WE are living in perilous times, especially when we consider the numberless errors that seem greatly on the increase; it is therefore necessary that every lawful means should be used to check them.

It is our unspeakable mercy, which calls for our daily tribute of praise, and our daily study to improve it; that a free use of the oracles of divine truth is permitted us. Many others are denied this privilege. Happy those to whom the word of God is the rule of their faith, a light to direct their paths, and a standard whereby they try and prove the doctrines they hear, whether they be of God, or man. The whole truth as it is in Jesus is precious to every sincere believer. "Faith comes by hearing the word of God." As the ear is the inlet to the soul, we should ever take heed, what kind of doctrines we hear. Through the ear Satan gained access to the heart of Eve, and beguiled her. Paul alludes to this in 2 Cor. xi. 3, "I fear (he says) lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be January, 1849.]

corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." What is this simplicity? Even this plain, simple truth, that salvation is wholly and solely by Christ, according to the everlasting purpose and love of God the Father, revealed in the word of truth, and applied to the soul by the Holy Spirit. Guilty and perishing sinners are the happy subjects of it. They have no hand whatever in procuring, or making it effectual; but they are wholly saved by election of grace, through faith. Whatever doctrines are contrary to either of these points, oppose revealed truths; are subversive of the plan of salvation; tend to rob God of the glory of his grace, and his dear children of their comfort and joy of faith.

Therefore disciples, take good heed what you hear. These doctrines are not merely speculative, or non-essential; but are the important, fundamental, essential truths of the gospel. To oppose the doctrine of election, is to deny the first cause of salvation, the everlasting love of God the Father; it is to gainsay the prophets, apostles, and even our Lord himself, who spake most plainly of it. This arises from human pride and prejudice, that always imagines it can do something to procure God's love. So of the imputed righteousness of Christ, and the saints' final perseverance in faith and holiness. If these scripture truths are maligned and opposed, it arises from the supposed self-sufficiency, and self-righteousness of the creature, in whose nature "dwelleth no good thing." This delusion leads the creature, depraved as he is, to endeavour to establish his own righteousness, imperfect as it is, as well as a fancied faithfulness.

This strikes at the very root of true holiness, and tends both to presumption and licentiousness. For these truths are clearly revealed in the word of God, by the Spirit; that they should be the daily food of our faith, subjects of our study, the cause

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out and submit to his truth and glorious sceptre; one of late, a chemist in this town, and who stood as a pillar in the largest congregation, yea, the right-hand man of the parson, has come out and left all, and you may be sure that the poor instrument goes to rack for separating man and wife from the communion of our Holy Mother. At Midhurst, where I go

once a-month, there is a dreadful shaking in the camp of the Philistines; several are come out from the chapel, and the churchwarden from the church; the Lord seeth that I am hated, so he giveth me souls for my hire. May God Almighty bless my friend and the little flock and his family. So prays your's in love,

E. PARSONS.

Lectures on Popery. The Mystery of Babylon, or the Abominations of the Church of Rome. By Rev. J. S. Sergrove. 12mo. pp. 284. London: Palmers.

This is the third edition of a series of Lectures on Popery; the previous editions of which were respectively published in 2 vols. 8vo. at the price of one guinea. By the omission of the notes, and by a more succinct arrangement, the whole of the work is comprised in this very neat six shilling volume. It consists of fifteen lectures; of which the first two are introductory, and the last applicatory; the titles of the rest, embrace with much accuracy and terseness, the leading prominent characteristics of papal antichrist. The pretended apostolicity- the assumed infallibility-the usurped supremacy -the professed holiness-the avowed catholicity-the erroneous tenetsthe prevailing schisms-the gross idolatry-the contemptible miracles -the sanguinary persecutions-the perpetual misanthropy, and the systematic disaffection of the Church of Rome, are the several titles of the lectures; and of themselves, show the author to have well considered his subject, as the book likewise will prove him to have a full mastery of these its various features.

We have read this volume with considerable pleasure; we very highly approve of, and coincide in all the observations, severe though they may be, upon the errors and practices of this intolerant church. We readily admit popery to be all that this author depictures it be. We turn with disgust from its superstitions; we feel a thrill at the recollection of its persecutions; we loathe it for its mercenary spirit, its despotism, and its crimes; but when, as it is stated on the title page, the Church of England in its doctrines are paralleled in antithesis, and its excellence vaunted, just in the ratio that the Church of Rome is denounced, we could not but feel that truly a second reformation was yet needed to approximate the Church of England to the Church of Christ; and that those great and good men, who by protesting against the heresies of Rome, gave the name to England's Church, and who stopped in the work of reformation then, only because political intriguers hindered and prevented its further progress, would indeed lament that the protestant establishment, which they had built with so much labour, and cemented with their own blood, instead of, as they doubtless had hoped, advancing in the career of reformation, should now be retrograding to

its parent hierarchy, and advocating anew many of its heresies. That the Churches of Rome and of England should be in continual antago nism is no matter of surprize. The wealth attaching to the hierarchy in connection with the state, is ample reason for a mercenary church to endeavour a separation, and to seek a re-union with its original yokefellow; and to this antagonism, arising, shall we say, in each from the love of lucre, we doubtless owe many of the talented refutations and exposures of Popery; but we cannot class this work amongst such; we cannot but believe that in our author we discern that spirituality of mind, and high and heavenly feeling, which are the result of divine teaching. We could give many extracts to justify this, but we prefer recommending the volume to the notice of our readers as one of the best and most concise upon the subject, and as well calculated to open the eyes of any who are journeying towards Rome, whether or not by the way of Oxford, to a true sight of Rome's errors, absurdities, and crimes.

A few thoughts on Psalm lxxi. 7, intended to have been delivered in public, April 11, 1847, by Ebenezer Vinall, but was prevented by the prevalency of unbelief and carnal policy. 12mo. pp. 48. London: Palmers.

THE circumstances connected with the earlier ministerial career of this young preacher, will be still in the memory of our readers. His own conviction of a clear call of God to the ministry, the opposition of his friends, the endeavour of some to put him into a lunatic asylum, his commencement in the work, and we may now proceed by naming, his stop therein, his serious affliction, mental as well as personal, his restoration and renewal in the work; the division which these events have occasioned in the church with which he

is connected, and over which the venerated father has been so long a pastor; all these invest both the author and his publication with an interest which they would not otherwise excite.

We enter not further into these matters now; the author, who has already published two numbers of a brief account of God's gracious dealings with him, is rapidly progressing with the two concluding numbers, and in our notice of these we shall have a better opportunity of alluding to them, if need be.

This intended sermon, published because its delivery was hindered, is upon the words, "I am as a wonder unto many, but thou art my strong refuge." The author first applies it to the Psalmist, then to the Psalmist's Lord, and afterwards to individual believers, himself included. Having briefly noticed the first, he contemplates the Lord Jesus Christ as being more especially, under nine particulars, a wonder unto many; this occupies a large part of the discourse. In the last division of this part of his subject, the author feelingly alludes to himself and closes with some brief observations on the confidence of the soul, who is a partaker of living faith as the same is expressed in the last clause of the text.

We have perused the sermon with much pleasure and cannot but renew the expression of our belief, that the writer of such a discourse gives considerable proof of his ministerial call.

There is, however, a fault conspicuous in it, it is its abundance of scripture. We are not afraid of being charged with slighting scripture authority, or depreciating scripture itself: we have been too long known for that, and therefore we unhesitatingly state, that it is possible in a sermon to quote too much scripture, and thereby to encumber rather than to elucidate; to fatigue, more than edify. Scripture is the christian soldier's armoury. He will