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dew of the night, in the day the drought has consumed them, and the frost by night, and sleep has departed from their eyes, whilst with holy anxiety, and incessant care, they have watched over the flock of God which he hath purchased with his own blood. And shall we, can we see the garden of the Lord forsaken, and the flock of Christ left without the care of its faithful under-shepherds, and not unfeignedly lament? Surely not!

Ŏur fathers in the church of Christ are the guides of our youth. Piety, prayer, meditation, an extensive acquaintance with the sacred oracles, with all the experience resulting from years of employment in God's service, eminently qualified them for imparting instruction to the warm-hearted, but inexperienced disciple of Jesus. In how many ordination sermons, in how many private instructions, have the youthful heralds of salvation been taught, warmed, admonished, and animated! Few had been called to engage in these services so frequently, as he whose death we now lament.

Nor is it to be overlooked, that we frequently observe the stations occupied by men eminent in the cause of Christ, left vacant for years after their removal. The work which one individual performed at the expense of ease, health, property, and life itself becomes a divided service, and, after all his most willing survivors can accomplish, his loss is severely felt for years subsequently to his death. But we are not to sit down in despair when afflictive be reavements thus visit us. Our compassion for souls, and zeal for their salvation, must be proportionately increased. Our diligence in the divine calling must abound, and with united and harmonious effort, must we attempt the discharge of those imperative duties we owe to

God and a fallen world. The God of our fathers' lives-his cause is our own. Who then is willing this day to consecrate himself to the Lord? Let him arise, and his God be with him!

Whilst high esteem for a friend so truly valuable, demands sincere grief on his removal; yet the death of such men as Dr. Ryland, furnishes abundant cause also for thanksgiving. Life had been long continued; services the most effcient had been performed; souls, not a few, had been brought under his ministry to the Saviour of men; and true religion has been gloriously adorned by the fruits of righteousness. He died in the bosom of his own family, in the enjoyment of a good hope through grace, and trusting in the God and Saviour, whose glory he was so solicitous to promote. Death triumphed over mortality, but thus was the everlasting felicity of his spirit consummated, and thus was he exalted to everlasting honour. Shipley, June 11, 1825.

ON

J. M.

Understanding a preached Gospel.

No part of our time is more important than that which is spent in hearing the gospel. It is then we are on trial for eternity. The reception which is given to it, will decide our final state. He who believes and follows it, will be saved; he who disregards and neglects it, will be lost for ever. The short space too, which is allotted to this exercise, renders it still more solemn. Compared to what is spent in business, in conversation, in recreation, and rest, how very contracted are the hours we pass in listening to those words, by which our salvation is secured. It is,

therefore, a matter of high concern, that every thing which tends to interrupt the impression intended to be made by the word, be removed; and that every thing which aids it should be fostered with peculiar

care.

The first prerequisite which is required in order to derive benefit from the preached word is, to understand it. The understanding is the leading faculty of the soul. Unless this be duly informed, no other operation of the mind can be under a correct influence. The will, the memory, the conscience, the affections, and the temper, are all moved by it. As every visible external object affects us by the eye, and without a clear vision, all the scenes of beauty and grandeur in the works of God, will produce no correct impression upon us: so if the intellectual part of man be blinded, or perverted, or misinformed, every other power of the mind will be liable to an improper bias. No doctrine of the Bible can affect us, unless it be in a measure understood. Truths, which are of the highest importance, which are ennobling and exciting, and consoling, will be addressed to us without effect, unless they are known and apprehended. Truths, which fill believers with joy unspeakable, and full of glory, which draw forth the hallelujahs and adorations of angels in heaven; and make guilty spirits in hell tremble, will, amidst the most impressive statements, be şit before mankind in vain, if they are not known, and realized, and have place in the human mind. Hence it is that so many persons sit under a faithful minister year after year without effect. They understand not the statements which are made in their hearing. It is not meant to be affirmed that this is the only obstacle to men's profiting by the word. It may be understood and

yet hated; the truth may be imprisoned in unrighteousness. But it is one reason why so many receive no spiritual benefit from the gospel of God. Thus our great Master in his parable of the sower explains the case of those who received the seed by the way side, "When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he that receiveth seed by the way side." Satan, that subtle and malicious foe of man, uses all his artifice to prevent our understanding the word, lest we should believe it, and obtain salvation. It is therefore necessary that we use every caution to counteract his endeavours. That we set our hearts to the things which are delivered to us; recollecting it is no vain thing, but our life is contained in it.

We need not, therefore, wonder that so much stress is laid on this subject in the scriptures. When Christ had been delivering his pa rables to the multitude, he thus addressed his immediate disciples: "Have ye understood all these things?" So when Philip accosted the Ethiopian eunuch it was in the following way: "Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him." Thus when Christ on his way to Emmaus, had been conversing with his friends, whose minds were dark, and perplexed, and full of unbelief, he thus addressed them: "O fools and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: and beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." Thus they describe the effect of those instructions: "Did

he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" "Then opened he their understanding that they might understand the scriptures."

not our heart burn within us while pel ministry, do not in any due manner understand the truths which are continually set before them. This is not the case only with the unconverted; but many of whom we hope well are like the Hebrews, "dull of hearing;" they know but little of what is delivered; and are thus deprived of many of the sanctifying and consolating effects which attend a deep and intimate acquaintance with divine truth. We are therefore naturally led to inquire into the reason of this. Is there not a cause? While so many Christians acquire such an eminence in spiritual understanding, how is it that multitudes seem never to increase in the knowledge of God?

It is no valid objection to these statements, that the gospel only becomes effectual to the salvation of men, by its being applied to the heart by the powerful agency of the Holy Spirit of God. We admit the important truth. But we derive from it a confirmation of the topic before us. For how does this blessed agent effect the mighty work? not certainly by presenting to us truths which are not contained in the word; but by enabling us to understand those which are read or heard. It is not by the revelation of a new gospel, but by the application of the old gospel, that we become new creatures in Christ Jesus, and grow and thrive in piety, The same truths convert the heart now, which operated on the three thousand on the day of Pentecost, -and the multitude in the apostolic age. The same views of the holiness of God, of the spirituality of the divine law, of the atoning sacrifice of Christ, of the invisible glories, or terrors of another world, are as effectual now in all those who believe, as they were when Paul preached them in Philippi, Thessalonica, or Rome. Whenever this divine and holy Being awakens the dead in sin, to a new and spiritual life, he orders the attention, and fixes the mind, on the great topics of the holy word; enables us to understand their meaning, and brings them home to our own case and condition. So that the very nature of his work implies the importance of understanding the word of God, and of using those efforts which tend to produce this desirable end,

It is, however, to be feared, that many who are favoured with a gos

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Now it is not improbable that there are three sources of this deficiency. 1. The first arises from the nature of the truths which are contained in the word of God. We all know that the gospel contains many truths which are plain and easy; and others which are deep and obscure. It has its rudiments, or first principles, which stand at the head of the instructions that are delivered; and it has its more recondite and secret mysteries that are hid in the volume. Like Ezekiel's river, it is ancle deep, and knee deep, till at length it swells into an immense water, which "could not be passed over." It has depths in it where an elephant may swim, and shallows in which a lamb may wade. Now the ministers of the gospel have to unfold to you the whole counsel of God. And while they will dwell much on those things which are plain and obvious, they will feel it requisite occasionally to set before you the deep things of God. Though it be fit to dwell much on the first principle of the doctrines of Christ, they will not stop here, but will lead you onward to perfection. He must not only prepare milk for babes, but

strong meat for those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Now it will necessarily result from this, that those of our hearers who pay but little attention to the divine word, will only be able to comprehend the most obvious doctrines which are set before them. When we advance beyond the alphabet of the Christian system, they will find themselves unable to follow us, and will often complain of our intricacies and dryness when delivering topics which have been laboured with extraordinary care, and cost us much assiduous persevering diligence to bring before the people. If hearers, who are the most attentive, and devout, and reflecting, find that many of the topics which are set before them are a mighty deep; is it any wonder that many are but little instructed by the things new and old which we bring from the treasury of God's holy word?

2. The second source of the small degree of understanding in the divine word which is so lamentably prevalent, may arise from the deficiencies of the ministers of that word. There is a close connection between the teacher and those that are taught. If the tutor be dull of understanding, so will be his pupils. If he be able to communicate but little, they will receive but little. We have reason to take to ourselves a portion of the guilt our hearers contract, in profiting so little under the means of grace. We speak not of those graceless ministers who are blind guides, leading the blind, both of whom will fall into the ditch; but of those who are good stewards, and faithful ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ. How few possess that union of talent which is requisite to command, and reward attentiou. How seldom do we see embodied in those who proclaim the truth, a vigorous understanding, a

discriminating judgment, a capacious memory, deep feeling, and imposing statements. How often are we sluggish in our preparations in the study, and come not before you with that preceding labour and care which is desirable when we have topics of such infinite moment to set before you. And, if we have exerted all requisite preparatory di ligence, how frequently is it marred and spoiled by the frame of our mind in delivering it. A sermon carefully studied is a different thing before an audience, according to the feelings of the speaker in preaching it. We are often assailed with doubts, fears, trials, perplexities, and discouragements, which you little think of. Whatever be our feelings, whether of joy or sorrow, we must be at our regular post of labour. When at a prayer-meeting the brethren address God on behalf of each other, if they feel a bigh degree of indisposedness to the work they can decline the invitation given them. Such is not our case. Here we must be. Here we must go through the allotted services. We do not complain of this. It is inseparable from the work in which we are engaged. But we, on this account bespeak your candour, amidst our visible deficiencies, and beg your prayers on our behalf, that we may speak as we ought to speak

that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified.

3. The last reason we assign is, the sluggishness of those who hear the Gospel. Much, doubtless, may be attributed to the previous cause, but it cannot all be placed here. The best, the wisest, the most diligent tutor cannot advance his pupil in wisdom and knowledge, except there be diligence in the pupil himself. The clearest rudiments, the most eloquent dissertations, will in vain be set before him who refuses to lend a listening ear, or to trea

sure up the instruction he receives in his memory. The effect produced will be very similar to that of him who plays music to the deaf, or presents scenes of beauty and grandeur before the blind. Now it is too evident that many who hear the gospel are of this stamp. They are described by Christ as those who having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, neither do they understand. They approach the house of God without any fixed end in view; they seek not that Divine illumination which is requisite to enable them to receive the truth in the love of it; they fix not their minds attentively to what is spoken while in the act of hearing; their hearts are engaged on any topic rather than what is set before them, wandering, like the fool's eye, to the end of the earth; seldom or never returning to reflect on what has occupied others. Is it any wonder they do not understand?-that they are so deficient in their knowledge of subjects of unutterable importance-that after so many years of instruction, they are not able to advance beyond the first principles of the doctrine of Christ? It is a most deplorable fact. To see topics of the most important nature thrown by, as unworthy of serious reflection the greatest blessings slighted as beneath our regard truths which were issued by God himself to man, either in the thunder and lightning of Sinai, or amidst the melting groans of Calvary, are yet derided and set at naught. Thus to despise our own mercies, to deprive ourselves of spiritual profit, to neglect the realities of eternity, out of a regard to the trifles of time, is what should humble us before God, and call forth that penitential sorrow and holy resolution which is requisite in order to obtain forgiveness for the past, and amendment for the future.

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Let us then regard the advice of

the God of Heaven, who says, " If any man hath an ear to hear, let him hear."-"We ought to give the more attentive heed to the things which are spoken, lest at any time we should let them slip." Before we enter the house of God, let us seek that preparedness of heart, by reflection and prayer, which is requisite to dispose us to listen with seriousness and holy fear. While we are there, let us remember that we are in the presence of God; that we are engaged in the business of our salvation. Let us hear as for eternity; as though we had a crown of inestimable value to win or to lose. On leaving it, let us retire and ponder over the word. Let us treasure it up in our hearts as a preservative from sin, as a source of continual comfort and joy. So shall our improvement in religion bear a proportion to the means with which we are favoured. So shall we proceed in the ways of the Lord, till we arrive at that world where no darkness shall obscure the understanding, nor perverseness domineer over the affections; where we shall see every object clearly in the light of God, and be completely changed into his image, from glory to glory.

Luton.

B. D.

Baptists' Register of Births.

To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine. SIR,

I write this to urge upon Dissenters, and Baptists in particular, to take immediate steps, to endeavour to obtain some alteration in the law respecting Dissenters' Registers. It appears to me in this instance, as in a great many others, that the universality of the subject, instead of exciting energy, rather produces laxity: and to this subject the old proverb

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