And there is not a Christian here, but who, when his mind has been elevated in sight of his Lord, could express himself with the poet "I'd part with all the joys of sense, To gaze upon Thy throne; Pleasure springs fresh for ever thence, But while here, there are many things You perceive in the words of our text the purity of the Christian here. "They shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy." an immortality of bliss is bliss indeed." be clothed in white raiment; and I will "He that overcometh, the same shall not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels." Here I think it needful to stay, to meet a pre vailing error, as well as to explain this mise. There are some good sort of figurative part of the Redeemer's proI must go on; and, my dear hearers, people, who admit of churching and unI almost jump over the river Jordan to churching, of standing and falling, of the other side. "He that overcometh, partaking of Divine grace and then the same shall be clothed in white rai losing that grace for ever; their being ment; and I will not blot out his name an object of Divine favour to-day, and out of the book of life." Now this is to-morrow utterly cast out therefrom. Men and brethren, I have no affinity metaphorical. White robes were worn by priests, and sometimes by kings and with such sentiments as these; we are not to suppose that the Redeemer actually You may well listen; I hope God will apply it. I have no doubt blots out any from the book of life. No, these symbolical expressions were borno; but here is the recorded fact—those written therein, are there for ever. It is rowed from things with which mankind were familiar in former days, if not so this moment the enjoyment I once had, the book of life; and oh! that I had now. Precious thought, to be in white! Oh! yes; let the eye of the mind look in tracing this book from leaf to leaf, What do we on to the period referred to in this inte- and from verse to verse. understand from this book? In some resting book. There they are; "they have gone out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." It is conquerors. as if our Lord Jesus had said, "They shall blameless?" There is no church on earth places the names of persons are enrolled in the register of citizenship, that they have a right to all the immunities and privileges of citizens. Now, in reference to this figure, the apostle Paul says, of the living God, to the general assembly "Ye are come to Mount Zion, to the city and church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven." He says also to the Philippians, “Our conversation is in heaven, whence also we look for the Saviour," &c.; that is, our citizenship is in heaven. in common life. He who cannot trust But this figure is borrowed from things His memory, makes use of a book, where he records circumstances and facts, that White robes, we said, were worn by they may be found there another day. priests, by kings and by conquerors. Do not you know how this will apply to the But if we may use the word memory Church of God? Are not God's people with regard to God, we do it with revera constituted "kingdom of priests" unto ence; He has a perfect knowledge of God, and are they not made " us, His memory can have no defect or through Him who loved them ?" conquerors decay. Again; a book is made use of to record the actions and services of some, who have been useful, or have rendered some substantial service to government. Hence in the night, when that mighty man, who reigned over seventy provinces, could not rest (perhaps no uncommon thing with kings), Ahasuerus calls for the Chronicles to quiet his perturbed mind; and as he read, his attention is directed to the account of Mordecai; and the king calls for his lord in waiting, and asks him what has been done for this Mordecai. Here he is recorded, and nothing has been done for him. Now, do not you see, my hearers, that this metaphor is borrowed from what has taken place among men, wherein actions and circumstances are recorded that men may not be forgotten, but rewarded another day? The righteous have a reward, not of debt, but of grace. "They shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy." "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment ; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life." And oh! how solemn the declaration, that to hell they went, whose names were not written in this book! Dr. Watts has one of the sweetest ideas on this subject my mind can possibly lay hold of— "My God, I would not wish to see My fate with curious eyes; What gloomy lines are writ for me, Or what bright scenes may rise. In Thy fair book of life and grace, Oh! may I find my name, Recorded in some humble place, Beneath my Lord the Lamb." Christ "calleth His own sheep by name,' He tells us; He knows them all now, and says, They shall be visibly Mine in the great day of account. How much has my mind been impressed with that line "Gracious Saviour! Own me in that day for Thine." Our blessed Lord declared while on earth, that those who confessed Him before men, the same "would He confess before His Father, and before His angels;" and that "whosoever should be ashamed of Him and of His words, the same would He be ashamed of before His Father and before His angels." And in a similar way did He express Himself to John in Patmos; He says, "I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels." What an assembly! God the Father, whom no VOL. XII. man hath seen, nor can see; God the Son, in His judicial character; and yonder myriads of holy angels; and there is the redeemed company in white. Who can think on such an assembly, without being charmed, and a rising desire of being there? "He that overcometh," says the Son of God, "the same shall be clothed in white raiment." There shall they be presented, perfect in their numerical character and saved state. These are they, that followed Me in the regeneration-these are they, that came up out of great tribulation; among these the few from Sardis, who stemmed the torrent of vice and pollution, and who had not defiled their garments. And some of them, I should think it likely, had resisted unto blood, and who would, by the grace of God, " rather burn than turn." And I hope there are some of you, who feel in their best moments they would rather be removed into eternity than sink into sin and dishonour Christ. Well, the Redeemer owns them before the angels; these very angels had been to them as ministering spirits, and had conducted or accompanied them through all the trials of this wilderness to the heavenly gates. Now, dear hearers, we must draw to a conclusion; and what think you of the subject? It is encouraging to the godly; for "the eye of the Lord is upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry." He now exercises special care over them, and will honour and reward them at a future day. I would ask every soul of you, What is your spiritual state in the sight of God? There were some in the church of Sardis, who "had a name that they lived, but were dead." They were, many of them, in a lukewarm state in religion; I fear this is partially the case with some of the members of this church. If the preacher should be right, will you listen, and put up the silent prayer, "Lord, is it I?" What say the secret chambers of the breast? what say the bent of thy spirit? Have you been delighted or grieved, when you have heard filthy conversation, or seen others conforming to the world? Deceive not your own souls; our Lord cannot be deceived or mistaken. I shall be glad if I should be mistaken with regard to the deadness and stupidity of some of you. As a minister, I have need to put up the prayer, O Lord, while 2 K That I keep the vineyard of others, may I not | idea here, as well as the expression of Dineglect my own. The Lord grant, that vine approbation. Oh! to be found among as a church, there may be the coming the number of the "called and chosen and out from the wicked; may there be no faithful." Let us look forward with ungodly connections. I would rather be confidence to the period when our Lord branded to death with the word "Puri- shall "come a second time without sin tan," than be found mingling with unto salvation." It is an encouraging Society, and in scenes where I ought not thought, that every day's struggle with to be. May we not merely talk of these sin leaves one the less. "My soul now," things; but pray to the Lord, who "keeps says the Christian, "holds perpetual war the feet of His saints," that He would with every darling lust, and longs for preserve us, and may we be found the time, when she shall enjoy perfect watchful. freedom from contamination. See the gracious regard the Redeemer period will come; each moment brings bears to those few, "who had not defiled it near." God give us patience; and I their garments." "And they," says the Saviour, "shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy." If it had been said, "Worthy the Lamb," I should shave added my hearty Amen. But not you, not me; by no means; there is no meritorious worthiness in us, none at all; it is God, by His almighty grace, that forms and fits the soul for heaven. But I there is a meetness for it; and that is the sake, so let it be. think I can say, Lord Jesus, hasten the only say Amen, Amen; for Christ's Review of Books. GENERAL HISTORY, briefly sketched upon Scriptural Principles. By the Rev. C. BARTH, D.D. Late Pastor of Mottlingen, in Wirtemberg. Translat ed by the Rev. R. F. Walker, A.M. Curate of Purleigh, Essex, and formerly Chaplain of New College, Oxford. Cl. bds. pp. 480. Religious Tract Society. ment and discretion exercised too in the MEMOIRS OF TWO BELOVED PUPILS. pp. 64. This Work consists of a Summary of the history of the world, from the creation to the present time. In treating of the more ancient period it incorporates within it the Scripture history in a condensed form, making its statements more full and copious as it proceeds on to our own times. Four maps exhibit the known world at four different periods; at the foundation of Rome, at the birth of Christ, at the Reformation, and in A.D. 1840. These maps are beautifully THE first of these little narratives is eoecuted, and are very accurate. The one of those simple, but exquisitely book itself is admirably written; of party touching histories, that find their way plitics there is not a syllable, though the direct to the heart: the style is of the view of affairs is brought down to our plainest and most unpretending, but the own days. There has been much judg-facts are of that class, that will be felt. The young persons to whom it relates | comforted. She thanked my father for 'How sweet the name of Jesus sounds,' &c. and then another favourite hymn, 'Rock of ages, cleft for me,' &c. were educated here, while their parents his visits, and affectionately passing his resided in a distant land; they were hand to her lips, took leave of him, and She thought herself sisters, and both died young, but not saw him no more. before they had been brought to rest dying, and requested me to read, upon the Rock of ages. The conversations detailed bear the impress of truth, and are deeply interesting. They bring before us the timid anxious spirit, gra-" In a solemn manner, and with an imdually losing the reluctance to converse pression which none but persons in her upon religious topics as topics concerning circumstances can give, she repeated after itself, and imbibing more and more theme the last verse :constraining love of Christ. Both appear to have had that class of mind, which in the mysterious ways of Providence is so peculiarly dependent upon those to whom its early moulding is committed, that its eternal destinies seem in the hands of such; and most happy was the lot of these young persons in this par ticular. We must make room for a few sen tences: 'While I draw this fleeting breath, ferent work, and adapted for children useful as the former work. It narrates "She several times said, What a mer- the conduct of a child, not at the school, ciful illness a decline is; there is so much but at home; and places before us first time to think of death.' I said, You the selfish girl, never having any time always dreaded a sudden death, and yours to spare to do kindnesses for sister or is very gradual.’ Yes,' she said, it is all mercy. And if I had had an infec-brother, and careless of death and judgtious fever, or been delirious, how much ment, and then the same child, when "all things had become new." more distressing; and not to have my dearest Jane to nurse me,' looking affec- well adapted for a present to young tionately at me. people in the same walk of life. We subjoin a short extract: "On Sunday, she sadly felt the want of religious conversation and reading, owing to Mrs. being there when alone with me she said, This has been no Sunday with me.' : "On Monday she was still more distressed from the same cause, and said at night, Another day is gone, and I have heard nothing of my Saviour, and now I cannot pray; God will not hear me; my sweet peace is gone; my sins will have dominion over me. Do call your papa; he always comforts me. Oh! I have sinned; I have not thought of God as I ought to have done.' My father came, and remarked, that in her weak state it was to be expected Satan would take advantage of her, and endeavour to distract her thoughts, but she should remember that our Saviour was tempted Himself. Yes,' she said, but He was God, and therefore could overcome temptation.' My father replied, True; but what He did was for our sakes, and not for His own; and He has promised that, because He has overcome, we shall overcome also.' After some farther conversation on the love of our Saviour, and the proofs of her interest in Him, she became composed and It is con "When Lucy lay down in bed, that night, she felt frightened and unhappy. It seemed to her that she had been that day more foolish and wicked than ever in her life before. Yet she had done many worse things. The Spirit of God was vincing her of sin, though she knew it not. And now, that same Spirit, whose office it is to convince of sin, brought before this guilty child the remembrance of many of the sins of her life. She thought of her unkindness to her departed sister; of her undutifulness to her mother, and of the many resolutions to be a better girl which she had made and broken. Lucy's pillow was wet with tears before she fell asleep, and when she awoke her first thoughts were of her dearly-bought edging, and of the falsehood she had told. It came into Lucy's mind that she ought to confess all to her mother. She tried to get rid of the thought, but it was in vain. "If I do not tell mother, God will not forgive me.' There was now a great struggle in Lucy's heart. She saw that God required her to do what was very disagreeable, and the question was, Whether she would submit her will to God or not. Upon the decision which Lucy at this By some, baptism, or the application moment made, depended perhaps her of the water, and a change of character, whole happiness for time and for eternity. are held to be perfectly synonymous; by There is some such decisive moment in others baptism, it is maintained, transthe life of every human being-when they lated immersion, would convey all its make their final choice between self-pleas-primitive scriptural import; and by ing, and God-pleasing. "It seemed to Lucy impossible to confess her folly and falsehood; and she was just about to settle it in her mind that after all it was not necessary to do so, when she recollected a text which Miss Howard had lately explained at the Sunday School; it was this: His people shall be willing in the day of His power;' then came the thought, God can make me willing, I will ask Him.' So Lucy knelt down by her bed-side, and with some tears she said aloud : · Lucy ceased to speak, but she did not cease to pray; her heart still poured itself out before God. She felt that if her Father who was in heaven would but smile upon her, she should care for no disgraces. When Lucy rose from her knees, she was able to say: "I will tell my mother everything; I had rather bear anything than the anger of God.' "Thus God heard and answered Lucy's prayer, to be made willing to do right: nay, more; while she was making her request to God, it pleased Him to reveal Himself to her as her heavenly Father. Pray to God as you can, and He will teach you to pray as you ought." BAPTISM. The import of Sanriw. By the REV. EDWARD BEECHER, President of Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois. John Gladding, City Road. others, baptism is properly applicable to infants, as well as adult proselytes, and is unlimited in its modes. Now some one or more of these must be, all may be, wrong; which are right and which are wrong, or whether all are wrong, is not our province here to show. Any opinion on the matter, confined to such limits as we necessarily are, could only be expressed dogmatically, and such would not suit the receding and the rising generation. Those characteristics of the mind so aptly set forth by the terms why and because are becoming daily more prevalent. Whether this be true or otherwise (true we think it is) of our own country, it is unquestionably so of America; and to the prevalence of a spirit of this kind in that country the appearance of the above essay is we conceive chiefly attributable. It is a reprint fiom a valuable periodical-the American Biblical Repository. The author grapples with his subject like an honest man; we mean like an earnest able inquirer after truth. His object may be thus stated; what is the scriptural meaning of the word Banтiw? that is, does it mean to immerse, to dip, or to sprinkle, or all or none of these religiously? To have a perfect vehicle for the interchange of thought, words must have a fixed definite sense and their application must admit of no license. Yet as such a lingo is not in existence, and is likely never to exist, words must be susceptible of a variety of modifications, and according as they are "Another work on the endless Bap- applied to different, and in many respects tist controversy!" we think we hear the diverse subjects, much of their primitive reader exclaim. It is even so, and we meaning must be given up, whilst they hope not the last; because we conceive are invested with new qualifications; and that circumstances and additional evi-thus the same words may become signidence, conspire to rescue this important ordinance of the Christian dispensation from the interminable logomachics in which for many centuries it has been involved. To say that learning has not been made available in this dispute were absurd. The fact is there has been too much learning; and thus the truth, whatever that is, has been so built about, that the inquirer, in his efforts to arrive at it, is perfectly bewildered. ficant of things as opposite as the poles. The study of the Scriptures, we believe, with this in view would lead to much profitable criticism, and disabuse the mind of half the absurdities and contradictions under which it now almost sinks in despair. In a perusal of the above pamphlet it is thought the foregoing remarks wil not be considered misplaced. For our selves we must confess that we have derived much instruction from its |