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Prembyterlan Banner. Vol. V ID No. 47.
Presbyterian Advocate. Vol. xi:, N o . 42.1
DAVID IVIcKINNEY, Editor and Proprietor.
TERMS,-IN ADVANCE.
Original Vottrg.
To the Memory of a Physician
Thou art gone, we no longer thy face shall behold;
That form, loved by many, is lifeless and cold;
In the cold arms of death thou art silently sleep
ing,
While friends o'er thy memory in sadness are
t 1 ng
The wife of thy bosom—the children so dear,
in sorrow's deep anguish weep o'er thy bier;
While friends and acquaintances sadly are mourn
ing
Thy exit to realms where there's no more return
ing.
The sick and the dying thy soft accents know,
And oftirnes to them thou'st presented to - view
The fellness of pardon for hearts that are riven,
And pointed from earth to the glory of heaven.
While 'Wring the body to ense of its pnin,
And seeing all efforts wore like to prove vain,
Lost health to restore, 't was thy Lowed com-
mission
To point to the Jours great, Almighty Physician
Thy labors we miss; but we trust thou art now
In the court of high heaven—a crown on thy brow;
And, casting it down at the feet of the Savour,
A,scribing to HOE the dominion forever.
Yes! there we may hope thou art safely at rest,
And pillow'd thy bead on Immanuel's breast;
0, who would recall thee from regions so glorious,
Where, o'er sin and death, thou art more than
victorious.
l'or the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate.
Evidences of Regeneration,
Letter I.—Union with Christ
Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature; old things are passed away; behold,
all things are beoome new.-2. Cor. v: 17.
NY DEAR FRIEND :—I begin this series
of letters with some hesitation. In a late
Banner and Advocate I see "NOBODY" says
he never reads a series of articles on any
subject. So I suppose he will not read
these. Very well. I will just whisper to
him that they are not written for his special
benefit, nor for any of the Professors in our
Theological Seminaries, nor for ministers
generally, nor for theological students in
particular, nor for any one who has more
books and papers than he can read; but
specially FOR YOII, and for any who may
want information, and can find nothing bet
ter on the subject. As I write for you, and
to do you good, I shall not, perhaps, be
very systematic, but very plain, giving pre
cept upon precept, precept upon precept;
line upon line, line upon line; here a little,
and there a little.—lca. xxviii: 9-13.
This is needful for you,
and for the young
generally, and for'all who are liktly to read
these letters; and the more so. because of
their brevity, and the consequent fragment
ary manner in which the subject is pre
sented.
It is well to compare our views with the
Scriptures. Let us hear what they say. As
they teach us the necessity and the nature
of regeneration, so they must also be our
guide in regard to its evidences. There
fore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature; old things are passed away; behold,
all things are become new. We know no
man after the flesh, says Paulin the preced
ing verse; we know no man after the flesh.
—2. Cor. v : 11-21. We are under infinite
obligations to Christ Jesus; and when fidel
ity to him is concerned, we show no respect
to the persons of men, whether Jews or
Gentiles, kindred or strangers; nor can we
"accommodate our doctrine or conduct to
the humors of men, from any worldly prin
ciples, or because of outward connexions
with them, or obligations to them. Nay,
we do not now regard our external relation
to Christ himself, as being of the same
nation with him, or otherwise acquainted
with him," or even related to him,—Scott's
Commentary on the passage. And lest this
should be regarded as something peculiar to
himself and his associates, he declares it to
be the standard of genuine Christianity, by
which the piety of all is to be tested:
Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a
new creature; old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new. Now,
here are several things worthy of attention:
And, first, here is Union with Christ.
Union is the basis of communion. There
can be no communion with Christ where
there is no union with him. Hence, they
who are out of Christ can have no fellow
ship with him; as he himself says, Without
me, apart from me, separated from me, or
as it is in the margin, severed from me, ye
can do nothing —John xv : 5.
The words above quoted from 2. Cor. v
17, speak of union with Christ : If any
wan be in Christ. To be in Christ is to be
united to him, as a branch is in a tree,
united to it. Now, " between Christ and
believers there is," first, "a legal union,
like that between a surety and the person
for whom he engages. This union was
formed from all eternity, when Christ was
appointed their federal head, their represen
tative, their surety and substitute. In the
covenant of grace or redemption entered
into between the Father and the Son, Jesus
Christ, is constituted the legal Head, the
Representative, the Surety and Substitute
of his people; he stands in their place, he
acts for them, and so there is a legal
representative union between Christ anti
them; they and he are regarded as one
legal person, as a lawyer and his client are
one. He is the Head, and they are the
members. Hence, they are chosen in Christ
before the foundation of the world, and are
given to Christ by the Father in the cove
nant of grace, as a reward for his work.—
Eph. i:4; John xvii: 2. Hence, it is
written, He shall see of the travail of his
soul, and shall be satisfied—satisfied because
he shall see the salvation of those for whom
he travailed and died,—lsa. liii: 10-12.
Thus he prays to the Father, Glorify thy
Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee : as
thou bast given him power over all flesh,
that he should give eternal life to as many
as thou bast given 1- arm—John xvii: 1-3.
And in another place he declares, All that
the Father giveth me shall come to me; and
him that cometh to me I will in no wise
cast out.—John vi : 37. And again, I have
manifested thy name unto the men which
thou gayest me out of the world; keep
through thine own name those whom thou
bast given me. Father, I will that they
also, whom thuu bast given rue, be with me
where I am. These aro the sheep which
hear his voice, and of whom he says, I lay
down my life for the sheep.—John M
N; and xvii: 6-24.
Now, to deny that Jesus Christ had
special reference tp these in his work, or
that his atonement was designed to be
applied to them, or was specially 'and par
ticularly intended for them, is to deny the
existence of the covenant of grace, which
lies at the very basis of the whole Calvinis•
tic or Bible system; and it is, further, to
deny that Jesus Christ is the legal Head and
Representative of his people, their Surety
and Substitute, and thus to subvert the very
nature of the atonement as a satisfaction to
Divine justice. Inseparable from the doc
trines of election and atonement, is that of
Christ's substitution for his people; he is
their Surety, their legal Head; and hence
there is a legal or covenant union between
Christ and his people. This union is from
all eternity, when he was appointed their
[lead, their Surety and Substitute, and they
were given to him, by the Father, in the
covenant of grace. Hence, in the Shorter
Catechism, questions 20 and 21, he is called
"the Redeemer of God's elect."
We say, then, there is a legal union
between Christ and his people; and it is
because of this, and his consequent substi
tution fur us, that our sins were laid on him,
and that he bare our sins in his own body
on the tree;it is because of this—for his
work has reation to law—that he redeems
us from the curse of the law, being made a
curse for us; and it is because of this that
be is the end of the law for righteousness to
Thar.
every one that believetb.—lsa.. liii: 6; 1.
Pet. ii : 24; Gal. iii : 13. Rom. x 4.
God's law has been broken by us and its
penalty incurred; and if there were noleffal
union between Christ and his people; ad
he not taken their law place and obeyed the
law in their stead, and endured for them its
penalty and been made a curse for them,
there could be no saving union between
them and him. There must be an atone-
meat, or there can be no forgiveness; with
out shedding of blood there is no remission.
—Heb. ix : 22. Atonement is a satisfaction
to Divine justice; that satisfaction is made
by Christ's obedience and death, because he
is the legal Representative, the Surety and
Substitute of his people. His sufferings are
not a substitute for the penalty of the law;
for he suffered the penalty of the law itself
in the room of his people: he HIAISELF IS
THEIR SUBSTITUTE, and hence his doing
and dying in their stead is a satisfaction
to the justice of God—an atonement for
their sins, and the justice of God being
satisfied, he can forgive, justify and save.
God can be just, and yet justify them that
believe, because Jesus Christ, as the legal
Head of his people, has met the demands of
law and justice as their Substitute, and
wrongh,t,aut a righteousness in which they
may stafficeepted before Goa.--Itofii, iii
20-2 g.
As the lawyer answers for his client, so
Jesus Christ as the legal Head and Repre
sentative of his people, stood in their law
place and answered for them, and met for
them, and cancelled all the demands of law
and justice; as he said, Lo I come to do thy
will, 0 God.—Heb. x : 5-10. So what
is legal in the union of Christ and his people
is the basis of what is real and spiritual;
the legal union is the antecedent and the
foundation of every other union, and of all
communion, too, between Christ and his
redeemed. This is just the reverse of
what is taught by the Church of Rome; but
Romanism discards the Bible. The Bible
is the religion of Protestants; and the Bible
teaches the legal union of Christ and his
people as the basis of every other union and
of all communion with him. Hence, in an
important sense, the death of Christ is the
death of his people, as Paul says,
I am
crucified with Christ.—Gal. : 20. So, too,
in an important sense, the resurrection of
Christ is the resurrection of his people, as
Paul says again , He hath quickened us
together witliChrist, and hath raised us up
together.—Eph. ii :
But there is more than a legal union
between Christ and his people. The legal
union is from eternity, when Christ was made
their Head and they were given to him.
But there must also a union take place here
in time, in this world, in order that the
benefits promised and secured by the legal
union may be possessed and enjoyed. The
redemption purchased by Christ as the
Surety of his people, must be applied ; and
. in its application there is farmed a vital,
spiritual, and saving union with Christ : thus,
"the Spirit applieth to us the redemption
purchased by Christ, by working faith in us,
and thereby uniting us to Christ in our
effectual calling," or regeneration and con
version.—Short. Cat., Ques. 30. The Spirit
unites us to Christ, and so it is a spiritual
union; be unites us to Christ by faith, and
so it is a living and saving union • and as it is
mysterious, it is called a mystical union.
Christ puts his Spirit in our hearts, and so
the bond of union on his part is the in
dwelling of his Spirit; we receive Christ by
faith, and so the bond of union on our part
is faith.
When the Spirit enlightens and renews
our hearts, and we receive Christby faith as
our Saviour, we become united to him, and
become interested in, and are made partakers
of all the blessings and benefits of the ever
- •r: covenant of grace. This is the union
.-::ca of by the Apostle when he says, If
any man be in Christ, united to him, he is a
new creature; it is a union formed when we
are begotten again and become new crea
tures; a living union, because being united
to Christ, we derive life from him; a saving
union, because being united to Christ, we
are justified and shall therefore be glorified.
There is no condemnation to them which are
in Christ Jesus—united to him. "Death
will break all other ties, and separate the
soul from the body, but it can not dissolve
the union between Christ and believers.
Hence, they are said to ' die in the Lord,'
and to 'sleep in Jesus..'" And "the souls
of believers are at their death made perfect
in holiness, and do immediately pass into
glory; and their bodies being still 'united to
C`hrist, do rest in their graves till the re
surrection."—Short Cat. Ques. 37; Rev.
xiv : 13 ; 1. Thess. iv : 14; 2. Cor. v: 17.
Rom. 8 : 1-39. But I may have more to
say on this subject in my next, preparatory
to a proper view of the evidences of regen
.eration; and till then, farewell.
Yotins, TRULY.
"ONE THING IS NEEDFUL:" "ONE THING HAVE I D SIRED OF THE LORD:" "THIS ONE THING I DO."
PUBLICATION OFFICE, GAZETTE BUILDING, FIFTH 6REET, ABOVE SMITHFIELD, PITTSBURGH, PA.
FOR. THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, AUGUST 1591857.
From our London Correspondent.
The lteuoll in India—Extent of the DisaPction—
Dihpatch of Troops and a Commander in-Chief—
Is India to be lost to Britain?—Massacres by the
Sepoys—The Jews and the House of Peers—The
Pros and Cons—The Coming Harvest—The State
of Commerce and the .honey Marlret—instability
and Insecurity of Ett.roye—Rumored Attempt to
Assassinate Louis Arapoleon—Mazzini—Congre
gationalism, Presbyterianism, and 4iseopacy, in
the Colonies—The Irish General Assembly—
Home, Foreign, Colonial, and Jewish Missions—
Scotch. English, Witldensian, Belgian, and Amer.
imin Deputations.
iLoNno.N, July 17, 1557.
The INDIAN NEWS received this week, is
mixed with painful incidents, but re-assuring
as to the probable stability and safety of our
Empire in the East. Delhi, the strong-hold
of those revolting Regiments who took re
fuge there, and were joined by a fanatical
Mohammedan population, was surrounded
when the mail left, by Government troops.
These bad been fighting with the insurgents
bold enough to show themselves outside the
walls. Driven bank, these desperadoes, long
ere this, must have surrendered, and under
gone the terrible retribution which awaited
them. What more painful than for our
troops to be compelled to fight (and many,
too, losing their lives in the conflict,)
with those who were so recently ranged by
their 'side, under the one British flag ! A
great lesson has been read to this country.
Not less than 30,000 native troops are dis
affected and disbanded, and these must be
replaced, either by fresh levies in India, or
by troops from home. Sir Colin Campbell
goes out as Commander-in-Chief. Elderly
Indian officers who had retired, are expect
ing to repair to the East again, and the
juniors in hundreds are hurrying away. Still
the tidings that the flames of revolt, both
in Bengal and in the Panjaub, are well
nigh trampled out, and that the Bombay
and Madras armies arc loyal to Britain,
somewhat tranquilizes tjie public mind. The
Cabinet had, early intelligence, met imme
diately, and are acting so as to show to the
country that our hold on the India Empire
will, if vigor can do it, be maintained.
" Man proposes," it is true, but " 4 God dis
poses;" but I have a firm faith, that be
cause that India has been given us that the
Christian Church of all lands may subjugate
it to the sway of Zion's King, therefore it
shall remain under our control. Let
us pray and hope that, while false charges
have been insinuated, by some, against mis•
sionaries, the East India Company will, at
least, have the moral courage not to obstruct
Christianity any longer. That is all she
asks. Her weapons are not carnal—her of
fice is to win souls to the Saviour; and "in
the might of her meekness," she can go
forth to the great conflict, in the confidence
of assured and final victory.
The massacre of Europeans by the Sepoys
has extended beyond Meerut and Delhi.
In one case, a native regiment suddenly di
verged to either side of the highway, leav
inglhe English officers to be shot down to
a
a min, by a body Ililitineeriiir'alry, who
galloped down upon them ! Two missiona
ries, of the Propagation of the Gospel Socie
ty, with some of their agents and assist
ants, were put to death at Delhi. All over
Bengal, Evangelical missionaries must find
an arrest put on their work.
As to DoAmmo MATTERS, the House
of Lords, by a majority of thirty-nine, has
decided, against the admission of Jews
into Parliament. The Bishop of London
spoke and voted in favor tit' their admission;
and this, deliberately, he said, and after stu
, dying the question for years. On the other
hand, Lord Derby and the Bishop of Oxford
argued against " unchristianizing " the Leg
islature, by admitting those who were the
avowed enemies of the Mcssiahship of Jesus.
The bill under discussion was called the
" Oaths Bill." It proposed to repeal the
clauses of the oath hitherto taken, by which,
for generations past, the member of the
House of Commons on taking hie seat, ab
jured the jurisdiction and claims of any de
-1 scendants of James 11. and the Stewarts.
1 This clause, of course, had become obsolete
as far as facts could make it so; yet still,
as long as it is unrepealed, it must be taken
and scorn to,..as part of the oath. But
tacked to the proposal to repeal that part of
the oath, was another—the cause of all the
strife—which proposed to leave out, hence
forth, the words, "on the true faith of a
Christian." By this kind of side-legislation
it was, that the Jews were to be admitted to
Parliament. The question is a difficult one,
and much that is plausible can be said on
either side. Questions, independent of
Church Establishments, do come before Par
liament which appinge, to say the least, on
Christianity, and need an appeal to be made
for decision, to the Scriptures of the New
Testament., as well as of the Old. Such is
that of marriage and divorce, lately under
discussion, in which, to its honor, the House
of Peers, while differing in opinion as to
what the law of Christ was, yet bowed be
fore the great Lawgiver, as Supreme in the
matter. And to please the Jew who blas
phemes. Him, it certainly does seem very
questionable for a nation which, as such, in
its Sabbath observance, its Statute Law,and
otherwise acknowledges the faith of the
Gospel, (coupled, it is true, with much hy
pocrisy, formality and wickedness,) to blot
out the solemn words, "on the true faith
of a Christian."
On the other hand, it is argued that the
Jews, if in Parliament, would be but &hand
ful; that it is a fact that Unitarians and
scoffers are already there, (they take the
oath, however, and the responsibility is
theirs,) that Religious Freedom demands
the abolition of this exclusive test, as has
been done in the United States, and that
virtually to persecute the Jew in this man
ner is a crime, and must prejudice him more
and more against Christianity.
Much more has been said on both sides,
but these are the main points brought out
in the debate. The question is an interest
ing one. The true solution of all such
problems in political science, will he found
in that coming day, when "Israel shall turn
to the Lord, and the vail shall bo taken
away." And all the more earnestly should
the cry go up from Gentile Christians, "Oh
that the salvation of Israel were come out
of Zion l"
The PROSPECTS OF HARVEST are very
cheering, and the corn market is going
down• The commerce of the country, and
the public funds, are agitated and disturbed
by the news from India, and the expenses
about to be increased in the dispatch of
troops, to say nothing of the probability that
the revenue cannot be fected in Bengal
fur some time to cothe.ill t Lookin7 . at these
matters from a Christian*nd-point, one is
struck with the instabaio of ail earthly
things, even when the p',len of the world
seem to think them most :cure. The period
seems yet far distant , ;?:bn it can be said
that, "The earth is qui ' rk and at'rest," and
the vast extent of Bri Alcssessions, her
relations with all natio.: ;:and the state of
the Continent where a c
forth at ally time, Shaul
cial men and politician
and safety."
That an attempt
Plombieres, on tno
NAPOLEON, by an i
stilletto danced aero:
is whispered over
of it this week, by a
cently returned from
French papers, it i.
to be silent, and the
know nothing of the
That Louis Napole
the Mazziniaus, is
failed in their recen
in Sicily. Mazzini
again, having escapt
Quaker. By his of
his abortive attempi
logs of the oppress ,
proves himself the bi
The progress of CornEGATIONALISM IN
OUR COLONIES does Ipredit to the zeal of
British Christians othat section of the
Church of Christ. 'us we learn that in
Canada, in connexio 'tvith our Congrega
tional Union there, t ere are seventy-four
recognised churches ; fifty•four ministers
stationed, and, with ape or two exceptions,
settled as pastors ove churches; two Pro
fessors in the Theological Institute; three
missionaries, and three native Indian mis
sionaries; six others with out pastoral charges;
the average attendant;e on the preaching of
the Gospel nearly even thousand; three
thousand three bun red and eighty-three
church members; kty-seven chapels erect
ed by the Colonists; at a cost of upward of
.L 36,000 ; fifty-four Sabbath Schools, with
three hundred and.tix teachers, and three
thousand scholars ;2
. four hundred young
people attending Bible Classes. The sum
:4
of .t 8,492 had been raised by fifty-four
churches, during t - year, for all purposes.
But it is in Aust lasia that the prospects
are the most enCuraging and hopeful.
The London Colonial Committee, in 1853,
sent out three eturent ministers, Fletcher,
Poore, and Day, to ' elbourne, two of whom
were to settle as p' tors, but the third, Mr.
Poore, to traverse' the whole 'land, and by
intercourse with t settlers, to prepare the
way for suitable mi isters. Traveling twice
through Victoria, ew South Wales,'South
Australia, and Ta unia, visiting every sta
tion, conferring w '-ministers and friends,
the energetic bir.. oore. has come to Eng
land, and will sh ltlftt(if le• has not•
already done AO vhihtsiffeeditiOnal
ministers, for each of whom,Na station, and
an adequate support, have been already pro
vided. As evidence of the sincerity of the
Colonists in asking for additional ministers,
they have remitted £2,400 to meet in part
the charges for sending out the required
number.
As you already know, the Free and Es
tablished Churches of Scotland, 'and the
Irish Presbyterian Church, have been ac
tive in the same direction ; while Episcopacy
has not been idle. In many of the British
Colonies, however—chiefly from the disas
trous influence of Gladstone in the Derby
Cabinet—the leaven of Tractarianism has
been widely diffused. This will be gradu
ally counteracted. At Melbourne, Doctor
Perry, the Bishop;is a man of the finest
catholic spirit, and exercises a most benefi•
cent influence.
TILL IRISH GENERAL ASSEMBLY has
now concluded its annual meeting, which
was marked by much harmony, and at which
valuable information was given as to the
progress and prosperity of the Irish Presby
terian Church, both at home and abroad.
Deputations were present from the Free
Church, and 'the English Presbyterian
Church. A member of the latter Deputa
tion urged upon the Assembly the duty of
coming to our help in providing ministers
and ordinances for Presbyterian soldiers in
garrison towns, in England. The Assembly
warmly entertained the proposal. Many of
, the best soldiers of the British army are
from Ulster, and especially in the artillery.,
The War Office is friendly in its spirit, and
can calculate on its allowing a sum in pro
portion to the number of soldiers, for the
partial payment of a minister's salary.
Chatham - and Plymouth have strong claims
to be immediately attended to ; and it is not
improbable that an Irish Presbyterian min
ister, acting under the sanction of the Lon
don Presbytery, may take up a position at
one or the other.
The Home Missions of the Irish Pres
byterians are still in operation in Connaught,
besides strengthening weak congregations
in other districts. In the mission schools,
no less than nine thousand Roman Catholic
children are receiving a Scriptural and in
dustrial education. As a result of this in
dustrial education, continued since it was
first established by Dr. Edgar, the children
taught in these schools, and those taught by
them, bad earned, last year, no less than
£25,000. The following, by one of the
young ministers laboring in Connaught, is
very honorable and encouraging in connex
ion with Presbyterianism :
Wherever they turned their eyes, scenes of pro
gress and improvement became manifest, and
opened up the way for the advancement of Pres
byterian interests. In fact, wherever the work
of improvement was observed to make progress,
they would always find members of the Presbyte
rian Church associated with that work of improve
ment. (Applause.) He could give illustrations
from the place where he lived. The Roman Cath
olic priests introduced a factory for weaving ma
nias, and a Scotch Presbyterian became its man
ager. A few Protestant clergymen and gentle
men established a linen weaving factory in the
same town, and three Ulster Presbyterians be
came its conductors. A nobleman sought the
services of a first-class mechanic, and a Presbyte
rian was appointed. A society sought to promote
the cultivation of flax through the district, and
the services of a Presbyterian were brought into
requisition. It was also a notable fact that Scotch
farmers not only came themselves to settle in the
country, but they brought numbers with them of
stewards, mechanics, shepherds and laborers.
Mr. Whigham then proceeded to observe that be
was quite satisfied that there were very few towns
of any note in the South and West of Ireland,
around which, within a 'radius of twelve or fifteen
miles, the materials of a congregation could not
at once be formed, , . at least, to the extent of the
Govero m eat I'2 qu iroment —twelve families or fifty
two individuals.
On the other hand it is painful to hear
of Seoteli Presbyterians married to Romish
wives, many of whose.. children are being
broug:ht up and educated under the auspices
of priests and nuns. Rome always gains in
this matter of mixed marriages. Hence
the importance of the Presbyterian Church
watching over her scattered children, when
exposed to this special form of temptation.
The power of the priests over the parents
and children in Ireland, is being gradiially
broken by mission .schools. Not long' ago,
` - ;mpted to, frighten the parents of
iren to lake them away from the
te'attnmpt, except as to,Awo or
db_ildteo, was a failurd!'
intimidation, also, has just
lather signal check, by the de
;l3.e. Election Committee of the
lonimons .uldin t e , e ection,
ITIP-• 'r t •
,
of
pries y'
n connexion with the '.violetteh'
!cl. Dr. Mellale goes home re-.
.e is a, thorough bigot. Preach
igton, London, last Sabbath, he
who denied the doctrine of
itiation and the Mass, as on an
faxe, and descending surely to
Ituision. way break
each our conner
iilt to say " peace
[d of the Irish Foreign Nis
jerat, in Northern _lndia. Ver
sions of the New Testament, and of the
Shorter Catechism, have been published,
and also a metrical ;version of the Psalms
in the native tongue, prepared by Dr. Glas
gow. A monthly periodical has also been
established, and a press has been set up at
Surat. Dr. Glasgow has received an im
portant appointment from the Government
of Bombay, namely, that of Translator and
Superintendent of Books for the education
of the people in the province. The Bible
is not yet introduced in the Common
Schools. It is placed in the Library of each
school, for reference.
The Irish Colonial Mission has done, and
is doing a good work in Canada, (West and
East) in Nw Brunswick, New Zeland, and
Australia.
The Jewish Mission operates at Da
mascus, where there is a flourishing female
school, and there is a small church, also.
The Mission has been strengthened there
by Monsieur Jules Ferrette, a Genevese by
birth, a convert from Rome, and a man of
extraordinary talents and attainments. He
had been for three years a Romish priest.
At Hamburg, Dr. Craig, and at Bonn,
Mr. Graham, each carries out the designs
. of the Mission to the Jews, as they have
opportunity. Two young Polish Jews, in
structed by the latter, have been baptized.
The indirect but powerful influence of Mis
sions to the Jews on dead Gentile churches,
as well as in doing good to students and
others, is forcibly shown by the position
and usefulness of Mr. Graham at Bonn, as
I an te@tifyfr r o4 Thnrsonal obaervattori gin&
some yea'ris .agb. Add Dr.
Craig are highly prized and'active Mends of
the London Religious. Tract Societies.
Conversions from among the Jews are
very few at present. Still the duty is un
questionable to preach Christ to them, and
to wait for that Spirit, who is surely yet to
take away the val.!. from Israel's heart.
Deputations from Belgium, and also from
the Waldensian Church, were received with
great affection. The Evangelical Church of
Belgium is quite young—it is a resurrection
of the old Protestantism which Philip of
Spain and the Pope thought to be dead and
buried forever. Nearly all its ministers
were once Romish priests, or Romanists.
Of one thousand communicants, nine hun
dred are Romish converts ; and spiritual
converts in reality, they are reported to be.
There are Biz thousand souls belonging to
the congregations, and more than ten thou•
sand Romanists hear the Gospel during each
year. There are thirteen schools, aLd from
six hundred to seven hundred scholars,
mostly children of Itomish parents; sixty
thousand tracts and books have been print
ed, and there has been established a most
useful Protestant book-shop in Brussels.
Libeity of preaching, teaching, and pub
lishinc, is secured by the Constitution. The
Liberal party, who have recently been stem
ming intolerance in the Chambers, have a
strong sympathy with the Protestants.
" I do know," said M. Anet before the
Assembly, " several gentlemen, writers and
doctors in law, have decided not to write a
line now against the Bible and Protestant
nations, because they consider the princi
ples of the Reformation as the sole means
of saving Belgium ; and that in ten or fif
teen years, all Belgium would become
Protestant. Best of all, a great Popish lec
turer, a Jesuit, has been routed and put to
shame by the simple ministers of the Evan
gelical Church. He attacked Protestant
ism, was challenged to a discussion at Mal
ices, and fled to Brussels, and thence, also,
the Jesuit was obliged to depart in disgrace!
Vast crowds, in both places, attended to
hear refutations of his attacks. The whole
Liberal party laughed very much, while the
friends of the Romish Church wept." The
effect is very marked on the popular mind,
and spiritual results have already appeared.
The eloquent M. Pilatte, of Nice, and
another minister, represented the Walden
elan Church most effectively. Both these
gentlemen are now in London. From the
former I have learned particulars of the
deepest interest as to the power of the Gos
pel in connexion with the sojourn of the
Empress Dowager of Russia, and her suite,
last Winter, at Nice. I am not at liberty
to say more.
The total increase for the year in the
Irish Presbyterian Church, in support of
the Ministerial Support movement, is £4,-
500. It will go on and increase. Shall
the Presbyterian Church of America take
similar action ?
The paucity of students for the ministry,
seriously engaged attention at Belfast, and
remedies were suggested. The Rev. Alex
ander Clements, as a Deputy from the Re
formed Associate Presbyterian Church of
America, was warmly received by the Irish
Assembly. Altogether, the annual meeting
was most interesting. J. W.
CONFIDENCE.-Ail that your friend says
to you, as to his friend, is intrusted to you
solely- .111uch.of what a man tells you in
'the hour of affliction, in sudden anger, or in
an outpouring of his heart, should be sacred.
In his craving for sympathy, he has spoken
to you as his : own soul.
For the Preebyterlan Banner and Advocate.
The "Beginning of Wisdom."
This is an age of progression. Schools,
academies, and colleges flourish in almost
every part of our happy country. The minds
of many of our youth are imbued with i a
deep love of learning. Books and periodi
cals, moral and instructive, flood the land,
dispelling ignorance and diffusing light; and
those who are now ignorant, are wilfully so.
Talents are being developed which bid fair
for usefulness in society. In short, every
thing proclaims, the march of intellect, and
the prophecy is being literally fulfilled,
" Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge
shall be - increased."--Dan. xii: 4. These
things are to be rejoiced in, as
.without
knowledge, our youth can neither be useful
nor happy—neither good citizens nor good
Christians.
But we will suppose an unregenerate per
pp attaining to':high eminence in literary
rg: E k& , dewed •;' t.sa ado; degree of,
M enr! it 0- 77; frriMf—am9r4
able'circumstance • promote his, (or her)
highest hopes of success, he at length gains
a lofty eminence on the hill of science. Ca
ressed and applauded in public and private,
he glitters awhile as a star (or rather a me
teor) in the galaxy of the literati! But
alas ! his knowledge is unsanctifierl. With
all his attainments, he has neglected the
very starting point, for " The fear of the
Lord is the beginning of wisdom!" Soon,
in the eyes of a fickle and changing world,
he is eclipsed by some new constellation,
glittering, perhaps, in the same manner, and
soon to be outshone by another. Then, his
heart being elated with flattery and not for
tified by grace, he is disheartened and un
happy. He can ill brook the cold neglect
of those who once caressed and applauded
him. His highest ambition was to attain
literary honors—his end was gained ; but
alas! even in possession, it was not what he
anticipated, and now, even that is vanished!
Whither will he turn ? Religion's consola
tions are not his, for alas, he has neglected
her precepts 1 The future is all dark, and
when death approaches, he looks forward to
eternity with fearful and gloomy forebodings.
On the other hand, see him that begins
with "the fear of the Lord." His studies
are pursued with a view to usefulness—he
invokes the Divine guidance in ail his
pursuits. He may rise to eminence in liter
ature, but this is not his great object; but
only subservient to the will of his Great
Master. He perseveres in the path of known
duty, comparatively regardless of the world's
smiles or frowns. His talents and acquire
ments are exerted for the promotion of the
temporal and spiritual welfare of his fellow
beings, and above all the glory of God. If
the world frown and cast him off, though
he may feel wounded and ill-treated, yet he
does not entirely give way to melancholy
feelings, for be has, through Divine grace,
a spring of never-failing consolation. He
knows that this world is not his home, and
he looks beyond its fading honors to the
"'far ‘Mikoretbeh`ditintld 'etitiu/L WeighLsof
glory," which awaits him on 'high. He
fears not death; it is only a messenger to
conduct him to the courts of the great King,
there to be crowned with honors, unfading
and eternal. MARY.
The Doctrine of Election.
Who are the Elect? It is not difficult to
know. The doctrine of election itself is a
mystery, but the Elect themselves are not
indistinguishable, even in the midst of this
obscure but perplexing dispensation. They
are those who have been chosen of Christ.
The word " elect" means chosen; they that
are chosen of Christ. Such unquestionably
there are, "chosen in Christ before the
foundation of the world, that ye should be
holy." "Elect according to the foreknowl
edge of God the Father, through sanctifi
cation of the Spirit, unto obedience, and
sprinkling of JesusiChrist." 1. Peter i: 2.
I have not the least doubt that the doctrine
of election is true. But what is that doc
trine ? That God saves me, not because of
any thing in me, or any thing done by me,
but because of the riches of his grace, and
the sovereignty of his almighty love. But
there are some Christians who deny that
there is any such doctrine; but singular
enough, while they deny the name, they ad
mit the reality. Take the lowest Arminian,
who is a true Christian, and ask him, "Do
you mean to say that the first movement to
wards heaven is on my part ?" He will
answer, "No, no, God must first speak be
fore we answer."
Well, grant me that, and I will not quar
rel about the name election, since we agree
about the reality; for if I am chosen irre
spective of anything in me, it matters not
whether that choice was made ten minutes
ago, or thousands of years ago. It is not a
question of time, but a question of grace;
and if you admit that all grace in the heart
of the believer is not an original thing, but
a response to a first movement on God's
part, you grant the substance even when
you deny the name of the doctrine of elec
tion.
But if you ask, Who are they who are
elected ? we answer, They who have cho
sen Christ to be their Saviour. Make sure
that you have chosen Christ, and never
trouble yourselves about the question wheth
er he has chosen vou. Do not try to peer
into God's hidden - book, which God alone can
penetrate, but read God's revealed book, and
compare your character with it; for the
things that are revealed are for us and for
our children. If you love Christ, that proves
that he loves you; for what is his own word,
" We love him because he first loved us."
if I want to know whether I am elected,
I do not begin at heaven, and trace down
ward to my heart; but I begin at my heart,
and trace upward to heaven. I do not try
to hook the ladder to the top of the monu
ment first, but I put the base on the ground;
and then place the top of the ladder against
the top of the monument.
High predestinarians first try to prove
that they are elected, and then they infer
that they may live as they like (even though
their liking should lead them to live contra
ry to God's law;) whereas, the proper way is
to sec whether we live the life of the saints
of God, and then infer that our name is
written in the Lamb's Book of Life, in
which are the names of all that believe.
Those who are elected (or chosen,) believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, rest upon his sac
rifice for the pardon of sin, are clothed with
his righteousness as their - title to heave;
and approach a communion-table and the'
Philadelphia, 111 South Tenth Street, below Chestnut
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WHOLE NO. 255
judgment-seat, trusting only in this, that
"He who knew no sit) was made sin for
them, that they might be made the right
eousness of God in Him." Such as these
make up the Elect, and none but such.
Calvin on Reading Sermons.
Calvin expresses himself very distinctly
and beautifully in his letter to Somerset,
against the prevalent practite of reading
sermons. "The people," he says, "must
be taught in such a manner that they may
be inwardly convicted and made to feel the
truth of what the Bible says, that the word
is a two.edged sword, piercing even to the
dividing asunder of soul and spirit,
,and
joints and marrow; and' is a discerner,of the
thoughts and intents of the heart. - .I say
this to your highness, because there is too
little of living preaching in our kingdom,
sermons there being mostly read and recited.
I understand well enough what obligates
on to adopt' this 'Met'hod; there are few
'ntbatriieeffilipreitchers,Lsuch as
_you have,
and youlear that levity and foolishirriagina
titans might be the consequences, as is often
the case," by the introduction of a new
system. But all this must yield to the eom
mand of Christ, which orders the preaching
of the Gospel. No possible danger must be
permitted to abridge the liberty of the
' Spirit of God, or prevent its free course
among
those whom he has adorned with his
grace for the edifying of the Church."
jfacts an 61taltings.
SAY LITTLE of persons that you can
neither commend without envy, nor dis
praise without danger.
PRAISE no man too liberally before his
face, nor censure any man severely behind
his back.
Timm NEVER. was any man so insensible
as not to perceive a Deity throughout the or
dinary course of nature, though many have
been so obstinately ungrateful as not to con
fess it.
CAIITION.—It is a good thing to be
prompt, active, and decided; but nothing
is ever done well that is done in a hurry.
Festina lente, says the Latin maxim—Has
ten slowly. It is the only mode by which
you can accomplish a purpose with accuracy
as well as celerity.
TEARS AND LAUGHTER.—Goti made both
tears and laughter, and both for kind pur
poses ; for as laughter enables mirth and
surprise to breathe freely, so tears enable sor
row to vent itself patiently. Tears hinder
sorrow from becoming despair and madness,
and laughter is one of the very privileges of
reason, being confined to the human species.
A ri.forzAßCH.—A wise man is a great
monarch; he bath an empire within him
self;,reason._ commands in chief, and pos
sesses the throne and sceptre. All his pas
sions, like obedient subjects, do obey :
though the territories seem but small and
narrow, yet the command and royalty are
great, and reach further than he that wears
the moon for his crest, or the other that
wears the sun for his helmet.
LIMIER'S WEDDING-RING.—An inter
esting antique has just been discovered at
Munich, in the shape of Luther's wedding
ring. It is described as of pure gold, and
the circle skillfully engraved in relief with
the emblems of the passion—such as the
cross, ladder, sword, sponge, and cloth. In
the inside is engraved, "D. Martino Lu
thero, Catharine a Bora, 13 Junius, 1525."
Such is the description given by a Munich
journal.
TEAus os Luxtrity.--" What is the mat
ter with that young man?" was the thought
of many, one Sabbath at the Mariner's
church, as a well appearing young man
wept much durinc , the service.
" What was the" matter ?" 0, they were
tears of joy Joy ! for what ?
He shall tell his own story: "I am
steward of a ship; I am on my way home
to Baltimore from Boston; I have not had
the privilege of meeting with the people of
God for twenty months ; I feel that it is
good to be here."
BREVITY.-Dr. Abernethy, the cele
brated physician, was never more displeased
than by hearing a patient detail a long ac
count of troubles. A woman, knowing
Abernethy's love of the laconic, having burn
ed her hand, called at his house. Showing
him herhand, she said, CPA burn." "A poul
tice," quietly answered the learned doctor.
The next day she returned, and said, "Bet
ter." " Continue the poultice," replied Dr.
Abernethy. In a week she made her last
call, and her speech was lengthened to three
words, " Well. Your fee ?" " Nothing,"
said the physician; "you are the most
sensible woman I ever saw."
INQUIRE CAUTIOUSLY.—EIder Jones, a
worthy, but very prosy preacher, was ad
dressing a drowsy congregation one Summer
afternoon. He was glad to see that one
good woman was not only awake, while all
were sleeping, but she was melted to tears
under the pathos of his discourse. After
the services were over, he hastened to join
her, and giving her his band, be remarked:
"I observe, my dear friend, that you
were very much overcome this afternoon;
will you tell me what it was in the sermon
that most affected you ?"
"O," she replied, "it was not the sermon;
I was thinking if my son John should grow
up and be a preacher, and preach such a
dull sermon as that, how ashamed of him I
should be."
PACKING THOUGHT. - DO not assume
that because you have something important
to communicate, it is necessary to write a
long article. A tremenduous thought may
be packed into a small compass—made as
solid as a cannon-ball, and like the project
ile, cut down all before it. Short articles
are generally more effective, find more read
ers, and are more widely copied than long
ones. Pack your thoughts close together,
and though your article may be brief, it will
have weight, and be more likely to make an
impression.
" Ye who write for this busy age," says
a late writer, " speak quick, use short sen
tences, never stop the reader with a long or am
biguous word, but let the stream, of thought
flow right on, and men will drink it like
water."