vince us of our incapacity to keep, spect in not first applying to him. regulate, or purify the heart? No, no, the door of mercy is open, Then let us run quickly to Jesus, and you are welcome. He says as people do for relief in trouble, "I will heal your backslidings; I and knock by prayer and supplica- will love you freely." Would any tion. He will hear, he will cure. one ask more encouragement, or He has promised to hear. His office look for kinder invitations ? Go and delight is to make the sick then, go quickly; apply at once, whole. The self-righteous, the self- because death may soon place you opinionated, and self-sufficient, he beyond the sound of mercy. Tocame not to save. Such as come to day, therefore, attend to his grahim, crying" Lord, save me, or 1 cious words, and fold them up as perish," are the objects of his par- a sweet portion, worthy of being ticular regard; them he hastens to constantly carried in your bosom. redeem. "Come unto me all ye ends of the earth and be ye saved, for I am God, and beside me there is none else.” He differs from all other physicians, in making his patients rich from the treasures of his grace, strong by his own strength, and honourable, by allowing them to bear his name as a proof of the .cure. His mode of curing will be an eternal wonder. Love is his motive, for he has no interest. By his blessed Spirit the poor soul is led to see his malady; he directs him to Christ, the sacrifice for sin, A PHYSICIAN. REFLECTIONS ON THE SEA. [Concluded from p. 299.] On the usefulness of the Sea many philosophical remarks might be nade; but I shall wave them, and only consider such as are most obvious. and enables him to embrace him as a Saviour. It is, and will be an eternal mystery, "God in Christ 1. It is used for the benefit of reconciling the world unto himself, health. The salutary effects of not imputing unto them their tres- sea-bathing, drinking sea-water, and a sea-voyage, in passes;" but through him viewing many diseases, them as clean, without spot or wrin- are too well known to need any en. kle, or any such thing. It would largement. Indeed, these remedies fail me to say what this Physician when skilfully attended to in the has done, is doing, and will do. early stages of some disorders, His love exceeds our conception; have, by a divine blessing, restored for all who are cured by him are to health when other means have And where certain (having his promise, which proved ineffectual. is like himself, immutable) of being there has been no disease, but only where he is, to behold his glory, a weak habit of body, a short resiand of reigning with him for eter- dence near the sea, and partaking nity. He has indeed left on record the benefit of its breezes by sailing sufficient testimonies of his love to on it, have restored to vigour. man; and declares, "I have no then glory be rendered to the great pleasure in the death of the wicked, Physician who has made the ocean, but rather that all should come as it were, a mineral bath, in which, unto me and live."—"Him that as formerly in the pool of Bethesda, cometh unto me I will in nowise the weak became strong, and the cast out." Here is comfort for the diseased whole. most wretched, abominable, and filthy! Jesus does not ask you how long you have tried your own remedies, nor accuse you of disre Let 2. The Sea provides multitudes with food and employment. - Nothing can better explain this than the following quotation from Bishop Horne: - Within the bosom of the sea are contained creatures exceeding in number those that walk and creep upon the land. The ingenuity and industry of man have found means to draw forth these inhabitants of the water from their deepest recesses. And while they afford to some an agreeable variety of wholesome food, they support multitudes of others, whose employment it is to catch and convey fish. This is a livelihood healthy, honest, and carried on in peace and quietness, affording those who are engaged in it continual opportunities of beholding the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. Persons of this occupation, men of good sense and integrity, were chosen by Christ, as he himself expresses it, to become fishers of men,' by casting abroad the evangelical net, and preaching the Gospel to various nations." 8. It conveys the blessings of Commerce. By the construction of ships and the art of navigation, very distant nations have formed commercial.connections, which have -produced various and valuable exchanges and purchases. Thus, by voyages, very remote islands and countries have been discovered, and the natural productions of nations conveyed to each other; and so their inhabitants sit at home and feast upon the richest foreign productions. All this is enjoyed while the superfluities of their own commodities are disposed of advantageously to each other. Well may the Psalmist cry out in admiration, "There go the ships;" for such a large vessel with all its conveniences, bearing so heavy a burden when full of men, and yet sailing against wind and tide, is perhaps one of the greatest masterpieces of human contrivance. From these views of the Ocean and its advantages, we may make the following serious reflections: 1. Learn to admire the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the XXIV. deep. In the various instances already given, and many more which might have been mentioned, the Lord displays his omnipotence and beauty respecting the ocean; and there are many wonders in it that will never be fully known. But there is one thing which particularly shews the power and goodness of God; for where the sea is most deep and liable to frequent storms, there are generally the strongest and highest shores to confine the impetuosity of the ocean. This is the case in many parts of the Indies, and in some of Europe, which shews that God can controul the great deep as easily as a single drop; for it is said in Isaiah xl. 12, "He measures the waters in the hollow of his hand." In paintings and engravings we have very striking sea-pieces, which those who have never made a voyage may admire, but those who have been eyewitnesses of such scenes are best acquainted with them. We have a short but beautiful description of a ship in distress, in Ps. cvii. from verse 23 to 32. Those who have been in a storm, and been delivered, know the justness of the description. 2. Be grateful to the Lord for the blessings of the ocean.-As the sea is made to contribute to the luxuries of the rich man's table, and to pamper epicures, it is to be feared many such never feel gratitude for what they thus partake of; and as to the poor, but few of them can purchase many of the productions of the sea; it remains, therefore, that it is by the middle rank chiefly that God is acknowledged the Lord of the Seas; and even amor gst them, believers alone are truly thankful. In a national point of view, as Great Britain has such a decided superiority in its navy, and its traffic on the seas, the inha bitants of it are under the greatest obligations to God for such advantages. Of us it may be justly said (as in F. cxlvii. 20.) He hath not Xx dealt so with any nation. Praise ye the Lord.' Lastly, Pray, and use the means, that the Gospel may have a wider spread. As peace is now settled, and an extensive commercial intercourse carried on by us, we may be instrumental in spreading the Gospel to a very large extent; but, for that purpose, missionaries must be conveyed on the mighty waters to many different and distant regions. As most of these will take up a considerable time on the voyages, a great expence must be incurred. Those therefore who desire to promote the salvation of their fellowmortals, should not only pray for missionaries, but contribute liberally towards the necessary heavy expences attending them. I shall conclude with some additional remarks, in the words of a modern writer:-" The world may be compared to a sea, and our life as a voyage on it. We may set out with a still sea, and a fair sky; but cares and afflictions, like storms and tempests, will come either to punish or to prove us. When thus tried, if we are enabled to come by faith and prayer to Christ, and say 'Lord save, or we perish,' he will arise and rebuke the sea, and there will be a calm in our conscience. And when believers die, it will be with them as it is recorded in Rev. xxi. 1. The earth passed away, and there was no more sea.' Then all their tossings and agitations will be over, and they will be in the haven of rest for ever and ever.' Buckingham. G. G. S. SANCTIFICATION. THOUGHTS ON HEB. xii. 14. THE religion of Jesus is "a doctrine according to godliness." It is not a system of speculative truths; but of facts, doctrines, and promises, which are divinely in tended, and admirably calculated to sanctify the heart, purify the passions, and reform the life. If men were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, it was that they should be holy and without blame before him in love. If they are, by the blood and Spirit of Christ, delivered out of the hands of their enemies, it is that they may serve him, without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of their life. There is forgiveness with God that he may be feared. The love of Christ constraineth us to live, not to ourselves, but to Him who died for us and rose again. The faith which instrumentally justifies us before God, works by love, purifies the heart, and overcomes the world. This is the love of God,-that we keep his commandments. He that hath the hope of the future happiness of his nature, purifieth himself, even as Christ is pure. Similar is the tendency of the promises of the covenant. Having these promises, saith St. Paul, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. While believers are graciously delivered by the substitution and death of Christ from the curse of the broken law, they remain the subjects of its divine authority, as the standard of their sanctification, and the rule of their life and conduct. The command of our God is "Be ye holy; for I am holy.-Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart; and thy neighbour as thyself. Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect. Follow peace with all men; and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." The writer of this has been paper led into this train of thought from the perusal, the other week, of the exposition of the verse last quoted (Heb. xii, 14*) in "The Poor We subjoin the whole passage, which contains in itself the best refutation of its contents. Ver. 14. "I wish the Reader to look at this verse by itself; as so much perversion hath been made of it, that it Man's Commentary," by the Rev. Dr. Hawker. "To follow peace and holiness," is, in this good man's view, to follow Christ" with all men;" that is "with the whole body of the church to follow Christ," who is both the peace and holiness of his people, and without which no man shall see the Lord.' It is truly distressing to behold the human mind thus warped by the love of system, and constrained to do violence to every legitimate canon of interpreting the language of the holy Scripture. Would the poor man (for whose benefit the benevolent author has composed his work) who has never read any book but the Bible, would he, on reading these exhortations, put such a meaning on them? would they not much rather bring to his recollection the words of David (Ps, xxxvi. 14.) "Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it:" the words of St. Paul (Rom. xii. 18.) "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men ;" and (chap. xiv. 19.). "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace; and things wherewith one may edify another." The exhortation and command, "Follow holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord," would naturally awaken in his mind such Scriptures as these (2 Tim. ii. 22) "Follow righteous demands this attention. Follow peace with all men. What peace? If it be supposed to mean the peace of GOD in CHRIST, OF CHRIST himself, who is our Peace, this cannot be a mere precept directed to all men; for all men have not faith; neither do all men follow peace, or Christ; neither is this Scripture addressed to all men; but to the Church, who are supposed to be following CHRIST in the regeneration. And holiness. What holiness? Not, as some have supposed, holiness in the creature, for there is none holy, no, not one. And, moreover, it would be in this sense, a precept to follow it, and not as if possessing it. The latter part of the verse, in my view, explains the whole, when it is said, without which, no man shall see the LORD. Now, the uni ness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart;"-(Eph. v. 25-28.) "Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish ;"-(Rev. xxi. 27.) " And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie; but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." I would ask the worthy author, Whether an expositor be warranted to deviate from the plain and ordinary meaning of the words of the Holy Ghost, without assigning a sufficient reason for the deviation and in the same manner to impose upon them any sense which his own fallible mind may suggest to him? How would he relish such liberties with his own language? ; I would ask him further, Whether, on reading the whole paragraph, it does not appear to have been composed in a hurried and careless manner, and to contain expressions of a very dangerous tendency? Does the author mean to insinuate, that because all men have not faith, that all men who hear the divine record (1 John v. 11) are form language of scripture is, that with- Heb. not bound by the authority of God intended meeting to form a Branch to receive that record as a true and Missionary Society. I trust it will faithful saying? Are the limits of be a good day; you have my very the divine law not to exceed the best wishes. - I respect the good moral powers of our fallen nature? people of B- from my very "Because there is none holy, no heart. Depend on it, in this case, not one," doth the righteous Gover- they will act worthy of themselves. nor of the world lose his authority They have done great things, they to require of man "to be holy as will do great things, and Heaven he is holy?" Does the author mean will bless them. Unquestionably, to insinuate, that believers possess the Missionary cause is a noble holiness in Christ, their head, in cause. It merits the countenance such a manner as to make it to and support of all persons, of all cease to be incumbent on them to parties, and at all points. Can any follow holiness (internal sanctity) to man be unfriendly to this cause, and press toward the mark, that they yet be a friend to the Redeemer, may become meet and prepared for and wish well to his brethren of Heaven? - Perish the thought! mankind? Let me again ask the author, Is Under God, the Missionary Sohe aware of the danger to weak ciety has set all Christendom in moand untutored minds from this tion, not for evil, but for good; manner of speaking? When they not to dispute their points of differsee men of name and character ence, but to advance the main arbitrarily impose meanings which things in religion," Repentance no man of a well-balanced mind towards God, and faith in our Lord would impose on the language of Jesus Christ." If these prevail, Scripture, they are in danger of losing all confidence in the meaning of words; and of viewing the holy Scriptures as a nose of wax, which the commentator may turn in any direction he pleases. At a period when the doctrines of grace, or evangelical sentiments, are charged with a tendency to sap the foundation of morals; and when, if ever, it becomes the duty of every minister of religion to maintain the eternal and indissoluble obligation of the holy law of God, on all in Heaven, on Earth, and in Hell; and especially, from the additional obligations of the cross, on justified man, how dangerous is it to weaken the evidence of that obligation, by palpably perverting the meaning of those Scriptures which support it! W. A. OF A ON THE FORMATION BRANCH AUXILIARY SOCIETY. [A Letter to a Friend.] Dear Sir, I understand you intend being at B the realms of superstition will be shaken; and the kingdom of Satan tremble, and give evident signs of its subversion and overthrow. How idle have been many disputes at home on inconsiderable points, while millions abroad are perishing "for lack of knowledge!" Our minute distinctions, as to party differences, should be consumed and lost in the blaze of holy zeal to do good to all mankind. From the love of Christ, we are bound to make the noblest efforts. I rejoice to see the whole British nation moved. The Bible Society is an effort unparalleled in all the annals of history!—its engaging beauty, its rapid growth, — and its benevolent aims must arrest the attention of the world; - compel their admiration, and constrain them to say, "What new thing is this ?" The Missionary Society deserves a no less distinguished patronage. For, I ask, What is the grand object of the Missionary Society? It to-morrow, at their is to promote the knowledge of |