MINISTERIAL CONSISTENCY.

THE REV. MR. MORRISON AND THE ARMINIAN CREED.

To the Editor of the Scripture Magazine.

SIR-The object of your publication being to promote a knowledge and understanding of Scripture, and to induce the ministers of religion to confine their public administrations more closely to the elucidation of scriptural truth, I trust you will conceive the following remarks to be in perfect accordance with your designs, and give them a place at your earliest opportunity. My object is not to decide the point at issue between the two parties in this dispute, but merely to point out the propriety of a minister's abstaining from every kind of misrepresentation of the religious sentiments of others in his pulpit labours, and of confining himself to the exposition and illustration of scriptural truth.

The history of every civilized and savage nation upon the earth, could it be fairly traced, would invariably demonstrate the painful truth, that however exemplary and exalted the individual who may attempt to detect and expose inconsistency of character, and to reform abuses—no matter whether in church or state, or in the more private circles of domestic life,-the effort is universally met by a rancorous spirit of hostility and persecution, even unto death. Where is the people, and where the distant land, that has not been stained with the blood of its reformers and best benefactors? Can we read the page of our own national history, without the starting tear of unavailing sorrow and regret, that so many excellent martyrs should have fallen in attempting a "reformation," and that by the excessive abuse of privilege and power? Can we contemplate the melancholy tale of murdered prophets and messengers, sent of God to warn and reform the guilty nations of the earth, without a secret sigh of bitterness and alarm? And can we pass over in silence the contumely and sufferings sustained in the same cause by the great Reformer of the world,-that glorious Preacher of righteousness, "who spoke as one having authority"? And yet, with all his powerful eloquence and beneficent works, he not only did not obtain a patient hearing and a splendid victory, but was obliged to submit to the most insulting and cruel taunts. And shall mortal man expect to meet a more kind reception, or relinquish the important work because of the thorns and the briars? Shall he not rather first count the costs, and then, setting his face like a flint, take up the cross and follow his Lord; prepared to encounter all human censure or applause, as

alike opposed to the interests of the work; and replying, in the language of Abraham's servant, " Hinder me not" still persevere, and ever bear in mind, that he has a higher tribunal than that of man, to decide as to the purity or propriety of his conduct, and there, with right motives and desires, be prepared to stand or fall?

In the remarks which I have now to offer, it must be premised, that the opportunity which supplied them was quite casual and unexpected on my part; and without further preface, I shall proceed to acquaint you, that I was yesterday privileged by hearing the Rev. Mr. Morrison, of Trevor chapel, Brompton, discourse from those important words of our Lord," Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my saying, he shall never see death."

The preacher, without the aid of a lengthened exordium, at once launched into his subject, by scrutinizing and setting forth what these sayings were, namely, the doctrines and commands of Christ. That they were not merely to be announced and then forgotten; but that they were to be kept and exemplified,-honoured by the most implicit obedience. Shewing, also, what was conveyed by the promise, that the obedient believer should not see death. That it was not a deliverance from the power, but from the sting or dread of death; who, as the king of terrors, was transformed, by the agency of the Holy Spirit, into a messenger of heavenly peace and joy.

As it did not occur to my mind to address you upon the subject of this discourse until some hours after it was delivered, I am not prepared to follow the preacher, or to give that correct delineation of the subject as might otherwise have been done. Let it suffice, however, to state generally, that the leading doctrines of the Arminian or Methodistical school were recognized and set forth throughout the sermon, and some of them urged with considerable force and feeling, particularly the necessity of keeping the sayings, or obeying the commands of our Lord; clearly demonstrating that such only could be pronounced among the blessed, who "hear the word of God and keep it."-That the proper time to begin in earnest had actually arrived; urging the present moment as the "day of salvation:" not some distant period that might never arrive; but "To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." "I never did say to the seed of Jacob, seek ye my face in vain."-That God was to be sought in the spirit of the humble publican, and not in that of the proud pharisee. That no dependence was to be placed on any thing short of a practical, experimental faith, evidenced by the works and graces of the Spirit: "By their fruits shall ye know them."-That as well might we expect the tree to grow upon the fruit, as faith to fibre and flourish in the sickly soil of works. Faith is the tree, and the works of love are the fruits-" Not unto us, not unto us, O Lord, but unto thy name be all the glory."

It is not pretended that these were the precise words and figures which were employed upon the occasion; but they most certainly present a faithful sketch of the spirit and application of the whole discourse. Happy should I feel were it possible to close the subject here;

but it is my painful Christian duty to notice some concluding allusions, which appeared quite irrelevant and out of place. In truth, they were unjustly and invidiously introduced; consisting of what the preacher properly called a system of "works," but which he unjustly designated the "Arminian Creed."—" A faith," which, he declared, "no man that had one grain of the grace of God in his heart could possibly believe. That, to conceive it possible for an Arminian to work his way to the throne of heaven, and there, in the spirit of self-complacency, triumphantly congratulate himself on the successful termination of all his labours; and in a sort of proud soliloquy, express his surprise that he had been able to do so well,-was in direct opposition to all the great leading doctrines of the Bible, and destructive of the glorious attributes of Deity itself."

In the debate for the enlargement of the Toleration Act, in the year 1773, the archbishop of York vehemently opposed the motion, and stigmatized the dissenting ministers as men of high ambition. Lord Chatham replied, This was judging uncharitably; and that whoever brought such a charge against them, without proof, DEFAMED. How far this reply may be urged in the present instance, I leave your readers to determine. The only question I will venture to present, in the present stage of the correspondence, is, where does Mr. Morrison find his authorities?

Chelsea, April 24, 1826.

ALIQUIS.

REGARD PAID TO THE SCRIPTURES BY THE EARLY

CHRISTIANS.

To the Editor of the Scripture Magazine.

SIR-Perhaps you may deem the following extract from Cave's "Primitive Christianity so much in unison with the object of your publication, as to give it a place in the Scripture Magazine.

Green Hammerton, near York.

Your's, &c.

JAMES JACKSON.

"Their next care was diligently and seriously to read the Scriptures, to be mighty in the Divine oracles, as indeed they had an invaluable esteem of and reverence for the word of God, as the book which they infinitely prized beyond all

others; upon which account Nazianzen very severely chides his dear friend Gregory Nyssen, that having laid aside the Holy Scriptures (the most excellent writings in the world,) which he was wont to read both privately to himself, and publicly to the people, he had given up himself to the study of foreign and prophane authors, desirous rather to be accounted an orator than a Christian. St. Augustine tells us, that after his conversion, how meanly soever he had before thought of them, the Scriptures were become the matter of his most pure and chaste delight, in respect of which all other books (even those of Cicero himself, which once he had so much doated on) became dry and unsavoury to him. In the study of this book it was that Christians then mainly exercised themselves, as thinking they could never fully enough understand it, or deeply enough imprint it upon their hearts and memories. Of the younger Theodosius they tell us, that rising early every morning, he, together with his sisters, interchangeably sung psalms of praise to God; the Holy Scriptures he could exactly repeat in any part of them with the bishops that were at Court, as readily as if he had been an old bishop himself. We read of Origen, though then a child, that when his father commanded him to commit some places of Scripture to memory, he most willingly set himself to it, and not content with the bare reading, he began to enquire into the more profound and recondite meaning of it, often asking his father (to his no less joy than admiration) what the sense of this or that place of Scripture was; and his thirst after divine knowledge still continued and encreased in him all his life. St. Jerome, reporting it out of a letter of one who was his great companion and benefactor, that he never went to meals without some part of Scripture being read, never to sleep, till some about him had read them to him, and that both by night and day no sooner had he done praying but he betook himself to reading, and after reading returned again to prayer. Valens, deacon of the church of Jerusalem, a venerable old man, had so entirely given up himself to the study of the Scriptures, that it was all one to him to read or to repeat whole pages together. The like we find of John, an Egyptian confessor, (whom Eusebius saw and heard,) that though both his eyes were put out, and his body mangled with unheard of cruelty, yet he was able at any time to repeat any places or passages either out of the Old or New Testament; which, when I first heard him do in the public congregation, I supposed him (says he) to have been reading in a book, till coming near, and finding how it was, I was struck with great admiration at it. Certainly, Christians then had no mean esteem of, and took no small delight in these sacred volumes. For the sake of this book (which he had chosen to be the companion and counsellor of his life) Nazianzen professes he had willingly undervalued and relinquished all other things; this was the mine where they enriched themselves with divine treasures, a book where they furnished themselves with a true stock of knowledge; as St. Jerome speaks of Nepotian, that by daily reading and meditation he had made his soul a library of Christ; and he tells us of Blesilla, a devout widow, that though she was so far overrun with weakness and sickness, that her foot would scarce bear her body, or her neck sustain the burden of her head, yet she was never found without a Bible in her hand."

Biblical Gleanings and Intelligence.

Naval and Military Bible Society.-The committee has lately issued a circular, sketching the history of this Society's proceedings, and appealing to the public for more efficient help and support. It is painful to learn, that the annual subscriptions do but little exceed 6007.; and that the whole income, arising from every source, does not, on an average, exceed 20001. per annum; "leaving the committee throughout their arduous duties, from year to year, the painful alternative of plunging the Society into debt, or of refusing the bread of life to their hungering companions in arms." We trust that this appeal will not be in vain.

Christian Knowledge Society.-The number of Bibles issued by this Society during the past year amounts to 50,402; of Testaments and Psalters, to 68,652; of Common Prayers, to 133,459; of other bound books, to 110,847; and of small tracts and papers, to 1,110,707; making a total of 1,474,067. The issue has exceeded that of the preceding year by 5,812 Bibles, 8,377 Testaments and Psalters, 7,028 Prayer-books; but has fallen short of it in 17,673 small tracts and papers. The receipts for the year have been £61,158:0:1; and the expenditure has amounted to £61,515:9:6. We are happy to learn, that this Society has been consulting the wants and dispositions of the mechanical classes of society, in the adoption of two scientific works of well-known character and merit," Conversations on Chemistry," and "Conversations on Natural Philosophy;" the catalogue has also been cleared of some works with which it has been for many years encumbered. At the request of the Chaplain General of the army, the Society has been induced to co-operate in supplying the soldiers with Bibles and Common Prayers, which are now in a course of delivery.

Apocryphal Controversy.-The resolution of the committee of the 21st of November relative to the Apocrypha, not being thought by some bodies, particularly in Scotland, sufficiently explicit to secure its avowed end, the committee, anxious to unite on this important and vital subject to the utmost practicable extent the wishes and feelings of the members and friends of the Society, have taken further measures with this view, which will be explained in the following minute and resolutions; which resolutions were passed at a special meeting of the committee on the 21st of April, and were confirmed by another special meeting on the 25th. "The committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society beg leave to state, for the information of its members, that, having sent a deputation to Scotland on the subject of the resolution of the 21st of November last, relative to the Apocrypha; and having also received various communications on the same subject from different auxiliary societies throughout the kingdom; they have, on full consideration and discussion, adopted the following resolutions.-(1.) That the fundamental law of the Society, which limits its operations to the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, be fully and distinctly recognized as excluding the circulation of the Apocrypha. (2.) That, in conformity to the preceding resolution, no pecuniary aid can be granted to any society circulating the Apocrypha. (3.) That in all cases in which grants, whether gratuitous or otherwise, of the Holy Scriptures, either in whole or in part, shall be made to any society, the books be issued bound; and on the express condition, that they shall be distributed without alteration or addition. The committee, in communicating these resolutions to the members of the Society, cannot but express their confident hope that the above resolutions will