real existence of the person to be sanctified; because that is a work performed in him by an act of almighty power; but justification, being an act of the divine will passed in a man's favour, and concerning his eternal state, it no more requires his existence when it is passed, than that act of the same sovereign will which appointed Cyrus to release the captive Jews required his existence, when he was ordained to that work it is, therefore, audacious impudence to call it eternal nonsense.

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The apostle Paul speaks of justification and election as in the closest connexion. "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth." Here he represents the elect as justified; does he speak of all the elect, or only a part of them? Doubtless of the whole; for had he spoken of a part only, he would certainly have specified the part intended. He does not say, who shall lay any thing to the charge of a part of the elect, or those of the elect who believe? It is God that justifieth them; though that would have been a truth; but, who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? without either limitation or distinction; intimating that all the elect are justified, and that they are justified as persons elected. Now if they are justified as God's elect, their justification must be eternal; because they were his elect in eternity. It would be difficult to find a justified person who is not elected, and it will be no less difficult to find an elect person who is not justified in the sight, and in the account of God."

We might go on transcribing, but must close by recommending our readers to obtain the work, as it will, we can assure them, well remunerate in the perusal; and praying that the Lord the Spirit may follow the same with his blessing, we would join with the worthy author in giving all the

praise to the one undivided Jehovah. Amen.

The Gospel Penny Pulpit: devoted exclusively to Sermons by Ministers who Preach a Free-Grace Gospel. Nos. 1 to 32. 8vo. London: E. Palmer and Son.

THIS series of Discourses, of which thirty two are already published, is now before us: and although there is a diversity, as it regards depth of thought, aptness in exhibiting the glorious doctrines of the gospel, and difference in setting forth the chequered experience of the Lord's family, they all fully justify the title given,

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a free-grace gospel :" there is no jargon; they all speak the language of Canaan, and fully accord with the apostle's description, "Though there are diversity of gifts there is but one Spirit."

We had thought of making a few remarks on each of the Sermons, but while they vary in their intrinsic merit, it might seem invidious to commend one above another, believing them all to be men of decided truth.

We cordially recommend these very cheap Sermons to our friends for distribution, as well as for their own perusal; and in those villages, where they are destitute of a public ministry, these penny Sermens will be found very suitable to be read in their public meetings.

Union with Christ the Only Possible Means of Enjoying Communion with God. By Robert Hawker, D.D. 32mo. pp. 40. London: Palmers.

THIS is another of those admirable little works of which this author has written so many, forming an halo round his name which will continue when his adversaries and their works will be alike forgotten, It is done up in the same tasteful manner as his other little gems, and is equally suitable for giving away.

THE HARP OF SALVATION.

HARP of the morning stars,

The white robed angels fair;
Who, when Jehovah drew the plan
Of earth, the dwelling-place of man,
Did joyous all its progress scan,
And when completed, loud began
Time's first hosanna there.

Harp of the world's grey sires,

Which when the world was new,
Mourning the blight of Eden's crime,
O'er countless ages loved to climb,
And sing in prophecy sublime,
His advent at the appointed time,
Whose power should all renew.
Harp of the Patriarchs old.

The ancient shepherd kings,
Who gathering 'neath some fig-tree wide,
'Mid children's children would preside,
Narrating with the flush of pride,
Unquestioned proofs the Saviour Guide
From their own lineage springs.

Harp of the Hebrews faint,

Who when the task was done,
At eventide would oft retire,
Communing round their brick-kiln fire,
And feel their hopes again aspire,

As seemed the wished for moment nigher,
Of liberty begun.

Harp of the Hebrew maids,

At Miriam's voice which woke,
Flinging across the Egyptian sea,
A gush of rapturous minstrelsy,
Proclaiming then the jubilee
Of Israel by the Lord made free
From Pharaoh's heavy yoke.

Harp of the royal bard,

Type, prophet, minstrel, king,
Who woke the songs of triumph glad,
The plaint disconsolate and sad,
The prophecy in symbol clad,

The experience varying, bright and bad,
From its obedient string.

Harp of the holy seers,
Inspired to keep alive,

In every circumstance and hour,
The promise, which in Eden's bower,
Like a refreshing summer shower,
Encouraged confidence to flower,
And hope again revive.

LINES TO A CHRISTIAN WIDOW, OR
CONSOLATION FOR THE BEREAVED.

POOR mourning widow dry thy tears,
And banish all thy gloomy fears;
Look unto Christ, thy constant Friend,
Whose love to thee shall never end.

Beloved sister, look on high,
Towards heaven's exhaustless treasury,
Its riches all to thee are given,
By thine Almighty Friend in heaven.
Bereaved sister, think of this,
The Lord thy glorious Husband is;
He is thy Bridegroom, thou his bride,
In his completeness justified.

Ah! mourning widow, think again,
Even thy sorrows, care and pain,
All work for thine eventual good,
As thou art pressing on to God.

Redeemed widow, praise thy God,
Who bought thee with his precious blood;
Thus thine immortal soul to save,
From sin and Satan and the grave.

Look at thy Father's will and see
What glory is laid up for thee;
A golden harp, à glorious crown,
A victory branch, a conqueror's throne.

Christian widow, rich in faith,
Hear what thy kind Saviour saith:
"Leave thyself, thy all with me,
And I, thy Judge, thy friend will be."

Anxious for those thy children dear,
To the blest throne of grace draw near,
To Him commend thy tender care,
Who hears the pious mother's prayer.

Whatever may thee here betide,
God will all needful things provide,
With thee he 'll dwell, and to the end
Thy path with blessings will attend.

SHORT SERMONS,

BY THE LATE MR. B. GATWARD,
Minister of the Gospel, Hitchen.

(No. 2.-To be continued)

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.-2 Tim. iv. 7.

WHEN the apostle wrote this epistle to Timothy he was a prisoner at Rome for the truth's sake. Nero was then emperor of Rome, who was a great enemy and persecutor of christianity and the followers of Christ. Paul had been brought before this wicked man once before, but the first time he escaped, and preached about ten years

after; the Lord having more work for him to do, his life was spared, but it appears he was now apprehended a second time, and either had been or was about to be brought again before this same man. Paul says, at his first answer none stood by him, all his. friends forsook him; I pray God, says he, it may not be laid to their charge. Some ran away through fear, others turned enemies, of whom was Alexander the coppersmith, who before had accompanied and been friendly with Paul, yea I believe he had been a preacher; this man withstood Paul, that is, I believe, he turned witness September, 1843.]

against him, and for him he prays not, but thinks God would reward him according to his work, for he appears a reprobate, and Paul saw these signs of reprobation on him. Demas also was another who forsook him for the sake of this present evil world: thus the first answer of Paul before Nero was both searching and trying, but as Paul was about to appear the second time, he had the forebodings of death on his mind, having no expectation of deliverance but a persuasion of his end; and having no man likeminded with Timothy, he addresseth him as his son; not to shun nor be ashamed of the cross of Christ: yea, he gives him a solemn charge before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who would judge both the quick and the dead, that he preach the word, that he be instant in season and out of season; and that in his preaching he was to reprove, rebuke, and exhort; by which I understand he was to preach against and preach down all false doctrine, and duly exhort. He was to preach none but Christ and his truth, and this he was to do with all long-suffering, that is, not in rage or violence, but with godly concern and christian prudence; he was to do this with all long-suffering and doctrine :

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by doctrine here, means agreeably to the word of God, the writings of the Old and New Testament; and to this he exhorts Timothy, because the time would come when sound doctrine would not be endured; but after their own lusts they shall heap to themselves preachers having itching ears. I believe Paul spoke this with a prophetic spirit, or that it was his judgment upon some part of the word, and truly it soon after the apostles' days began to make its appearance among what we call Roman Catholics, who I believe were the first that established schools to train up young men for preachers, and our established clergy have followed their plan in this particular the dissenters also have established their ministerial schools, and by these means the church has heaps of teachers, and they are menmade parsons, for they heap to themselves: these turn people's ears from the truth, and turn them at last to fables, that is to uncertainties and to lies, that being the meaning of the word fable: surely we may set our seal to the truth of what Paul here says, for we have these heaps of teachers in our day, yea there are more than can be well employed, yea many of them want bread, they are like the poor common labourer, and many of them are to be kept at the expense of the parish.

Paul exhorts, watch thou in all things. I believe a servant of Christ never need be at a loss for something to do, and one part of his employ is that of watchfulness, he must watch the hand of the Lord towards him, both in providence and grace; he must follow the leadings of providence, and he must also watch the motions of the Spirit, which will bring some word to open those providences, so that we shall see by watching the changes in governments, and the most trivial things in nations, what God is about to do, so that we shall not be ignorant in matters of importance. I must watch and see what influence

my preaching hath upon men's hearts, whether they are humbled, broken and meekened under it; and if they are blessed by it, I am to take comfort. There are others who turn the ministry and truths of God to a bad purpose; men are very much mistaken in this, they think that all who go to one place of worship, to hear one man, are all one sort; I answer no, the motives of men are very different in hearing the same man: one man shall be humbled and subdued in his spirit so as to fall down before God in self-abasement; another shall only hear the doctrines, and becoming pleased with them, shall be bold, being lifted up with his knowledge: there is a wonderful difference between a man who is only clear and sound in the doctrines, and a poor brokenhearted sinner; the one is lowly, and meek, and conscientious, while the other is unsavoury and presumptuous. Some are mere formalists, as dead and sleepy as the forms on which they sit; some are only loiterers under the word, and get nothing unless the speaker make a mistake; so that in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but of wood and earth, some to honour and some to dishonour. Watch then, says the apostle, in all things, and above all do not forget yourself; "watch and pray lest ye enter into temptation," and by this means thou wilt keep thyself pure, and save both thyself and those that hear thee with an ear of faith. He says, also, endure afflictions, as though he would say, do not expect an easy life, a life of affluence, a life of applause; your enemies are many, your trials great, from yourself, from Satan, and from the world; and think not in your trials that you shall have better days, for it is a life-time of trial: endure it, do not be offended or discouraged, remember I have thus found it, and so can speak from experience, that as my afflictions abounded for Christ, so my consolations abounded by Christ, and so shall yours.