But here safety dwells. Every meddling and intrusive avocation. is secluded. Silence holds the door against the strife of tongues, and all the impertinences of idle conversation. The busy swarm of vain images, and cajoling temptations which beset us, with a buzzing importunity, amidst the gaieties of life, are chased by these thickening shades. Here I may, without disturbance, commune with my own heart, and learn that best of sciences, to know myself. Here the soul may rally her dissipated powers, and grace recover its native energy.

This is the opportunity to rectify every evil impression, to expel the poison, and guard against the contagion of corrupting examples. This is the place where I may, with advantage, apply myself to subdue the rebel within, and be master, not of a sceptre, but of myself. -Throng then, ye ambitious, the levees of the powerful; I will be punctual in my assignations with solitude. To a mind intent upon its own improvement, solitude has charms incomparably more engaging than the entertainments presented in the theatre, or the honours conferred in the drawing-room..

FRAGMENTS.

IT is absurd to talk of a man's acquiring religion, it would be as reasonable to talk that a man can make himself and obtain the functions of his natural life. "He has made us, and not we ourselves," refers to spiritual as well as to natural creation.

Joyous moments to a saint are like fair weather to a traveller, very pleasant, but very uncertain. The traveller is often obliged to make his way in dark and stormy weather, and so is the christian pilgrim in his upward journey: the bright and cheering beams of the Sun of Righteousness obscured by the clouds of sin and affliction, often totally without the light of comfort, but never without the light of safety.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

The Third Volume of the WORKS of the ENGLISH and SCOTTISH REFORMERS, Edited by THOMAS RUSSELL, A. M. is just published.

A new and much improved Edition of the late Rev. Dr. HAWKER'S CONCORDANCE and DICTIONARY to the BIBLE, 8vo. printed with a large type.

The Sixth Volume of the Uniform Edition of the WORKS of the late Rev. ROBERT HAWKER, D. D.

Also, Mr. MANN's new Volume, entitled, TWELVE LECTURES ON ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY AND NONCONFORMITY, designed to exhibit a brief view of the principal Facts and Persons mentioned in Church History.

Just published, price 4s. hot-pressed and neatly bound, embellished with several beautiful Engravings by Mr. U. SEARS, and handsomely Printed by W. SEARS, a new and cheap ANNUAL, entitled, AFFECTION'S OFFERING, A BOOK FOR ALL SEASONS; but especially designed as a New Year's Gift for Young Persons. It will be a most convenient and appropriate Prize Book for Schools.

REVIEW.

On Completeness of Ministerial Qualifications, by John Howard Hinton, A.M.

THE subterfuge to which Mr. Hinton has resorted, is of too frail and cobweb-like a texture, to conceal his real motives for thus ushering into being his heterogeneous notions. Judging from the matter he has thus obtruded on the attention of the public, we think he would have acted more wisely had he still possessed his former convictions, and have persevered in resisting the importunities of his friends to publish; which, though late in the application, might, nevertheless, arise from "the excitement of personal partiality," rather than a sound and matured judgment on what is or is not likely to prove of general benefit.

Nothing is more common with authors of this class, than to affect a shew of humility by apologies of inability to treat the subject of enquiry. Our author, by saying too much, has withdrawn the veil which he intended as a covering for his latent spring of action, and his legitimate intentions are seen undisguised so as not to be mistaken.

On a perusal of the title of this work, (a subject seldom treated, and less frequently to purpose) we had hoped to have seen a true portrait of the ministerial character not deduced from reason, but from the sacred record; and to have been gratified by well delineated proofs of what constitutes the evidences of his holy calling by the testimony of the Holy Ghost, and of the nature of his qualification, with which of necessity he ought to be endowed; but, no sooner do we enter the portals of his discourse, than we lamentably perceived that we had anticipated prematurely.

The following extract will furnish our readers with a clue to the sentiment of this scribe, and evince his puerile views on the subject of discussion. See sermon p. 7.

"Commissioned by him to represent to a guilty world all that he has declared in his gospel, and, by the most cogent arguments, and the most affectionate methods, to persuade men to accept his friendship, it is to us that his interest in this respect is committed. He employs no other living instrumentality. He leaves the work in our hands, and what we do will be all that is done for its progress."

In his prefatory remarks he abruptly denies that Christ died for the elect only, thereby inferring, that in some cases his blood was shed in vain. In his progress, he discountenances and disavows the doctrine of the Adam-fall in its fullest latitude; and appears unconscious that his death is spiritual and irrecoverable, that he has no will but to do evil, that he goes from the womb speaking lies. No; these are truisms which oppose his creed, against the propagation of which he decries as fraught with immeasurable mischief.

The gist of his argument on the subject of man's accountability, is, that he is able to be good, and to do good," and must necessarily possess such ability to constitute him an accountable agent, and that a righteous God could not justly punish him for a non-performance of what he is incapable of. He then proceeds to assert, without explaining his principles, that the invitations of the gospel are universal, and consequently, that the promises of mercy are universal also.

The moral accountability of man, and his inability to perform spiritual actions, being clearly revealed in the sacred writings, is sufficient warrant for our faith. We do not attempt to explain the mystery more than we should any principle in nature which is obviously above the comprehension of human intelligence. The writer admits, p. 26, that "there are some mysterious points of which investigation should not be attempted." He objects to, but does not disprove the doctrine. He asserts the ability of man to perform good actions, but does not shew by what perfect standard their quality are to be tried, and the awful nature of the scrutiny.

Our limited space prevents further animadversions on his views, were they needed, but we are convinced that we should insult the understandings of our readers, were we to give more than a brief summary of his sentiments. We make one more extract to exhibit to the reader how far he has claims to consistency of views.

"Among the comparatively difficult subjects which no minister should satisfy himself without mastering, (but merely as a specimen of them) we may mention the real nature of moral agency and responsibility to God, especially as connected with the depraved state and alledged inability of man; the conjunction of the special favour shewn to the elect, with a dispensation of universal mercy to mankind, and the two-fold aspect and operation of the death of Christ on these different classes. In other words, he should know why the dead sinner, whom he exhorts, is summoned to spiritual action; and on what ground the non-elect sinners whom he indefinitely invites, may expect a welcome from redeeming love."

It has seldom been our province to peruse a work more uncongenial with the doctrines of grace, more silent on the subject of supernatural operation, and more baneful in its tendency.

Objections to the Doctrine of Israel's Future Restoration to Palestine.

THE above publication is a small octavo volume, containing the author's objections to the popular doctrine of Israel's restoration to Palestine, in a series of letters to his friend. The object he has assigned for introducing them to public notice the elucidation of truth is worthy of commendation in proportion to the important matter couched in his discussion..

The task the writer has undertaken, to combat the long-standing prepossessions of the wise and learned in the church of Christ, who strenuously support the doctrine controverted; and to break down the formidable opinions of such great lights as many of them were, is no common one. He has shewn, by the citation of many examples in proof, that the opinions of men are not infallible; and that errors may

be equally entertained in theology, as in science. He therefore ventures into the field in the cause he has espoused, under that conviction; boldly challenging to combat, by openly producing his dissent from the popular notions on the subject; which dissent is comprehended in the various reasons entertained in the preface of his work; and in conclusion, he voluntarily offers a summary of what he conceives to be the scriptural testimony concerning the future destinies of the world and the church.

How far he has succeeded in his attempt to controvert the point at issue, his readers will judge. We must, however, enter our decided protest against the sentiment he advances on the abstract influence of truth, the effect of human talents and moral cultivation, and the notion he advances and entertains of human nature, as being dishonourable to the Holy Spirit, whose efficiency alone operates, unaided by secondary causes, in breaking down every opposition to his dominion. Nor, do we conceive the authors he has quoted in support of his views, namely, Messrs. Bogue and Bennett, will add much weight in his scale, in inducing the advocates of sterling truth to adopt his creed.

It would have given us sincere pleasure to have seen our author as equally concerned to confront the phalanx of popular heterodoxy, on the sublime doctrines of grace, generally, as he has been to oppose their views on a solitary and isolated question in detail. We are constrained to lament his opposition to some of the fundamental principles of the gospel, the decrees of God, and his discriminating purposes; and to bear witness to the superficialness of knowledge he betrays of the holy and consoling doctrines of sacred writ, which are of paramount importance.

Pado-haptisim Examined, with Replies to the Arguments and Objections of Dr. Williams, and Mr. Peter Edwards. By Abraham Booth, in three Volumes. Palmer.

THE above is the third edition of this work, which is presented to the public with an advertisement, signed by the leading ministers of the Baptist denomination, in London and in the country.

Our opinion of this work, as a standard work, is fully in unison with that of the ministers who have recommended it. We conceive that the reputation of the writer, both in his private walks in domestic life, and in his public character as a minister of the gospel and a theologian, is too well established to need our commendation. Fervent in his devotion to the cause of Christ and truth, and uniform in maintaining a life and conduct becoming the truths he so ably advocated, he lived down the scorn of his enemies; and the productions of his pen, while they have evinced the indefatigable nature of his zeal and perseverance, and the love he had for the cause he espoused, have gained him true esteem in the church of Christ; among which productions we must particularize his "Reign of Grace," as being one which must embalm and endear his memory in the hearts of the redeemed till time itself shall cease.

A DESIRE TO DEPART, AND BE WITH JESUS.-A HYMN.

I WOULD the gladsome hour were come,

To quit this cage of clay;

And reach on wings of love my home,
Where Jesus holds his sway.

The joys of earth I'd cheerful leave,-
I've prov'd how false they be;
Nor would my willing spirit grieve,
My flesh the tomb should see.

How far beyond man's weak compare
Must be that brilliant place,
Where songs melodious fill the air
To saving love and grace!

The thought of such a blest abode
Reveals a heavenly day :

I can but wish my gracious God
Would call me soon away!

B. S. S.