commanded to believe that his individual sins are forgiven: but he is intreated to believe, that the Lord Jesus Christ is able and willing to receive every humble, penitent sinner: he is commanded to cast his guilty soul on the merits and death of the Redeemer. CONNECTION OF FAITH AND HOLINESS. to whom the gospel invitations are At the 30th Meeting of the Devonshire addressed, is thereby exhorted and Calvinistic Association, last summer, an Address was read by Rev. H. Mends, of Plymouth, and afterwards printed and circulated, on The Scriptural Connection of Faith and Holiness. This Address has been the repeated subject of animadversion in an obscure periodical work, to which we have no wish to give publicity; and, on the other hand, we think the Address itself requires no defence. We should have been glad to have complied with the wishes of some of our friends in giving publicity to the whole; but as this would exclude several other useful papers, we select at present only a few of the most striking passages. Few subjects are more frequently on the lips of professors, and perhaps few less correctly understood, than that of Faith. There are others, in the present day, who plead as strenuously for the opposite extreme. They hesitate not to assert, that the faith of the gospel is nothing more than a bare assent to the proposition, that Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah and the Son of God. This, Christian brethren, you will perceive, is equally unfounded in the sacred pages. The devils believe this truth, and tremble! Hence it follows, that saving faith There are found those who assert, must be something distinct from the That it is a strong persuasion of mind, mere act of the understanding. It is that we are the elect of God-that a receiving Jesus Christ in all his meall the benefits to be derived from diatorial offices; and is accompanied Jesus Christ are ours; and that there- by a trust in, and cordial reliance on fore, no other evidence is to be him for salvation from the love sought. This is the distinguishing and practice of sin in this life, and feature in the character of many. It from the in-being and effects thereof is, brethren, an error of no small in the life that is to come. The learnimportance; and leads to conse- ed Dr. Owen says, "The nature of queuces the most unscriptural and justifying faith consisteth in the dangerous: for it is a possible case, heart's approbation of the way of and we fear not uncommon, that an justification and salvation of sinners ungodly person may, by means by Jesus Christ proposed in the of slight legal convictions, great zeal, and a theoretical knowledge of gospel doctrines, obtain this persuasion, while he remains a stranger to vital godliness. In this case the person would believe a falsehood; and consequently his hope must rest on a foundation that will not bear the scrutiny of the day of trial. This was verified in the awful example of the foolish virgins; and will be in those unhappy characters whom our Lord represents as saying, at the day of judgment, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in tay name, and in thy name cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works?" To whom Jesus will say, "I never knew youDepart from me, ye that work iniquity." Let it be observed, that to believe in Jesus Christ is a duty in cumbent on all who hear the gospel. How are we to understand this? Unquestionably not that every one, XXIV. gospel, as proceeding from the grace, the wisdom, and the love of God, with its acquiescency therein, as unto its own concernment and condition." Suffer us then, Christian friends, to lead your minds to the seriptural and inseparable connexion between faith and holiness. On the threshold of this subject, the strong, solemn, and explicit declaration of the apostle James presents itself:- Wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?— Ch.î. 20. - While we display unto you "the unsearchable riches of Christ,”—while we reveal unto you the exalted privileges of the everlasting covenant of grace, we declare a part only of the gospel plan of salvation: we desire to lay before you the gospel as a grand whole; commencing in the electig love of God the Father; descending, like a golden chain, down to the chief of sinners; passing through the designs of redeeming love, in the M m regeneration and sanctification of the polluted soul, by the omnipotent agency of the Holy Spirit; thence ascending to the throne of God, and presenting the ransomed sinner, perfeet and without spot, through the cleansing virtue of the blood of Jesus Christ. To assert that persons ought not to pray until they are converted, is dangerous and absurd. It is dangerous, as it tends to cherish security, and keeps the carnal mind in profound and fatal peace; for a man may live without prayer, and consequently sin against God; yet his conscience cannot accuse him with the neglect of duty. Besides, it is absurd to affirm, that a person ought not to pray, until he feels himself converted; because it is much the same as to say that a man ought not to ask for guidance, until he knows he is right, nor seek a cure, until he feels himself healed. We also feel impelled to allude to an expression frequently used by a certain class of professors: they boast of a finished salvation, without reflecting on its full meaning. It is indeed a sublime truth, as it regards the purposes of God. The artist conceives the whole of his intended work before he applies his pencil; the architect, before he lays a stone in his projected building, arranges his plan in all its parts: so far then it may be said to be finished. Thus the Lord God laid the foundation of the wondrous plan of redemption in the eternal council of Heaven, before the world was made; but not until the consummation of all things will this plan be completed;-not until that solemn period will it be finished. The advocates for the sentiment, that the salvation of the elect was finished before the foundation of the world, plead the words of our Lord on the cross, when, with his expiring breath, he triumphantly exclaimed, It is finished! but this instance defeats the design for which it is adduced, and overturns the system altogether; inasmuch as it expressly declares, that this glorious work was not finished until the Son of God expired on Calvary. "It is a charming truth, that the work of man's redemption and salvation was then completed; at least, the hardest part of the undertaking was then concluded; a full satisfac tion was made to the justice of God -a fatal blow given to the power of Satana fountain of grace opened, that shall for ever flow -a foundation of peace and happiness laid, that shall never fail. Jesus Christ had now gone through and finished it; and, as in the purchase, so in the application of the redemption, he that has begun a good work will perform it: the mystery of God shall be finished." beg leave to add Mr. HALL'S striking portraiture of " that thick-skinned monster of the ooze of the mire, which no weapon can pierce, no discipline can tame, ANTINOMIANISM. To this extract from Mr. Mends we While Antinomianism is making such rapid strides through the land, and has already convulsed and disit is not the season for half measures ; organized so many of our churches, danger is to be repelled by intrepid' resistance, by stern defiance-not is to be opposed, if opposed successby compliances and concessions: it fully, by a return to the wholesome dialect of purer times. Such is the intimate alliance betwixt words and things, that the solicitude with which the term condition, and others of similar import, have been avoided by some excellent men, has contributed this wide-spreading pestilence. As more than a little to the growth of almost every age of the church is of error, so little penetration is remarked by its appropriate visitation quisite to perceive that Antinomianism and that it is an evil of gigantic size, is the epidemic malady of the present, and deadly malignity. It is qualified for mischief by the very properties an object of contempt-its vulgarity which might seem to render it merely of conception, its paucity of ideas, its determined hostility to taste, science, and letters. It includes, within a tain, and every tongue can utter, a compass which every head can conconsigns the whole human race to system which cancels every moral tie, the extremes of presumption or despair, erects Religion on the ruins of Morality, and imparts to the dregs of stupidity all, the powers of the most active poison. The author will ever feel himselt honoured by whatever censures he may incur, through his determined opposition to such system.-Hall on John's Baptism, p.08. Review of Religious Publications. We lamented in our last, the dearness of Bp. Horsley on the Psalms; but, instead of £1. 4s. as we stated, it appears that the two volumes sell for £1. 12s.!! The Life of Philip Melancthon; comprizing an Account of the most important Transactions of the Reformation. By F. A. Cox, A. M. of Hackney. 8vo (Portrait) 14s. In an age when the doctrines of the Reformation are so much slighted, even by Reformed Churches, we feel, and we doubt not but our readers will also feel, much obliged to the writers who bring before our view those venerable men, whose lives embodied the truths which they maintained, and whose works have etnbalmed their principles to a late posterity. Melanction was 'the intimate friend and distinguished co-adjutor of Martin Luther; and in his cha racter was associated the most genuine piety, with a high degree of literary talent, and a large portion of Christian charity. He was born in the close of the 15th century*, and educated in the bosom of the church of Rome, under the ablest scholars of the age, whom, however, he soon equalled, and perhaps excelled, particularly in the Greek literature, which he was an eminent instrument of reviving and extending. Mr. Cox has judiciously divided his work into chapters, in which he has so interwoven the events of the day, as to make his work a compendium of the History of the Reformation; yet has he contrived to give that prominency to the immediate subject of his work, that nothing appears foreign to his design, except perhaps the long * In a note, p. 22, Mr. Cox, in attempting to correct one chronological error, has made two. If Latimer was born in 1486, and not converted till 30 years of age, this brings us to the year 1516 (not 1510) at which time Melancthon, being born in 1497, must have been 19 (instead of 13) which is more probable, as Erasmus had pronounced his eulogy in the year 1515. The dates, however, in the Life of Latimer, are very uncertain and confused.-Compare Chalmers's Biograph. Dict. · - Middleto a's Biog. Evan. and Encyclop. Brit. a which materially differ. digression on the Peripatetic philosophy. Whether it be as a student or a preceptor, a critic or a Reformer, the friend of Luther or the enemy of Popery, Melancthon is always before us, constantly commanding our atadmiration, but in nothing more than tention, and generally exciting our in his amiable and Christian character. Of a volume of nearly 600 pages, our limits will not admit an analysis; nor would a sketch of contents by any means convey a just idea of the work, which contains, not only the stamina of facts, but those facts are clothed in chaste and perspicuous minating remarks and practical relanguage, accompanied with discriflections; so that we can, as a whole, safely recommend the book to all our readers, and especially to the more literary part of them. This work, as might be expected, contains many interesting anecdotes; a few of which we shall notice, as more adapted to our contracted room than elaborate extracts. The character of Melancthon was, it seems, inclined to melancholy, and he was often tortured with anxieties: and when his friends conjured him to suppress them, he would piously reply, If I had no anxieties, I should lose when the cares of life impel to dea powerful incentive to prayer; but votion, the best means of consolation, a religious mind cannot do without them. Thus trouble compels me to ble. P. 296. pray, and prayer drives away trou 'Availing himself of a favourable opportunity, he went from Spires to pay a short visit to his mother. In the course of conversation, she mentioned to her son the manner in which she was acoustomed to attend to her We recollect but two striking exceptions to this remark: one the opening paragraph of chap. iv. which borders on the bombast; and the other a pun on a text of Scripture, p. 136, which we are confident the good taste of the author will expunge in another edition devotions, and the form she generally used, which was free from the prevailing superstitions. "But what (said she) am I to believe amidst so many different opinions of the present day?" "Go on (replied Melancthon) believe and pray as you do and have done before, and do not disturb yourself about the disputes and controversies of the times.' P. 297. The anecdote of Luther, at p. 421, is highly characteristic of the spirit of that Reformer. On visiting Melancthon, who was taken ill on bis journey to Haguenaw, he found him apparently at the point of death, and burst out into the following strain of ardent devotion:- We implore thee, O Lord our God! we cast all our burdens on thee, and will cry till thou hearest us, pleading all the promises which can be found in the holy Scriptures, respecting thy hearing prayer; so that thou must indeed hear us, to preserve, at all future periods, our confidence in thine own promises.' After this he seized the hand of MeJanethon, and in the tone of a prophet, said, "Be of good courage, Philip, you shall not die;" and from that moment Melancthon began to revive, and speedily recovered, p. 423. Upon this fact we add but one remark, that the conduct of eminent men, on extraordinary occasions, must not be drawn into precedent in the circumstances of common life. In adverting to the conduct of Calvin, in the case of Servetus, Mr. Cox very properly gives up the justification of Calvin, tho' he notices some circumstances of extenuation; observing justly, that in this age Christians of every party retained the Popish doctrine," that gross religious errors were punishable by the civil magistrate;" on which principle even the gentle and humane Melancthon thought the council of Geneva, had done "right in putting to death this obstinate man (Servetus) and wondered that any one could be found to disapprove of this proceeding." P. 524, Mr. Cox having had occasion to cite some Latin verses, on several memorable occasions, has, very properly translated them; and tho' we cannot speak very highly of his poetical exertions, we are so much pleased with the "Ode on the Death of Melancthon, communicated by a poetical friend," that we mean to insert it, as an ornament to our Poetical Department in the present Number. We only add, that the Appendix' contains a few documents referred to in the preceding pages and an engraved specimen of Melancthon's hand-writing (as well as his full length portrait) is prefixed to the volume, which we hope will obtain a ready admission into every public library, and the book-case of every private Christian, who can afford the purchase. An Essay on the Character and Influence of the Stage. By J. Styles, D.D. Third edition, newly arranged and considerably enlarged. 12mo, 6s. CIRCUMSTANCES unavoidable, and beyond our controul, have prevented. that early notice of this republication, which might have been deemed desirable; for we hold it as a canon law of criticism, that able and well timed efforts to check an abounding evil, ought to have all the aid and promptitude which the critical profession can bestow. The author remarks, that "Nine years have clapsed since the publication of the first edition of this work. In its original state, or even with the improvements of the second edition, he could not have allowed it to pass through the press. He hopes that it will be received as a juvenile performance, in some degree improved by the judgment of maturer years." - To some of our readers, it may be proper to notice the author's judicious arrangement of his subject: Part I. contains A brief Enquiry into the Origin and Progress of the Stage; the principal Causes of its Success; its Amusement; its Antichristian Tendency; its Morality and Christian Morality contrasted.-Part II, Cursory Observations on the Writers, the Actors, and the Audience, to shew its Immoral Tendency; its Character, as drawn by Historians, Philosophers, &c.; whether the Stage be in a State of Improvement or not Part III, Objections to the Work from the Annual Review; and the Author's Defence, and Conclusion. We can assure those of our readers, who are unacquainted with the work, that it will well repay their perusat. Argumentative and manly, eloquent The Sabbath improved; or the Order of and persuasive, it displays the author's talents and zeal in the cause of morality and religion to great advantage. Every Christian parent should have it at hand, to guard his children against the many tempta tions of the theatre. We cannot but think, however, that Part the Third might have been advantageously omitted; or, in a future impression, the substance of it might be incorporated in the body of the work, divested of all the asperity, we should perhaps say, the charms of controversy. Hyper-Calvinism examined; or a few a Pious Family on that Day, relative to Devotional Exercises and Religious Instructions. By T. Pinchback. 12mo, 3s. THIS work describes the order of a pious family as follows: Family Prayer-conversation at breakfast, between Mr. Christian and his children-then between Mr. and Mrs. Christian, and Mr. Candid-attendance at Chapel-conversation at dinner between Mr. and Mrs. Christian, Mr. Lovetheword, and Mr. Hearwell-after dinner the substance of the morning-sermon, repeated by the children-singing-conversation. and questions to the children—afternoon service at chapel-retirement— conversation at tea-family readingthe well-spent evening-singingafternoon sermon recited-catechising--prayer. The Labouring Man's Advocate: a THIS Sermon, which is founded on Coloss. iv. 1, is short, but pointed and faithful: and ought to be read by farmers, manufacturers, and all who employ the poor, for whom the author is an able advocate. Thas Mr. P. shews how the hours WE are glad to find that the letters of the Sabbath may be properly filled of our respectable correspondent A. B. up, without either business, politics, have excited the attention of those or idle chit-chat, and such of his for whom they were designed: and readers who exemplify his advice will we hope that attention will be in- no doubt find their spiritual account creased. Mr. Hall has very properly therein. The style is familiar, and the remarked, that Antinomiau principles narrative is enlivened by religious require no talent in their propagation; anecdotes. a striking instance of which appears in the small tract now before us. But we charitably hope, that the error in many persons springs (and perhaps in this writer) we will not say from the absolute want of capacity to dis criminate-but from want of care in discriminating things, that widely differ; as for instance-moral power and human duty-justification and sanctification-the law as a covenant of works and a rule of life, &c. In such a state of darkness and confusion (p. 15, 16.) Mr. Ives considers the moral impotency of sinners, exonerating them from guilt; and moral evil as of no farther injury to believers than as it hurts their feelings, p. 18. So that his principles, if carried to their proper consequences, would supercede the atonement of Christ, as well as "the work of the Spirit on the heart." But we do not mean to enter into controversy with such an author. Should any person take up the question, who is capable of writing grammar and common sense, and in a Christian spirit, we persuade ourselves he will not long have to complain of being without an answer. as Perfect Religious Liberty the Right of every Human Being, &c. proved in a Sermon for the Benefit of the persecuted Protestants in France. By John Liddon. Price 18. FROM Gal. v. 13, this venerable preacher ably defines Christian liberty, forcibly maintains that this liberty is equal and universal,-that the exercise of it is essential to Christianity; and then, in a most animating manner, contends, that persecution for conscience sake is the most at trocious of human crimes. Without carping at what is wanting in this sermon, we maintain, that the subjects it embraces are discussed with. considerable ability. |