often come away, wounded and empty, instead of comforted and filled, so that you receive a whole volley of arrows after you, that often makes you say, that you will go no more to be thus cruelly used; but remember what is written, "When I would do good, evil is present with me," and that it is in the places of drawing water that we are to be delivered; but we find if we would be quenching our thirsty souls at any of the wells of life-giving water, that enemy of ours will be there often before us to prevent, if possible, our having one drop; what hard work for faith to suck the comfort of the promises, when the devil and unbelief stop up the whole way to the heart; then we cry as others have done, "My sore ran in the night and ceased not, my soul refused to be comforted; thou holdest my eyes waking, I am so troubled that I cannot speak, my strength and hope is perished from the Lord;" and if we would take comfort in the name of our God and Saviour, that was, as we have said, we thought, once sweet to our hearts, but now all seems to be gone quite out of sight and out of our hearts as to feeling; and a wretched change we feel indeed, for now in the place of faith we seem to be all unbelief, disputing us out of all that we have passed through, and all that our covenant-keeping God has done for us in times that are gone; yea call in question the word of the living and true God, the reality of heaven, hell, or devils, and the very being of the eternal Jehovah. Now in the room of comfort, nothing but misery is our daily and nightly companions, in the place of light comes darkness, instead of patience nothing but haste, for love, hatred, and in the room of sound judgment all confusion; for sweet submission nothing but quarrelling with all that comes upon us, and as to hope, that seems to be lost, and despairing thoughts take its place. At this time also sin within rages like a mighty sea, foaming up such fumes of filth, and billows of iniquity lift up their haughty heads, that death appears close at hand, and the more we toil and row in our own strength, the further we get from the desired haven of rest, and the more dreadful the storm appears, until we become like a leaky vessel, and to the bottom we think we must go: here we cry out as one half dead, and in a fit of despair and desperation, with ten thousand fears: "Save me, oh God, for the waters are come into my soul; I sink in deep waters, where the waters overflow me," and with "Save, Lord, or I perish:” and doubtless we should go down to rise no more, if the God of the winds, seas, floods, and billows, did not hold all in his hand, sit upon the floods, and bound the issue. And blessed be that name that is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea; this is He, the eternal I Am, the almighty Jesus Jehovah, that says to all, "Hitherto shalt thou come, and no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed." And the deeper we sink in these matters, the louder we shall sing when drawn out of them by our dear and constant Friend, and the more we shall see and know of his all-powerful and glorious arm; as it is written, "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in deep waters, these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep." And blessed be his precious nane, "ont of the depths have I cried unto him, and he hath sent from above, and took me and drawn me out of many waters." It is these things that make way for his great mercy to meet with our guilt and misery, and his amazing goodness to fit our much vileness, that free grace may be our song and ground of hope, and everlasting love be the eternal source of our salvation. E. P. REVIEW. Remarks on "Doubts and Fears," with especial reference to Mr. Osbourn's opinion of them, as expressed in the Standard, Nov. 1847. 12mo., pp. 32. London : Higham. While in the attitude of expectation, looking for the appearance of Mr. Osbourn's promised publication, which is to disperse all doubt respecting doubts and fears, we have received the present from the pen of that ready writer, Mr. Tryon. We take this to be a sort of skirmish between the advanced posts of each party, and are thinking what then will be the collision when in all their formidableness Mr. Osbourn comes forward with his arguments in battle array, and Mr. Tryon, as of course, returns to the conflict. too We regard these two individuals as the representatives of two parties, each advocating views widely apart, upon a subject which each vaguely expresses. When Mr. Osbourn's volume comes before us we purpose to show this, and to enter somewhat at large upon the subject; and then we expect we shall be able to show that as in many other cases the correctness of the adage will be proved, that truth lies between the two extremes. Mr. Tryon has, or what to himself is about the same thing, supposes he has a very extended mission. first calls one minister to account about his marriage, years after it had taken place; then he scolds another for indulging in the luxury of a pipe, and scolds him a second time for audaciously saying the first ebullition had not occasioned the loss of a single wink of sleep: now we have him as the self-appointed champion for doubts and fears. It is our province as Editors of the "Spiritual Magazine," however, to act as impartial umpires, fairly placing before the church the differing views of each, and pointing out where, in our opinion, each one errs. Mr. Osbourn has said that doubts and fears are bugbears belonging to old nature." Mr. Tryon says they are rather "friendly to the regenerate family of God." The fault of each is, that they are disputing about that which they do not previously distinctly define. Unbeliving doubts and slavish fears are from the tempter; but the doubt which is the opposite of presumption, and the fear which induces tender walking, is of God. All and every one of them at times may be working in the heart of the new-born child; he may satisfactorily inform himself the nature and the origin of that which may be predominant, by seeking an answer to the inquiry, To whom do they tend? That which comes from God leadeth to God. That which cometh from God and leadeth to God, he will do wisely to cherish, and may prize as evidences of his calling. That which comes from beneath he may not, and in his own strength will not be able to resist; but he will hate and shun them, and instead of cherishing and adducing them as evidences, he will rejoice at every victory over them, anticipating when out of their reach, he shall dwell above their atmosphere, then realizing in fruition that which is now the object of faith, the subject of hope, and consequently in a manner the object and subject both of doubt and of fear. Premising that Mr. Tryon, alike with his opponent, has not sufficiently defined terms, we remark that in none of his previous publications, has he written so well. There is much in this little tract really excellent, truly scriptural and encouraging to the tried child of God. Could he divest himself of that bitterness and censoriousness, which, whatever doubts and fears may be, are certainly no evidences of the christian character, he would afford clearer proofs of his own standing, and of his commission both as a preacher and a writer being from God. The pronoun I is too prominent in his vocabulary; on page 29 it is very conspicuous, deciding after the fashion of the Editors of the "Standard," the standing, the experience, the ministry, and consequently the eternal state of Mr. Osbourn. This is to us so very abhorrent, that we turn with loathing from even what is good in the pamphlet. For the satisfaction of our readers we will however make one extract: "In all these cases the heart must heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.'” By this the reader will perceive that Mr. Tryon makes the heart not merely the lifeless arena of conflict, wherein two armies strive; but itself an observer and arbitrator, if not an active coadjutor and auxiliary. When in reviewing Mr. Osbourn's book we enter more at large on the subject, we shall allude to this important feature, and give our views thereon. Three Letters written by Oliver Cromwell, and addressed to his son and daughters. 12mo. pp. 8. London: Palmer. These letters are printed from authentic documents in the British Museum. They exhibit the extraordinary man who was the writer of them in his domestic associations. In them we perceive the features of a regenerate and gracious man; but if it be that after all his professions and pretensions Cromwell was an be considered as well as the company hypocrite in religion, as well as an of two armies in that heart; the heart condemns or does not condemn; the heart allows or disallows; the heart enjoys liberty of the spirit, or is entangled in some cause of bondage; the heart feels the will desiring and stirring it up, when the power to perform may be absent; the heart feels the motion of that law in the members which tempts us to backslide, and feels the checks and rebukes of the spirit; the heart feels the pain of disobedience, and the heart feels the sweet of obedience, it is the heart which sin wants to have dominion over, and God says, "My son, give me thy heart;" sin struggles to keep the heart back from God, and grace inclines the heart towards God. I do not wish to argue about the new man and the old, distinct from the heart; if the heart is left out, the professors may cavil till they die, and they will get no profit- the usurper in the state, we can only say he wore the mask dextrously, and deceived, yea still deceives many. As a literary curiosity they will be prized by some, independent of their religious character. Appeal to the Public, especially to Jews and Professing Christians; being an Exposition of the Chronology of the Prophets. 8vo. pp. 8. London: Palmer. The author of this Tract has gained marvellous insight into the prophecies of Holy Scripture, discovering that all expositors hitherto have been wrong; and that even the Evangelists somewhat blundered. He assures us that our Lord lived on earth fifty-three years, instead of thirty-three, as generally supposed, and as facts establish. We announce the publication, but beg to be excused immersing ourselves in the confusion of its calculations. POETRY. A SONG OF LOVES. "God is love."—1 John iv. 8, 16. The love of God! what tongue can tell? Love saved my ruin'd soul from hell, "Twas love devis'd the glorious plan, Love snatched from death rebellious man. Twas love first found me dead in sin, 'Twas cov'nant love my heart did win. Love saw me ruined by the fall, Love taught my soul for grace to call. "Twas love that saw me lost and blind, Love gave me sight my God to find. "Twas love taught me true filial fear, Love made the truth to me most dear. Love cancell'd all my debt of sin, "Twas love restor❜d sweet peace within. Love stripp'd off rags of filthiness, Love cloth'd me with God's righteousness. Love conquer'd unbelief and pride, Love bade me touch Christ's wounded side. "Twas love put into the Rock Love bade me feed among God's flock. "Twas love taught me his sov'reign will, Love laid rebellious nature still. Love look'd into my carnal heart, Love, to my soul did life impart. "Twas love that kept me to this day, Love will not let me fall away. Twas love brought me under the rod, Love said: "Fear not, I am thy God." Electing love's a truth divine, "Twas love that whisper'd mine." Electing love runs like a flood, "Thou art Love marks each stream with precious blood. Love shows the way, the truth, the life, Love knows no other church beside. J. G. LEBANON LEAVES. "Who first trusted in Christ.” "Twas in the hour of death, An aged saint with brightening countenance asked, As of himself enquiring, Who the first Trusted in Christ? and then at once Answering himself replied, Assuredly, "Twas God the Father trusted in his Son And in his word confiding, opened heaven, To all the myriads purchased with his blood, Who lived and died, ere yet that blood was shed: And equally the Spirit trusted him, For when the covenant was only sealed, Participates the covenant work of each, THEN LOOK UP! REZENEB. Written after reading the Rev Joseph Irons' communication in the January number. Brethren, hear the preacher's word, In the trouble, in the strife, Lete mandate of our Lord, Gild with hope the clouds of life; Wordlings may in deep dismay, Strangers to the christian's hope, Sink in trouble's gloomy day, Saints in sorrow should look up! Is the Zion of our God By besiegers compassed round? Thirsting for her children's blood, Do conspirators abound? Gird the armour Jesus gives, Fight and pray, but never yield, Foes may vaunt, but Jesus lives Conqueror in the battle-field. Hath the citadel within Traitors wearing Zion's dress? Holding doctrines fraught with sin, Hostile to Christ's righteousness; Shun their fawning, scorn their frown; Faithful to the Saviour's cross, Panting for your heavenly crown, Counting earthly things as dross. Magistrates ordained of God: If they slight or hurt his cause, Let your homage to their word Be subservient to his laws; Fearless serve and dauntless own Jesus, Zion's only King, Jesus, Zion's Priest alone, Oh, for a shout in yonder world How weak our praises here below, For there perplexity there's none, Refresh us with thy matchless grace, E. R. |