it is my sheet anchor.' 'There is,' observed he, a gradation in the chapter, till at last the apostle says, I am persuaded; and,' added he, with empbasis, I am persuaded.' A few days before his departure, 1 found him in great pain, and pathetically calling for deliverance; O Lord, deliver me from my distress! How long! how long! Remember me, O Lord, for good.' At other times be said, 'Why is his chariot so long in coming?' Though at a great distance from his relations and carly friends, he was not alone. Not only did he meet with much kind treatment from his new friends, but, what was above all, God was with him in the trying season. The Shepherd of Israel comforted him with his rod and staff, and enabled him to meet death with composure and serenity. He suffered much, for some time, before his removal, but he was not left to struggle alone, or to vent a murmur against God. 'His God sustain'd him in his final hour: His final hour brought glory to his God.' "He retained the use of his mental faculties to the last, and, a few minutes before his death, was heard to say, 'Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.' On Monday, the 5th instant, about a quarter past eleven o'clock in the forenoon, his joyful spirit took its flight to the mansions of glory; and now he rests from all the labours of his mortal life. I should have been happy to continue him on the list of my friends; but, if a wish would recal him, it would be very selfish and unkind to cherish it. He now enjoys infinitely better society; society, which he delightfully anticipated a few days before his departure; the society of patriarchs, and prophets, and apostles, and martyrs, and Pearce, and Ward, and all the just made perfect, with the innumerable company of angels, and, what was the chief object of his desire, the presence of his Almighty Saviour Jesus Christ," In such society as this, ON Lord's day morning, Nov, 21, 1824, the Rev. Mr. Groser, about twenty years the respected and useful pastor of the Baptist church at Watford, Herts, and afterwards, for a short time. pastor of the Baptist church at New Brentford, Middlesex, having patiently endured a lengthened affliction, departed; in the full enjoyment of Christian tranquillity, to the heavenly inheritance. On the following Friday, his mortal remains were interred in the burial ground belonging to the Baptist church at Watford, on which occasion, Mr. Copley, the present pastor of that church, engaged in the usual service; and on Lord's-day evening the 28th, Mr. Pritchard, of Keppel-street, London, preached the funeral sernn, at the Baptist chapel, New Brentford, from Heb. vi. 15. "And so after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise." It is hoped, a more enlarged account of this Christian minister will be com These events of the deaths of young municated. Review. 1. The Moral Government of God in the Dispensation of the Gospel, vindicated; in Observations on the System of Theology taught by the Rev. Dr. Hawker, Vicar of Charles, Plymouth, By Isaiah Birt. 12mo. 2. Strictures on the Plymouth Antinomians. By Joseph Cottle. 8vo. Second Edition, enlarged. We introduce these works to the notice of our readers both with pleasure and regret. In the first instance, with regret, that a man who has borne the ministerial office so long, and with so much celebrity, as Dr. Hawker, should have rendered such an attack necessary, or even possible: but, next with pleasure, since we are convinced that they are not written without just cause, and that they cannot be perused without advantage. Before we proceed to the observations we propose to make on this controversy, we shall fulfil that part of our critical duty, which requires us to express our opinion of the particular merits of the writers before us. Mr. Cottle, it appears, during a visit of several months in the neighbourhood, attended Dr. Hawker's ministry as a stranger, probably under the combined influence of curiosity and devotion: and, as a man, in the vigour of life, possessing, moreover, the ardour of a poetical imagination, he, not unnaturally, expresses, with some warmth, his indignant feeling on finding, what he considered, a mass of anscriptural and unedifying doctrine, substituted for the gospel of Christ. And his manly hostility and intrepid zeal deserve to be admired. Mr. Birt is an opponent of a different character. Far advanced in the vale of years, by his office rendered a close observer of the often erring course of religious opinions, and, by his long residence in that vicinity, in which, more particularly, Dr. Hawker has moved, he is qualified to take a more calm and philosophical view of what is truth, sufficiently adapted to excite indignation: while bis mature knowledge of scriptural di vinity peculiarly fits him to meet the antagonist he has chosen on his own ground. Dr. Hawker has been so much of an Ishmalite, lifting up his hand against every man, that he can have no reason to be surprised, if the hostility he has provoked should wear somewhat of a keen and eager aspect: but, to whatever extent it may have done so, it is more natural than praiseworthy, more easy than useful. Mr. Cottle's book, excellent as, in many respects, it is, will probably be felt, even by those who agree with him, to be somewhat too vehement and declamatory: but, in these respects, we must say, Mr. Birt is quite a pattern. In his Observations, there is a full mellow tone of Christian benevolence, and a mass of scriptural reasoning, which render them a pre-eminent specimen of what controversial writing ought to be. Justly offensive to none, they are highly adapted to be instructive and convincing to all. One reason, however, of the very useful character of Mr. Birt's pamphlet, is of a different kind. He has very truly observed, that" the opponents of the system, maintained by Dr. Hawker, have chiefly insisted on its evil consequences," rather than its erroneousness. Now, though it is very allowable to try every system by its resultsthe tree by its fruits-yet this is only one of the appointed means of discovering error, and the purpose to which it is adapted is peculiar. It is undoubtedly true, that whatever, according to its proper tendencies, produces mischief, is erroneous: but we are inclined to hold it equally certain, that such sentiments may be proved to be erroneous, independently of their ef fects. The sacred scriptures are both the revelation and the standard of truth. Every controverted opinion must appeal" to the law and to the testimony : if they speak not according to this rule, there is no light in them." We have said also, that the purpose which an examination of the influence of religi¦ ous sentiments is adapted to answer, is peculiar; and we mean, that it is much inore conducive to the caution of those who do not maintain them, than to the conviction of those who do. It is an appeal to the feelings, rather than the understanding of admirable practical use, as a safeguard against the adoption of error; but not so well adapted to induce the renunciation of a tenet which is held to be true, and with which the feelings, therefore, must be supposed to accord. A man, in this case, may be accessible to arguments drawn from the acknowledged authority of holy writ, but assuredly to nothing else. You tell him the sentiments he holds are pernicious. The remark savours of accusation and censure, and is therefore, more adapted to irritate than to enlighten. He calls it abuse, and with somewhat of the spirit of a martyr, he replies in the triumphant challenge, Are they not true? Nor can this challenge be refused or evaded, without giving a great advantage to his cause. It is, therefore, matter of regret, that the aspect of this controversy has been of the kind stated; and to this circumstance it may, probably, be ascribed that, amidst so much strife, there has been so little victory. Mr. Birt has chosen a different mode of attack. He enters exclusively on the question, Is this system true? That our readers may see with how much effect he appeals to the unerring word, and exposes the fallacy of Dr. Haw ker's boasted superiority in scriptural accuracy, we quote the following passage. "That which I particularly notice in the above extracts is, the Doctor's repeated assertion, that the Holy Ghost anointed Christ and his members. In this assertion I cannot but consider Dr. Hawker as exceedingly incorrect and unscriptural. The anointing of prophets, priests, and kings, when appointed or indutted to their respective offices, is often adverted to in the economy of divine grace. In these allusions, Christ and his members are the anointed ones; the Holy Spirit, in his influences and graces, is the unction with which they are anointed by the divine Father. In the literal transaction, Dr. Hawker might, with as much propriety, assert, that the oil itself anointed the kings of Israel, as he could represent the figurative allusion to denote the Holy Spirit anointing Christ and his members. Had the Doctor followed the gene. ral tenor of scripture, rather than his own system, he would have had a very plain path laid before him. The particular instances of our Lord's baptism, and his session at the right hand of God, would have given the same direction to his views. And if, after all, he had hesitated, an inspired apostle would have informed him, Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost." most expressly, that "GOD anointed pp. 90, 91. It would not, perhaps, be difficult to assign the reasons why the opponents of Dr. Hawker have dwelt chiefly on the evil consequences of his system. There is a moral taste by which the influence of opinions is perceived, prior to any scrutinizing effort of the understanding. "The ear trieth words," and we may add, the heart trieth doctrines, "as the month tasteth meat." To search into their truth, requires a further and more vigorous effort; and one which, in the case before us, has been rendered more difficult by the peculiar mature and imposing aspect of the error. It is the boast of Dr. Hawker, that he cannot be in error, because all that he aflirms is true, and “in perfect harmony with Christ and his apostles." Our readers have just seen, in one instance, and others may easily be found, that this is not altogether correct: but, to whatever extent it might be so, we should reply, there are many things contained in the scriptures which the Doctor never brings forward. Truth and error are relative terms; and when we apply them to religious opinion, we consider them in relation, not so much to one or more particular doctrines, as to the whole system of divine instruction. Certain theological views may be true, and yet not the truth: a general term, comprehending all that God has revealed. A system of religious sentiments may be erroneous by contradiction, by excess, or by defect: and all are equally fatal to its rectitude. In the two former cases, there would be something either positively false, or unauthorized; but the last has this peculiarity, that it may contain nothing but what is true, and yet not be the truth. Nor can it be necessary to say any thing to prove, that a system, thus erroneous, while less appalling, may be as essentially wrong, and as fatally ruinous, as any other. The system of Dr. Hawker is a striking illustration of these remarks; and Mr. Birt has exercised a sound judgment in selecting for his specific object the demonstra tion of its defects. How open the Doctor has laid himself to this mode of attack, will appear from his own words,. as quoted by his opponent, "He says, "The following may be considered as a specimen of all I preach or write. The sovereignty of Jehovah, in his trinity of persons, manifesting his grace to his church in Christ, before all worlds; and conducting her through the whole of this time state to glory, to be holy and without blame before him, in love for ever; this is the one graud bot, tom on which I build all my discourses, whether from the pulpit, or the press. The everlasting, electing, unchanging love of God the Father; the person, glory, grace, blood-shedding, righteous ness, and finished salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ: and the equal love, grace, and favour of God the Holy Ghost, manifested to the church before all time, and in his quickening operations on every individual member of Christ's mystical body here below, leading them from grace to glory; these are the glorious doctrines I preach.... Neither should I consider that sermon, or that writing, on divine things, finished, but miserably incom plete and undeserving attention, where these grand truths of God were not brought forward, as the first and last of all points to be insisted on."" pp. 11, 12. ... From the pointed and effective exposure of this" specimen" by Mr. Birt, we make one extract. "The only attributes with which he (Dr. Hawker) has clothed the Divine Majesty, are sovereignty and grace. These undoubtedly belong to him in their highest degree: but he is also infinitely holy, righteous, and just. We rejoice that he is the King of kings and Lord of lords; that he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him, in heaven above, and in the earth beneath; that, in all parts of his dominion, his counsel shall stand, and he will do all his pleasure. But we rejoice in his sovereignty, because righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. . . . All his sovereign purposes are invariably carried into execution in perfect righteousness, in the government both of the world and of the church. One can scarcely conceive of any system of religion that will not recognize both sovereignty and placability in the deity that is to be worshipped... But it is in the gospel of Jesus Christ alone that mercy and truth meet together, that righteousness and peace embrace each other. It is in the gospel only we behold a just God and a Saviour. It is here, in this revelation of mercy excluDivine Majesty, and sets us in the way of sively, that righteousness goes before the his steps. Here it is, indeed, that grace in full sovereignty reigns; but it is through righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. Now it is lamentable that such a man as Dr. Hawket should give the greatest, if not the only prominency in his ministry, to that which is, in some degree, common to all religions, to the great neglect of that which is the most distinguishing peculiarity of the glorious gospel of the blessed God, and gives it its brightest lustre." pp. 19, 21. Combined with a general conviction that Dr. Hawker's preaching cannot be right, there has been felt, probably to a great extent, a difficulty in saying where it is wrong. To the multitudes who have asked, either themselves or others, wherein its peculiarity lies, no reply has more frequently suggested itself than this; Ife seems to preach, not Christ, but the Holy Spirit. And such is the fact. This is the most obvious feature of his system, though the purpose it is designed to serve, lies considerably deeper. To what a surprising extent the Doctor carries his views on this point, our readers will be enabled to judge, by a quotation made by Mr. Birt; and we are sure we need make no apology for inserting some of the judicious and decisive observations which follow it. "No sooner had Jesus,' says the Doctor, ascended, than the Holy Ghost descended, and, in an open display of himself, took upon him the more immediate government of the church, in his own personal ministry.' [These views] I have not the least hesitation in rejecting as incorrect, unscriptural, and incompatible with the filial rights, the mediatorial rewards, and the all-pervading and perfect government of him, who must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. Whilst the entire concurrence of the Holy Spirit with the Father and Son, in the scheme of salvation, is, by me, most devoutly received, and his agency readily and gratefully acknowledged to be most gracious, efficient, and divine; with the greatest earnestness I contend, that the office of the Holy Spirit, in the economy of divine grace, is so purely ministerial, that his agency, in all respects, redounds to the honour and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the only and all-sufficient head and governor of his church. Hence the Holy Spirit has graciously become the minister of Christ, and is spoken of as the Spirit of Christ; as sent by him; &c.-From the above statement of Dr. Hawker, one might be led to suppose, that, when our Lord ascended to heaven, he retired from the superintendence of the church, and that the Holy Spirit occupies the vacated throne. But, in reality, so far was the time of our Lord's ascension into heaven from being the period of his terminating his government of the church, that it was eminently the day of his coronation, and of his installation into his kingly office. It was then he took his seat at the right hand of God, and was anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows. The government is still upon his shoulders, and, to conduct it prosperously, he has all power in heaven and on earth. The pouring out of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, was so far from being an instance of the Holy Ghost taking on himself the government of the church, that it was the direct and full evidence that our Lord had taken possession of his throne in heaven. . . . The gift of the Spirit itself was an act of his royal prerogative and munificence. 'Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, says the apostle Peter, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this which ye see and hear."" pp. 75, 80. Entirely neglecting, as he docs, the fundamental truth of God's moral government, which one would suppose must enter into all systems pretending to be scriptural, it is not surprising that Dr. Hawker should have been supposed by many to have no system; but to be wandering in endless mazes, without any ascertainable track. The extracts we have made, will satisfy our readers of the incorrectness of this opinion. The Doctor avows his adoption of the principle, that there is nothing in the dispensation of the gospel, or in personal religion, but sovereign acts of grace; and all his other views are modified by the necessity of being consistent with this. He hesitates, indeed, at nothing; but sacrifices without scruple, as Mr. Birt has clearly shewn, the anquestionable fact of God's moral government; the excellence of his law; the prerogative of the divine Father; the Kingly office of the Son; and the scriptural representation of experimental piety. We may thus, perhaps, account for the unhappy prohis life and ministry, the Doctor appears gress in error which, in the course of to have made, for it is a fact, attested by many who were delighted and edified by his early discourses, that he has lost much of the tone of sentiment in which he then spoke. Then, indeed, and what Christian is not?-warm in the exaltation of sovereign grace, and of the Spirit's agency; but now, with ruthless hand, aiming at the demolition of all other parts of the sacred temple, to establish this in solitary grandeurthe desolate and melancholy grandeur of a fragment and a ruin. But such is the natural operation of partiality to one section of the truth. It blinds the eye, and renders the heart callous to every other: and, growing with his growth, it has led Dr. Hawker farther and farther astray from words of sound doctrine. tain no falsehoods, cannot be the A system so defective, should it contruth, the whole counsel of God. Withont inquiring particularly, therefore, into its tendencies, we may pronounce, with certainty, that they cannot be beneficial; and we fear, that an inquiry into facts, upon the spot, would painfully confirm this conviction. There is, indeed, one indication of its unhappy influence upon the Doctor himself, which gives us the deepest concern: we refer to his adoption of the epithet Antinomian. He says, "The word antinomian is well known to be formed from a Greek compound, antinomos; the nearest literal translation ing, when applied to any person, in rela of which is, against law. And the meantion to religion, is, that he who is an antinomian, is looking for justification before God, solely on the footing of Christ's person, blood, and righteousness, without an eye to the deeds of the law; yea, even against them." Quoted by Mr. Birt, p. 23. We are willing to exercise the utmost candour in judging of this language: but we really cannot believe Dr. Hawker to be ignorant of the meaning in which the wordAntinomian has been generally, (with the single exception of himself,) we may say uuiversally, employed. If he be so, be is, at least, utterly incompetent to define |