will raise them up, both in goodly numbers, and also richly furnished with all utterance and all knowledge; with all the requisite endowments of gifts and grace. They will be sons of thunder, and sons of consolation; and their word

will be with power. 'Then will the time

have come to extend the institutions of the gospel throughout the world. Benevolence, like the air, will move to fill up a vacuum. Like the light from its great fountain, it will fly to cheer the nations who sit in darkness. And having no resistance to encounter, but the simple power of error, the conflict will be but

momentary, and the victory complete. This also is in accordance with prophecy : for immediately after the downfal of Babylon is announced, all heaven breaks forth in extacy, saying, "Let us rejoice and give honour to him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." The Church of Christ is I called his bride; and the conversion of the nations to Christianity and to God, the day of her espousals.'

Meanwhile, the spirit of grace of supplication being poured out plentifully on the church, her children will be incited to an unprecedented earnestness and importunity in prayer, for a blessing on the seed sown; and it, thus watered, will take root downward and bear fruit upward, with more than the rapidity of a Canadian spring, "A nation shall be born at once: "because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth." "Before Zion travailed, she brought forth before her pain came, she was deli vered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children." Yea, so innumerable will be the offspring of the church be, they are compared to the drops of dew from the womb of the morning. "A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time."

In the progress of these events, the heart of the Jews shall be turned unto the Lord, and the veil, now upon it, be taken away; and they shall embrace that Saviour whom their ancestors crucified, and propagate that faith which once they destroyed. They shall become, with the Gentiles, one fold, under one Shepherd. And thus will the fulness of the Gentiles come in, and all mankind be converted unto God. For, if the fall of them, (the Jews,) be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how much more the fulness. And thus is the conversion of that interesting people described by the prophet, "Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as doves to their windows? Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee."

Such are the very glorious things yet to be realized on this fallen planet. Religion will not always be in a low and struggling condition. The church will not always be contemned and trodden down by the foot of persecution. The wild boar will not always waste her vineyards. Surely there is an end, and her expecta