but rather lend my feeble energies to help it forward: but while many are pleasing themselves that they are not what is termed high or doctrinal, and are very severe upon

and Good Friday named as the day; perhaps our friends of each denomination could form some plan. Your's,

VIATOR.*

ON MAN'S REPUGNANCE to the
GOSPEL.

"No man receiveth his testimony."

John, iii. 32.

those who are, they run into the Banks of the Cray, Kent.
opposite extreme, they can relish
nothing but what is elegant and
tasteful, can hear none but intel-
lectual preachers, read religious
novels, and run through the fashion-
able religious jargon of the day,
until they lose the savour and spirit
of true piety, reject the severe prac-
tical parts of the system as un-
friendly to their habits, or incon-
sistent with their pursuits.

"Fasting! antiquated stuff!" said a professor the other day. "We shall have auricular confession ere long. I have no objection to pray, but I leave fasting to Rome and her sons. Ah! thought I, 'tis time we began to recover ourselves out of the snare of the Devil, in which we have been so long; here is proof of the tendency of lax practical principles. 'Tis "high time to awake out of sleep." We have much to humble us and to mourn before God, but we have the promises of God to encourage us, the example of Christ to animate us, and the Holy Spirit to bless and crown our endeavours.

THE spirituality of the religion of Jesus Christ, the moral purity of its precepts, and the simplicity of its worship, were so opposite to the ingenious theories and splendid rites of the Pagan and the Jewish systems which then prevailed, as to render it matter of little astonishment that its first publication should have generally excited hatred and contempt.

The degenerate and selfish Jews, giving a literal interpretation to the figurative language of prophecy, were looking for a hero, who, as in the former periods of their history, should be invested with temporal grandeur and power by the visible interposition of Omnipotence; who should once more assemble the scattered host of Israel, lead them to certain conquest, and, after the subjugation of all their enemies, make Jerusalem the seat of a universal and everlasting empire.Oppressed by the Roman yoke, and eagerly anticipating deliverance and revenge, they viewed the "meek and lowly" Jesus with disappointment and abhorrence. The obscurity of his birth, his lack of Can no plan be adopted (having pompous circumstance, his disclaim timely notice given) that we may of all earthly dignity, and his conall, as one man, on one day through-stant affirmation that his "kingdom out the kingdom, unite in the exercise. There has been a proposal,

The publication of the Resolutions recommending a day for fasting and prayer, I most heartily approve, and, so far as local circumstances admit, shall adopt, but I should like to see a simultaneous movement in the whole dissenting body on the subject.*

*It is with pleasure we announce that the wishes of our correspondent are likely to be realized, of which further notice will be given.-ED.

*We are happy to find that Mr. Hargreaves has amplified his excellent "Circular Letter" into a shilling pamphlet. What he has written on fasting and prayer well deserves the most serious attention of all our churches.-ED.

66

But

was not of this world," widely differ- | futurity, and so far as their opered from their hopes and conceptions ation tends to give his character of the promised Shiloh, unto whom that form and complexion which the gathering of the people should must distinguish it for ever. be." Taught from infancy, also, though the approach of an immorto consider themselves the peculiar tal and immutable state of being favourites of heaven, and to regard is almost universally admitted, it all other nations as excluded from has failed to produce an equally participation in divine solicitude, extensive anxiety for acquaintance their hearts had become too narrow with its nature, or preparation for to comprehend or welcome that its coming; while any perception, spirit of universal benevolence, however indistinct, of a hitherto which pervaded almost every unknown principle in the physical sentence that dropped from the lips economy of nature would at once of Him, the essence of whose cha- excite a general feeling of interest, racter was love. induce an active investigation, diTo the people of the world at rect into a new course the united large, whose very worship was de-energies of acute minds, assume a secrated by gross impurity and prominent station in public esteem, profane licentiousness, and who did and confer honour on the individual not suppose the possession of sen- whose research should lead to its sual appetites inconsistent with discovery. The inspired writers Divinity, it must be obvious that were perfectly aware of this unithe abstraction of those doctrines versal indisposition to the acceptwhich affirmed the immateriality ance of revealed truth; and, in of God and declared that he could publishing their divine message, only "be worshipped in spirit and particularly anticipate and dein truth" was, indeed, but "foolish-scribe the coldness of its reception.

ness."

Though thus easy to account for the aggregate repugnance of the ancient world to the admission of the gospel, from the influence of the existing state of affairs, which is called in Scripture "the times of ignorance which God winked at," we must assign other causes for its personal non-reception then, and even now, in an age and country where it is generally considered disgraceful to deny its truth, and where, to neglect its external observances, is actually a breach of human law.

When Paul, with the fervour of inspiration superadded to his native eloquence, preached to the inquisitive, enlightened Athenians, we are told that some contemptuously inquired, "What will this babbler say?" "that" some mocked," and that others coldly said, "We will hear thee again of this matter."

Those who have happily experienced the consolation, joy, and purifying influence of faith in the gospel can doubtless look back on a period when, though exhibited to their minds by the same external means and in the same language it When we consider man as capa- is now, they, too, rejected its invitble of an immaterial, and destined ations and contemned its threatto an eternal existence, we can look enings; and they feel conscious upon him here but as in the infancy that some powerful though invisible of his being; and the trains of cir-agency must have been employed cumstances through which he may to remove "the veil from their pass upon earth can be viewed as hearts" and " open their underimportant only with reference to standings to understand the Scrip

CONGREGATIONAL LIBRARIES.
To the Editor of the Baptist Magazine.
DEAR SIR,

tures." As it has been with them, so it was individually with the Jews and Pagans of antiquity: and so it is now with the great body of man- BEING about to attempt the eskind who "receive not the testi- tablishment of a Congregational mony" of Christ. Surely it is Library, and wishing to profit by matter of serious interest, and can- the experience of others in the unnot but be attended with improve- dertaking. I shall feel obliged if ment to inquire into the character some one of your correspondents, of this morbid apathy of the soul who has directed his attention to to its own vital interests, which the subject, will supply me, through thus induces it to listen to the your excellent Miscellany with such truths of revelation with cool in-information as he may consider difference, while those of com- important to the success of such paratively trifling importance are an institution.

approached with eagerness and Information is especially solicitexamined with minute attention.ed as to the rate of subscription The cause of this fatal darkness most approved, the periods of of soul is declared in the Scriptures attendance, the most effectual meto be sin; but how has it produced thods of enforcing the return of this awful effect? By what mys-books at the time prescribed, and terious process does it thus com- the proper care of them while in pletely close the mind and harden the subscriber's possession; and as the heart against the pure doctrines to the most eligible plan of settling of the Gospel? How is it that those and securing the property of the capable of the loftiest intellectual institution.

pursuits, who often astonish us by If your correspondent, who may their sublimity of thought, and kindly reply to this note, can furothers who search the secrets of nish a copy of some approved material nature and unveil her ope-regulations, he will confer an adrations with surprising (we were ditional favour.

almost tempted to say superhuman) Considering the immense advanacuteness, are, with the pages of tages which may arise from exciting inspiration before their eyes, as and supplying a demand for useful ignorant and unconcerned about and religious reading among the their immortal welfare as the weak-members of our congregations, esest and most imbecile? How is it that they, who are "wise in their generation" and providently lay up earthly wealth, care not to seek eternal treasure? How is it that mankind in general, with the Bible in their hands and in the certain prospect of approaching death, with one consent flee to the mad whirl of folly and vice, as the unthinking horse rusheth into the battle."

(To be continued.)

pecially the young, and the importance of guarding them against the pernicious works which are in constant circulation, it is most earnestly to be desired that an extensive and well-chosen library may be connected with every congregation, as the best means of accomplishing those valuable objects.

Your insertion of this letter, and the reply which I hope will be promptly afforded, may probably remind many of your readers of the importance of the subject, and stimulate them to establish libraries in their respective congregations. E. C.

Truro.

POETRY.

17

REVIEW.

Pædobaptism Examined; with Replies to
the Arguments and Objections of Dr.
Williams and Mr. Peter Edwards. By

ABRAHAM BOOTH. In three vols.
Price 1. 16s. Palmer.

as it may not have been known to many of our readers, having been some years out of print, we shall give the Contents in an abridged form.

"Vol. I. Part 1. The Mode of Administration. The nature, obligation, and importance of Positive Institutions-The signification of the terms Baptize and Baptism-The design of Baptism; or the facts and blessings represented by it, both in regard to our Lord and his disciples-The practice of John the Baptist, of the apostles, and of the church in succeeding ages-The present practice of the Greek and Oriental churches-The design of Baptism more fully expressed by immersion, than by pouring or sprinkling.

To many it may appear strange, that this baptismal controversy should continue to be agitated, even in the 19th century, more than a quarter of which has already run out. No difference of opinion to such an extent could have obtained among Christians on any moral question; but it must ever be remembered, that baptism and the Lord's Supper (which has been equally fruitful in controversies, if not more so,) are ritual observances. We have no light "Part 2. The proper Subjects.-No exwithin to appeal to, as in a question of press precept nor plain example for Pædobaptism in the New Testament-No evidence morals: our only appeal is to the law, of Pedobaptism before the latter end of the and thus it becomes a question of inter- second, or the beginning of the third cenpretation. Now, unhappily, all Chris-tury-The high opinion of the Fathers contians are not agreed on the canons of cerning the utility of Baptism. interpretation; educational prejudices and submission to human authorities will be mingled with our most sincere inquiries, and hence it is not so marvellous as it might appear at first sight, that we arrive at different conclusions.

We think it is evident, that the controversy respecting the mode of baptism must be interminable, unless the contending parties can be brought to agree on the nature of positive institutions. And the controversy respecting the proper subjects will be equally so, till we understand better the difference between the two economies, or what the apostle to the Hebrews designates the old and the new covenant.

Under this impression, we cannot but wish that the first chapter of the invaluable work before us was published separately, and deeply studied by all whom it concerns. And what minister, what church, what individual believer is there whom it does not concern?

"Vol. II. The modern grounds of Pædobaptism; namely, Jewish proselyte Baptism,

External Covenant relation, Jewish Circumcision, Particular passages of Scriptare, and apostolic tradition.

"The Scriptures are, Matt. xxviii. 19. Gen. xvii. 7. Ezek. xvi. 20, 21. Matt. xix. 33. 1 Cor. i. 16. Rom. ii. 16. 1 Cor. vii. 14. John iii. 5. Aots ii. 39. Acts xvi. 15. 14.

"Apostolic tradition, and the impracticability of pointing out the time when Pædobaptism commenced-Infant baptism and Infant communion introduced about the same time, and supported by similar arguments—

General remarks.

"Part 3. The title of Dr. Williams's book, his professions, and his conduct relative to this controversy-The little regard Dr. W. pays to quotations produced from Pædobaptists, and his .disposition to extort concessions from the Baptists-Dr. W.'s pretence that his book includes a full reply to 'Pædobaptism Examined.'

"Vol. III. Positive institution and analogous reasoning-The meaning of the words Baptism, and Baptism as represented by Dr. W.-The general principles on which The late venerable Abraham Booth Communion and Infant Baptism compared Dr. W. founds the right of infants-Infant was no ordinary writer. This work The utility and importance of Baptism, was the greatest labour of his life, and as represented by Dr. W.

C