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our missionaries have effected. Contemplate the evil. Think of the dilemma. Who, among professing Christian teachers, is right, and who wrong? Where is the standard of appeal? In what balances shall contending pretensions be weighed? Who sees not at once the importance of sending the word of God into the midst of these Christian Churches, that the faithful servants of Christ may stand forth with the Scriptures in their hands, and refer their congregations to the law and to the testimony? And who knows not, and is not overwhelmed with joy to know, that the native Christians under such an influence have stood firm to their first teachers, and from the Scriptures refuted the errors of Popery. And who can contemplate all this, and be indifferent to the vast, the pressing, the indispensable importance of circulating the Scriptures as fast as possible in every language under heaven? And who will venture to say that there is any existing instrumentality but one for the purpose?

There is another point which I would venture to urge before I close, and that is the importance of bearing in mind the value of the Bible as a grand instrument of conversion. It is not that it is otherwise than a dead letter and a savour of death in itself and by itself. But it is God's word; and he is pleased to put great honour upon his word, by making it quick and powerful and sharper than a twoedged sword. He employs it as an instrument of regeneration. "By his own will begat he us by the word of truth," says the apostle James. It is not to say to what an extent the naked word in the hands of the Spirit has been blessed to the conversion of souls, and it not to say to what an extent it may be the instrument of effect

ing throughout the world, far more than missionaries can accomplish. If forthcoming in sufficient numbers, it can run up into the interior of unexplored countries, and spread over heathen towns and villages, bringing them in many cases to the saving knowledge of Christ, and in others preparing the way of the Lord, and making ready for the preaching of the Gospel at the mouth of missionaries. We know from past experience how the Scriptures by themselves thus work, and who can tell to what an extent their enlarged translation and diffusion may be blessed to the world's more extended conversion?

Then let us work while it is called to-day, and work in this most God-like and legitimate of all services. Is it possible that we can revert to such considerations, and not surmount all our little difficulties in seeking to share the privilege of promoting such a blessedness. Ah, who can have his eye even half open to it, and not tremble to incur the responsibility of letting his hands hang down, when they might be up and working.

I say nothing of the real happiness which I feel in common with many others to be able to meet those who differ from us, on any such occasion, without any compromise of principle; I wish at present to confine myself on higher and more easily accredited ground. Nor do I think it necessary to advert to the more limited objection which some make to the Bible Society on the score of its incorrect translations. I have not failed to have my eye on all that has been said on this question. I have before me the list of faulty translations which have been put together chiefly from the Portuguese; and really I must say it cannot fail to prove a matter of much satisfaction

to the Committee of management, that the sum total comes to so very little. Really, after hearing all that was said on this subject in hostile quarters, I could scarcely refrain from laughing outright to see the upshot of the tremendous charges and accusations. It is almost provoking that good and conscientious men can make their quotations on which they can only say, not that they are directly bad and vicious, but that they are so worded that Papists with their preconceived notions may pervert them for the support of their own falsities. Why, what Scripture, however confessedly pure, will not the prejudiced and unstable wrest?

Would that I could indulge the hope that these few remarks, the result of long observation and thought, might be the means of producing some such effect as I once witnessed on a memorable occasion.

In a tour of Bible Meetings, which I took several years ago, I came with my friend, as the deputation, to a town where, we were previously informed, that, we should meet with great difficulties from the Vicar, one of the first scholars of the day, and a dignitary of the Church; who, after having been, as a young man, zealous in the cause of the Bible Society, had forsaken it, and employed his powerful pen in opposition to it. We were courteously received at breakfast by the Vicar; and after much conversation, not of the most hopeful character, he yielded to our entreaties, and went with us to the meeting, not to take a part, or to

be seen on the platform, but merely to hear and to weigh what the speakers had to advance. It was a critical and nervous undertaking to speak under such circumstances especially considering that his decision had probably to be formed by what transpired at the meeting; but, though he had been beset with entreaties that he would not forget how he had pledged himself to Dr. and to Mr. Prebendary —, to stand aloof from the Bible Society, and how decidedly he had written against it, he advanced to the centre of the platform, after we had done speaking, and avowed his approval of, and interest in, every word that had been uttered: and then with peculiar energy and power, he proceeded to observe—

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We have heard that the priests in Ireland burn the Bible. God forbid, that I should seem even to approximate to such an unhallowed deed as this. We have heard, that the Pope issues his Bulls against the Bible and Bible Societies. God forbid, that I should seem to have any sympathy with Rome. From this day, I pledge myself to support the Bible Society, to the utmost of my power, and may it go forward and prosper." It is now more than twenty years since Mr. Prebendary thus pledged himself, and it was a pledge never broken.

And of all the important steps which this good man has taken through life, I believe this is one of which he will least repent, when he comes to that moment on which the value of Bible truth is best realized.-ED.

CAIN AND ABEL.

CAIN offered to the Lord as a selfrighteous man. He presented the fruits of the earth and other offerings, as if he were worthy, and doing God service. Abel offered

He

to the Lord as a sinner. brought the firstlings of his flock. Abel could not venture to approach a holy God without a sacrifice, without the blood of atonement. And Cain and Abel represented the whole mass of mankind. They were the heads of two classes, into which all are divided. There is nothing new under the sun. man nature is ever the same.

Hu

All

who profess to be worshipping God, are doing it either in Cain's self-righteousness, or in Abel's simple dependence on the atoning sacrifice.

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These thoughts are suggested by a circumstance which occurred lately under my own observation. A young man, in his absence from home, at a watering-place, was tempted from motives of curiosity, after having been twice at church, to go to a meeting-house in the evening near his lodgings. Having discerned Presbyterian Chapel" inscribed over the door, I suspected from what is too well known of most chapels throughout England, that all was not sound there. asking him what he had heard, I was confirmed in my suspicions. The hymns sung had no mention of Christ. The sermon, was a dry moral essay, which any heathen might have given; and the prayers struck him as very peculiar, they ended thus: "All this we ask as disciples of Jesus Christ." This at once developed the cloven foot. The sound and evangelical Presbyterianism of former days had dege

On

nerated into Socinianism. And here at once was recognized the distinctive difference between Socinianism and the Church of England. We, as churchmen, offer up all our prayers through Jesus Christ, the great Mediator and Intercessor; we, as sinners, have no hopes of their acceptance but through his atonement and merits.

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The Socinian wants no Mediator. He is worthy to go on in his own footing into the presence of the God of heaven. He prays as a 'disciple of Jesus Christ," but not as a guilty, unworthy sinner, depending upon the efficacy of his atoning blood. He takes Christ as a leader or master, but not as a Mediator. A disciple of Jesus Christ, and yet failing to glory in nothing but his cross! But here is Cain over again, offering his fruits of the earth as an unsinning being, not needing sacrifice! Our blessed Church, on the other hand, compels us to reiterate, again and again, our supplications to the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world, and will not suffer us to offer up a single prayer to heaven save through Jesus Christ, the only way to the Father, as Mediator and Intercessor, himself God over all, blessed for ever.. more! What thanks we owe to our Reformers for their unequivocal stand agatnst Socinianism. What would a sinner, incurring an infinity of guilt because of sin committed against an infinite Being-what would he do without a divine Saviour to impart to him an infinity of merit. But Socinianism is a cheerless vapid system. has nothing in it to meet the wants of an immortal being. I wondered

It

not to hear that the congregation was scanty and the worshippers undevotional.

There was a loquacious, radical Member of Parliament with his lady there, and I happened to be thrown into contact with them the following day, and seldom have I fallen in with persons pretending to be gentlefolks, more ungodly and irreverent in their conversation; wantonly trifling with the name of the Supreme Being, almost in every sentence, as if he were an equal. Socinianism must naturally

lead to this. It recognises not man's true condition as a sinner, and without this there can be no true reverence. The humblest man will be the most reverential man.

But what can we hope from such senators; from one indeed whose laxity of principle and ungodliness is sadly manifest in the House of Commons? What need we have to pray that God, who has all hearts in his hands, will fill all in authority with his fear and love!

CHRISTIAN UNITY.

OUR interests are the same. very life is hid with Christ. lives we must live.

Our If he If he conquers,

If he reigns,

we must conquer. we shall reign. Where the head is the members must be. They must partake of its destinies, and rejoice in its enjoyments. So it is with the people of Christ. They are Christians, having everything they value, in connection with Christ, and derivative from him. This is their conscious, chosen condition. They feel themselves to be interested in the same results, and pursuing the same ends with their glorious Lord. Does his cause prosper?-they are happy. Does his kingdom appear to languish ?this is a distress to them. The treasures they value and desire, are with him, and in him. And they are always to be made happy by his triumphs. Are we Christians? This is our condition; we are dead, so far as selfish interests of our own in opposition to Christ, are concerned. And we are alive only to Christ, and in him. How happy

is this identity of interests! When we profess this title, we avow this union. When we seek this title for others, this is the privilege we seek, and this the character we desire them to attain.

O, my readers, seek the exercise and exemplifying of this principle, more constantly and actively in yourselves-remember that, being Christians, your all is in Christ. Be anxious for the happiness that comes from him. Be jealous of joy which flows from any other source.

There is an identity of character. This is real and entire in your relation to God. If you are Christians, you are seen in Christ, and accepted in him. Justified because he is justified. His perfect obedience covers you, and you receive the crown of this righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give you in his day. This is the foundation of all hope. The believing soul is made the righteousness of God in Christ. His holiness is yours. You are partakers of his divine nature, and are drawn to him, and

drawn to serve him, from this very identity, this union in character with him. As you are enlightened more, you will see more fully, and enjoy more completely, and exhibit more entirely, this perfect sanctification which you have in Christ. This identity of character will be exhibited in you, more and more. Your life and conduct will habitually show that you have been with Jesus, and have learned of him. Men will behold in you the marks of the Lord Jesus—and his people will glorify the grace of God in you. Try continually to show forth this identity of character. Maintain the spirit and mind which belonged to Christ. Be occupied according to its directions. Be amused and refreshed under its government. Be connected only according to its permission. This your title requires. Are you Christians? Then, where you are, Christ is. The members cannot be torn away from the head. You carry him about with you as Christophers [Christ bearers] wherever you go. Go nowhere, then, where you cannot ask his presence, and be sure you carry him. Remember always this identity is inseparable from you.

There is an identity in spiritual strength. The branch receives its sap from the vine. It draws it up continually, in an unceasing current by night and by day. Thus the Christian draws his life and strength from Christ. He lives in constant exercise of faith upon him, He lives in the habitual enjoyment of prayer to him; not only stated, occasional prayer, but the constant lifting up of the heart to him. Thus we are able to conquer and mature, as we rest upon the Lord Jesus, and learn to lean wholly

upon him. Are you Christians?

Manifest this identity more and more. I know and experience how difficult it is to maintain this simple faith. So much fear, and unbelief, and conscious guilt interposes upon the mind, that we find it often very hard to repose simply and with joy upon Christ. But this is our duty as well as our privilege. We are thus to live upon Christ, in all trials and all conditions. Strive to carry out this identity. Be one with Christ in your warfare, as well as in your joys. Lean upon

him without fear: and strive to do it more and more.

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