"I am at the same time far from maintaining that more might not have been reasonably expected, and that more might not have taken place. I am not sure that all has been done on the part of the people of Christ, that they should have done. I question, whether there has not been some concealed Achan in the camp, bringing discomfiture on the armies of the cross. Have we brought all the tythes, (I do not mean our property only, butil other Christian contributions) into the storehouse of God? Have we made full proof of him in the way that his word points out? Had this been the case, assuredly he would have opened the windows of heaven and poured us out a blessing till there should not have been room enough to receive it.'"-pp. 87-89.

Referring to the comparison which may be instituted between the success of the primitive preachors of the Gospel and those of modern times, he says

"We speak with rapture of the success of the Gospel in primitive times; and we refer it with propriety to the extraordinary out-pouring of the Holy Spirit. But look, I beseech you, also at the agents whom God then blessed. I speak not now of their supernatural endowments, or of the miraculous powers which sustained their pretensions, and attested their mis sion. I speak of their high moral qualities and spiritual attainments. I refer to the devotedness by which they were distinguished; to the marked predominance of Christian principle, and their elevated superiority to all earth-born considerations. Look at them, giving up all for Christ's sake; parting with friends, and country, and possessions, and content to become exiles and anathemas for their work; setting at defiance, the world and the world's law;' laying their account with the worst it could do, and therefore prepared to endure its worst; unwearied in their exertions, patient in their tribulations, persevering and ardent in all their efforts; presenting themselves continually before the world as the men of another region, who had but one subject of conversation, one spring of action, and one object of pursuit ;-pure in their livessimple in their manners-artless in their representations-in short, living for Christ, and at all times ready to die for Christ. Is it wonderful that these men succeeded? Is it surprising that they should exclaim, -Now thanks be to God who always causeth us to triumph, and maketh manifest by us the savour of his name in every place?' The wonder would have been had they not succeeded, They were instru

ments prepared and fitted by God; they were worthy of the cause in which they were engaged; and in such hands, with the blessing of God, it was impossible that cause should not have triumphed.

"In their whole conduct, they presented direct and palpable evidence to the world of the sincerity and strength of their own belief in the heavenly system which they propagated; while in the wide difference which subsisted between that conduct and the spirit by which it was animated, and all that was current in the world, a constant subject of inquiry was suggested, and a secret conviction induced that the cause which they espoused was more than human. Hence the constant anxiety which the apostle of the Gentiles manifested, to defend himself and his brethren, against all charges of self-interest and covetousness, and worldly ambition. Hence his desire to stand well with his brethren, as vain-glory.-And hence his appeals, how superior to all deceit and hypocrisy, and holily, unblameably, and tenderly, he behaved himself among them that believed.

"So far from this being an overwrought picture of the first agents by whom the kingdom of heaven was established, I am satisfied it comes far short of the reality. The most superficial ac quaintance with the New Testament must satisfy every individual, that the characters there exhibited exceed the portrait. By such men were the humble and hea venly doctrines of Jesus taught with the greatest consistency. They embodied those doctrines in their lives. They were truly living epistles of Christ, known and read of all men.' They practised the self-denial, which they taught, and illustrated the heavenly-mindedness, which they inculcated. They were examples of the love which they preached, and patterns of the purity which they recommended. In all things they approved themselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; by pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers and yet true; as unknown and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.'

"If this exhibition should contrast with the agents frequently employed in odern times in the propagation of the Gospel, whether at home or abroad, I am

not concerned to apologize for the statement, but to maintain its truth. If we expect to enjoy primitive success, we must be furnished with primitive instruments. Nor ought we to despair of obtaining them. The Redeemer, who was exalted to give gifts to men, is still upon his throne, and possessed of all the plenitude which ever belonged to him. We have the same principles to form them, the same great cause to animate them, and the same Holy Spirit to endow and qualify them, as well as to bless their efforts. The standard of intellectual and spiritual fitness, both for the foreign and home ministry, has been placed too low; the consequence has been, that comparatively, a small number of suitably-qualified persons have engaged in it. Men of an infe rior grade have thought themselves, and have been thought by others, fit for an undertaking, for which the event has shewn that many of them never were designed. Thus, much distress has arisen to themselves, and much disappointment has been occasioned to others. By elevating the standard, we shall not discourage, but call forth a holy emulation. The unsuitable may be kept back, a smaller number of aspirants may appear; but the few choice spirits that may devote themselves to the work, will be worth a host of feeble, contracted, and grovelling souls. The higher and the more honourable that we place the cause, the more likely are we to operate on the right sort of men to engage in it.

If the arduousness and difficulties of the enterprize be great, the more careful should be the selection of instruments. Better allow a post to remain vacant, for a time, than fill it with an unqualified labourer. The turning point in determining a foreign arrangement especially, should be, not this place must be occupied, and this is the only person we have; but this is the fit instrument for the work to be done."pp. 97--101.

In tracing the connexion of divine influence with the use of means, the author makes some statements which, though they have been little pressed upon public attention, are, we believe, perfectly just, and deserving of most serious consideration.

"The second observation I have to make is, that there seems no other limitation annexed to the promise of this influence than what is fixed by the faith and conduct of the people of God themselves. I mean to say, that, if we expect great things, and attempt great things, God is

He

under an absolute, not a conditional engagement, to accomplish great things. He has not reserved to himself the right of withholding the influence, which shall fully correspond with the faith and labours of his people. He is faithful and cannot deny himself. By how much we trust in him, and fulfil his commands, by so much he will perform all his covenant engagements to us and to the world. If God is doing no mighty work among us, or during our day, the same reason may be assigned which is given for Christ's not exercising his healing power in certain districts in the days of his flesh: could there do no mighty works, because of their unbelief. No want of power or of benevolence belongs to God; no unwillingness to exercise his generous kindness; but we set bounds to the Holy One' of Israel, by our faithlessness, our indolence, and unconcern for his glory and the good of others. If our faith were but as a grain of mustard seed, mountains of difficulties would be removed out of the way, every sacrifice would be rendered easy, and success beyond our most sanguine anticipations would follow all our efforts to promote the divine glory.

"These views are both corroborated, and established by the history of the propagation, and success of the Gospel in the world. Whether we attend to the pages of sacred history, or to the wellauthenticated records of modern times, we shall find, that there is a clearly marked connexion between the faith, the prayers, and the devotedness of God's people, and the communication of all needful influence and success:-that the servants of God have never proved him, without his opening the windows of heaven:-and that they have never faithfully published his word, witbout finding, that it did not return to him void.

"We look back with wistfulness to Pentecostal days, when the Spirit was poured out from on high in copious and enriching streams; and we sigh, and seem to sigh in vain, for their return. We forget, perhaps, that the disciples who had previously believed, 'All continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.' That in the expectation of these days, they were in solemn convocation, praying for the Spirit, when it fell upon them. We wonder at the rapid increase of the church, but are in danger of overlooking the circumstances in which it took place. Hear the historian's account of it:

And

all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they,

continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of beart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.' What a view does this give of the love, the devotedness, the spiri tuality, and the zeal of apostolic Christians. These men were filled with the Holy Spirit, they were prepared for any thing, and ready for every enterprize to which their Master's cause might call them. There is an evident congruity between the state of the people, their exertions, and their prayers, and the success which attended their labours.

"Follow the apostles, and their coadjutors, not only into the forums, and synagogues, and schools, where they appeared advocating the claims of Jesus of Nazareth, and commending his salvation to the bosoms and the consciences of men; but to their private retirements, and mark the spirit of fervent and holy importu nity with which they intreat God to direct their way, to bless labours which were to be performed, and labours which had already taken place. Observe the uniformity of their characters, the atmo sphere of Christianity in which they lived and breathed, and carried about with them. Look at the manner in which they were upheld by their Christian brethren, whose prayers and imitation of their example in devoted labour and patient suffering, reflected in every direction the light which they received; and then you

will cease to wonder that while they went forth and preached every where, the Lord wrought with them, and confirmed the word; that the hand of the Lord was with them, and great multitudes were made obedient to the faith.'

"While the genuine spirit of Christianity lasted, its success continued; not always indeed in the same degree, but in such a degree as marked the approbation of God, and excited the astonishment of men. But when faith waxed feeble, love decreased in proportion; zeal became cold, and a nominal profession succeeded to the life and the power of godliness. Converts came in slowly, and those who did come in were rather proselytes to a new system of opinions, than partakers of the grace and the spirit of Jesus. Laws of human enactment superseded the principles, which had rendered such laws unnecessary; but failed to produce their effects. The outward limits of Christianity extended, while its true dimensions gradually shrunk in. Its glory consisted in the rank of its professors, the splendour of its edifices, the pomp of its ceremonies, the uniformity of its ritual

and its creed; but its prayers ceased to be effectual with God, and its labours to be beneficial to men. The cherubim took their departure, and Ichabod was written on its deserted temples, and its desecrated walls."-pp. 136--140.

"The way to the full enjoyment of this blessing then, is the vigorous, and enlightened pursuit of those measures with which it is connected in the Divine econo, my; which are appointed to act as conductors of this celestial energy, and to bring down upon a withered and perishing world the life, and light, and purity of heaven. It is not to be obtained by standing still and gazing upwards; it is not to be brought down by the best devised schemes or apparatus of human contriv. ance; it is not to be secured by the dull and inonotonous employment even of God's own institutions; but by dependence on the selectest influences' of the

Holy Spirit, combined with a conscientious, energetic, and enthusiastic employment of all our sanctified powers, and the use of Christ's prepared instruments. These God has never failed to acknowledge, and to reward with success.

It does not follow from our combining thus closely the influences of the Spirit with the use of appointed means, that therefore the means must always precede; and that God limits himself to the course which his people see meet to pursue. This is not at all necessary; nor indeed is it the sentiment we mean to inculcate. The first impulse to all right conduct, and to all wise exertion is from God. Sometimes the measures proposed by us, though good in themselves, may not be in accordance with God's intention, and they will therefore be prevented, or fail, Paul and his companions would gladly have preached the Gospel in Asia, but were forbidden of the Holy Ghost. They attempted to go into Bithynia for this purpose, but the Spirit suffered them not." pp. 143, 144.

"There is a constant danger of extrémes and inconsistency in the operations of men, and in the working of the means which God has called them to employ. Our fathers were men of prayer and of spiritual abstraction--their children are men of bustle, and activity, and public spirit. The former failed from not doing, as well as praying; the latter may not less fail, by doing without praying. The observance of apparent failure has led men to sneer at societies, and committees, and public meetings, and to endeavour to bring them into disrepute. These are not the things which are wrong; and the abandonment of them would not be the cure, but the death of the cause. What

we want is, not that men should do these things less, but that they should do other things more; that they should study consistency in all things; that they should pray as well as meet to make or to hear speeches; and consecrate themselves, as well as devote their property to the kingdom of heaven.

"The attention of the church in latter years has been greatly directed to means, and men's ingenuity has actually been put to the rack to devise schemes of benevolence and usefulness. Societies and plans of operation have been multiplied, till neither time nor strength seems equal to their demands, and the mind itself feels incapable of following the details of their progress. To all this we do not object.-Nay, in all this we do rejoice; yea, and will rejoice. It is not from this we augur ill to the world, or to the cause of Christ. Bounding from what may be considered the over-straining of human power, men have proposed as the chief thing of importance, praying for the Spirit, and waiting for the coming of the Lord. We object not to this. It is the prayer of faith that shall save the world; and the men who are waiting for the coming of their Lord, are in the best attitude for doing his work. What we would recommend, is not prayer and spiritual depen dence in opposition to effort; but their enlightened and regular combination. That while the eye is directed to God, the hand should be laid upon men; that while Heaven's blessing is fervently implored, personal activity should not be laid aside; that following the example, and obeying the precepts of the Redeemer and his apostles, we should be steadfast in the faith, immoveable in the hope, and always abounding in the work of the Lord; knowing that thus our labour in the Lord shall not be in vain.' -pp. 145, 146.

The following animated and rousing remarks form the summing up of the last sermon.

"Sustained by these considerations, tell us not that we are worms of the dust, that our weapons are wielded by mortal feebleness, and that the array against us is most appalling ;--tell us not of the strength of man's enmity to God, and of the inveteracy of all his habits of ungodliness ;--tell us not of the increase of that inveteracy, by the idolatries and abominations of the world;-tell us not of the hold which the prince of the power, of darkness has over his unhappy subjects and slaves. All these things we know and feel. But stronger is He that is with us, than all who can be against us. The

treasure is indeed in earthen vessels; but it is, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of men. The weapons of our warfare are mighty through God; though they are not carnal weapons: and therefore, in the hands of the Spirit of God they cannot be employed in vain. The influence which encourages to draw the bow, which barbs the arrow and speeds its flight; directs with unerring certainty its aim, and can bring all the enemies of God and of his Christ under subjection. What God can do, he has promised that he will do; so that nothing is wanting but the contribution of our zeal and of our prayers, to a glorious victory over all the powers of evil and of darkness.

"Let the church of God then, be faithful to the deposit which has been entrusted to it. To his people he has given charge of his holy oracles, and in charge to proclaim their truths through all the world. He has committed to them the interests of his glory, and of the salvation of men. He has confided to them the honour of being his remembrancers, to put him in mind of his own promises, and of his covenant obligations; and while he has reserved to himself the exercise and application of that healing power, which effectually worketh the counsel of his own will, he has given to his church the key which unlocks the sacred storehouse, by promising to dispense its treasures in answer to faith and prayer.

"The world is all before us,' and the command to go in and possess it, is sounding in our ears. Already the pioneers of the sacred army are at work in every land, and the precursors of the heralds of the cross are operating in every country. The signs of the times are all favourable to our efforts and our wishes. Already God has blessed our endeavours beyond" our expectations, and he is waiting till our faith shall be increased, that he may enlarge us according to his rule abun dantly. It is for us then to determine whether the work shall go on and extend, or retrograde and diminish ;-whether by the contribution of our prayers, our labours, and our property, it shall be carried forward in a manner worthy of the cause, and of the name we profess; or whether, by withholding them, we shall at once deprive ourselves of the reward of turning many to righteousness, and retard the progress of the Redeemer's glory.”—: pp. 155--157.

The notes and illustrations, which occupy nearly half the volume, contain the more critical and minute part of the author's argument, and serve to relieve the discourses from

much matter, which, though highly important and interesting to scholars, would have made the sermons heavy and toilsome to the general reader. There is much useful and instructive matter in these notes. The volume, altogether, is adapted to be extensively useful. The discourses upon the connexion of divine influence with appointed means are worthy of general perusal. They are calculated at once to correct some prevalent mistakes, and to rouse and encourage alike ministers and people. Extracts from them, or even the whole of the three last sermons, might be advantageously read by ministers at their weekly prayermeetings, or in any social assemblies of Christians. We cordially wish the volume an extensive circulation.

THERE is something inexpressibly mysterious, in the numerous instances which occur of the removal from this world, where all the aids of virtue and talent are required, of those whose high endowments and lofty spirits seem fitted to work mighty effects on the race of men. It often happens, that no sooner is an individual brought to maturity, and rendered capable of filling a large sphere of important usefulness, than he is suddenly taken from the spot where his services seem specially to be required, and transferred to the assembly above, where labour and usefulness are not wanted.

""Tis pitiful to see the early flower Nipp'd by the unfeeling frost, just when

it rose

Lovely in youth, and put its beauties on."

What we know not now, we shall know hereafter, must reconcile us to events which neither Scripture nor philosophy enable us fully to understand.

If ever the death of an indi vidual was fitted to call forth these feelings, that of the eminently gifted author of this Poem, is assuredly calculated to do so. He seems to have lived only to accomplish this splendid and enduring effort, and to have died when it was fully prepared to be deposited on his tomb, there to perpetuate the memory of its author in immortal freshness. Something of his history we hoped to have learned from the second edition of the Poem, which is now before us; but after being long delayed, it has appeared in the same bald form with the first. All that we know from other sources is, that he was born of respectable parents in the south of Scotland; was educated for the ministry in the Scottish Secession Church; was licensed to preach, and delivered a few discourses in public, after he had completed his term of study; intense application, together with that fineness of bodily texture which men of his description generally enjoy, brought on a pulmonary complaint, of which he died at Southampton, whither he had gone on his way to Italy, in the faint hope of recovery. His Poem, for the copyright of which he is said to have been offered a thousand guineas, was published immediately before his departure. What we want of personal history is partly supplied by the following sketch, evidently intended for himself.

"One of this mood I do remember well.. We name him not, what now are earthly names?

In humble dwelling born, retired, remote; In rural quietude, 'mong hills and streams,