Rich are the pastures of his bleeding love; And let my wand'ring eyes intensely gaze How pleasing, how reviving is the theme! No more let unbelieving fears prevail; Bind, with love's strongest band, my heart to thine, Nor let me dare to wander from thy fold. My shepherd will not suffer me to err- wants. The Children's Page. LOVING COUNSEL. MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS, Time, in its rapid, onward course, has brought us to the beginning of another year. And what are our thoughts on the past, and what our prospect in the future? Let us remember, the tide of time never recedes; but it is bearing us quickly away upon its never frozen stream -and whither? To endless happiness, or to endless misery? Pause, amid all the pleasures of society (so indulged in at this season of the year), and think, I am but on a journey; in which road am I walking? -the narrow way, that leadeth unto life," or the "broad road, that leadeth to destruction"? It may be in many young hearts that this thought will rise-" But why should I not enjoy the pleasures and comforts which God has given me?" True, the gifts of a good Creator are given for your comfort and enjoyment here; but your comfort and enjoyment must not centre in these; for, "he that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and, "if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." It is not only our silver, our time, or our talents that the Lord requires; but our hearts-the very centre of love and desire. 'Tis there God the Holy Ghost will set up his kingdom; and while without may be strife, and within conflict, yet we shall ever find "the kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." RIGHTEOUSNESS:-is there anything we need more? For we are naked and defiled, until Jesus himself bestows our wedding dress-" the robe of perfect righteousness. "PEACE: - is not this the desire of thousands (Ps. iv. 6)? But, alas! they go further and further from the inestimable treasure. Beloved ones, peace is only found in Jesus: his bleeding wounds, his expiring cry, and his glorious resurrection are all the sources of that peace which to every_believing soul shall flow like a river. "Joy: "-it is often supposed, that "he that will live godly' must bid adieu to happiness. True, he is enjoined to be sober; but this sobriety never destroys the believer's joy, because it is joy in God-the inexhaustible fountain of happiness. Reviews and Romanism, not Christianity, but a Satanic Delusion: a Lecture, delivered 20th October, 1867. By T. W. MEDHURST, Glasgow. AMONG the numerous recent publications which have appeared on the subject of the Romish Antichrist, we cordially welcome this little pamphlet, as containing a faithful and uncompromising exposure of the real character of Romanism-in its principles, doctrines, spirit, and pestilential consequences. Mr. Medhurst has here, within the narrow limits of a lecture, presented a comprehensive view of this monstrous abortion of Christianity. He has done ample justice to the subject, by giving an accurate definition of Popery, its hideous features, its unmitigated evils, and its antagonism to every form in which Christianity is embodied and revealed in the New Testament. At the outset he exposes and demolishes the idea entertained by many protestants; viz., that the religion of Rome is but a mutilation of the Gospel of Christ, "a corrupted form of true Christianity," simply a degenerate plant which has long encumbered the ground, but which, with all its pernicious properties and qualities, is nevertheless of Divine origin, and therefore is to be regarded with charitable tenderness, acknowledged to be a branch of Christianity, and notwithstanding all its corruptions, is to be treated with that Christian toleration and respect which a mere errroneous system of religious doctrines may justly demand. This false assumption is utterly overthrown in the lecture before us, wherein it is affirmed and demonstrated from the Scriptures of truth, that Popery is still what it has ever been, "another Gospel ;"-that it exalts and glorifies "another Saviour," and inculcates "another spirit" than that of the New Testament. It is clearly shewn to be a diabolical "imposture "something altogether different from the true -a Criticism. gospel-a delusion of Satan! The proofs that the papal system is nothing else than a Satanic delusion are adduced from its authorised teachings, which are placed in striking contrast with the plain words of holy scripture. The alleged supremacy of the Pope as Christ's vicar on earth; the adoration of the Virgin Mary, the mediation of canonised saints; the persecuting spirit of the apostate church in every age; together with the doctrines and traditions so utterly repugnant to all the great verities of the Gospel of Christ: these, and many other things are presented as irrefragable proofs of the Church of Rome being, not simply a degenerate branch of Christ's Church, but that fearful "Satanic delusion," that foul apostasy which is declared to be "THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATION OF THE EARTH." "I ask," says Mr. M., "can that be recognized and treated as christianity that is an enemy to all the facts that cluster round the person and life of the Lord Jesus Christ? Can that be christianity which forbids liberty of conscience and the right of private judgment, and commands the bible to be burned? Can that be christianity which worships saints and angels, which makes the Virgin Mary command God, which calls her the Mother of God and the Queen of heaven, and which denies Christ by making salvation depend exclusively on the will of Mary? Can that be christianity which makes salvation to depend on confession, in a confessional that is so filthy that Satan himself ought to be ashamed of it? Can that be christianity which condemns the way of salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus as a damnable heresy? Can that be christianity which has set up the Inquisition, and which has persecuted to the death the faithful servants of Jesus, to the enormous number of more than 40,000 each year for the whole period of more than 1,200 year? No, with a voice of thunder let Protestants answer. No; Romanism is not Christianty, but an offspring of Satan." The lecture not only exposes and denounces those grosser forms of Popery which are adopted and practised by the Ritualistic Section of the Church of England, it also warns of the danger arising from the more subtle innovations which are stealthily making their way into Nonconformist circles, and whose decided tendency is toward Rome! Everlasting Punishment, not Everlasting Pain. By ROBERT REYNOLDSON, of Wisbeach. London: Elliot Stock. We deeply regret the appearance of this book. It is cleverly written, and may therefore do so much more mischief. The author belongs to that class of believers, or non-believers called Destructionists. He believes that the souls of the wicked, after intolerable agony, will be annihilated, so also the devil and his angels. We seek in vain for any true scriptural arguments for such opinions. He seems to rely chiefly on his own reason; but is a long duration of agony followed by annihilation reasonable? If reason, and not Revelation is to be our guide, punishment followed by restoration would be far more reasonable. We prefer, however, to take our stand upon the Divine word. "THESE SHALL GO AWAY INTO EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT, BUT THE RIGHTEOUS INTO LIFE ETERNAL. We cannot accept Mr. Reynoldson's criticism on this verse; to our minds it is feeble in the extreme. His theory makes it necessary to read "These shall go away into everlasting death; but that is only the beginning of difficulties, for if torments are to be endured for a period, how can death be a punishment, since it terminates the torments? Death, on such a theory, so far from being a punishment, would be a deliverance, the thing of all others longed for, the oblivion of everlasting sleep, after long days and nights of anguish. Alas! into what absurdities men run when they set up poor fallible reason against the plain teachings of the Word of God. Archbishop Whately, D.D., and Annihilation Examined: the Eternity of the Being, and the Punishment of the Wicked Proved by the Word of God. By DANIEL ALLEN, Melbourne, Sidney: Clarsan and Co. A GOODLY pamphlet of forty pages. The author opposes the Insensibility scheme of Dr. Whately and the Annihilation scheme of some vagrant Baptists in Australia. "I shall now," says Mr. Allen, "state the doctrine this prelate has sworn by the Holy Ghost he would maintain :-" The noble army of martyrs praise thee." Then their souls must be sensibly before the throne. "O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, bless ye the Lord. Praise him and magnify him for ever." "Then they have spirits and souls to magnify him for ever, when their bodies are silent in death," &c. We agree with Mr Allen in his conclusions, though his style is too florid for our taste, and the epithets, "vile heresy," "vile doctrine," &c., too frequent. We trust in a new edition he will prune them out his argument will be stronger without them. Is Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister Prohibited by the Law of God? By the Rev. JOHN HANNAH. London: Stock. MR. HANNAH takes the ground that they are forbidden by the law of God. We confess, however, that his exposition of the celebrated passage Lev. xviii. 18 is exceedingly unsatisfactory. "Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, &c., beside the other in her lifetime," seems in distinct terms to limit the prohibition to the lifetime of the first wife; but says Mr. Hannah such an interpretion would be a divine sanction to polygamy. How? It may imply the existence of polygamy, but here it forbids it in one form, leaving the question untouched. Dr. Boothroyd says, "This precept evidently limits a man's marrying his wife's sister while she lived, but does not prohibit him from doing it when his wife was dead." If Mr. Hannah's views are correct he would make God the author of sin, and to contradict Himself, for in Deut. xxv. 5 a man is commanded to marry his brother's wife, if his brother had died without issue. If such marriages were inherently sinful, as Mr. Hannah thinks, is it not passing strange that God should command them, and that the man should be publicly disgraced who did not do so? We look upon this prohibition as a relic of popery (though they set it aside by a dispensation), and the sooner it is blotted out of the statute book the better. We regret, however, that many learned protestants hold the same opinion as the author, though their reasoning, like his, appears to us exceedingly inconclusive and irrelevant. The Gardeners' Magazine. Conducted by We thank Mr. Hibbard for his ably-con- The Choral Cyclopædia. By JAMES BRAHAM. Numbers 1 and 4.-Watts' Psalms, abridged for vocal use, &c. &c. By JAMES BRAHAM. Numbers 1 and 4. London:-F. Pitman, Paternoster Row. WHEN we get a few odd numbers of any new publication, unless they be of sterling excellence, we have neither time, space, nor inclination to review them. Should we have the other numbers sent, we may Monthly Notes on Passing Ebents. TKE FENIANS.-While we write, the terrible Fenian act of wild wickedness in London is moving all hearts throughout the country. We will not trust ourselves to comment on the subject at any length, but will only express the hope that Fenianism, as a conspiracy against law and order, will be destroyed by the very hideousness of its developments. wrongs and needs of Ireland must needs wait for calm discussion till the spirit that animates a certain class in Ireland is changed in respect for the common principles of humanity. The PARLIAMENTARY. -In the recent short session of Parliament, not much occurred in the way of Ecclesiastical debate, but the Government intimated that it had no intention to deal with the Church-rate question. Four Bills on the subject have been introduced by private members.The O'Connor Don has introduced a Bill to facilitate Nonconformist Burials in churchyards, and providing that the parish burial ground shall be free for interments of all the parishioners with such funeral service as may be preferred.-Four Bills on Church-rates stand for second reading in February and March; that introduced by Mr. Gladstone, abolishing compulsory Church-rates, appears the one most likely to pass. THE GREAT EVANGELICAL CONFERENCE, which was recently held at Willis' Rooms, when 600 of the evangelical clergy and laity met with closed doors, to devise practical measures for rescuing the Church of England from Popish domination, passed various resolutions, which seem like earnest business. A guarantee fund of £50,000 is to be raised to assist aggrieved parishioners to contest at law the doings of the Ritualistic clergy, £5,000 of which was subscribed in the room. The well known Mr. Ryle and Dr. Miller appear to have been the moving spirits of the meeting. The Evangelical clergy will find out that their sheet anchor, the thirtynine articles, does not hold firmly enough in the law of the land to prevent their church being drifted on the shoals of Ritualism and Rationalism, and that nothing but a movement for free churches will meet the necessities of their position. They wish to coerce the Ritualists, and the latter return the wish, and Parliament will not interpose to help either side. This is the position of affairs. EDUCATION.-An important announcement has been made relative to the action of the National Society. This great institution has urged Government to extend the present system of grants to schools conducted by teachers not certified; in fact to all schools set up in which the denominational princple is maintained, payment being, of course, made for results only. Concurrently with this movement, Lord Russell, who has declared his wish to devote his future energies to the cause of National Education, has initiated a debate in the House of Lords, expressing the strongest opinions on the duty of Government relative to this important subject; and suggesting that there should be a public minister of education, with a seat in the Cabinet. The question just now derives special interest from the great increase of power given to the comparatively uneducated classes by the recent Reform Bill. THE ROMAN QUESTION is entering on a new and decided phase. The French Emperor has at last, it appears, "set his foot down" upon the subject by declaring his intention to preserve to the Pope, not only Rome, but his temporal dominions, if need be, by force of arms against Italy. "Man proposes, but God disposes." CHANGE OF PLACE often makes strange changes in opinion and sentiment. It is singular how brief a residence in our Colonies, where no established church exists, suffices to turn sensible churchmen into admirers of the voluntary principle. At a recent meeting of the Episcopal Church at Queensland, Mr. Justice Lutwytch said that "the evils that arose from the alliance between the Church and the State were enormous. Witness laypatronage and family livings:-the less they had to do with the State the better!" The Bishop also proposed the formation of a synod on "purely voluntary" principles. THE DIOCESE OF SALISBURY is in a ferment. Three thousand clergymen and laymen have signed a petition to the House of Lords, praying for redress against the popish teaching of their Bishop in a recent pastoral charge. Lord Portman was their spokesman, and very logically maintained, that while the Church of England was subject to the State, it is the duty of Parliament to see that the teaching of the Church was in accordance with the standards which it has legalized. The debate that ensued served to show that no real relief can be obtained from the Ecclesiastical Courts, and that Parliament is not likely to interpose with any fresh legislation on the subject. "TRUTH WILL OUT."-It is curious to remark how truth will make itself known, even from lips and pens that have been accustomed to teach error on any particular subject, when the pressure of an erroneous system is for a moment withdrawn from the mind. This is often not at all owing to previous conscious deception, but rather to the force of truth making itself felt, by the obvious inconsistency of the error to which it stands opposed. Thus, in the "Record," the organ of the evangelical party in the Church of England, in a leading article, dated November 27, we find the following: -What, then, is required of the baptized? -Repentance and faith. These must precede baptism, and where these are there is life"! The views of Baptists on this subject could not be more aptly expressed than by these sentences; and yet they are found in the organ of a party which subscribes its belief in an altogether opposite system, and adheres to a practice to which they are directly opposed. Mr. T. B. BAINES, son of Mr. Edward Baines, the well-known M.P. for Leeds, a member of the congregational church in that town, was recently immersed on a profession of his faith in the South Parade Baptist Chapel by Mr. Best, the Pastor. Mr. Baines himself preached on the occasion. Death. ABRAHAMS.-On the 20th November last, Mr. George Abrahams, for many years the esteemed and beloved minister of the church meeting in Regent Street Chapel, peacefully fell asleep in Jesus. His remains were interred at Abney Park. He was a faithful minister of Jesus Christ, and a sweet expounder of his word. |