suppose that God dwells in an unclean place; that a place filled with the immediate presence of a holy God "where saints in an extacy gaze" is an unholy place! Heaven, into which nothing that defileth shall ever enter, (see Rev. xxi. 27) itself an unclean place!

3. If we examine the whole passage with which these words stand connected, we shall find something very strange in the manner in which he obtained his information. It appears to have been by a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth on man, fear came upon him, and trembling, which made all his bones to shake. "A spirit passed before his face, the hair of his flesh stood up; it stood still, but he could not discern the form thereof, an image was before his eyes, there was silence and he heard a voice saying, shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his Maker? behold he putteth no trust in his servants and his angels he charged with folly."

Now, there was no doubt something supernatural in this. But was it a revelation from God? Of this there is no evidence whatever: but it seems most likely that he was imposed on by a lying spirit. For first it was a very frightful vision; it made all his bones to shake, and the hair of his flesh stood up. Can we suppose that the appearance of an angel of light would have produced such an effect? Secondly, the sentiments that the voice uttered were evidently calculated to mislead him; they led him to suppose that the angels of God were sinful, that heaven was an unclean place, and that JOB was an unrighteous man; nay, that he was wicked for pretending to be righteous, seeing the angels could make no such pretension; and thirdly, if Satan had so much to do in exciting the Sabeans, raising the winds, and in inflicting biles on JOB, might he not also have something to do in stirring up his wife and in deceiving his three friends?

4. It appears therefore that JoB's friends, and especially ELIPHAZ the Temanite, laboured under wrong views respecting the character of JOB, that ELIPHAZ was not divinely inspired, but deceived by a lying spirit. And therefore there is nothing in this passage, when carefully examined, that does in the least militate against the doctrine of holiness. Of Job it was said, by the highest authority, that he was a perfect man, that he feared God and eschewed evil. And by an authority equally as high, it is declared that "without HOLINESS no man shall see the Lord."

COMMEMORATION OF THE CENTENARY OF THE LATE REV. JOHN WESLEY'S ORDINATION TO THE OFFICE OF THE

CHRISTIAN MINISTRY.

A FEW Friends in London, reflecting upon the mercy of God to these Lands, in that great Revival of Religion which commenced in the last Century, and upon the inestimable benefits which they

themselves had received in consequence, and the religious advantages which they would thus leave, as the best inheritance, to their children and their children's children, and especially considering the eminent character and usefulness of the late REV. JOHN WESLEY, the principal instrument, in the hand of God, of promoting that extraordinary work, were some time ago impressed with the thought, that so signal a mercy to themselves, their country, and the world, ought to receive a grateful, public, and, as to the Methodist Connexion, a universal recognition, by acts of solemn thanksgiving.

In pursuing this thought, they conceived also, that great advantage would result from such a Commemoration, if Sermons were added to the devotional parts of the service, tending to bring before the hearers the leading facts of this great Revival, and those principles of evangelical truth, religious experience, and holy discipline, which it so early embodied and enforced, and on the basis of which it rests to the present day; and that by thus bringing such first principles into view, the minds of the hearers might be stirred up by " way of remembrance," and the doctrines so clearly and scripturally taught by their venerable Founder might be more firmly rooted in the judgment and affections of the present generation, and thus be transmitted to future ages in purity and power.

Finally, it was thought that it would be appropriate to distinguish that day by an act of grateful liberality; having for its object the erection of some Monument to the Memory of MR. JOHN WESLEY, which should be expressive of the gratitude of the religious body, of which, under God, he was the Founder, and characteristic of himself, by being connected with public usefulness, and the extension of the work of God throughout the earth. After these suggestions had been the subjects of private conversations among various Friends, and also in the Book and Missionary Committees, they were communicated to the Conference of 1823; by whom the proposal was highly approved, and referred (for further consideration and developement) to a Committee of the Preachers stationed in the London Circuits, and other Friends, among whom the first suggestions had arisen.

This Committee were themselves agreed upon the measure, and approved of the general plan for the Commemoration, which was laid before them; but as the Anniversary of the Missionary Society was at hand, when a considerable number of Friends from different parts of the country were expected in Town, it was resolved to invite them, with the Preachers, Stewards, and other Friends in the London Circuits, to a Public Breakfast in the Morning Chapel, City-Road, on Tuesday, the 4th of May, in order to propose the plan, and to ascertain their sentiments, preciously to its being brought before the next Conference for its final sanction and recommendation. Upwards of one hundred

persons assembled; and after the business had been introduced, a Paper, explanatory of the objects and plan of the proposed Commemoration, was read.

f

Of this Paper, the following is a Copy, with a few enlargements and additions, agreed upon subsequently by the Committee.

Commemoration of the Centenary of the late REV. JOHN WESLEY's Ordination to the Office of the Christian Ministry, by the RIGHT REV. JOHN Potter, D. D., then Bishop of Oxford, and afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury; September 1725.

192

The practice of commemorating great events, by some annual, or other periodical celebration, has obtained in all ages of the world, and has served to authenticate historical facts of the most remote antiquity. Both sacred and profane history abound with instances of these ancient and important customs.

The departure of the Israelites from Egypt was commemorated by the Feast of the Passover, and the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai by the Day of Pentecost. The Birth, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour have been annually observed by the Christian Churches: and these sacred observances have served high and important purposes, as outworks of the truth, in confirmation of the great facts and doctrines of our common faith.

Although some ancient customs have occasionally been abused to superstitious and unworthy purposes, yet the proper and legitimate commemoration of great events has been sanctioned by the highest authority, both divine and human. To argue, therefore, against the right use of any important custom, because it may be abused, is not consistent with true wisdom.

The Protestants on the Continent have long held the Birth-day of MARTIN LUTHER in great veneration; and the Centenary of the Reformation, and of the Publication of LUTHER'S Propositions against the Pope in 1517, has been celebrated in the Protestant States with solemn joy. On the last Centenary (the third) in 1817, the commemoration was rendered highly interesting in Germany and Sweden by an extensive distribution of Bibles among the Poor.

The anniversaries of the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot, 5th November, 1605, and of the landing of King WILLIAM, 4th November, 1688, and the glorious Revolution, by which this kingdom was delivered from Popery and arbitrary Power, were, for many years, observed by our ancestors with peculiar feelings of national gratitude. And in our own time, the celebration of the Jubilee, or Fiftieth Anniversary of the accession of our late revered Sovereign, GEORGE III., to the throne of these realms, took place with expressions of heartfelt joy throughout the British dominions. Amongst the events of modern times, there can be none of equal importance with the great Revival of Religion, which comVOL. VII.

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menced in the last century, and has spread with increasing influence at home and abroad.

The instruments which have been raised up by Divine Providence in his Church, for the benefit of mankind, have always been singularly fitted for their several spheres of action among the different denominations of the Christian world.

While the Church of England may justly boast of a great number of distinguished Divines, the learned and able champions of the orthodox faith, the Dissenters have also had their BAXTER, HOWE, WATTS, DODDRIDGE, and others. WHITEFIELD also holds a very distinguished place in the history of the Church of the last century; nor can there be any doubt but that the Christian world in general has been extensively benefitted by the writings and labours of those burning and shining lights, JOHN and CHARLES WESLEY, and by the zealous exertions of the Societies which were founded by them, and which have since extended into so many parts of the earth.

The Father of Methodism, the late REV. JOHN WESLEY, was rendered by Divine Providence an instrument of greater good to mankind, than perhaps any individual, however eminent, since the Reformation.

The singular endowments of that extraordinary man, his wisdom, learning, piety, zeal, catholic spirit, and unwearied labours, during a life unusually prolonged, are altogether, perhaps, without a parallel since the Apostolic age; and the fruits of his toil in the large and flourishing Societies of Christians, and in the increase of Preachers of the Gospel, both at home and abroad, raised up under his fostering care, demand peculiar acknowledgements of gratitude to the Lord of the Harvest.

The dedication of this great man to the service of the sanctuary, by his ordination to the sacred office of the Ministry, viewed in connexion with his subsequent labours, has apparently produced greater results of a moral and religious nature, than have arisen from the efforts of any other individual on record, in modern times; and his immediate followers especially, who are the fruits of his Ministry, are bound to recollect it with peculiar feelings of joy and thanksgiving.

To commemorate, therefore, the CENTENARY OF MR. WESLEY'S ORDINATION, which took place on the 19th September, 1725, by some appropriate services of a religious nature, on the 19th September, 1825, may tend, it is thought, to excite gratitude to God, to whom all the glory is ascribed, for the great Revival of true Religion in these lands, by the instrumentality of his servant; may confer a deserved honour on the memory, character, and distinguishing principles, of a man whom the Lord so eminently blessed; and may perhaps stimulate many others, who are rising into life and usefulness, to imitate as far as circumstances may allow, his bright example.

It is therefore respectfully submitted to the ensuing Conference, to consider whether some peculiar services might not be generally adopted on the 19th September, 1825, throughout the Methodist Connexion, both at home and abroad, which would render the day highly profitable to the public, and at the same time tend to transmit our doctrines and discipline, with their hallowing effects, to the latest posterity.

There are great numbers of the junior Members of the Methodist Societies, who have never had a proper opportunity of acquainting themselves even with the outlines of the life and character of the Founder of Methodism, of the rise and progress of the Connexion, and of its doctrines, discipline, and success, in any systematic or comprehensive form; and yet such information might produce enlargement of mind, and prove of singular benefit, not only to the Members of the Methodist Societies, but to the public at large, by removing prejudices, and by giving greater publicity to those important views, on experimental Religion especially, which distinguish the writings of MR. WESLEY, and the body of which he was the Founder.

If a clear and succinct epitome of MR. WESLEY'S life, labours, and character, together with a view of the leading doctrines, discipline, and progress of the Societies, could be brought before the assembled congregations, so as to form a part of the two services, morning and evening, on the day of the Commemoration, in all the Chapels throughout the Methodist Connexion, in every part of the world, very important information might be extensively diffused by such a measure. For this purpose, it would be proper to appoint a small Committee to prepare and print (but not to publish) such an epitome, in two Parts, to be previously sent to every Traveling Preacher, and read in all the Chapels, after the Sermons, throughout the world, on that day. Perhaps three or five persons, to form such a Committee, would be better than a larger number. The Preachers would, of course, be left at liberty to make such additions to the Printed Documents as they night judge proper and expedient, or to use them as the basis of the discourses they might themselves deliver on that day.

It has been proposed, that this epitome should be divided into two parts, because one could not contain all the information which it might be desirable to convey, without beng too long for convenient use; and the subject naturally divides itself into two branches-1. The life, labours, and character of MR. WESLEY2. The rise and progress, doctrines, discipline, and extent of Methodism. A morning and evening service would afford an afternoon for social communion among the Societies, and especially for a frugal Christian repast to be given to the poorer Members of the Society, and to the Children educating in our numerous Sunday and other Charity Schools.

But this is not all. In order to render the commemoration permanently useful, some lasting MONUMENT of the event should