SWEDISH HYMN, ON THE WORDS, "I KNOW WHOM I HAVE BELIEVED.' (To the Editor of the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine.) 1. I KNOW whom I have believed, when the remem- II. I know whom I have believed, when, to Jesus, and the power of holiness I III. I know whom I have believed, when the IV. I know whom I have believed, when the joy of life runs out, and the heart is like to break mid troubles and anxieties. I remember what Jesus suffered, and that my soul also must, through much tribulation, enter the kingdom of heaven. V. I know whom I have believed, when the hour of death draws nigh, and the painful heat of the day is cooled in the shadow of the evening. My Jesus, by his death, has brought death to destruction : he lives, and my soul shall live with him. VI. I know whom I have believed; but I praise him aright, when the faith of my heart is shown in the actions of my life; not crying "Lord," merely, but doing the will of my Lord. Only thus, in the faith of Christ, I live and I die. FIRST VERSE IN THE ORIGINAL, TO SHOW THE METRE. (67676666.) Jag vet på hvem Jag tror, En Faders hulda famn. G. S. APOSTASY DEVELOPED : OR, ENGLAND'S SHEKINAH DEPARTING. (To the Editor of the Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine.) THE purport of this address is to commune with the reader, as in the presence of God and eternity, on "the signs of the times" in which we are living; to draw your mind to reflect on the sad aspect which our beloved native land now exhibits both towards God and man; and to endeavour, by reference to Jehovah's dealing with the Jews, especially as regards their fall, to display the certain judgment we shall equally experience if we continue to act as those who forsook the path of holiness, "and served their own gods;" (2 Kings xvii. 33 ;) whilst they maintained, after a certain fashion, that outward "form of godliness" which induced a belief in their own perfect safety. We are indeed living in "perilous times," when the fate of God's ancient people forms a very profitable introduction to the remarks which shall follow. As they dwelt in Zion, so we dwell in a country of peculiar privileges and responsibilities. This land of Gospel light and liberty, in applying to herself the happy language of Israel, may say, "For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh them as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for?" (Deut. iv. 7.) But, alas! though we are planted by "water-courses," we do not grow as willows. (Isai. xliv. 4.) We have "not rendered again according to the benefits done unto us;" (2 Chron. xxxii. 25;) therefore we may tremble lest wrath come upon us, as it did upon King Hezekiah and his people, in consequence. But let us continue to trace the similarity of our position with that of the Jews, from Isai. v., "touching the Lord's vineyard." He planted his vineyard (church) in a fruitful hill, fenced it and provided it with every blessing, and "He looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes." (Verse 2.) The Lord then appealed to the inhabitants why this was. He inquires, "What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?" (Verse 4.) They had no reply to make, feeling sensible of his many mercies. Jehovah then reproves them for their covetous, luxurious, impious, Sabbath-breaking ways; (Ezek. xx. 12;) and threatens to call upon the nations to come and punish them severely. (Isai. v. 26-30.) Înstead of being a "holy nation," (Exod. xix. 6,) they had corrupted themselves; instead of bearing this distinguished title, "the people of thy holiness," (Isai. lxiii. 18; Deut. vii. 6 ;) they had become the people of the world by imitating their heathen neighbours and serving their gods, although this sin had the penalty of death denounced upon it, which extended even to those who enticed others to idolatry. This proves the divine abhorrence of giving the glory of worship to any but himself. (Exod. xxxii. 27; Deut. xii. 30; xiii. 6, 8, 9.) Nevertheless they were disobedient and rebelled, and cast the divine law behind their backs, and slew the Prophets, (1 Kings xviii. 4; xix. 10,) who testified against them; "they wrought great provocations;" (Neh. ix. 26;) and, finally, "because of unbelief, they were broken off," in which state they seem destined to remain," until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” (Rom. xi. 20—25.) As no one knows how soon that period may arrive, and many things would lead us to infer it is near, it becomes vitally important to consider how we are improving the period granted to us for repentance unto salvation. When we survey our Zion, it is painful to perceive, that, instead of growing in grace and holiness, the glory of being a Protestant land, which we once possessed, is fast departing from us: this mournfully shadows forth the departure of the Shekinah (or divine presence) from the Jewish nation previous to its downfal. Let us meditate for a few moments on that affecting manifestation of the Lord's unwillingness to forsake his chosen people. (See Ezek. x. 2.) This chapter opens by showing that their doom was a judgment from heaven, (Isai. vii. 18,) though it came upon them by human instrumentality. "Coals of fire from between the cherubims were to be scattered over the city." "Then the glory of the Lord went up and stood over the threshold of the house." (Ezek. x. 4.) "Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims," (verse 18,) at the door of the east gate of the Lord's house. (Verse 19.) Lastly, it forsook that once beloved city : "And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city." (Ezek. xi. 23.) Afterwards the vision went up from the Prophet (verse 24) on the Mount of Olives, from whence Jesus beheld the devoted city, and while he wept over them, these tears fell for us also; (John xvii. 20;) and it was from this Mount that the vision finally disappeared, taking the course of our Lord when he ascended into heaven. May the Lord Jesus mercifully enable us to know and value this the time of our visitation, and may he help us to improve the affecting display of his long-suffering, goodness, and mercy to our present profit ! for, respected reader, when we look around us, and consider the similarity of our position, first in our national privileges, and then in our sin, we must feel we are guilty. Have we not been accurately described in the passage "touching the Lord's vineyard ?" The Gospel which the Jews rejected has been given unto us, who were thereby "exalted unto heaven" by privileges, and required to be "a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." (Matt. xxi. 43.) We are called to "be holy" individually, and, as a nation, "to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God." (1 Peter i. 15, 16; ii. 5.) He graciously "planted us the choicest vine;" that is, a Reformed Protestant nation, which had every blessing the supreme Being saw needful for the beauty of holiness. He gave us the knowledge of his Christ, "in whom are hid all the treasures " we require; (Col. ii. 3 ;) the whole of which are freely offered in these blessed words," All things are yours;" (1 Cor. iii. 22 ;) "Ye are complete in Him." (Col. ii. 10.) Jesus Christ has been watching over us with divine earnestness to see the result; but, alas! "how is the" Protestant "gold become dim! how is the most fine gold" of the Reformation "changed! (Lam. iv. 1.) Instead of growing like the stately "cedar in Lebanon,” (Psalm xcii. 12,)—instead of flourishing under the rich and peaceful privileges we then obtained for our souls and bodies,-who does not perceive that both the Church and State are losing the spirit and doctrine of the Reformation? Two hundred years ago, the heads of Government durst not have attempted to endow Popery, the whole country would have risen to oppose such a measure; but now, the deed in substance has been enacted by law; and comparatively so few protested against it, that one individual connected with this expedient openly said, he now saw the feelings of the country were not opposed, and were gradually assimilating with those of the State. This proves, beyond contradiction, that the fervent spirit of the Reformation is departing, and rests with our fathers. How painful is that thought! But, to prove it further, let us "go round Zion," let us "tell the towers thereof :" is not "Ichabod" inscribed on many of "her palaces?" on many consecrated places of worship, where formerly the Shekinah (at once the emblem and abode of the Holy Spirit) rested, and from whence "the truth as it is in Jesus" sweetly sounded? God bids us "mark well her bulwarks, that we may tell it to the generation following ;" but, alas! what can we tell? We hear a strange sound in the camp of Israel, in this Protestant land, even the voice of Latin prayers, to which we cannot respond; we hear creatures, like ourselves, idolized and worshipped like God; we hear the matin and the vesper bell, and we see Protestant professors daily resorting thither; multitudes, who once glorified Jesus as the only and all-sufficient Saviour, have gone over to those who yield idolatrous honours to the Virgin as "the Queen of heaven," after the example of the Heathen, (see Jer. xliv. 18, 19, 25,) as if "the Christ's" ransom had lost its savour and virtue. Instead of being able to "tell the generation following, This God is our God for ever and ever," (Psalm xlviii. 12, 14,) we must tell them, The salvation of the Lord our God is now found wanting, and the way of access to the Father, which the Scriptures say is through Christ alone, (John xiv. 6,) is now made over to the Virgin, and blended with the prayers of departed men. Zion's bulwarks are thus mouldering away; the Jesuits have undermined them, and the image of the Beast will be placed upon their ruins. Were the Prophet Jeremiah now amongst us, he would say, "O that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!" (Jer. ix. 1.) As a nation, are we not become so worldly and so covetous, that even that hallowed day which our Creator sanctified and set apart for sacred duties from the creation is seized upon by thousands, with infidel avidity, as the best opportunity of amassing extra gain, especially on railways? This "inordinate" desire for gain, in God's sight, is pure idolatry; (Col. iii. 5, 6 ;) "for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:" so we must alike compare Sunday railways, and every unhallowed source of acquiring wealth or pleasure on the Lord's day, including everything which is sought after with ungodly avidity, to serving the “new gods, that came newly up," and carried away the thoughts and affections of Israel from Jehovah. (Deut. xxxii. 17, 18.) And we find, by Judges v. 8, that when "they chose new gods, then was war in the gates;" when "they sacrificed unto" these new gods, also called “devils," VOL. II.-FOURTH SERIES. 2 z God sacrificed these idolaters by the enemy which he brought upon them, till they repented and returned to him. So in their fate we can trace our own, if we continue to desecrate that holy day; the sanctification of which was appointed to be the "sign (Ezek. xx. 12, 20) of those who were God's Israel amongst the people he chose for himself. All sacrifice themselves to Mammon, the god of this world. He successfully entices them to traffic on that seventh portion of time which is divinely appointed to give rest to the creatures, and for man's preparation for heaven. Vice, however, has become so bold, and public decency in this respect is so much disregarded, that multitudes think it no shame to relinquish public worship, in order to squander away these precious hours in some worldly haunt, in a way totally at variance with the whole tenor of Christianity; and how others, who profane even half of the Lord's day in idleness or amusement, can afterwards dare to mock the Deity by repeating the Lord's prayer, is unaccountable, and shows how entirely devoid their minds are of the solemn desires it teaches them to express. Those who truly wished to see "God's will done on earth as it is in heaven," would aim at angelic obedience by spending these sacred hours so as to promote his glory and the welfare of their souls. It is impossible to conceal the rapidity with which we are becoming "a people laden with iniquity." Antichrist being now cherished by the State, through its countenancing and supporting as well those who dishonour and degrade the Lord Jesus to a mere man, infidelity, and every attendant on irreligion, must quickly increase, through so honourable a sanction and patronage; and, as if the nation still further wished to facilitate the machinations of the evil one, a church "which holds the truth in unrighteousness," which places the human Virgin on a level with the divine Redeemer, and teaches that sinful act of idolatry which God abhors, instead of being cut off, as it was by the Reformers, is fostered by its hand. This affords another undeniable evidence how lightly this people, as a nation, venerate God's holy word, his second commandment, and the blood of our holy martyrs. O that our eyes may be opened, to see how deeply those who keep silence at such a time are implicated in this national sin of allowing the public funds to be given to support those who pervert the word of God "with lies,” and strengthen "the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life,” (Ezek. xiii. 22,) “saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace;" (Jer. vi. 14;) they not only teach lies, (Isai. ix, 15,) transubstantiation, &c., but they cause others "to trust in a lie;" they garnish the sepulchres, and idolize the names of those who tortured and consumed our revered forefathers to ashes! When such flagrant iniquities re-appear in a once Protestant nation, we may well tremble lest the cry of this land is now coming up before God as the cry of Sodom. Of all these events the Almighty is an attentive spectator. His eye is ever on this isle, which being given to his Christ, (Psalm lxxii. 10; Isai. lx. 9; Rev. xi. 15,) God is jealous of everything that militates as a rival against his glory. National sins, if unrepented of, ever bring down national judgments; everything around us, by its verging into infidelity and Popery, seems to say, "Awake, thou that sleepest!" "Arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not," by the Papal power. Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give him no rest, until he "revive us again,” (Psalm lxxxv. 6,) and grant to our native land, |