Poetry.] The subject of these Hymns is of the last importance; the sentiments are striking; and the numbers are harmonious. May they please and profit multitudes-find much acceptance; and through the divine blessing diffuse Light! Holiness! Joy! May I also in imitation of Mrs. Doddridge converse with the world of spirits! There our Treasure is; thither we all are hastening: and from thence we look for our Saviour. Please to present my cordial compliments to Mrs. Harrison. She has obliged me by her acceptable letter; and will farther oblige me, by dispensing with my omission to answer it in form, and by ascribing my silence to its true cause Business and little health. are the subscriptions of . . . much My Sister whom you are so obliging a to mention has been at London for a considerable time. Saturday Noon, April, 1754. No. XIII. MADAM,-Be pleased to accept my Thanks for your first but more especially for your second letter. The first was very obliging in the Writer, the last very pleasing in its Contents. I rejoyce that our common Friend, Mr. Cruttenden, has reason to mingle Smiles with his Tears, his Son having saved a Remnant of his Inheritance, and his God having in Judgment remembered Mercy. My Letter from good Mr. Davies came to Hand some Time ago; and I James Stonehouse, M.D. of North- have now received from Mr. Cruttenden ampton. Mrs. Charlotte Backwell, of N▬▬n. Mrs. Jane Backwell, of N- -n [*]| I should long ago have given myself the pleasure of waiting on Mrs. Doddridge, had not my sickly constitution made me a Recluse. I seldom leave my cell, unless it be to visit the solitary Heath. As I am unfit for conversation, I go abroad only in quest of refreshment and spirits. These, Madam, which are the balm of life, may you never want; and may they be heightened by the Peace of God which the World cannot give, which passeth all understanding! With my mother's and my own compliments to yourself and the young ladies, That a Transcript of Mr. Davies and Mr. My mother and Sister with pleasure receive your compliments, and with sincerity return their own to Yourself and Family. To which let me add those of, Madam, Your obliged Friend, And most obedient Servt., The "Mr. Cruttenden " alluded to by Hervey was a gentleman distinguished for his public-spirited liberality among the literati of the day. some other gentlemen, formed a scheme to render the recommendatory letter more extensively serviceable. [I] shall soon put it into execution, and hope the God who maintaineth the cause of the widow will accompany it with his blessing." So far as we can ascertain, his only literary labours, as it were the aroma of his pious heart, was a small volume of religious Hymns: and it is very gratifying to us to present to our Readers the following truly beautiful Lines by Mr. Cruttenden, which is not included in his own collection: nor has it before been published. (To be continued.) CONSISTENCY. lack of earnest, importunate prayer for the coming of the kingdom of Jesus? Is not the cause to be traced up to the want of consistency in Christian professors? Individual and personal ex amination, with the lamp of Divine truth, are consequently called for, and rigid, scrupulous, and faithful dealing are demanded. It is not sufficient to deplore such evils, but a duty imperative to seek by all means to remedy them. As is the case in the physical system, decay may progress without even a consciousness of its existence, slowly, gradually, and imperceptibly, until at length it becomes a painful reality; so in the garden of the Lord, a blight may be found passing over the trees of righteousness, withering their branches, searing their leaves, and blasting their fruit. The evil is to be dreaded, and to be sought out carefully, promptly, and decidedly. Want of consistency in the Christian character may be considered as one of the chief causes of religious declension. That which a man professes to be, he ought to be, otherwise his life and his avowed principles are at variance. The Christian is useful, therefore, according to the degree and strength of his piety. "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bring forth much fruit." In order successfully to carry out the great design of the gospel, he must carry his Master's like A CONSISTENT and holy life is the exemplification of genuine religion. Without this principle in constant exercise, there is feeble vitality, a low state of piety, and the absence of all that is lovely and of good report. A consistent member of a church is a living epistle of Christ, to be seen and read of all men. The want of consistency in those who profess religion is the great stumbling-block to its progress in the world. The Christian may be considered as a light set upon a hill, but if he tarnishes that light by any conduct opposed to his acknowledged principles, he at once shakes the evidence of his sincerity. His principles and practice must be in union to bear living testimony of his attachment to, and belief in, the doctrines he propounds. He must not only be sound in the truth, but study to exemplify in his bearing, manner, and spirit, the beauties of holiness. As he is to put on the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, he is to show forth the glory of the Lord by reflecting his image, and doing the Divine will. What is the great reason why, in the present day, the Christian church is not awake to her privileges? Why is there apparently so much spiritual dearth, and so little comparatively of deep, ardent, and active piety? Why are revivals of religion seldom experienced? Do we not hear of lethargy spreading her banefulness, and bear his Master's spirit; his influence over the church of Christ, a too prevailing indifference to the progress and advance of the cause of God, the lack of spirituality, a growing conformity to the spirit of the world, a life must be hid with Christ in God, and in proportion to his intimate communion with heaven will he be fitted to glorify God. Any inconsistency in his conduct, manner, or daily conversa tion, will surely be marked by those who oppose the truth, and have pleasure in unrighteousness, producing in their minds a stronger hostility to what they already hate. The Christian is always watched, go where he pleases; and if he inadvertently falls, or is hurried to the commission of some imprudent step, through want of watchfulness, such failure is marked, and spreads to his injury. How needful then is consistency of character, maintained and upheld by the prevailing spirit of prayer, and the constant exercise of holy watchfulness! How responsible for his acts is the believer when he reflects, that if, by his inadvertence, example, behaviour, he is the cause of the stumbling of those with whom he comes into contact, he is injuring the cause he professes to uphold, and instead of recommending, raises an opposition to the truth itself. He does more by his holy and consistent behaviour than by all the eloquence of his natural gifts. Truth is more proclaimed by the life, than the lip. There is power ever increasing in the Christian who adorns his profession in an even, holy, consistent course. He then carries with him a lever, which levels all opposition, and puts to silence the gainsaying of foolish men. And this is a reason why all who are called of God should seek to adorn the gospel of the Lord Jesus, and beam forth in all the radiance of heavenly light, to reflect the glory of their Divine Master. The fertile cause of declension in a Christian or a church, is to be traced up to the want of holy consistency, and if union of principle is strength and power to carry forward the grand designs of revealed truth, there must be more of the leaven of holy influence pervading the mind of the Christian body, to render it mighty and effective to convert the world. God works by instruments, but at the same time he ordains that the instrumentality should be such as he approves, and qualifies for the work. Labourers must be qualified to do the work allotted to them, or otherwise they fail in the heat and burden of the day. In like manner those who are called to be lights in the church, to carry the lamp of truth, and to send it to others, must shine by their influence, example, and consistency, in order to ensure a successful result, and win trophies to the gospel cause. It is of vital importance that the Lord's people should be so distinguished by their piety, zeal, and holy walk, from others, that they shall not fail to produce an impression that religion is power, is divine, is worthy to be received and enjoyed. Were this condition the universal and prevailing one in the Christian church, what amount of influence would be exerted at home and abroad in the more vigorous adoption of plans for spreading the truth in the domestic, social, and general circle, and in a larger measure of effort to increase the means for widely diffusing the glorious gospel! It is certain that the responsibility of accomplishing the great purposes of God in relation to the salvation of the world is entrusted to the church, and it is equally certain that up to the present time that work has been accomplished but imperfectly and partially. Ought these things to be so? Is there any lack of Divine influence to assist in carrying out such a glorious work? Is there any failure of the Divine promises? By no means; and as the honour and privilege are conferred exclusively on the church to preach and send the truth to all without exception, there must needs be a cause, a serious one, why the Divine injunctions have been disregarded, why the trust has been feebly carried out, why the talents committed have been imperfectly used. The day of usefulness is but a moment of time compared to eternity, and as the word is the power of God to salvation, how fearful is it to trifle, and to lose the opportunity of doing good, when the power and ability are so freely bestowed of ac complishing the Divine purposes! Is not the want of deep, earnest attention to this subject mainly to be attributed to the want of consistency in the members of the universal church? Is there not with many too great an approximation to the spirit of the world? Is not worldly conformity a cankerworm, eating up and impairing the vitality of Christianity? Has not worldly policy crept in and taken possession of the stronghold of the mind? Has not prayer become too stiff, formal, and cold, for the increase and spread of the Divine kingdom? Has not a frigid, cautious, and calculating system been often adopted, instead of one liberal and generous, to advance the cause of religion? Is not selfishness the fruitful parent of great and serious evils? Is not covetousness a sin which spreads its dark mantle over the hearts of many professors? Are not the public means of grace too seldom embraced and enjoyed? Has not the desire for gain and influence often overcome the power and higher aim for nobler objects? Have not thought, time, and attention been inordinately devoted to the things, which, in the hour of death, will be esteemed as dross? Remembering that whatsoever is not of faith is sin, we need not wonder, that if these causes more or less predominate, the Divine influences are restrained, and the great hinderance to the wider diffusion of Christian truth is to be traced up to the want of consistency in those who name the name of Christ. What is wanted to produce a general spread of religion and its revival, is more of the spirit and aim of primitive Christianity, more of the reality of union among all Christians, more of individual effort to carry out the spirit of genuine love to Christians of other denominations, more of self-sacrifice, more of fixed resolve so to act, and so to live, that Christ may be glorified'; in a word, to present a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable in his sight. Tiverton. Poetry. F. S. G. SONNET ON THE DEATH OF HIS GRACE THE LATE DUKE OF WELLINGTON, (SEPTEMBER 14TH, 1852.) "How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished !"-2]Sam. i. 27. "Death visits alike the cottage and the palace."-Horace. "Princes must come To the cold tomb: And in the silent grave be laid With the poor crooked scythe and spade.-Shirley. YON flag hangs droopingly o'er Walmer's walls! Death, before whom or peer or peasant falls, At length hath called away our Conquering Chief! His loss we all deplore in silent grief. How earnest was his life-at duty's call, (Sage in the Senate, foremost in the Field,) Ready to aid, advise, and succour all; In peace our Counsellor, in war our Shield! Thus deeply Britain mourns her valiant son, Marlborough Square, Chelsea, Sept. 30th, 1852. S. S. OUR PRAYER MEETINGS. tures, singing exercises, &c.; but I do plead for the Prayer-meeting; my own experience has taught me its value. Observation has convinced me of the connexion between the prayer-meeting and the piety, the living piety, of the heart; and between the prosperity of our churches, and the vital, devotional piety of the young. Encourage them, THERE is no subject, perhaps, of more frequently expressed regret than the poverty and feebleness of our weekly meetings for prayer. It is not with them as, according to our avowed principles, and the character of the times in which we live, it should be. It is not, sir, as it was when we were young. Where are the fathers and heads of families? And where are the young-you who have grown grey in the Lord's the young Christians? It is to the latter class I indeed especially, and with earnest affection, refer at this time. Is there the life, and power, and beauty in the piety of our beloved young friends that there was in those of a like age thirty years ago? Let our Sabbath-schools, let our prayer-meetings, and our church-meetings answer. And yet, to a considerable extent, our shops are closed at an earlier hour; and our young friends are not always at home on Prayer meeting evenings. I would remind them of the duty of social devotion-of the advantage it confers on them-the sweet refreshment of a week-evening service coming between Sabbath and Sabbath the encouragement their presence gives to their minister and elder friends-and the opportunity for exercising the gift and the grace of prayer. I will not now enter on the question of evenings which are devoted to lec THE COMPLAINT It has long been my impression, that some of the Christian congregations of Britain do not manifest towards me sufficient attachment, nor render me that respect I deserve. hope my solemn protest will produce the desired result, especially among those churches where the evil obtains. The state of the case is just this. It is customary in many religious assemblies, never to read the sacred truths I unfold but on the Lord's-day. At the social prayer-meeting I am scarcely seen; and at the lecture I am only opened that the lecturer may announce his text. Such conduct is derogatory to my dignity,-grieves the soul of my Author, and will most certainly incur his displeasure. The Brahmin reads his Shaster, and the Mohammedan his Alcoran, publicly every day; but by some service. Do all you can, ministers of Jesus, to render your prayer-meetings attractive to intelligent and Christian youth: and, my dear young friends, in making your arrangements for the week, do, as far as possible, let one evening be sacred to the Prayer-meeting. Other engagements may be lawful, desirable, useful in their season, but I can think of none whose claims are equal to those of the too often neglected Prayer-meeting. You gladden our hearts as we look round upon many of you at the Lord's table. We bless God for your holy and consistent lives; but the state of the church and of the world, calls for prayer-united, warmhearted, and fervent prayer. The Angel at the gol den altar stands to receive it- God waits to answer it-the Holy Spirit helps our infirmities. Meet us at the hour of prayer. Help to rekindle our too languid devotions. "O come and magnify the Lord with us; and let us exalt His name together." ORATE. OF THE BIBLE. teachers of Christianity, once a week is counted enough for the public perusal of my pages! In my infancy I was revered, and frequently read by the Jewish church; subsequently, the perusal of my pages formed a prominent part of the primitive Christian's worship; now (is it in consequence of increased light, and knowledge, and holiness?) I am laid aside as unnecessary, except on the Sabbath. I ask, Why is this? Is such conduct right? What arguments can be adduced in favour of it? Do my contents give sanction to it? I trust the individuals guilty of the conduct which has called forth the above complaint, will ponder these questions, and I hope the result will be-a more diligent attention to the public reading of THE WORD OF GOD. |
