practices against David, which was to preserve the crown of Israel in his own family, was thus utterly frustrated. His criminal policy recoiled alike upon himself and them; in his case, as in that of Abimelech, "fire came out of the bramble, and devoured the cedars of Lebanon." "The curse remained in the midst of his house, and consumed it with the timbers thereof and the stores thereof."

Yet we shall do well to remember that no external evil which may befal a particular class of mankind, in consequence of the faults of their progenitors, renders any individual of that class less acceptable to God, if he turn from his wickedness and repent. It may accord with God's wisdom to set a mark, in his providential dispensations, upon the descendants of eminently wicked men; but none are spiritually excluded from his favour, except by personal wickedness, and obstinate impenitence. See Ezekiel xviii. 20. Thus a special mark has been set for ages upon the posterity of Ham, and of the modern Jews; yet if any Jew, or any negro, or other descendant of Ham, should seek mercy through the proffered Saviour, he will be as welcome as the rest of mankind. "The same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him." The Syro-Phenician woman was one of the "accursed" Canaanitish race, yet her faith obtained from our Lord his richest gifts, and extorted his highest eulogy.

Nay, the very curse may become a blessing, if it operate to warn an individual against the sin by which it was brought down upon him. God is warning every Jew at this moment, by the continuance of his desolate condition, that his case is not hopeless if he acknowledge the true Messiah.

On the other hand, let no children of religious parents suppose, that the piety of a long line of ancestors will avail in their behalf unless they are themselves the possessors of religious principle. Personal impiety will cut off the entail of religion in a family, just as personal religion will change a curse into a blessing.

Finally. As all are exposed to an infinite danger on

account of sin, how deep should be our gratitude to that divine Redeemer, who bore the curse for us, that we might escape the impending penalty, and inherit the unspeakable blessings of his salvation.

Christ has delivered us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. Instead of Zechariah's flying roll, containing nothing but threatenings, he has placed in our hands the charter of salvation. He has cancelled, by the efficacy of his atonement, the handwriting that was against us, taking it out of the way, and nailing it to his cross; and has given us, in its stead, exceeding great promises, sealed and ratified by his own most precious blood. But Christ can

stand in a neutral relation to no one of us; and if we do not sue out, by faith and prayer, the proffered pardon, and by new obedience, consecrate ourselves to his service, we must bear upon our own heads the accumulated condemnation alike of the law that we have broken, and of the gospel that we have despised.

MISCELLANEOUS DEPARTMENT,

CONSISTING OF

ORIGINAL PAPERS, UNDER THE FOLLOWING HEADS :

Criticisms on the different styles of preaching.

Interpretation of difficult and mistaken passages of Scripture. The best and shortest methods of confuting the sophisms of infidelity and scepticism.

Occurrence of remarkable incidents connected with hearing or reading the word of God, or illustrative of its particular passages. Occasional accounts of the lives and writings of some of the best of our old divines.

A concise and chronological epitome of the rise and progress of the Papacy; in a series of papers.

PREACHING.

A preacher should be faithful to three things: faithful to the word of God, as Samuel to Eli,-faithful to his own conscience, as Peter and John before the rulers of the Jews,-and faithful to the case of his hearers, as Nathan to David. His aim should be to have it said to him with truth at last, by THE FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

PLAIN PREACHING.

"LET your preaching be plain. Painted glass is most curious; plain glass is most perspicuous. Preach a crucified Saviour in a crucified style. Paul taught so plainly, that the Corinthians esteemed him a fool. Let your matter be substantial, wholesome food: God and Christ, and the gospel, faith, repentance, regeneration. Aim purely at God's glory and the salvation of souls. Study as if there were no help promised in preaching; preach as if there had been no study.

Preach plainly, yet with novelty; preach powerfully, as Micah, as Paul, in intention of spirit, not extension of voice. To this end, get your sermon into your own souls. It is best from the heart to the heart. Preach prudentially, as stewards to give each their portion. Get your sermons into your own memory. How can you expect your people should remember and repeat, if you read? Yet use caution. Our memories are not of brass; they are bruised by the fall. Beware of giving occasion to say, I may stay at home in the afternoon, I shall hear only the same strain.”*

* Mr. Porter at an ordination. From a MS. in the handwriting of Philip Henry.

MINISTERIAL QUALIFICATIONS.

THE apostle Paul was an eminent example of ministerial prudence, wisdom, diligence, and compassion. Who qualified Paul for this work? Who made him successful with it? The same God can prepare and bless others. Let us remember, (1) The subject-matter of the Christian ministry, and of every minister, is the whole counsel of God. If not, we should have a different gospel from that which Paul preached. It is true the law must be preached as the dark background to give prominence to the gospel and to make the light, and lustre, and beauty of its truths to be more effectively perceived. The gospel is the instrument of God's power, in saving sinners. Thus it has proved itself to be not only when unaided, but when resisted by Jewish priests, by heathen philosophers, and by kings and magistrates. It has transformed the views, tempers, and lives of the vilest of men, when all the exhortations and rules of the moralists have left their pupils slaves to the grossest vices. (2.) Let ministers remember what is implied in declaring the gospel as the counsel of God.

Before a man can declare it, he must be in the counsel of God. I know the value of college and academical instruction too well to speak slightly of them. But let those who have sought preparation in them be guarded against dependence on it. When men of eminent learning have been self-wise and proudly confident of their ministerial qualifications, God has left them without success; while he calls a man out of obscurity, prepares, sends, and prospers him; and thus by things that are despised and are not, he brings to nought things that are. The one, through God, has achieved wonders, while others, educated by men, have laboured in vain. He must derive his matter from a right source, namely, the scriptures. The minister of Christ is not his own master, and therefore, must not deliver his own speculations, but divine truth: nor may he call any other man master-either Dr. Gill, Dr. Priestley, or Dr. Owen. The scriptures are able thoroughly to furnish the man of God. The Holy Spirit's aid must be implored by much prayer. The counsel of God must be declared. (3.) A minister should deliver God's counsel faithfully. Let his address suit allthose out of the congregation as well as in; and he will then have no occasion to fear the charge of personality. If he delivers the most awful threatenings, let it be done with the most melting compassion. He should be guarded against his own spirit, and not render the pulpit the vehicle of his own sour temper. Be particular; and deal out truth in detail, and do not generalize the gospel to meet the taste of all men. Invite scrutiny. Be able to say, "I take you to record this day," &c., or to make the appeal of Samuel, 1st book, xii. 3. There are temptations to shun some truths. Many make a good beginning and end badly. Begin well and end better. Push the sword of truth home at all events. Manifest the truth to every man's conscience as in the sight of God. There are some temptations to idleness. Ministers should be always fishing or mending their nets. Let your sermons be made

NO. III.

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