be cast away, or their number diminished. With their eternal and unchangeable election unto salvation, the elect are, in their respective times, but in various degrees and different measure, made acquainted, not by curiously prying into the secret and deep things of God, but by observing in themselves, with spiritual joy and holy pleasure, those unfailing fruits of election which are laid down in the word of God, such as true faith in Christ, filial fear of God, godly sorrow for sin, hungering and thirsting after righteousness. The holy Scripture, moreover, testifies that all men are not chosen, but there are some nonelect, or passed by in God's eternal election, namely, those whom He, in his sovereign, most righteous, unimpeachable, and unchangeable good pleasure, determined to leave in the common misery into which, by their own fault, they have thrown themselves; not to confer upon them saving faith and converting grace, but them thus left in their own ways and under his righteous judgment, at length, both for their unbelief and all their other sins, to condemn and eternally punish, to the showing forth of his righteousness. And this is the decree of Reprobation, which by no means makes God the author of sin, (which even to think is blasphemous,) but holds him forth, as the awful unimpeachable and righteous judge and avenger. Those who do not as yet experience in themselves lively faith in Christ, or a fixed assurance of heart, peace of conscience, the efforts of filial obedience, and rejoic ing in God through Christ, yet use the means by which God has promised to work those blessings in us, ought not to be alarmed at the mention of Reprobation, nor reckon themselves reprobate, but they onght diligently to persevere in the use of the means, and ardently to desire,and with reverence and humility to wait for, the season of more abundant grace. Much less should they be distressed by the doctrine of Reprobation, who sincerely long to be converted to God, to be devoted entirely to him, and to be delivered from the body of death (sin), yet have not been able to advance as they desire in the paths of godliness and faith, since the merciful God has promised that he will not quench the smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed. But this doctrine is justly a ground of alarm to those who disregard God and the Saviour Jesus Christ, who give themselves entirely up to the cares of the world and the pleasures of the flesh, and who have no serious disposition of turning to God."-Acta Synodi Dordrecht. Par. 1. p. 250-252. Ed. Dord. 1623. Did our limits permit us to go through the remaining four articles, it would equally appear how grossly the representations of Mr. K.'s authorities are a violation of truth and justice. We are tempted, however, to copy the second and fifth articles, and contrast them with so much of the original as most particularly applies to the case, assuring our readers that all the rest of the statements of the synod, which we have not room to insert, are in strict accordance with the passages which we do introduce. 11." Of the merit and effect of Christ's death. That Jesus Christ hath not suffered death for any other but for those elect only, having had neither any intent nor commandment of his Father to make satisfaction for the sins of the whole world."-Knight, p. vii. "This death of the Son of God is the only and absolutely perfect victim and satisfaction for sin, of infinite worth and value, and abundantly sufficient for the expiation of the sins of the whole world. The promise of the gospel is, that whosoever believeth in Christ crucified shall not perish but shall have everlasting life. This promise is promiscuously and indiscriminately to be announced and proposed, with the command to repent and believe, to all people and persons to whom God, in his good pleasure, sends the gospel. But that many who are called by the gospel, do not repent nor believe in Christ, but perish in their unbelief, is not from any defect or insufficency in the sacrifice of Christ offered upon the cross, but is solely by their own fault."—Acta Syn. p. 258. 66 V. Of the Certainty of Perseverance.— That such as have once received that grace by faith can never fall from it finally or totally, notwithstanding the most enormous sins they can commit.-Knight, p. viii. "Those whom God calls (&c.), he de livers from the dominion and servitude of sin, but not wholly in this life, from the flesh and the body of sin. Hence arise daily sins of infirmity, and defects adhere even to the best works of holy persons, which supply them with continual reason for self-abasement before God, fleeing to the crucified Saviour, mortifying the flesh more and more by the spirit of prayer and the holy duties of religion, and longing after perfection, till released from this body of death, they reign with the Lamb of God in heaven. On account of those remains of indwelling sin and the temptations of the world and Satan, the converted could not persist in the state of grace if they were left to their own powers. But though the power of God, which confirms and preserves true believers in grace, cannot be overcome by the flesh; yet they are not always so actuated and influenced by God as that they may not, in some particular actions, by their own wickedness, depart from the guidance of his grace, and be seduced and yield to the lusts of the flesh. Wherefore it is their duty perpetually to watch and pray, that they be not drawn into temptations; which, if they neglect to do, they may not only be hurried away by the flesh, the world, and Satan, into even great and dreadful sins, but even may sometimes by the just permission of God be thus drawn aside. But, by such dreadful sins, they greatly offend God, in car the guilt of death, grieve the Holy Spirit, interrupt the exercise of faith, and often for a time lose all sense of the divine favour; until, having by deep repentance returned into the right way, the fatherly mercy of God again visits them. For God, who is rich in mercy, pursuant to the unchangeable purpose of election, doth not wholly take his holy Spirit from his people, even in their sad falls; nor doth he suffer them so far to fall as to lose the blessing of adoption and the state of justification, or to commit the sin unto death or against the holy Spirit, and so, being entirely forsaken by him, to plunge themselves into eternal perdition. For, first, in their very falls, he preserves in them his own immortal seed by which they were regenerated, so that it is not wholly lost. Then, by his word and Spirit he certainly and effectually renews them unto repentance; so that, with the utmost sincerity and in a godly manner, they are distressed for the sins which they have committed, by faith and with a contrite heart they seek and obtain forgiveness through the blood of the Mediator, being reconciled they again enjoy the favour of God, they adore his tender mercies in which they trust, and they thenceforward the more diligently work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. This doctrine of the Perseverance of those who are really believers and holy persons, and the assurance of it, though God hath in his word most abundantly revealed, to the glory of his name and the comfort of pious souls, and hath impressed it upon the hearts of the faithful; yet the flesh does not receive it, Satan hates it, the world scoffs at it, ignorant men and hypocrites abuse it, and false teachers oppose it. But the church of Christ has always most affectionately loved and constantly maintained it; and God, against whom no counsel or might can prevail, will enable his church ever to do so. To this God alone, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory for ever. Amen."-Acta Syn. p. 271. After the specimens which we have given of the ignorance or bad faith of Mr. Knight, our readers will not be sur prised to be informed that his whole book proceeds on similar fallacies. His plan is a large induction of Scripture passages, which he imagines to be opposed to the Calvinistic doctrines; with short annota tions, partly his own (and these may be pretty easily distinguished) and partly borrowed from Grotius, Hammond, Tomline, Mant, &c. but chiefly Whitby, as he honourably acknowledges; not forgetting also Taylor, whom probably Mr. K. does not know to have been a Dissenter and a Socinian. The most prominent feature of his book is the assumption, that commands, exhortations, cautions, warnings, encouragements, and other rational persuasives, addressed to Christians in the Holy Scriptures, are inconsistent with Calvinism, and totally overthrow it! If ridi cule were allowable on so serious a subject, this author, or rather copyist, has laid himself abundantly open to it. But we view him as an object of extreme pity, a victim of ignorance and the grossest prejudices. Yet he cannot be excused. He cannot but know that it was his duty to have examined carefully the writings of the class of men whom he so rashly condemns. Had he but done so, and could the repugnance of his heart have left him at liberty to believe the testimony of his own eyes, how great would have been his astonishment to perceive that those whom he so despises (and who, most certainly, if his ideas of them were correct, must be equally destitute of religion and of common sense,) are the most distinguished of all religious writers for the copiousness, the strictness, and the fervour of their addresses both to the unconverted and to believers, on all the branches, motives, and obligations of PRACTICAL HOLINESS! God the Doer of all Things: a Sermon preached in the Parish Church of St. Martin, in Leicester, Nov. 23, 1823, By E. T. Vaughan, M.A. 8vo. 1s. Baldwin. Strictures on the Rev. E.T. Vaughan's Sermon, &c. By John Owen, Curate of Gaddesby & Keyham. 8vo. 1s. Seeley. WE have read Mr. Vaughan's Sermon with great pain. His assertions, and the flippant confidence with which he vents them, are indeed awful and disgusting. He so understands the doctrines of the decrees and agency of God, as boldly to make the Blessed and Holy One the author and doer of all sin, and its consequent misery. In the irreverent spirit of hyperorthodoxy, and with its characteristic affectation of quaint and coarse language, he disregards difficulties and defies consequences. His crude and hasty amass : ing of Scripture passages, without a careful investigation of the terms and connexion of each, exhibits him as a very rash and unqualified interpreter of the divine word. He avowedly rests the Justice of the Deity upon constituted relations and thus he goes far towards a denial of the essential holiness of God. The great question, which he feels no hesitation to answer in a manner that must shock a pious mind, has been ever regarded by the best and wisest men as one beyond the reach of the human faculties; the origin and continuance of evil, under the divine system of moral government. Upon all hypotheses the difficulty presses, in greater or less degrees; and nearly the utmost that they can do is to vary its position and aspect. We know some solid principles; but we are not competent to combine and harmonize them. Some great men, such as Augustine, Theophilus Gale, Mr. Howe, President Edwards, and Dr. Williams, have advanced much to confirm our minds in those truths, and to diminish the painful effect of the great difficulty. But, after all, the sure and satisfying repose of the soul is in a firm faith upon the impregnable and eternal rock, the PERFECTION OF JEHOVAH. Of this, we have the most satisfactory evidence and is not this enough for weak and sinful creatures in a state of probation? Perhaps the great problem of theology, to reconcile the existence and effects of moral evil with the Divine wisdom and benevolence, is the very test appointed for the chief trial of faith and submission in the present life. For such a purpose, is it not a test eminently proper? What can be more suitable to the condition of such a being as man, especially in his fallen and guilty state, than to be presented with a question in moral science which all his efforts cannot solve; and then to be required to believe that the solution is effected by the glorious Deity, in some way infinitely remote from the present capacity of human comprehension? Yea, more than this is it not delightful, is it not a high privilege, for the believer to repose in the full confidence of faith, upon the unerring conviction of the absolute RECTITUDE, WISDOM, and LOVE of GOD, notwithstanding the contemplation of the difficulty, to us unanswerable? Will not a true Christian say, that he would rather live in the enjoyment of this holy, implicit, and fiducial reference to infinite excellence, than possess the knowledge of an archangel? This seems to us to be the proper tendency and true genius of religion; and to be the mode, the only mode which revelation proposes for the allay ing of our perplexities. "Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him; and it shall be recompensed to him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." in It is well that the daring and dangerous dogmas of Mr. Vaughan are met by a serious and faithful remonstrance Mr. Owen's Strictures. This judicious clergyman exposes Mr. V.'s rashness, inconsistency, and confusion of ideas; and he solemnly warns, on solid and scriptural grounds, against the effect which this unworthy sermon can scarcely fail to have upon common readers;-" to efface the impressions of sin's enormity, to lessen its dread, and to render its commission more easy and its guilt more tolerable."-p. 18. It is an appalling reflection, What must be the influence of such sermons upon Mr. V.'s parishioners? We are sorry to say that Mr. Owen's excellent pamphlet has sustained no little detriment from the careless manner in which it is printed. Our space allows us one extract; a just character of Mr. V.'s production. "This Sermon is a perfect chaos, a complete confusion; in which things are said and unsaid, boldly answered, and unintelligibly explained; in which the sustaining power and moral agency of God are treated as one and the same; and his gracions operations, with penal and moral evil, are introduced with no distinction. Can it be considered in any other light than a mass of inconsistencies and contradictions? Not only is its reasoning incorrect, but its divinity is most false and dangerous. No one step,' said the orthodox and pious Bishop Hall, 'dare I proceed, except as Scripture leads the way.' It is not one step, but many steps that this sermou proceeds, where Scripture does not lead the way; though Scripture in abundance is quoted, but quoted illegitimately."—p. 15. A Commentary on the Vision of Zechariah the Prophet; with a corrected Translation and Critical Notes. By the Rev. John Stonard, D. D., Rector of Aldingham, Lancashire. 8vo. 14s. Riving tons. WE have here an illustration of that most difficult and interesting portion of Zecha riah's prophecies, Chap. 1. 7, to vi. 15. It has seldom been our lot to peruse, in the stores of either ancient or modern divinity, a work which evinces so extensive, laborious, and penetrating research; learning so solid and well applied, judgment so cautious, or more unaffected indications of humility and piety. These are high assertions; but they express our sincere conviction, and we think that any minister or other person, who is studiously labouring to be correctly acquainted with biblical and theological science, will be entirely of our opinion when he has perused and digested this volume. The learned author is circumstantial and perspicacious, minute and ingenious, in developing the symbols of prophecy: yet he resolutely guards against the illusions of fancy, and manifests a remarkable care and sobriety of judgment in bringing out his interpretations. From the language and the scenery of the Vision he has brought valuable additions of evidence to the great doctrine of the Messiah's true and proper Deity, and to his omnipotent agency in the king. doms of providence and grace. Many other parts of revealed truth are illustrated, and many difficult passages of both the Old and New Testament are investigated and happily explained. With a most amiable and respectful temper, but with great force of evidence, Dr. Stonard refutes the tortuous efforts of his Hebrew tutor, Dr. Blaney, to expunge from the Old Testament the chief doctrines which concern the recovery and salvation of men. The corruptions of Christianity which, so soon and rapidly after the apostolic age, invaded the church, are described and illustrated in a surprising conformity with the monitions and predictions given concerning them by the spirit of prophecy. The trials and sufferings of the true followers of Christ; their struggles, vitality, and ultimate success; and the final triumphs of truth and holiness; are shewn to be topics of the Vision, and are treated upon with a copiousness and accuracy of information, and a felicity of argument, which astonishes and convinces us. volume, indeed, is not a book for light and indolent readers. It is the product of pro found scholarship and most laborious research; and it will not be read with due profit without very close application: but, as it demands, so it will amply reward, the most diligent study on the reader's part. No short extract would satisfy us; and even copious ones would not do the work justice. It is so admirably compacted, by the continuity of argument and the perpe tual interlacing (if we may so speak) of the numerous but inseparable subjects, that the whole must be taken together. VOL, III. This However, we annex the last paragraph of the preface, as it affords some degree of insight into the mind and character of the author. 66 'Differing so often, as I have presumed to do, from renowned scholars and divines; far removed, too, as I am, from literary counsel and communication, and by necessity confined to the scanty stores of a private library; I have often felt myself cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in, by doubts, which I wanted means to satisfy, and by fears, which were not without difficulty silenced. But I do not mean to bespeak indulgence. I have learned from high authority, that no book was ever yet spared out of tenderness to the author, and that the world is little solicitous to know whence proceeded the faults of that which it condemns. At the same time, I can safely declare, in the words of the same great master of English literature, that I deliver it to the world with the spirit of a man who has endeavoured well: having kept my eye single, fixed on those high ends which an interpreter of holy Scripture should keep before him, the GLORY of the Most High God, in the propagation of the truth, in the consequent edification of Christians, and (O that God would hear the humble prayer!) in the conviction and conversion of the unbelieving and the sinner." The Contributions of Q. Q. to a Periodical Work. By the late Jane Taylor. 2 vols. 9s. Holdsworth. It would be difficult for us, without subjecting ourselves to the charge of undue partiality, to express the high sense which we entertain of the value of Miss Taylor's writings. She was indeed an author of transcendant qualifications, both as it regarded intellect and heart. To feel that she is no more, and that "her sun went down while it was yet day," are topics of pensive and melancholy recollection. We think of the loss which our children and posterity have sustained by such a death, and we can in no way resume our tranquillity of mind but by reference to the unsullied rectitude of His government, who "giveth not account of any of his matters," but of whom it is recorded "he hath done all things well." The greater part of the Essays contained in these unusually striking voJumes were first given to the public in the pages of the Youth's Magazine, from 1816 to 1822. where interest and usefulness are more We know not any work happily blended than in these inimitable "Contributions." Mere selections would utterly fail in conveying to our readers any thing like a just idea of their ex D traordinary merit. In ease and elegance of composition; in faithful and just delineation both of sentiment and character; in felicitous administration of merited reproof; in the management of appropriate and often cutting satire; in the happy art of throwing a charm, little short of poetic, over the face of the gravest instructions; these volumes will be found to rise to the highest possible rank. "The Discontented Pendulum,"-" The Philosophic Scales," and "Now and Then," are all prime favourites with us. But if we were to fix on one Contribution, which fairly represented the character of the whole, we would invite our readers to the careful perusal of "How it strikes a Stranger," which cannot fail to awaken their unqualified admiration. The Evangelical Rambler; in 2 vols. 3s. 6d. each. Westley. This is a well-meant and spirited publication, which has made its appearance in seventy-two successive weekly Numbers. The author possesses an intimate acquaint ance with human character, and with the existing state of the religious and profess. ing world. Thoroughly versant in the objections most commonly urged, by worldly minds, against the peculiar doctrines of the gospel, this intelligent writer answers them in a manner equally argu mentative and practical. There is so much dialogue, anecdote, and general incident introduced into the pages of this most amusing weekly Tract, that its po pularity may very fairly be resolved into its own distinguished merits. It appears to us that "The Evangelical Rambler deserves well of the Christian public. He certainly has not rambled in vain; but has, in every instance, narrowly inspected the moral scenery through which he has passed, and has evinced a solidity of judgment, an acuteness of observation, and a devoutness of temper, never, perhaps, realized before in the history of a Ran bler. Should it turn out that the author is a Reverend Rambler, we can assure our readers that his labours will not in the least discredit him. We are happy to learn that the work will be continued until a third volume is completed. Governess-the young family—the visits, and the scenery of nature— present to juvenile readers an interesting variety of topics. As a family book, especially for the superior classes, it will be found to be very valuable. Some well-known hymns, however, might have been omitted. LITERARY NOTICES. In the Press, and speedily will be published.1. A Discourse on the Prophecies concerning AntiMeeting. By the Rev. Jos. Fletcher, M. A. and pubChrist; delivered at the last Independent Monthly lished by Request.-2. Discourses at the Ordination of the Rev. W. Orme, at Camberwell, by the Rev. J. Fletcher, Gr. Ewing, and Dr. Winter.-3. Memoirs of Mrs. E. Harvard, late of the Wesleyan Mission to Ceylon and India; with Extracts from her Diary and Correspondence. By her Husband. 18mo. with Portrait. 4. The Record of Friendship; a Memoir of Mr. W. Howden.-5. Christiau Letters to a Physician at L——.-6. Memoirs of Moses Mendelshon, the Jewish Philosopher, including his Correspondence with Lavater on Christianity.-7. A New edition of Texts of Scripture, with short Notes and Observations on Popish Errors. Printed in 1688. Now Edited by the Rev. T. Young, of Margate.8. Soul Prosperity; or Closet Companion. By J. Dennant. 1 vol. 12mo.-9. Lectures on the EssenThoughts. Translated by Rev. J. Craig, with a tials of Religion. By Rev. H. F. Burder.-10. Pascal's Memoir.-10. Doddridge's Family Expositor. 1 vol. royal 8yo. with Portrait.-11. Dr. John Evans's Discourses on the Christian Temper. 8vo.-12. R. Baynes's general and cheap Catalogue of Old Books, Divinity, &c. NNNNNN SELECT LIST. Sketches of Sermons; furnished by their respective authors. Vol. 8, containing Titles and Indexes to the 8 volumes. 12mo. 4s. Life of the Rev. Philip Henry, A. M., and the Rev. M. Henry. With many important additions. By Mr. J. B. Williams. 8vo. 14s. The Mirven Family; or Christian principles developed in early life. Handsomely printed in 12mo. 6s. Vol. III. of Sermons and plans of Sermons. By the late Key. J. Benson. 8vo. 6s. Personal Election and Divine Sovereignty. A discourse, with an Appendix, containing Notes and Observations on Collateral Subjects. By J. Fletcher, A. M. Third edition. 3s. The Second edition of "Fashionable Amusements, the Bane of Youth;" a Discourse preached on Thursday, the 9th Dec. 1824, before the churches associated in the Pimlico, Chelsea, and Brompton Monthly Lecture. By John Morison, author of "Lectures on the Reciprocal Duties of Life," &c. 1s. The Protestant Reformation Vindicated, by the same. Second Edition. 8d. or 6s. per dozen, for distribution at this critical period. The Village Alehouse. A Dialogue suitable for Sunday Schools. By J. Dennant. 4d. Services performed on occasion of the Rev. W Price's Ordination at Devonshire-square. Part IX, of the Cottage Bible. Is. Fine paper 1s. 6d. Letters to the Editor of the New Trial of the Witnesses. By an Oxford Layman. 8vo. and Literary Almanac, for 1825. 2s. 6d. The Evangelical Diary; a Religious, Historical, Radama, or the Enlightened African. 2s. 6d. A volume of Plain Sermons for the use of Seamen. By the Rev. S. Maddock, Vicar of Bishop's Sutton, &c. The Christian Gleaner, Vol. I, 2s. 6d. |