scriptural weapons and in Christian kindness, feeling that he himself also is but a man. His primary object is to show the utter fallacy of a position which Dr. Henderson has taken up, in which he says

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That nothing that was spoken to literal Israel has, or was ever designed of God to have, any ulterior, or spiritual, reference to the Church of Christ ; "" that such spiritual application of the things spoken of, or to, literal Israel, is wholly unnecessary;" that the theory of a double sense is unwarranted, there being no Scripture authority in its favour;" "that whatever applications are made by one of the sacred writers, of what has been published by another, whether for the purpose of illustration, of excitement, or of confirmation, from no single passage can it be shown, that the words, as they stand in the original author, were designed to be taken in more meanings than one." (Comm. Introduc. pp. 29, 30.) Now what is this evangelical canon of Dr. Henderson, but a principle drawn from the very bowels of infidelizing neology!

What can be more destructive to the safety and comfort of the church of God than this? If this theory be correct, then "we are of all men most miserable;" we renounce our belief, we abandon our religion as vain, and we become infidels of the most obstinate cast. The glory of our Bible has been invaded, its beautiful order thrown into confusion, and the whole scheme of redemption rendered an imperfect farce! But, beloved, we have not so learned Christ; nor, under the sacred teachings and gracious anointings of God the Holy Ghost, have we so read his most holy word; we know and rejoice in the fact, that no Scripture is of private interpretation," and "that whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."

Taking a summary view of Dr. Henderson's opinion, Mr. Cole says, Dr. Henderson's mind is this,-That the Bible, and every individual part of it, has, like every human book, but one meaning, or sense, or application; and that whatever applications of historical, literal, or ceremonial particulars, in one part of the Bible, are applied to spiritual things in the other ;-such applications are mere casual, and accidental illustrations, &c.! such literal particulars never having been originally designed of God to refer, by any ulterior meaning, or application, to spiritual things!

Mr. Cole then goes on to show Dr. Henderson's error, by the quotation and scrupulous examination of a variety of passages of Scripture from the Old Testament, tending most clearly to show that though spoken to the primitive church, and highly adapted to their then condition, that they had likewise a most decided reference to the church in after ages.

Let us illustrate (says Mr. Cole) the Commentator's meaning in this Gospel law for interpreting the Holy Scriptures, by adducing a few passages of the prophet Isaiah to which he has applied it; though it is carried out through his whole book; and designed by him, to apply to all the portions of the Bible, whether historical, ceremonial, or prophetic.

In the first chapter of the prophet before us, he applies the principle thus.-He asserts, that as this chapter refers to Israel literally, it has that literal reference only: and that, consequently, the passage, From the soul of the foot, even unto the head, there is no soundness in it, but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment; refers alone to the disorganized state of the Jewish national polity; and that, to make it have any spiritual reference to the original and total depravity of human nature is totally unwarranted by any just principle of biblical interpretation! (Comm. on Pass.)

By the same evangelical Canon, all the other passages of the same chapter are to be shut out from a spiritual, and restricted to a literal, application. When God says by the prophet (ver. 18), Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool,-that heavenly passage is to be confined to literal Israel; it has nothing to do with the spiritual church of Christ, nor the church of Christ with it, in a spiritual sense. To adduce it as representing the God of mercy reasoning with guilty, ruined sinners, by his written or preached word, and pointing them to the atoning blood of Christ for pardon and purity, is not warranted by any just principle of biblical interpretation!

Again when Jehovah declares (ver. 27) that Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness, the words have no other meaning, reference, or extent, than to the literal captivity of Israel in Babylon! To use them, now, in the church of Christ, as containing God's promise, purpose, and way of a sinner's salvation, by bringing him into judgment for his sins, and then justifying him, and clothing him with the righteousness of Christ our Lord, is not warranted by any just principle of biblical interpretation!

In like manner, all those evangelical and heavenly portions of the prophet, which have ever been the school, the delight, the comfort, and the support, or the warning, of the Redeemer's church on earth, have hitherto, according to Dr. Henderson's Canon, been erroneously and delusively misapplied. For instance, that glorious promise and decree of Jehovah, And it shall come to pass in that day that the GREAT TRUMPET shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish, in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem, refers, as its only meaning, to the literal gathering of the Jews from captivity, after the destruction of Babylon by Cyrus, and from the places whither they might have partially dispersed; but it is not designed to have any meaning or reference to the blowing of the great trumpet, the PREACHING OF THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL, to the end of time, and the gathering of God's elect thereby from all the places of this world in which they lie, into the mountain of the church of his redeemed, there to worship him in spirit and in truth, till their final translation to the mount of glory. (Comm. on Pass.)

Also, that text (Isai. xli. 17, 18) which graciously secures all needful spiritual provision for the church of Christ, in all times and states of her affliction and destitution, When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them; I will open rivers in the high places, and fountains in the midst of valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water, has no other reference than to the promised supplies of all bodily and temporal necessities unto the Jews, as they should journey through the desert, in their return from the Babylonish captivity. (Comm. on Pass.)

Again, that memorable portion (Isai. xlix. 14-16) which has lifted up, and still is lifting up, thousands of misgiving, desponding, backslidden, and fallen sinners, and placing them safely in the bosom of God's everlasting mercy and unchangeable faithfulness, But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me, has no other application than to literal Jerusalem in captivity, to whom Jehovah still pathetically declares his tender and paternal regard. (Comm. on Pass.)

So also, that divine and evangelical portion of the prophet (chap. xxxiii. ver. 20-24), Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. But there the glorious Lord shall be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams,—and the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick, and the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity, was never designed to give a heavenly description of the Gospel church in all the beauty of her spiritual worship, and the eternal pardon, peace, health, and security of her worshippers; but relates to literal Zion only, and her national peace, and safety from invading foes, under the surrounding protection of Jehovah her great deliverer.

Once more: Dr. Henderson asserts that Isaiah, 1. 11, Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, and compass yourselves about with sparks; walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have at my hand, ye shall lie down in sorrow, has none other application than to the proud self-righteous Jews, who rejected the Messiah at his appearance in the flesh. We, however, are assured, that it has reference to all pseudo-Gospelists in all times, and throughout all generations; declaring that all they who have assumed to themselves, and clothed themselves with, a profession of the Gospel of Christ, and have extended to others the same destroying profession, by the sparks of human zeal, and the flames of mere natural affections, destitute all the while of the truth of the Gospel, and of the regenerating and anointing influences of the Holy Spirit, will, in their end, have none other reward at the righteous hand of God, than, with the wicked, to lie down in eternal sorrow! as it is written, Whose end shall be according to their works! (2 Cor. xi. 15.)

But to multiply passages, is both incompatible with our present limits and intent, and also wholly superfluous. Suffice it to say, that this desolating principle of Scripture interpretation, which we have thus illustrated by its application to the first chapter of the prophet, and other places, runs through, and characterizes the whole of Dr. Henderson's book. The divine denunciations against Babylon, Egypt, Moab, Tyre, &c., are restricted to those cities, and made to have, now, no reference whatever to the enemies of God and of his spiritual church and people. (Comm. Introduc. p. 33.) Those glorious chapters of the prophet, from xl. to xlii. (inclusive) are confined generally and exclusively to the restoration of the Jews from Babylon; to except an isolated portion, here and there, which is referred directly, and only, to the spiritual kingdom of the Messiah. And though chapters liii. to lix. (inclusive) are considered as containing much that refers to the Redeemer's kingdom, and to that only, they are held as embracing much also which pertains to the Jews, and to their restoration from Babylon; and to those literal circumstances alone. The last seven chapters Dr. Henderson refers to the Millennial reintegration of the Jews into the church of God, and to that subject exclusively; for our evangelical theologian's cardinal Canon is, that the Word of God, like all other books, has one meaning, and only one, and that no other can be looked for on any just principle of biblical interpretation! (Comm. Introduc. pp. 29, 30.)

We purpose returning to the subject in an early Number.

Brief Memoir of the Life of the late Lieutenant Francis Jeffreys, of the 70th Bengal Infantry. London: Seeley, Fleet Street; Cobb, Hertford.

THIS little work contains the history of a young man who for many years stood high in a profession of religion; but respecting which some one or two persons with whom it was his happiness to be acquainted, entertained an opinion (not without cause) that it was nothing more than a fleshly confidence, in contradistinction to the power of faith, the work of the operation of the Holy Ghost upon the heart. This led to an exchange of letters, which were made instrumental in showing him his pharisaic delusion, and eventually brought him to the feet of Jesus as a poor needy sinner. The Master heard, proclaimed pardon and peace to the suppliant's soul, and shortly afterwards took him home to himself, at the age of one or two-and-thirty. We earnestly recommend the little work.

The Baptism of the Spirit; or, Circumcision of the Heart. A Companion in Tribulation. By JOHN WADE. London: Simpkin and Co.; Palmer and Son. Pp. 400.

In a former Number we referred, with considerable satisfaction, to this

work, as being the production of one well and deeply taught in the school of Christ. The first volume is now completed, and its contents fully bear out its title, "a Companion in Tribulation." A correspondent suggests, that the arrangement of the volume would have been better had the letters been classified; this defect, however. may be rectified by an index, specifying the various letters which were sent to one and the same individual. This will tend to exhibit, by Mr. Wade's replies, the growth which those individuals manifested.

Melodia Divina; or, Sacred Companion for the Pianoforte; an extensive Collection of the most favourite Psalm and Hymn Tunes, Pieces, &c. used in all Churches, Chapels, &c. throughout the Kingdom; adapted to appropriate words, compiled from the works of Watts, Wesley, Cowper, Heber, Montgomery, Newton, Doddridge, &c. &c. Arranged for the Voice and Pianoforte. By J. FAWCETT. London: J. Hart, Hatton Garden.

MR. HART has just completed this beautiful selection of tunes. In a former review we expressed our satisfaction; with the numbers he has issued since that notice appeared, we are no less pleased. They are selected with considerable taste, and set, we presume, with superior judgment. In the concluding number we perceive the publisher has introduced that delightful hymn of dear Hart's, "Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched ;' a piece which will never lose its sweetness, nor its adaptation to a poor sinner's circumstances, while one remains on earth to be saved. We cordially recommend the "Melodia Divina" as a most valuable production.

SIR,

To the Editor of the Gospel Magazine.

I cannot forbear noticing an expression of your correspondent "D. F.," in his excellent remarks upon Gospel obedience. He says, "a head gaudily crowned with flowers, is an ill omen that your heart is right with God." Does "D. F." mean to infer from this, that, if the arrangement of these decorations were tasteful, modest, and elegant, instead of gaudy, there would be less objection to them? Does he confine the evil to vulgar excess? It would seem so, though I cannot think he meant this.

The style of dress in the present day among Christian females, is but too lightly considered. I have seen the mimic flower mingled with the grey locks of grandmothers, whose lips dropped Gospel honey, and whose views of truth were rich and blessed. I have seen the youthful members of a Gospel disciplined church approaching the Lord's house more like walking gardens than plants of the Lord's planting. I have noticed the exposed neck, the studied air, the fashionable attire, till I have thought that a pulpit exhortation or a pastoral rebuke, was absolutely necessary from a faithful shepherd. But ministers of Christ's Gospel are lax in these points, both in their families and in their own persons; what wonder then that they shrink from inflicting a wound which cuts so deep in themselves?

S. S.

POETRY

OH THAT I HAD WINGS.

ANTICIPATION OF THE WORLD OF GLORY.

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.-2 Cor. v. 1.