rable face o' Hans Van Benschooten. I had nothing to do. I only combatted Only I'm ay lik to greet as aften as her opinions, without the least allulook on you and think o' my puir fai-sion to him. But I was mortified that ther. But, honoured sir, ye munna I could make no impression. Indeed, detain the Dominie this day: but I had been compelled again and again, e'en let him gang-and glad wad I be to leave her without being permitted if ye could come yer wa's wi' him to bow a knee in prayer at her bed yersel. For the Dominie, nae doot, side. But Hans, whole days and has tauld ye that my ain sweet mother watchful nights have the Colonel and is in the last extreme o' mortal sick- I, and this sweet little boy, spent in ness." wrestlingfor the soul of that amiable, and accomplished female infidel.— This is now the ninth week since I have paid these visits, at the earnest entreaty of the Colonel. Nor are we labouring in vain. The dark clouds, I fondly hope, are breaking, and a flood of heavenly light is being poured in upon her soul. At my first visits the Holy Book was not permitted to be in her chamber. Now I see it laid down on the little stand by her bed side. And she listens during her wakeful hours to the sweet voice of her little William, who stands and ministers to his mother, by reading select portions out of the Holy Scriptures. Formerly I could find no "He has never mentioned it to me" said Hans, "But now, I bethink me, this accounts, at once, for his long, and I thought unaccountable absence. He has been giving his spare time to these distant visits to the Colonel's afflicted family" "Oh! and it please ye" cried little William. with a gush of tears, while his beamed simultaneously with eyes joy, "Nae human language can express how much the gude Dominie has done for us a'-especially, my dearest mother, since she was on her death bed." portunity for prayer, in her presence. Now she beseeches her honoured father, and me not to cease to pray for her. Here the Dominie interfered, and stated to Hans that about six weeks after the General's death, he had re-place for a pious sentiment: nor opceived an urgent request, from the Colonel, by the hands of this sweet child, William, to come and see his daughter-in-law. She had drooped from the day of her husband's death; and a consumption had, at length, sent its paralysing influence over her delicate frame. She was fast sinking into the grave. "But she has yet made no confession. She has yet uttered no aversion to the fatal errors of infidelity. I have no evidence that her soul is prepared. She possesses indeed, all "You cannot imagine my surprise," that is charming, and accomplished in said the Dominie, "when, on con- the human soul. She is a talented versing with her, I discovered that she and interesting female; and of an unhad imbibed the infidel opinions of sullied morality. But, I fear she her late husband. To a gestion lacks that which alone can procure which I ventured to put to her, she her favour before a holy, and just trireplied with much animation-that bunal. Human virtues, and graces she believed as her dear husband had have their reward with men. All that believed that such a good husband is lovely in the character formed by could not possibly be a bad man in earthly teachers and earthly attainfaith or in practice: that she was dy-ments-all that is dazzling, and use ing she felt, and she had no wish to go to a better place than whither her dear husband had gone. "With the state of her husband, 1 VOL. II.-3. ful in the cluster of human gracesall the admired morality of the world have their reward from man in the circles of society, in the meed of praise and adulation. But I speak of boy in his arms, "your mother, I something unspeakably higher-I doubt not, will be gathered to her rest speak of our Creator and Judge.-in glory. I hear nothing from you What will gain his favour to sinful and all Lut the proofs of the dealings of a degraded rebel man? What will gracious Saviour with her. We will draw down his smile on the wretched all immediately set out; I mean the criminal? What will beautify a guil- Dominie, and I, and yourself--and ty, and polluted soul in His eyes?-- we will try to bring comfort to her disWhat will lift a soul to Heaven? tracted mind." What will draw out the plaudit of the [To be continued.] Eternal One, well done good and faithful servant? Our Lord has pronounced it. 'Unless your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye can in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven.' Nothing can avail us but a new heart, and with that an interest in the Lord Jesus Christ by a living faith. That is the one thing needful! And that thing I fear she has not yet got." "Ah! gude Dominie" cried little William "Dinna say that. I hae heard what ye hae na heard. In the still hour o❜ midnight, when ilka eye was closed but that o' the Almighty, and a' ears were sealed in sleep but the ears o' the Eternal, I heard her pray—and her ain wee Willy, kneeled him down behind the curtain; and I prayed too, and wept and repeated after her, the words which came frae her weary and anxious soul; wi' a' the earnestness o' the maist zealous devotion. And if the prayer of my grandfather ascends to heaven, surely that prayer o' hers also did ascend: and if his heart be renewed, Oh! surely frae the breathings and wrestlings o' her soul, I may conclude that she too is renewed. But after a' I dinna ken. My young soul kens unco little aboot thae deep things." And the little man wiped away the fast falling tears. "I'm sure, at any rate, it's the burning wish o' my heart," added the little boy with great simplicity, and down cast looks-while his tears still fell in large crystal drops from his long eye lashes, down on the floor. "Oh! fear thou nothing, my little man," cried Hans, taking the little EFFECTS OF SECRET PRAYER. A young man in the army, lately called by divine grace, not having a place in the barracks in which he was quartered, wherein to pour out his soul unto God in secret, went one dark night into a large field adjoining. Here he thought no eye could see, nor ear hear him, but God's. But He "whose thoughts are not as our thoughts," ordained otherwise. Two ungodly men belonging to the same regiment, in whose hearts enmity had long subsisted against each other, were resolved that night to end it (as they said) by a battle, being prevented at day-time for fear of punish ment. They chose the same field to fight as the other had chosen to pray. Now the field was very large, and they might have taken different ways; but they were led by Providence to the same spot where the young man was engaged in his devotional exercise. They were surprised at hearing, as they thought, a voice in the field at that time of night; and much more so, when they drew nearer and heard a man at prayer. They halted, and gave attention; and, wonderful to tell, the prayer had such an effect upon both, as to turn that enmity they before manifested against each other into love. They took each other instantly by the hand, and cordially confessed that there remained no longer, in either of their breasts, hatred against each other.-Col. Star. Who knows whence he comes, where he is, and whither he tends, he alone is wise. To the Editor of the Magazine of the not only with respect to things in na Reformed Dutch Church. SIR I have read with considerable attention, a review of "The Doctrine of Incest, and an examination of the question, whether a man may marry his deceased wife's sister; by Domesticus," in the tenth number of your Magazine. And I frankly confess, that although with you, I admire the skill and ingenuity displayed, yet am not prepared to adjudge to wit and ingenuity, the plea of evidence, or solid argument. I have not risen from the perusal of this review, with any one impression, that the writer has succeded in stamping such a marriage as an act of Incest. His arguments principally, go to show Incest, as an awful crime. And who is not ready to unite with him in this opinion? From this fact, permit me to draw an argument against him.Your author has chosen to pass by the letter of the Levitical law, and well he might, as he knew nothing could be drawn from that source in favour of his sentiment-he looks at the "reason of that code"-and in looking, and remarking upon it, still speaks of "the Law of Incest," and utterly fails in showing its application to the case in question. But allowing him all the benefit, he may suppose, will result from the method he has seen fit to adopt in reasoning on this subject, I will reply to him specially, when he says, "brothersin-law and sisters-in-law, feel them selves under this law." To say the least, the "affirmation" of one individual is equal to that of another.But I am prepared to show, that in affirming this to be the case, his assumptions are false, and unsupported by the least colour of proof. Man, in common with the brute creation, possesses a principle which teaches him to avoid evil, and to seek good; but this principle exists in man, ture; it exists also in morals. In his original state, it flourished in perfect beauty; and, although now fallen, this principle is not eradicated. There is still, in the human mind, whatever may be its outward actings; there is still an inward approval of whatever is virtuous and good, and an inward disgust, and abhorence of whatever is shameful and abominable. I care not on whom you make the experiment. You may select the most hardened villian, that ever disgraced the world; accustomed to crime, and familiar with blood; and in the secret workings of his heart, cased as it is, by insensibility, you will discover remorse, flowing from a sense of guilt, writhing in agonies scarcely inferior to those of the lost. And this will hold good with regard to every species of crime; in the simple contemplation of it, as well as in its after workings, it is detested. Had the light of the Gospel never visited our earth, would sinful man have had an excuse? No, sir; there is an inward illumination, tending heavenward, would he follow it; and for the abuse of which, he will be held accountable, as well as for rejecting the revealed overtures of mercy. It is an un merited additional evidence of the Almighty's love, in giving us a revelation of his will. The marks of his image, though covered with much dust and rubbish, are still to be found in the soul of every man. Now, with this view of right and wrong, I will appeal to the candid and unprejudiced mind, whether, in the contemplation of this question, they feel that abhorrence which they would feel at the perpetration of the heinous crime of incest. I will appeal to the instances of such a connexion; and will you find any compunctions or regrets, either expressed, displayed or felt? I do not hesitate to say you will not. And in farther proof that such is not the fact, I will follow the example of Domesticus, and relate a 'construction,' he seems to strike case, which also "occurred in the deeper at the root of the matter than State of New-York." his author; but it is only seemingly. A most exemplary and useful mem-To argue by construction, where there ber of the Church formed such a con- are only general outlines, would not be nexion. He was waited on by the 'forced,' or unfair.' But in detailed proper authority, and requested to se- accounts, it is to be supposed that evparate. He replied, that in so doing, ery specification is embraced, else he would commit a greater crime, in where is the necessity or the proprieextenuation of a lesser, if crime it ty of a minute detail? Besides, the was. They suspended him. After specifications produced of relationa few years, his wife died. He was ships forbidden, as being more remote, again visited, and asked if he repent- are those of blood, and therefore in ed of the act of which he had been fact not so remote as that of a wife's guilty; and if he was desirous of re- sister, whose relationship exists only turning to the fellowship of the through her sister; or, they are couChurch. His answer deserves to be pled with the relation to some other recorded; for it is emphatic, and well connexion, still in life. supports the position I have taken. He did not regret the act, but was sorry that he had offended the church. This worthy man was restored, and still lives esteemed as a Christian, and beloved by a numerous circle of friends and acquaintances. The morality of such an alliance is, therefore established, from the want of the otherwise natural revolt "Every candid expositor," then, "will decide, that a law in the form in which this is found, ought to be extended alike to the most distant relation mentioned in its specifications, and to every intermediate grade.”But we think, also, that every candid expositor will likewise perceive, that a wife's sister is neither mentioned, nor can be classed with any intermediate grade whatever. ings of the human heart. And this inference is equally justified by the The lengthened and fanciful descripvery case stated by Domesticus him-tion of the intercourse subsisting beself, where there is not the most dis-tween brothers-in-law and sisters-intant allusion to any squeamishness ex-law, exhibited by Domesticus, as a isting in either of the parties, but quite the contrary. It remains, therefore, for Domesti cus to prove that "fifty out of every hundred abhor such connexions ;" and "those who venture to brave public opinion, by a marriage of this kind, venture on it with fear and trembling, as if they were doing a deed without a name." This assertion is mere flippancy. Allow me now briefly to notice the argument taken by "construction," in the Editorial (I presume) remarks accompanying this article. proof of the happy influence of the Law of Incest, furnishes to my mind a most conclusive reason why she, who has so "identified herself with the prattlers of her sister, as to have almost forgotten that they are not her own," who, by his own declaration, is "a sort of mother, refusing the most brilliant offers, to live and die with the objects of her affection," is of all others, the most proper person to become their mother. To sustain the incestuous nature of a marriage of this kind, it is necessary that a wife's sister be placed on the same The writer says he is not "prepa-footing with an own sister. Now, red to surrender the direct argument Moses describes a sister in the 18th from the inspired law. I hope he will of Lev. 9-11, "as the daughter of some day present it to your numerous thy father, or of thy mother." "The readers. So far as he reasons by daughter of thy father's wife, begot ten of thy father, she is thy sister." -This is a turning point, which I conceive conclusively settles the question. And when the opponents to this union shall make it appear that a sister-in-law sustains these relations, we will be ready to denounce such connexion as incest. Upon the whole, I do not find my sentiments on this subject changed at all. I still think, as I always have thought, that it is a matter with which the Church should not interfere; and would rather she would come to the conclusion at which an Apostle arrives on another subject; that "to whom it is sin, to them it is sin." As you have opened your columns to a discussion of this subject, by the introduction of Domesticus, I hope you will give a place to this hasty and short communication. I am persuaded that in complying, you will oblige one Dutchman. NON SOLUS. BAPTISM IS NOT REGENERATION. "A Sacrament is an holy ordinance, wherein by sensible signs, Christ and the benefits of the New Covenant are represented, sealed and applied to believers." Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Prophet, or Teacher of his Church-as well as her sove reign King. He is the "Counsellor," as well as the "Prince of Peace. He has been the Counsellor and Teacher of his Church "in all generations." He taught Adam in Paradise. He taught in the days of Moses and Joshua, of David and Isaiah, and in the days of his humiliation. And he taught as never man taught "in all generations." He taught by symbols permanently. Hence circumcision, and the passover, and all the other peculiarities of the Old Testament worship; which exhibited, in a manner the most signifi cant, Messiah who was to be "cut off, and not for himself." And now "the Kingdom of Heaven having come" in the clearness and fulness of the New Testament light, and having withdrawn, forever the first economy of things; he has continued in his sovereignty, to teach us permanently by and far less complicated, than those of old, both symbols. But these are unspeakably more plain, in number and in nature They are only two. He teaches us symbolically by Baptism and by the Lord's Supper. Now the grand design which our Lord has in view in these institutions is the same which he ever has had in view, in all his other modes of instruction; that is to say, to teach us. But then he goes further in these symbolical instruments, than in the mere doctrinal exhibitions. He gives us he most impressive representations and instructions by these symbols. And Jesus Christ has thus shown himself to be the Lord and Mas communicated to the mind by more of the senses ter of human nature. He knows that what is than one, is more forcibly, more impressively, more permanently fixed in the soul, than if let in by one sense. That which I hear of him in the exhibitions of the preached word, is strong and fixed. That which I see and feel and taste and see, is unspeakably more impressive and fixed on my soul and heart, Now to effect this, our Lord has taken water -I confine my view at present to Baptism-and he has declared that to be the symbol of his cleansing blood. He has done this by the exercise of his sovereign authority. It was his will that the element of water, should be declared to represent his blood. He has set it apart from a common to a holy use in this particular. He has gone further: his divine authority and gracious influence causes it truly to represent it to the believer's view and faith. He makes it actually to communicate an extraordinary exhibition of the power and efficacy of his atonement in sanctification. He, moreover, has declared it to be a seal ;and by his divine authority and power, he makes it a seal of the righteousness by faith. He authorises the believer, when receiving baptism for himself, or for his infant, to use it as a seal; to use it for the same purpose in the holy covenant with his God, as he uses the material thing called the seal and signature, affixed to a deed for In the days of old he taught his Church by the earthly property. He authorises believers to say, Levites, who as his stated ministers of the Old before God, as it is finely and emphatically exTestament, instructed the tribes of his choice, pressed in our Heidelbergh Catechism, (sec. 27,) in the Synagogues every Sabbath day. And in I am spiritually cleansed from my sins, as realthe exercise of his sovereignty he raised up ex-ly as I am externally washed by this water."traordinary teachers, the prophets, generally at And, by his divine influence and operation on the times of great declension of piety, and of unu- believer's soul, our Lord makes it a seal to him. sual suffering in the Church. These communica- He causes him to know and believe, nay, to feel ted truth by immediate revelation, and gradually in his soul, that as really as the water externally filled up the book of God. washes away outward stains and defilement, so really does the blood of his Redeemer wash away guilt and inherent pollution from his soul, and the soul of his seed. By these instruments he taught the church by means of doctrines, promises, and threatenings. He taught her also, by symbolical forms of instruction occasionally-as by the burning lamp in the ratification of the covenant with the father of all the faithful, Abraham; by the burning bush exhibited to Moses, and by the wet and dry fleece to Jeptha. To illustrate this a little further-When God Almighty told Abraham that he had entered into a covenant with him to be his God, and the God of his children, this was strongly, clearly and comfortably expressed to Abraham's soul. |