A cheering reflection arises from the belief that the numbers are already greatly augmented of those who are blessed in the perusal of these volumes; and our thoughts are carried forward with delight to that period when multitudes will be found praising God for the labours of this faithful and holy man. The blessing of the Lord accompany their still wider circulation! An Address on the Duty and Privilege of Singing the High Praises of God in Public Worship. By Henry Dowling, Colchester, Essex. Palmer and Higham. BUT few deny that it is a duty and privilege to sing the high praises of God in public worship. Mr. Dowling's Address should have been entitled, "On the duty and privilege of standing to sing the praises of God;" as this appears to be the point at which he aims. "In the church of God the deportment of the worshippers should be decent, and the manner of their conducting themselves orderly. In many congregations we have all sitting; in others all standing; and in some a confused mixture of both. One principal object of this address is to appeal to the judgment and devotional feelings of the Lord's family, as to the proper manner of conforming their persons to such exalted services of their God. "The custom of sitting to sing to the "praise and glory of God," has been of long continuance in many congregations: and, if that attitude be scripturally correct, there can be no reason why it should be altered. To change from one custom to another, in the spirit of accommodation to the views of conformist or non-conformist, would be reducing the service of the living God to bodily exercise. Such would be useless, because unprofitable; but I hope to prove, to the satisfaction of the reader of these lines, that posture in public worship is scripturally important: and that standing to sing, is the form, according to that rule of correct obedience, that ought to be observed by the followers of the Lord.” He rests his argument chiefly on the prescribed order of the priests of old, which was to stand to minister in the name of the Lord. But believers are not only designated "an holy priesthood," typified by Aaron and his sons; they are honoured with the dignified appellation, kings." He might as consistently reason, that because king David sat before the Lord and sung one of his most divine hymns, (1 Chron. xviii. 16-27.) therefore we should at all times sit to offer our high ascriptions of praise. It is worthy of remark that the book of Revelations, whence Mr. D. quotes one text in favour of the erect posture, supplies several that sanction the opposite practice. In the gospels also we find various passages that might be pleaded against the mode here recommended. His observation " sitting is not the posture of homage, but of independence, or indifference;" consequently, cannot in reference to those cases hold good. For ourselves, we decidedly prefer and recommend the attitude' of standing to sing in public worship; but we believe that neither to stand, nor to sit, are positively enjoined on the christian church. We only add, that Mr. Dowling has not proved to our satisfaction, that standing to sing is the form according to the scriptural rule of correct obedience, that ought to be observed by the followers of the Lord." Palmer's Select Pocket Divinity. Vol. II. To describe the subjects chosen for this volume, and the names of their authors, is of itself a sufficient recommendation:-Saurin on the Compassion of God-Sibbe's Spiritual Man's Aim'-De Courcey "the Chief Good'-Swain's Redemption'-and, Jesus Christ Triumphant,' by John Fox, the Martyrologist. on As a whole, we consider these selections superior to those of the first volume. The character of the publication, as respects the choice of subjects and the typographic execution, is extremely inviting: and no purchaser will have cause to complain of the price affixed. The two volumes are kept in a variety of bindings, to meet the wishes of those who purchase with the design of making presents; and each distinct article may be had separately, neatly stitched in a fine pink wrapper. Twelve Sermons on the Two Covenants, or the Law and the Gospel. By the Rev. Robert Harkness Carne, A.B. Minister of High Street Chapel, Exeter. Palmer. THE peculiarity of this gentleman's views of the moral law, as respects its abrogation, requires a more lengthened notice than we have the opportunity this month to supply. In fact, we have but glanced hastily at one or two pages of the volume. The author challenges the closest scrutiny, and we desire to scrutinize closely. We shall take it in hand for the next month. POETRY. A CHEERING THOUGHT FOR PILGRIMS. HAIL, ye pilgrims, faint and weary, All your pathway onward lies. Dangers constantly affright; And misgivings oft perplex you, Lest at last you be not right. Speed your course, ye heirs of heaven, Every day you nearer come; He that has your sins forgiven, Has engaged to bring you home. Though ten thousand snares annoy you, None to Jesus hidden lie; But for his all-seeing eye. Tempt your thirst the desert through. 'Tis your privilege to heed them, They were not designed for you; Your provisions far exceed them, Such as worldlings never knew. Living water Christ supplies us, See the sacred fountain flow! From Immanuel's throne it rises,Thirsty souls! it flows for you. Hidden manna too is given, Yet you think your portion poor: Ev'ry foe shall cease distressing, Sin shall have no being there. There you'll sing the love that freed you, Worship with a seraph's tongue; There no languor will impede you Through the everlasting song. Halstead. **B. A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. A Crown never fading, with righteousness deckt, While here, they are subject to doubts and to fears, This crown they shall wear in his blissful abode, While heaven's arched roof with their praises shall ring, Their songs shall outvie the bright angels of God, While singing salvation through Christ's precious blood: S. N. S. THE CHRISTIAN'S ANTICIPATION. Lo! the glorious day will come, They shall all at heaven arrive; They shall in his presence live. While they sojourn here below, Daily conflict they shall have; But their God will grace bestow, They shall daily vict'ry gain; Joy and peace they shall obtain. Come, my soul, thy union prove, To this happy chosen race; Thou shalt share in Jesu's love, And unceasing зing his praise. S. N. S. MY FATHER'S REJOICE, my soul, in what the Lord Sweet prospect! often does it shed, Legions of adversaries throng, HOUSE. This residence for me was bought My spirit will exult in this, Oft has my heart been grieved to find, THE Spiritual Magazine; OR, SAINTS TREASURY. << There are Three that bear record in heaven, the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST: and these Three are One." "Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." 1 John v. 7. Jude 3. OCTOBER, 1828. (For the Spiritual Magazine.) A CIRCULAR LETTER, Of the Norfolk and Suffolk Association of Baptist Churches, on the Sin of Apostacy. BELOVED IN THE LORD, UNITED with you in the fellowship of grace, and earnestly concerned for your stedfastness and joy of faith, we ask, " is it well?” We mean, do your souls prosper; or are you settled upon the lees of a spiritless profession? We press the inquiry by its importance; but we urge it yet more solemnly, from considerations which arise out of the signs of the times. Feeling that we are surrounded by the darkness of an awful defection from the truth as it is in Jesus, and the power of the kingdom of God; and that the darkness is gathering thickness; and observing the rebukes and blasphemies of many who say they are of Christ, but are not, but are of the synagogue of satan; we deem it incumbent on us to use every scriptural means to excite you to a personal examination of the state of your souls. The time will come again when God will search his Jerusalem with candles; and those will be given up to the slaughter-weapons of judgment, who have not the mark of discriminating grace set upon their foreheads, by the man clothed in white linen, with the writer's inkhorn by his side. Ezek. ix. The work of vengeance will begin at the sanctuary, and march on terribly from thence into the heart of the nations. We tremble, lest being led away by the error of the wicked, you should fall from your stedfastness; or lest, VOL. V.-No. 54. R while iniquity abounds, the love of many should wax cold, and the indignation of the Lord should break in upon us, and cast us out as a derision and a byeword. 66 It is Behold," saith he that hath the key of David, “I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." time we should consider. Some who once run well, are weary, and are laid down to sleep in the lap of some treacherous Delilah. Their locks are shorn, their strength is gone, and the enemies triumph. Others who not long since appeared in the freshness and liveliness of spiritual youth, have lost their first love, and the grey hairs of decay are scattered here and there upon them; but they know it not. They have their places in visible Zion; but are at ease in the flesh, and feed upon the east wind of a notional faith, and an empty profession. While others, bewitched by the enchantment of error, deny the Lord that bought them; and are gone out from us, that it might be made manifest they were not all of us." Declensions from the liveliness and savour of spiritual experience, and departures from the faith, are facts which we witness; and as we look for a day when God will purge the floor of his church, and separate the chaff from the wheat, we conjure you to consider how you will endure the trial. Be not deceived. A hypocrite in Zion, though highly gifted and clear in judgment, will fly off from the fan with the lightest of the chaff, to dwell in everlasting burnings; and none but the spiritual and experienced, who feel that the kingdom of God is not in word but in power, shall be gathered as wheat into the garner. 66 The design of our annual letter to you, is your spiritual edification. With this view the subjects are chosen. Sometimes the sovereign doctrines of grace, as the basis of your hope, and the sources of your joy, have, for your establishment in the faith, been stated and explained, and their sacred influence on the heart and conduct illustrated and maintained. If these subjects have been selected rather than others, the persuasion of their supreme importance, or the danger of their being perverted by "the cunning craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive," has determined that selection. We cannot imagine that it matters not what we believe, if our conduct be right. On the contrary, we apprehend that there can be neither experimental nor practical godliness, without the knowledge and belief of the truth. Truth only is the essence of virtue, the root of piety; they who are ignorant of it, or deny it, are vicious, are impious, be their pretensions to excellence what they may. But as our gospel contains, not only doctrines to be believed, but is a ministration that inculcates every moral and spiritual duty on believers; we have, as occasion required, directed your attention to one truth or other of practical moment: exhorting you to walk worthy of your vocation, and to be careful of maintaining good works, for necessary uses. The subject proposed for the present letter is of awful and alarming consequence, it is "THE SIN OF APOSTACY;" and the in |