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النشر الإلكتروني

27

SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS AND DEVOUT MEDITATIONS. THE CHRISTIAN-HIS DISPOSITION.

THE Christian is a man, and more-an earthly saint; an angel clothed in flesh; the only lawful image of his Maker and Redemer; amodel of heaven made up in clay; the living temple of the Holy Ghost. For his disposition, it hath in it as much of heaven, as his earth may make room for. He were not a man, if he were quite free from corrupt affections, but these he masters, and keeps in with a strait hand; and if at any time they grow testy and headstrong, he breaks them with a severe discipline, and will rather punish himself than not tame them. He checks his appetite with discreet but strong denials, and forbears to pamper nature, lest it grow wanton and impetuous. He walks on earth, but converses in heaven, having his eyes fixed on the Invisible, and enjoying a sweet communion with his God and Saviour. While all the rest of the world sits in darkness, he lives in a perpetual light; the heaven of heavens is open to none but him; thither his eye pierceth, and beholds those beams of inaccessible glory, which shine in no face but his. The deep mysteries of godliness, which to the great clerks of the world are as a book clasped and sealed up, lie open before him fair and legible; and while those book-men know whom they have heard of, he knows whom he hath believed. He will not suffer his Saviour to be ever out of his eye, and if, through some worldly interceptions, he lose the sight of that blessed object for a time, he zealously retrieves him, not without a hungry check of his own miscarriage; and is now so much the more fixed by his former slackening, so as he will henceforth sooner part with his soul than his Redeemer. His reason is willingly captivated to his faith-his will to his reason; and his affections to both. He fears nothing that he sees, in comparison of that which he sees not; and displeasure is more dreadful to him than smart. Earthly contents are too mean grounds, whereon to raise his joy: these, as he baulks not when they meet him in his way, so he doth not too eagerly pursue; he may taste of them, but so as he would rather fast than surfeit. He is not insensible of those losses, which casualty or enmity may inflict; but that which lies most heavily upon his heart, is his sin. This makes his sleep short and troublesome, his meals stomachless, his recreations listless, his every-thing tedious, till he finds his soul acquitted by his great surety in heaven, which done, he feels more peace and pleasure in his calm, than he found horror in the tempest.

That faith,

He

His heart is the storehouse of most precious graces. whereby his soul is established, triumphs over the world, whether it allure or threaten, and bids defiance to all the powers of darkness, not fearing to be foiled by any opposition. His hope cannot be discouraged with the greatest difficulties, but bears up against natural impossibilities, and knows how to reconcile contradictions. His charity is both extensive and fervent, barring out no one that bears the face of a man, but pouring out itself upon the household of faith; that studies good constructions of men and actions, and keeps itself free both from suspicion and censure. is wise to God-ward, however it be with him for the world; and well knowing he cannot serve two masters, he cleaves to the better, making choice of that good part which cannot be taken from him, not so much regarding to get that which he cannot keep, as to possess himself of that good which he cannot lose. He is just in all his dealings with men, hating to thrive by injury and oppression, and will rather leave behind something of his own than filch from another's heap. He is not closefisted, where there is just occasion of his distribution, willingly parting

with those metals which he regards only for use, not caring for either their colour or substance; earth is to him no other than itself, in what hue soever it appeareth. He is holily temperate in the use of all God's blessings, as knowing by whom they are given, and to what end; neither dares he either to mislay them, or to mis-spend them lavishly; as duly weighing upon what terms he receives them, and fore-expecting an account. Such a hand doth he carry upon his pleasures and delights, that they run not away with him.-Bishop Hall.

FAITH IN GOD.

Faith in God, I say, is another thing that you must carefully and daily foster in your soul, if you would be constant in his service. Be verily persuaded that he loves you infinitely more than you love him; and therefore is more desirous than you can be, to see you do well, and continue in well-doing to the end. Think that his eye is upon you—that his arm is under you; that he is as near to you as you are to yourselves, for in all regards we live and move, and have our being in him. Think, therefore, that you behold him, the Father of lights, sending rays of light into your mind, as you see the sun looking in at your windows, and filling the rooms with its cheerful beams: and that you feel him pouring in life constantly into your soul, as the heart spurts out blood into all the arteries of the body. Never entertain such a thought of him, as though he was willing to desert you, and cast you out of his friendship, now that he hath done so much for you, and you have been so long acquainted. By no means hearken to any jealous thoughts, that are but whispered of his goodness, whatsoever the jealousies be which you have of your own inconstancy.-Bishop Patrick.

REASONS FOR CONTENTMENT.

What are we, should such men say, that we should expect to live always under the light of His countenance? Alas! one age of darkness is too good for us, and we have reason to thank him, if we be not eternally banished from his sight. Why should such poor things as we, think to receive every day some extraordinary tokens of His divine favour; when one good look from him is enough to oblige us as long as we live? How much more reason have we to praise him, that all our days are not gloomy, that our sun is not always eclipsed, or rather that our life is but one long night; than to complain that a cloud sometimes passes over us, or a mist gathers about us? It is but fit that we should be hereby taught what it is to sin against God; and it is well for us that we were not sent to learn it in outer darkness. We are not ill dealt withal, if we can learn at so cheap a rate the value of pardoning mercy: but shall have cause in heaven to praise God, that we paid no dearer for it. Is this all the punishment that is due for our many faults? Doth He not use us very kindly if we be not quite cast out of his presence? O what a joy will it be to us, to find that we are in His favour in the other world. And we may be content, if He please, to stay for our joy till that time, when we shall certainly know whether we have reason to rejoice or no.-Id.

Reviews.

The Miracles in Egypt, Sketches of Socialism, and other Poems. By George Beddow. 12mo. London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co., Paternoster-row; Nottingham: Dearden. 1839.

THE taste for poetry appears to be reviving. Poetical works are beginning to appear at intervals, and some of them with considerable claims on the

score of merit. The volume before us certainly deserves to be classed amongst this number. There is a good deal of poetical feeling in its contents, and many of the pieces in the collection breathe a true spirit of devotion. The following little poem possesses much beauty; it flows in a strain of calm and chastened thought, and presents a very fair idea of the character and power of the author's mind.

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THE PRESENT, THE PAST, AND THE FUTURE.

I would I were as I have been

In days for ever past away,
Undazzled by the gorgeous sheen

That pleasure spreads along my way.
A traveller through this earthly scene,
A pilgrim to the realms of day,
Aspiring to the fields of green,

Where founts of living waters stray.

"I would I did not love the mirth

That sinful pastime often brings;
I would that I could soar from earth,
Regardless of terrestrial things,
To where my spirit takes its birth,
By Zion's flood of sacred springs;
To regions of unfading worth,

Fanned by the air from seraph's wings.
"I would my soul should take her flight-
And yet I scarcely dare to die;

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My spirit trembles at the light

Gilding the outworks of the sky;
And shall she dare from realms of night,
To tread the inner courts on high?
Must she not meet a withering blight
From God's unhidden majesty?

I know that sin's unbroken chain

Is still around my spirit thrown;
I know my prayers are often vain,
Though uttered in a solemn tone;
I yield me to the tempter's reign,

And move the heedless lip alone,
As o'er my soul the hidden stain,
To deeper leprosy has grown.
"How shall the spirit ever dare

To stand before the throne of God?
Will she not shrink to nothing there,
Affrighted at His awful nod?
The solemn vow, the pious prayer,

Beneath her reckless feet she trod;
She sowed, and she must reap despair,
She sought, and she must feel the rod.

"Oh, is there yet a cheering gleam

Of hope for such a soul as this?
And has not earth's deceptive dream
For ever robbed her of her bliss?

Can the soft light of pardon beam

On one who scorned the paths of peace;
One who could earthly joys esteem,
Better than those which never cease?

"Oh, Spirit of Redeeming Love,

I hear, or think I hear, a tone,
Borne from the palaces above,

And softly, sweetly, making known
A message from the heavenly Dove,
That hovers near the eternal throne,
To bid the soul no longer rove,

But flee to Jesus Christ alone !"

*

We think our readers will agree with us in hoping that the author of these lines will not allow the volume in which they are contained to be his last poetical effort.

Restitution to the Church a Sacred Duty; or, How can the Church be made to meet the Wants of the Nation? 12mo. London: James Burns, 17, Portmanstreet. Oxford: J. H. Parker. 1839.

THIS little pamphlet will well repay the trouble of perusal. The object of the author is to show how the Church might be enabled to meet the increasing spiritual wants of her members, by a restitution to her of the numerous lay-impropriations which have been wrested from her. It appears, according to the author, that there are 2,633 impropriations in the hands of laymen. We believe there is but little doubt, that in the case of many of these impropriations, whilst the lay-impropriators themselves derive large incomes from the tithes in their hands, for which they do nothing, the clergyman who performs the duty of the parish, under the name of vicar, or perpetual curate, receives very frequently an annual income scarcely equal to the wages given to a menial servant. And yet it is not improbable that many of these lay-impropriators are the very first to talk about the large revenues of the clergy!

The History of the Church of Christ, from the Diet of Augsburg, 1530, to the Eighteenth Century. In Three Volumes. In Continuation of Milner's History of the Church of Christ. By Henry Stebbing, D.D. 8vo. Vol. II. London: T. Cadell, Strand. 1839.

DR. STEBBING's design is a very useful one. The present volume is in no way inferior to its predecessor. In point of research, diligence in collecting and arranging facts and materials, clearness of language, and forcible style, it reflects great credit on its author.

Preceptive Illustrations of the Bible. London: Roake and Varty. 1839. We have seen two sets of this series of Biblical prints, coloured and uncoloured. They are forty in number, and are nearly equally divided between the Old Testament and the New. By such means the main incidents of the Sacred History may be deeply impressed on young minds by a very easy process. The sabbath day is often, among pious people, rendered irksome to children by the restraint imposed on them. In these portfolios lies the simple remedy; the intelligent child will be delighted to admire these illustrations, and will be certain to enquire concerning them, and then it will be for parent or friend to gently insinuate the best of all pos

sible instruction. In this way may these illustrations properly be termed preceptive. In schools, too, they will be found valuable. The drawings are by Bendixen, who has very often risen to his subject. The delineationof the Saviour is throughout simple and graceful, and without affectation or familiarity. Of course, the work being meant for general circulation, for schools, perhaps for presents to large and poor families, the efforts of the artists have been kept within the range of the means generally so employed. Fastidious tastes may find much to complain of, but the general eye and mind will be improved and pleased with these pictures.

John Wesley vindicated by himself; an Allegory for the Wesleyan Centenary. Second Edition. 12mo. Leeds: T. Harrison, 153, Briggate; J, Cross, 1839.

Commercial-street. York: Bellerby. Burns, London. THIS pamphlet is well worth perusal. Under the form of an imaginary conversation between the author and John Wesley, the character of which is ingeniously sustained throughout, a very good account is given of the true character of that class of Dissenters known by the name of Wesleyan Methodists.

Cruelties of Popery. 8vo. London: published for the Protestant Association, by Hatchards, Rivingtons, Seeleys, Nisbet, Dalton, Baisler, Shaw, and Forbes and Jackson, 1839.

We recommend all those persons who are disposed to look with an eye of indulgence on Popery, and who imagine that its character has been exaggerated, to read this tract-they will learn some wholesome truths from its pages.

Plain Rules for Commuting Tithes, by Jellinger C. Symons, of the Middle Temple. 12mo. London Simpkin, Marshall and Co. 1839.

THIS little work contains a good deal of useful information.

The Repeal of the Popish Emancipation Act. By the Author of the " Progress of Popery." 8vo. London: published by the Protestant Association, Exeterhall; Seeley, Fleet-street; and Nisbet, Berners-street.

ANOTHER useful pamphlet, which all true Protestants would do well to read and reflect upon.

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A Farewell Sermon, preached at Cheddington, September 29, 1839, and on the following Lord's-day at Pitstone. By William Shepherd, B.D., Author of Family and Parochial Sermons," " Liturgical Considerations," "The Village Pastor," &c. &c. 8vo. Chelmsford: printed by R. Guy, High-street. 1839. THIS sermon in many respects is exactly what a discourse on such an occasion should be. It touches upon most of the prominent points suitable to an address of this description, and the earnest and zealous language in which it is written, as well as the truly pious spirit which is displayed throughout its pages, induce us to think that it must have produced a considerable impression upon its auditory.

Extracts from Holy Writ, and Various Authors, intended as helps to Meditation and Prayer, principally for Soldiers and Seamen. By Captain Sir Nesbit J. Willoughby, R.N., C.B., K. C.H. 8vo. London: Printed for the Author or Compiler, for Gratuitous Circulation, by T. H. Coe, 27, Old Change, Cheapside. 1839.

THE object of this work, and the manner of its publication, are both so praiseworthy, that criticism would be at once disarmed, even if there were any room for its exercise. But there is considerable merit in the book,

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