Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

vest would send forth more labourers into his harvest, and carefully guard against the intrusion of others! that there may be greater purity in doctrine and discipline, and that God may have more glory!

J. L.

ANSWER TO A QUERY ON EXOD. XXXIV. 7.

A correspondent desires to know the true meaning of these words: And will by no means clear the guilty." As they immediately follow that charming declaration of the name of the Lord," Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin;" and as they precede an awful threatening, "Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children," QQ. is at a loss to understand them.

The difficulty is certainly great; as they seem to contradict the encouraging declaration which Jehovah was pleased to make to Moses on that memorable occasion, when He had promised to "make all his goodness pass before him, and to proclaim his NAME."

It is always with reluctance that we should depart from the excellent translation of the Bible which we possess; but in some few instances this is unavoidable. The reader will observe, that the words in the above text, the guilty, are printed in Italic letters, which is a signal that they are not in the original; the other words, by no means clear, or, clearing he will not clear, signify, extirpating, he will not extirpate, or, utterly extirpate the wicked; that is, idolaters particularly;-but, when he visits for this sin, he will confine himself to the chastisement of the third or fourth generation, at farthest; and so not utterly cut off and destroy a whole people for this provoking iniquity; and that this is the meaning of the passage, appears probable from the use that Moses makes of it in Num. xiv 17, &c. "And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The Lord is long-suffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means," or, as we would render it, not utterly extirpating (though visiting) the iniquity (i. e. the idolatry) of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation: pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people;" and (ver. 15.) “not destroy all this people as one man:" and thus, as Bishop Patrick observes, "Moses urges these words as an argument why God should not destroy the Israelites as one man; which would have been very improper, if God would "by no means clear the guilty *." B.

* The learned reader may consult Poole, and other critical writers.Poole says, Evacuando non evacuabit, visitans peccata patrum, &c. —i. e. etiam quando succenset et punit, non tamen prorsus succidit, sed in 3. tantum aut 4. progeniem. Quæ interpretatio tanto magis allubescit, quia Num. xiv. 18. hæc ipsa verba Moses, &c. Confirmatur ez Jer. xxx. 11. et 46, 28 Castigubo te ad judicium, i. e. moderatè, &c.

ON MIXED MARRIAGES.

To mixed marriages is ascribed the corruption of the old world. Gen. vi. They were forbidden to Israel. Deut. vii. 3, 4. They were the immediate cause of Solomon's apostacy, and produced the most unhappy consequences among the Jews, after their return from the Babylonish captivity. Ezra, chap. ix. x.O that the disciples of the blessed Jesus, who live under a much purer dispensation, were more conscientious in examining the sacred pages of the New Testament! They would there find that a carnal professor is as unfit a partner to a real Christian asever the most ignorant Heathen could have been to a Jew. The carnal mind, from the fall of Adam to the present day, in every age, and in both sexes, is "enmity against God." Rom. viii. 7. It has often been urged, by advocates for mixed marriages, especially young professors, in making choice of a wife, that if she have the form of godliness, a believing husband may be the mean of bringing her to know its power; and they refer to St. Paul to sanction this opinion. 1 Cor. vii. 10-16. The redressing an existing evil is one thing; the avoiding it is quite another matter. The apostle, in the passage quoted, is giving direc tions to converted Gentiles, how to treat their partners to whom they were married previously to their conversion to Christianity. It was in the days of their ignorance they formed the connection; and the religion they now professed, so far from dissolving the ties of marriage, served to fix them upon more lasting princi ples however, in this case, the intimacies of the marriage-state were sanctified to the believer, whether husband or wife, notwithstanding their partner remained unconverted. But I fear it is otherwise with those who presumptuously join hands with unbelievers with such expectations, contrary to the express injunction of Scripture!

To

To the unmarried, St. Paul speaks in another manner: such he says, " Marry only in the Lord." I Cor. vii. 39. "Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers." 2 Cor. vi. 14. The Scriptures are so plain on this subject, that an attempt to make it clearer, would be like holding up a candle to the sun. Mixed marriages are not more unscriptural in their nature than destructive in their consequences of social happiness and domestic peace. Mixed marriages are inimical to the very spirit and geuius of Christianity, and produce consequences the most deplorable among the children of God. Much is it to be wished, that the upper servants of the sanctuary were more scrupulously attentive to the will of their Master and their own best interests, in seeking their partners of life... Would they consider what a handle they afford to the enemies of religion, when they behold them " yoked together with unbelievers," and how they, by their example, lead weak Christians to their hurt, if not to their ruin, it might well check S L

XV.

[ocr errors]

any passionate fondness for the most splendid personal accomplishment, or the fairest prospect of pecuniary advantage, in preference to the more lasting and lovely ornaments of a "meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.' 1 Pet iii. 4. In the case of marriage, it is awfully realized that the love of money is the root of all evil, which, while some have covetted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. The Christian should make the will of God the reason, and his glory the aim and the end of his desires and his actions. This can never be the actuating principle of such as join in affinity with his enemies. No temptation whatever can excuse a departure from the revealed will of God, when it is known.

[ocr errors]

Mixed marriages portend Irreparable evil to society, and are big with mischief to the Church of Christ. Alas! the rising generation will afford ample proof to the truth of this assertion. Example is allowed to make a deeper impression than either precept or admonition. Hence we see that the careless conduct of a bad parent is more naturally followed by his children than the most pious instructions and faithful exhortations of a good parent, when such are unhappily joined. But indeed, it is no uncommon thing to see children of such parents neglected altoge ther, as to their religious instruction; while the one is careless, and cannot, the other becomes weary, and will not take the trouble to instruct them. Perhaps, after some feeble endeavours to bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord," they faint under the discouraging circumstances in which they find themselves placed; and because no present blossoms appear, despair of their ever bearing fruit.

Piety is a delicate flower, easily injured, and often crushed, in this howling wilderness; and unless faith be kept in exercise, will wither and decay; and how is it likely to be otherwise, wften a Christian is joined to one who is altogether a stranger to the dignified and tender feelings which actuate his soul! However amiable in other respects, however condescending and kind, be never can, in a spiritual sense," rejoice with him when he I joiçes; nor weep with him when he weeps." Is his mind ruffled in his intercourse with a wicked world? is he crossed by Providence in his lawiul calling ?—such a person is quite unfit to ease the burden, by pointing out for his support the animating promises of a faithful God, who has promised to sanctify the affictions of his children, and make all things work together for their good: much less is she capable of alleviating the pains of a wonded conscience, smarting under the guilt of omitted duty, or some direct violation of the law of his God. The prayer of guth is the best medicine in such a case; but of this she is inBapable and, in such circumstances, his own prayer will probably be hindered.

But the most awful consideration is, the prospect of an eternal

separation at death. Cutting indeed, beyond expression, must it be, to have such a reflection haunting the mind! and doubtless it must embitter all the pleasures of life. The fond hope of seeing a divine change wrought in her heart, may alleviate the present sorrow; hut while no evidence of this change is apparent, fear and doubt must often prevail.

[ocr errors]

Contrast this with such as are married in the Lord. The world is a scene of conflict and strife to the good man, whose "conversation is in Heaven:" his righteous soul will be daily vexed with the unhallowed lives of wicked men; but, if his partner is, together with him, "a partaker of the grace of life," he runs to his home as an asylum from the ills of life; - there he finds a physician, a counsellor, and a friend, to pour the balm of Gilead into his bleeding heart, to impart consolation and advice, and, by all the tender offices of pious affection, brace up his mind anew to the performance of the duties of his station. Nor is this all; by mutual intercourse with such a partner, by prayer and conversation, he reaps spiritual improvement from his temporal crosses, and looks forward with joy unspeakable to the approaching period when the bliss, of which they are now receiving some foretastes, shall be fully realized; - freed from the bitter ingredients with which at present it is unavoidably mixed.

On the other hand, what must be the situation of a pious female, married to a husband who lives "without God in the world!" The word which she takes for a rule of life, expressly enjoins submission and obedience to her husband in all things, "even as the church is subject unto Christ." Ephes. v. 21. The same Scripture demands a sincere obedience to the commandments of God. Must not the claims of these two be contrary to each other? An unconverted husband, whatever his particular disposition may be, is habitually an enemy to God and holiness, How awful then is it to consider, that Christians, at their marriage-engagement, can deliberately take upon them the most solemn vows, in the presence of God, to love and obey persons whose conduct and principles they inwardly abhor! Is not this an attempt to serve God and Mammon," which he himself hath declared impossible: au attempt to join what God hath for ever put asunder?

"to

Let believers, then, beware of treading on forbidden ground. He who condemns a wanton look of adultery, cannot remain an unconcerned spectator of the conformity of his people with the corrupt customs of an evil world, with which they are drawn away and enticed. Many serious Christians, who doubtless have meant far otherwise at their first setting out to seek a partner, by inattention to the path of duty, have allowed their affections to be entangled, and their judgments to be subdued, perhaps, before they conceived themselves within reach of danger. Many a pious tradesman has been much easier satisfied with the

evidences of his wife's religion before marriage, than he would have been with the necessary qualities in purchasing an article of trade, though it is most likely she will prove the best or the worst bargain he ever made. The general complaint, that pious women are very rare, is more common than just. It is to be lamented that truly pious men and women are so few: yet there is reason to believe, there are as many or more of the latter than of the former, Female piety, for the most part, is modest and unassuming, and requires attention to find it out. Such will not readily be found among those who love "gadding abroad," because they are admonished to be "keepers at home;" and it is there they ought to be looked for; as it is there they are most likely to make a deliberate and judicious choice for themselves, where their passion is likely to be in subordination to their judg ment; which is but rarely the case with those who assemble in the" house of mirth."

Upon the whole, let Christians who are looking out for a partner, apply for direction to God," who giveth liberally, and upbraideth not ;" being assured, that a good husband, as well as a "prudent wife, is from the Lord." Mach indeed of the happiness of this life depends upon the choice a Christian makes; therefore frequent and importunate prayer for direction, accompanied with a "conversation becoming the gospel," is the path of duty for in vain do God's own children pray to be kept from temptation, while they neglect the means he affords them to escape it. He may, for a time, leave such to themselves, and make their sin their punishment: no wonder, if in such a case, that from which they look for comfort, prove a "thorn in their side," and bring them to repent their folly when it is too late.

P. A.

A NARRATIVE

OF THE EXTRAORDINARY CONVERSION OF

DAVID WRIGHT,

Who, at the same Time, was perfectly cured of an inveterate

[blocks in formation]

THE substance of the following account was communicated to me by your predecessor, the late Rev. and worthy Mr. Webb, when minister of Fetter Lane, London, who was formerly pastor of a church at Hitchin, where the singular events took place: -A good man and his wife, who lived in a village near that town, and attended the meeting there, had a son (David Wright) who was dreadtely afflicted with what is commonly called the King's Evil; and whose mind was as much diseased as his body, being mot only immusal and profane, but Atheistical,

« ForrigeFortsæt »