when attempting to unravel the tangled and intricate web of providence; and our conclusion is, alas! too frequently the same as theirs. The instinct of the smallest insect approaches infinitely nearer to the intellect of man, than the latter can possibly approximate to the infinite omniscience of God. and genuine christian philanthropy | they cannot reconcile it. Whatto all his fellow-creatures. This ever we might think of such an man's religion is built upon "the anomaly, it is precisely our case, rock of ages." The storm may howl around him-it will only heighten his piety and gratitude to the God of all mercies-it will only increase his exertions that others may attain that peace and hope of which he himself is the happy partaker-such is the blessed effect of the religion of the Son of God-that religion against which the ridicule and shallow sophistry of the sceptic is directed, but will never be able to prevail. There are mysteries, however, in our religion. It is not fully developed to us in all its parts and ramifications. Yet we know enough to make us happier and better-to inspire us with lively hope and confidence towards God. And shall we reject that, the effects of which are so salutary and valuable, because we cannot bring down the whole of its sublimities to our feeble and limited capacities? Shall we spurn at "peace on earth and goodwill towards men," because we heard not the voice of the seraph that proclaimed it? A few considerations, I trust, may serve to point out the folly as well as the impiety of such a procedure. There is a gradation in the whole scale of intellect. We may trace it, from the lowest and meanest insect, to the Omniscient Mind-from the smallest particle of instinct, in animals, to the reason of man-from the knowledge of angels, to the wisdom of God, which indeed passeth knowledge. Let us conceive for a moment, that the following case were every way possible that we could one day hear two of the minutest of the animal creation confounding their instincts (or faculties, as an ingenious phisiologist of our own day would stoutly maintain) in endeavouring to settle a knotty point in philosophy-and finally agreeing that such a thing cannot be, because Let us suppose another case"The wind bloweth where it listeth, but we know not whence it cometh, or whether it goeth." Its effects are continually present to our view. Whether scenes of desolation and death are its consequences, or the revival of languid and drooping nature its effect, we know there is a cause. And because I cannot see this cause, shall I maintain that there cannot be one?—that it implies a contradiction?-because I cannot grasp the wind in the hollow of my hand, shall I doubt its existence, and not subject myself to the charge of insanity? But why need we press the illustration further? Cases innumerable might be produced, in which the mind of man is totally lost and confounded. In natural philosophy, in astronomy, in chemistry, in botany, in almost every science, there are mysteries which cannot be developed, even by those whose life and talents have been spent in the attempt. In mechanics it is the same. How often do we see a piece of machinery constructed in such a manner as completely to confound and baffle every effort to understand it. This does not, however, prevent us from allowing that the instrument is admirably adapted to its end-We cease not to be astonished at the consummate skill and ingenuity of the inventor, though he be merely our fellow mortal. After having elevated our minds to the noblest and most difficult of 168 ON SUBMISSION TO THE MYSTERIES OF REVELATION. tenant of the grave. The leaves of autumn will fall, rustling and mournful, on that spot-emblem how striking of his fate, who once trod with pride upon the dust which now covers him! Winter's dreary snow shall cover that neglected spot, and nourish into existence the green herb that springs from his ashes. "Spring, too, shall return, but not a leaf of his shall arise." Oh! that we duly considered this—that we thought more upon our latter end! The recollection of our mortality would. abase the pride of human reason, and lead us to bow with resignation and praise to the decrees of the Almighty, and to rejoice in the ground of confidence and hope that is laid for us in Jesus Christ. Our aim would then be to be Christians indeed! that is, not merely to believe in the Saviour, but to study to imitate that pattern of infinite excellence and exuberant goodness. Is it not enough sciences-that on which the discovery of a Newton and a La Place have thrown so much light (enough, and more than enough, to fill us with the profoundest wonder, admiration, and reverence of the great Creator, were our hearts at all susceptible of such impressions), would it be rational, would it be excusable, to reject the system of astronomy as a daydream, because we cannot mount to the third heavens and view from the throne of God, and with the eternal Mind, myriads of worlds as they roll beneath us? The vast machinery of the universe, we cannot doubt, is in every part most completely fitted and adapted to its end. To us, indeed, it teems with mystery, and is the subject of unceasing wonder. But let us not forget, that we, too, are "fearfully and wonderfully made"-that each human being is a most profound mystery to his own mind; and when foolishly and impiously murmuring that our understanding to cheer us in our sorrowful pilcannot grasp all the intricacies of nature and providence, may this truth forcibly occur to us, "That we do not know ourselves." How little, then, does it become such beings to cavil and to doubt, because they cannot pierce the awful mist that hangs around the designs of infinite Wisdom? He who flutters but for one day in the sunbeam of existence, for the shades of evening speedily close around, and oh! how quickly does he mingle with the things that have been! Though we do not require to be told, yet we cannot be too frequently reminded of the uncertainty and shortness of man's appointed time here below. "Thou, O Lord, changest his countenance and sendest him away." He drops the mask of mortality, and retires from life's great drama. The summer sun will shine in brightness on the spot where he lies low and forgotten; but its beams will give neither light nor heat to the lonely grimage here to know, that the Son of God wandered in this desert "a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief," to seek and to save that which was lost? As we journey towards another and brighter state of existence, the clouds which dimmed our reason will, by the light of revelation, be dispersed; the sun which has guided us through the rugged: path that we have trodden, will then shine with a clearer and more steady lustre, till it burst at last in its fullest splendour on our astonished view, when we are completely freed from the shackles of mortality. But even were Christianity unsupported by such a mass of evidence; did the wise of this world conspire in one body to treat it as a fable, and its author as an impostor, the writer of this paper would cling to the tree while a single branch remained; for there is something in its hopes so de SCRIPTURAL REMEDY FOR A WOUNDED CONSCIENCE. 169 lightful; in its precepts so exalted | of the divine threatening with which and divine; and in all its doctrines it is sanctioned, "the soul that sinso admirably adapted to man's neth, it shall die;"-"Cursed is condition-so worthy of God, that every one that continueth not in his belief would still remain un- all things written in the book of the shaken. law to do them;" such persons are incapable of estimating the exceeding sinfulness of sin, or the value of the remedy provided for it. Indeed it is to be feared that thousands of our fellow-creatures are thus deluding themselves with vain imaginations respecting the safety of their state, crying, Peace, peace, unto themselves, though they walk after the devices of their own hearts. Yet there are particular times and seasons in the lives of most men Instead, therefore, of wasting our fleeting moments, in the vain attempt to discover what it was never intended we should know here, let us mind those things which concern our peace, ere they too be for ever hid from our eyes. W. V. THE SCRIPTURAL REMEDY FOR To the Editor of the New Evangelical when, notwithstanding all the pains Magazine. SIR, that may be exerted to stifle the convictions of an accusing conscience and dissipate the unwelcome intruder, the inquiry will return, "What shall I do to be saved?” This is particularly the case when any sudden and unexpected calamity puts them in danger of losing their lives, such as the shock of an earthquake; the ravages of a pestilence; a time of sickness, or the near prospect of death. Of the reality of this terrible state we have many instances recorded in Scripture. Such was that of the Jews, on the day of Pentecost, who had been guilty of crucifying "the Lord of glory," Acts ii. 37. and such also was the case of the jailor at Philippi, ch. xvi. 30. I might likewise mention that of Paul himself, when he was intercepted on his way to Damascus, and stopped in his furious career of persecuting the disciples of Christ, ch. ix. 1-6. By a wounded conscience, I understand one that is awakened to a sense of its danger, arising from deep convictions of guilt, and filled with alarming apprehensions of the wrath of God, as a Being of infinite purity and holiness, in whose sight the wicked shall not stand, and who hateth all the workers of iniquity. I know that there are Now although there may and do numbers passing under the christian exist partial differences amongst name, who would regard such a the fallen race of Adam, in regard state of mind as the effect of re- to human depravity and the mealigious melancholy, or perhaps of a sure of actual gui!t; yet it is certain disordered imagination: for, hav-that the Scriptures suppose all men ing themselves never been led to to be sinners, and to be in one see the extent and purity of the common state of condemnation; divine law, as reaching to the very consequently they exhibit only one thoughts of the heart; nor yet se- remedy, one common ground of riously to consider the full import | hope, one way of escape from the VOL. I. Z 170 SCRIPTURAL REMEDY FOR A WOUNDED CONSCIENCE. "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Rom. i. 4. But a most important question still presses itself upon our consideration: "How shall a sinner, whose conscience is burdened with a sense of guilt, enjoy that relief which the blood of Christ is calcu wrath to come, revealed for the relief of all the human race; and that is "the divine blood of the Son of God, which was shed upon Mount Calvary, for the remission of the sins of many." Matt. xxvi. 28. John x. 15. 1 John i. 8. By this the true atonement was made, Heb. ix. 26. Rom. v. 11. Through the all-lated to afford?" or, to place the perfect sacrifice of Christ, or the subject under another view, "What laying down of his life for sinners, do the Scriptures direct such an one the new and everlasting covenant to do, in order to become interested was ratified and confirmed. Heb. in the benefits of Christ's death ?" viii. 6. and xiii. 20. When Christ, To this the answer is, that they do through the eternal Spirit, offered not call upon him to perform any up himself unto God, a victim to work, either of body or mind, in divine justice, he expiated sin and order to the attainment of that redeemed his people from the curse blessing, for salvation in all its parts of the divine law, Gal. iii. 13. is entirely of grace; their uniform Ephes. i. 7. made peace by the language is, "Believe on the Lord blood of his cross, Col. i. 20. And Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be hence the song of the redeemed, saved." Acts xvi. 31. "If thou "Thou art worthy, for thou wast shalt confess with thy mouth the slain, and hast redeemed us to God Lord Jesus, and believe in thine by thy blood." Rev. v. 9. This is heart that God hath raised him from the remedy which Infinite Wisdom the dead, thou shalt be saved-for devised to retrieve us from the whosoever shall call upon the name ruins of the fall, and which Al- of the Lord shall be saved." Rom. mighty Love hath provided, in x. 9-13. Hence the gracious lanorder to restore guilty mortals to guage of the divine Saviour, "Come the favour of God here, and to the unto me, all ye that labour and are enjoyment of glory, honour, and heavy laden, and I will give you immortality, even eternal life in the rest." Matt. xi. 28. The blessings world to come. of the gospel are often exhibited to us in scripture under the similitude of a feast, to which all sorts of sinners, the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind, are invited in the most free and generous manner to come, and to partake of them without money and without price, Isa. Iv. 1, 2. Matt. xxii. 2-4. Luke xiv. 16-22. Many christian teachers, indeed, have clouded the glorious gospel of Christ in the view of the guilty and self-condemned, by Of this remedy I remark, that it is all-sufficient to answer every purpose for which it was designed, or of which the chief of sinners can possibly stand in need. By it, the law is magnified and made honour able; the justice of God is fully satisfied; Heaven is well-pleased; all which delightful truths are clearly evinced by the resurrection of Christ from the death. For when we consider HIM as the substitute and representative of sinners, hav-their unscriptural notions of faith, ing their accumulated guilt charged to his account, according to Isa. liii. 6. 1 Pet. ii. 24. Rom. iv. 25. we behold him dying under the wrath of God, a victim to divine justice; and what then is the import of his resurrection from the dead, but the voice of Heaven plainly declaring, and by insisting upon certain prerequisites to be performed in order to a participation of the blessings of pardon, peace, justification, and the hope of eternal life; but the Scriptures teach a very different lesson. What, for example, can exceed the riches and freedom of divine grace displayed in such pas'sages as the following: "Incline your ear and come unto me; hear and your soul shall live." Isa. lv. 3. "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else.". Isa. xlv. 22. "As Moses lifted up the 'serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." -John iii. 14, 15. "This is life eter'nal, to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." John xvii. 3. In short, if we carefully examine the Scriptures of the New Testament, we shall find that it was the 'great object of the ministry of the apostles and first preachers of the word to exhibit the atoning blood of Christ as a sovereign, free, and immediate remedy against despair, to the very chief of sinners; they declared its perfection and all-sufficiency; calling upon all sorts of men to believe in it, or to credit their testimony concerning it; and those who through grace did, were thereby immediately filled with peace and joy. Acts ii. 41. viii. 5, 8, 39. xiii. 52. And it is plain that their joy sprang not from any thing about themselves, but from that which they believed concerning Christ; as delivered for the offences yourselves whether ye be in the faith." It may be proper, before these remarks are closed, to add, that it is very possible for one who has enjoyed much consolation from the gospel to fall into sin, through the prevalence of temptation, and his own want of circumspection; and when that is the case, he must necessarily lose that enjoyment; his mind will be filled with darkness; and his conscience oppressed with guilt. Under such circumstances, it is in vain for him to expect to renew his comfort by reflecting upon his past experience. The same glorious truth, namely, the sufficiency of the blood of Christ to put away sin, is that to which he must again have recourse; and any temporary relief which he may gain from any other quarter, will only prove de lusive and visionary; he must go back to that which at first relieved him, when sitting in darkness and the shadow of death. Such, at least, are the views which I have of this important matter, and which I submit with deference to the consideration of your readers, and am, Yours respectfully, Walworth, May 1815. SENEX. THE INNOCENCE OF CHRIST'S CHARACTER. No truth is more easily admitted, of the guilty, and raised again for or of more general importance, their justification. This divine re-than the perfect innocence and medy still possesses all its native energy, and if our belief in it do not produce the same blessed effects upon ourselves, it must arise from our not having the same clear apprehension of its infinite dignity and worth that the first Christians had; the same view of the almighty Saviour, the divine dignity of his person, and the value of his atonement; it must be owing to some radical mistake in our minds concerning these important things; and therefore it behoves us, when that is the case, to take home the apostolic exhortation, "Examine purity of our Lord and Saviour. It is a truth so fully expressed, so constantly implied in the sacred writings, and of such obvious necessity to the whole scheme of christian doctrine, that we scarcely ever think of looking for the evidence by which it is supported; and yet it might heighten our satisfection to recollect and to review that evidence, as tending to establish the foundation of all our hopes, and offering some of the purest motives for our love and admiration. Those who deny the deity of our Saviour, are ever for |