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arrived at the season when readers usually make their arrangements for the year; and I flatter myself, that many will thank you, Sir, for bringing to their remembrance a duty which they may have inadvertently disregarded. Wishing your excellent Magazine every possible encouragement, I am, Sir, SCRUTATOR.

Sermons, chiefly designed to elucidate some of the Leading Doctrines of the Gospel. By the Rev. E. Cooper, Rector of Hamstall Ridware, &c. Two Vols. crown 8vo, 10s.

AMONG the beneficial effects resulting from the extensive circulation of the Evangelical Magazine, one, and by no means the least, is to make known more generally to the religious public works which bear the stamp of peculiar excellence, and whose tendency is to diffuse the genuine doctrines of the grace which bringeth salvation, and shew their inflnence on the conscience in the necessary and powerful production of righteousness and true holiness. As such, may we confidently announce the two volumes of Mr. C.'s Sermons, which no real Christian can read without becoming more so; and no man, who hath yet been a stranger to the power of vital religion, can peruse without being left inexcuseable for having heard and neglected so great a salvation.

your constant reader,

The style in general is plain and unadorned, but forcible, and highly suited to the communication of the truths which the author avowedly desires to inculcate; and they are those of the last importance to the souls of men, and truly, as the title intimates, the leading Doctrines of the Gospel. He expects, and no doubt meets the frowns of his fellows and of a gainsaying world, which our approbation will rather tend to increase than diminish; but such honour have all his saints.

Our limits admit not a very extensive review, but we will present from the sermons such specimens as we persuade ourselves, whilst they will highly gratify the bulk of our readers, will engage them to gain a fuller acquaintance with the works of this highly respect able, though to us personally unknown, author.

We are happy to see a second edition of the first volume, and that it is accompanied by a second. It proves an answer to the prayer with which his Preface closes; and how acceptable his faithful and perspicuous statement of evangelical truth hath been to the men of real religion. May succeeding editions enlarge the circle of their usefulness!

them, generally, "that Christ is all and in all."

Sermon I, contains a glorious display of the divine perfections of the holiness, love, and truth of God, transcendently exalted by the vicarious sufferings and atonement of his own coequal and incarnate Son, with an application of the subject to the conscience, forcible and pathetic.

The second demonstrates the great and important doctrine of the sinner's justification by faith without works: in which the righteousness of God is manifested through the redemption which is in Jesus Christ. This subject he treats in a tone so decisive and truly evangelical, as cannot but excite the wrath of Anti- Evangelical Reviewers, with all the horde of dignified or diminutive oppugners of the grace of God in truth; but their invenomed arrows fail impotent on his shield of faith: imbelle telum sine ictu.

The third vindicates the doctrine of the preceding discourse from the charge of licentiousness, the cry of the ignorant, unawakened, and self-righteous, from the apostle's day to the present. He demonstrates the powerful efficacy of faith working by love to produce righteousness and true holiness, - to engage the heart of a sinner to a pardoning God with such constraining influence, as whilst it pours contempt on the grovelling morality of rational and pharisaical religion, - and cannot but mortify the pride and goad the enmity of those who have never tasted the grace of God in truth, engages, enforces, and necessarily secures that spirituality of temper, that real and universal devotedness to God and deadness to the world, that peculiarity of conduct of the redeemed from the earth, which makes them constantly exposed to the inconsistent charges of licentious doctrine and over-righteous severity. The last is indeed the most offensive, as testifying of the world that its deeds are evil, and its professional religion but name and form: et hine ille lachrymæ,

The preceding discourses receive the stronger evidence of their truth, from the consideration of the total depravity and desperate wickedness of the human heart since the fall; which, in spite of all the pretended. dignity of twelve sermons; and we may say of our nature and goodness of heart, is

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Each of these volumes contains

proved to be evil, and only evil, and that continually, till created anew in Christ Jesus, and born again of the Spirit. Nay, any change, the mere effect of moral suasion, and not from divine operation, leaves the sinner as it found him, only "exchanging one iniquity for another. Humiliating indeed, and highly repugnant to our pride and self-complacency, is the picture the sacred mirror discloses of the radical, the total, the universal depravity of the human heart." The author can never broach a subject that will draw down upon him heavier vials of wrath than the present.

our imperfect services, through the merits of our Redeemer, will be accepted for righteousness." This is indeed the marrow of modern divinity; the sum of the famed "Christian Theology and True Guide to the Church;" but as he strongly demonstrates, not to the church of the first-born, whose names are written in Heaven, among whom they can be never numbered, who die with this lie in their right hand.

The sanctification of the Spirit, experimentally, by the power of the Holy Ghost, is as essential to a sinner's salvation, as his justification by faith to his acceptance with God. If any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is, none of his. This is to be sought in the exercise of diligent prayer, praying in the Holy Ghost, under his teaching and influence and in faith, that God will give his Holy Spirit to those who ask him.

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The sixth sermon displays the danger of being corrupted from the simplicity which is in Christ. The nature of this simplicity he exhibits in the most striking traits of a real Christian's temper and conduct. The application, p. 151, demands the most serious attention. The danger arises from the wiles of the Devil, not an imaginary or metaphorical being, but a restless, subtle, insidious foe, "adapting his temptations to the peculiarities of each person's disposition and circumstances." The wise reasoner and formal professor may smile or contemn these suggestions; but, without repentance, they will one day find them awful realities, when tormented with the Devil and his angels.

Christ's easy yoke is next recommended to our cheerful bearing. It is a yoke, a necessary one: we are not our own, but the Lord's; and those who faithfully take it up, will prove its blessedness amidst all the labours and difficulties they have to encounter. An able Address to two sorts of persons deserves serious attention, - to the Antinomian perverters of Christian liberty, and to the debasers of morals, "a greater number, who talk of a mitigated law, as if Christ had purchased for us easier terms of acceptance, in conformity to our fallen nature has relaxed the severity of his demands, has established a milder code of laws, and will be satisfied with a far less scrupulous obedience; and if we are but sincere, according to our abilities,

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Ser. 7, is a sequel to the former. The burden he describes as those" peculiar sufferings, labours, and affictions to which Christ's service exposes those who follow it." These he mentions as arising from the conflict of indwelling sin, from the hostile treatment a real Christian experiences from the world, - and from Christ's loving corrections. The considerations which make every Christian's burden light follow. Happy is he that endureth ! These light afflictions, which are but for a moment, work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

The world is the great engine the god of it makes use of to enslave and deceive the souls of men. The great danger of a worldly spirit is beautifully depicted in the History of Lot: Sermon 9. The variety of spiritual observations made are as entertaining as they are useful. I will mention the last only for encouragement: "The Lord never forsakes his people: they shall be saved with an everlasting salvation!"

The institution of the Sabbath with the obligations of a due observance of it, and the manner of doing so, are ably discussed in Sermon 10; and most cordially do we recommend the conduct recommended, as suited to that holy day. We were, however, a little surprized in the pleasing employments of divine worship not to hear a word mentioned of speaking to each other, in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in the heart unto the Lord. A part of divine worship, as powerfully tending to impress religious truth on the memory, as pleasingly to engage the heart to delight itself in the Lord.

The danger and misery of self-deception is exemplified in the case of the young man, making enquiry of our Lord, What he should do to inherit eternal life? His too-presuming confidence in what he had done, and selfsufficient assurance of his own ability to do more, manifest an ignorance of himself as great as of the extent and purity of the divine law. Among other important inferences from the subject,

Let

the preacher particularly remarks the uty of a minister to strip the specious covering from the deluded heart. others prophecy smooth things, lull men into false security, and buoy them up with fallacious hope. The faithful pastor cannot thus betray his trust, or lead his hearers to suppose that "all is well," whilst he has reason to suspect the contrary. He cannot flatter them with the delusive notions of their own sufficiency and merit. He must labour to undeceive them: he knows that until convinced of sin, they will never cordially submit to Christ."Bear, brethren, with ministers of this description. Do they strive to correct your erroneous sentiments of the goodness of your own hearts? Do they unfold the spiritual import of the law, and point out your numerous transgressions? Call them not your enemies: they are your real friends; they love your souls," &c, This is a specimen

of his manner of application. There are others throughout, and everywhere earnest and faithful.

The last discourse exhibits Christ the beloved and Friend of his people. "They love him; that is their character: they have Christ for their friend; that is their privilege." The motives of their love are described, and Christ's friendship displayed, in his love, power, and unchangeable

ness.

A passage or two from the last shall speak for itself: - "A man may be influenced by caprice in selecting the objects of his favour, or by injurious misrepresentations, he may be persuaded to abandon those whose cause he has espoused, &c. but none of these causes can operate to impair the love of Christ for his people. With him is no variableness or shadow of turning; "he is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever!" The world may mistake or calumniate the character of his people, but Christ knoweth them that are his, &c.. "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? I have redeemed them, they are mine! For them I shed my blood, for them I fulfilled all righteousness! They are my friends, the people of my hand, the sheep of my pasture !"

In the trial of a believer's love, he lays down the following criterion of judgment: 1. If you love his cause,

The success of it in the world will lie near your hearts; that his kingdom may come, is your prayer; that it will come is your joy.". -2. If you love his people,-"His image, wherever discovered, will be the object of your love,

by whatever name it may be distin guished, in whatever sect or party it may be found, whether it inhabit a palace or a cottage, that mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, will attract your esteem, will engage your affections."

Did we attempt to produce from every page, what they would a ford of edifying truth, we must transcribe the work instead of exhibiting specimens and a brief analysis. The volume hath afforded us high satisfaction: we have not found a sentiment which does not speak to the heart and is purely evangelical; and cordially follow with our prayers the labours of our brother in the gospel, that he may see the travail of his soul in many given him to be his joy and crown in the day of the Lord. Jesus Christ!

[Review of Vol. II. in our next.]

A Theological Dictionary.
By Chas.
Buck. Second Edition, Two Vols.
8vo, 21. boards.

WE have formerly given a decided judgment in favour of this valuable work, which has been followed, we believe, with the suffrage of most of the periodical journals. In the present edition, the work has not only been enlarged about fifty pages, but further additions have teen made by the retrenchment of some articles, which, in the former edition, were disproportionally long. Some new articles are inserted, and mistakes rectified; so that, upon the whole, the work is rendered still more deserving the patronage it has received; and certainly contains an extensive fund of theological, information.

An Essay on Marriage, or the Duty of Christians to marry religiously; with a few Reflections on Imprudent Marriages. By W. Jay. Evo, Is. 6d.

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To this Essay is prefixed the followlowing request: - We, the ministers of the Wiltshire Association, assembled together at Melksham this day, Oct. 22, 1806, deploring the little regard of late years paid by too many professors of religion to the Christian rule of marriage, and deeming it de sirable that the attention of the public in general, and our own churches in particular, should be called to this subjest, do unanimously request the Rev. W. Jay to publish some strictures upon it; and the more so, as he has already sent forth a sermon on the Duties of Husbands and Wives, which has met with great acceptance."

It is on all hands admitted, that from our domestic relations flows a very large proportion of the misery or happiness of human life. Among these, the first in order, and from which the others take their rise, is the state of Marriage. The influence of Christianity on connubial happiness is great and manifold. In prohibiting polygamy and restricting divorce to its only legitimate cause, it has improved the civil polity of nations. By enjoining mutual duties on the husband and wife, it regulates and exalts domestic society; whilst, by authorizing its disciples to marry only in the Lord, it secures to them, in the prudent observance of its rules, the largest portion of happiness in the present world, whilst it tends in this as in all other cases to secure most effectually their immortal felicity. The first kind of influence, Mr. Jay perhaps did not think within his province. The second he has already illustrated in the sermon before mentioned: the last is the subject of the present Essay; of which the following are an outline :Sect. I, The Peculiarity and Importance of the Marriage Relation, The Possibility of knowing the Will of God in this Affair,- The Law laid down; - II, This Law argued and established; III, The Evils of transgressing it, variously viewed; - IV, The Mischief historically considered ;V, Excuses to justify a Deviation from it examined; VI, In what Cases this Law is not broken, though both the Parties be not Religious; - VII, Disregard to this Principle lamented, But Piety, though essential to choice, Bot sufficient alone to justify it, -Marriages of Ministers, Prudence needful, and recommended.

Motives of delicacy prevent us from saying all we would wish on the merits of this Essay. We think it our duty, however, to say that its necessity at this moment, and the ability with which it is executed, do honour to the choice of the Association; whilst the great importance of the subject itself" will, we doubt not, insure the extensive circulation and usefulness of this seasonable and well-written Essay.

LITERARY NOTICES.

Mr. Shurlock, of Farnham, an intimate friend of the late Rev. Mr. Gunn, intends printing a volume of his Discourses and Letters, which he has in Mr. Gunn's own hand-writing.

Mr. Ward and Mr. Davies, of Ipswich, issued Proposals for printing, by subscription, in one small volume, the last Sixteen Sermons of Christopher Love, with his Trial, Death, &c.

The late Dr. Erskine once advertised on the cover of his Consolatory Letters, to recover some MS. papers of the late Mr. Maclaurin, of Glasgow, which he had read with great pleasure in his early years; and we are desired to make the same enquiry by the medium of our extensive circulation. The following are the Pieces he enumerates: - On the Difference between Enthusiasm and Piety, On the Scripture Doctrine of continued Forgiveness, On the New Testament Miracles, On the Mystics, On Infant Baptism, On Col. Gardiner's Death, Nature of Faith, or Three Sermons.

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RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

INDIA.

The following are Extracts of Letters to the Directors, from the Missionaries Cran and Desgranges, at Vizagapatam; and from Dr. Taylor, at Calcutta, who

- intends to proceed from thence to Surat.

Vizagapatam, Feb. 26, 1806.

It will afford you much pleasure to find that we are so conveniently situated for being useful in the English and Telinga languages. We have not yet taken possession of the spot of ground which was given us; but expect to receive a grant of it in a few days. It contains nearly ten acres, and is exceedingly well situated for a garden, school-house, &c.

We have begun something like a school, or rather two. The poor children of colour attend at the house in which we live, and one of the European soldiers, whom we trust the Lord hath called by his grace, instructs them in reading, &c.

Besides these, there are six children placed under our immediate care; and we hope the number will increase. These, on the Sabbath afternoon, are instructed in the principles of the Christian religion. It is unnecessary to remind you how acceptable a few school-books, catechisms, &c. would be to us. A set or two of the Evangelical Magazine will be a trea

sure to us.

We persevere in our Telinga studies; and hope, ere long, to do something among the natives in their own language, and to be able to draw up a few small tracts. How happy should we be to put into the hands of those around us a part of the Scriptures.

The natives continue friendly; they often call and talk with us on the Christian religio; but the bramins do all they can to keep them in darkness. They are a poor depraved set of men. A person must have an unfeeling heart who is not constrained to shed tears over them. We cannot say that any abiding impression has been made on the mind of a single native; but hope our labours among Europeans and people of colour have been blessed. Still we hope to see the day dawn!

We long to hear how the Missionary Cause prospers. A few of us meet on the first Monday evening of every month, when we pray for you all. I'ray for us.

Nathaniel Sabat, the converted Arab, frequently calls on us. We hope well of him.

From another Letter,
dated May 19, 1806.

GOD continues to smile on this infant mission. Amidst surrounding darkness, we perceive a beam of light which cheers our hearts. We have had experience of indisposition, but, through mercy, we are now able to attend to our studies, &c. The piece of ground mentioned in our last, is in a state of cultivation, and is remarkably well situated for building on, and for gardens. On account of the difficulty and expence of hiring a house, we resolved to get a small one erected on the ground; and the foundation was laid to-day. It will cost, including adjoining buildings, about 1500 rupees. We have drawn up a plan of a charityschool, to be erected by voluntary subscription; and upwards of 1000 rupees are already subscribed. You will be glad to hear that the young folks, under our care, have increased in nambers; and we hope that there are some among them who will soon assist us, and be able to teach in the charityschool.

The gentlemen of the settlement pay into our hands about thirty rupees per month, for procuring rice for the real objects of distress; and which is distributed under our immediate inspection to all who are unable to work. We have generally about 150 poor objects round the door every Sabbath; and whose miserable state is enough to pierce the hardest heart. O that they were only half as anxious for food for their souls as they are for their hodies!

We have made considerable progress in the language, particularly in reading and understanding the plain books; but the Telinga language is so copious, that a person, des itute of the elementary books, finds it a hard task. Blessed be God, we find many of the difficulties removed, and begin to converse

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