and best of men. It would have given us pleasure also to have heard the promises of the gospel urged to cheer the fainting spirits, to confirm the doubting mind, and to encourage the wellfounded expectations of peni looked with earnest desire (and we deeply regret our disappointment) to have seen the mention of that adorable name, which, unto all who believe, is precious graces are called into action; but the solemnity of the circumstances, and the greatness of the occasion, will heighten and exalt them all. Not only should faith be more lively than usual, or hope be elevated to assurance, but repentance ought to be deep-tence and faith. Above all, we er, humility more profound, charity more fervent and extensive, resignation more perfect, love to God of a purer kind, and obedience to his will more conspicuous. Judging by this rule, we confess that we are not entirely satisfied with the frame of require his present thoughts; to which he replied, That he was meditating mind the Doctor appeared to the number and nature of angels, and possess as far as we can judge of their blessed obedience and order, without it from the narrative of his which peace could not be in heaven; and, friends. We could wish to have ob! that it might be so on earth.' After heard the language of humilia- which words, he said, I have lived tion, and should have been glad bations, and I have been long preparing to see this world is made up of perturto perceive the traces of a rever- to leave it, and gathering comfort for the ential awe at the prospect of ap- dreadful bour of making my account with pearing before the judge of the God, which I now apprehend to be near: earth. Such just and suitable and though I have by his grace, loved feelings have marked, and we him in my youth, and feared him in mine age, and labored to have a conmay truly add, adorned the clos-science void of offence to him and to all ing scene of some of the wisest* men; yet if thou, O Lord, be extreme to mark what I have done amiss who bave failed, Lord, shew mercy to me, for I plead not my righteousness but the forgiveness of my unrighteousness, for his merits who died to purchase a pardon for penitent sinners: and since I owe thee a death, Lord let it not be terrible, and then take thine own time. I submit to it. Let not mine, O Lord, but let thy * The dying expressions of Hook-çan abide it; and, therefore, where I er occurring to us while we were writing this paragraph, we insert them in this note, not as exhibiting the best illustration which might be found of the last moments of an excellent man, but as sufficiently expressing that general assemblage of Christian dispositions on which we have insisted. "After receiving the blessed sac-will be done.' With which expression rament of the body and blood of our Lord, his friend Dr. Saravia, who attended him, thought he saw a reverend gaiety and joy in his face; but it lasted not long, for his bodily infirmities did return suddenly, and became more visible, insomuch that the Doctor apprehended death ready to seize him. Yet after some amendment, he left him at night with a promise to return early the day following, which he did, and then found him better in appearance, deep in contemplation, and not inclinable to discourse, which gave the Doctor occasion to he fell into a dangerous slumber, dangerous as to his recovery; yet recover he did, but it was to speak only these few words Good Doctor, God bath heard my daily petitions, for I am at peace with all men, and he is at peace with me, and from which blessed assurance I feel that inward joy which this world can neither give nor take from me." More he would have spoken, but his spirits failed him; and after a short conflict betwixt nature and death, a quiet sigh put a pericd to his last breath, and so he fell asleep."—Walton's Life of Hooker. those holy volumes much diminished, by reflecting on the unwarrantable liberties he was accustomed to take with them, on his rejection of the authority of an evangelist, on his denial of the conclusiveness of the arguments of an apostle, on the ingenuity exercised to explain away the obvious sense, or the bold above every name that is named in heaven or in earth. It could not, indeed, have been introduced, according to the Doctor's system, as the foundation of hope, but it might, one would conceive, according to any system which professes to be built upon the scriptures, have been mentioned with that affection, veneration, and gratitude with which the in-ness with which he refused to spired writers, as well as good men in every age, have uniformly spoken of it. Indeed we conceive, that the leading defect in the Doctor's submit to the plain declarations of scripture. The mere study of scripture is of little moment As a substitute for that an- compared with the humility with cient foundation of hope, faith in which its dictates are received, the atonement of the Son of God, and the ready submission of the the Doctor rests upon the ex-mind to its authority. pectation of universal salvation. This is well calculated, we acknowledge, to allay apprehen-mind, from the first, was a want sion. Indeed, there cannot be of humility. He formed his sysmuch ground for alarm, when tem from his own reasoning, it is believed that there is no and then endeavored to accomworm which dieth not, and no modate the scripture to it, infire that is not quenched. It is stead of humbly receiving his very consoling to look upon God creed from scripture and casting as only preparing all his crea- down every imagination of his tures for final happiness, by dif- mind which opposed it. This ferent degrees of discipline suit- was his fundamental error, and ed to their different tempers.- it naturally led him to cherish a The encouragement this idea spirit of rash innovation, inconholds out is of a very gen-sistent with cool deliberation or eral and extensive kind; for it affords hope alike to all, and nearly annihilates all distinction of character. But our readers will, probably, agree with us that it is a ground of hope never mentioned by the inspired writers; That the Doctor was sincere that the great founder of our re- in the principles he held we ligion evidently directed the doubt not, and that his princi、 weight of his influence to estab-ples were calculated to free his lish a contrary belief, and that mind from alarming apprehenwhoever rests upon it, must de- sions, and produce tranquillity at ny or explain away the obvious the hour of death, we readily declarations of scripture. We allow. But God forbid we are told, indeed, that the Doctor should consider this as any evidiligently perused the sacred dence of their truth. By their writings; but we feel our confi- conformity to scripture, and by dence in this mark of regard for the fruits they produce, they sound judgment. Yielding himself to the influence of this spirit, he trampled with disdain upon the bounds which the wisdom and piety of former ages had fixed. A HYMN TO JESUS, Sung by the Hottentots.—See this (Translated from the Dutch.) ZION's King! thou Son of God, Exalted on thy Father's throne! Behold the purchase of thy blood; On thy dear bride look gently down! Far from thyself, her Head, her Lord, must be tried. It is useful also It is with reluctance we speak of any persons who have gone to give their account to their Judge, in a manner which may seem disrespectful to them. The importance, however, of the truth will, we trust, justify the freedom of our remarks on this well known person. We should have rejoiced to have recorded in these pages the edifying example of the departure of a Christian divine, rather than, what appears to us, the tranquil death of a mere philosopher. longs! Oh, come and speak some cheering word, And soon her sighs shall turn to Forget not souls still dead in sin, shed: let them feel a life divine, Thy mighty pow'r can raise the dead! Now let thy glory be display'd,— That it of Zion may be said, Fountain of Life! Almighty God! Thy Spirit's influence impart ! Oh, shed thy precious love abroad, And let it soften ev'ry heart! Bring Tyrians, Philistines, and Moors, In the right way thy face to seek : Let Satan fall, while Heav'n adores, And the whole earth thy praise shall speak! INDE X. A. Page. Brace, Rev. Joab, ordination ABEL, a type of Christ, 273 Achan, sin of, Accountability to God, 419 C. 320 19 Chester, revival of religion in, 109 Adam, a type of Christ, 87, 272 | Christ, humility of, Address of a dying Father, 186 24 hymn to, 479 the Editors, on New- sonship of, 129 Year's day, 241 on Prayer, 105 the faithful witness, 375 to the Female Mission- typified by Adam, 87,272 187 Christianitý, distinguished by its Affections, religious, Anecdote of Alypius, name, 302 161 318 318 Christian experience, exempli- 455 |