culated to express spiritual sentiments. It is probably used by Paul as opposed to the profane songs sung by the Ephesians when they were heathen.

Thus I trust I have made it evident to every candid mind that when we sing the inspired poems contained in the Book of Psalms, we obey the Apostle's injunction, to sing 'psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. It is high time the advocates of modern hymns would yield this point. J. R.

Consolation for the afflicted. A sermon by John H. Bonner. Hosea VI. 1 to 4 v.

“Come, and let us return nntɔ the Lord; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2. After two days he will raise us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. 3. Then shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.”

We are informed that this prophecy was delivered at a time when there was great defection, or falling off from the worship of the true God. Although the prophet lived during the short reign of a few pious kings, yet he also lived during the reign of a wicked Ahaz, and at a time when iniquity abounded, and the love of many had waxen cold. We need only read the first chap. of Isai. a cotemporary prophet, to know the true state of religion at this time, and the great controversy God had with his church. "I have nourished and brought up children (says he) and they have rebelled against me," &c. and would we know more we have only to read 2d Kings 17 chap. 7 and onwards where we have a full record of Israel's rebellion and general apostacy in those times. To call to deep mourning and repentance was the arduous duty assigned to this faithful and zealous prophet---nor does his labor and faithful pleading seem altogether to have been lost upon this faithless generation, for in this passage selected for our consideration, we have the language of some who seem to have been convinced of this error, and to manifest some desire to return to the Lord whom they had forsaken, by genuine repentance. They exhort one another, saying, "Come" &c.

wrath, a strong inducement is here held out to us, and great encouragement given to return and consider our ways, being assured that if we from our hearts repent of our sins and turn unto the Lord, we shall be accepted in his sight, and if we "follow on to know the Lord"... ..."we shall know even as we are known." Let us then in these words consider ourselves as exhorted to turn from our sins and numerous backslidings unto God, and as assured that he alone is the proper person to whom we should apply ---because, he who hath torn can only heal; and let us further consider that what God has promised he is able also to perform,---and that there is no condition in which we may be placed in life, no matter how desperate it may be, but God can and will deliver us from it if we with sorrow and contrition of heart turn unto him---and by a perseverence in the way of duty and an earnest desire after that wisdom which is from above, we shall have fuller and fuller displays of the divine perfection, and shall experience more of his loving kindnesses and tender mercies which endureth to all generations.

Let us first consider the duty to which we are exhorted. We have been going astray ever since we were born---not only so, but we came into this world depraved creatures, having inherited from our first parent a corrupt nature, whereby all the faculties of the soul and body are defiled. We come into the world enemies to God children of wrath and heirs of hell. This natural or innate corruption soon manifests itself by actual rebellion against the Creator. Man no sooner becomes capable of moral action but his heart is lifted against his beneficent Creator---his mouth being set against the heavens, he is ready to say with the enemies of God mentioned by David, “our tongues are ours, who is Lord over us.

Man in his natural state is far off from the true God. He knows, serves, and fears him not. He manifests no disposition to return unto him from whom he hath departed. How can he? The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them for they are spiritually discerned" &c. Notwithstanding all this rebellion and high-handed wickedness against God, yet, he in infinite mercy has been pleased to look upon us in our fallen and ruined condition and provide a way of escape from the wrath to come, and not only so, but also to take us into intimate fellowship with himself and finally makes us heirs, and joint heirs with Christ Jesus. And what is necessary to gain an interest in such peculiar blessings? How may we obtain peace with God and find security from his wrath. My friends, God imposes no

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heavy burthen or wearisome task upon us. The path in which he would have us walk is one of pleasantness and peace. He calls us to take his yoke upon us for it is easy, and burden for it is light. His object in calling upon us is to deliver us from that yoke of bondage under which we are and have been groaning. He would deliver us from that fearful pit and miry clay in which we had well nigh sunk. We are assured that they, "who are atar off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ: his blood cleanseth from all sin."---He that believeth on the son hath everlasting life and shall no more come unto condemnation, but is passed from death unto life---he that believeth not the son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him."--Our duty then is plain; we from a sense of our guilt and misery are to turn immediately unto the Lord from whom we have departed with full purpose of and endeavor after new obedience. This is the only course by which to insure the safety of our immortal souls. We must come to God in that way which he has pointed out to us, there is none other--"there is none other name under heaven," &c.

Having found it to be our duty and interest to return unto the Lord, we should strive to bring others into the same way and to a like sense of their sins---for so did they of old who would return. They exhorted one another saying "Come let us return;" and we are told in another place that, "they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and a book of remembrance was written"---and in another, "many people shall go and say, Come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."

men.

2. The arguments or revsons why we should turn unto the Lord.--"He hath torn and he will heal us" &e. We may consider all our miseries and distresses of every kind, as the just punishment of our sins, for "God doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of "When he tears it is in order that he may heal, and when he smites it is in order that he may bind up. When sin entered our world, with it came all the maladies to which the human frame is lia ble, even to death itself. "By one man sin entered into the world, so lust when it is conceived bringeth forth sin" &e. God maketh use of affliction to bring men to a sense of their miserable condition, and induce them to return to him from whom they have departed,--but unless sanctified no good is produced, but on the contrary the sinner becomes more hardened in his sinful courses. "Although no affliction for the present seemeth joyous but grievous yet afterwards

it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness to those who are exercised thereby.”

2

Although it falls to the lot of the wicked to be punished, and sorely afflicted on account of their sins and enmity against God, yet do the righteous often suffer on account of remaining corruption. Through manifoid temptations they are often led astray from the path of duty, bring down the righteous displeasure of God upon themselves--wherefore, he in order to restore them to their former standing in his favor, and to bring them to a sight and sense of their condition and dependence upon him, is pleased to use the rod of correction; and hereby God manifests his love to his children, in that he will not suf fer sin upon them and hence says the apostle---"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" &c. Heb. 12. 6--12. God employeth various means in bringing about his purposes and accomplishing his ends. He often makes use of wicked men in bringing about good to his church and people. Thus in former times he employed the wicked nations of Canaan as scour. ges wherewith to correct the turbulent and rebellious spirits of the Israelites Famine, pestilence, sword, in fact every thing in heaven and earth, whether animate or inanimate, are at God's disposal, and serve as his instruments in accomplishing his purpose, contributing much to the welfare of his people. God does not let men pass with outward afflictions; more effectually does he tear and smite the hearts and consciences of sinners, with the hammer of his word; he wounds their consciences with a sense of sin, lets the law into them which worketh wrath, whereby they become broken and contrite in their hearts. And hence being duly convinced of sin and duly sensible of their utter helplessness, they are induced to apply to the great physician of souls, by whose stripes they alone can be healed. And who is so able to heal and bind up as him who is both the "framer of our bodies and father of our spirits." "The Lord killeth, and maketh alive; he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich; he bringeth low and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory; for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of his saints and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail." What encouragement then have we to return unto the Lord. His language to the penitent and returning sinner is full of love and mercy. "Fear not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I

am thy God" &c. The greatest inducements are held out to sinners to return. The promises of God are sure to all believers,---they are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus. "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit &c. Ps 34, 18--21. Are any mourning under a sense of guilt,---bewailing their wretchedness and poverty---says God---I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness appear not; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve that thou mayest see." Let none despond because they are subjects of afflic. tion, and that perhaps weighty,---for says Job "Behold happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty; for he maketh sore and bindeth up; he woundeth and his hands make whole" &c. ch 5, 17. All this smiting, wounding and tearing, whether outwardly, as by crosses and diversified affliction, or inwardly, as the wounding of the conscience and breaking in pieces of the stubborn heart, is intended to reclaim the sinner and bring him to God---to induce him to apply immediately to the great Physician of souls, with whom there is healing virtue,---the Lord Jesus is an able and skilful Physician---he heals them by the application of his blood; by means of his word---by a look to him, and a a touch of him by faith; by discoveries of his love, and particularly by his pardoning grace and mercy, which as wine and oil he pours into the wounds made by sin, and binds them up; and which he heals universally, both with respect to persons and diseases---for which he is applied unto; and infallibly, thoroughly and perfectly and all freely.

Although God's people may seem to lie long under his afflicting hand, and may be ready to exclaim, "hath the Lord forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?"---yet will he shortly return to them and lift the light of his countenance upon them--"after two days he will revive us" &c. God cannot cast off his people whom he loves---"Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb: yea they may forget, (saith God,) yet will I not forget thee." God will not cast off his people for ever. He does not afflict willingly When the Lord sees his people who have been lying under affliction, come to themselves, like the prodigal son, overwhelmed with sorrow and shame, he speaks of them with the tenderest affections, like he did of