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Original Gospel Hymns, suited to God's Elect Family, or the Seed Royal of Heaven. By William Cook. 32mo. pp. 324. Cheltenham, Broom. THESE hymns are the breathings of one who is evidently acquainted experimentally with the truths which they are designed to exhibit and defend. They are in plain unadorned language, and the metre in many parts incorrect; but this will be but a trifling objection to those who may value them for their faithful display of God's truth.

CHRIST is his people's sure defence,
Their only hope, their hiding place;
Their stable rock, and refuge too,
And safe retreat when foes pursue.

Their Husband and their Surety he,
Who from their debts has set them free;
Their glorious tower in every storm,
Nor need they fear all hell's alarm.

Their help in every time of need,
Their Priest who lives their cause to plead;
Their faithful, everlasting Friend,
Who ne'er can fail them to befriend.

Their Shepherd, who his life did give,
That they with him might ever live;
Their dear Redeemer and their God,
Who bought their souls with his heart's blood.
Their glorious storehouse and their Head,
Who does supply their ev'ry need;
Their brother dear, their counsellor,
And glorious king and conqueror.

Their Leader and their Guide he is,
All through this dang'rous wilderness ;
Their wisdom true, to teach them all
That they can truly blessed call.

These names to them like cintment are,
And do allay their ev'ry fear;
And they will surely daily find
They are the solace of their mind.

Gideon; or the Humble Christian, by
Henry Watmuff". 2 vols. 12mo.
London: Palmers.
We have just received, while our

work is passing through the press, a copy of this work: at the present we can do no more than announce its publication, but in our future number we shall notice its contents, which however from the glance we have hastily given, seem to shew that the writer is well acquainted with christian experience, and the real uses of scripture history.

The Precious Jewels of the Church rescued from the hands of Spoilers. By C. Drawbridge. 12mo. pp. 12. London, Higham.

THIS is the twelth tract which Mr. Drawbridge has published under this title; the early numbers we read with much pleasure, but we cannot say that our interest in them has continued. But it will be best perhaps to allow the author to plead his own cause, we therefore extract one of the explanations given, that our readers may form their own opinion.

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Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1 Tim. ii. 4. Christ taught his diciples to pray, Our Father which art in heaven-thy will be done &c. If the Father had not power to execute his will, it would have been folly in Christ to teach, and in his disciples to pray to him for the performance of it. Nebuchadnezzar, after seven years schooling, learned that the Most High had an everlasting dominion, and did according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth. and nove could stay his hand, or say unto him what doest thou? But modern infidels assern, that it is Gods wil that every human being should be saved: that Christ shed his blood for Judas as

well as John, for Simon Magus as well as Peter. This text is quoted very triumphantly as a proof that God intended all men to be saved in Christ, only strange as it may appear, God Almighty has found an hinderance to his loving design which is more mighty than almighty: according to Messrs Wesley, Fletcher, and Co.

It has been most judiciously observed "that various interpretations have been given of the terms, “ all," "all men," &c.; but it may be safely affirmed, that none of them has ever proved satisfactory to the extent of exhibiting a clear and distinct doctrine, in harmony with the passages of scripture, on the same subject, which are acknowledged to be plain and easy. (enerally speaking, the common interpretations of these passages have satisfied neither those who have given, nor those who have reeeived them. They have been adopted as upon the whole, the least puzzling and perplexing, rather than as being in themselves clear and consistent, and as removing every difficulty. To those who have got so far as to force the scriptures to speak, the language of their own system; or, if no torturing can accomplish this then simply to reject the intractable passage difficulties are just as they please who have to encounter them. The plainest passage becomes involved in metaphors and inextricable obscurity, or what is really obscure and difficult becomes clear and simple, and taught to speak any sentiment that is most convenient. The truly enlightened Christian however, whose mind has been brought to submit implicitly to the Bible, as the inspired word of God, and to nothing else will snatch at no random appearance of doctrine; but will investigate with all the care and accuracy of which he is capable what is the mind of the Spirit, and reject every interpretation of a difficult passage, or confess his ignorance of its meaning

till he find one that speaks distinctly the plain unambiguous, and acknowledged doctrine of scripture generally. Such terms as are most expressive of universality, may, by the limiting circumstances by which they are used, denote but a very small number indeed. Thus Amnon said,

have out all men from me," 2 Sam. xiii. 9; when, instead of meaning the whole human race, he meant only the few persons who were then in the same apartment with himself. But it may be objected, if a certain number of persons are only intended, why are they called PANTAS, all? Because though a select number only of individuals are intended, yet they constitute a whole denomination; and therefore, when we speak of all the individuals of that denomination, the terms we use cannot be too expressive of universality. Suppose a city invested by an enemy. and the question put, who turned out to defend it? Let the answer be, every man :would there be any danger of error from the universality of the term? Here we have not only the universality implied in every, but we have every boundary as it were, withdrawn from limitation, when we join to it the word creature. Every creature may mean, every thing that hath proceeded from the forming hand of the Creator; and yet when it is said, that every creature turned out to the defence of the city, there is not a head so dull as to misunderstand the expression in this connection. Take another example: suppose a man asked by his friend, who went to church yesterday, and he replies, all went, or every human being went, would there be any danger of his being misunderstood, as meaning the whole human race-all in the same kingdom, or the same city? No: the universality of his terms would never lead the mind beyond the individuals living under the same roof, and composing his own family."

POETRY.

YE

HAYE NOT PASSED THIS WAY HERETOFORE."

Josh. iii. 4.

ARISE ye dejected, ye ransomed though poor, Come lift up your eyes from the ground; Forget not your comforts, how great is the store,

On the right and the left they abound.

Where are they? say some of the Lord's chosen band,

Cast down by their sorrows and care; Where are they? behold your Redeemer at hand,

His word shall dismiss all your fear.

"Now lean upon me, my beloved," he saith, For you I have suffered and bled;

I'll not leave you here, though I now try your faith:

Come lean upon мE and be led.

How tender the accents which ceaseless flow forth,

From Jesus thy Lord and thy God; Though trials are great, yet much greater his worth

To help thee in bearing thy load.

"This way you've not passed heretofore" it may be,

This cross may be strange and severe; With judgment in wisdom he now afflicts thee,

His strength is sufficient, ne'er fear.

Arouse then, ye pilgrims, and Zion-ward press,

Regardless of spite or of scorn;

The way is appointed, therein God will bless, And for tears give you joy in the morn.

Though here ev'ry step is with anxious care trod,

Your strength will be found as the day; Your guide is Jehovah the Spirit, whose word Your steps will direct all the way.

He foreknew your failings, and Satan's strong pow'r,

To draw off your thoughts and your heart; And therefore a guide was appointed to keep Your soul, for he'll not from you part. Called, chosen, and feithful he'll make you to be,

His hand will uphold and direct

He cannot lead wrong, but will make you

to see,

He will not one moment neglect.

Neglect you he cannot, his word's ever sure,
"I will never forsake you," he saith;
He will lead the right way to a city secure,
Yet calls you to exercise faith.

Though crosses here teaze you, you'll soon see the end,

Of all that seemed dark here below;
To mansions of bliss you shall shortly ascend,
And the fulness of glory then know.

There all that seemed wrong will then prove to be right,

And you will sit down with the Lamb;
No more to know sorrow, or sickness, or pain,
But joy in the mighty I AM.

With angels and spirits of just men you'll sing,

In chorus harmoniously grand;

For ever adoring your Saviour and King,
With all the redeemed ever stand.

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Then though I mourn with sore complaint.
Oft, when thou seem'st thy face to hide;
Let not affliction make me faint,

But may I trust whate'er betide.
I would not, Lord, e'en once repine,
Though sorrows oft my bosom fill;
They're all ordained by love divine

And I would bow, and bless thee still.
Yes, bless thee in affliction's sea,

When waves tumultuous o'er me roll; Lord, even here thy way I see,

And thou canst every wave control. And thou art near, though oft I grieve,

And feel, alas, my comforts flown; Scarcely enabled to believe,

That thou hast e'er thy goodness shown. Vouchsafe thy presence, one sweet smile, One gentle word will calm my fears; Thy presence will my thoughts beguile, Far, far from earth, its sins and tears. Oh, for a firm unshaken trust,

Faith to commit to thee each care; Then, though a trembling worm of dust, Nought will be more than 1 can bear.

EMMELINE.

66 CAST DOWN BUT NOT DESTROYED.

Cast down I am, but not destroyed,

All praise to boundless grace;

I think I see Jehovah's love,

Shine in the Saviour's face.

Cast down I am, but still remain,

Bless God on praying ground;
And oh that with his praying saints,
I ever may be found.

Cast down I am, but still remain,

To tell of Jesus' love;

Oh! may I feel its power below,

And spread its fame above.

Cast down I am, but not cast out.

Of my Redeemer's sight; He watches o'er my path by day, And keeps me safe by night. Bagshot, Surry. A COUNTRY MINISTER

A SIMILE.

I watched the sky, and clouds hung darkling there;

Yet moved they swiftly-swiftly passed away: And ah, methought, why should I have a care? Earth's storms and sorrows pass as soon as they.

Again I looked, and lo, amid the gloom, Some genial rays, some streaks of heavenly light,

Gave lively hopes, that from his dreary tomb The sun would burst, clothed in effulgence bright:

And forth he came, and nature seemed to smile,

And e'en my pensive bosom could rejoice;
I gazed with feelings new, and thought the
while,

That all these changes had a powerful voice.
Ah, yes, they speak to me of other things,
Of other joys, which all can never know;
Of him who comes with healing in his wings,
A glorious sun, dispersing guilt and woe:
E'en now,
how dark, how cheerless was the

scene,

At present, bright, and beautiful, and gay;
Just so my heart, when clouds can intervene
T'obscure the beatific source of day,
Just so my heart when Jesus deigns to shine,
Forgets all sorrow in his light divine.

EMMELINE.

STANZAS TO THE PRAISE OF FREE-WILL.
Written after hearing a Sermon by Mr.
Warburton, Oct. 27, 1839.

LET others sing in notes of lofty praise,
The riches and the glory of free grace;
They may retain the exclusive anthem still,
We will endeavour to exalt free-will.
Salvation, if the scripture page speaks true,
Salvation owes its origin thereto;
And if we trace the subject to the end,
'Twill prove throughout the sinner's real
friend.

What was it but unbribed, unbought free-will,
Called the first council on yon heavenly hill?
And what but his unbiassed will could move
The Almighty Father in his acts of love.

Did not Immanuel leave his sparkling throne, And glittering splendours of his equal crown; frompted thereby to bear the scourge, the mock,

And saved, because he would,his chosen flock,
Yea, when suspended on th' accursed tree,
Free-will in Jesus reigned triumphantly;
Death, men, and devils vainly had combined,
Our Jesus willingly his life resigned.

And willingly the Spirit doth reveal;
Unthought, unasked, his influences we feel;
He breathes whene'er he will upon the soul,
And a new, heavenly life pervades the whole.
And willingly the sinner life receives,
And willingly the enlightened mind believes;
Most willingly, for every hell-forged chain
Doth with the Spirit's entrance burst in twain.
One little blunder foolish mortals make,
They fain the glory of free-will would take.
Free-will belongs to God: we at our birth
Are born in bondage, when we're born to
earth.

REZENEB.

THE SPIRITUAL MAGAZINE,

AND

ZION'S CASKET.

"For there are Three that bear record in heaven, the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST: and these Three are One."-1 John v. 7.

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Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."-Jude 3. Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience."-1 Tim. iii. 6.

DECEMBER, 1839.

A CHEERING THOUGHT ON THE BELIE-
VER'S EXCHANGE OF THE CHURCH

surety, his acceptance in the beloved, his oneness with him, and his everMILITANT FOR THE CHURCH TRI- lasting salvation in him, by him, and

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THE religion of the Bible is a system of solid and substantial consolation; that religion which consists in a spiritual, supernatural, experimental, and practical knowledge of the everlasting love of Jehovah to his elect people in Christ Jesus, as the covenant Head and adorable Saviour of his church. This is the sole work of the ever-blessed Spirit of all grace, who has revealed the purposes of grace and mercy to fallen man; it is a revelation of the good will of God, the expression of his heart's love, and his most kind design to the objects of his choice. It is calculated by the power of the Holy Spirit to rejoice the heart, and console the conscience of a poor broken-hearted, distressed, burdened sinner, with the assurance of his full, free, and eternal pardon, his complete justification in the meritorious obedience of his redeeming December. 1889]

through him. This is a never failing source of consolation; this religion opens to us the very blessed office of the divine Spirit, as a Comforter, in conjunction with the Father of all mercies, who is styled the God of all comfort, and the dear Saviour who is the consolation of Israel. And how divinely the Holy Spirit carries on his work in the souls of the redeemed, who are convinced of sin, by guiding the mind to the promises, encouragements, and sweet invitations of the word; by raising up the soul to hope in covenant mercy, by testifying of Christ, and by dethroning sin; by giving us many a victory over satan, the world, and all the lying and delusive systems of erroneous men; by shedding abroad the love of Christ, and assuring us of his ever abiding in us, till the work of grace is consummated in glory. These are not cunningly devised fables; we speak that we know, and having received his testimony, we can set to our seal that God is true, and that these are gospel, experimental facts. This is that anointing which teacheth us all things, and it is truth; nor can all the powers of darkness combined, erase

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