Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

worship of One God, the Father, according to the instructions of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

"When ye pray, say, Our Father." Matt. vi. 9, Luke xii. 2. "The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship Him." John iv. 23.

"And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He will give it you." John xvi. 23.

7. Because, at the French Church, I can follow the example of Christ, which ought to be our model in all things, even in the worship of One God, the Father, without intermixing in my devotions a "God the Son," a "God the Holy Ghost," a "holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity," a "Three Persons in One God," a "Sacred Three," or a "Holy Mother of God, the Virgin Mary;" for the worship of whom I find no commandment in the Bible.

"I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth."Luke x. 21.

"O my Father, let this cup pass from me!"-Matt. xxvi. 39. "Father, glorify Thy Son."—"Holy Father, keep through Thine own Name those whom Thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are."-John xvii. 1, 11.

66

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."Luke xxiv. 34.

8. Because, in the hymns and songs of the French Church, I am not continually offended by expressions, which seem equally incompatible with reason and holy Scripture; and because the Almighty Eternal God is not represented to me, sometimes as a feeble infant on its mother's knees, sometimes as dying to expiate the wrath of a Supremely Good God; nor is it ever said, as in the Romish Church,

This infant is the mighty God,

Come to be suckled and adored.

Because, in fine, one would blush to teach there, that "God died to expiate original sin."

The

9. Because, at the French Church, I hear Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, preached as "the Christ, the Son of the Living God;" and not as God who died and was buried, and rose again from the dead. Apostle Paul, in his Epistle to the Romans, announces that it is Christ that died" (viii. 34); and moreover "that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures." (1 Cor. xv. 3.)

The Apostles did not preach that Christ was a divine

person who remained in the crucified man, a person who by his partaking of Deity could not die or be buried; but they maintained that "God hath made that same Jesus who was crucified both Lord and Christ."

10. Because the French Church teaches the doctrine of the True Grace of God; whose favour cannot be merited or purchased by mankind: which is quite conformable to the Holy Scripture.

"God so loved the world, that He gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."-John iii. 16.

"The gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. vi. 23.

"By grace ye are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast."-Eph. ii. 8, 9.

"The grace of God which bringeth salvation.-Titus ii. 11. 11. Because, in the French Church, God is spoken of, according to the Scriptures, as a Being who is infinitely wise, just and good; as the Father of all: every thing which is there attributed to Him, is compatible with Infinite Wisdom, Justice, and Goodness; in harmony with his character as the Father of all, and with this maxim, " God is Love."

12. Because there the crucified Jesus is considered as exalted to the dignity of Saviour and Judge of the world, in reward of his obedience and perfect righteous

ness.

"He humbled himself and became obedient, even unto death, -therefore God hath highly exalted him."-Philip. ii. 8, 9. "Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity, therefore God, even thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows."-Heb. i. 9.

13. Because there the Gospel is acknowledged to be the ministration of the Spirit of God.

"How shall not the ministration of the Spirit be much more glorious?"-2 Cor. iii. 8.

"For of Him, and through Him, and unto Him, are all things." ."-Rom. xi. 36.

"One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."-Eph. iv. 6.

14. Because there the necessity of personal holiness is really felt: the spirit of Christ, and his exemplary life, are facts essential to true Christianity.

"If any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his.' Rom. viii. 9/

"He that saith I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. He that saith he

abideth in him, ought himself so to walk, even as he walked.”. 1 John ii. 4, 6.

"Let no man deceive you; he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous."-iii. 7.

15. Because there a future and just retribution is preached: that every man will be judged according to what he hath done, and not according to what he hath not done; and that our future condition is determined, not by an arbitrary and irresistible decree, but according to our actions.

"Then he will render to every man according to his works."— Matt. xvi. 27.

"For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, that every one may receive for the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."2 Cor. v. 10.

16. Because there I am instructed to think of human nature, as being the work of God; and to love all men as my brethren.

"For we are also His offspring."-Acts xvii. 29.

"Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are, and were created."-Rev. iv. 11.

17. Because the Gospel preached by the French Church is conformable to the light of reason, within the reach of all, and consequently agreeable to the sentiment of religion given by our Lord himself when he calls it a revelation to babes, and suited to the poor.

18. Lastly, because at the same time that the Gospel is thus preached at the French Church in its simplicity, its evidences and its truth are maintained with an energy and efficacy, which I can attribute to nothing but the most faithful use of the means which God has given for the understanding of its doctrines.

Such are my reasons for going to the French Church. Are they not founded on Scripture? Reader; go thither also, and judge for yourself.

REVIEW.

Memoirs of the late Rev. Thomas Belsham, &c. By John Williams.

(Concluded from page 456.)

As we approach the close of these memoirs, we become more and more interested in marking the effects which a great change in a great mind will produce. That mind

we formerly beheld in slavery. Now we see it enjoying freedom. While it was enslaved, the light and air of heaven were admitted to it only through the narrow apertures of the metaphysical creeds, by which alone. there was any communication between the prison-house and the external world. Now it is free, it can walk abroad and bask in the fresh air in the open day-light, and examine the works and read the word of God, and we feel curious to notice its actions and emotions. And while we are looking on and listening, these are the words which drop from the lips of the emancipated one upon our ears:

"I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith; I know in whom I have believed.' The good cause is in good hands; it will go on and triumph. Lindsey, and Jebb, and Priestley, are no more; but the leaven which they have infused is working its way. The spark which they kindled has produced a flame which cannot be extinguished. I have been honoured, Oh how far beyond my deserts! as an instrument of carrying forward the same glorious cause of Christian truth." p. 621.-"The latter years of life," continues he, "are to me, beyond comparison, the happiest."

And having enumerated several causes of his present high enjoyment, he adds:

"The great thing of all, is the total and beneficial change in religious principles and views. In younger life, every thought of religion was melancholy, every feeling painful. I shudder at the recollection of all that I once believed and felt. With my present views no feeling is connected with religion but that of delight." p. 655.

The revolution of years had no power to erase from Mr. Belsham's mind, the recollection of the sufferings of his former theological thraldom, or to scathe the fervour of his rejoicing. On the commencement of the year 1817, which was the sixty-ninth of his age, he thus expresses the remembrance of the past, and the grateful feelings of the present:

"But what I am most thankful for is, that God hath been pleased to purge away the scales of error and prejudice, and to lead me into the light of evangelical truth. What an inexhaust

ible source of vigour and comfort has this been. Alas! how was the cheerful season of youth chilled and depressed by the gloomy doctrine of Calvin. But the snare is broken, and I have escaped. And all my religious views and feelings are now of the most sublime and delightful kind." p. 693.

And three years subsequently to this period, he reiterates similar sentiments.

"This year (1820) as usual, has been crowned with goodness: life continued, health even improved-all necessaries, all comforts supplied and abounding-the kindness and liberality of friends I would particularly acknowledge. How much has the goodness of God surpassed all expectation and thought. I made a fine speculation when I forsook all for God and conscience."—“ I must acknowledge that God has been a very kind and bountiful master to me. He knows the simplicity of my heart in its searches after truth, the difficulty and agony with which I abandoned old principles and old connexions; the long and painful struggles of my mind; my earnest prayers for divine direction; and finally, my renunciation of all earthly possessions, and earthly friends, and earthly prospects, and the confidence with which I cast myself upon his protecting providence. And since 1805, when my connexion began with this congregation (Essex-Street), every succeeding year has been crowned with additional mercy, and the last most of all." p. 717, 718.

Thus he went on his way rejoicing. God had enabled him to break asunder the chains of Calvinism with which he had in youth been manacled, and his gratitude for his liberation knew scarcely any bounds. And although we have no small quantity of important quotations from the diary of Mr. Belsham's latter years, and no trifling amount of his correspondence during this period; yet we would most gladly exchange no little of that superabundant matter relating to his dark and dreary, though younger days, which occupies the first four hundred pages of the memoirs for more lengthy particulars respecting the last twenty years of his life.

The remaining fifty pages carry us rapidly over the last eight years of this truly great, and learned, and good man's earthly career, and bring us to its close on the 11th of Nov. 1829, when he was nearly 80. These memoirs are on many accounts valuable. They are valuable, because they give a real living picture of the baleful effects of an irrational, unscriptural system, when a powerful mind and a generous heart have been encased within its iron folds. They are valuable, because they show us how the sighing prisoner of Calvin may escape to Christ. They are valuable, because they introduce us to the company of many who had effected their escape, and admit us to a participation of their pleasures. And they are valuable, because they add another convincing proof to those which have been furnished in the cases of Jebb, and Disney, and Lindsey, and Priestley, and a host of other wise and excellent men; and of Barbauld, and Cappe, and Hughes, and a multitude of other talented and pious women,—that

« ForrigeFortsæt »