come to him by his word, ordinances, a lively hope of immortality, and a ministers, promises; gives them the boundless everlasting peace, these will and power to come by his are some of the mighty things Spirit. He only can open to the which belong to the children of God, sinner the exceeding sinfulness of upon these they live ; in these they sin, show him the purity of God, delight; and when faith and patithe spirituality of his law, the ence have had their perfect work, freeness of his gospel ; He only and they have past from a dying can reveal Christ in the heart in his world into the valley of the shadow fulness, suitableness, and offices; of death, their happy souls are conwhat he has done for us, is carrying ducted safely to the kingdom of on in us; he only can effectually heaven. But it is their duty while invite, and powerfully persuade us here, to adore the Lamb that was to submit to Jesus' righteousness slain for them, to walk before him for acceptance; to receive him for in newness of life ; to glorify him pardon, peace, and comfort; for before men; to recommend his gosstrength, grace, and glory, to credit pel; to reverence his sabbaths; to the word of truth concerning us, abound in all the labours of love, che that it will be well with the people works of faith, the patience of hope; of God under all the circumstances to be thankful for mercies ; to imof varying life, all the shifting dis- prove providences; attend ordipensations of unerring Providence; nances; pray without ceasing, love he only can give us a right judg. Jesus supremely, and be ready to ment in all things; he leads us into every good word and work. They all truth, crowns Jesus the Lord must arise and shine, for their light of all our affections, and inspires is come, and the glory of the Lord is us with ardent longings for unalter- risen upon them. These, redeemed able and unutterable bliss in heaven. soul, are thy great duties, these thine And will the sinner ever have rea- inestimable privileges; thou art to son to regret the moment when he live as one who has an undoubted was reduced to the obedience of right to live with an innumerable faith? Sooner would the sinking company of angels, with the spirits mariner regret that he was rescued of just men made perfect, with the from the raging billows, and fixed general assembly, the chureh of the upon the peaceful shore ; sooner first-born, with God the Judge of would the prisoner regret the eas. all, and with Jesus the mediator ing his feet of his chains, and the of the new covenant. And in the opening the dungeon door; sooner consideration of this, what manner would the imprisoned dove regret of person oughtest thou to be in the moment of enlargement, when all holy conversation and godlishe might plume her wings, and ness? with what cheerfulness is it flee away, and be at rest. thy privilege to live! with what I proceed to consider, thirdly, the confidence to die! with what subadvantages and duties incumbent mission oughtest thou to meet all upon those who come to Jesus. the appointed trials of time, wartTheir advantages are incalculable. ing in the patience of hope for that “ Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, joyful hour, when the bridegroom nor have entered into the heart of shall descend from heaven with 8 man, the things which God hath shout, with the voice of the archprepared for them that love him." angel, and the trump of God! Pardon and justification, the new Let me, my friends, in conclusiod, name of adoption, the white stone give you an universal invitation, of absolution, the hidden manna Come into the ark, -Come ere of a Saviour's flesh, which is meat sickness invade you, and death sur. indeed, communion with the Trinity, prize you; Come ere the heavens pass away with a great noise, and will hear, and while they are yet the elements melt with fervent speaking, I will answer. The first heat. “Behold now is the accepted movement of the soul after Jesus, time, now is the day of salvation.” has its origin from him, and shall The food of vengeance will soon not be disappointed by him. Alsweep away for ever an ungodly though only eight human souls were world. The present system of saved in Noah's ark, yet ip Christ things will soon be destroyed by the true ark, there are many thoufire. The heavens and the earth sand times eight; a multitude that which are now, by the same word, no man can number, from the are kept in store reserved unto fire east and west, from the north and against the day of judgment, and south, shall sit down with Abraham, perdition of ungodly men. The Isaac, and Jacob in their Father's day of the Lord will come as a kingdom. But are you already thief in the night. But, alas! come? Happy you. To come to wbat say the Scriptures of truth? Jesus is a point of consummate wisAs the days of Noah were, so shall dom, is the path of certain safety; also the coming of the Son of man you shall be found in him; and reign be. For as in the days that were with him for ever. We may learn before the flood, they were eating from the whole of the subject, that and drinking, marrying and giving in Jesus is all we want or wish, in marriage, unto the day that Noah for time or for eternity; Christ is all entered into the ark, and knew not in all. The soul enriched by Him until the flood came, and took them can never be poor, the soul that all away; so shall also the coming of flies to him will find security. the Son of man be. Awake there. Jesus will conduct his blood bought fore, ye careless ones that are at charge through all the changing ease in Zion. Rouse, sinner, from scenes of this mortal life; he will tby fatal slumber; awake thou that keep them as the apple of the eye, sleepest, and arise from the dead, and hide them under the shadow of and Christ shall give thee light. his wings, until they reach the top But are you coming into the ark ? of the everlasting hills, and the Then be encouraged. Him that tempest-tost ark touch on Mount cometh unto Christ, He will in po Zion. Amen. wise cast out. Before they call, I R. L. SONNET. FROM THE ITALIAN OF LUDOVICO ARIOSTO. How shall my cold and lifeless prayer ascend, J. G. ON MINISTERS' VISITING. SIR-The inquiry of a Young Cler- on various points which we deem gyman on the expediency of a important, may yet be desirous of Minister visiting the Tables of those treating us with civility and respect; of his Parishioners, of whom there may desire to ascertain our views is no reason to hope, that they have on subjects of which they are at any regard for true religion,* is a present more competent to judge question much more easily asked than on religion ; may wish to than answered, and which scarcely bestow upon us the common and admits, I conceive, of a general customary marks of kindness and reply. That line of conduct which attention; may perhaps be anxious one may safely and usefully adopt, to gratify the curiosity of others could not be followed by another concerning us, or may without any without exposing himself, and the very well defined motive, but from cause he desires to support, to con general habits of politeness and siderable danger and difficulty. . hospitality wish to see us at their The Apostle, in the passage to social board. Now the simple which your inquirer refers—" If question I should ask, is, Have I any of them that believe not bid any good reason for declining the you to a feast and ye be disposed to invitation of this individual ? Is go,” certainly implies, that it is he a Sabbath-breaker ? Does he possible for Christian people to neglect and, absent himself from comply with such invitations with divine worship ? Is he a scoffer at out sin, since it can scarcely be God and religion? Is he a profane conceived, that he would have man? Does he really hope to put introduced such a supposition, with my principles to shame? I should out some corresponding warning, feel in such a case the invitation had a compliance been inevitably must be declined. “Excuse me,' accompanied with guilt; and we I would say in the mildest manner, find our Lord complying with the I would wish to treat your polite invitations of some, as for instance, intentions with all possible respect; that of Simon the Pharisee, who but your principles and practice so while outwardly the professing widely differ from what appears people of God were yet really des. to me all-important, that I must titute of true religion. There is decline your proffered intimacy.' indeed a manifest difference between But before I could make this the Head and the members, and he reply. I must have very clear eviin whom the Prince of this world dence that the individual was really could find nothing, might safely such a character: and unless I had visit places and companies which such clear evidence, I should are pregnant with danger to others. scarcely feel myself justified in The grand rule for the Christian declining a proper invitation. I man, and the Christian minister is, should deem it advisable to comply “whether ye eat or drink, or what with the request, and should go soever ye do, do all to the glory with fervent prayer for direction, of God;" and this rule should ever and assistance, that I might not steadily be kept in view, though give offence in any way, either by not at all times easy to be applied. inexpedient indulgence, or uncomIn many cases, persons of whose manded severity. ligious feelings we bave no evi- The continuing to visit would dence, or who may differ from us very much depend upon the cir* See Christian Guardian, April 1829, cumstances which occurred in the p. 130. first instance. On a renewed in vitation I might perhaps deem praying fervently for divine direcmyself called upon to say, “I am tion, and he will soon be enabled to deeply obliged by your politeness, determine for himself far better but trust you will excuse my de. than any other can for him, whether clining your invitation ;' if pressed be ought or ought not to accept of for further particulars, I might per- the supposed invitations. Especially haps feel myself called upon to let him set a watch over bimself: intimate that the conduct, conver- over bis appetite, his spirit, his sation, views of religion, &c. so temper. Can I partake at the differed from what I thought im- ruler's table without giving way to portant, that I felt it a duty to indulgence or affectation of conabsent myself from the party, lest tempt? Can I converse with on the one hand I might counte. cheerfulness without degenerating nance what I could not approve, or into levity ? Can I visit without on the other interrupt the harmony neglecting family and closet reof my host and friends, by any ligion? Should I not be more observations which might be con- usefully employed in the cottages sidered as obtrusive or offensive of the poor, in the chambers of the · I must own, however, that the sick, at the schools of the ignorant, difficulties which I have met with the committees of the benevolent, on this subject, have arisen rather the sacred retirements of the study from the church than the world. and the closet ? I have visited at the tables of per. In general, the faithful minister sons of whose regard to religion is too busy to visit much, and the I had little hope, and yet I have late and unseasonable bours of generally found an anxiety to avoid modern days are most inimical to every thing which they supposed at the proper and advantageous emall inconsistent with my views or ployment of his time and talents. prejudices; and I have often had He ought not to be had. * If he opportunities of making observa visit, bis visits should be short; he tions which appeared to me of an should withdraw early, and should instructive and useful tendency. on all occasions exhibit a marked But I have found among modern preference for those smaller circles professors of religion-among some and accidental interviews where of my own fellow-worshippers far dropping in to an ordinary meal, he greater difficulties, and far more may by his cheerful conversation, serious impediments to the proper and holy and affectionate dispoimprovement of social meetings, sition, evince that he needs not the than amongst those who made a excitement of a numerous company less decided profession; and in the or a well spread table, but that he present day, where only on very has a principle of consolation withrare occasions is an opportunity in which renders him very indifferent afforded for the introduction of to those enjoyments which multireligious conversation, and of family tudes eagerly pursue. If these few 'worship, I have felt it more and hints on an important subject at all 'more my duty to withdraw and de- meet the views of your inquirer, I cline maintaining that social inter- shall have great pleasure, and, am, course which I could not improve. Sir, yours most truly, Let the youog clergyman seriously consider his own peculiar PARCUS. situation, talents, temptations, difficulties, &c. let him weigh well the * See some useful observations on this subject in Cecil's Remains, under the head characters of his people; let him of a Minister's familiar intercourse vith carefully review his own experience, his hearers.-Cecil's Works, vol. iv. p. 59. ON THE PRESENT TIMES. MR. EDITOR,--We live in eventful times, and every reflecting mind must acknowledge the truth of this observation; the political as well as religious agitations which exist must indeed be painful to the sincere Christian ; respecting the former (though one is nearly connected with the other) as a retired and humble individual I shall ad, vance little, except that it is a matter of deep regret as well as astonish. ment that any conscientious Christ ians should join heart and hand in upholding papal influence : expe, diency rather than principle seems to guide the conduct in this, as well as other matters at the present period. It is to be feared these measures will do little comparatively for Ireland; the spirit of Popery is, and ever will be the same, its native soil is ignorance and superstition the fruitful source of bigotry and intolerance ; the tender mercies of this church are indeed cruel, past experience has proved this be. yond a doubt, and we have little hope as to any amelioration for the future. A protestant King and constitution have for years back kept the Papacy like Sampson, shorn of his locks, powerless and inefficient; remove the barrier, and set the mighty engine at work, and like him it will arise, and in its acquired strength hurl destruction on the head of its deluded victims; God grant that these predictions may not be verified; we must leave the event in the hands of Him who can rule and overrule all things for His own glory. The next topic I beg to touch upon is the general excitement whieh seems to pervade all classes on religious subjects; sometimes we are led to hope that real vital godliness, is gaining ground, and that even in these fearful times (for such they are to both church and state) the kingdom of God is ex tending; on the other hand we are again led to conclude that with a vast sbow of buds and blossoms, little fruit will come to perfection; we hear one minister and another exclaim that the religion of the present day is superficial, that it is an age of profession, for the world is so mixed up with it, that it rarely exists at all. No one can condemn worldly conformity more than myself, it is one of the besetting sips of the present day; but is there such a thing as negative religion ? the saving principle of grace is either implanted or not: is the arm of the Lord shortened, that he works with less power in the conversion of sinners now than formerly? I answer, No: God is the same; the third person in the Holy Trinity is still as efficient, the work goes on though man perceiveth it not; the foundation of the Lord standeth sure, and He knoweth them that are His. But the great evil in the present day rests with the ministers. They touch too frequently upon points which harass and perplex the minds not only of the young Christian, but the more advanced; they attempt to solve difficulties which have arisen in their own minds; and they injudiciously bring them before their hearers, as if their salvation depended upon the reception of these views : the leading doctrines of the gospel are too much kept back, while deep and speculative questions which gender strife, controversy and carnal reasoning, which please the unsanctified ear, and too often prove stumbling blocks in the way of those who are seeking the truth simply as it is in Jesus, are brought forward and discussed rather than plain essential truths. It is deeply to be lamented that this kind of preaching has now become so prevalent in the metropolis, even among professedly pious |