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renewed mind, by enabling it to discern the reality of grace, and of his gracious work generally; but as faith is the principal grace of all, and as this, in conjunction with all other graces, is his own gift, his own workmanship; and as the believer can no more exercise this by any strength, or sufficiency of his own, independent of divine influence, than he could at first produce it in his heart; therefore, perhaps, it is chiefly by means of this gracethe grace of faith-that the Holy Spirit testifies to his adoption. And if we take into consideration the particular respect which faith has to the promises of God's word, it may lead us to understand why the Holy Ghost is so emphatically

stiled "the Holy Spirit of promise:" viz. because he not only takes of "the things of Christ" and shows them unto the believer; but shows him, also, his own interest in them, and his entire right and title to them; faith grounding its claim on the absolute promise of Jehovah, the simple warrant of his word. Thus it will appear, that although the Spirit may not restrict himself to means; although he may, and perhaps sometimes does, carry on his work wholly independent of them, yet he ordinarily operates through the medium of the word, and more pecially the promises of that word in bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. J. E. J.

ON PRAYER.

WITH respect to the nature of prayer, it involves in it, 1st, A sense of our needs or else, why pray at all? 2d, A firm belief of God's ability to supply our wants -else why seek to him? 3d, A going to him in the appointed way, even by Jesus Christ; pleading his promise, and asking for the Holy Spirit to help our infirmity, to teach us to ask aright, and to work faith in us; for it is the prayer of faith that avails.

We must continue in prayer; watch thereunto; watch for opportunities of prayer; watch providences, as a ground for prayer; and, with deep seriousness, considering what we stand in need of. We should watch after prayer, that we may perceive God's answer: does it not betray a light and trifling spirit, to go to the throne of grace, and there petition for the greatest favours, and then, almost as soon as we rise from our knees, forget the very subject of our prayers?

The advantages of prayer are many and great. It is the chiefest

way of enjoying God while we are in this world-a soul in converse with her God, is heaven! It is the way to obtain the best of blessings. "For these things will I be inquired of, and put me in remembrance: saith the Lord." It is a mean of resisting your most formidable foes; for they cannot hurt you while all prayer is your weapon: and it is heart-ease to the afflicted soul-" Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee; and thou shalt glorify

me!"

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NINTH ANNUAL ADDRESS TO THE PARISHIONERS OF ST. MARY'S, KILKENNY.

MY DEAR FRIENDS,

ONCE more, with humble prayer for the divine direction, I would address you upon the allimportant subjects of the Sacred Scriptures the immortal souland eternity. Once more I would endeavour to detach your minds from the things of time, which distract, or pollute, or oppress them, and lead you to a sober meditation upon awful, and glorious, and substantial realities. Once more I would take advantage of passing events, to show you how needful it is to have the mind "stayed on the Lord;" to "trust in him at all times;" to live in his "fear all the day long;" to wait, look out for, and haste unto his coming, that you may "be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless." Once more, in offering you a word of exhortation, dictated by the sincerest affection, I would entreat you to forgive all my errors, to cover with a mantle of love all my infirmities, and to pray for me, that I may live more under the influence of the truths which I preach, and preach with increasing fidelity "the Gospel of peace;" so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. God has not only brought us together, and established between us a bond of close and intimate union, involving on both sides the discharge of many important duties; but he has continued it for the long period of more than twenty-five years. The recollection of this circumstance should stimulate us to show alacrity and diligence in our different vocations; for the longer we have been spared, the nearer have we approached to the end of our earthly journey. In the ordinary course of Providence our separation will, at no very distant period, take place; and we are all deeply

and alike interested in finishing our course with joy, that we may meet before the Lamb that sitteth upon the throne, to celebrate for evermore the wonders of redemption. The exertions which have been made in this country for several years past, to circulate the Holy Scriptures, and to establish schools, in which their divine, and therefore invaluable, truths might be impressed upon the minds of the rising generation, have proved very successful. Inquiry into their character and tendency, and also into the obligation of all men to peruse them, has been excited; inquiry has produced discussion; and although in some instances a spirit, quite opposite indeed to that meekness which they inculcate, has been exhibited-yet, on the whole, the result has been favourable to the cause of genuine religion; and it will be found eventually to promote what every true Christian has at heart, "Peace on earth, and good will towards men." I sincerely hope, that you have been led to set a higher value than you have ever done upon the writings of the Apostles and Prophets; and it rejoices me to observe, that a proof of it seems to be afforded by the late great increase of our congregations at church. The undeniable fact, that the Scriptures are the word of God, is in itself a sufficient proof, that they justly claim the attention of all men ;-and upon a due examination of their contents, will be found that there is no com-mand given or implied, to restrict them to any one portion or class of the human race. So far from it, the will of the Lord is, that the Gospel should be preached to

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every creature," - and that its saving health should be made known among all nations. And what is the Gospel? It may well

be called "good news;" for it is the revelation of God, containing the words of eternal life, and making known the way, the only way by which that inestimable blessing can be attained. In that revelation the manifold wisdom of God is displayed in a variety of ways, and, in the most astonishing manner, as connected with the works of creation and Providence; but it is in the glorious plan and work and fruit of redemption, that it shines most brightly, and in such a manner as to produce a holy desire in the minds of angels to look into, for the purpose of comprehending, in some measure at least, its height and depth, and length and breadth. In that revelation there are rules laid down, and principles established for the regulation of the opinions, the temper, the business, in short, the whole conversation and conduct of man, so suited in every respect in his case, that his comfort must increase as he is influenced by them. Above all, in that revelation it is announced, that God the Father would, and in the fulness of time did, show his love to a world of sinners, of rebels, of enemies, by sending his own beloved Son, the eternal "Word," "the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person," the Prince of the kings of the earth," to take upon him our nature, that he might "suffer, the just in the room of the unjust, to bring us to God; " that "he who knew no sin might be made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him," that his payment might be accepted by divine justice for our debt; and that being thus made free, through faith in his atoning blood, and having obtained access unto the Father, by the Holy Spirit, we might be cheered by the assurance of having secured for us in heaven, the everlasting advocacy of Him, who, though a victim, was also

the High Priest of our profession. The offering of Jesus Christ once for all, was not made in secret; enemies as well as friends, devils as well as angels, were witnesses of it. Men were inspired to record it; men were commissioned to preach it; miracles were wrought to confirm it; every country that could be visited by apostolic zeal, was cultivated by apostolic labour; and sufferings acute and long continued were patiently undergone, for the sole purpose of publishing, that there was no name under heaven given among men, whereby they could be saved, but the name of Jesus; and that he was "set for salvation for the ends of the earth." Let us not hide this invaluable talent in a napkin, or bury it in the earth; let us not place the light of divine truth under a bushel or a bed; but labour with unabated diligence in a spirit of love, humility, and prayer, to enrich and enlighten others. Our cause is good; our help is mighty; our success is sure; "that which is noted in the book of truth" will certainly be accomplished, for it is the word of Him who cannot lie. I would here strongly recommend to your serious perusal the first Homily, as admirably calculated to afford sound instruction upon the subject of the Holy Scriptures. Indeed it is much to be desired, that every adult member of our church possessed the entire book of Homilies, and read them constantly; for they, in connexion with the Articles and Liturgy, clearly show that her doctrines are drawn from, and can be proved by the infallible word of the Most High God. See Articles 6, 7.

You cannot be ignorant of the fact, that the judgments of the Lord are abroad in the earth; and that in our own land there is great cause to fear, on account of crimes of the blackest die committed in the face of the sun. There is in

the history of God's providential dealings a melancholy narrative of national judgments, produced by national sins; and we have no reason to expect an exemption from them; but, without presuming to look into futurity, or to calculate upon the "secret things" which belong only to God; let us be prepared for a suffering as well as for a prosperous state; let us remember that it is only in the path of righteousness we can walk securely that it is only by the shield of faith we can ward off the darts of our enemies-and that the sword of "the Spirit, which is the Word of God," is the only weapon we are warranted to employ. He who delivered the three brethren out of 66 the burning fiery furnace," and "shut the lions' mouths" when Daniel was cast into their den, is able to deliver those who serve him from the fury of the oppressor; is able to comfort them under all their tribulations; is able to make the "wrath of man to praise Him." Confident therefore in the presence, and promise, and blessing of Jehovah, let us 66 put our trust in him, and we need not be afraid of what man can do unto us;" let us seek our refuge in the shadow of his wings, until our calamities are overpast;" let us "in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, make our requests

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known unto God; and we may be assured, that the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep our hearts and minds, through Christ Jesus.

During the past year some have been taken from amongst us in the prime of life, in the vigour of health-in the prospect of future respectability. It is painful, and yet profitable, to recur to those striking instances of mortality; they speak an intelligible language to the survivors—a language which we ought not to disregard. May their sudden removal remind us, that death will come as a thief in the night. May their blighted hopes serve to show us "how vain are the hopes of man;" may their already mouldering ashes announce to us, that our flesh is as grass, and all our earthly glory as the flower of grass; may the recollection, that time is with them no more, operate upon us to redeem our yet remaining hours; may the awful word-Eternity! never cease to sound in our ears upon earth; and throughout its endless ages, may we, and all who are dear to us, unceasingly sing, "Worthy is the Lamb." The Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit. Your very affectionate Pastor and faithful friend, PETER ROE.

Kilkenny Jan. 1, 1825.

WANT OF CHEERFULNESS IN PROFESSING
CHRISTIANS.

THERE are three reasons why some professors of the Gospel are not so cheerful as they should be: -first, some are seeking for that in the world which is to be found in God alone, namely, perfect satisfaction; secondly, many are looking for that in themselves

which is to be had in Christ only, and that is, perfect righteousness; and, thirdly, others are expecting that on earth which is to be found only in heaven, and that is, perfect holiness.

M. HENRY.

REVIEW OF BOOKS.

Observations on the Religious Peculiarities of the Society of Friends. By Joseph John Gurney. Third Edition.-Pp. 334. 12mo.

THIS volume contains a clear and succinct account of the peculiar principles and practices entertained and adopted by the Society of Friends. Both the style and spirit of the work are creditable to the author; and he has succeeded in exhibiting the sentiments and conduct of the body to which he belongs in a very favourable point of view.

Amidst, however, much that is excellent, and much which deserves the highest commendation, he has, on most of the leading topics under discussion, advanced various positions which we cannot concede, and arrived, in many instances, at conclusions from which we totally differ. To state and illustrate all these points of difference would both exceed our limits and involve us in a controversy, which, however it might gratify some, would not, we are persuaded, be generally conducive to the edification of our readers. We shall, therefore, content ourselves with a few general remarks on the argument advanced by Mr. Gurney on Baptism, the Lord's Supper, and the Christian name.

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And, first, of Baptism. We decidedly object to the phraseology which Mr. Gurney adopts with reference to the Sacraments. He constantly speaks of them as typical rites," in order to infer that these were included in "the system of types and sacrificial ordinances" which was abolished by the appearance and sacrifice of the great antetype. But he ought, in arguing against ordinances generally used in the Christian Church, to oppose them as they are really received by its members, and not to attack positions which FEB. 1825.

no one ever attempted to defend. The Church of England calls Baptism a Sacrament; that is, an oath, or obligation, entered in on admission into the Church. She, also, defines a Sacrament to: consist of two parts, an outward and visible sign, and an inward and spiritual grace; and she holds the Sacrament to be only complete when both these are present in the ordinance. And yet we find Mr. Gurney, as if entirely ignorant of this, constantly speaking of Baptism, as "the mere outward rite of immersion in water," p. 82; 66. a merely external ceremony," p. 87; and the like. There is nothing more easy than this method of arguing; by which a fallacy is first. put into the opponent's mouth, and then triumphantly refuted.

But we must next contend, that the method of examining scriptural evidence, adopted by Mr. Gurney, is calculated to lead to erroneous conclusions. We can very easily conceive a sincere and conscientious man adopting this method with the most honest and candid intentions, and really imagining that he was analysing and proving the strength of the scriptural argument for any specific doctrine; when, in fact, he was only frittering it down, and forcing a meaning out of isolated texts, which, when viewed in connexion with other passages, they manifestly were never intended to convey. That this is the effect of Mr, Gurney's method of examination, is, we think, very clear. Take, for instance, the manner in which he evades the force of two strong passages in favour of the Sacrament of Baptism.

The first of these passages is John, iv. 1, 2. "The Pharisees

heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John. Howbeit, Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples." This text

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