adopted as the ground of your justification with God? Be assured the hour of death, come it slowly or suddenly, will try the ground of your confidence closely; and remember, the word of the God you seek has already declared, that by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight. What, if the fancied merit of your sanctification fail you in the sight of Him, before whom the very heavens are not clean! It was a solemn lesson to be learned at the side of our dying friend, as the conviction that death had indeed come, gathered over the failing heart, when, after a life of blameless devotion to duty very seldom equalled, the demerit of her own righteousness left her only with the cry of the publican, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" And has, with this human confession of doctrine as connected with it, the Church grown upon your eye, till an abstract idea stands between you and your God, and the associated emblems of the Sacraments are exalted into a Romish prominency, becoming, instead of associated means in their symbolical character, themselves the objects of superstitious veneration, as almost the saviour and the spirit to your souls? Oh! take heed lest you make to yourself stepping-stones into eternal darkness, instead of standing on the only sure foundation-stone laid in Zion, the salvation in and through Christ Jesus alone! Examine the articles of the faith once delivered to the saints, and study the acts of the primitive Church in its apostolic model of doctrine and discipline, as revealed in the word of God.

And, lastly, to the real Christian, with whom these pages began, and for whom they were especially written. If their humble and feeble instrumentality shall be the means of stirring up but one slumbering Christian to a renewed sense of responsibility as a member of the Church of Christ, and a member of the Church of this favoured land, the design of the writer will be accomplished. Everything in the present day depends upon our faithfulness to our Church in doctrine and in practice, and this is only to be maintained by faithfulness to the doctrine and precepts of Him who

is the Head of the true, spiritual, universal Church. Believers, let not your hearts or your habits be conformed to, and entangled with, an evil world! For your own sake, for the sake of your children-the future Church, educating now by you under God's eye for the next generationfor the sake of all amongst whom they will have influence, keep them unspotted from the world. The license you allow they will multiply. Be stedfast to the Lord, in humble dependance upon him, and in the end you shall lose nothing. They that sow in tears of trembling, apprehension, and of discouragement, shall nevertheless, having sown, reap in the confidence of fulfilled and abundant joy. They have sown to the Spirit, and they shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

The solemn subject of this brief record has naturally directed to the theme of death, and most salutary is the habitual preparation for what may remove us at any time. But there is a day at the doors which is the hope of the living, waiting Church, and which is ever set before us in Scripture as the object of daily preparation. Death but frees the individual believer; the coming of our Lord and Saviour frees the whole Church of the Redeemed, and glorifies both soul and body to be the Bride of the Lamb of God. In that day the heartwhole devotion of the waiting saints shall burst forth with the song of completed triumph. Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." "Be hold I come as a thief. Blessed is he that keepeth his garments," cleansing them daily in "the blood of the Lamb."

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The texts graven on the polished dark granite monument which, in the centre of a secluded spot of the Kensall Green Cemetery, rises over the earthly remains of the subject of this memorial, shall conclude its pages:

TITUS ii. 13, 14. MARK Xiii. 35-37. REV. xiv. 13.

London, October, 1847.

DEAR CHRISTIAN READER,-Another stage of our short journey is past; and how much is there in the reviewal to excite mingled emotions of thankfulness and sorrow! When we look back on all the way the Lord has led us, the countless mercies of our covenant-keeping God ought truly to fill our hearts with gratitude and our lips with praise; whilst the remembrance of our own faithlessness must occasion us deep contrition and confusion of face. The Christian life consists,

1st. In not living unto ourselves. 2ndly. In living unto Him who died for us.

The only motive which can enable us so to live, is the love of Christ constraining us.* May we know more of the love of Jesus; that henceforth we may experience less of the power of self-love, and count it our highest joy to render that unreserved obedience and self-denying service which is demanded by him who "loved us and gave himself for us." May the Lord enable us to search and try our ways, and discover every root of bitterness" by which he has hitherto been dishonoured!

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Some believers, it is to be feared, systematically" live unto themselves" for certain portions of each day; whilst they attempt to "live unto the Lord" during the remaining hours. But Christian self-denial extends to the whole of our conversation in the world. "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." And when we meditate on the wondrous love wherewith Jesus

has loved his people, in redeeming them from all iniquity, and procuring for them the adoption and heritage of children of God, can we hesitate whether we shall give our all to him?

Dear reader, enter more fully into the happy liberty of living to Him who died for you; and hegin a new year in

* 2 Cor. v. 14.

newness of life. And inasmuch as

ye are not your own, but bought with a price; glorify God with your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Cor. vi. 19, 20.)

Confess Christ before men.

1st. By bearing the reproach of Christ, and taking up your cross daily. Testify to the world by word and deed, that its ways are evil, and that its end is destruction. "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.' "Be not conformed to this world." "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers."+ If in these things you follow Christ, you must bear the cross; for "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." The light of the Church is obscured by external conformity to the world. The mystical body of Christ (the Church) should be a faithful representative of its glorious Head. It is only so far as believers reveal the character of Christ that their light shines before men, and their Father is glorified. Therefore declare plainly by your walk, that you are not of the world, even as Jesus was not of the world. (John xvii. 16.)

2ndly. By manifesting a spirit of love and holy fellowship with all who love the Lord Jesus and walk in the faith, without permitting minor differences to hinder a realization of your oneness in Christ. "Love as brethren ;" and, as much as lieth in you, labour to promote that Scriptural unity which the Redeemer prayed for, that the world may believe that the Father hath sent him. (John xvii. 21.)

3rdly. By neglecting no opportu nity of speaking to others concerning their souls, especially to the uncon verted. Remember that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his ways, shall save a soul from death. Therefore, "in meekness in† 2 Cor. vi. 14.

* Eph. v. 11.

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struct them that oppose themselves;" speaking the truth in love.” Christian self-denial must likewise be kept in constant exercise by—

Redeeming the time.

1st. In reference to our thoughts. Strive to keep your thoughts in subjection. Resist all vain, wandering speculations. Pray that all high imaginations, and all pride of opinion, may be brought low; and labour to "bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”* Con

fessing Christ extends not only to our words and actions, but to the whole inward walk,-to all that passes under God's eye. It is not always those who are most actively engaged in external duties who are rendering most glory to God; but those who walk in the light, in secret with the Lord; "whose fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."

"We are a spectacle to men and to angels"-those unseen witnesses, who doubtless have much nearer access to our minds than our fellowmen; and hereby, probably, is made known by the Church, unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, the manifold wisdom of God. Cleanse, therefore, these inward "chambers of imagery," that every cherished train of thought may be so sanctified by the knowledge of Christ, that your hidden life may bear witness to "the truth as it is in Jesus."

2ndly. Redeem your time from vain, profitless_conversation. "In the multitude of words there wanteth

not sin." "Let therefore your speech be with grace, seasoned with salt," "that it may minister grace unto the hearers."

3rdly. Redeem your time from all useless employments. Apply that comprehensive precept to every occupation" Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." The spirit of truth will enable you to perceive what really is for the glory of God; and then, whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." Exercise self-denial in your personal ex

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Dearly beloved in the Lord! may the New Year prove a year of rich spiritual blessing. May we experience more of "the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge," and abound in love to the brethren for his sake; "endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

But "who is sufficient for these things?" Thanks be unto God, the word of his grace supplies the answer: "Our sufficiency is of God." "My grace is sufficient for thee." All Scriptural peace and confidence must be derived solely from a view of Christ's finished and perfect work FOR YOU, whereby "all that believe are justified from all things," and "have peace with God." Say, therefore, with David, "I will go in the strength of the Lord God, I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.' ** If you ardently desire to be more conformed to your Saviour's image, look not continually in despondence at your own polluted. heart, but "look unto Jesus ;" and, in contemplating his boundless love and grace, and "beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord," you will be daily more and more renewed into the same image "from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Cor. iii. 18.)

Watch unto prayer. May temptations find you watching unto prayer. Cultivate constant communion with God in Christ, and encourage a habit of frequent, short, ejaculatory prayer; and endeavour, when it is possible by any means, to set apart some time at noon for prayer, and for reading the Scriptures.

Suffer not yourself to be cumbered with much serving. "Ye serve the

*Ps. lxxi. 16.

WE have lately seen a letter from one of the recent converts to Romanism, explaining the reasons which induced him to abjure his former faith. These reasons we have carefully considered, and we think that it may not be without use, at the present critical juncture, to lay before the public what appear to us satisfactory answers to the delusive arguments by which this gentleman's early convictions were upset. His name, and the circumstances of his conversion, we have no wish to drag into publicity. But his arguments, often adduced before, are public property, and we do not think there is any impropriety in stating them in his own words.

The arguments by which Mr. endeavours to justify his secession are not new, and have been often refuted; yet the whole controversy on the Romish question is now assuming so important a place in the religious movements of the day, and it is so desirable that all members of our Church, especially the clergy, should be acquainted with the fundamental principles of Romanism and its antagonist, Protestantism, that we are induced to notice Mr. statements somewhat in detail.

S

And here we must avow our conviction, that the true grounds of this great controversy have been, in modern times, very much lost sight of. Issue has been joined upon some question of external polity, such as the supremacy of the Pope; and when that dogma of Rome has been triumphantly refuted, as it easily may, it is conceived that the whole edifice of the Papacy is demolished. In our view this is a great error. The supremacy of the Bishop of Rome over the rest of Christendom might, in our opinion, be given up to-morrow by the Romish Church, without one of the essential foundations upon which she rests being thereby affected. It was from contests relating to the very core and essence of the religious life, not from difference of opinion on matters of Church

polity, that the Reformation took its rise. Justification by faith was the centre whence that great movement emanated, and upon which, as a basis, all the other doctrines peculiar to Protestantism were founded, or rather, from which, as a starting point, they were, one by one, recovered, and once more presented to the Church. The distinctive principles therefore, either of Romanism or Protestantism, lie much deeper beneath the surface than some of our modern writers on the subject seem to think. If the only difference between us and Rome is, that she maintains the necessity of a visible head of the Universal Church while we deny it, or that she gives only the bread to the laity, while we give both the bread and the wine, we have been long contending about matters of very subordinate importance.

According to Mr.

-'s account,

what chiefly weighed with him in the step he has taken was a conviction, founded on the study of Scripture and history, that the Church of Rome alone answers to the idea of what the Church of Christ ought to be. We subjoin his own words:

"Whatever be the practical corruptions of the Catholic (Romish) Church, (and in this world no system, even though it be a divine one, can be free from such; certainly Protestantism is to the full as corrupt though it be in another way,) I yet fully believe it to be the one true Church of Christ, the teacher of his truth to mankind, and the channel ordained by God himself to lead men to him, and bring them by faith and obedience to heaven. I cannot part with this belief without disbelieving the Scriptures. Numerous passages, if they have any meaning at all, prove, beyond a doubt, to my mind, that there must be such a body as I have described, to which God will "add daily such as shall be saved"-a teaching, authoritative Church, which shall last to the end of time, and with which Christ by his spirit shall be