the broken ice, placed by the humane society for the prevention of drowning. "Cry aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet." (Isa. lviii. 1.) "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who, by reason of use," (being used to the delusive temptations of the devil) “have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Heb. v. 14.) Therefore, poor, dear “weaklings," think not because you cannot see the utility of this, that, or the other, that there is no utility in it; neither imagine that because some of our correspondents use "hard sayings," therefore they themselves must be hard. No; but rather wait till you are farther led; for while one is sent to build up, another is sent to pull down, yea, to throw down; and while one is sent to empty, another is sent to fill. The naked truth must be spoken, though many will not endure sound doctrine. “I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument, having teeth," saith the Lord, "and thou shalt thresh the mountains,"—the mountains of the devil's machinations, appear they in what shape soever they may,"and beat them small, and make the hills as chaff" (Isa. xli. 15.) Therefore, to "A Weakling" we would say, read those communications which meet your experience, and leave the rest to those of your brethren who are stronger in faith, resting assured that, as far as we are able to discern, nothing shall appear in our pages that comes from an unregenerate heart, our sole aim being the glory of God, and the good of his dear family.

We now only remark, as we have often said, that we cannot be accountable for every sentence used by our correspondents; but we sincerely hope and pray that they may be led by the blessed Spirit to write in the fear of God; and that while they are engaged in pulling down old rotten walls, and digging deep to lay the foundation on a rock, (Luke vi. 48,) they may be enabled, as instruments in the hands of the Lord, to build up the dear family of God in all its branches in their most holy faith, and, under the divine power, teaching, and unction of God the Holy Ghost, be blessed with wisdom to "take heed unto themselves, and unto the doctrine; continuing in them; for in doing this, they shall both save themselves, and them that hear them." (1 Tim. iv. 16.)

EDITORS REVIEW.

The Ministering Workman, and a Description of his Work. By Cephas. Bennett.

We have not read this work, though sent for the purpose; and why? because it is far too dear. We will not pay attention to publications so exorbitantly charged.

The Supreme Dominion of Jehovah. A Sermon. By W. Nunn, M.A. -Palmer.

The author of this sermon is one amongst the few, the very few ministers in the Establishment of whom we cannot but think well. In former times we have heard him with pleasure and even profit; but of late we must frankly confess that we have found his discourses dry and unsavoury. It certainly does not say much in favour of any person's spirituality to imply that he retrogrades in experimental preaching, that he leaves the ups and downs of a child of God, and satisfies himself by addressing "believers," without first having drawn the experimental line of demarcation, and told his hearers who he means by believers. But we cannot nevertheless as yet fully drive him from our hearts.

He is shackled, and sorry we are that he is shackled; but this we must leave to God and his conscience.

As regards the sermon before us, we last month hinted that we should endeavour to show that it was a fallacious one, that is, a disguised one; but as we understand Dr. Buck, of Liverpool, purposes publishing a work on the subject, we shall leave that matter for him.

We for the most part agree with what our friend Philpot says in our last month's number in reference to the sermon. It is certainly confused, barren, and unmeaning. Still we differ in one particular. Page 46 Mr. P. says, "This sermon has convinced me more clearly of an opinion I have long held, and experimentally felt, that a man with a gracious experience cannot continue in the Establishment." Now really we are not so convinced; for when, passing by even Toplady and Hawker, (two dear men of God we are persuaded,) we look to good old Berridge, than whom no man of late years has issued sweeter morsels, we exclaim, "How is it possible that these things can be so?" but we are certain that it is so,-that good men have continued in that lumber.

Here we leave the subject; and if ever Mr. N. should publish another discourse, we hope we shall find that he has been put again and again into the devil's sieve, and sifted as wheat is sifted, without which he can never be made really useful to the tried and TEMPTED of God's family, and until which time he may continue to preach the unwavering assurance of faith.

An Exposition of the Names of Persons and Places recorded in the

Sacred Scriptures. By Thomas Rowland.-Bennett.

We are not able to judge of the literal correctness of this work; but such a work, if accurate, is very useful and instructive, particularly to all common bible readers, as almost all the names of persons and places in Scripture have a particular meaning and design, a right understanding of which will wonderfully illustrate many subjects in Scripture. It would certainly have been an additional benefit to the work if the author had given the language to which each word belongs, with its derivation, &c. Still it deserves recommendation, and is by no means dear.

Israel's Hand-Basket; or, a Covenant God bearing the Expense and directing the Steps of his Ministers. By Gad Southall. Minister of the Gospel, Nottingham.-R. Groombridge, London; J. Gadsby, Manchester.

This purports to be a letter addressed to the church at Nottingham, in answer to their call to the pastoral office. The letter, however, forms only a small part of the work, consisting of less than five pages out of the sixteen, to which the work extends; and in it (the letter) we see nothing striking, or, indeed, beyond common place. In the "Introduction," however, new features are presented to our view, and subjects are introduced worthy of the most serious consideration. We cannot say much upon them this month, as neither our health, time, nor limits will allow us; but we will just observe, that one point he brings forward is, that the Lord's sent ministers ought never to have fixed stipends, but invariably trust to the Lord for whatever he, in his providence, shall be pleased to send them; and he instances several very remarkable interpositions on his own behalf, in support of his position. Were all the parsons in our day brought to this test, alas, alas! what a many chapels and "churches" there would be "to be let!"" It will do none of our readers any harm to peruse the work.

Secession from the Church of England Defended. By J. C. Philpot. -R. Groombridge, London; J. Gadsby, Manchester.

This work has reached its fourth edition, but we have not heard that any reply has been attempted. The ground the author takes is not a mere legal one, but an experimental one, consequently, out of the reach of a carnal man's refutation. The work is, indeed, unanswerable.

POETRY.

LINES SUGGESTED BY A VISIT TO THE " AGED PILGRIMS"
ASYLUM," CAMBERWELL.

Amongst all the mercies, while trav'lling below,
Which daily it pleases the Lord to bestow;

I would not forget his dear name to adore,
For such an asylum as this for the poor.
"Tis sweet all his kind dispensations to trace,
And to notice his hand both in nature and grace;
On Him I for every supply must depend,
And his love has engaged to provide to the end.
When deep in the quarry of nature I lay,
To sin a poor slave, and to Satan a prey;
Although to destruction my course truly led,
I sought no asylum from danger so dread.
But when the blest Spirit, in mercy divine,
Was pleased on my soul so benighted to shine :
When God in his law did against me appear,
I found, with dismay, no asylum was near.
My terror subsided, at length I began,
Though ignorant of it, a self-righteous plan;
And, as my desires and my actions were new,
I thought this asylum for shelter would do.
But Jesus determin'd I should not rest there;
Again I was stript and left naked and bare-
And led by the Spirit of Truth, I could see
That Christ was the needful asylum for me.
In Him I beheld many beauties divine,
Before I by faith could approach him as mine:
At length, in the love of his heart he declared,
That he an asylum had for me prepared.

I could but rejoice in his glorious name,

Who for me had borne all my guilt and my shame;
When first from my spiritual bondage set free,
O what an asylum was Jesus to me!

Since then my poor heart has oft wander'd astray,
In spite of his love, to pursue my own way;
But no solid peace could I ever obtain,
Till brought to my blessed asylum again.

O precious asylum, from guilt and from fear;
Poor sin-burden'd pilgrims are all welcome here;
Their needs are supplied by its bounties divine,
And their hearts shall be cheer'd by its excellent wine.

With gratitude, earthly asylums we view,
Though their comforts can only be shared by a few;
But though many millions to Jesus have come,

In this dear asylum there's plenty of room.
There's room for all those who in spirit are poor,
Whose burdens compel them to knock at the door;
And surely there can be no reason to doubt,
For Jesus has said "He none will cast out."

Jehovah himself, the asylum prepared,
And it shall by all needy outcasts be shared.
What infinite love, in the Father to give

His dear Son to die that poor pilgrims might live.

'Twas infinite love bore Emmanuel through
The sorrows of hell, that were justly our due;
And God the blest Spirit reveals his great love,
In guiding them to the asylum above.
September, 1837.

HYMN.

Isaiah xlv. 9.

Drop down, ye heav'ns from above,
With dews my Zion bless;
Discharge, ye clouds of sov'reign love,
And pour down righteousness.

Let op'ning skies and earth combine,
Salvation's fruit to bear:
And spring up righteousness divine,
Redemption full appear.
Together let the earth and skies,
Godhead and manhood show;
That life in God's anointed lies,
Felt by the church below.
Salvation with strict justice bound,

From earth and skies conjoin'd;

Is my creation only found,

Fruit of my sov'reign mind. Manchester, 1837.

THE CARNAL MIND.

The frank forgiveness of all debt carries with it the plainest testimony of man's total helplessness, and the sovereign freedom of divine love.-Hawker. Jesus died, and thereby gave validity and efficacy to his will.-Hawker. Sanctified afflictions are a thousand times rather to be chosen than unsanctified prosperity.

THE

GOSPEL STANDARD,

OR,

FEEBLE CHRISTIAN'S SUPPORT.

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled."-Matt. v. 6.

"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."-2 Tim. i. 9.

"The election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded."—Rom. xi. 7.

"If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.-And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.—In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."—Acts viii. 37, 38; Matt. xxviii. 19.

No. 28.

APRIL, 1838.

VOL. IV.

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION.

"This is the way, walk ye in it."—Isa. xxx. 21.

There is not a happier state below, than when the Spirit bears witness to our interest in Christ, when we enjoy his testimony of our union to Christ, and, as a fruit of that union and evidence thereof, have the Spirit itself interceding as our Comforter within us. He is called the Israelite, which is the Comforter or Advocate, for the same word that is rendered Comforter in John's gospel is also rendered Advocate in his epistle (ii. 1); and I take it both to mean offices of the Spirit, and to show the manner in which he makes the intercession within us, with groanings which cannot be uttered; and the success with which he advocates the new work within against the devil and our own corrupt hearts, so as to gain that acquittal in the court of conscience that Christ has obtained for us in heaven, gains him the title of Comforter as well; for all our comfort is grounded on his proving our right to glory, as is his office, grounded on the atonement of Jesus. And thus, I would say, that many a poor, doubting soul has the Spirit within him as an Advocate, though he knows him not till he comes as a Comforter, and then his influence is so sweetly felt, that he dwells in the soul with all his divinity confessed, and leaves not a doubt of his being there.

I say the Spirit is in the soul before it is known; but as soon as he is there, his influence is perceptible; there is a godly sorrow for sin, a dread of punishment, a desire to flee from the wrath to come, and, when Christ is seen, a desire to lay hold of his righteousness and

D