burn those that refused to receive Christ. It is not to be doubted but this was as great a crime as now to be in an error concerning the faith and doctrine of Christ. That there was not power wanting to have punished those refusers of Christ, cannot be doubted; for they that could do other miracles might have done this also. And moreover, they wanted not the precedent of a holy man under the law, as did Elias-yet we see what Christ saith to them-Ye know not what spirit ye are of; for the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. Here Christ shows that such kind of zeal was no ways approved by him; and such as think to make way for Christ, or his Gospel, by this means, do not understand what spirit they are of. But if it was not lawful to call for fire from heaven to destroy such as refused to receive Christ, it is far less lawful to kindle fire upon earth to destroy those that believe in Christ, because they will not believe, nor can believe, as the magistrates do, for conscience sake. And if it was not lawful for the apostles, who had so large a measure of the spirit, and were so little liable to mistake, to force others to their judgment— it can be far less lawful now for men that, as experience declareth, and many of themselves confess, are fallible, and often mistaken, to kill and destroy all such as cannot, because otherwise persuaded in their minds, judge, and believe in matters of conscience, just as they do. And if it was not according to the wisdom of Christ, who was and is, King of kings, by outward force to constrain

others to believe in him or receive him, as being a thing inconsistent with the nature of his ministry and spiritual government, do not they grossly offend him that will needs be wiser than he, and think to force men, against their persuasion, to conform to their doctrine and worship? The word of the Lord said, not by power and by might, but by the spirit of the Lord; but these say, not by the spirit of the Lord, but by might and carnal power.

Apology for the Quakers.

ROBERT BARCLAY was born, 1648, at Edinburgh; he was educated at Paris, and his father finding attempts were made to convert him to the Catholic religion, had him back to Scotland; he made considerable progress in his learning. His father meeting with George Fox, became Quaker, and the son soon followed him. Robert became very zealous and active in his new profession. He travelled with the celebrated William Penn through England, Holland, and Germany, diffusing abroad his principles, both propagating what they deemed the cause of truth! Barclay was an excellent private as well as public character, a pure philanthropist, and valuable member of the community. He died at Uri in Scotland, 1691, in the forty-third year of his age. He sent forth many publications, but the chief is his Apology for the true Christian Divinity, as preached by the Quakers. This treatise is ably written; and the sect in whose behalf it is written know its value; they even at this day distribute it through

the world. It is by far the clearest exposition of the principles of the Friends-not even Penn's works excepted! It may be denominated, on account of its fullness and extent, The Quakers' Body of Divinity.

59.

WILLIAM BATES, D.D.

DIED 1699.

WE are commanded, above all things, to have fervent charity among ourselves. This principally respects Christians, who are united by so many sacred and amiable bands, as being formed of the same eternal seed, children of the same heavenly Father, and joint heirs of the same glorious inheritance. Christian charity hath a more noble principle than the affections of nature; for it proceeds from the love of God, shed abroad in believers, to make them one heart and one soul, and from a more divine pattern, the example of Christ, who hath by his sufferings restored us to the favour of God, that we should love one another even as he hath loved us. This duty is most strictly enjoined, for without love, angelical eloquence is but an empty noise (1 Cor. xiii.) and all other virtues have but a false lustre: prophesy, faith, knowledge, miracles, the highest outward acts of charity or self-denial, the giving our estates to the poor, or bodies to martyrdom, are

neither pleasing to God, nor profitable to him that does them.

It is not the most strict observance of serious trifles, nor submitting to rigorous austerities, that ennobles human nature, and commends us to God. The most zealous performers of things indifferent, and that chastise themselves with a bloody discipline, labour for nothing, and may pass to hell through purgatory; but the religion of Christ reforms the understanding and will, and all the actions depending on them; it chases away error, and vice, and hatred, and sheds abroad light and love, purity and peace, and forms on earth a lively representation of that pure society that is in heaven!

Harmony of the Divine Attributes.

WILLIAM BATES was born, 1625, and educated at Cambridge. Soon after the Restoration he was appointed chaplain to Charles II., and minister of St. Dunstan's in the West, but ejected thence by the cruel Act of Uniformity. He was one of the Commissioners of the Savoy for revising the public Liturgy; he was engaged also with Baxter and others in settling certain disputed points with the established church; he was honoured with the friendship of Lord-Keeper Bridgman, Lord-Chancellor Finch, the Earl of Nottingham, and Archbishop Tillotson; he refused the Deanery of Coventry and Litchfield, and Dr. Bellamy says he might have been raised to any bishopric in the kingdom; upon the Revolution, 1688, he addressed King Wil

liam, at the head of the dissenting ministers, in an elegant and impressive speech, glowing with all the ardour of civil and religious liberty! It is said that his Majesty entertained a regard for him, and his royal consort, Mary, was partial to his works. He latterly resided at Hackney, where he died, 1699, aged seventy-three years. A moderate man, and a polite scholar, he was esteemed by all parties, endeavouring not to widen but to heal the breaches between Churchmen and Dissenters! His works, collected into one volume, Folio, consist of Discourses on the Divine Attributes, and other important Subjects. He was remarkable for a pleasing style, having studied the Belles Lettres as well as Theology.

60.

JOHN HOWE, A. M.

AUTHOR OF THE LIVING TEMPLE.-DIED 1705.

How little any of us know, or are capable of knowing, in this our present state! And they that think they know most, or are most conceited of their own knowledge, know nothing as they ought to know. They that are most apt to contend, do, most of all, fight in the dark. It is too possible there may be much knowledge without love. How little such knowledge is worth! It profits nothing. It hurts, puffs up, when love edifies. The devils know more than any of us; while their want of