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district. Their commission was extensive. The world was their sphere of action; and the then known parts of it were, it is generally supposed, visited by the Apostles, and by the missionaries, whom they judged qualified for assisting them in the work of evangelizing men. One of them (St. Paul) affirms that, "from Jerusalem round about to Illyricum (a circuit of several hundred miles) he had fully preached Christ's gospel." The progress of the gospel, in the early ages of Christianity, is the more to be admired on account of the opposition with which it met. Let it not be imagined, that it had the sanction of princes, or the supposed advantage of connection with the civil government. T the fourth century it stood as its divine Author had left it, in a condition of independence upon civil power, and totally unconnected with worldly polity. Without the recommendation of human appendages, and unassisted by the force of arms, it had to contend with angry monarchs, and with crafty and idolatrous priests: the former, foolishly suspecting that the success of the gospel would make men drag them from their thrones; the latter, convinced that their diabolical impositions would be detected, and their unlawful gains be diminished.

And not only was the system opposed, but its supporters had much to endure. The native enmity of the human heart, and the malicious influence of Satan, whose empire now began to totter, soon produced violent persecutions. The first preachers of the gospel were favoured with peculiar evidences of being divinely appointed; but their authority was questioned, and various attempts were made to prevent their success. By the Scriptures we are told, that they were forbidden to speak in the name of Jesus;" that they were considered "as the filth of the earth;" that they endured "trials of cruel mockings;" that they submitted to the most painful sufferings; and that, eventually, they sealed the truths of the gospel with their blood! At differ ent periods, and in various places, Satan seemed to triumph, and success appeared doubtful. But, though the kings of the earth raged, and the people imagined a vain thing, yet He "who sits in the Heaven" smiled at their folly, made bare his holy arm, displayed his glory as "the God of salvation," and revived the hopes of his faithful servants, by giving "testimony to the word of his grace," and by granting" signs and wonders to be wrought by their hands."

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Thus the "little cloud," which, at the first, was "no bigger than a man's hand," gradually increased, spread over the nations, extended itself to Britain, and, bursting over our isle, diffused such a copious shower of blessings as has fertilized the hearts of millions, and made England, once comparable to a dreary wilderness, to "rejoice and to blossom as the rose."

The progress of the gospel will continue. This we conclude from the testimony of Scripture; and from the general adapt ation of the gospel to all nations.

To enumerate Scriptures is unnecessary. Let the reader peruse the following animated and elegant predictions of the latter-day glory: Psa. xxii. 27. Psa. Ixxii. Isa. ii. 2, 3. Isa. lx. and Rev. xi. 15. By the gospel much has been already done; but not enough to justify a conclusion that we may not enlarge our expectations. Surely, these predictions and promises will re main unaccomplished

"Till Christ has all the nations bless'd

"That see the light, or feel the sun."

Consider also the general suitableness of the gospel. One of the peculiar excellencies of the gospel consists in its meeting the wants of all nations, and in its being calculated to benetit all descriptions of men. Herein it differs materially from the Jewish economy which it superseded: that dispensation was confined to the Jewish nation: indeed, this was necessary. To mention

nothing else, How could distant nations assemble three times a year, which the Jews were required to do? It was impossible; at least, it would have been attended with much inconvenience. But the gospel makes no such requisitions. It informs us, that "in every place, the man that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of him ;" and that "they are of the true circumcision who worship God in the spirit, -who rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.'

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As then the gospel is calculated for general diffusion; - as it discovers the exact remedy for "healing the nations," and introduces light, life, and happiness, wherever it comes, how earnestly should Christians intercede with God to "send forth his light and his truth;"to bless his servants with prudence, zeal, and fortis: tude while they convey this best of blessings to nations yet enveloped in the shades of ignorance, of superstition, and of idolatry! "Ye that make mention of the name of the Lord, give him no rest till he establish and make Jerusalem a praise in the earth."

But prayer must be attended with exertion. "As surely as I live," saith the Lord, "the whole earth shall be filled with my glory." Animating passage! Let us, my brethren, exert ourselves with a hope of being the instruments, of accomplishing what it promises; and, while we make our feeble efforts, we may anticipate the period when the truth of it shall be universally felt.

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Ye heralds of salvation!-ye Christians, who are exerting your talents in the service of your Redeemer, continue your exertions; and, aided by the light of inspiration, look through the surrounding gloom, and see the dawning of the glorious day, when all shall know the Saviour! The standard of Immanuel is already planted before the enemy's ranks; the banner of redeeming love is unfurled; the sound of the gospel-trumpet "waxes louder and louder;"nations are convulsed, and they begin to listen to the universal Sovereign! And shall these en

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couraging symptoms deceive us? No; God will "say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back." Let the gospel continue its progress, and the plundering Arab, influenced by the love of Jesus, will relinquish his dishonest practices, and “ provide things honest in the sight of men ;"-the ferocious savage will become susceptible of fellow-feeling, and shudder at his former brutality; the heart of the frozen Laplander will glow with the fire of pure devotion; the sable African be fully emancipated from the slavery of Satan and of his agents; and the unbelieving race of Abraham be gathered "with the fulness of the Gentiles." Desirable period! Hasten its approach, O King of Zion! Then shall the thunder of cannon and the clashing of arms die away into everlasting silence. Peace and prosperity will diffuse their generous blessings without discrimination. On Earth, "Glory to God in the highest!" will be the theme of every tongue; and Heaven will resound with "Hallelujah! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth!"

PROVISION FOR THE WIDOWS OF MINISTERS.

SIR,

To the Editor.

Ir is painful to read so many instances of gospel ministers, who, after giving up their whole time for the benefit of others, when they have done their work below, leave their widows and orphans destitute of every means of support. Surely, it must be a great grief to ministers, while living, to reflect on the situations to which their families must be reduced, for whom they cannot be expected to lay by any part of their (in general) very scanty income. It has been proposed, through the medium of the Evangelical Magazine, that where ministers cannot afford to pay the annual subscription to an Annuity Society, that the churches over which they preside should do it by a subscription among its members; but, alas! the hint, though good, it is to be feared, has been very partially attended to in the more wealthy congregations, while there are others as unable almost to do it as their pastor.

I am far from wishing to obtrude my sentiments on the public; but would suggest to you, Sir, the propriety of proposing that a Fund should be raised for the sole purpose of paying the subscription to some Annuity Society for those ministers whose income is so small as to be barely sufficient for their support, and whose congregations are unable also, from their poverty, to contribute in so needful and good a cause.

If I am not mistaken, an annual payment of Five Guineas will entitie the widow of the person to Twenty Pounds, which would be a very comfortable assistance; and, if so, how easily might one or two hundred ministers' widows be relieved from a

state of poverty, or dependence on their relatives, by the benevo lence of the religious public. It might be said, as an objection, that it would be difficult to raise five huudred, or a thousand guineas annually; but let not that be a bar to setting the business on foot. All know what Christians have done, are still doing, and will do. They cannot but act like themselves; and, I am confident, that, by annual subscriptions and collections, full as much as above stated may be obtained. I feel myself called upon to make these remarks, from perusing the Memoir of the late Rev. John Smith, of Burford, Oxon.; in which I find that his widow, and two youngest children, are entirely unprovided for..

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Their case is truly distressing; and, I hope, will be seriously taken up. I inclose my mite for them, to which you will, no doubt, have others to add; and, whenever a Fund is about to be raised for the purpose I have alluded to, the list of annual subscribers to it shall not want the signature of

your constant reader, T. P.

This is in the hands of the Publishers, and will be paid when called for.

THE ANGEL JEHOVAH.

No. II.

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JESUS CHRIST, the divine Logos, or Word, has been the medium of divine communication to man, in all the various dispensations of providence. Dr. Owen says, "There is frequent mention in the Targumists of the Word of the Lord; and it first occurs in them on the first appearance of a divine person, after the fall of Adam. The words are, "They heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden." The participle walking may be as well referred unto the voice as unto the Lord God; and although the original word for voice, most commonly signifies "an outward voice, or sound thereof;" yet, when applied unto God, it frequently denotes his almighty power, whereby he effects what he pleaseth. So in Psalm xxix. 3-9, those things are ascribed to this Voice of the Lord, which elsewhere are assigned to the Word of his power*. Now, all the works of creation and providence which are assigned to the Voice of the Lord, or to the Word of his power, are immediately wrought by the essential Word of God t, which was with God at the creation of all things, as his eternal wisdom and power. This expression, therefore, of the Voice of the Lord, may denote the essential Word of God, the Person of the Son; for our first parents heard this Word

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walking, before they heard the sound of any voice or words what ever; for God spake not unto them until after this. And, as after the promise he appeared in a human shape, to instruct the church in the mystery of his future incarnation, and, under the name of Angel, to shadow out his office as sent into it, and employed in it by the Father, so here, before the promise, he discovered his distinct glorious Person, as the eternal voice or Word of the Father."

This is that angel who appeared to Hagar by a fountain in the wilderness; for he spake in his own name, and said, "I will multiply thy seed exceedingly. And she called the name of Jehovah that spake unto her, " Thou, God, seest me. Hagar does not appear to be ignorant who the person was that appeared to her. She had long been in Abraham's family, and, no doubt, the frequent descriptions he had given of the Angel Jehovah, who had so often appeared to him, taught her that this was the same; and, therefore, she called the name of the Jehovah that spake unto her, "Thou, God, seest me."

When the believer considers the relation subsisting between him and the Lord Jesus Christ, the offices he sustains, and his dependence on his wisdom, it appears to be an infinite mercy for him that Omniscience is one of his essential perfections. Christ himself declared, "All the churches shall know that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts *." When Christ appealed unto Peter with, "Son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" and his conscience accused him of denying his Lord, it was Peter's inexpressible blessing that he whom he had denied, looked, not as man looketh, but that he could look at his heart: he knew the interior of Peter's heart. He was witness to the sincerity of his repentance. He knew that his tears did not flow from hypocrisy ; but from genuine love to his Redeemer. With confidence and pleasure, therefore, he appealed to the Omniscient Friend, saying, "Thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee."

What a source of consolation to the humble believer, for him to know that, while the all-pierceing eye of Jesus discovers the impure thoughts of his heart, and beholds all his improper conduct, that he also sees him in his closet, when no other eye is upon him! He sees the secrét tears he sheds, his desires are before him, and his groans are not hidden from him. He beholds all the loathings of his own heart; the humiliating discoveries he has of himself, and how he humbles himself before God. He is witness to all the agonies of his mind on account of his sins; he sees how the inadvertencies of his tongue or of his actions grieve his mind, and force him to the throne of grace, He knows how little he esteems himself on account of those few excellencies which excite the esteem of others; how deeply he

* Jer. xvii. 10. Rev. ii, 23.

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