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being, by classification, and by addresses adapted to the position and circumstances of each.

We do not assert that the gospel is not faithfully preached-that its blessings and curses are concealed-that powerful appeals to the conscience are not often made. What we lament is, that those appeals are not sufficiently distinguishing. They deal too much in generalities, while the peculiar condition of individuals is neglected, and they are permitted to escape detection in a crowd. Censures upon the multitude are unavailing. The arrow that wings conviction to the heart of one, will fall harmless at the feet of another; and the spiritual archer who would do much execution, must draw many arrows from the armoury of heaven.

There is a large and important class of persons attending our chapels and churches which is seldom addressed, either from the pulpit or the press, in terms suitable to the position they occupy, and we have long desired to see some attempt made, to bring them into the bosom of the church.

The little volume whose title is at the head of this article, is composed with that special purpose, and we earnestly commend it to all our readers who wish to do good, as admirably adapted to promote the end it proposes. Highly philosophical and argumentative, it is yet sufficiently simple to be comprehended by humble minds, and so gracefully adorned with illustrations, that it cannot fail to obtain the admiration of men of taste, while the devout Christian will appreciate the practical piety of its conclusions. The excellent and talented author is a young dissenting minister, who has been laid aside for a time from his ministerial labours by severe indisposition, and has devoted a portion of his leisure to this publication, which arose, he says in his preface, out of several lectures delivered by him. We shall make one or two extracts from the work, and we wish we had room for more. The following is a brief analysis of its contents:

Introduction-The Secret Disciple de

scried.

Part 1.-Pleas examined, fear of persecution, opposition, losses, &c.; doubtfulness of their own State.

2.-Reasons why all who love Jesus Christ should avow him before men;-under six distinct heads.

In the first part, with reference to "fear of opposition, persecution, losses, &c.,"-the author writes that "though we have not to make the extensive sacrifices which were common in the apostolic age, many Christians, especially in the earlier indications of reli

gious feeling, have to encounter no small share of persecution. A man's foes are they of his own household; and occasionally they rise against him abroad as well as at home, employing every form of ridicule, meanness, and malice, in order to shake the purpose of his soul. It often, however, happens, that these apprehensions are fallacious, and are indulged on no good foundation. But even admitting the worst, it can in no sense justify secresy and indecision. The fear of man, in matters of religion, must ever be an unworthy principle of action. It is not necessary to define the limits within which this motive may be allowed a subordinated part in watching over our interests, but we may remark, that it never adds dignity to character, and in the question before us is manifestly improper. By allowing it to operate, we place a fellow-creature above the Deity. Ope would imagine that no second thought was needed to frown it down for ever. We may in this respect take a lesson from those who are not only "wiser," but bolder "in their generation than the children of light." Men of science, in the present age, would be ashamed of that pusillanimity which would attend a tyrants threat, and conceal the phenomena of nature. They would either endure the penalties of disclosure, or sacrifice the associations of country and home, to pursue elsewhere their investigations. They would seek truth in a pure and open element where she might "live and move and have her being" in any and every form without molestation. Could this not be found, they would at least sacrifice themselves on her altars. "Perhaps, however, we are not to expect men to act thus boldly in the avowal of religious convictions." But why not? Is religion less sacred than science? are its truths less important? Is the homage due to conscience less than is due to the " depraved antipathies of a sinner at enmity with God?”

This is eloquent, and the argument is unanswerable. The reply to another plea also, is very satisfactory, but we can only allude to it. "Fear of dishonouring the Christian profession." After disposing of the first part of the argument, he says"Suppose now we venture a step further, and put the case, that you do not adorn the doctrine of God your Saviour in all things," are you therefore to renounce your sovereign, because on some occasions you may be guilty of disaffection? Are you to allow the open ravages of an enemy, in a territory under your care, because you fear that now and then he will obtain a triumph? "

On the head of doubtfulness of their own state, there is a beautiful passage,-"The

fact of a taste for moral purity is as discoverable as a taste for music. Suppose the question to be, whether or not you love truth? The appeal must be made to facts and to your feelings. Personal advantage has never induced you to depart from it, nor for the sake of saving appearances have you ever resorted to equivocation. You hate duplicity -you are conscious of this-that is, you love ingenuousness and truth with all your heart." "At this point pause and let the inquiry be, whether or not you love Jesus Christ? A similar process of thought will go far to settle the question. Fathom your own consciousness. As you are a secret disciple there are only a few who form a correct apprehension of you, though the scanty and scattered data on which they judge are favourable to your character. This may be presumptive evidence of something in you not absolutely hostile to religion, and possibly you may find it confirmed on an appeal to your inmost soul." "Perhaps, then, you are sure you have no such feeling towards the truth, purity, self-denial, and benevolence of the blessed Jesus, as you have towards the base artifices of the hypocrite. On the contrary, you yield him the unfeigned homage of your heart, and bend before him as the great exemplar of all goodness," &c., &c. are sorry we cannot give the extract at length.

We

Under the head "Jesus is worthy of being confessed before all intelligent beings,' after showing how rare it is to find power and authority, combined with excellence of character as in Alfred, "where there is every attraction in dignity, every quality that can satisfy a nation, every grace that can ornament a throne," he adds, "Now this is the case with the Lord Jesus Christ; He is so high that all the angels of God worship Him; so holy that he is without blemish; 30 comprehensive in his wisdom that in him are all sits treasures; so benignant that he extend mercy to his foes; so powerful that he can melt the heart of stone;' exempt from defect by a fulness of natural and moral attributes; his character altogether lovely, his dignity higher than the heavens."

We must conclude with one more extract.

"Christ has risen, and his followers should walk in newness of life. The cries of the church militant pierce heaven; the ark of God is in the hands of the Philistines; the world groans beneath its crimes; sinners are sinking to perdition; the blood of Christ retains its virtue; he pleads your cause in the presence of the Father; angels and the spirits of the just adore him; earth and heaven reproach your silence, one by its miseries, the other by its praises; and the united goodness of both worlds implores your aid in the establishment of the kingdom of Christ, and in the celebration of his praise."

We hope that this work may obtain a wide circulation. For one shilling, there is mo re practical good in it than we have met with in any similar publication for some time past Ministers should recommend it to their congregations, young Christians to their associates, and all who desire to enlarge the boundaries of Zion, and to make Jerusalem a praise, should aid in promoting the same object. We hope it will not be long before the highly esteemed author favours us with another production from his pen. It is evidently calculated to be eminently useful. May the great Head of the Church command his blessing.

Three Letters to a Friend, What can I do? on the Importance of Personal Effort for the Conversion of Sinners. Ball, Paternoster Row, London; and Fletcher, Norwich.

This little publication is worthy of serious perusal and meditation by all private Christians, not on account of its originality and depth of thought, as it consists principally of quotations, but because of the striking and important views of duty it presents to them.

The majority of even professing christians, have very inferior conceptions of their obli gations to their master's cause, especially in regard to the salvation of their brethren and friends, and the efforts they make in this work, if any, have no proportion to its difficulties and magnitude. There are others, however, anxiously inquiring, "What can

I do ?"

London; T. RILEY, Printer, 161, Fleet Street.

THE

YOUNG MEN'S MAGAZINE.

No. 16.]

APRIL, 1838.

THE PRIZE ESSAY. By F. A. Cox, D.D. F.A.S. THE power of the Christian Religion to dissolve the selfishness of large communities, and to imbreed and cherish within them the seeds of universal charity, is only beginning to receive its development.

Before the last fifty years, there were none of those great Societies which have since grown up to majestic proportions-the trees of life, "whose leaves are for the healing of the nation." It was left to individuals, of surpassing excellence it is true-and to small bodies of men, to carry on the work of renovation, unaided by numbers, and to be the instruments in God's hands of changing "the desert into the garden, and the wilderness into the fruitful field."

The commencement of the latter period was the dawn of the moral day of the earth, but the light of Heaven only touched a few eminent and favoured spots, while all around and beneath was comparative darkness. Now the morning shines brighter, and the hearts of Christians are beaming with hope, for the promises of the Gospel advance towards their fulfilment, when "all flesh shall see the glory of the Lord."

At last, a portion of the Christian Church is awaking out of sleep, and some are actively engaged in proVOL. II.

[VOL. II.

"the

moting the great cause; the Bible is circulated; "the poor have the Gospel preached to them; tidings of salvation are sent to the heathen; the shackles of the slave are knocked off; and "the prison doors are opened to them that are bound." Notwithstanding, there is so much selfishness in human nature, that the mass even of Christians are unwilling to open their hearts to the claims of those around them, or to make sacrifices for the love of God and of his cause. The altars o Heathenism smoke with the blood of its victims, and its temples are loaded with gold and precious gifts, while the shrine of Christianity has scarcely any martyrs, and few offerings so costly as these.

To impart more worthy feelings to the Christian body, a new influence has arisen which promises the most beneficial results. A munificent individual offered one hundred guineas for the best Essay on Covetousness, which produced a work of great talent, and of so much popularity, that in a short time nearly thirty thousand copies have been sold.

This example has been followed by others, and will be followed to an extent that cannot be contemplated.

The value of these productions will be better understood by comparing the state of Society now, with its condition at the period of the invention of printing.

E

At that time the great obstacles to the Essays were found to possess

the influence of the press were the qualities which entitled them, though want of education and the consequent on different grounds, to very high fewness of readers. Now that "the commendation, and to be characterschoolmaster is abroad," and there ized by distinguished talent. The are multitudes of readers, the press following, however, approved itself has become a mighty agent for good to our judgment as the best; and as or for evil. And it is not large and such, we have much pleasure in havponderous volumes, nor profound ing contributed to introduce it to discussion of things, but those small public attention, earnestly praying yet eloquent treatises, which pre- that God may render it extensively sent truth in new and striking forms, useful." which are likely to tell with power and effect upon the majority of minds.

And when public prizes are awarded, and public admiration is given, not to political tracts, nor to successful novels or romances, but to works of sanctified genius, we may anticipate the happiest consequences.

Amidst all that is doing, however, for society at large, there is one class to which neither the feelings nor the sympathies of the christian public have been hitherto much directed. We allude to "Young Men."

With the commendation of such high authorities, our opinion can add little to the praise of the work, but it may be desirable that we should introduce it to our readers with some notices.

It has claims of no common order to the general attention of the public, not only on account of the importance of its subject matter, but also from the talent with which that subject is stated and enforced. The Doctor has evidently an extensive knowledge of human character, and of the sources of human conduct, derived from long experience and The reflections which arose from observation, and aided by the pecuthis circumstance upon their great liar advantages of his eminent staimportance to Society, and the un- tion. At once, philosophical and happily low moral condition of a acute-clear, yet elegant-classical, great majority of their numbers, yet chaste-with much of the poegave rise to the British and Fo- try of fancy and feeling, and enriched reign Young Men's Society-which by ancient history, the author has was formed in 1836, with the view contrived to make his book a very of promoting their religious and in-attractive, and we trust it will tellectual culture. One of the first prove a very useful piece of compothings which occurred to the mana- sition. gers was to awaken public attention to the subject, and with this view they offered one hundred guineas for the best essay on "The Claims of Young Men."

But we must enter more into particulars :

The 1st Part treats of the Importance of Young Men to Society. This opens with a definition of the The Rev. Dr. Cox is the success- term " Young Men," under which, ful candidate for the prize, and we the Doctor includes all young men know not that it could have fallen under the age of thirty years;-and into better hands. The adjudicators, we perfectly agree with him, as some the Rev. J. Harris and the Rev. J. R. men remain always bachelors, and Foster, inform us, that "several of some marry when mere boys. The

author beautifully compares youth to the spring time of the material world -"the bud of being "-viewed in relation to its future promise, to itself and to society at large, to the present age and to posterity. This Chapter is remarkable for fine taste and elegant description. There can be no difference about the justness of its conclusions.

is of incalculable importance. It has an element of jealousy in its constitution, and spurns at authority. Brothers are apt to imagine that they have a natural right to govern or to guide; and that their prejudices or passions must be as the pole star to their sisters.

"If its legitimate power be founded in virtue and religion, it becomes Sec. I. is very important on the an ægis of effectual defence against "influence of young men in domes- the attacks of the vicious or the tic life." Influence over their fa- folly of the presuming." And what thers, or their mothers, or junior reason have young ladies to be members of the family, to which we thankful for such brothers, and to cannot refer more particularly, but think highly of them. They little we cannot pass over one head with- understand, some of them, the conout some remarks, because it is very sequence of having brothers whose momentous. The relation of young minds are contaminated with sceptito their sisters"-" the natu- cal or immoral principles. How ral tendencies of such an early asso- easily they communicate their views ciation are all virtuous; and though to those with whom they associate, there may be no natural or physical and especially to those who love force, yet in conformity with an them. Indeed, the character of established law of Providence which brothers often determines that of runs through creation, the moral sisters during life.

men

66

restraint is perpetual and pre-emi- Sect. II. regards the "Influence nent. The purity, truth, and con- of Young Men in Social Life." stancy of a genuine sisterly attach-"The School Boy." "Youth at ment, is like the sweet influence school affect each other in the forof the Pleiades,' or like 'the bands mation of habits a thousand ways." of Orion.' It does not operate in This is just adverted to, and no concentrated masses, but like invi- more, because "the term young sible magnetism on the pervading men scarcely comprehends, at least heat and light of nature. It is the is not so specifically applied to, the control of innocence, and the coer- period of mere school boy comcion of love." panionship." Yet it has a very This is as true as it is beautiful. serious effect upon the future chaWe can testify of the happy influ-racter, and we could have wished ences which such affections have the Doctor had said more upon shed over our early days,-how head, and upon that which followsthey have prevented us from evil," The Public Seminary, the Gramand inspired us to do good, enrich- mar School, and the University." ing our hearts with finer sensibilities, The evils of these places are monand rewarding us with disinterest-strous. It is notorious that vice,

this

ed and generous reciprocations of and petty tyranny, and all the worst. friendship. But we must look evils of manhood, begin there; and to the other side of the question. although we agree with the Doctor, "Fraternal influence is of another that all this is to be accounted for kind; and the manner of its exercise because it is an association of fallen

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