though I believe all tending to "the praise of God." There is "Rebecca Street," recounting the workings of Israel's covenant God in the hearts of his people; "Jazer, of Ropley," pourtraying in truth's radiant colours the dawning glory of the holy Church, and on the other hand, Mr. Gowring recording with the pen of verity, the early history of Christianity; "Old Crispin " making manifest "what the bishops are about," and that faithful prophet, Mr. Irons, explaining the "Chambers of Imagery," so that with regard to the Magazine itself, I am sure no alteration could possibly be made for the better; as for reducing the price, it is now as cheap, if not the cheapest publication propagating the same precious doctrines, while I think my Christian brethren too frequently compare the cost of such works with papers," or such like, forgetting the amazing inequality in the number Penny Sunday Newsof readers.

66

The plan you have suggested I trust the present readers will act upon, viz.: "each one to solicit his neighbour, or all his neighbours." Upon this hint I have acted, and am happy to say have succeeded well. Brethren! let us not be outstripped in zeal for the circulation of that which we know to be truth, by others who vend those magazines of a semi-christian character. If thy friend is poor, present him with one; and if, during the whole year, one spiritual emotion is called up, thou wilt be well repaid. If thou knowest of a sinner living hard by, try to get him to read it; for the GoSPEL MAGAZINE savours of Jesus. any of thy brethren love the glittering ore too well to part with so small a moiety to read of such wonderful and glad tidings as this monthly courier affords, give him one, remembering you will be fulfilling our Lord's injunction, saying, "If a man compel thee to go with him one mile, go with him two."

If

The time is fast approaching when none will be permitted to buy or sell excepting they who have the mark of the beast, consequently the sale of this, and every other good work, will be prohibited. Spread "the truth as it is in Jesus," while you have the means, for "the night

cometh."

MY DEAR SIR,

I am, dear Editor, and Christian kinsman,

To the Editor of the Gospel Magazine.

"LAUDI DEI."

Brussels, 16th December, 1845.

For some months past I have had the intention of writing to inform you of a fact which, when known, must encourage you. The GOSPEL MAGAZINE finds its way to the Continent, and there by a few is read with pleasure and with profit. Perhaps you will like to know how it first found its way there. I will tell you how, and it will be a hint to others to go and do likewise. About two years since, a lady on leaving England to travel on the Continent, put several old numbers of

the Magazine into her trunk. She had received a letter of introduction from the late Mr. Collyer to one of his friends in the town from whence I write. The lady spoke of the GOSPEL MAGAZINE as "giving a faithful sound," and left with her new friend the old numbers she had packed in her trunk. The friend was so pleased with what she read in them, that she immediately became a subscriber, and lent them to others. Having seen them in her hands, I followed her example, and ordered a copy for myself. We have warmly recommended it to many of our friends both in England and on the Continent, and I am certain that for 1846 you will have at least four or five new subscribers.

If every subscriber took with him "in his walks abroad" a number or two, and recommended it as he went along, you would most probably profit by it as you have done by the lady's visit to the Continent. I do not think that the Magazine is sufficiently known.

But this is not the principal object now of my writing you. I have read your appeal in the December number, and I am deeply grieved, I am filled with confusion at the facts you state. What! when the press is pouring forth its opposition to the truth by thousands and hundreds of thousands of voices from the avowed and open enemy of the Gospel, to the preachers of another gospel, the one voice which is lifted amidst such noise and confusion must be silenced for want of support from those who are the disciples of Him who was rich, but who for their sakes became poor, and humbled himself to the death of the cross! No, Sir, this can never be. Hold on, my dear Sir. You have told the Lord, like one of old, that you only are left, and that they seek your life to take it away. I am sure He will reply to you: "Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every knee which hath not kissed him." Yes, Sir, the Lord has still his hidden ones wandering in deserts, in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. They will rally around their David, constrained by His love, and glory in unfurling that banner of truth which He has put into their hands. The GOSPEL MAGAZINE must not be given up, nor must you be minus three or four pounds per month in its publication. I would hope for the honour of the Gospel, that many of the remarks you made in your appeal were too severe on those to whom they were addressed; if they were not, I trust the Holy Spirit will have so blessed your remarks as to make those persons feel that covetousness is idolatry, and that for such things the wrath of God falls on the children of the world. Were I near you, and you would allow me the favour of talking the matter over with you, I should be better able to say how far my thoughts would be profitable to 'your work; now I can only draw a bow at a venture. May the Holy Spirit direct the arrow. When I thought of writing you some months since, I intended to have asked whether you could not possibly reduce the price of the Magazine. I did not expect that it would thereby become a popular one, but I am convinced it would be put within the reach of many of God's poor, rich in faith, who are deprived of the pleasure of reading it now. Be assured, the price is too high for the purses of many of His dear people. I did not expect that you could do this and pay your expenses, for I

concluded the high price was owing to the paucity of subscribers, but little did I think you were a loser by the publication. I had formed a plan in my own mind, which, if carried out, would satisfy all parties. I said to myself, if forty or fifty of the more wealthy amongst God's people, would subscribe one pound each per ann., the price could be reduced, the expenses still covered, the number of subscribers increased, and many more of God's children refreshed in the wilderness. A longer and a higher dike would thus be set up against the torrent of error which is deluging our native country. This is a plan I would still propose, and I shall be much disappointed if I am told that fifty such men cannot be found, or twenty-five who will subscribe two pounds per ann. I will engage to find in this place, for the next year, two at one ponnd each, or one at two pounds.

I think, Sir, that we are too much scattered, and too little known to each other. In olden times, those that feared the Lord spoke often to each other, and the Lord hearkened and heard; but we stand aloof from each other. Ought we not to make some effort to become better acquainted? Are not the times big with events? Is not a crisis expected by almost every one? Who can tell what will be the results? Has not Christ said, "When the Son of man cometh shall he find faith on the earth?" Coming events cast their shadows before them." May we not look forward to persecution and bitter afflictions for all those who love those truths advocated in your Magazine, and revealed in the word of God? Already they are hated and shunned; the next step will be to persecute and to hunt down. May the Holy Spirit clothe us with the whole armour of God against the day of battle.

(To be continued.)

REVIEW.

Priscilla. The Ancient Roman Catholic Faith contrasted with Modern Popery. Being an Exposition of the inspired Epistle to the Church in Rome. By JOSEPH IRONS, Minister of Grove Chapel, Camberwell, Author of "Jazer,' 19.66 Nathaniel," &c. Printed for the Author, and sold at his house, Camberwell, and by all Booksellers.

INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS.

MR. IRONS' preaching is peculiarly the defensive, and this is the characteristic of his writings. He has uniformly stood the antagonist of Popery and Arminianism; and what, under God, he has said would come to pass with respect to the former has come to pass almost to the letter; what remains to be fulfilled is now rapidly fulfilling. We have for nearly twenty years believed with him that Popery is so congenial to the fleshly mind, and that its agents have been so tampered with by the vast body of religionists of the day, that assuredly it was making secret but most effectual progress, and must (without God's gracious inter

pass on.

ference) ultimately prevail. And now let the reader look back five, ten, or twenty years for confirmation of these opinions. Let him reflect on the opposition which was for a series of years shown to the passing of the Catholic Relief Bill, when (and justly) Papists were denied the privilege of a seat in Parliament; not merely as men were they rejected, for that would have been unjust; but as professedly "religious" men-— as men advocating the most damnable doctrines, which laid siege to the very foundation and root of our noble Protestant constitution, as men wishing to ride rough-shod over the minds of their fellow-men, they were landably resisted. Year after year the bill was thrown out. If we mistake not, it was when asked to pass it, or support it, that good old George the Third, of blessed memory, said, "I can lay my head upon a block, but can never viclate my coronation oath." We The opponents to the bill either died off, or their prejudices died away. George the Third died-the Duke of York died-the Duke of Wellington's opposition was either silenced or extinguished, and George the Fourth, in the full remembrance of the awful responsibility he had taken upon himself when crowned as a Protestant monarch-if remembrance or conscience he had any-passed the bill; and for that one act—one of the blackest among the black acts of his black character-he was culogized by multitudes, especially Dissenting ministers. Well, how does the act work? "A little leaven leavens the whole lump." A vacillating Peel-a daring O'Connell-and a Popish Shiel, shall so insidiously yet so successfully play their part, as to sway the minds of men ignorant almost of the first great principles of our Protestant faith, and render the British Houses of Parliament little better than a senatehouse wherein to deliberate how to disseminate Popery. Contemplate our downward progress year after year, until the session of 1845, when scarcely a vestige of Protestantism is left. Among the Bishops who sit in the House of Lords professedly to watch the best interests of our Protestant faith, one-and we had nearly said but one-was to be found who came forward in a frank-a full-a fearless avowal of his determined hostility to Popery, and that one boldly stated, that as an eyewitness of the nature and operations of Popery in poor, deluded Ireland, he was ready instantly to follow his predecessors to the stake, in advocacy of the principles of Protestantism. But where else was there a man to be found adopting such language? No! supineness-indifference-yea, worse, a determined resolve to advocate and introduce Popery has insinuated itself into the hearts of the government of this country.

Thus far by way of introduction, which, though an apparent digression, stands in immediate connection with the work before us. As it has inet with considerable opposition, we purpose a somewhat lengthened digest of the work, with frequent extracts, in our next Number.

CITY STEAM PRESS, LONG LANE: D. A. DOUDNEY.

THE

GOSPEL MAGAZINE.

"COMFORT YE, COMFORT YE, MY PEOPLE, SAITH YOUR GOD." "ENDEAVOURING TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE." JESUS CHRIST, THE SAME YESTERDAY, TO-DAY, AND FOR EVER. WHOM TO KNOW IS LIFE ETERNAL."

VOL. VI.]

FEBRUARY, 1846.

[No. 62.

CONVERSATIONS AT THE TEA-TABLE.-No. II.

Present.-PAUL-PETER-DAVID-JOHN-THOMAS-MARY— LYDIA-MARTHA-HANNAH-MAGDALENE.

Peter (addressing Paul and Darid). Welcome, brother Paul, and thon, dear brother David, to this our little assembly. May our dear Lord and Master present himself in our midst to-night, and may the sweet savour, dew, and power of the Holy Ghost be richly felt by each soul present.

David.-Twill be but a barren season otherwise, brother Peter.

Paul. But what a mercy, dear brethren and sisters, that our dear Head and Lord has said, "Wheresoever I record my name, there will I come to thee and bless thee," and "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them;" and whether we realize him or not, he is here.

John.-Oh! that his dear Majesty may manifestly be present to-night; so that our hearts and affections may be attracted towards himself.

Peter. In the midst of that creature-destitution and those corrupt feelings of which I feel myself to be so much the subject, I begin to recognize one special mercy.

Thomas.-What can that be, Peter? Why, these things appear to be anything but mercy to me.

No. 62, VOL. VI.-New Series.

E