We them banish that strain of invective in which some of them too much indulge; and coinciding as we do, in much of the argument they bring forward, we shall then be happy, as far as in us lies, to propagate their sentiments, according to our motto, contending earnestly (not acrimoniously) for the truth as it is in Jesus. as a traitor and conspirator. conclude, that Mr. Watmuff, justifiably indignant at the condemnatory language which has been used in much of this controversy, busied himself only in the hectic of the moment to find terms equally harsh and which, when he reflects upon in their total incompatibility with the characteristics given of each of the four individuals page 10—14. he will reject, and be sorry for. in : Our own opinion in reference to the hypothesis has been often given. We believe it unsupported by scripture, and nothing more than a theory of men's invention: we believe it, like all other error, the portal to still grosser heresies; but we as firmly believe that many, from a mistaken view that it ascribes greater honour and glory to the Lord they love, entertain it without advancing into those regions, wherein undoubtedly many have been led by it. Of the pamphlet before us we have but little to say. Mr. Watmuff says that he is a pre-existerian; we are bound therefore to believe him; we should otherwise from his work have been led to doubt it; but the language is in many parts so confused, that we are not sure that we at last fathom the author's meaning. Mr. Colyer has unkindly taken advantage of this; unkindly we say, because, amidst all the diffuseness and unconnectedness of the pamphlet, there is still discernible so much sincerity and love to the Lord, that we think Mr. Colyer acted unkindly when he said it was too contemptible for an answer; it might require no answer; it might be in Mr. Colyer's view beneath the dignity of his pen to reply to it; but the term contemptible in no respect whatever applies to any sincere effort, however feeble, to exalt the glory of the person of Christ. Should this controversy be continued, we would affectionately exhort the four ministers, whose names are given, to combat more the error, and less the persons of pre-existerians: let Stenographic Sound Hand. By Isaac Israel's Hand Basket, or a Covenant The contents of this interesting tract are, first a statement of the author's introduction into the ministry; and secondly, a letter to the congregation of Zion Chapel, Nottingham, upon his taking the pastoral office: many pointed observations are given in reference to the love of lucre, which unhappily too much gives a bias to the movements even of God's faithful ministers, and earnest denunciations are made upon the bargaining systems of the day. The author is unknown to us, but from this tract we should hope great things from him. The Order of Evangelical Grace in By the Economy of Salvation. David Hollaz, Nos. 1 & 2. 12mo. Eedes. We at present only announce this publication: it would be unfair perhaps to pass any opinion upon it, until the whole is before us, when we will enter upon it more at length. It is in the form of Dialogues by the pastor of a church in Pomerania. POETRY. IT WAS JESUS. Who was it came his church to save, Who was it that our misery saw, Who left the portals of the sky, 'Twas our redeeming Jesus. Who was baptized in Jordan's flood, 'Twas our baptized Jesus. Who in the wilderness did stand, Who was led to the judgment hall, 'Twas agonizing Jesus. Who on Mount Calvary bled and died, Whose bleeding wounds were opened wide? 'Twas our sin-bearing Jesus. Who lay interred in Joseph's tomb? Who pleads before the throne of God, 'Tis interceding Jesus. Who at the great and dreadful day, Who will the judgment seat ascend, 'Tis our enthroned Jesus. With whom will saints for ever dwell? "FORWARD Forward! christians, think of home, 66 REZENEB. MY TIMES ARE IN THY HAND." My times are all in Jesus' hand, My times are all in Jesus' hand, Whate'er may me betide; By him I ev'ry foe withstand, He keeps me near his side. Midst crosses, foes, and fears; He'll bring me to the promis'd land, There round his throne I'll raise my voice, And glory that he plac'd, by choice, "WILL YE ALSO GO AWAY?" John vi. 67. And will ye also go away? Dear Lord, where should we go? Thou art the only living way, We would not leave thee, no. And will ye also go away? What leave our dearest friend? Jesus the Lord our righteousness, Whose love can never end. And will ye also go away ? Dear Lord, our souls reply, Ah! Lord, thou knowest we should; Do thou, dear Lord, impart, Then should the question come, J. E. C. LEBANON LEAVES. I see my likeness in mine Ephraims, then, "I sit as a refiner." Mal. iii. 3. "Tis standard metal, braving every proof. Sit as a refiner," when my child is stained Shall the refiner watch his fleeting gold, crown? ACROSTIC. REZENEB. J ust and holy is thy name,-Acts xxii. 14. The fire must burn to separate and purge, JAMES JENKINS. A SONG OF PRAISE FOR HEALTH. Health is a jewel dropp'd from heaven, And pleasant harmony. Lord, who hath turn'd my outward man Whilst others in God's prison lie, Bound with affliction's chain; I walk at large, secure and free, Their friends but strangers, wealth but want, Their earnest cries do pierce the skies, Lord, were I sick as I am well, Thou would'st have heard from me. I see my friends, I taste my meat, Lord, who dost set me on my feet, Direct me in thy ways; Oh, crown thy gift of health with grace, J. MASON. THE SPIRITUAL MAGAZINE, AND ZION'S CASKET. "For there are Three that bear record in heaven; the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST: and these Three are One."- John v. 7. "Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints."--Jude 3. Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience."-1 Tim. iii. 9. APRIL, 1838. 66 WORTHY IS THE LAMB THAT WAS book; but legible to none but the SLAIN."-Rev. v. 12. In the beginning of this chapter we have Jehovah represented as a royal monarch seated on his lofty throne, having in his right hand a book, written within and without, and none found able to read it. Upon this occasion, the apostle John, the penman of this book, weeps that there was a book of indispensable use to the church of Christ, and yet none able to open it. Here is a book of the glorious purposes of the grace and promises of God, sealed with seven seals, holding forth the secrecy and abstruseness thereof. Angels could not so much as cast a glance at it, it was too awful and mysterious for their penetrating eyes to look into it. But behold, one of the four-and-twenty elders tells John, that one, a glorious one is found worthy to open the book, even the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, even he prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. There were many impediments and stumbling-blocks to roll away before the book could be opened. Jesus Christ hath taken them all out out of the way by his prevalent satisfaction. The lines of mercy, drawn with blood to the elect, were in this book; the lines of providence towards the church, were all legible in this April, 1838.] L glorious Lamb. None prevailed to open the book but the Lamb, who was privy to all the mysterious things written in it. The divine justice would not suffer one line of mercy to be read to the church till it had a full and complete satisfaction: so Christ, by giving this satisfaction to justice, is said to prevail to open the book: observe, that though Christ, as God, equal with the Father, perfectly knew the book, and was present at the dictating of it, yet as our federal Head he is described as prevailing to open it. If the great opener of the gospel, the mighty revealer of his Father's grace and mercy, do not open the book, you will never see its merciful and saving contents. Oh, cry to Him that he may open this book to you as he did to the two disciples, when they were going to Emmaus. Ministers may preach, and angels too, but alas, the book will be but a clasped and sealed book to you, unless the Interpreter, one among a thousand," unloose its seals, and discover to you the unfathomable mysteries of wisdom, love, and that grace, are in it. The Scripture is the Book of Books, but it is sealed; it is like a well, upon the mouth of which a heavy stone is rolled, and neither angels nor men can roll it away; but behold, the Lamb of God can do it, and has done it effectually. 66 In this book that was opened by the Lion of the tribe of Judah, there is nothing but what bears a merciful aspect to the church of God; all its vast contents contribute to her good, and furnish her with matter of joy and gladness, through all the Red seas and black Jordans of trouble, persecution, and contempt, through which she may wade and swim. No wonder, then, it surpassed the wisdom of men and angels to open the book, and discover the hidden mysteries in it. It was written in a language too secret and abstruse to be intelligible, either to Adam's sons, or angelic hosts; but Immanuel, the revealer of heaven's secrets, understands the language, and has prevailed to open it. Upon the opening of this book, a glorious and melodious song is raised by the four beasts and four-and-twenty elders that surrounded the throne of the Lamb. The song we have in the 9th and 10th verses, "Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof, for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation, and hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth." In the 11th verse, we have the number of the singers specified, “ And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the beasts and the elders, and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands." In the 12th verse, we have the matter of the song, which they are continually singing and shouting, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." 66 Verily though the number of singers was very great, yet the object of worship is so glorious and worthy, that not only the world, but millions of worlds are too few to raise the song high enough; the heavens that are peopled with innumerable inhabitants, have too few, to sing and say, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain." Let us consider in what respects the Lord Jesus Christ is called a Lamb. 1. The lamb is a very harmless creature, suffering wrong, but doing none, and a creature generally pursued by the beasts of prey. So the Lord Jesus is harmless and innocent, and never did harm or wrong to any man; and yet no sooner did he enter our world, than Herod "the fox," as our Lord calls him, pursued him, and sought to destroy him; wherefore Joseph, his supposed father, was commanded to flee with him into Egypt. The holy Lamb of God, though most harmless and innocent, was persecuted and maltreated by the Jews all the days of his life, until they slew him on Mount Calvary. 2. He is called a Lamb, because, under the law, lambs were offered up unto God in sacrifice, and were all types of this Lamb, who was sent into our world as an atoning propitiation and sacrifice to take away our sins. Whatever typical virtue the lambs that were sacrificed under the law had, was all derived from Him their great antitype, John i. 29. He, as a sacrifice, cleanses the elect world of sin: nothing could remove sin, its stain being so deep, but the blood of Immanuel, God in our nature: and this he did when he offered up himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice. If all the angels in heaven, and men upon earth, had been offered up at once as a propitiation to the justice of God, they had been rejected with scorn and disdain; and that justly too. Why so? Because these sacrifices, though multiplied over and over, were but all finites, and numberless finites will never constitute a full price for infinite justice. But Jesus Christ, being God as well as man, was infinitely more valuable in the sacrifice he offered up, than all the created lambs in the fold of the whole creation. 3. He is called a Lamb, because lambs are patient, lowly, and meek. |