mayest live." Deut. xxx. 6. What was the prayer of David when supplicating holiness from God? "Create in me a CLEAN HEART, O God, and renew a RIGHT SPIRIT within me.” Psalm li. 10. What was the call of Jehovah by Ezekiel to the Jews? "Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a NEW HEART, and a NEW SPIRIT." Ch. xviii. 31. Wherein consisted, in the worship of the Pharisees, that which rendered all their services an abomination to the Lord? "This people honoureth me with their lips, but their HEART is far from me." Mark vii. 6. What is implied in the solemn admonition of Peter to Simon? "Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for I perceive that thine HEART is not right in the sight of God ?" Acts viii. 21, What are we taught in the awfully awakening admonition addressed to the Church in Corinth? "If any man LOVE NOT the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha." 1 Epist. xvi. 22. What is set forth to the Ephesian Christians as the lesson taught by "the truth as it is in Jesus ?” “That ye put off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be RENEWED in the SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND ; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Ch. iv. 22-24. In the following passage he confutes Mr. Irving's assertion, that "the motions of depravity in our hearts," the opornua oapsos, are not sin. "First; let us hear the word of God. The wickedness of the antediluvian world consisted in the workings of indwelling sin, as much as in external impiety and violence; "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that EVERY IMAGINATION OF THE THOUGHTS OF HIS HEART was only evil continually ;" Gen. vi. 5. David acknowledges that the authority of God extends to the state of the inner man; ** Behold, thou desirest truth in the INWARD PARTS, and in the hidden parts thou shalt make us to know wisdom;" Psalm li. 6. Solomon teaches that forming an evil imagination is a transgression; "the THOUGHT OF FOOLISHNESS is sin ;" Proverbs xxiv. 9....Secondly; if we look at the nature of the works of the flesh, it may at once be perceived that they consist chiefly, if not altogether, in disposition; and cannot rise in the heart without an infraction of our obligation. Hatred is a state of feeling, and cannot be without the commission of sin. The same remark will apply to variance, emulations, wrath, strife, and envyings. The very existence of such feelings in the compass of our being is a sin, because it is 'a want of conformity to,' and 'a transgression of,' the Divine law." We think these errors of great and vital consequence, affecting not merely Mr. Irving's erroneous scheme, but the whole of our common Christianity, by tending to diminish the horror of sin, and thereby to lower the practical power of religion. We fear that we must refer the reader to Mr. Urwick's work for his excellent observations on Mr. Irving's unscriptural view of the union of believers with Christ, and on the ordinances of the Christian Church, as well as for his proofs of the sinlessness of the human nature of the Redeemer, derived from the titles given to him in the Scripture, from the record of bis moral character, the complacency with which his person was regarded by Jehovah, the miraculous production of his manhood, the purposes for which it was designed, and the differences declared to exist between his manhood and ours. We hesitate not to say, that Mr. Urwick proves his point completely, and that he can only be opposed by denying Christ's human nature to form part of his person-by assuming a double person in Christ— or by limiting original sin, from which, be it observed, Mr. Irving allows that Christ's human nature was free, to the imputation of Adam's guilt, exclusive of inherent corruption. The system that could suppose a being How singularly the school of Mr. Irving symbolises with the Council of Trent, it is unnecessary to point out. heart's core, that included in its person a manhood, "corrupt to the very and from the centre of its inmost will, sending out streams black as hell""bristling thick and strong with sin, like the hairs upon the porcupine"united in "the inheritance of Adam's guilty soul and sinful flesh," and yet in personal union with the divine, the immaculate Word-that such a being was an object of complacency with the holy Jehovah, fitted to be a sacrifice for sin, acceptable to him who "trieth the heart and the reins," and capable of doing that which human nature in its ordinary state cannot do, because it is" weak through the flesh," such a system, so opposed to every principle that has guided the Church, and to every view suggested by Scripture, can only be supported by the perversion of truth, or the bold assumption of falsehood. The chapter on Mr. Irving's assumed Catholicity, might have been spared, except to render Mr. Urwick's book complete. It will easily be conceded by any one acquainted with Christian antiquity, that views, so monstrous and so inconsistent, and so unscriptural, as those advanced by Mr. Irving, could not have been held by the primitive Church; and the exposure of Mr. H. Drummond's fabricated authorities by Mr. Haldane, and the promised publication of Mr. Dods, render it unnecessary for us to remark upon the subject. Nothing but a blinded love of system could induce any one to make such an assumption; and it certainly required no little intrepidity to attempt to prove it. Of late authorities we shall only say, that with the exceptions we have mentioned in the beginning of this article, we do not think another writer can be quoted who agrees with Mr. Irving and his friends. But we must conclude. Mr. Urwick's full refu tation of these errors will be read for its intrinsic Scriptural value, long after the errors themselves have sunk into oblivion. They may at first have, by their novelty, a little popularity among the younger class of our theologians; but the Protestant Churches shake them off, and their strange and anomalous mixture of Nestorianism, Gnosticism, Popery, and Socinianism, will be embalmed in the replies of Mr. Urwick and his orthodox coadjutors, like the odious absurdities of the second century in the confutations of the Fathers, to astonish future generations of theologians, and lower the self sufficiency of human nature. NOTICES OF BOOKS. Irishmen and Irishwomen.-R. M. Tims, Dublin. that amuses us more, and at the same time lets us into the real causes of the evils and disturbances of the land, than the Author of Hyacinth O'Gara. We think he has a full * Our readers, who are not acquainted with the arts of controversy, will not be prepared to bear, that the author of the "Candid Examination of the Controversy," concerning Christ's human nature, and who is well known to be Mr. H. Drummond, has been more than accused of quoting authors in defence of Mr. Irving's opinions, who are decidedly opposed to them, and of supplying their testimony, by omissions, false punctuations, and other means of wringing from a witness what he is unwilling or unable to disclose. Mr. Haldane has taken the trouble of examining the authorities quoted, and pointing out their fallacy; but he has done more; he has not only proved that the writers quoted by Mr. Drummond, hold views different from those to support which they were quoted, and that Mr. Drummond must have known this: but he adds, what we give in his own language, "Mr. Drummond knew that I had detected his misquotations and garbled extracts. He knew I was about to publish on the subject; he used every means in his power to prevent the exposure; offered to make a retraction of any thing in which I considered myself improperly treated, and to stop the sale of the Candid Examination," " The annals of controversy do not present a parallel. perceptibility of the humorous points in the Irish character, and can bring them out in accurate and living relief, with a nicer and more delicate touch than almost any existing writer. For the last twenty years a well-organised system has been carried on of promoting certain political objects through the means of stories descriptive of the Trish peasantry; and Messrs. Moore, Baynim, and Griffin, have thus brought out the wrongs, the ruin, and degradation of the Irish peasantry, as arising from the oppression of England and her Protestant government. Our Author takes a contrary view; and exbibits, under an intimate acquaintance with the habits and propensities, the errors, the vices and virtues of the people, more especially in those districts bordering on the counties of Longford, Roscommon, and Westmeath, and has shown how their contempt for the laws, their strong propensity to combine in secret association, their utter recklessness in shedding human blood, are fostered by the encouragement they mistakenly conceive they have received from certain clergymen of their own communion, and certain liberal magistrates and landlords, who are for ever putting them in mind that they are an oppressed people, and that the law is their eneiny, and Protestants their persecutors, and the government their tyrants. The object of the present story is to describe the results of a dark Rockite conspiracy carried on in a certain district above alluded to; and, in developing its details and consequences, the Author shows himself intimately acquainted with the people. The way in which young and reckless men, free from all restraint of true religion, and the fear of God, are worked on by dark and deeper conspirators to shed buman blood-the agitation of one of these murderers, in whose mind gratitude finds a place-his schemes to save a good and kind lady, who was likely to be involved in the meditated slaughter-his association for this purpose with a half-witted creature, whose mind has received a wonderful enlargement by reading the holy Scriptures- the nice and bumorous touches with which he draws the characters of such Irish women as Ileen and Mrs. Costigan-of such Irishmen as Father O'Floggin and Mr. Fitzcarrol; all conspire to make it what the. Author intended-an Irish picture. The infidelity that lurks under the outward observances of Romanism, is sufficiently exhibited in the conversation and conduct of St. Leger O'Connell, and Mrs. Costigan. The contrast between the priests of the old French school and those of Maynooth breeding, is evident in the portraits of Fathers Duff and O'Floggin. There is little plot, and less love, in the whole composition. There is in almost all our Author's writings a good deal of over-coloring-he deals a little too much in caricature. But of this we can assure our readers, that there are few works of fiction, if this be strictly so, that are better fitted for family perusal; for here will be found a great fund of amusement, much genuine description of Irish life and bumour, while the whole is conducive to the upholding of vital religion and sound loyalty. The Star-The Sinful Laugh-Little Oaths-The Wasp, &c. Dublin: Religious Tract and Book Society, We beg to call our readers' attention, especially those who are engaged in the instruction of youth, whether at home or in Sunday and daily Schools, to some new little books published by the Religious Tract Society for Ireland. From the anxious solicitude which the committee of this admirable Society evince to put forth nothing but what is strictly sound in doctrine, and practical in moral tendency, we might safely recommend whatever they patronize, but when we know that these come from the pen of Charlotte Elizabeth-and who is there that does not know this pious, this eloquent, this fervid friend to Ireland--she who devotes the thoughts of her beautifully sustain. ed life to promote the good of all, but whose mind is particularly directed towards Ireland, we feel double confidence in our commendation, we may specify a few of these tracts, The Star, the Sinful Laugh, Little Oaths, The Wasp, &c. There cannot be a more useful, or, at the same time, a more enlivening instructive book for youth than the Star. FOREIGN RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. རྩྭ་‚ས ↓ལྟ་ INDIA. Extract of a letter from a Clergyman of the Church of England for some time resi dent in the presidency of Bombay, June 1830, My whole time is spent in my cuchee translations of Scriptures. I am labouring ten bours a day in this delightful task. At first I had many difficulties to encounter, but my way has now become smooth and easy in a month or a little more, I shall finish the four Gospels; and I think by the end of the year, or in the month of March at the furthest, the VOL. XI. whole New Testament. I shall slumber not nor sleep till I finish this task. No one who has not been in India, can form even an idea of the probable results of these translations that are now preparing in all the tongues of India. God in them addressing the nations, not through the medium of preachers, but in his own voice; and all the conversions that I have heard of on this side of India, have been by the silent reading of the Scriptures and scripture tracts, rather than by the preaching of the missionaries, whose exertions are however most meritorious, and theirs is main U ly the glory of executing these translations. be readily granted, I shall most certainly have at Surat, three brothers have translated the whole of the Scriptures into Yaozaeratee unaided, uncheered, and even unheard of; a task equal to that, which about the time of the reformation occupied the whole hierarchy of England for nearly a century. There is no greater mistake, than that the Indians are averse to receive the Scriptures; so far from it they are seeking after them with the greatest eager ness, and are reading them and searching them with the greatest interest all over India, The good and ingenious Bishop Heber has given his testimony to the fact, that as a moral code, they prefer it to every other book. This coincides with all my observations in every school in India, where the English have gone from the shores of the Indus to the Ganges; from Cape Comorin to Delhi, you might imagine you were in a Christian school. You hear the children repeating the Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer, or reading the parables, or the Sermon on the Mount, or the history of Joseph and his Brethren. They, it is true as yet, deny the Divine authority of Scripture, and are afraid of their children being converted; but that arises rather from the terror of that hedious engine of Satan, Hindoo excommunication, than any objection they have even to the peculiar doctrines of Christianity. My object is, as soon as I get my translation printed, to put it in circulation, and then call the more learned of the natives together, and with them to compare it with their own Shasters, and thus to reason with them on those things that belong to their eternal peace. May we not reasonably suppose, that this admiration which the Indians have of the morality of the Scriptures, may be a way God is taking to make rough places plain, and to prepare their minds for the reception of the great mystery of godliness -God made manifest in the flesh. I wrote a letter to Rand A- —some time ago of which I requested them to transmit a part to you. In this letter were explained my views on a most important subject, no less than the abolition of infanticide on this side of India. In hopes that you may have seen that letter, I do not now repeat its contents further than to say, that the subject has more and more taken possession of my spirit; for some months past it has pained my mind even to sleeplessness. I feel the command of God laid upon me to make the attempt, and to it I vow my Indian life. Were I at liberty, I would instantly return to Europe, and preach a crusade against the horrid practice, in every town and city in the three kingdoms. The task is, no doubt, an arduous one; but I have fecilities which no other man enjoyed. Only three days ago I had a long and a very satisfactory conversation about it with the prime minister of Cutch, and was delighted to find that he has it as much in horror as we bave, Such is my influence in the palace of B--, that I can ask no favour there that will not FRANCE. The subjoined extract of a letter just received from Paris, will be read with pleasure : "Our chapels are overflowing-three hundred children are attached to them; we do not know what to do to get accommodation for the numbers who wish to attend. If we had ten thousand pounds to provide chapels, we could have congregations of a size, and schools of a number to astonish Europe. "A remarkable circumstance has just occurred: a large number of reformed priests have applied for means to separate themselves from the Church of Rome. They affirm that there are two thousand five hundred priests of their body affiliated with them throughout France. They have just drawn up a Confession of Faith, which is almost analogous with English Episcopacy. Application has been made to the English Bishops. Already many parishes have sent for priests of this body; one has been sent to Montaign. This day the celebrated Dupin has applied for one for Nevers, (a place of thirty thousand inbabitants,) where the National Guard has taken possession of the church, declaring, that they will have no Jesuits for Curés. The Confession of the reformed body of priests is this:No pope, no infallible church, no Latin mass, two sacraments, no celibacy of priests, no injunction to regular confession, but the Word of God as the only rule of faith. "This day a royal ordinance has appeared, suppressing the Catholic missions, and taking its funds, and abolishing all holidays, but those of Easter, Christmas, and Pentecost. land. You see that highway is politically opening Missionaries at Friedericksthal, in Greenfor the grand march of Gospel truth. "Paris, Jan. 9. 1831." In addition to the above interesting intelli. gence, we may add, that letters have been received from the British Consul in Paris, confirming the intelligence; and that the King of the French has actually sent over to the Bishop of Winchester, with whom he had a former acquaintance, for a copy of the Liturgy of the Church of England. GREECE. On the 2d of August, the following proclamation was posted on the walls of Salonica, near the synagogue:— “Oh, ye children of Israel residing in the city of Salonica. "Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Abraham; and hear Joseph Wolff, your brother! And I will tell you what shall shortly come to pass ! “1, Joseph Wolff, am verily a man, a Jew, the son of a rabbi, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law; and suddenly the light of the grace of God shined round about me, and I believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah, our righteousness, and that he was cut off, but not for himself; and that he made his soul an offering for sin, and was cut off out of the land of the living; for the transgressions of the people was he stricken. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all! But the Lord shall pour out upon you the spirit of prayer and supplication, and you shall return to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and then he will come, after seventeen years hence, in the clouds of heaven, with great glory and majesty, and build up the city of Sion; and then He shall raise up the poor out of the dust, and lift the needy out of the dunghill-Says "JOSEPH WOLFF." GREENLAND. Singular Preservation.-The following remarkable fact is transcribed from "The Twelfth Report of the Committee of the London Association in aid of the Missions of the United Brethren. for the year 1829;" and affords a striking illustration of Divine Providence in reference to those Missions. Here are seen the triumphs of the Gospel, in the conversion of two poor Pagans, who, "in their heathen state," the Missionary says, "came into the neighbourhood of Lichtenau, and gave us much trouble by their wild dances and unruly behaviour." The account is copied from the diary of the On July 4th, (1827,) the assistant, Nathanael, arrived here with his family. He immediately called upon us, both to make a report of his success in the seal-fishery, and of the remarkable preservation of his life; the narrative of which might almost appear fabulous, had he not related it himself; and he is a man of unimpeached veracity. First, he exclaimed, “I have now experienced what it is to be near death ;" and then related the following adventure, who was yet inexperienced in the manageBeing in company with another brother. ment of a kayak, he met a neitsersoak, the largest kind of seal, which he killed. He then discovered his companion upon a flake same species, and in danger. He therefore of ice, endeavouring to kill another of the left his dead seal, kept buoyant by the bladder, and hastened to help his brother. suddenly a strong north wind arose, and They succeeded in killing the seal; but carried off both the kayaks to sea. They now with terror beheld themselves left upon a small flake of ice, far from the land, driving about in the open sea; nor could hood. They cried aloud for help, but in they discover any kayaks in the neighbourvain. Meanwhile, the wind rose in strength, and carried both the kayaks, and also the piece of ice, swiftly along with the waves. Having lost sight of the former, they now saw themselves without the least hope of deliverance. Nathanael added, “I continued praying to my Saviour, and thought with great grief of the situation of my poor family; but felt a small degree of hope arising in my breast." Unexpectedly, he saw his dead seal floating towards him, and was exceedingly surprised at its approaching against the wind, till it came so near the flake of ice that they could secure it. But how should a dead seal become the means of their deliverance ? and what was now to be done? All at once, Nathanael resolved, at a venture, to seat himself upon the dead floating seal, and, by the help of his paddle, which he had kept in his hand when he joined his companion on the ice. to go in quest of the kayaks. Though the sea and waves continually overflowed him, yet the body of the seal being sufficiently buoyant to bear his weight, he kept his seat, made after the kayaks, and succeeded in overtaking his own, into which he crept, and went in quest of that of his companion, which he likewise found. He also kept possession of the seal, and now hastened in search of the flake of ice, on which his companion was most anxiously looking out Neits ersoak is a large species of seal, with a short, thick, black wool under its white hair, which gives it a beautiful grey colour. It has likewise a thick folded skin on its forehead, which it can draw over its eyes, like a cap, to defend them against the storms, waves, stones, and sand; it was for this reason called clapmutz. It is abou nine feet long.-Crantz' History of Greenland. |