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WE are surrounded by Evangelical Ministers of various denominations. This is a pleasing fact which demands our gratitude to God: but it is equally true that there are preachers, reputed orthodox in a high degree, who in their statements of divine truth, apparently fall into very serious mistakes. Some, for instance, contend that christians have nothing to do with the law-that sin can do the believer no harm-that the people of God are not to be exhorted to duty-that the unregenerate are not proper objects of ministerial address, &c.

If they aim to induce us, to work ourselves up to conclude in the most absolute manner, that the righteousness. of Christ is ours, that his perfect atonement is ours, that his conquests are ours, and that his heaven is ours,-without any respect to the inward dispositions of our souls, let us beware it be too bold, Mr. Editor, to asof coming into their secret. Would sume, that no man ever did or can ascertain his interest in Christ by any abstract contemplation of him, in other words, by any view of him that excludes the state of the heart? Can any man's election and redemption be known by any thing short of the work of the Holy Spirit?

It is most cheerfully conceded that it should be the great business of christian teachers, to point their hearers to the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. Babes, young men and fathers stand all in equal need of constant supplies from the fulness of Christ. It is granted with the There are others who advance same cheerfulness that there is with a benevolent concern to com- not within us, one particle of that fort the people of God, by incul. which will procure either our parcating an assurance of interest in don or our justification before Christ, without internal evidence God; but I will insist, (and I am of that interest. They conceive sure Mr. Editor you will not resist that by so doing they prescribe to me,) that we must look within for their hearers a far more excellent evidence that we are pardoned, that way than that which has been we are justified, that we are preadopted in all our respectable as- destinated to the adoption of chilsemblies from time immemorial. dren. If a man comes to me They pity the weakness and bond-enquiring after salvation, righteage of our preachers and hearers ousness or strength, I direct him who cultivate a spirit of self in- at once to Him in whom all fulness quiry, however that enquiry may dwells. If that man ask me for a be founded in scripture, and com- warrant to apply with boldness at mon sense. They tell us roundly the throne of grace, I instantly that we are not to take any com-point to the scriptures. But if, fort from our sanctification." They with an air of seriousness and advise us to look to Christ, and deep concern he present me better advice it is impossible for with the all important question, them to impart to us, provided" How may I know" (as all men they mean what the scriptures are not saved) "whether I am a mean by that act; but if they in- child of God, and an heir of glory?" tend something very different, it I would reply, look to yourself: becomes us to be upon our guard. Are you born again? What think

you of Christ! Does the Spirit of ❘ of Christ on the cross suffering for God dwell in you? Are you walk-you as a favourite of Heaven, but ing after the Spirit, or after the must have Christ in you; dwelling flesh? Do you through the Spirit in your heart by faith. mortify the deeds of the body? Has God put his fear in your hearts? Has he written his law there? Should the man say in answer, I hope he has, I would add, “Give all diligence to make your calling and so your election sure." Remember, O man, that you must not merely need grace, for all men do that, but you must possess grace, as an earnest of future glory: you must not entertain your imagination by dreaming

If these remarks should bring into action more able pens, to check that presumptuous confidence which assumes the pious garb of "looking to Jesus," while self-examination is in a great measure proscribed as poor, low, miserable employment that takes our attention from the Saviour, a favour will be conferred upon one of your readers.

London, Dec. 6, 1816.

B.

Theological Review.

ed at the ordination of Mr. John Deacon, at Leicester, April 26, 1786. by the late Mr. Dan Taylor. It is founded on the words of Paul to Titus, ch. ii. 7, 8. "In all things

Ministerial Duties stated and enforced: A Pastoral Charge, delivered to the Rev. Thomas James, at his ordination over the Independent church, assembling in City Chapel, London. BY J. A. JAMES.shewing thyself a pattern of good Birmingham: Beilby and Knotts; works: in doctrine shewing uncorSold by Conder, London, 1816. pp. ruptness, gravity, sincerity; sound 50. 8vo. 1s. 6d. sewed. speech that cannot be condemned, THE ordination of the pastor of a that he who is of the contrary part Christian church, thanks to the King may be ashamed, having no evil of Zion who still, as at the begin- thing to say of you;" and taking it ning, gathers the outcasts of Israel as a whole we despair of ever seeing and builds up the walls of Jerusalem, or hearing any thing superior to it. is not in our day an uncommon Mr. Booth's Pastoral Cautions would occurrence: nor is the publication of probably claim the next place in our an ordination charge by any means a regard; at least, such is its merit, novelty. So far from it, the subject according to the testimony of Mr. may be almost said to be hackneyed; James, in the publication before us, and hence we account for the fact, for that "every minister of the gospel such it appears to us, that very few may read that charge with profit once of them possess any originality, or a month." Note. p. 25. He has also claim particular notice. We can in- pointed us to a charge delivered by deed recollect here and there an ex- Mr. Jay of Bath, at the ordination ception, but they are few in number of Mr. H. F. Burder, which has un and easily specified. It is not im- fortunately escaped our notice; but probable that persons of longer stand- from the extract which he has proing and a more extensive acquaint- duced, and what we know of the ance with the state of the Christian talents of its author, we can readily profession in our day, may add believe it to be very excellent. To this greatly to the catalogue, but we re- slender number, we rejoice to find member only three or four which that Mr. James has made an imappear to us entitled to distinction. portant addition by the publication of The first of these is a charge deliver- the charge which he lately delivered

VOL. III.

D

at the ordination of his own brother, over the church formerly under the pastoral care of Mr. C. Buck. We had the pleasure of hearing this charge delivered from the pulpit, and were exceedingly struck with both the importance of the admonitions which it comprised, and the powerful and energetic manner in which they were enforced. Of the particular last mentioned, none but those who have heard Mr. James can form any just or adequate conception; but of the former, we shall now endeavour to give our readers a specimen, sufficient, we hope, to inspire them with

a wish to see the whole.

priest's office that I may eat a morsel of bread. They teach for hire and divine for money; and on this account are stigmatized in scripture " as greedy dogs that can never have enough, as shepherds that do not understand, looking every one vails to a most awful extent in every for his gain from his quarter.' This preestablished church in christendom, and necessarily must do, as long as human nature remains what it is, and so many pulpits are at the disposal of secular patronage. Nor is it altogether unknown amongst the body of dissenters. A man, whom indolence has led to this office, and who has converted the pulpit into the den of the hungry sloth, is one of the meanest, as he certainly is one of the guiltiest of his species. Sometimes his punishment The Charge, as we formerly mencomes in this world, and he is driven out tioned in our brief notice of the by an indignant people, who determine Ordination service, is founded on no longer to starve their souls in order to 2 Cor. vi. 4. "In all things approv- pamper his body; or if like a wolf he ing ourselves as the ministers of God." continue to feed and fatten upon the flock, -words, says Mr. James that " it is only for the hour of approaching sent us with a description of the destruction. Rather than that you, my nature of the pastoral office-We are brother, should occupy this place for such the ministers of God." This he con-house; feed you at my own table; and a purpose, I would take you to my own siders to imply, 1. That they are if this would not suffice, would impoverish sent by God-called by him to the my wife and my babes, to support you, work of preaching the gospel to the and then would earn for them their daily perishing children of men-and 2. bread by the sweat of my brow. 'But I That therefore they are to labour for am persuaded better things' of you, alGod; and "if for God" says the though 1 thus speak.”” preacher, "then surely not for yourself." Now, reader, mark the felicity with which this topic is illustrated in the following passage.

pre

"Self is an idol, which has been worshipped by far greater multitudes, than any other deity of either ancient or modern heathenism. A minister is the last man in the world who should be seen at the altar of this abomination, and yet without great care he is likely to be there the first, to linger there the longest, to bow the lowest, and to express his devotion by the costliest sacrifices. This, my brother, and not the form of creeping things or women weeping for Tammuz, this is the abomination which Ezekiel would witness in many a christian temple; this is the image of jealousy which provoketh to jealousy,' before which the glory of Jehovah, so often in modern times, retires from between the cherubim to the threshold, from the threshold to the city, till at length the lingering symbol totally removes, and a fearful Ichabod is inscribed alike upon the pulpit and the pew.

66

Many serve themselves instead of God, even by the work of the ministry. Some by entering upon it merely with a view to temporal support. Ashamed to beg, unwilling to work, they crouch for piece of silver, and say, put me into the

Mr. James proceeds to remark that others serve themselves in the ministry by entering it chiefly with a view to literary leisure and scientific pursuits and not a few make the ministerial office tributary to the acquisition of mere popular applause.

"Vox populi is their directory and their aim. To commend themselves, is the secret, but powerful spring of all they do. "Self is with them in the study directing their reading-selecting their texts-arranging their thoughts-forming their images, and all with a view to shine in public. Thus prepared, they ascend the pulpit with the same object as that which conducts the actor to the stage, to secure the applause of approving spectators; there every tone is modulated, every emphasis laid, every attitude regulated to please, rather than to profit; to recommend themselves, and not Jesus Christ. The service ended, this bosom idol returns with them to their own abode, renders them restless and uneasy to know how they have succeeded, and puts them upon the meanest acts to draw forth the opinion of their hearers. If admired, they receive their reward, if not the first prize is lost. It is nothing in abatement of the sin, that all this while, evangelical sentiments are dispensed. Orthodoxy is the most direct

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road to popularity. Christ may be the text, when self is the sermon: and dreadful as it seems, it is to be feared, that not a few have elevated the cross, only to suspend upon the sacred tree their own honours, and have employed all the glories of redemption, merely to emblazon their own name. My dear brother, when carried to this height, it is the direst, deepest tragedy, that was ever performed by man, since it ends in the actual and eternal death of the performer, who forgets as he snuffs the gale of popular applause, that the vapours of damnation float upon the breeze.

fore you are accountable for its exercise to him from whom it is derived." The illustration of this proposition brings him to the second part of his duties of the office should be dissubject, which was to shew how the charged so as to approve himself the minister of God.

of God by faithfully preaching his word. "First. Approve yourself the minister This is to be a great part of the business of your future life. I trust you will ever keep the pulpit sacred to the purpose for which it is erected. Preach there the "But you are a minister, that is, a word of God. It is neither the chair of servant of God, and as such are to sum up philosophy nor of literature, and therefore all your life and labours in that one sub-whatever illustrations you may at any lime and comprehensive direction, 'What time borrow from the sciences, or to soever you do, do all to the glory of God.' From this hour, till your tongue be inar-learning in the way of legitimate criticism, whatever use you may apply the aids of ticulate and your heart be cold, your business, your pleasure, your aim must be to serve God in the ministry of the gospel, by seeking his glory in the salvation of immortal souls. Whatever other men do, this is your duty. Without retiring to the gloom and indolence of monastic seclusion, you have in the best sense of term, taken the veil to God. Before

that altar on which the Son of God offered up himself a sacrifice for sin, you have taken the vow of separation from the world. You profess to have relinquished the career of commerce, fame, wealth, and every other road through which the human spirit marches to the gratification of an earthly ambition; and to be so filled with a desire to glorify God in the salvation of souls, that you could stand upon the mount which the Saviour occupied when under satanic temptation, and refuse all the kingdoms of the world, rather than give up the object which now fills your heart and occupies your hands. To the accomplishment of this you are to bring all the talents you possess, all the solicitude you can feel, all the influence you can command, and all the time you are destined to live; for you are not your own, but the minister of God."

The reader, we are persuaded, will agree with us, that there is an astonishing power of conception and of language in all this; and, accompanied as it was in the delivery by the eloquent and pathetic strains of the preacher, the impression which it produced, upon ourselves at least, was indescribable; but we must not indulge in comment.

never act there the pedant. It is not should never be enveloped in the mists of the rostrum for political declamation, and politics. It is not the arena of controversy where the preacher is to display his adroitness in attack and defence, and therefore however necessary you may sometimes find it to guard the truth from the whole artillery of just reasoning upon the assaults of its adversaries, or to direct the strong holds of error, I trust the chanot, in the strict sense of the term, be racter of your public ministrations will polemical. It is not intended to be a tinsel eloquence and rhetorical flowers, stall, where the petty manufacturer of shall display to a gaping crowd his gaudy wares: and therefore whenever you em

ploy the words that burn and the thoughts that glow,' I hope it will not be with a view to play the orator, but more.deeply to impress the heart, and more powerfully to alarm the conscience. Nor is the pulpit merely the seat of the moralist, cold and heartless ethics, but it is the where Epictetus and Seneca deliver their oracle of heaven, appointed to deliver in full and faithful response the will and purposes of God concerning the salvation and the duty of the human race."

Adverting to the matter of his preaching, he cautions him to take care that it is truly and faithfully the word of God that he does preach.

"Preach the whole counsel of God.

Elucidate its histories-explain its prophecies-develope its doctrines-inculcate its precepts-denounce its threatenings-unfold its promises-repeat its inMr. James pro-vitations-enforce its institutions. What

ceeds to remind the young minister that, 3. The text implies also that he is responsible to God. "Your presidency over the church," says he, "is neither sovereign nor legislative, but administrative only, and there

harmony of subjects is before you! If a sublimity! What a variety! What a you are straightened it must be in yourself, not in your themes. As a steward of the mysteries of the kingdom you have access to infinite and exhaustless stores. If your

people are starved by the penury, or wearied by the sameness of your preaching, it cannot be for want of variety or opulence in the treasures of revelation, but for want of industry and fidelity in yourself. Do not then confine yourself and your people in some little nook or corner of revealed truth, and write upon all the rest, terra incognita. Explore for them and with them the whole world of inspiration. Such is the boundless extent of this sacred territory, that without wishing or waiting for farther revelations, we shall never reach the end of those already given. By the aid of biblical criticism-diligent reading-accurate collation-deep penetration, the christian student will be continually disclosing to his people new regions and fresh treasures in God's most precious word. Mines of wealth will open at his feet, and prospects of ineffable beauty will expand upon his eye."

Much excellent advice then follows

respecting the manner of his preaching the spirit with which he should preside over the church-his behaviour while engaged in visiting his flock-and the Charge closes with most important admonitions regarding his general conduct, spirit, and habits in the prosecution of the whole of his ministerial duties; but having, we hope, already said enough to excite the attention of our readers to this admirable charge, we must forego the gratification of a more particular account of it. Mr. James has our unfeigned thanks for the high treat it has afforded us. May he long be spared as a blessing to the church of God-to instruct us by his writings, and to exemplify in his own conduct the important things which he delivers whether from the pulpit or the press.

Sermons Translated from the French of Daniel De Superville formerly pastor of the French Protestant church at Rotterdam; with Memoirs of his Life. BY JOHN ALLEN. London: Burton and Briggs, 8vo. 420 pages 9s. boards, 1816. MONSIEUR SUPERVILLE, the author of these Sermons lived at a period of extraordinary difficulty to the church of Christ. He was cotemporary with Claude and with Saurin, possessed with them a congenial spirit, had adopted similar theclogical tenets, and was scarcely inferior to either of them in learning and lents. In their days, Louis the

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fourteenth revoked the edict of Nantz, whereby the public exercise of the Protestant religion was prohibited throughout France, all the ministers of that persuasion were commanded to embrace the Catholic Apostolic and Roman religion, or to depart out of the country within a given period on pain of being sent to the gallies! While on the other hand, lures and temptations to violate their consciences and sacrifice truth on the unhallowed altar of worldly ease and prosperity, were liberally supplied.

"These were the times that tried mens souls"-and those who stood

to

firm in their allegiance to the cause
of God and truth, deserve well of
posterity. Superville was of this
number. He was one of about six
hundred ministers who preferred
exile with a good conscience
it were recompensed by the treasures
apostacy from his principles though
of Egypt. At an early period of his
ministry he was called to the pastoral
church at Loudun, which he accept-
charge of a numerous and respectable
ed in the year 1683, but, two years
afterwards, the flourishing and pros-
he presided, attracted the notice and
perous state of the church over which
inflamed the envy of the higher powers
who bent all their efforts to accom-
plish its ruin.

watch the conduct of the young Spies were set to pastor, whose prudence for some time disappointed their wishes, and they could find no matter of accusation. He was at length, however, accused of preaching a seditious sermon, and a Lettre de Cachet was issued, citing him to Paris, there to answer for his conduct. This was prior to the revocation of the Edict of Nantz-but during the three months that he was detained at Paris, Versailles and Fontainbleau, dancing attendance upon the court, this sanguinary measure was carried into effect" the edict was signed on the eighth of October 1685, and registered on the 22nd of December following." Superville retired to Rotterdam, where he continued to exercise his ministerial functions, till, at the advanced age of seventy one, his constitution bending under the pressure of age and infirmities, after languishing a few weeks, he died in peace June 9th 1728.

"The character of Superville was held in universal esteem, and well merited all

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