God." In this nature hath he subjected himself to do the work for which he was sent, and thus shall he deliver up the kingdom to God, that is, shall present the whole body of the redeemed, which are the constituent members of that kingdom, justified, raised, and ready for complete glorfication of soul and body. The ends of Sonship being answered, he shall return to that glory which he had before the world was. The sense of the passage might not be injured if it were thus translated, "that he may be God all in all.

Such is the awful conclusion ordained by the everlasting God, the ancient of days; the period of which consummation is with propriety called the day of the Lord; a day which for its magnitude, importance, and consequence, we may presume God is ever looking to, which the revolutions of time are hastily accelerating-it is declared to awaken, alarm, and prepare. God vouchsafes the prospect that it may be ours; for in it we are especially and inevitably concerned; and surely it is impossible that we should have thus the mind of God, but we must have discovered the vanity, transitoriness, and empty nature of all that is mortal; human grandeur and felicity, even connections, interest, and engagements, must lose their wonted supremacy; and this becomes our wisdom not to look at the things which are seen, because they are temporal, but at the things which are not seen, because they are eternal.

But somewhat far beyond a philosophical elevation of soul is necessary ere we can admire and dare to rejoice in the end of this earthly state and nature. The enemies of Christ must become our enemies by a genuine conversion of soul and renovation of heart. Sin, that mortal depravity, that innate contrariety to God, and alienation from him, ever working transgression against the divine law, which is indeed a transcript of the divine nature, must become abominable, vile, loathsome, and detestable in our estimation. We must absolutely abhor ourselves, and experiencing as well as avowing our criminality, having the sentence of death by the law within ourselves, must have fled for refuge from the wrath to come to the bleeding Mediator and dying Saviour. We must by faith have tasted that the Lord is gracious, found life in Christ, be justified by faith, before we can look with confidence to the judgment that is at hand. We must have the vital influence of the Holy Spirit within us, as a teacher, confirming the word and promises, reforming and purifying our nature, rendering the body of sin a burden and death, therefore desirable as a release from sin, and an introduction to that holy rest which remaineth for the people of God.

FRAGMENT.

Self loathing renders Christ precious: the more we grow out of self, the more we grow into Jesus; tired of our works and duties, we learn to value his righteousness.

REVIEW.

Adoption founded upon Predestination, a Sermon preached at Birmingham. By the Rev. W. Nunn, 8vo. pp. 18. Manchester

H. Smith. London, Palmer.

We noticed some few months back, a Sermon by this author on the Righteous Operations of God; and the same approbation which was then expressed, may be renewed even in a larger degree in reference to the one before us. Mr. Nunn excels in the very concise and comprehensive manner in which he develops the grand and fundamental doctrines of the gospel; and in this Sermon particularly discourses with much plainness upon a subject, which too many when professing to explain darken with a multitude of words. The text is from Eph. i. 5. The author commences with a simile which he speedily bends to the introduction of his subject; he then divides it into three distinct branches, of which, though almost too long for our space, we shall extract the final close of the second; our readers will we are certain peruse this with satisfaction, and it will, we hope, induce them to read the whole.

"Those who are chosen unto eternal life, in time come under the regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit, whereby they are quickened unto a life of faith; and because of their acceptance in Christ before the foundation of the world, they are made partakers of the divine nature, as saith the apostle, "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father," Gal. iv. 6. ; whereby we closely perceive that the constitution of sonship precedes the gift of the Holy Spirit. Then it is that new powers and properties are communicated, and the soul heretofore dead to God and alive only to the things that are earthly and sensual and devilish, becomes the receptacle for holy affections, drawing the heart to high and heavenly things. The spiritual capacities with which the regenerate are endowed do prove their existence. Then the eyes of the understanding being enlightened, the mysteries of redeeming love are clearly apprehended in all their design, arrangement, and consummation; and the Spirit which "teacheth all things, yea, the deep things of God," 1 Cor. ii. 10., leads the soul into a saving knowledge of the whole council of God. Such an apprehension of eternal truth tends to the purifying the soul from indwelling corruption, and is effectual unto the production of the fruits of the Spirit, bearing testimony to the believer's union with Christ, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Rom. viii. 14. All spiritual capacities are, by those who partake of them, ascribed entirely to the operation of the Spirit alone. As well might we imagine ourselves capable of making a ray of light equal to some shining beam of a summer's sun, and cast it across the gloom of midnight, as to suppose we have any ability to enlighten our own understanding; as well imagine ourselves able to make a blade of grass sparkling under the dews of heaven, as to produce of ourselves the spiritual handy-work of God. There is, moreover, a lively testimony of the power of Christ in the grace of adoption, by the unison of soul with which the called of God pursue their heavenly vocation. Their endeavour is "to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace," Eph. iv. 3. And although respecting the outward forms of religion there may be VOL. XIII. No. 159.]

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differences of opinion, yet in the fundamental truths of salvation, such as personal election, effectual calling, &c. we are cordially agreed; and our common interest, the spiritual prosperity of the church of Christ, animates the whole body; which union of soul arises from our mutual and equal participation in the favour of our covenant Jehovah, so that we can say, "Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ,' 1 John i. 3. The manifold trials to which the righteous are subject will prove the necessity of their adoption being secured by covenant grace, as set forth in the official undertakings of the Lord Jesus, and proved by the revivings of his grace within them. Exposed to perpetual temptations from the world around them, and tried by internal conflicts unknown to the unregenerate, how great the necessity of being kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation! It is not so much against the righteous themselves that Satan with infernal hatred exercises his deadly influence, as it is against the grace of God within them that his enmity is directed. It is not so much that he hates us, as that he hates Christ in us. Oh how supporting and encouraging the conviction that all his powers are incapable of separating us from him in whom by final union we are blest for ever. The doctrine of final perseverance and assurance of conquest over all our spiritual enemies is rejected by most, and is of little esteem among many professors to be followers of him who is gone forth conquering and to conquer; but tell me of two soldiers advancing in the field of battle, which will enter most valiantly into the engagement? He who is doubtful of the vcitory, or he who is assured he will obtain a com.. plete conquest? Certainly the latter, and thus through faith in the promises of God, and conscious of our having his protection we press onward, Rom, viii. 16, 17. And thus we have an eternal inheritance which cannot be limited by time-such is the security of our adoption."

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Mr. Nunn occupies so important a station in the populous city. of Manchester, that it will be matter of much rejoicing as well as thankfulness in the heart of every true child of God, that he is so highly favoured with the teachings of the Holy Ghost. While so many from the tenderness of an awakened conscience are compelled -and far be it from us to utter a word which shall prevent themto forsake longer ministration in the national church, we may allowed to rejoice that there are still some, eminently useful, eminently taught, and gracious characters, who can still see it in their path of duty to remain watering souls in the same place where God met with them and refreshed them. God is not confined to forms, neither is his blessing limited within the bounds of human bigotry; and far away as the preachings of many in the Establishment are from the truth, and widely as many wander into every maze of folly and of error, we do still believe, that for the sake of those few names written in Sardis, God will still protect and bless, and not suffer the machinations of mistaken or open enemies to effect its overthrow, for it will be a dark day for England when the exuberancy of an uncurbed liberalism shall cause her, from the plea lest she should prescribe how to acknowledge God, to cease acknowledging him altogether.

The Faith of God's Elect, as set forth in the word of the truth of the Gospel. By J. W. Gowring, B. A. Minister of St. Matthew

Church, Liverpool, 12mo. pp. 24. Liverpool, Law. London, Palmer.

Here is another minister in that church, of which so many in this day love to say evil things and bitter, of whom it may be said, "he is a seribe well instructed." Our readers will do well to procure this tract; it is plainly and scripturally written, and well adapted to edification.

1. Christ's Personal Reign upon the Earth for a Thousand Years; a Poem, with introductory observations. By J. K. Pelly. 12mo. pp. 36. London, Palmer and Son.

2. The Latter Days and Signs of the Times; an exemplification of Scripture Prophecy. By T. F. 18mo. pp. 36. London, Palmers'.

That a period is expressly mentioned in holy scripture, when for a thousand years Satan shall be bound, and by the greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit the gospel shall have free course, so that as it is emphatically represented " a nation shall be born in one day," no reader of the Bible will hesitate to admit; he rejoices in the prospect of the latter day of glory, when" at eventide it shall be light," as much as those can do who bring earthly things to illustrate the subject. But the humble and sober reader of prophecy will do well to shun the inflated statements of modern Unitarians. There is something so exciting to the flesh, aye, and even to a regenerate man's spirit also, in the thought that his Lord will come visibly, and reign visibly, and be a mighty conqueror, where he was once a carpenter's son, that too many embrace the sentiment from the joy with which the excitement has filled them; and then they go to their Bibles, not so much like the Bereans, to see if these things be so, but to search out passages which shall buttress up this, their already adopted theory. To accomplish this, they tell you this passage must be taken literally; and the next verse, it may be, though evidently in the same context, is to be regarded metaphorically; and thus, too frequently, many of the Lord's children are led by the enemy of their souls, into a labyrinth, ending in a wilderness of soul-desertion, barrenness, and darkness. That Christ will come again visibly a second time is plainly revealed, but there is no revelation of a third coming; and we know from the same unerring standard, that he will come to judge the world, which must therefore be at his second and final coming. Let the children of God then be more anxious to be ready at his coming with oil in their lamps, than to ramble into profitless speculations respecting the times and the seasons which no man knoweth, but which God hath kept in his own hand.

The first of these is the overflowings of a mind thus excited, in not very poetical verse. The second, enters historically into the

subject, and shews the author to have read and digested many volumes; more, however, with a view to defend his favourite theory, than to follow truth wherever truth might lead; and his fault is the fault of most writers upon the subject, as we have before said.

A Free Word of Exhortation and Affectionate Appeal. By I. F. Emmett, 12mo. pp. 148. London, Palmer and Son.

Whatever may be the contents of this bulky pamphlet, certainly it shews the author to be possessed of much liberality, and real zeal in the cause he advocates. Here are 148 pages for twopence ; not we should suppose one quarter of the actual cost; but this, though very praiseworthy, must not deter us from giving our unbiassed opinions of the work.

We noticed some time back a piece by this author, called “Tekel." This is simply a further illustration; and another urgent appeal on behalf of the same sentiment. It is in reference to the present departure of even spiritual worshippers of the Most High God from the author's view of scriptural and primitive discipline. That such departure exists must be admitted by most, and perhaps at its early stages one of the chief attractions which gathered numerous votaries around the shrine of the idol of Irvingism was the apparent return to apostolic order, which that antichrist professed to exhibit alas, too evidently however, as time has proved, only as a line of Satan to entrap souls into destruction. And we must confess that, however much we shall come under the censure of this author, as denominating it " a little matter, 33 66 a slight thing," and so on, we cannot lay the stress upon these things which he would have us. To our view it ranks itself very much with those who attended so rigidly to the paying tithe of mint, anise, and cummin, and neglected the weightier things of the law; "for he is not a Jew that is one outwardly, and circumcision is not of the flesh, but of the Spirit."

He that wastes all his energies in battling about forms of church government, seems to us like a general on the eve of a battle haranguing his soldiers on the importance of wearing an epaulet, or any other distinctive mark on the left instead of the right shoulder, when he should be urging them on to fight valiantly for the cause in which they are engaged. And what in this militant state are we but soldiers! Oh, let us not spend our strength in fighting with each other, from a vain desire of seeing all our regimentals of the same cut and color: let us, while on the battle field, forget all these little differences; and when we recognize in each other allegiance to the same captain, think then only of the foe and the conflict and the victory, confident that when pavilioned in glory, we shall then, however our badges may differ now, be clothed in the same white robe, wear all alike crowns of gold, sit on the same thrones, touch