there is a display of his power, there | vengeance, with his red right arm to is a display of his holiness, there is a smite you; look back to that awful display of his justicc, thereis a display period when Jenovan appeared to all of his wisdom, there is a display of his for infliction and woe. While there is faithfulness and truth ;and we are called the existence of the cross of Christ, there upon to contemplate the entire exhibi- is no entrance for despair. Let your tion of each and all. But it is the dis- sins be as accumulated as they will, play and development of his love that let them extend over a territory as vast ought to excite our warmest feelings and as they will, let them involve acts of raise our highest joy.

impiety as great as they will, still reWhat an infinitude of meaning is demption is not impossible. If any there in that one single passage upon man doubt the Redeemer's ability, “he this subject, by John, “GOD IS LOVE!" | is able to save unto the uttermost all “Herein is love, not that we loved God, that come unto God by him.” If any but that he loved us, and sent his Son man thirst let him come unto Christ. to be the propitiation for our sins.” If « Let him that is athirst come : and you can consider, for a single moment, whosoever will let him take the water ihe situation in which our race stood by of life freely," It was from his cross transgression, and view the redemption that he bore away the legal felon, and in all the varied blessings which by the placed him before the throne of Jerocross has been secured to us, you may VAH, as a trophy of his mercy, as a then wonder at the majesty of the mercy sample and pattern of those who should he constructed and displayed. The believe in after ages. Be it your concross seems to gather to itself, as a cen- fidence then, to rejoice and joy in him! tre, all that can belong to the rays of di- “ Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus vine love, from one eternity to another, Christ, and you shall be saved." The Herein is love, incomprehensible to cross of Christ furnishesimmortal minds! Herein is love, 3. A topic of ministerial promise, and which animated the counsels of God success. Involving as this great theme before the foundation of the world! does, those various principles which are Herein is love, which, in the early ages essential to our happiness, both for time of the world, was invisible; which pa- and eternity, it must become those who triarchs anticipated, and respecting are sent forth to minister to their feilow which prophets sang! Herein is love, men, to place this subject clearly bewhich lights up the sepulchre of death, fore their eyes. You will observe, that which opens the gates of glory, which the apostle in this and the following attracts the admiration of the redeemed, chapter, views the term, the cross which raises the songs of angels and of Christ, as involving the whole theme the blessed before the throne, and which of his ministry. He says, in the verse will remain to be the source of all their before us, “ Christ sent me not to bapbliss, and perfection, and pleasure, tize, but to preach the gospel ; not throughout the changes of time! “God with the wisdom of words.” You so loved the world, that he gave his will remark, that the preaching of the only begotten Son, that whosoever be gospel is equivalent to the preaching lieveth in him should not perish, but of the cross, “ Lest the cross of Christ have everlasting life.”

should be made of non-effect; for the 2. It furnishes the ground of proper preaching of the cross, is to them that confidence for the hopes of the penitent perish, foolishness; but unto us which sinner. If this doctrine be true which I are saved, it is the power of God.” have stated to you thus simply and dis- Again, look to the 22nd verse, “ For the tinctly, with regard to the nature of the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks Redeemer's offering, and which is se- seek after wisdom; but we preach cured by the splendour and perfection of Christ crucified, unto the Jews a his character, there can be no reason stumbling block, and unto the Greeks whatever to doubt with regard to those foolishness; but unto them which are who look unto him, but that they shall be called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ perfectly and eternally saved. Look the power of God, and the wisdom of back to the encouragements of former God.” Again, in the commencement days, when the justice of God seemed of the next chapter, “And I, brethren, to advance to draw the sword of his when I came unto you, came not with

excellency of speech or of wisdom, name the cross of Christ? Can declaring unto you the testimony of you tell the amount of that pleasure God; for I determined not to know which first vibrated in melody through any thing, among you, save Jesus your hearts, when the cross of Christ Christ and him crucified." And so removed your transgressions, and when brethren, must the matter still remain. you saw clearly the salvation you obAnd while Jews may laugh, and infi- tained through the Redeemer's sacridels may blaspheme, it becomes those fice and blood ; and when through the who are sent out as the ambassadors power of the Holy Ghost, you were able of Christ in the ministry of reconci- to take up the language of the apostle, iliation, still to lift up their hand, and and exclaim, “whom having not seen to exclaim to the sinner, “Behold the we love ; in whom, though now we see Lamb of God which taketh away the him not, yet believing, we rejoice with sins of the world !" And for my own joy unspeakable and full of glory; repart, rather than I would take away ceiving the end of our faith, even the that topic of my ministry, I would salvation of our souls ?" And what take up the imprecation of Job, and is it that excites the joy of the redeemed exclaim, “ Yea; let the day perish spirits already with God, who have wherein I was born."

gope before us, and entered into that You will observe, that the success of place where Jesus is stationed upon a the ministry of the gospel, will always seat of almighty, vision, looking over depend, humanly speaking, upon the the universe of God, and where they fervour with which the Divinity of behold the grandeur of his uncreated Christ is presented to the mind of man, glory, and see in almost an unclouded That was an excellent reply which was view, the essence of that great and made by Mr. Cadogan to a young mighty Being, who once tabernacled minister, who stated to him the difficul- upon earth? While you listen to the ties and anxieties he felt with regard to burden of their song, see if it does the success of his ministry : “Young not arise from the cross of Christ, man, you have but one thing to do, “For thou wast slain, and hast reand that is, to place before you the deemed us to God by thy blood, out CROSS of Christ, and the promise," of every kindred, and tongue, and “And I, if I be lifted up from the people and nation." “Worthy is the earth, will draw all men unto me." Lamb that was slain to receive power, And Christ has been lifted up from and riches, and wisdom, and strength, the earth. He now reigns in glory. and honour, and glory, and blessing!" He looks down from his lofty pinnacle And so it will be the cross of Christ on those beneath him, and he exclaims, will become the theme of joy and praise “ I will overturn, overturn, overturn it, and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is." “He must reign

“While life, and thought, and being last,

And immortality endures." until he hath put all enemies under his feet." By sending those heralds, who are inspired by his grace and ap- Let me now request you not to negpointed by his wisdom, the mighty lect the cross. gospel will fly to the uttermost parts Is there one in this building to-day, of the earth, being preached to all the by whom the cross of Christ, and the nations of mankind, till there shall be means of redemption by his sacrifice, heard the sounding of the seventh an- have been neglected in scorn ? Is gel's trumpet in the vast expanse of hea- there one to whom the Redeemer has ven, “The kingdoms of this world are said, “ All ye that pass by, come see become the kingdoms of our God and if there ever was sorrow like unto my of his Christ, and he shall reign for sorrow," and to whom the request has ever and ever.” The cross of Christ been made in vain? You are living furnishes,

in impenitence and transgression! 4 The source of joy to the believer, | You are refusing to drink the water, both in time and in eternity. I would and to eat the bread of eternal life! ask any one who holds the doctrine You are seeking death in the error of of the atonement of Christ, whether your ways ! Is there in Christ po there is not a kind of charm in the comeliness, no beauty, that you should

very

OF

66

AMEN.

desire him? Ponder this simple ques. | OF CHRIST our Lord. When the trumtion, “How shall we escape if we pet of the archangel's thunder shall neglect so great salvation ?" Know ye rouse the nations out of sleep, and not, that by neglecting the cross, you are shall place them all before the bar of stabbing the vitals of your comfort God, we shall point, before the throne, in a future period of your existence ? as the ground of our non-condemnation Know ye not that yeare sending away by and rejection, to THE CROSS OF CHRIST. the evil magic of your depravity, even When the nations of mankind have ministering spirits of mercy, that might deen dismissed to their eternal destiny, hover over the hour of your departure to and when the gates of heaven and hell another and an unseen world? Know shall be closed for ever, we will make ye not that ye are shutting against it the ground of our rejoicing, amidst yourselves the gates of heaven, and the regions of the blest, that we have opening wide the yawning world of been redeemed by THE CROSS darkness and despair ? That you are CHRIST our Lord. rushing down to the depths of perdition, O may the Spirit of the Redeemer, where you shall ask in vain for a drop who is sent down by the virtue of his of water to cool your thirsting and sufferings, to those that ask him in tormented tongue ? O sinner, rush sincerity and in truth, be shed down not upon the “thick bosses of Jeho

upon you now; that by being brought vah's buckler," "Turn ye, turn ye, to the cross of Christ, you may be

prewhy will ye die ?” Behold the atone- pared for the crown

“ FOR IF WE ment of Christ spread before you! SUFFER WITH CHRIST, WE SHALL ALSO Now the statement is laid before you, REIGN WITH HIM." come poor guilty sinners! O believe on the name of the only Lord and Saviour; “ For he that believeth shall be SAVED, but he that believeth not shall be DAMNED.

BIBLICAL ESSAYS. Place your hopes of salvation on the glory of the cross. Now, my Christian brethren, it is to the cross that we sum- " And they eaused them to understand the mon you, that

roading.' you may gather around it. Now you are in a place where it is presented to you! Here is the sanctu

NO. 1. INTRODUCTORY. ary of Jehovah! Here are saints! Here is presented to you the necessity of the We apprehend it is not at all negospel! Here is the altar, and here is cessary that we should make any labourthe vow; and let your vow, be the vow

ed effort to convince our readers, that of the apostle of the Gentiles, “Yea in order to a right apprehension of a doubtless, I will count all things but very considerable portion of the sacred loss for the excellency of the knowledge writings, much previous knowledge is of Christ Jesus my Lord.” O yes, required. This now seems to be pretty

generally admitted, and hence the great “When I survey the wondrous cross

multiplication and rapid salè of books On which the prince of glory died, on Scripture interpretation and antiquiMy richest gain I count but loss,

ties which have been witnessed within And pour contempt on all my pride." the last few years. No person of ordinary

intelligence will now be found to deny Behold it! while the worldling may that the enactments of the law, the neglect and the infidel may defy, we declarations of the prophets, the diswill hold it as our glory, that we have courses of the Saviour, and the letters “ The cross of Christ” our Lord of the apostles, were all called forth When the king of terrors shall place by the immediate circumstances of the his cold hand upon our heart, and persons to whom they were addressed; close our dim eyes in the moment of and that, therefore, some acquaintance dissolution, and our spirit shall depart with those circumstances is at least into immortality, looking for the dawn- desirable, if not indispensably necesing of its approach, and the splendour sary, to enter into their full spirit and of its joy, we will exult in the cross meaningIt will be evident to all,

end ;

upon a moment's reflection, that every whole force and beauty, and very often writer must give his readers credit for the most important meaning, of certain some of that information which is ac- parts of scripture, can only be perceived quired by ordinary experience, with | by a familiar Knowledge of the things out which, it is not easy to concieve to wbich the writers allude, it will be where his explanation could begin or our object to furnish this, in some de

and it is equally obvious, that gree, and to point out to those who where this information is wanting, many may be desirous to prosecute the subparts of his discourse must be very jeçt further, the best and most accessiobscure, if not wholly unintelligible. ble sources of information. In aiming None but an enthusiast, therefore, will to secure this object, we purpose to deny, that there are many difficulties avoid every thing of an abstruse chain the sacred writings: they are inse- racter, and to employ plain and famiperable from a work referring to scenes liar language ;-to address plain truth and times whose character is altogether to plain men, in terms which may be different from those with which we are universally understood. acquainted. And in the scriptures, Our readers will pardon us, if, bethese difficulties are increased by the fore we proceed to lay before them the nature of the narrative or subject in plan by which it is designed to prosewhich they occur. The ancient records cute our purpose, we express our soof religion have frequently a meaning licitude that they should possesso corand reference which belong to some rect views of the character and claims peculiarity in the system they were of that Holy book to which we design written to develope; and it is these directing their attention, and of the points which are often illustrated by disposition of mind and integrity of The allusions to objects and circum- purpose which should be uniformly stances present to the writers of the cherished when its pages are unfolded. several books. Thus we have not only It is no human production ; but the to search for the frequently hidden and Word of God: it is a revelation of peculiar meaning of scripture phrase- mercy to the guilty; an overture of ology, but to examine with the most peace to rebels; a proclamation of free careful attention the sources themselves, and sovereign grace to those who are unfrom which its metaphors and illus- godly, without hope, without strength, trations have been drawn.

dead in trespasses and sins, and who, Let it not be supposed, however, but for this exhibition of mercy, must that the difficulties of which we speak, have remained without hope, and have are altogether insuperable. Many of perished everlastingly, Is it not obvithem may be removed entirely, and ous, therefore, that such a book demost of them partially, by the aids mands from us the deepest attention, which the learning and industry of bib- and the most profound veneration ? lical critics have furnished. A know- Never must we forget the debt of graledge of local circumstances, manners, titude which such a revelation has and customs, will, as already suggested, created, nor the high and paramount. adjust many apparent discrepancies, claims which it has upon our regards. and shew the reasonableness and wis- | With deep humility, arising from a dom of many commands and prohibi- consciousness of our moral degradation tions; while an acquaintance with local and exposure to punishment, must be scenery and other natural phenomena, conjoined devout and fervent prayer will illustrate the phraseology and me- for divine illumination, and a firmness taphors employed.

of resolve to prostrate our underIn support of both the positions standings and wills before these living which we have here assumed, numerous oracles of truth; and when we have passages in the sacred writings might thus ascertained, in any one respect, be adduced, were it thought to be ne- the will of God, we must hasten, in his cessary; but as ample opportunities strength, to do it. It can only be by will be given for this during the course cherishing such sentiments as these, that of these essays, it will be deferred for the Scriptures will become “the savour the present. Deeply convinced, as we of life unto life," or "the power of God are, (and we doubt not that most of to salvation." our readers are equally so) that the It only remains that we should briefly

state the method which we intend to religious liberty:-Claiming for themadopt, in treating of the various subjects selves a right to worship God accordwhich are embraced in the plan that ing to the dictates of conscience, they has now been proposed.

have ever been willing to extend that In furnishing an introduction to the precious right to others. And to their reading and study of the English Bible, honour be it spoken, when they attained it seems obviously necessary that we power they did not make use of it to should first give some account of this. crush their enemies, but to frame the The history and character of the text godliest plans of liberty, which ever primarily demands our attention; and the wisdom of man devised. The flame next, the aids which are required for which was lighted up by them during the its interpretation. This, then, will be time of the Commonwealth, has ever our first business. We shall endeavour, / since continued burning, and now shines in two or three papers, to give an ac- in England with resplendent lustre. count of the English translation of the Their congregations are amongst the Bible, with a view to furnish the means | largest, the most liberal, and the most of forming an estimate of its character; zealous in the promotion of every good we shall then proceed to notice its dis work. Their ministers are distinguishvisions into chapters and verses, the ed by the depth and variety of their headings of the chapters, the chronol- learning, and are esteemed and loved ogy, and such other matters as require as the devoted and successful ambasexplanation. Having thus satisfied our sadors of the Most High. readers on the character of the version In the number of these, few are more which they have in their hands, we shall entitled to public admiration and granextendeavour to provide them with the titude than the Rev. William Orme, means of understanding its contents, by of Camberwell. He has silently won a brief, but we hope, lucid exposition himself a reputation which will last of the leading principles of biblical in- whilemeritis honoured, orlearning apterpretation. During the progress of this preciated. But a few years since he branch of our discussion, we shall be was stationed at Perth, a small town in led to perceive the extent of archæolo- Scotland, and scarcely known beyond gical information which is requisite to the neighbourhood of that place. Now, constitute a good interpreter of scrip- however, he has obtained distinction ture, which suggests the propriety of both in the literary and religious world, following it by a descriptive sketch of by the variety of his labours, and the biblical antiquities.

excellency of his pulpit talents. Such, then, is a brief outline of our The appearance of Mr. Orme in the plan; but as our sole object is the edi- pulpit is pleasing, and commands resfication of our readers, we shall gladly pect. His figure is good, and his voice, avail ourselves of any suggestions which although neither strong nor harmonious, they may feel disposed to make for its is yet pleasing; while the accent of his improvement.

native land often gives it a charm which it would not otherwise possess. His

forehead is capacious, and denotes the THE GALLERY OF PORTRAITS. intellectual riches within; while the

solemnity of his aspect and the propriety of his action, tend to impress his hearers with a conviction, that “he is

honest in the sacred cause.' THE REV. W. ORME, OF CAMBERWELL.

The sermons of Mr. Orme are dis

tinguished by their scriptural fidelity. "An orator, who like Demosthenes, appeals His divisions are well arranged, and to argument, not to sophistry—who kas no most ably and impressively reasoned. sounding words unsupported by strong con- His introduction is generally short, simceptions--who had rather convince without persuading, than persuade without convinc ple, but striking; and his perorations ing."--COLTON.

contain such reflections as naturally

arise from a consideration of the preThe Independents, as a body, have vious part of the subject. always ranked high amongst the most There is scarcely any part of Chrisardent and useful friends to civil and tian duty, experience, or doctrine, which

NO. I.

to the head rather than the heart-who resorts