another occasion, when the Parliament and As- | tachment to the cause of Christ, from which no sembly had met for conference on the much con- worldly allurements would shake his faith, or move tested question of Church order, an elaborate his confidence. He was a man of a thousand. discourse was delivered by the learned Selden, in His soul aspired after more than his weak and favour of Erastianism, which subjects the Church sickly body was able to perform." to the State in the administration of discipline,a doctrine highly pleasing to the Parliament at that time. Mr Gillespie, who appeared busily engaged in taking notes of the speech, was requested by his brethren, who well knew his talents, to stand up and answer it. He at first modestly refused. "Rise, George," said one of his friends, "rise up, man, and defend the right of the Lord Jesus to govern, by his own laws, the Church which he has purchased with his blood." He complied, and, after giving a summary of the arguments of his antagonist, he confuted them to the admiration of all present. Selden himself is said to have observed, in astonishment, "This young man, by his single speech, has swept away the learning and labour of my life." On looking at his notes, it was found that he had written nothing but, Da lucem Domine "Lord, give light," and similar prayers for divine help.* The same modesty and dutiful dependance on God characterized his last moments. Mr Gillespie died in 1648, in his thirty-sixth year. During his last sickness he enjoyed little sensible assurance, but was strong in "the faith of adherence," clinging to the promises of God. When asked if he felt comfort, he replied, "No; but though the Lord has not allowed me comfort, I shall yet believe that my beloved is mine, and I am his."" "Brother" said one of the ministers who stood around his bed, "you are taken away from evil times; what advice have you to give to us who are left behind?" He replied, that he had little experience in the ministry, having only been nine years a minister; "but," he added, "I have this to say, that I have got infinitely more in my work from prayer than from study; and know much more help from the assistance of the Spirit than from books." "And yet it is well known," says Wodrow, "that he was an indefatigable student." Having accomplished the passing of the questions as to government, and Directory for Worship, the Confession of Faith and the Catechisms next occupied the attention of the Assembly. These, however, though they cost much labour, excited less controversy. The first draught of the Confession was prepared chiefly by our Scots Commissioners, but it is hardly possible now to say what share individuals had in its composition. It is generally believed that the Shorter Catechism was drawn up by Dr Arrowsmith. The following character of this distinguished man is given by one who appears to have been well acquainted with him: He was a burning and a shining light, who, by his indefatigable study of the sublime mysteries of the Gospel, spent himself to the utmost to explicate the darkest places of Scripture. He was a holy and learned divine; firm and zealous in his at Wodrow's Analccta.-Adv. Lib. When the Confession of Faith and Catechisms were agreed to, the Scottish Commissioners took leave of the Westminster Assembly, and, after an absence of about four years, returned to Scotland, and gave an account of their proceedings to the General Assembly which met in August 1647. This Assembly, of which Mr Robert Douglas was Moderator, is memorable in our history for having received the Westminster Confession of Faith, as a part of the uniformity in religion to which the three kingdoms had become bound in the Solemn League. The only reservation which they made, in approving of this Confession, was in regard to the authority of the magistrate in calling Assemblies, ascribed to him in the thirty-first chapter, which they understood "only of Churches not settled in point of government;" asserting their freedom "to assemble together synodically, as well pro re nata as at the ordinary times, upon delegation from the Churches, by the intrinsical power received from Christ, as often as it is necessary for the good of the Church so to assemble." This qualification was rendered necessary, in consequence of the Erastian principles which, as we may afterwards have occasion to show, had now begun to prevail in the English Parliament, and to hinder them from settling the discipline of the Church. We may here state, once for all, that the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, Propositions for Church Government, and the Directory for Public Worship, which had been drawn up by the Westminster Assembly, in conjunction with the commissioners from the Church of Scotland, were received, approved, and ratified by the General Assembly, in several acts relating to them, as "parts of the covenanted uniformity." These acts of approbation by the Church were afterwards ratified by the Estates in Parliament; and thus, so far as Scotland was concerned, the stipulations of the Solemn League were cordially and honourably fulfilled. THE MARTYR. IN chains a servant of the Lord To suffer for his sake,— His sake, who shed his richest blood, Though marching to a fiery doom, He viewed devoid of fear. "Father, I feel thy strengthening grace!" Brook's Lives of the Puritans, vol. iij. 317. His flock, a little band, drew near, To bid a last farewell; Their deep-toned anguish tell. Was doomed to death, and they remained, Their tears he saw, their sighs he heard, The cords were passed around his frame, He hailed the twilight of his woes, The Sun of Righteousness arose The fire was lit, and fiercely blazed; Thrice clapped his withered hands, then raised R. FURMAN. SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS FROM condition, and in the brighter prospects that are await ing them. Thus far has their history been traced to the present day. As to what remains of this period, on to their complete and final establishment in their own land, there is only the light of prophecy to direct our investigations; and, as the language of prophecy is often figurative, and involved in some degree of obscurity, it will be necessary to proceed with caution, and to adhere closely to the Word of God, comparing Scripture with Scripture; for one passage will often be found to throw light upon another; and especially is it needful to look for the direction of the Holy Spirit, to guide us in our investigations, and to point out the lessons of instruction that we may learn from every part of their eventful history. It is with a view of illustrating some of the remarkable changes in the state of the people of Israel, that are yet to take place, that the attention of the reader is requested to the portion of Scripture re ferred to at the head of this paper. There will be found in it some interesting information respecting the future prospects of this people. I. The first thing to be remarked, in reference to their future prospects, is, that though it may be dif cult to fix the precise time of their restoration, there are various circumstances, which lead to the conclu sion, that the time of their return may not be far distant; for, in the first place, there is a deeper interest taken by Christians at this day, in the state of that once highly favoured people, than in former times; there is more doing for directing their attention to the Christian dispensation; there is more attention given to the prophecies of Scripture which refer to their res toration and ingathering; and the result of this study of the prophecies has been, a conviction that the time of their restoration to the favour of God is drawing near. Thus, before any great change takes place, materially affecting the state of the Church, the Lord is THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM DOWN TO pleased to direct the attention of his people to what THE PRESENT TIME, AND ONWARD TO THEIR BY THE REV. GEORGE MUIRHEAD, D.D., SEE EZEKIEL XX. 33-44. THE history of Israel has been traced now to what has been considered as the sixth grand period, namely, from the time of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies, on to the time of their being gathered from all the countries whither they are now scattered, and again established in their own land. This is a very long period; it has lasted for upwards of one thousand seven hundred years. It is also a very dark period, concerning which there is comparatively little known. The attention of the reader has been directed to some of the many reproaches, and hardships, and harsh usage, to which they have been subjected during this dark period, and that, too, from nations professing Christianity. And his attention has also been directed to their wonderful preservation as a distinct people amidst all the hardships to which they have been exposed. Mention has also been made of some circumstances of a favourable nature, that have been mingled in the bitter cup of which they have been drinking for so long a time. They have still the Old Testament Scriptures among them; and they have still a strong persuasion, which no length of suffering can extinguish, that there is yet a time of favour awaiting them, and that they shall be brought back to their own land. Of late years they have experienced milder treatment than in former times, though they continue to be generally looked down upon and despised. Christians, in this country, have begun to take a deeper interest in their present has been revealed in his Word respecting that change; thus He awakens in them an expectation of the predicted event, and engages them to plead in prayer for its accomplishment. Thus was it when God was about to deliver his people from the captivity of Babylon, as we learn from the book of Daniel; he understood by the prophecies of Scripture that the time of their deliverance was approaching, and he was thus led to pray earnestly for their deliverance. Thus, also, when the fulness of time drew near, for the first coming of Christ, there was a general expectation of the coming of the Messiah; and the godly amongst the Jews were waiting for the "Consolation of Israel." And so, at the present day, those who have studied the prophecies of Scripture are waiting for the return of the Jews to their own land, and for the manifestation of the Son of God "in power and great glory." In the second place, in confirmation of the time of the Jews' return to their own land being near, it may be mentioned, that among the Jews themselves there is a greater spirit of inquiry into the prophecies of their own Scriptures. There is a stronger impression upon their minds than in former times, that the long period of their present outcast state is coming to a close, and that the time of their deliverance is drawing near. In the third place, there is also an appearance of instability in the political state of the kingdoms of this world, that affords ground for concluding that changes and revolutions may be near; and particularly, the strength and power of the Turkish empire are on the decline, and its downfall may be anticipated as at no great distance; and thus, so far as we can judge, one great obstacle in the way of the Jews returning to their own land would be removed. These remarks should, at least, lead us to a closer examination of the prophe eies of Scripture which relate to the return of the Jews | people,-when he would send them corn, and wine, to their own land. They should put us into a waiting and oil, and would no more make them a reproach to posture, and lead us to much earnest prayer unto God the heathen. Various other portions of Scripture for the fulfilment of what he hath promised to his might have been adduced in proof of this event, which chosen people, and that the time to favour them may will be found on a careful study of the prophecies that relate to the return of Israel to their own land; but those here adduced may be considered as clearly establishing the fact. soon come. II. It may be remarked, respecting the future prospects of the Jews, that there is to be a gathering of them to their own land, previous to their final ingather- It may be proper, now, to attend more particularly ing, when they shall no more be given up to the will to the circumstances and effects of this first ingatherof their enemies. Of this there are repeated intima-ing of the people of Israel to their own land. Although tions in the prophecies concerning their return to their it be preparatory to their final ingathering, it is quite own land; and the fact is plainly stated in the portion distinct from it, and of a very different character. It of Scripture referred to at the head of this paper. Ob. is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but they shall at serve, that there are two gatherings of the people of length be delivered out of it. It is the time to which Israel to their own land, spoken of in this prophecy. our Lord refers, when he speaks of Jerusalem being Of the first of these, we read in verses 33 and 34. "trodden down of the Gentiles, till the times of the These words do not refer to their return from the Ba- Gentiles be fulfilled;" it is that time of "great tribulabylonian captivity; for it is a gathering them out from tion," such as had never been experienced by them bevarious countries whither they were to be scattered. fore, and such as shall never be experienced by them It must refer to a time yet to come. Nor can it refer again. Happily, however, it is limited to a short time; to their final ingathering; for that will be wholly a for had not those days been shortened, no flesh could dispensation of mercy, as is every where declared when have been saved. It is limited to three years and a it is foretold. But this gathering is to be with fury half, as we learn both from the Book of Daniel and the against the workers of iniquity; and they are to pass Book of Revelation. The great instrument of this under the rod, and the rebels are to be purged out tribulation, is the "Man of Sin," that wicked one from amongst them,-verse 38. As to their final in- "whom the Lord will consume with the spirit of his gathering, again, we read in the same chapter, verses mouth, and destroy with the brightness of his coming." 42-44. This is evidently a time of favour, in which As Satan put forth a desperate effort against Christ, as they shall come to know that God is the Lord; in to the design and purpose of his first coming, so this which they shall be brought to true repentance, and in will be his last and most desperate effort to oppose which they shall see the hand of the Lord signally Christ at his second coming; and Pharaoh and his stretched out on their behalf. And of this great and hosts, and the king of Babylon with his great army, final deliverance there are many intimations in the pro- and Sennacherib and his army, and the Romans and their phecies; to some of which reference shall be bad in the armies, that demolished Jerusalem, and scattered the sequel. I only allude to them at present, to show people of Israel as at this day, were only the types of that there shall be a partial return to their own land, this last and most formidable enemy of Israel. By the distinct from the final ingathering, which shall be uni- artifices of Satan, the powers of this world shall lend versal; and the fact seems to be clearly established in their aid to the Man of Sin in a desperate attempt for the portion of Scripture referred to, where both are the destruction of Israel; thus, to anticipate the second mentioned, the one succeeding the other. But in the coming of Christ, and to oppose the design of restoring interval, the people of Israel who had returned to their the people of Israel, they shall give their strength and own land, shall be subjected to a very great trial, power unto the Beast. And what shall become of the which is compared to their living in the wilderness, people of Israel, when thus ready to be assailed by such after their coming out of Egypt. Happily for them, a formidable combination of enemies? In the passage however, it shall be for a much shorter period. of Scripture referred to at the head of this paper, we learn one of the ways in which the Lord will interpose for their deliverance. He will again lead a great part of the nation into the wilderness; and then will he plead with them and chasten them. And observe the striking resemblance there will be between this second journey into the wilderness, and their former journey, when they came out of Egypt:-It was from Pharaoh that they fled into the wilderness the first time, and it is from a more formidable enemy that they shall the second time find a refuge in the wilderness; it was God who led them the first time, and it is God who shall lead them the second time. In the wilderness, God caused them to pass under the rod, and tried them, and proved them; and in like manner it is foretold, respecting this second journey into the wilderness, that God will plead with them face to face, and cause them to pass under the rod. In their first journey into the wilderness, there were many who rebelled, and never reached the land of Canaan, but their carcasses fell in the wilderness; and so in this second journey, the rebels are to be purged out from among them, and to Before proceeding to consider more particularly the circumstances connected with this first ingathering, it may be proper, for the sake of those who have not had their attention much directed to the subject, to notice some other portions of Scripture that seem evidently to refer to the same event. In the prophecy of Ezekiel it is again spoken of, in chapter xxxviii. 8-12. Here the people of Israel are spoken of as gathered out of the countries, whither they had been scattered; it must refer, then, to a time yet to come. And this is farther confirmed, by its being mentioned as what was to happen to them in the latter days. They had been established in their own land, and living in peace and security, when a formidable enemy makes his assault upon them. But it cannot refer to their final establishment; for this enemy is permitted to prevail, and lead some of them captive, and even to take Jerusalem; whereas, in the final ingathering, no enemy shall be permitted to assault them any more. There is reference to the same event in the prophecy of Joel. The people of Israel are there represented as returned to their own land; but instead of being thankful to God for bring-fall in the wilderness. ing them back to their own land, they had generally been abusing their mercies; and therefore a loud warning is given them of approaching judgments, and they are called to humiliation, and fasting, and prayer,—and this loud warning is accompanied with a promise of mercy, and of God's returning favour to them,-when the Lord would be jealous for his land, and pity his What is thus taught us by the portion of Ezekiel's prophecy that has been referred to, serves to give an explanation of a difficult passage in the Book of Revelation,—of which various interpretations have been given, but none of them very satisfactory. In Rev. xii. we are informed of a great wonder, or sign, in heaven, "A woman clothed with the sun, having the moon Rev. vii. we find that one hundred and forty-four thou sand of all the tribes of Israel were so scaled; that is, they were taken under the special care of Christ. But they were not thereby to be exempted from persecu tion and death; only, under the special care of Christ, they were to be kept faithful, and to maintain their testimony with unshaken stedfastness, in a time of very general declension; and accordingly, we find them afterwards on Mount Zion, having gained the victory over all their enemies. Such are a few hints from the prophecies of Scripture, respecting the future destinies of Israel, particularly with regard to that severe trial to which they shall be subject, after they have generally returned to their own land, but before their final and complete ingathering. I do not enter at present into any detail of what shall be the state of the Gentile dispensation, under which we live, at the time when such severe trials are coming upon the people of Israel; but I would just say, that if Judah and Israel shall then be called to drink of the cup of fury, it shall also pass into the hand of the other nations. That time of great tribulation of which our Lord speaks, during the reign of the Man of Sin, will be a time of great perplexity among the nations, a time of very general defection from the cause of Christ,-a time of woful delusion, when many shall be under strong delusions to believe a lie, and when the Man of Sin shall deceive them with his lying wonders; so that all the world shall wonder after the Beast. And it ought especially to be matter of much serious consideration to us, that "the mystery of in under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve | stars." Another sign was,-a great red dragon, that stood before the woman, ready to devour her child. We can be at no loss as to the dragon, for we are told that he is "that old serpent, the Devil and Satan ;" but who is the woman, and who is her child to be born? An explanation has been given lately of that sign, which appears to me much more natural and accordant with Scripture phraseology than any other explanation that I have seen. It is to this effect,-The woman represents the great body of the Jewish nation, when returned again to their own land. That nation is often spoken of under the form of a woman, by the prophets; and it may be recollected, that the heads of that nation were symbolized, in one of Joseph's dreams, under the emblems of the sun and moon, and twelve stars. Her Jabouring in the pains of child-birth represents the longing desire that will then be awakened among them for the appearing of their Lord; for it is to be remembered, that the Jews always connect their return to their own land with the appearing of the Saviour to establish his kingdom among them. The child, then, is Christ born a second time into the world, or his second coming. Satan's attempt to devour the child, is his endeavouring to persuade them that He will not come ; just as he attempted to extinguish their hopes as to His first coming; but in this aim he is disappointed. The child being born, and caught up to heaven, is their being assured that he will come, and will reign over the nations, in spite of Satan's efforts. What is Satan's next effort? He persecutes the woman, he attempts to cut off the great body of the nation at one blow.quity," which will then work openly, and oblige all And why? Just that when Christ came to restore Israel, he might have no Bride to welcome his coming. But here, also, he shall be disappointed,-the nation of Israel is again conveyed into the wilderness, beyond his reach; there were given to the woman "two wings of a great eagle," to carry her into the wilderness. And what a striking coincidence is there here, in the manner of describing the care of God over his people in this second journey to the wilderness, and his care of them in their former journey in the wilderness! Moses has beautifully described God's care of his people in the wilderness, Deut. xxxii. 10–12: He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings; so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him." And in the second journey, they are represented as borne on the wings of a great eagle. Again, as in their first journey into the wilderness God nourished them by manna, and water from the rock; so in this second journey, they are carried into the wilderness, to be nourished there. Again, as in their first journey God was present with them, to protect them from their enemies; so in this second journey, they are to be preserved from the face of the serpent, their great enemy. Once more: the time of their first sojourning in the wilderness was limited to forty years; and the time of their second sojourning is limited to one thousand two hundred and sixty days, or three years and a half, -the time of the Beast's reign. But while the great body of those who had returned to their own land are thus disposed of, there are others of them, and among them many faithful servants of God, who remain in the land of Judea, to bear testimony to the cause of God; and Satan, disappointed in his attempt to cut off the great body of the nation, next vents his rage against them. He went, it is said, to make war with the remnant of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus; and they again shall be preserved, by having the seal of God put upon their foreheads. And in men to receive his mark, under the penalty of death if they refuse, is even now working secretly, and is active in preparing the world for receiving that strong delusion, when it shall be openly manifested. We live, assuredly, in very trying times, when we are especially called to watch, and keep our garments clean. All the infidel publications, that are widely circulated,-all that practical infidelity, that is spreading among all ranks, and all that agitation about forms of government, and political arrangements, are but the devices of Satan, to turn men away from their stronghold, and to lay them more open to the strong delusions that are preparing to ensnare them to their ruin. What need, then, have all to watch and pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and for the strengthening of their faith, that they may stand in the evil day, and may be found worthy to escape without hurt from the trials and judg ments that are coming upon the earth! Blessed are those servants whom the Lord, when he cometh, sball find so doing." SOME MEN DISPLEASED WITH THE TRUTH UNDER A DISCOURSE. BY THE REV. JOHN PAUL, One of the Ministers of St Cuthbert's Parish, Edinburgh. "But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is &c.-MATT. xi. 16-20. IT is a true representation which the sacred writers give of the Supreme Being, when they say that he will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth, that he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance; that he hath no pleasure in the wards of the Saviour himself; and yet though death of the sinner, but rather that he should re- favoured with that of both, they had profited by turn from his ways, and live; that he earnestly neither. The Scribes and Pharisees, in particudesires the salvation of all men, and that he is lar, had rejected the counsel of God against themdispleased and grieved at the ruin of any. Ever selves, and had refused to be instructed or baptized since our fatal apostasy in Adam, his design, with either by John or by Christ. They found fault respect to us, has been to bring us back to the with the austerity and severe deportment of the state which we forfeited by the fall; and he hath one, and they were offended at the ease and conset it forth as our great aim, to seek first, or above descension of the other, and exhibited a temper all things, a saving interest in that spiritual re- which no dispensations were fitted to please. covery which he at first did plan, in the fulness Hence it was that our Lord here set forth their of time did accomplish, and now graciously offers. conduct in a parable, and as if at a loss by what Immediately upon the fall, an intimation was given similitude to represent it, as if, in fact, no parable that a Deliverer should one day appear. This could adequately pourtray it, he says, "Whereglorious day the patriarchs beheld afar off, the unto shall I liken the men of this generation, and prophets foretold, the righteous men anxiously to what are they like?" Their conduct was so desired, and the evangelists and apostles witnessed inconsistent, that no one could hear the reception its approach. And as the beings, for the sake of which they had given to these two characters, whose restoration this Deliverer has appeared, are without immediately perceiving it. It was sc of different characters, and temperaments, and dis- grossly inconsistent, that few comparisons could positions, so the means employed to secure their be found adequate to represent that grossness. acceptance are also different, accommodated to They rejected the ministry and pretensions of the what may best suit the wayward propensities of Baptist, because in his personal character he was each, varied and diversified according to their re- too rigid and reserved; and by a striking and lative state and inclination. To such as require very strange contrast, they rejected those of the to be overawed and restrained, he holds out the Saviour, because he mingled with the world; bethreatenings of his vindictive justice: to such, cause he rendered himself accessible at all times, and again, as stand in need of comfort, he sets forth scrupled not to associate with every class of the those promises of the Gospel, which are the only people, with all degrees and distinctions of men. proper cordial for penitent sinners. In some cases As the best illustration, therefore, which could be he alarms, and in some cases he allures. He given of this very inconsistent conduct, he speaks works now upon the fears of men, and again he of a group of children amusing each other in the works upon their hopes. Some he plys with the market place; and he likens them to those of that terrors of the law, and to others he holds out the group, who are determined at all hazards to quarpromises of his grace. At one time he addresses rel with their associates, and in the indulgence of himself to the understanding, and at another to a peevish humour, to be pleased with none of the the heart; on some occasions, speaking with contrivances which they can fall upon to reconthunder, and upon others with the still small cile or entertain them. The illustration is taken voice. And when so many, and so very various from the custom observed by the Jews at feasts means are employed to gain upon men's consent, and at funerals, on the former of which occasions, to incline their hearts, and to temper their affec- they were accustomed to have music of a cheerful tions toward the proposals which he makes, it is kind, accompanied with dancing; and on the latonly natural to suppose, that they would command ter, were in the habit of having music of a plaina very extensive success, that all of them would tive nature, accompanied by the lamentations of tell with effect upon some heart; and that what persons, professedly hired in to mourn. The one did not suit the taste and temper of one man, part of the children are here represented as doing would be found better adapted to the feelings, and every thing in their power to propitiate the peevmore readily meet with the acceptance of another.ishness of the other part. They are set forth as And yet is the supposition altogether a groundless one, for, in despite of the variety of means employed in order to bring men to Christ, they are productive of no impression upon many; and multitudes there are who, in the native obduracy of their hearts, do resist all methods that are used with them; who are neither to be alarmed nor to be allured; who are neither to be worked upon by the denunciations of God's wrath, nor to be wooed and won upon by the demonstrations of his mercy. Of the truth of these remarks, we may find a very notable illustration in the passage which we have just read. At the period to which it refers, the body of the Jewish people had been favoured with the ministry, first of the Baptist, and after willing to accommodate themselves to the present disposition of their offended companions, and as trying every method of persuasion that they might go along with them in their diversions. If they are disposed to be merry, then they say that they are also willing to be merry; or if they were inclined to lay gaiety aside, and to indulge in sadness, then they were also ready to restrain their mirth, and to be morose along with them. And having actually made the experiment, and shown such a spirit of accommodation toward their offended companions, they had just cause to prefer against them the complaint which they here make. They had piped to them a pleasant tune, and they complain of them that they would not dance to the music. They then changed their strains, and |