Antichrist; Papal, Protestant, and Infidel. An Estimate of the Religion of the Times: comprising a View of the Origin and Genius of the Roman Catholic System, and of its Identity with every Form of nominal Christianity. By the Rev. John Riland, M.A. Curate of Yoxall, Staffordshire. Nisbett.

THOUGH the numbers, wealth, and civil power of protestants, are greater than they were in the time of Luther, protestantism is not the same thing now that it was then. It was then a vital, spiritual principle in the human heart, which had a power with God that roused the nations to faith and evangelical obedience, and made Rome with her kingdoms, to quake and fear. Now it is but a mere shadow, the scorn of its enemies, and an object of lamentation to its real friends. To account for this mighty change, and to place protestantism upon its pristine pedestal of spiritual power and glory, are the objects of this work.

In the estimation of this author, the causes which have led to this fatal calamity, are to be found in protestants substituting the form of godliness for its power. This nominal christianity, he denominates the antichrist of the new testament, which he considers a resident in both the infidel world, and the protestant and catholic church. The two leading features of this spiritual monster, are antinomianism and self-righteousness. The forms which it assumes are numerous and various, and depend upon circumstances, and the will and interests of its numerous followers. Its spirit and aim are one. In Rome,

in protestant kingdoms, and in the infidel world, it hates the Saviour, and the power of godliness, usurps his throne, and for him places the pride of reason, free-will, the pomp of ceremonies, creeds, and the frames and feelings of a carnal experience of the truth. In one word, its end is the destruction of the cross of Christ, and the life of faith upon him, as the free, full, and everlasting Redeemer of his church. This is the antichrist, which the author of the work before us has found in the religion of the day; and which, in his judgment, has brought us to the eve of a revolution, which will assume the form of a war of opinions, but which may terminate in the church being purified by fire and blood.

"The reflectors of the present day think that we are on the eve of another revolution, which will assume the form of a war of opinions; while many exclaim, in the lines following Mr. Burke's citation from Addison,

"Through what new scenes and changes must we pass !
The wide, the unbounded prospect lies before us;
But shadows, clouds, and darkness rest upon it!"

"Those who honour this essay with a perusal, will soon discover that its author looks to the gloomy quarter of the horizon. At the same time, he would aspire to the confidence, that there is not the least cause of anxiety as to the final result of whatever calamities God may, in the interval, choose to inflict upon mankind. If he should see fit to purify his church by fire and blood, such as pass through the painful process will yet have cause to own, "True and righteous are thy judgments, thou King of saints!" If, on the other hand, the world continue its present comparatively pacific course, and so pass onward to a period of millennial glory, we know or ought to know

-that the servants of God, of whatever division of the universal church, will be preserved from the allurements and insidious temptations ever attendant upon a state of external tranquillity. "I pray not," said the Son of God to his Father," that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. And now I am no more in the world; but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me; that they may be one, as we are." Would that the feelings, which this act of the Redeemer's intercession ought properly to inspire in our bosoms, were ever present and influential! We might then venture, with greater confidence, into the labyrinths of controversy. We should also give a reason of the hope that is in us, with meekness and fear. Instead of this, we often argue in the spirit of petulance and self-confidence; or fight under the christian banner as mercenaries, calculating upon the success of a campaign for our own advantage. No wonder that we are so frequently thrown into disorder, and return from the combat with loss and disgrace!"

We will lay before our readers, his account of the manner in which the infallibility of antichrist acts in the protestant church.

"Infallibility, by whatever name we disguise it, is the last attribute which even an acknowledged successor of the apostles should aspire to possess. Judas was an apostle; but his assessors in his apostolical college were, of all men, the least arrogant. As to their infallibility, they spake as by inspiration" filled with the Holy Ghost"-and it was that very inspiration which taught them to temper their authority with the spirit of humility. They did not extort obedience to their decisions, as if it were to advance their own personal concern and interest; but as ministers acting simply for God, and well satisfied if by any means they could save some; and not stand at the head of parties.

"Observe with what expressions of self-condemnation the earliest fathers of the church described their original condition; and how they levelled themselves to an equality with their people. "Among whom," namely, such as "walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience,' we also all had our conversation in times past; in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." "We ourselves were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another."-" But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ." So that they affected no kind of spiritual superiority over the meanest of their converts, but united both the shepherd and the flock in one act of confession before God; and also declared, that by the same exercise of Divine compassion both were raised from the ruins of the fall, and to exactly the same privileges."

This work has our most hearty approbation; and with a similar feeling we recommend it to our readers.

The Duty of all who hear the Gospel to render towards it Pecuniary Assistance.-Hints to remedy the present Inadequate Support afforded to many Dissenting Ministers, including Suggestions respecting the Means by which their circumstances might be Improved.

THIS little work is sensible, and well written; and should be in the hand of every hearer of the gospel. Ministers would act wisely for themselves to promote its sale among their people.

POETRY.

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)

THE ROSE OF SHARON.-SOL. SONG II. 1.
O'ER spicy mountains let us rove,

And wander through the waving grove,
Where sweetest flow'rets are in bloom;
For there, among the cedars tall,

Is one that doth outvie them all,-
'Tis Sharon's Rose, of sweet perfume!
Once on the rugged cross it grew,
Yet then most brilliantly it blew,

Amid stern winter's awful gloom;
But justice came with burnish'd knife,
And cut the stem, and took the life

From Sharon's Rose, of sweet perfume!
The "cruel nails" were thence withdrawn,
And from the accursed tree 'twas torn,-
Death hurl'd it in the silent tomb;
It there reclin'd its drooping head,
While far the balmy odour spread,

From Sharon's Rose, of sweet perfume!

But though it in the grave was cast,
And bore Mount Sinai's fiery blast,
And met the sinner's awful doom;

Yet still the sap was in the root,
The fibres then began to shoot

From Sharon's Rose, of sweet perfume!
And then this ever-fragrant flower,
Sprang up in glory's brightest bower,
To flourish in immortal bloom;
And saints and angels stand to view
The open'd leaves of fadeless hue,

Of Sharon's Rose, of sweet perfume!
'Mong all the groves of heavenly bliss,
No flower will ever bloom like this,

Such glories none will e'er assume :
'Mid lilies fair, and cedars tall,
This one will far outvie them all,—

'Tis Sharon's Rose, of sweet perfume!

Orpington, Kent.

T. W.*

"I WILL BRING THY SEED OUT OF THE EAST."-ISAIAH XLIII. 5.

See the bright streaks of glory begun in the East,

'Tis the dawn of that day which shall never be closed

Till its growing refulgence irradiates the West,

And Satan's dark deeds by its beams be disclos'd.
There his demoniac power superstition displays,
And leagu'd by infernals, devours human kind;
O'er his ruin in triumph the "Ancient of Days,"
Shall extend his broad sceptre for mercy design'd.

How blissful the prospect-hope springs forth exulting,
Already to share in the joys that shall rise;
When each savage nation its idols renouncing,

Shall pay their glad vows to the King of the skies.
Then hasten, O hasten, victorious Redeemer,
Captivity crush 'neath the roll of thy car;
Till at once from the lips of each ransom'd sinner,
Salvation's loud anthem is heard from afar.

LINES WRITTEN ON THE RE-OPENING OF BURY STREET CHAPEL, AFTER ITS ENLARGEMENT, SUNDAY, SEPT. 20, 1829.

RECONCILIATION BY JESUS.-ROMANS v. 10.

Great Jehovah, by whose favor,
Distant sinners are brought nigh,
Through the merits of the Saviour,
Guilty worms are rais'd on high:
Ransom'd sinners,
Let thy song to Jesus fly!

By his precious blood he bought

THE

Spiritual Magazine;

OR,

SAINTS' TREASURY.

"There are Three that bear record in heaven; the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST: and these Three are One."

"Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

1 John v. 7. Jude 3.

NOVEMBER, 1829.

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)
REPENTANCE.

"Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."-Acts v. 31.

WHEN the first parent of the human family revolted from God, and by his sin entered into a conspiracy with Satan against the being, throne, and government of the Most High, he lost the perfection of his nature, which was the glory thereof, according to the nature of the covenant under which he was placed. He being alienated from God, never would have sought for a restoration of his friendship even according to the law, and we are quite certain that he knew nothing of the gospel in his state of innocency. Satan having drawn him into open rebellion against God, he had put it out of his power ever to return and offer homage to him as a righteous Legislator. Now as Adam was the root of the human family, and their federal head in law when he lived in Eden, it is very certain that what he then did, affected his progeny which was then in his loins, as their common father. The children therefore are born into this world with the same disposition of mind toward God which their father had, after he had eaten the forbidden fruit. As they grow in years they demonstrate practically that "God is not in all their thoughts." All their elections and rejections testify that they have not God. Man is in a moral sense dead; he is therefore unconscious that he is at any distance from his Maker. Ask him what are his views of the divine government, and you will quickly learn that he is in as bad a conVOL. VI.-No. 67.

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