we are exalted to heaven by privileges, but that we are debased beyond measure by their abuse. The apathy of the christian community, while her enemies are on the alert, forging chains to bind her, speaks volumes. Our only consolation is, "The Lord reigns, there fore let the earth rejoice." The Sinner's Justifying Righteousness; or, a Vindication of the Eternal Law and Everlasting Gospel, by John Beant, abridged; with a brief Introduction. By Thomas Jones, Curate of Creater. We have much pleasure in recommending to the spiritual minded believer in Jesus, the above concise Treatise, written by Mr. Beant, and ushered forth in its present abridged form, by the curate of Creater. A subject of such paramount importance, written with clearness and conciseness, as this present volume is, we have no doubt will meet with deserved patronage. The enquiry, urged by the writer, what is the justifying righteousness of siuners? and who shall provide our justifying righteousness?" it must be admitted, are of vast importance; especially so, in the present disposition of the church, many of whose professing members err from the truth, not knowing "how shall man be just with God." A right solution of this query, emanating from a practical and experimental knowledge of the subject, will decide the solidity of the foundation of our hopes, whether they be grounded in the moveless rock of eternal ages, and impervious to the storm; or, planted in the fleeting and unstable sand, which is washed from the shore by every wave, and swept away from its station by every rising billow. And, while it becomes an imperative duty, sweetened by the blessings of privilege, to listen to, and implicitly obey the exhortation of the Holy Ghost, by his servant, the apostle, " contend earnestly for the faith;" it behoves us, for our own advantage, steadily to watch the movements of our common enemy, lest he surprise us even in the act of defence, and stir up within our breasts, the combustable elements of nature, about, "words to no profit, to the subversion of the hearers." On the subject of the law, there has been much contention in every age of the church, which has terminated in rancour and bitterness, not to be justified on rational or revealed principles. We are pursuaded, that much of this apparent difference, arises more in misconception of each other's veiws, than is founded in fact. Each opponent agrees that every believer in Jesus, is delivered from the law, as a covenant of works, whereby he is to expect life and justification, and that he is delivered from his condemning power, by virtue of his espousal to the Lamb of God; and that love is the grand spring and true incentive to all holy obedience. There is, therefore, in reality, no difference; for the law of love, so strenuously advocated by the one, and the moral law pleaded for by the other, are alike the law of love, and the believer's only rule. Love to God, and love to our neighbour, is the sum and substance of the law. It is, and must ever be a law of love to the believer in Christ, though it denounces awful curses and imprecations to all who are under its precipice, as a covenant of works. There cannot be any perfect rule of obedience but the will of God. This will must of necessity be immutable. To suppose the possibility of any remission of requirements from this unerring standard, or relaxation of the penalties consequent on its violation, under any circumstances, is to imagine a chimera-is to conceive what is contrary to truth, and highly derogatory to the divine honour and holiness of its glorious founder. Our author has, in our opinion, in perfect consistence with the holy oracles of truth, satisfactorily established his views of the eternal and unalterable nature of the moral law; its identity with that given to Adam in his state of innocence, which continued to the period of its more open and distinct promulgation from sin, in substance precisely the same; and was also the same law which was published by the Redeemer on the sacred mount, and afterwards inculcated by his apostles as a perfect rule; and a true mirror to discover and exhibit our short comings, and convince us of our absolute need of a Redeemer's righteousness to render us accepted before the throne. The holy law of God is a perfect transcript of the divine mind and will; and as it is the essence of love to those who look to Jesus, the end of the law for justification, so the newly-begotten in him, being created in righteousness, and possessing, in his new-born nature, the very image of God, whose element is holiness, exults in that law, which condemns the sins of his carnal nature and enmity to God, in thought, as well as in word and deed. We are at a loss to conceive the validity of the contrary opinion; or to conjecture a reasonable motive for the abrogation of the rule, so much in concord and agreement with this in wrought principle of holiness, which is the derived inheritance of every saint. We leave the work, with these remarks, for the perusal of the humble enquirers after truth, trusting that they will realize both edification and establishment therefrom. Visits to the Religious World. Published by Seeley and Co. THE increase of religious novels, and the avidity with which they are read, are fearful signs that the form of godliness without the power, is all the religion which many professors who encourage this species of writing have. Our position is founded upon the very essence or properties of novels; which are not, and which cannot be reflecting mirrors in which the truth as it is in Jesus is seen, without their ceasing to be works of imagination founded upon facts and persons whose charm to the reader consists in the beauties given them by the writer, and their resemblance to real life. The "Visits to the Religious World," have more of reality, and less of fiction, than novels in general have. Indeed, it is an extraordinary work. He is Romaine revived. The author's object is to expose the errors of the religious world, and declare the whole council of God. He strenuously contends for truth in purity of sentiment, and reprobates the missionary spirit of the day, as fraught with evil, which he exhibits in its proper light. To transcribe the parts which have been subservient to our instruction and pleasure, would be to form a volume. We refer the reader to his remarks on "Preaching Christ;""Evening Conversations ;" "Cottage Visits," &c. and pray he may participate of the same profit we have realized from the whole. The following extract will, we conceive, bear testimony that our encomiums are not unduly given. "I would, however, my dear Sir, before we enter on the subject proposed, just observe, that you scarcely state the case fairly, in supposing me to deliver my sentiments in a mixed company: for I hope I am not often found except where the society is, at least professedly, christian, in our sense of the word. And with respect to your objection to such deep and mysterious points being brought forward, I must be allowed to say, that if they are deep and mysterious, they are, nevertheless, doctrines which have been revealed to babes,' although denied to the wise and prudent;—and doctrines also which I boldly venture to affirm, are intended to be the strength and rejoicing of every ransomed sinner's heart. I am aware, and I deplore it, that in this day of dim and clouded light, any topic of religious interest is preferred to the plain and simple gospel of Christ Jesus.-We have christian duties, christian feelings, christian obediences, christian charity, christian exertions, we have, in fact, the whole circle of " the things which accompany salvation," but salvation itself, and Christ, the key-stone, the foundation, the Alpha and Omega, are by some marvellous oversight, almost passed over in silence." There is much important matter contained in this chapter, which will, under the sacred influences of the Holy Ghost, be rendered highly useful and precious to the believer in Jesus. We cannot better conclude our remarks, or recommend this work more efficiently to the notice of the humble lover of the meek and. lowly Jesus, than introducing to his notice a selection from the subject of Christian Consolation ;" which, we think, will command its merited commendation. The conversation arose from the sight of some verses, descriptive of a mother awakening from sleep, after the death of her infant; where it is added, that " perhaps none but a mother can tell the anguish that such a sensation gives.' ""Desolate indeed!" she added, "if we knew not that the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort had taken the infant spirit into His own keeping. Rutherford says, that the child is not sent away, but only sent before, a star which, going out of sight, does not die and vanish, but shines in another hemisphere;' and I have no doubt, that my dear infant is now shining in the Redeemer's presence. I can, and I trust I do rejoice, that it is called away from evil to the enjoyment of heaven; but there are moments when the flesh is weak, and sees nothing but the departed object in all its endearments yet the gracious Saviour himself sympathizes in our infirmities, as He did with his disciples," the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." I find nothing will bring any help, but going at once with my helplessness and sorrows to Him, waiting upon Him in patient expectation. I can get relief in no other way, it is altogether vain to attempt reasoning on such a subject; the more one tries, the less one finds it possible; nature is too strong for us, but grace is all-sufficient, and our blessed Lord knows our feebleness, and instantly hears our cry, saying, it is my child, I will go down and help it.' Oh! my dear friend, they are blessed indeed, who, 'knowing their election of God,' can at all times look to him in confifidence, exclaiming, 'thou art my Father!' How gently does His fatherly correction fall upon the believing child's head!-how sweetly flow the words of consolation into his bosom!-how strong the voice of pardon and reconciliation!-how joyful the assurance, that every step is ordered in mercy, and that all things are working together for good! Oh! my dear Mary, would that it were possible for the mind to remain in one unvarying tone of gratitude and praise, and that we could in some way glorify a Saviour who has thus ransomed us from the power of the grave! But this can never be on earth, and we must learn to bear with ourselves and our infirmities :-a hard lesson this, but a needful one to the rendering honour unto God; if we could find one point of good in self to lay the finger on, we should instantly exalt it into an idol; and as quickly undervalue the exceeding great and precious atonement, already offered up for us. How the worthless creature, man, loves to seek for something that will help him in making out a kind of righteousness to add to the Saviour's work! I am often astonished to see how people burden their minds, and distress themselves in this attempt; they do not consider, that in looking to self, they shamefully dishonour Christ; palming upon the scriptures doctrines of their own, which neither the prophets or the apostles ever taught. Oh, how blind we are! and how we rob ourselves of happiness, when it lies at our very door. I have no doubt that thousands of believers who are now groaning under a feeling of unremitted sin, and find themselves utterly unable to conquer it, would be different characters if they studied their bibles more than they do; but they read a few chapters, and sigh over their deadness, and grieve over their unprofitableness, and then look for some direction from the precepts and advice of men! while if they would but search the word of life diligently, remembering what our Lord said, "search the scriptures, for they testify of me," how soon would they reap the benefit. But they read them to see what they testify of self, not what they testify of Jesus; and keeping their joyless eyes fixed on self and its deformity, they have no thought of raising them to Christ the divine Physician! All the multitudes that followed Him were healed; but they seem to love to cherish their diseases, and Satan finding this, holds them in legal subjection, and lends them all his aid to keep them so; and thus, poor tempted christians pass their life, some in sorrow and bitterness, some in a state of depression, not unfrequently terminating in spiritual deadness. And yet there is life abundantly given in the Saviour, and offers of abiding peace; consolations unnumbered; and not one threatening of condemnation; but on the contrary, sure and positive assurances of eternal life to all who believe, with remission of sins, and justifying righteousness. I cannot understand it! I cannot see how believers should wilfully remain under the yoke of bondage, when they are so con. stantly told that want of faith is the sin of the deepest die. And yet it is as impossible to convince a person, who does not deeply study his bible, searching for the Saviour,-that his sins are all blotted out, and that his name is in the book of life, as if there were no such confirmation in the Holy Spirit's own inditing; they think the evil that St. Paul laments as ever present, making him do that which he hated, and neglect that which his spirit loved, is worse than any other crime; they seem. determined to leave him behind as no example, and to renew their efforts, to dive deeper, and find something in self that will do better than simple faith. St. Paul and St. John were content to bear the trial of an evil nature, and to seek for justification by faith, saying, "whosoever is justified by works, he is fallen from grace :"-fallen, most truly! for grace sets the captive free; but these prisoners read their Master's command to come forth, and refuse to hear Him; they want to stay in their cells till they can make fine clothes to cover their poor ones: although a new garment is provided for them by their Lord, their pride forbids their accepting it, and there they wait, toiling in the dark, making and altering, until death pays his visit, clothes them with immortality, and compels them to see the truth." POETRY. Oct. 4, 1828. SUPPORT IN DEATH. WHEN tyrant death attacks my frame, My life blood lingers round my heart. Religion only can bestow, The courage which can death withstand; By it assur'd, we dare the foe, And smile at his uplifted hand. What, though a fiery lance it wield, Whose touch no mortal feels and lives; Faith nerves with strength the failing arm; Thus arm'd from heav'n's bright armoury, O death, where is thy boasted sting?" Almighty God! by whose indulgent pow'r Frail, trembling mortals, quit their fears of death, J. A. Oct. 2, 1828. SONNET. WHEN on thy brow, O wondrous Calvary! His heart's own blood, t'atone for human guilt, B. S. S. |