them into all truth, and teaching, and bringing all things to their remembrance which Christ had said unto them." And the same he still executes for us, by instructing us out of the holy scriptures, which are the dictates of the same Spirit; and by bringing to our minds all necessary truths for our benefit and consolation, as occasion shall require. From Christ's promise, then, of this Comforter, Advocate, and Instructor, let us be ready to welcome him for all these purposes. Let us hearken to his consolations in all our troubles and distresses, and be ever willing to receive the cordials he is pleased to administer, to keep us from fainting under them. Let us rely upon him as our Advocate and Intercessor, against the cry and guilt of our sins; let us cast ourselves upon the merits of Christ's satisfaction, and depend upon his Holy Spirit, who is ever ready to plead our cause, and to make intercession for us. Moreover, let us hearken to the advice and directions of this holy Monitor, both in his private whispers, and more public instructions; never turning the deaf ear to either, but always listening to that voice, saying to us, "this is the way, walk in it," when we are turning to the right hand, or to the left. And then, he who now "guides us by his counsel here, will hereafter bring us to glory."-Dr. Hole. CHRIST'S OMNISCIENCE AND OMNIPRESENCEThe condescending character of our gracious Lord forms another incontestible argument of his glorious divinity. For, how could Christ counsel an almost infinite number of people, in all ages, in all places, in every instant, and at the same instant, unless he were both omnipresent, and omniscient? And surely, any one may conceive, that a gracious Being thus present to help, thus able to advise, thus willing to uphold, from one end of the world to the other, in all ages, and at all times-must necessarily be omnipresent and omniscient. Christ himself being true, it cannot be otherwise. If, then, the Lord Christ possess these divine attributes, he must be equal to Jehovah, and a Person in Jehovah; since none but the true and very God, according to the opinion of the deists themselves, can occupy all space and know all things. "But (to ase the apostle's word), as in Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge;" so, therefore, in Christ, reside all the glories of the Godhead. The treasures and "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," could not dwell in any creature. Speaking with reverence, God must undeify himself, and transfer his very being and perfections to another, before such a proposition could be true. Yet Christ hath all these treasures, is this very God, and hath manifested the effects of his Godhead and power, throughout the believing and spiritual, as well as the natural and visible world. As Jehovah's Counsellor, he must be one with and equal to Jehovah: and as the Counsellor of myriads of his creatures, diversified and dispersed, in earth or in heaven, he can be no other. Truly, he is Jehovah Immanuel himself, though he condescends, with wonderful mercy, to be also a Lamb, who "feedeth and leadeth" his people, "unto living fountains of waters;" and who will one day "wipe away every tear from their eyes."-Serle's Hora Solitariæ. Poetry. "ABIDE WITH US." Luke, xxiv. 29. BY THE REV. GEO. BRYAN. (For the Church of England Magazine.) "Abide with us"-we seem to hear The stranger marked their earnest air, Have gone to their eternal rest ; Have ofttimes pray'd the stranger-guest: "Abide with us :"-and none, in vain Has asked, of all that heav'nward train. From age to age, our fathers found, Where two or three devoutly met, And there their children meet him yet, Our house and heart thy dwelling be, And poor, and blind, and broken, we. Of boding thought, of crime, and care; And well I know, when death shall come, There will be bright wings hov'ring nigh To bear the heav'n-born brethren home; To sing how firm the high decree, That as your days your strength shall be! THIS WORLD AND THE NEXT. How goodly is the earth! Look round about and see The mighty branched tree; Its mountain-tops behold; The gracious showers descend; By day the glorious light; Hath still its fellow, shade- MARY HOWITT, 1839, Miscellaneous. POWER OF THE SPIRIT.-How much that appears difficult and insuperable in the estimation of man, is something more than merely possible with God: and thus it comes to pass, that his all subsiding and irresistible Spirit can bring close home to him those who were farthest off. Upon this principle also it is, that many, of whom, humanly speaking, we could have entertained but very faint hopes indeed, that they would ever turn to God, become under the transforming power of the Holy Ghost, as the spirit of conversion, the very chiefest among ten thousand believers. If God commences a good work within these, though the most dissipated and abandoned of the sons of Belial, they will become the most devoted, the most earnest, the most determined among the professors of the faith.-Bingham's Sermons. LETTE. The people are idolatrous in every sense of the word, since they pay reverence to an image of human shape, rudely carved from a thick piece of wood. This image is placed in a sitting posture, upon a square heap of stone, raised under a tree in the centre of the village. In the event of a death, a marriage, or any remarkable event, a large hog or a buffalo, which has been kept secret and fattened for the purpose, is slaughtered before this image. On one occasion I was present at the funeral of a native, which took place in the village of Batu Mean. The body had been led to the ground previous to my arrival ; a number of men were assembled round the spot, who were soon joined by a large party of women, bearing baskets containing household goods and dressed provisions, which were thrown into the grave by each as she approached. A number of aged women now commenced a loud wailing, which they continued without intermission until the grave was filled up with the earth. The crowd then collected around the idol, to which a quantity of provisions were offered, and the remainder of the day was spent by the people in feasting and praying around it. MOA. The inhabitants of Moa turn their chief attention to breeding cattle, and grow only a small quantity of vegetables and Indian corn, the two last being chiefly for home consumption. The vessels From "Voyages of the Dutch Brig of War Dourga, through the southern and little-known part of the Moluccan Archipelago, and along the previously unknown southern coast of New Guinea, Performed during the years 1825 and 1826, by D. Kolff, jun., Lieutenant ter Zee. Translated from the Dutch by George Windor Earl, Author of the Eastern Seas.'" London, J. Madden & Co. 1840. which come to trade with the island generally anchor under the coast of Lette, and obtain the buffaloes, goats, hogs, and fowls, from the natives of Lette, who go to Moa to purchase them; but the traders themselves sometimes go to Moa to fetch them in their own prahns. The inhabitants of the latter island never carry their stock to sea in their own vessels, as, from an old tradition, they entertain a superstitious notion that, were they to do so some serious misfortune would inevitably befall them. Their flocks and herds are composed chiefly of sheep and buffaloes. On Moa as well as on most of the other islands, the population is divided into two classes, Christians and Heathens, which may be considered as standing in the same relation to each other as masters and subjects. The subordination of the heathens (who are by far the most numerous) and the respect they entertain towards the Christains are very remarkable, and may be partly attributed to the superior consideration in which the Christains are held by our government; but undeniably it is in a great measure owing to an irresistible belief on the part of the heathens, in the moral superiority of the Christians. That the latter must be the chief cause is apparent, from no Dutch ship of war having visited these islands for a long series of years. On the north-east point of Moa a solitary high mountain called Korbon, or Buffalo Peak, resembling in appearance, but much inferior in height to the famed Peak of Teneriffe, raises its head above the remaining part of the island, which consists generally of flat land. The ground is every where corally, and on the south and south-eastern parts of the island there is very little cultivation. The extensive plains which produce nothing but alang alang, are converted into good meadow land by the skill of the natives, who, at the end of the dry season, when this coarse grass has been almost withered by the continual heat and drought, set fire to it, and it is soon reduced to ashes. The rains which shortly follow, combined with the heat of the sun, render the land thus prepared very productive, the ashes forming an excellent mauure. The young grass, which now springs up, affords sumptuous fare for the stock; this fact being attested by the sleek and fat condition of the buffaloes, sheep, and other animals which feed upon it; indeed the buffaloes of Moa are considered to be the best that can be procured among those islands. HINDOO INFANTICIDE.-Infanticide, it is well known, still prevails to a very horrible extent throughout Hindoosthan. Among the Nairs upon the and the northern provinces, it is impossible to calcuwestern coast, in Malwa and Rajapootan, in Oude late the amount of murder which is perpetrated upon longing to the Bengal service, was deputed by the female offspring. A few years ago, a gentleman begovernment to make a tour through the northern and independent kingdoms, and to calculate the amount port which he presented upon the subject was suffiof evil which might arise from this source; and the recient to harrow up the feelings of the most hardened man, and to rend the heart of the most profligate female. In all the provinces through which he passed, the principal chiefs not only acknowledged that this rooted in the affections of the people; that, with their horrid rite existed among them, but that it was own hands, they had murdered many of their own children, and that they knew their neighbours had destroyed many of theirs. TO CORRESPONDENTS. We have received H. E. B. London: Published by JAMES BURNS, 17 Portman Street, Portman Square; W. EDWARDS, 12 Ave-Maria Lane, St. Paul's; and to be procured, by order, of all Booksellers in Town and Country. PRINTED BY JOSEPH ROGERSON, 24 NORFOLK STREET, STRAND, LONDON. THE INTERNAL EVIDENCE OF THE TRUTH the Holy Spirit? and conveying that spiritual OF GOD'S WORD. No. II. BY THE REV. JOHN ELLISON BATES, M.A., Curate of St. Bride's, Liverpool. HAVING considered, in a former essay, the outward, we now proceed to the consideration of the inward evidence of the truth of God's word. life, which "the Lord and Giver of life" bestows? "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth." "Thy word hath quickened me" (James i. 18; Psalm exix. 50). Is it not wonderful in its promises? so exceeding great and precious that the saints of God, like Abraham and Moses, have abandoned their present substance for this evidence of things not seen (Heb. xi. 8, 26). Is it not wonderful in its power? searching the heart with the keenness of a "two edged sword" (Heb. iv. 12), and satisfying the soul with the precious balm of its heavenly truth I. Divine revelation possesses many re--"Sanctify them through thy truth; thy markable characteristics, which testify that it word is truth" (John xvii. 17). is indeed the record of God's will-of these, one of the most prominent is its wonderful nature. "Thy testimonies are wonderful, therefore doth my soul keep them." And indeed there are wonders connected with this sacred volume nowhere else to be equalled. We have already seen that it is wonderful in prophecy; is it not also wonderful in history? Here we find the origin of evil, the entrance of sin, the universality of death, the cause of the deluge, the rise and fall of kingdoms, wonderfully related. Is it not wonderful in the revelation of God? making known the existence of the Trinity in unity; (that mystery, to the consideration of which we are especially directed at this season) and declaring the power, the purity, and the perfections of the Most High. Is it not wonderful in the revelation of grace? proclaiming that "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son," by the shedding of whose blood he can " be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Is it not wonderful in the revelation of providence? solving the mystery why the wicked so often prosper, while the righteous are afflicted (Psalm Ixviii. 12, 13, 17). Is it not wonderful in declaring the gift of VOL. VIII-NO. CCXXVIII. Is it not wonderful in its precepts? teaching such principles and practice, as are "far above man's sight" to invent: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." Is it not wonderful in its privileges? "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus" (Gal. iii. 26); "Now are we the sons of God." And wonderful in its prospects? for "it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he (1 John iii. 2). "When Christ who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory" (Col. iii. 4). is Is it not wonderful in its consolations? cheering the afflicted, giving confidence to the timid, and strength to the weak? Let the sincere believer testify whether in the hour of tribulation and distress he has not found the comforts of a single promise so delight his soul, that he has exchanged his [London: Joseph Rogerson, 24, Norfolk-street, Strand] E E mourning for the oil of joy, and the spirit of heaviness for the garment of praise. 'Is it not wonderful in its effect? purging away the dross, burning up the chaff, and breaking the rock in pieces. It can alarm a Felix, humble an Ahab, and convert a Manassel. "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple making wise the simple" (Psalm xix. 7). And, to mention no more, is it not wonderful in revealing, exalting and glorifying him, whose name is "Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace?" (Is. ix. 6). Hither all these streams of wonder flow. Here they find their ultimate repose; in an "illimitable ocean without bound," whose "height and depth and length and breadth pass knowledge;" "Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." And when we find such wonders in God's testimonies (wonders, too, which purify the heart, rather than perplex; which make "wise unto salvation" rather than wise in our own conceits), shall not our souls keep them, and cling to them, and lay them up in our hearts as more precious than thousands of gold and silver? us confusion around them, their souls keep and II. But further, the word of God com- Let me in conclusion exhort you to cleave mends itself to the believer by the spiritual to the testimonies of God's word. If men light it carries with it. "The entrance of would shake your confidence in the holy thy words giveth light; it giveth understand- scriptures, do not reason with them; ing unto the simple." All we expect from do not read their books. It was the exother books is information; but the bible not press command of God to the Israelites only gives information, it imparts an under- that if either prophet or dreamer of dreams standing to receive it. Before the grace of attempted to turn them aside from his God reaches the heart, man is in a state of worship, "thou shalt not hearken unto the spiritual blindness. He may be learned and words of that prophet or that dreamer of intelligent in the things which pertain to this dreams." Clear and convincing evidence world, but in those which pertain to life and had been given that the worship of Jehovah godliness he is not only dark, but "dark- was the only true worship, wherefore it beness "i tself-"ye were sometimes darkness" came criminal even to listen to the voice of (Ephes. v. 8). "The natural man receiveth the seducer (Deut. xiii. 3). Not less criminal not the things of the Spirit of God, for they is it for us, with incontestible evidence before are foolishness unto him; neither can he us of the truth of scripture, to listen to the know them, because they are spiritually dis- subtilties of the sceptic and the infidel. cerned" (1 Cor. ii. 14). When, however," Enter not into the path of the wicked and the word, directed by the Holy Spirit, finds admittance into an humble, teachable, simple heart, it carries with it such an inward light, it conveys such a spiritual understanding, that he that believeth "hath the witness in himself." Happy are they to whom the Holy Spirit has given light through the medium of his word. To such the scriptures are a light shining in a dark place--their only stay, their only support in this wide waste of troubled waters. Amidst the elements of go not in the way of evil men: avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away" (Prov. iv. 14, 15). If a man places poison before me, and I know it to be such, he may call it narrow-minded bigotry, but I would still refuse to taste of it. "Avoid these profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called" (1 Tim. vi. 20). Withdraw yourselves from "the perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth." Remember that your on refused to listen. The world has The modern opposers of this chief article of the faith is established, not upon the shifting | escape the assaults of Satan and his emissaries in the quicksands of human opinion, but upon the world; it has not escaped-learned men without hard, solid rock of indisputable facts. Follow morality, and moral men without piety, have openly your Lord's example. When the scribes and impugned it at different periods, and in divers counpharisees called in question his divine autho-tries, from the beginning of the Christian era. The rity, he did not descend to the level of argu- methods adopted to get rid of it have been various, but mentation, he appealed to facts: "Whether attended with very similar success. is it easier to say thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say, arise and walk; but that ye may know that the Son of man hath power earth to forgive sins (then saith he to the sick of the palsy), arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house; and he arose, and departed to his house" (Matt. ix. 5, 6). The (Matt. ix. 5, 6). The miracle was a fact, which no sophistry could evade. And God has furnished us with a perpetuated miracle in the Jewish nation. If the bible be not the word of God, how could it have foretold the history of this singular race hundreds of years before the events came to pass? We appeal to facts. But not only cleave to God's testimonies, let "your soul keep them." Rest not satisfied with the outward evidence, seek to have that entrance of the word which gives light and understanding. The scriptures, plain as they are and adapted to the capacities of the unlearned, are yet a sealed book to the soul which will not seek the teaching of God's holy Spirit. Here the high and the low, the rich and the poor, the learned and the unlearned, stand upon the same level; all have need, and all must seek, the promised gift of the Spirit of God. For this "will God be inquired of." The established rule of his administration is, "ask and ye shall have, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." Let your aim be to become wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus: and, remembering that the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and faith unfeigned, "be not forgetful hearers of the word, but doers also:" and thus by well doing put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. If our souls keep the testimonies of God, believing in a Saviour's blood for pardon, and depending upon the Holy Spirit for grace and help, our lives will furnish a convincing proof that we have not "followed cunningly devised fables." THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY.* THE doctrine of the Trinity is that which lies deepest in the Christian faith, and spreads widest through Christian practice; Christianity without it is a mere skeleton, without life or beauty. It was not to be expected, therefore, that this cardinal doctrine should • From Preface to Lecture: "The Doctrine of the Trinity proved as a consequence from the duty of our Lord Jesus Christ." By the Rev. David James, Minister of St. Mary's, Kirkdale. From Liverpool lectures on Unitarianism. 1839. Christian faith, have always complained that the word "Trinity" is not to be found in the bible. Whilst we readily admit this fact, we think we can satisfactorily account for it. Divine revelation does not usually set forth doctrines in abstract terms, but in full language and detailed statements; that is, it lays them before us in their distinct and several parts, with practical illustrations of the truth of each, that the simplest minds might perceive them and believe. There is no such word, for instance, in the scripture, as loyalty; but there is "honour the king." There is no such phrase as moral evil, but it is stated, "sin is a transgression of the law." The expression free agency cannot be found, but the doctrine is admitted in such texts as the following: "Choose you this day whom you will serve." "Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life." We nowhere meet with the word omnipresence, but we meet with tantamount expressions in reference to the divine Being: "The heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee." "Whither shall I flee from thy presence?" If the word Trinity, therefore, be nowhere found in scripture, yet the doctrine set forth by that word is found everywhere. And this doctrine, properly speaking, cannot be expressed in one word, for it consists of two distinct parts, one God, three divine Persons. And, as in reference to all other sciences, the use of concise technical terms is sanctioned by general consent, it is only fair that theology, the most important of all sciences, should be allowed the same privilege. Socinus was a little more liberal, and gave it as his opinion, that, amongst all lovers of truth, it would be deemed sufficient that the point in question was attested, though the express words in which it was stated could not be found. But the word Trinity is of more ancient date than the public may happen to know. It is found in the writings of Justin Martyr, who was converted to the Christian faith about the year of our Lord 140, but that he was the inventor of the word is more than any one can prove. He was for some time contemporary with Polycarp and Papias, two disciples of the apostle St. John, and it is not improbable that he found the word in use with them. However that may have been, it is a fact, that between the death of St. John and the conversion of Justin Martyr, there intervene only 46 years. This brings the use of the word within half a century of the apostolic age. And to assert that the word was not in use until it was written, is to assert a little too much; and to suppose that it was used and written without any meaning is still more absurd. The next who makes use of the word in his writings is Theophilus, a gentile convert, who was appointed bishop of Antioch, in the year of our Lord 170, about 30 years after the conversion of Justin Martyr. The word occurs in his second book, addressed to Anto |