the soul, enable that soul to work out its own salvation, or to evidence the same by all those acts which, whether in the minister or to the private Christian, are "to the praise of the glory of his grace." And these have been seen in the writings of the apostle, and in the life of our beloved brother.

As the preacher clearly proves by the many interesting particulars in reference to the departed, which are embodied in his discourse.

A Doctrinal Catechism of the Church of England, in which all the answers are given in the language of the Homilies, Articles, and Liturgy. To which are added Scripture Proofs: and also a chapter on ministers, showing who are the true preachers of Christ. By T. B. B. London B. Wertheim, 14, Paternoster Row.

:

THIS work is comprised in eight chapters, the heads of which are as follows:-Creation and providence; the fall of our first parents; the helplessness of man; the plan of salvation; the means of salvation; the means of grace; the last judgment; on ministers. In the first six chapters we can follow the author; the position which he takes up in reference to the several points of doctrine upon which he treats, is strictly scriptural, except in one instance, where two of the answers are tinctured with that bigotry which we understood had been the occasion of the withdrawment of the work from general adoption in the schools for whose use it was prepared. In the eighth chapter, on ministers, we altogether differ from the Rev. Author, and we do most earnestly beseech him to examine the dangerous ground which he occupies; need the Rev. Gent. be reminded, that while condemning indiscriminately all those who venture to secede from the Establishment, that he is condemning some of the most useful and most highly honoured servants of the Most High God, whose names are dear, and shall remain so to the latest period of time; and whose works will be handed down from generation to generation with increased estimation? And the fact once established that these men were, and are, men of God, need the Rev. Gent. be admonished that he is taking up arms against some of the Lord's elect people, at the very moment that electing love and discriminating choice are a theme upon which he professedly loves to dwell; and that whoso toucheth the people of God, "touch the apple of his eye?"

But while we scruple not to assert, that the arguments which the Rev. Gent. brings in support of his belief, that every dissenting minister takes upon himself that important office, and that he is as much under the condemnation of God as were Korah, Dathan, and Abiram ; are as absurd and fallacious, as they are uncharitable and unchristianlike. We may be reminded that the proofs which he has brought in support of his views, are given in the language of the Church of England itself; we reply, that the circumstances under which she was then placed, were very different to the position she now occupies. At the time those canons were written, the Church was but emerging from Popery, beneath whose tyrannous power she had groaned; hence as a safeguard against renewed attacks, the Reformers penned the strong

language which the Rev. T. B. B. has now directed into a channel the remotest from their conception, and in unison with which was instituted the particular mode of baptism still adopted in the Established Church, by which individuals under the characters of godfathers and godmothers promise to the best of their ability to train up their infant charge in the fear of God, and in opposition to the hateful practices countenanced by the Romish church, with which they had at that time been so greatly conversant. Taking this view of the subject, we presume many of our Dissenting brethren will admit that there is more propriety in the church baptismal service, which regarded in any other light is most erroneous and unscriptural.

We are more disposed to let what we have already advanced suffice, than to render "railing for railing." Did we feel inclined to go into minutiæ, we should ask the Rev. T. B. B., whether in his attempt to limit the Holy One of Israel, to prescribe certain bounds by which the Almighty should act for the ingathering of his chosen people, he had overlooked the inapt correspondence subsisting between the ministers of Christ now, and those which lived in apostolic times? While we dare not presume to say-with plain matter of fact before us to the contrary that there have not been, and still are, men of God in the Church of England, we pause to inquire who and what were the apostles in whose succession some pride themselves in the descent? Who were they? Illiterate, uneducated men. What were they? A company of poor fishermen with whom the Lord met "at the receipt of custom,' and sent forth into his vineyard with no other preparation than the constant and all-sufficient instruction of God the Holy Ghost. What he did then he continues to do. He, as Lord of all, calls into his service whom he will, and he sends them when, where, and how he will. Some he prepares at the very seats of learning, in those spacious edifices wherein are nurtured men of profoundest talent and ability; while others he instructs at the tinker's anvil, the cobbler's stall, or the coalheaver's barge. "Who art thou, O man, that repliest against God? Shall the thing say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus ?"

A Memorial of the late Rev. Watts Wilkinson, B.A.; consisting of a Memoir of his Life, and Sermons preached by him in the years 1839 and 1840. With a Portrait. London published at "the Pulpit" Office, Glasshouse Yard.

In the volume before us, we are furnished with many interesting particulars in reference to that eminent servant of God, the late Rev. Watts Wilkinson, which have not, that we are aware, previously appeared before the public; together with a number of sermons preached by him on various occasions. The book will be prized by those who are now deprived of the privilege of hearing him; but whose delight it is to contemplate that happiness and rest into which he has entered. May a goodly number of his hearers prove to be "followers of them who through faith and patience now inherit the promises "

CORRESPONDENCE.

A LETTER OF THE LATE THOMAS HARDY, OF LEICESTER,

To the Editor of the Gospel Magazine.

MY DEAR BROTHER IN THE Lord,

In the following letter of my late invaluable friend, Mr. Hardy, my own exercises of mind are so fully expressed, and the character and conduct of many of the professed followers of Christ are so correctly portrayed, that by its insertion in your miscellany, it may come under the notice of, and prove a great blessing to, many of your readers.

The good Lord alone can counteract and effectually cure us of the Goddishonouring spirit of pride, self-will, and striving for the highest seat, rather than the low place of deep abasement and heavenly love. Oh for more of the mind of Christ, who made himself of no reputation; and, like his distinguished servant Paul, may every sincere follower of Christ descend yet lower and lower in their own esteem, until each shall exclaim, "I am nothing! I am nothing! but Christ is all in ALL!" The Lord hasten it in his time. Ever yours in the Unity of the Spirit,

Horselydown.

BELOVED IN CHRIST,

D. DENHAM.

My writing seems to myself to be almost at an end-desire fails-love is palsy-struck-the clay tenement is tumbling in about my ears, and I should think myself buried alive, if my soul did not seem more dead than my body. I fear I do not half live the life of faith, nor a quarter that of sense. It is true, I fret, and grieve, and groan (if these be signs of life), and am but barren still. I seem like Solomon's sluggard, that "desireth, and hath nothing." Sometimes I can gasp out, "Wretch that I am!" a companion of thieves, dwelling (and, oh! I think often peaceably and deceivedly quiet) amid swarms of the vilest thoughts and lusts, neglects, and words and acts, that pillage my Master's whole revenue of daily glory from me: and this, while I am so avowedly, openly, and extensively professing myself the recruiting sergeant of his honours; and, bad as I am myself, I can yet find fault with others, and sometimes fret bitterly, if I see them outwardly worse than myself. O how I do at times sigh over the sad slumbering and sleeping, wherewith in these evil days all the wise as well as foolish virgins seem overcome! but the lethargy has me in its silken chains, as firmly bound, I fear, as most; and though the raps of godly fear do sometimes open my drowsy eyes, and heave my leaden head for a moment, yet in an instant I am down on the pillow of forgetfulness again, and dream and snore as if the Bridegroom would never come! and the hope of heaven was the land of poppies! One thing I do sorely mourn, the unbridled dominion of that painted Jezebel, cONFORMITY TO THIS EVIL ACCURSED WORLD-alias EASHION-alias FESPECTABILITY. No words can paint the subtle poison of this naked harlot's bewitching cup; quick as lightning, and diffusive as air-it pierces every heart, and binds it entirely, or shackles it wofully. She enters every apartment, pervades every walk of life, attires the bed, and spreads the board; is cook, and weaver, and architect, and tailor; dresses our heads, models our hair, and puts the charms of politeness in our mouths; she sucks like the horse-leech, and is greedy as hell;

and the kisses of her impudent face, "in the black and dark nights" of wealth and honour, steal away our hearts, and leave us helpless as the dead. Lord of glory! how art thou insulted and dishonoured by our adulterous dalliances with this daughter of hell! How art thou suffering in thy needy members for want of those sacrifices which we are daily making to her lusts; and if I say, I am not defiled, my own heart should condemn me. With bitter lamentation, I survey the breaches of Zion, the discord among brethren, which I everywhere behold. O how all seek their own authority, honour, profit. Silly as babes, we differ about our toys; and, wicked as devils, we abhor reconciliation. This alone makes me desirous of preaching no more, except it were where simplicity and poverty have handcuffed this dividing devil. Such are my griefs; I hope you will take my arm, and be my fellowmourners. But amid all this (which is no new thing in the church) I would and must take comfort; I enjoy some blessed tokens for good within, and see them often without. I am like a foolish and a froward child, upon which the parent must not smile for fear of giving him unwarrantable liberties; and yet he partakes as deeply of parental love as any of his fellows, only it is dealt to him in the forms most distasteful to his wishes-those of restraint and chastening. I am ever provided for in every real need; always carried through in the face of ten thousand fears. I have always something to say in my public work; and I trust generally with some profit to those that hear, and often with much humiliation to myself. I have some faint views of the preciousness of Christ; but fear so good as he, and so bad as I, cannot belong to each other. But these are the scuffles of sense and reason; yet though I ride such a rough sea, my anchor has been grounded here for many years. God would save me without myself. Electing love gave me eternal life, and Christ the way to it, before time began. Christ gave himself to me, and for me, eighteen hundred years ago; and none, without a victory over God himself, can possibly lay any claim to me. Beside all this, God the Holy Ghost did take possession of me in the name of Christ, and did assure me, that Christ did and does nothing as Jesus Christ but for me; put me in possession of all his blood to cleanse my sins, all his obedience to justify my person; and, declared moreover, that Christ must be fellow commoner together with me in life and death, and heaven and glory for ever and ever.

T. H.

ORIGINAL LETTER TO A MINISTER.

"Now to grace,

EBENEZER! Ebenezer! Hitherto the Lord hath helped us. as debtors, we are spared another year! To see mercies past we still review: the Lord has helped us hitherto!"

Dear brother and sister in Christ Jesus, our everlasting Father and our elder Brother.-Oh! what endearing relationship we stand in to each other, even brothers and sisters of one Father, heirs to one estate. Seeing, then, that we belong to one family, and have a family feeling for each other, so as to bear one another's burdens; to weep with those who weep, and rejoice with those who do rejoice; and as it is upon family affairs I write, I make no apology for again scribbling to you. Besides, my dear brother, the very spiritually-affectionate manner you were pleased to acknowledge the relationship in your truly kind pastoral letter, for which I esteem you very highly in the Lord, and return you many thanks. Through the tender mercies of a covenant God, we are spared to see the commencement of another year. I think it always a very solemn period to the Christian: it is a season when the miser counts over his gold; when the merchant takes

stock, and the worldling makes merry. And is it not a suitable season for the Christian to count over his riches, and, in looking back on all the way the Lord our God hath led us, take stock, and see how matters stand between God and our souls; and what we have gained by trading during the past year? Is any merry? Let him sing psalms. I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath dealt bountifully with me. I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath done marvellous things. I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously! Come, my dear brother, and magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. Come, let us sing unto the Lord a new song; let us sing praises unto our God: upon an instrument of ten strings will I sing of justice and judgment, of mercy and truth, of righteousness and peace, of everlasting love and unchanging faithfulness. I will sing of wisdom, sanctification, and redemption. I'll sing the sweet promise of his grace, and the performing God. Shall all the wonders he has wrought be lost in silence, and forgot? No! God forbid! He hath said, "Thou shalt remember all the way the Lord thy God hath led thee;"-for myself, I can say these forty years, having, with the year that is gone, closed forty years. And, as I now enter on a new era, 1841, I take my motto for the present year from the 115th Psalm, "The Lord hath been mindful of us: he will bless us!" Methinks you will say, "My sister has chosen an endless motto." Blessed be God, it has neither beginning nor end: it had its origin from everlasting, and was coeval with eternity. Do you not think, my dear brother, I have chosen an excellent book to take stock with? Oh, for the pen of a ready arithmetician! In natural figures, I am no scholar; but in spiritual figures, I can cast up accounts with the great apostle of the Gentiles, and reckon that the sufferings of this present state are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed: for our light afflictions, which are but for a moment, are only working out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for Christ, having suffered the loss of all things; and so count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him; for I reckon, that when this earthly house of my tabernacle is dissolved, I have a building, not made with hands-eternal in the heavens; Christ having made a blessed exchange with me-he having taken my sin, and given me righteousness; my poverty, and given me his riches! By his death, purchased my life, blotted out all the handwriting of ordinances that was against me, cancelled all my debts, and given me a receipt in full; so that I can bring all my creditors to one Bondsman! Justice is satisfied; the law is honoured; I am acquitted; Satan silenced. I am already in possession of the legacies he left me on will, tribulation and peace; and have a copy of my titledeeds from the eternal register of that estate that is in reserve for me, even the spirit of adoption; enabling me to cry, Abba, Father! Although my debts have been enormous, and I have been insolvent; yet I find, in casting accounts, that I have a receipt for all my debts, past, present, and to come. "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions: for mine own sake, I have cast all thy sins behind my back, and if they are sought for they shall not be found! Who, then, shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? Oh! for this love, let rocks and hills their lasting silence break! Not one thing hath failed of all the good things the Lord my God spake concerning me. His eyes have been upon me from the beginning of the year even unto the end; and, having obtained help, I continue to the present moment, the living, to praise Him. Bless the Lord, oh my soul! and this leads me to my motto for the new year, "The Lord hath been mindful of us he will bless us." He was mindful of us when he was "set up from everlasting ;" and his delights were with the sons of men, when he went