grace the power of God-the two- more happy in their proof-quotation, many therefore are called, but few chosen," for if it proves any thing for them it is this-that they have the art of blowing hot and cold. When it suits them, their “chain of salvation" is, "whom he called, them he also justified and glorified;" but here it suits them to prove, that many whom he calls he does not choose! The contradiction is of their own making. If the former is referred to the Father's kindness in bringing his old Testament saints to the knowledge and love of his Son, and the latter to the ordinary call of sinners by the gospel, contradiction vanishes. The truth is, that sinners are called by the apostles' gospel, as persons capable of hearing and "coming :" Mis. 19. "He hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, Eph. i. 3." To adduce this text as proof that repentance is the gift of God, is to misapply to the conversion of a sinner, words that such as do come are styled which relate solely to the Holy Apostles of Jesus. It merely requires a careful and candid reading of the chapter, to see that down to the 12th verse, St. Paul speaks of Apostles, who were chosen before time began, and to whom alone, God (v. 9) " made known the mystery of his will," and that at the 13th verse he turns and speaks to the Ephesian disciples. The "spiritual blessings in heavenly things" are therefore, not faith and repentance, but divine gifts, maifestations, abilities and revelations, by which the Lord Jesus qualified his apostles for the all-important work of turning sinners from Satan to God. Perv. 20. "When the command" (the "gospel call" see previous sentence) is accompanied with (by) power, the sinner obeys." This is Scotch baptistism according to the Liverpool School! Let us analyze it. The gospel of Christ, as defined by the Holy Spirit in St. Paul," is the power of God unto salvation," and I imagine the "power," these young men speak of is also the power of God. If so, the proper reading of their sentence is when the power of God is accompanied by the power of God the sinner obeys! Nor are they "the called;"-that the Father chooses or elects such, bestowing his holy spirit upon them as "the earnest." Yet that in order to final salvation, it is absolutely necessary these elect should be diligent and faithful to the end, (for if any who have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, fall away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance.) The chosen people" must therefore, "give diligence," in all Christian duties and excellencies, to make both their calling and their election sure; that so they may rank among those who during the days of 66 Mystery Babylon" are WITH the King of Kings, and are not only called and chosen, but also FAITHFUL. I close by noticing another curiosity. The lion is said, by the violent use of his tail, to lash himself into fury. These writers also argue themselves into mightiness of valour, even to the penning of a challenge, (Campbell being gone) as follows:— "When Mr. Campbell will explain to us the reason why Ezekiel was to prophecy to the dry bones, and call on them to hear the word of the Lord, then we shall explain the difficulty here presented.” I confess to be so anxious for their 66 explanation of the difficulty, (that the commands of God, that men should repent and believe, imply no power in men to obey); that for once I step out of my prescribed course, and venture, on Mr. Campbell's behalf, to give both the reason, and the explanation of the reason. 1st. the reason;-Ezekiel prophecied to dry bones because God bade him. 2nd, the explanation;-Israel in captivity or dispersion said, our bones are dried our hope is lost;" i. e. we are nationally and figuratively, (although not actually) dead. And the heavenly Father, taking up their metaphor, shows, by highly significant imagery, commands, actions and results, that he would raise, not an elect few, but the "whole" of them from their dry-bone, grave-like, hopeless state, and restore them to a national life in their own land. (See also Hosea, vi. 1, 2.) I will even be liberal in explanation. The dry bones mean, those whom the Father calls 66 my people,"-" the whole house of Israel." Whether therefore the vision be taken as exhibiting the Hebrews driven from their Canaan, or the Christian church in a Laodicean state; in either case, none but the ignorant or the designing could misapply what Jehovah says of "his people," to Gentile sinners, who are not "Israel" in any sense. Affectionately, J. D. Errata in former "Strictures". 66 page 33-2nd col. 21st line, for "absolutely" read inevitably." Page 34-2nd col. 4th line from bottom, for "freedom," read "pardon" Page 84-1st col. in 2nd, 15th, and 17th lines, for "2" read "11." not an obvious effort to accommodate their obsolete theology to the more simple and rational views which we advocate. But the result too frequently is a sad medley and utter confusion and contradiction of doctrines. The preacher is often compelled, before finishing his sermon, to stultify himself in order to maintain his orthodoxy. He preaches to his hearers, through the greater part of his discourse, that it is their duty and that they possess the ability to obey God-to believe, repent, and submit to His authority; and then winds up by assuring them they are as dead as grave-stones-that they might as well think of creating a world, as dream they are able to obey God. The facetious definition of Calvinism given by the celebrated Lorenzo Dow, "You can and you can't you will and you won't-you'll be damned if you do, you'll be damned if you don't," is often exemplified in these sermons and essays. - Prot. Un. PEACE AND UNION. Beloved Brother-When last I wrote you, I said there were some things in the Novem ber number of the Christian Messenger which I thought ought to be animadverted on. These things occur in the letter signed "Frater." I need not tell you that I desire above all things the progress of truth, but desire at the same time to see it freed from all admixture of sectarian alloy, from which allow me to say, it appears the transaction described by this Brother is not quite free. I rejoice that the visit from our beloved brethren from America had led our Baptist brethren to the resolution of cultivating a friendly and hospitable feeling towards our brethren. Had this resolution been followed out, and by contact with our brethren certain reforms been effected, the cause of truth would have been more advanced, even supposing they had continued to meet in separate places, than by a number of them uniting with our brethren, and thus leaving the rest not so well affected to the cause we plead. No doubt there seem to have been many absurd and unscriptural practices among these Baptist brethren; but those who left state that they had hopes that these would have remedied themselves-all except one, which is spoken of as a fundamental principle amongst them; and this principle seems to have been considered so unscriptural, that they deemed themselves justified in leaving on account of it. Now with all due deference to our brethren. it appears to me, and always has, that this is a fundamental principle of the Reformation for which we plead; or rather, what is better, it is a fundamental principle of the New Testament, from which, I am grieved to think, from certain indications, the brethren in various places are unconsciously drifting away. There is a broad line to be drawn between those who are carried surreptitiously in their nurse's arms into the kingdom-and those who, openly and intelligently, have given themselves up to the Lord in his institution. The latter, while they are of good moral character, I have always considered my brethren; and the New Testament being our rule, all such we are bound to receive, however weak in the faith, without condemning their doubtful thoughts, or without regard to difference of opinion. This, I think you will regard as the teaching of the Spirit on this matter; and if so, suppose a brother is so diverse in his opinion from me as to sit down with those who have not been baptized, am I at liberty to regard this difference of opinion so as to shut him out from the table of the Lord? Were not the weak told not to condemn the strong, and the strong not to despise the weak, for God hath received them? How are we ever to teach our brethren among the sects our better way, if we stand on our supposed eminence and despise all others? And not only so, but whenever we find a brother who will not give up the direction of his conscience to the church, we cast him out for so doing. The fear of God, and not the fear of the church, should guide us. Let us take care that in claiming for ourselves the title of Reform Churches, we do not forget the thing in our scruples about the purity of the name. By the way, may the churches of the Reformation, under this title, not be as sectarian as the churches of the former Reformation. There is a constant tendency to seek after a carnal standing, rather than keeping alive the ardency of spirit and devotedness of soul required of the disciples of Jesus. As my beloved brethren, I Yours in the one hope, wari, you. Edinburgh. P. C. GRAY. No. 1. This is certainly a singular, though not an uninteresting question, and our reply must be considered rather as the expression of an opinion, than of a direct scriptural exposition of the passage; because neither the manner, the purpose, nor the duration of the contest appear to form any part of the record. The speech of Michael was a very short one. He durst not bring a railing accusation against his enemy, but said "The Lord rebuke thee." We admit, therefore, there was some design in the contention of these two notable characters. We may remark, by the way, that some have supposed, because Moses appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration in company with the Lord, that he had not died or been buried, but translated like Elijah, his successor and companion in glory. But the Scriptures declare that Moses died on Mount Nebo, and that the Lord buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor. This settles the doubt concerning his decease. The devil, that old serpent, considers himself to be a god, and a manufacturer of visible or deputy gods for all his votaries. He is styled the god of this world-the prince of the power of the air, who now works in the children of disobedience; and though he possesses no power or authority to make laws, or to give institutions of worship to the nations, yet he has presumptuously and wickedly done both. Now this old and cunning serpent, who dwelt in the hearts of many of the murmuring and mischievous Israelites, was not well pleased with the Lord Jehovah, because he had buried his faithful and typical servant Moses, without informing them of the place of his sepulture. Probably he had some fearful forebodings of a future judgment, and that ultimately both death, and him who had the power of death, would be destroyed. He wished, therefore, to make the best of his time, and the most of his prey. Now this arch enemy of God and man, with all his numerous associates, are very religious, and his religion boasts of having been confirmed by some of the most wonderful and stupendous miracles the world ever witnessed. He has his magicians, soothsayers, dreamers, witches, and wizards in abundance; but the whole of their performances are injurious in their character, and diabolical in their nature: the very opposite of those kind and benevolent confirmations of divine truth, which consisted in opening the eyes of the blind, unstopping the ears of the deaf, giving feet to the lame, and life to the dead. To be deprived of the dead body of Moses, then, was a sore calamity. For although he could no longer preach to them as he had been accustomed to do, yet as they had learnt the art of embalming and idolizing the dead, he would have made a firstclass mummy-a far superior object of adoration to that of the golden calf made by Aaron, the senior brother of Moses. It is attention paid to his discourses. Some are inquiring the way to Zion, while others come in apparently from curiosity. We have travelled several miles into the villages, and met with great kindness by the farmers opening their houses for preaching. Brother MD. preaches to-night at Plunderheath, which will make twelve discourses in a fortnight. On Monday night we had a full house at Harsondale; last night equally full at Deanraw. The people are anxious for more meetings. The fact of the meeting true they might, like ourselves, have seen a wooden Moses, or a stone Moses; but these, like all other counterfeits, only answer for a time-there is nothing like the original. The devil might well contend-O, Michael, Michael! if all my gods, and all my clergy, were to be buried in this way, where would be my glory, and the grandeur of my kingdom? And he showed me Joshua, the high priest, (which, in the prophecies, is the same as Jesus) standing before the angel of Jehovah, and an adversary standing at his right hand to resist him; and the angel of Jeho-house doors being shut against us at Haydonvah said to the adversary, "The Lord rebuke thee, oh adversary, even Jehovah, that choose Jerusalem, rebuke thee." Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Yes, the Israelitish church was as a typical brand plucked from the fire; and some think this was all that Jude referred to, as the body of Moses the Jewish church coming out of captivity-which the devil resisted in the days of Zachariah. The devil does not approve of God's plan of salvation. When Jesus vacated the silent tomb, he gave, by his resurrection inte life, a blow from which death, and he who has the power of it, can never recover. The resurrection of Jesus is a terrific and appaling thought to the devil and his worshippers. Alas, for them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and have run far in the error of Balaam's hire, and will perish as in the rebellion of Korah. See the Epistle of Jude. ANSWER 2.--It is not called Moses, but the dead body of Moses. From this we infer that the contention arose after he was dead, and before he was interred. Michael might be entrusted with the burial of the body, that none might know its place of sepulture, lest they should worship and sacrifice to it, instead of to the Lord their God. Previously to the death of Moses, they had joined themselves to Baal-peor, and eaten the sacrifices to the dead; what, then, would they not have done could they have obtained the body of Moses? The devil contended, that as he had the power and dominion over death, he had a just right to the dead body of Moses. The Archangel said, "The Lord rebuke thee."--P. B. ITEMS OF NEWS. Domestie. Haydonbridge, January 28, 1848.—It is with feelings of gratitude and joy I now inform you that the work of heaven's eternal King is progressing here. A good field of labour has been opened in this vicinity. Bigotry and prejudice are strong against us; still we have the promise, that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. Since the visit of brother M'Dougale, our meetings are well attended, and the most serious bridge, has only tended to open a wider field for us in the country. The minds of the people are confused by so many human traditions, that the gospel of Jesus Christ is made of none effect. The Independent minister, Mr. J. Smith, has been lecturing for several weeks against immersion and Baptists generally. He said their doctrines were unscriptural and dangerous dogmas; that it was faith alone, from first to last, that saves the sinner. I confess that this was once my opinion; but the Bible and experience are wise teachers. I have now a more well-founded hope, having obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine once delivered to the world for the saivation of sinners :"He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; and he that believeth not, shall be condemned." In one of Mr. Smith's lectures on John iii. 5, Titus iii. 5, he made what some of his people called a job of it; for, said they, if water and spirit mean the same here, why not in another passage, and say that it was the holy spirit that Christ made into wine at the marriage in Canaan in Galilee? He might make many jobs of this kind to the horror of the people, could they only believe the words spoken by Mr. Smith- the same shall judge you at the last day; but not so. The words of Christ alone shall be the judge. He hath said, "Except a man be born of the water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven." In another lecture on Rom. vi. 4, Mr. Smith says this has no reference to baptism whatever, but to a state of mind corresponding with the death of Christ, and that Christ was never buried in water, according to our mode of immersion. What an insult to common sense to say that this passage has 10 reference to baptism, when, at the same time, the Apostles affirm that we are buried with Christ in baptism; also in Gal. iii. 27, "But as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ, because Christ died for the remission of sins." These parties, and all other faith alone men, conceive there is no need for a sin-remitting institution, whereby the believing penitent may have the pledge of God the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, that all his past sins are for ever blotted out. But the Lord conimanded, and that is enough for all who fear and reverence his authority. In a third lecture, on Mark xvi. 16, Mr. Smith will have it to mean, "He that believeth, and is baptized with the Holy Spirit, shall be saved." No water again. That the Apostles did not baptize from the authority of Christ, but from some other reason. Surely Mr. Kirk, of Edinburgh, and Mr. Smith, must have forgotten that Peter rehearsed the whole matter from the beginning, and expounded by order unto them, &c. saying, what was 1, that I could withstand God? Can any man forbid 'water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. It is plain and obvious that the baptism which Mr. Kirk and Mr. Smith contend for only prepared these Gentiles for water baptism, and was intended to show to all succeeding ages that God had granted unto the Gentiles repentance unto life, as well as to his ancient people the Jews. [After this, the gospel was freely preached to all nations, without exception. Nor is there another word in the book respecting the outpouring or baptism of the Holy Spirit being granted to any people.-ED.] Now, the question is, Where must we rank these popular men? at the head, or at the tail of faith alone? Preachers who dare to garble the words of our Redeemer, and say that believers' immersion in water is fulfilling unrighteousness, teach a doctrime which I look upon as the masterpiece of Satan's delusions. Hear, O heavens: give ear, O earth! Is it not strange that those who pretend to have such a peculiar regard for the Redeemer and his glory, should be such very great sticklers for a practice founded on mere opinion, but which brings such contempt upon his authority? If they are ashamed to be immersed into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for the remission of sins, we rejoice that others are not. We shall still say with the Evangelist, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." May all our hearts be fully open to the bright beamings of his heavenly and convincing truth, that we may obey his will, and find mercy of the Lord in that day when he shall judge the world in truth and righteousness. Yours, &c. W. KIRK. St. Andrews, January 29, 1818.-I now write you, for the information of the brethren, that a few disciples in St. Andrews and neighbourhood, who formerly belonged to the congregations in Cupar and Peekie Mill, but who, on account of the distance to these places, met together on the 16th January, being the first day of the week, and organized themselves into a congregation, founded on the plan laid down by Jesus Christ and his disciples. We solicit the prayers of the brethren, that we may be enabled to go forward in the work of the Lord. We have much opposition to contend with in this ancient seat of learning. The minds of the people are completely under the power of the clergy. We regret very much that none of us are qualified to draw the attention of those around us to the truths of the gospel in a public manner; but we think that good might be done, even in this priest-ridden city, were some talented brother to take up his abode among us. We trust that the brethren in Cupar will feel it their duty to part with some of that talent with which they are so richly endowed, for the edifying of the brethren, and the conversion of sinners in St. Andrews. There is a small congregation of Raptists here, who lately recognised as their pastor Mr. M'Lean, a very intelligent man, and in many respects a Reformer; but he, like the great majority of Baptist preachers, carefully avoids, in his sermons, the exposition of the one baptism in conjunction with the one faith and the one Lord, and consequently the line of demarcation not being distinctly drawn between God's way of saving men and that of the sects', the people have intelligence enough to perceive that there is no necessity for a change, in as much as the same doctrine is taught in their own places of worship. Ought it not to be the aim of every preacher of the gospel to follow the example of the Apostle Paul, who shunned not to declare the whole counsel of God, whether men would hear, or whether they would forbear? S. BUIST. Leigh, February 16, 1848.-A few weeks ago we opened a school-room in which to proclaim the gospel, and in which we have had several very interesting meetings. Our brethren from Wigan came over to assist, and there appears to be a favourable prospect before us. As a first fruit of our labors, last Lord's day, we had the happiness to immerse into Jesus a Methodist local preacher, who, I hope, will prove himself to be a faithful soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ. W. T. Sholts Iron Works, February 15, 1848. -As a number of our brethren in Scotland may not be aware that a small Church has been formed in this place, we shall feel obliged by a notice of this in the next number of the Harbinger. There are six who meet every Lord's day to keep the commandments of Jesus-a small number truly; but the Lord has said, "Where two or three are met together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." We are surrounded by a large field for evangelical labour, situated near to the Caledonian Railway. We shall be glad to see any of the brethren who may be travelling this way in proclaiming the gospel. We have concluded to invite brother Gray from Edinburgh to visit us at his earliest convenience. We take five copies of the British Millennial Harbinger monthly, and lend them to all who will read for themselves. W. T. |