́b was manifest that practical piety rose or sunk, just as sound Stof erroneous doctrines bore swaysThe same great fact was most impressively exemplified at the period of the Reformation. When the great doctrines of the gospel, which had been so long withheld or perverted by the corrupters of the church, began to be proclaimed by the Reformers in something of their scriptural simplicity, pure and undefiled religion began immediately to spring forth, from this living seed, in the same proportion. And, on the contrary, when, toward the close of the sixteenth century, and during the seventeenth, orthodoxy declined in all the Protestant churches, and in some of them too as deplorable degree; there was a corresponding depression in every one of them, of zeal, and of all the great interests of practical religion.Of these churches, the history of few is more melancholy and more solemnly instructive, than that of the Huguenots of Frances For more than three quarters of a century after their emancipation from the thraldom of Popery, they were amongst the most pure and flourishing churches in the Protestant world. And, as long as their pious pastors continued to be sound in doctrine; faithful in adhering to their excellent Confession of Faith; and indefatigable in instructing their children and youth, and all classes of the peo ple in gospel truth, in private as well as in public; notwithstanding all the frowns and persecution of a hostile govern ment, they prospered, multiplied, and were comparatively happy. But no sooner did orthodoxy decline in those churches; no sooner did Cameron, Amyraut, and other divines of talents, learning, and influence, begin to verge towards Semi-pelagian opinions, than an immediate and sensible decay ensued in piety, in zeal, and in pure morals. Indeed it seemed as if, from the time that the infection of these errors became in a considerable degree extended, their peace was interrupted their unity broken; and their comfortable standing with the eivil government destroyed; until on their whole state, was written Ichabod, the glory is departed stand,tod the present day, their glory has never been restored and Asd they went on to sink lower and lower in error, they became also more and more depressed in every thing that constitutes the true excellence and happiness of a churches or stil to bas 9ds No bless instructive on this subject is the history of thes churches of Genera and England. As long as simple gospel truth continued to be preached, and generally received in those churches, the effect was uniformly benign. "The word of God had free course and was glorified. "Sinners were con vinced and converted; saints were edified and comforted; and the churches" walked together in the fear of the Lord, and in the consolations of the Holy Ghost." But just in proportion as doctrinal error gained ground among them, every thing good declined. Discord, strife, division and moral desolation became more and more prevalent, and held a gloomy reign, until evangelical truth was again revived. But why should we dwell in detail on particular cases? The fact is, the principle of which we speak is universal in its application. Never, it may be safely asserted, did an exception occur. The prevalence of doctrinal error, and the decline of practical religion, have always gone hand in hand. And there is another fact, equally remarkable and instructive. When false doctrines have begun to appear in any church, the course has too commonly been from one degree of heterodoxy to another, until the lowest point of depression was reached. And this, however the fact may be explained, is more peculiarly apt to be the case, when those who once professed to stand upon orthodox ground, suffer themselves to be enticed into error. Those who were originally bred in some moderate doctrinal error, often remain during their whole lives, at the same position. But when men apostatize from a scriptural creed, they, with deplorable frequency, have been found to continue in the downward course, until they reached the bottom of the declining plane. A late excellent and judicious writer never penned a more plain and melancholy truth, than when he said"The progress is easy and almost unavoidable, from controversial opposition to personal election, to the explaining away of original sin, regeneration by the Holy Spirit, justification by faith alone, and even of the atonement and deity of Jesus Christ."* All history attests the truth of this humiliating and alarming statement. If ever, therefore, the Presbyterian church shall begin to be infected with Semi-pelagian and Arminian errors, her case will be far more threatening, and the probable result far more deplorable than those of churches which have, from the beginning, uniformly occupied Arminian ground. The individuals who may take the lead in such defection, will probably continue to the end of life, to rank themselves with evangelical men; nay, they may, possibly, affect peculiar zeal and fidelity, and claim to be, pre-eminently, the "friends of Revivals ;"' but both the title and the claim will eventually, be found equally delusive. * Dr. Scott's preface to his translation of the Acts of the Synod of Dort, Their immediate successors, will probably, throw off the mask, and fall, perhaps, the worst predictions of the faithful watchmen on the walls of Zion. The principle is by no means obscure which renders it as natural in theory, as it is certain in fact, that apostates are ever apt to sink to a lower point in doctrinal and moral degeneracy, than those who never held a high place in the scale of professionalou o volei geiluja come. S. M. 902 J SCOTTISH MISSIONARY SOCIETY, MY DEAR SIR, TX 78sHp a bigro 4 EDINBURGH, September 18, 1835.7 24squideation anal I BEG leave, in the name of the Directors of the Scottish Missionary Society, to express our cordial acknow ledgments to the Ulster Auxiliary Missionary Society, for the sum of £438 8s. 9d. which, including the Collections made by our Deputation this year, has been raised by them in aid of our Funds; and which with £266 18s. 8d. of contributions received by the Rev. Mr. Waddell for his church and school in Jamaica, in Ulster and in Dublin, make in all £705 78, 5d. We are deeply indebted to our Christian Brethren in Ireland, for the renewed expression of the interest they are so kind as to take in the operations of our Society and I beg leave to convey through you our cordial thanks to the members and congregations, the societies, the collectors, and the individual subscribers, who, by their united contributions, have afforded us such liberal assurance. I trust that the more our Christian Brethren, in the Sister Kingdom contribute to water the moral wilderness of the Heathen world, the more will they themselves be watered in return, persuaded as I am, that the more we entertain a deep and heartfelt interest in the prosperity of Christ's kingdom in foreign lands, the more will religion flourish in our own souls, and in our own country. I believe it has uniformly been found, that exertions for the propagation of the Gospel abroad, instead of diminishing, have been one of the most powerful and effective means of augmenting the efforts for its extension at home. Of this England and America are striking examples, and I trust Ireland will come in for a large share of the same blessingso to yorerod I cannot conclude without expressing to yourself individually our warmest and most cordial thanks for the uniformsattention you have shewn, and the great trouble you have taken in . * making arrangements for our Deputation, and for the deep To the Rev. James Morgan, Secretary of the story te los YT THE POWER OF RELIGION, Exemplified in the Heart Exercises of some Eminent, Saints of God.' JAMES USHER, Archbishop of the Irish Church, died A.D.1655. Addressing Dr. Barnard, he said, "Look you be not found in the outward court, but a worshipper in the temple before the altar, for Christ will measure all those that profess his name, and that call themselves his people; and the outward worshippers he will leave out to be trodden down by the Gentiles. The outward court is the formal Christian, whose religion is in performing the outward duties of Christianity, without having an inward life and power of faith uniting him to Christ; and these God will leave to be trodden down, and swept away by the Gentiles; but the worshippers within the temple, and before the altar, are those who do indeed worship God in spirit band in truth whose souls are made his temple, and he is honoured and adored in the most inward thoughts of their hearts, and they sacrifice their lusts and vile affections, yea, and their own wills to him; and these God will hide in the hollow of his hand, and under the shadow of his wings," (94) SECKERS Archbishop of Canterbury, was brought up: a Dissenter. He died A. D. 1768. In his first charge to the clergy of his diocess, he exhorted them in the following terms: 7 You must be assiduous in teaching the principles, not only of virtue and natural religion, but of the Gospel; and of the 20 Gospel, not as almost explained away by modern refiners, but as the truth is in Jesus. You must set forth the original corruption of sour nature; our redemption according to God's breternal purpose in Christ, by the sacrifice of the cross; our Tsanctification by the influences of the Divine Spirit, the insufficiency of our own good works, and the efficacy of faith unto lisalvation" In his last charge, two years before his death, he murgeshisnclergy with much seriousness. Set before your people," says he, the lamentable condition of fallen man, the numerous actual sins by which they have made it worse, and the redemption wrought out for them by Jesus Christ, the nature and import importance of true faith in him, and their absolute need of the grace of the Divine Spirit in order to obey his pre cepts.simong apoiosig eid medt of lalut lliw ed estend) 918 yedi li reds se drab to wobsda kaajia kazinamaankäseb dzuords med3 1.74 xlav odstedt verl „miszedt nad tolmoo of Hate bus box NOTICES OF BOOKS. od od te bo for wond ben 2012 19NI, MI J9Y 973, 798) A HELP TO PRAYER, chiefly designed for the Young. H. REA, Belfast. P. p. 25. 1835. 1835.5 THIS is a very judicious and practical tract. It proposes to instruct the young in the exercise of prayer, not by putting forms of prayer into their mouth, but by suggesting suitable subjects of prayer. If the child knows for what he is to pray, he will not be at a loss to clothe the idea in words, and the prominent design of the tract is to furnish the ideas, while yet this is so done as to help to the use of words also. There is another peculiarity in the insertion of blank leaves alternately with those that are printed, designed for noting any observa tions which the child or his teacher may desire to keep visibly before his mind, but which omitted in the published sugges tions. The tract contains a prayer for every day in the week. The following example will best explain it. It is the prayer for Saturday. 66 are Pray to be numbered among the Lord's people; to be made a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus; to be chosen by him, even though it should be in the furnace of affliction, Isaiah xlviii. 10. Pray that when the Lord chastens you, it may be for your profit, that you may be 'a partaker of his holiness." Pray that you may never harden your heart, and refuse to receive correction; but, whenever the Lord chastens you, may humbly bow beneath the rod, and know who has appointed it. Pray that you may never be found among those who regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands ; but among those who are enabled by the Spirit to say, under every dispensation, It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good.' Pray for the sick, the afflicted, and those that are appointed to die." For the sick, that they may be supported in faith and patience to wait the Lord's time of deliverance; that the chastening, though grievous, may be for their eternal good; that while the body suffers, the soul may be kept in peace; that the Lord Jesus may be revealed if he be not known; and if known, may be the support and comfort of the soul; and that while the outward man perishes, the inward man may be renewed day by day. Pray for the afflicted; that the Lord will comfort his people, and haveje mercy upon his afflicted ones; that their sorrows may lead them to their to Saviour, and that they may find him indeed a refuge and strength, aq very present help in trouble.' Pray that they may not mourn as those without hope,' nor faint under their tribulation; but may experience that it is whom the Lord loveth that he chasteneth,' and that they may · |