to Christ shall at the last overcome death, and shout victory to God and the Lamb.

Our Author then glances at the real gain of the christian by death; and lastly, makes a few observations on the resurrection and ascension of Christ as the forerunner of his people.

We recommend this work to our readers, praying that the Holy Spirit may bless it to their edification.

On page 13, speaking of the complicated sorrows of Christ, Mr. B. calls them the closing scenes of his mortal life." We hope our Author will correct this in his second edition, for Christ's humanity was never mortal: sin brought in mortality, and though he bore our sins, he was sinless, and consequently immortal.

The Christian's Armour, in Ten Sermons, discovering all the arts and machinations of Satan-Exhorting Christians to fight the good Fight of Faith-to withstand the wiles of the Devil-and to quench all the fiery darts of the Wicked. By the Rev. Charles Simeon, M. A. 32mo. pp. 128. Cornish.

In these short discourses Mr. Simeon has set forth the armour of the christian as deduced from Paul's epistle to the Ephesians, chapter vi. from 10th to the 18th verses; and we were much pleased with the observations made. And though we do not accede to all Mr. Simeon's views, there is so much that is excellent, that we feel no hesitation in recommending these Sermons to our readers. May the believer in Jesus be stimulated by the nervous arguments of the writer, to have his eye more steadily fixed on the great Captain of his salvation, that he may indeed be enabled to fight the good fight of faith.

Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion, with brief and sound Answers to the Objections of Adversaries. 32mo. pp. 408. Cornish,

This is an abridgment of the masterly work of John Calvin, originally published in Latin, and was some years back published in three volumes, 8vo. translated into English by Mr. Allen. To such persons as have not the means, or the leisure to read the original work, which is now very scarce, will find much useful information in this abridgement.

A Pastoral Address to the Church of Christ at Woodbridge Chapel, on Church Discipline. By Richard Luckin. 18mo. pp. 50. London, T. Slaughter.

We have read this concise address with much gratification. It describes, under eight leading divisions, the qualifications and the privileges of church members; and exhorts them to unity, brotherly love, christian diligence, steadfastness, and watchfulness. Did our limits permit, we should have been rejoiced to enrich our

pages with an extract from this Author's remarks on unity, but must content ourselves with referring our readers to the tract itself, which we trust will be made a means of usefulness.

Some part of Mr. Luckin's church order, would not be approved by all our friends; it is exactly similar to Mr. Irons in his recent little work, the minister having the sole power in the admission of members, the deacons only to

serve tables."

May 17.-Solemn day! Called to follow one of the tenderest of parents to the tomb, to behold the debt of justice in the fall of the outward part. O for grace to bow to the awful sovereignty of him, whose will settled the destiny of all! Covenant Jehovah, work in me to will and to do of thy good pleasure on this trying day, that I may adoringly bow to the opening of thy eternal decree; and while Thou art saying, "I will have mercy upon whom I will have mercy, and have compassion upon whom I will have compassion," grant that I may be as clay in the hands of the potter. O that I may be saved from all the perturbation consequent upon ignorance of the settlements of eternity, and be aided from on high in the strength of a living faith to be dumb, and open not my mouth, because thou didst it; to acknowledge thy eternal independence and divine supremacy, who worketh all things after the counsel of thine own will. Though thy determinations run counter to my feelings, and pierce the very quick of sense, may I be strong in faith giving glory to God. Let me in high acts of worship bow to the decision of thy uncontrollable decree. "It is not mine to give," said the heir of all things," but for whom it is prepared."

for

grace in adoring prostration of spirit to exclaim, "Tis even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight."

While there is no gleam of hope to cheer us in the solemnity of death, no bright rays to pierce the gloom of the sepulchre, no future expectation to animate us in the severing stroke; may my worshipping soul adore, as Aaron on a like solemn occasion: "Hold my peace," nor arraign the Majesty of the heavens in the solemnity of his eternal decree, in the fixation of his will, and the righteous procedure of his unerring reign. O for grace to go forward this day in the language of my Lord, Father, glorify thy name." And possessing the feeling of a brother of old, openly to testify, "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right!"

To assert eternal providence, and justify the ways of God to man, is the employ of the new creation; "all his ways are right." His character unimpeachable in all he does; justice and judgment inhabit his throne. If he let transgression take its

consequences on the person that sinned, who can attach unrighteousness to his character? His honours bind him to punish sin; his justice eternal vindicates the honours of his throne. For he is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity; we are all condemned to eternal perdition as law-breakers: "For the carnal mind is enmity against God." We have waged war with heaven, and made a covenant with death and hell. The wrath of God is revealed against all unrighteousness; and the mandate of the eternal Three is, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the book of the law to do them." Where is the man or woman under the sun whom Jehovah's law does not condemn, who are not under the curse, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever?

Such was, and such would have been thy case, O my soul, had not love eternal embraced thee in its everlasting arms; had not grace grasped thee in union to Jesus; hadst thou not been enclosed in the rainbow of covenant mercy, and thine interest infolded in the deeds of Messiah-all this laid the bosses for love's manifestation in the day of calling grace, which opened the intentions of Jehovah's loving heart towards me. What a lecture on divine sovereignty this circumstance preaches! Truly the voice of God is powerful; the mother left, and the children taken! How visible is the line of election in all that is transpiring." My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." O that I may rejoice with trembling this day; and view, with a steady faith, the yawning sepulchre, in the midst of sorrow; and rejoice that My name is written in heaven. And while I resign all that is dear to my nature, claim affinity with the sacred Three in God, and rejoice in my inseparable union to the Lord of glory, who is my eternally well-beloved and everlasting joy.

Holy Ghost, may thy all-sustaining grace support me under the sinking feelings of nature; and while called to own thy divine right in calling whom thou pleasest, let thy marvellous love appear in its brightest rays, to cheer and animate my faltering and trembling soul.

How eternally sure are all the means to effect the gracious designs of Jehovah! and how inefficient is all beneath omnipotence. Here is an instance of one sitting under the preaching of the gospel for years, but God was not in the sound to her soul: unless Jehovah quickens the soul dead in sins, there is no ear for the melody, let the charmers charm ever so wisely. "All that the Father hath given Him shall come-They shall hear the voice of the Son of God and live-Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power." Every minutia of his well-regulated plan comes to pass with absolute certainty; every heir of heaven is called into spiritual life at the moment designed in eternity; every sheep wandering on the dark mountains of unregeneracy, sought out according to eternal purpose; and the children of eternal adoption are visited and gathered under the family roof

of Zion. If God imparts not life, all the means are of no avail; the ground must be made good by his Almighty hand, to produce any fruit to the glory of his name. "Salvation is of the LORD;" not only in purpose and accomplishment, but in manifestation and completion, to the praise of the glory of his grace.

.66

My grace is sufficient," has been proved in this long dreaded circumstance. How cheering are the promises, under deep exercise of mind! What a support are the grand doctrines of the gospel! How fortifying to the mind, when the Lord's will runs counter to our feelings! Under the Holy Ghost's soul-melting influence how blessed to fall into the will of God. O my soul, trust in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.

Southwark.

E. M.

[We insert the foregoing, but beg to remark, that we do not approve of any man's presuming to determine the final state of any other professed believer, or even of any soul. Who will dare to say what the God of all grace may effect even in the latest moment. He is a sovereign, and it is our duty to leave it in his hands. We regret that our esteemed brother should have wrested the doctrine of divine sovereignty, so as to assume himself the judgment-seat upon his own Parent's final destiny.-ED.]

ON ASSURANCE.

THOUGH assurance be the privilege of all God's people, it is by no means the lot of all. Nevertheless it is the duty of all to press after it.

Assurance is the highest degree of faith, and faith being the root of holiness, as faith prevails, holiness and deadness to the world will prevail; for "this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

Peter's assurance gave way, and he fell foully. But Christ prayed that his faith might not fail, and he fell not finally.

If, as some affirm, assurance begets a careless walk, then the most desirable state a christian can be in would be that of despair, as being the direct opposite to assurance; and the prayer of the apostles, "Lord increase our faith," should be turned into, "Lord increase our unbelief, and diminish our faith, lest it grow into assurance, and we should thereby be emboldened to commit iniquity with greediness."

But the soul that really enjoys assurance knows how to prize that precious jewel, and will walk as humbly and as warily, as he who being cleanly and richly attired would pick his way upon a plank over some dirty road, lest he should slip aside and defile his garments.

POETRY.

CHRIST'S DEATH, BLOOD, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS,

THE EVERLASTING JOY AND REJOICING OF EVERY BELIEVER WHOSE FAITH IS FIXED ON HIM, WHO IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TO-DAY, AND FOR EVER.