hath put upon them. And every believer in Jesus will agree with us, that to open a way of reconciliation, would have been of little value to him, unless the invincible power of God had been exerted in his individual salvation; for his stubborn will would never have bowed in subjection to the will of God, unless Jehovah had graciously performed his promise by making him willing in the day of his power; and glory be to his holy name, there is no peradventures here"My people shall be willing in the day of my power," is his own gracious promise; and will be verified in the experience of his own family, in opposition to all the jargon of modern Arminians and Baxterians, who still continue to infest the church.

In the second and third essays, the author labours to harmonize the doctrines of" Eternal Election," and "No Decreed Reprobation," and to shew that election is in no way connected with what he terms "the odious doctrine of reprobation." We do not wonder to see men so darkened in their minds, and so hostile to the sovereignty of Jehovah, who has declared, “That he will have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth," because the word of God declares, that the "Natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

The doctrine of particular election is revealed as with a sun-beam throughout the whole book of God-Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated"-" Hath not the potter power over the clay, to make one vessel to honour and another to dishonour?"-"I am the good Shepherd: I lay down my life for my sheep"-" Elect according to the foreknowledge of God." And if the promise of God standeth sure, having this seal, "the Lord knoweth them that are his," we must of necessity admit his foreknowledge, and peremptory predestination of all events; for if events were undecreed, they must be unforeknown. To say that he may foreknow events, without those events falling under a permissive decree would be absurd, nay, it would follow that God is dependent for his knowledge, on the things known, instead of all things being dependent on him; hence then the final condemnation of every impenitent sinner is fully known and irrevocably fixed by him, who doeth as it pleaseth him in the armies of heaven, and amongst the inhabitants of the earth, and of whom no finite creature has a right to ask, what doest thou? It ought ever to be remembered, that God created man upright; man sinned of his own free agency; hence the sinner is justly punished for his sins: for we do not deny the existence of man's free will; the difference between us and the Arminians is in reference to its powers: we say that man's will is naturally free to what is morally and spiritually evil, hence the damnation of every reprobate will be strictly just, for their language is, "we will not have this man to reign over us.'

The salvation of any is a pure act of sovereign, unmerited mercy; and the passing by or leaving to follow the bias of their own depraved

natures of the finally impenitent, and condemning them to eternal punishment, is only an act of strict justice in that God who shall "reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness," and who hath declared, "that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven."

A Father's Tribute, to the Memory of a beloved Daughter; with Extracts from the Diary of Miss Elizabeth Turner, late of Crispin Street, and of the Old Artillery Ground, who died April 7, 1830, in the twenty-fourth year of her age. 12mo. pp. 206. Seeley's.

Christian biography is become a very favourite companion to the young mind, which has any taste for divine things; but it is much to be regretted, that very often we are sadly disappointed in perusing those memorials with which we are continually supplied; for while in many we see too plainly that an undue and unnatural effect is given to the individual by those who have undertaken to be the narrator; on the other hand we not unfrequently are grieved to see through the mistaken fondness and partiality of a dear parent or relative, a biographical memorial presented to the public, which only tends to throw a shade over those who might otherwise have passed unnoticed. Such individuals would do well to bear in mind, that many of those minor circumstances which to them may awaken pleasing reflections, form nothing interesting beyond the locality of the immediate sphere in which the individual was personally known. We do wish that those who prepare biographical memorials for the press, would consider these remarks, which we offer with the greatest affection.

The memoir of Miss Turner contains nothing very striking or singular; but her Diary evinces so much real spirituality of mind, and such a humble dependence on her covenant God and Father, that we think it will be perused with profit and pleasure by many, particularly our young friends: and her affectionate father will have no cause to regret this tribute of affection to a beloved daughter. We subjoin two extracts therefrom in confirmation of our remarks.

"June 14.-Oh! how shall I sufficiently praise my God for all his mercies. Yesterday was the first time of my getting up and being dressed after many months' confinement to the bed of languishing. I found myself much weaker than I thought I was, which lowered my spirits greatly, and this morning I feel the same; but methinks I hear it said, "thy strength shall be equal to thy day." Oh! what an indulgent parent have I to go to, when I go to God my heavenly Father. What a mercy when we go to him, wẹ are sure not to be sent empty away. The Lord strengthen me this day.

"June 15.-Another sabbath day returned, and I am still here, but the Lord is with me, and his presence is better than all. It is all I ask-and though I am deprived of attending the courts of my God, which would be a great privilege to me, yet I can go to the throne of grace though confined to my chamber. Friends come and tell me what they have been hearing, and I can sometimes lay hold of a word as though I heard it myself. My aunt has been hearing Mr. Hyatt, whose text was, "The secret of the Lord is

"

with them that fear him, and he will shew them his covenant.' Ah! let me ask-am 1 in the covenant-am I his chosen-and have I this evidence -the fear of the Lord planted in my heart? Lord, teach me the way thou choosest, and suffer me not to walk in the paths of sinners. I desire to keep thy covenant and thy testimonies; but I know I do not as I ought. Lord, enable me to give better evidence that I am one of thy chosen-I trust I am; but I want more of the light of thy countenance, for my mind is very dark. Lord, give me the enjoyment of thy presence through the remainder of this day.

"Nov. 12.-Again I bless God for preserving mercy to the present period. I think I am the greatest miracle of mercy out of hell. Surely if I had my desert, I should now be where hope never comes. Oh, the heighth, and depth, and length, and breadth of the love of God which passeth knowledge. I have been to the house of God twice to-day, but found no comfort until the evening; I was so cold and wretched in my mind, that I was like a stone among the Lord's people; but at evening the Lord met with me, and gave me to feel somewhat of the blessedness of those who know the joyful sound-yet I have felt to-night a great fear of death, lest I should sink. Oh, my unbelieving heart! I ought to know that if I am in Christ, I am as safe as if I were in heaven. But I have thought to-day, surely I cannot be one of the family of God, because I felt my heart untouched and unmoved at the description of the tragical scene on Mount Calvary. I thought, if I am a child of God, why feel so indifferent while hearing of the agonies which my Lord endured for my sins and transgressions! Yet I am sensible of all this insensibility-would it be so if I were still in a state of nature? The Lord teach me to know my true condition, and give me to feel, as I ought, my own insensibility, and enable me to look to that very Saviour of whom I have been hearing, who groaned on Calvary under the weight of all his people's sins, which were charged upon him.

"Dec. 13.-I have been much exercised during the past month, and feel myself too weak to endure so much exertion. The evening is my time of leisure, but when evening has arrived I have felt so fatigued, that I have been unable even to write, and have been glad to retire to rest. I have, however, during this interval, had many delightful opportunities in the house of God, which I have much enjoyed; as also in private meditation and prayer. Although I have not been able to sit up after the fatigues of the day, yet I could commune with my own heart upon my bed, while my poor body was at rest. At the last ordinance, the Lord was pleased to make himself known to me in the breaking of bread, and to shew me that his body was broken and his blood shed for me. As in nature, so it has been with me alternately; morning and evening, light and shade-sometimes on the mount, at other times in the valley. May I enjoy more of the Lord's presence, and partake more of his fulness while I go on my way through this waste howling wilderness. May I overcome all temptations and trials by the help of his grace, which is all-sufficient; and wait the arrival of the period when I shall have done with the conflict. May I be ready for him who hath said-" Behold, I come quickly, even so, (may I say) come, Lord Jesus, come quickly." Then wilt thou fulfil thy promise to them that overcome, by giving them a seat on thy throne.

'Oh, glorious hour! Oh, blest abode !

I shall be near, and like my God.'

The Omnipotence of the Deity; a Poem.

By the Rev. John

Young, Author of Scripturæ Lyra, &c. 8vo. Houlston and Palmer. Songs for the Sanctuary; or, Hymns adapted to Divine Worship; partly selected from distinguished Authors, and partly original. Houlston and Palmer.

By the same, 18mo.

WE have before introduced Mr. Young's poetry to the attention of our readers, in a notice of his earliest production, Scripturæ Lyra, which obtained our approbation for the devotional spirit which pervaded its contents. The first of the volumes now before us, it will occur to every reader, was suggested to the mind of the writer, by Mr. R. Montgomery's popular poem on the Omnipresence of the Deity; and this the author candidly confesses. We are obliged however to add, that it falls far short of its well-known precursor: at the same time it will be read with pleasure by many. But we will give one extract, which we think may be fairly considered as the best throughout the poem.

"In yonder hovel, misery's own recess,
Disease and anguish revel with distress,
Sad days of sorrow, end in nights of grief,
Day dawns afresh, but brings these no relief.
Gaunt famine glares, with hollow sunken eyes;
Or wildly shrieks with soul alarming cries.

"Stretch'd on a pallet,-whitened o'er with age,
Like meek submission, in the hand of rage,-
Lies the fond husband. On his wretched form
Rest the deep tokens of affliction's storm.
One skinny hand, from out the tatter'd bed,
Presses in agony his burning head;

The other, lock'd within his partner's, lies,
As if to still her unavailing sighs.

With fond affection, unsubdued by care,
She lives to ease, or else his suff'rings share.
Watches with agony his feverish breath,
And from his temples wipes the sweat of death.
Fainting with grief, or want of food and rest,
She holds her infant to her milkless breast.

Roused by its shrieks, from kind oblivious sleep,
Five starving infants round their parents creep,

With tottering steps they leave their straw-form'd bed,

And pierce unconscious while they ask for-bread.

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Angel of mercy, speed in pity there!

Attend the husband's-hear the father's prayer.

Once more he rais'd,-before his race was run,

His hands to heaven, then sighed-' THY WIll be done.'
'Be thou my children's God, the widow's friend!'

Then ceased, his misery found a speedy end.
His hands fell lifeless; with a gentle moan,
His spirit mounted to the eternal throne."

There are several minor pieces annexed, but few of them possess much merit.

The second article is a neat volume, containing Hymns for the use of the Congregation over which Mr. Y. is minister. In it are contained several from his own pen; some of which we read with pleasure; indeed, we should give it as our opinion, that he excels in devotional poetry, although we think he writes in too much haste, and perhaps too closely imitates many whose productions are approved by him. The collection is not such as we can recommend.

POETRY.

FREE GRACE.

FREE grace is a subject I love t'explore,

In its ample, abundant, and o'erflowing store;
Its depth we can't fathom, nor bounds can we tell,
It reaches almost to the confines of hell.

But although its aboundings so greatly exceed
Our weak comprehension, 'tis pleasant indeed
To reflect on the wonders which free grace has done,
Ere the world was created, and since it begun.

It was by this grace that some of old were
Set apart as the objects of God's special care;
And, in due time, with weeping and sorrowing sore,
At his footstool of mercy their cases deplore.
Then nothing but this special grace can impart
The cordial they need, to enliven the heart,
And reveal the dear fountain of Jesus's blood,
Which abandons their sins from the presence of God.

And by free grace alone must their souls be adorn'd
With the all perfect robe-of themselves they had scorn'd;
And thus be made free, and in freedom remain,
From the pow'r and dominion of sin's heavy chain.
All the while they sojourn in this valley of tears,
Will the world and the devil excite many fears;
But this wonderful grace will be sure to outdo
All the subtle attempts of th' infernal crew.
For the work grace begins will assuredly be
Completed in time by the great sacred Three;
And when the appointed set period is come,
Will convey the blest spirit in happiness home.
When with transport amazing free grace will be sung
In the heav'nly regions, by ev'ry tongue-

No more on the willows their harps they'll suspend,
But assist the sweet melody world without end.

February, 1830.

MARY.

THE VANITY OF HUMAN GREATNESS.

LET kings and princes boast,
And in their splendour rest;
Let warriors glory in a host,
With warlike breast:

At best-they're empty joys,

At most-they're transient too;
Dissatisfaction still alloys

Whate'er they do.