strict in requiring obedience to laws and statutes so difficult to be observed. In applying this subject, let us each ask ourselves, What reception have we given to the great things of God's law? We cannot plead that we have not had the fullest op portunities of becoming acquainted with, them; but have we duly received them? Have they powerfully influenced our hearts and conduct? Are we babitually impressed with their importance? Do we daily live as in the sight of our great Legislator and Judge? Is his law our guide; are his commandments our delight? Do we reverence his name; do we keep holy his Sabbaths; do we walk in his ways; do we love him with our whole hearts, and account it, our highest privilege to know and do his will, whether as concerns the duties we owe more immediately to bimself, or to our fellow-creatures for his sake? Are we deeply impressed with a sense of his great mercy and condescension in writing his laws for our direction; and not only so, but in also making our highest welfare as well as our duty to consist in obeying them? Do we mourn over our innumerable violations of them? Do we earnestly purpose, by his grace assisting us, to endeavour in future to make it the great business of our lives to know and follow them? Do we deeply feel the necessity of the atonement of Christ, as the only way of pardon for our grievous, offences in breaking them; and of the influences of his Holy Spirit, to renew in us a new heart, that, from henceforth we may account it our honour and our hap piness to study and obey them?, Blessed, unspeakably blessed, the lot of those who have the law of God thus written, not merely in their understandings and memories, but in their hearts! "Great peace have they who love thy law;"-peace of conscience, and peace with God; peace in life, peace in death, and peace throughout eternity." And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments, that all these blessings shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: the Lord shall bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand unto, and the Lord shall establish thee a holy people unto himself." Tothe Editorofthe Christian Observer. I TAKE the freedom of offering some thoughts upon the passage in the eighth chapter of the Romans, verses 18 to 25. It appears to me, that the Apostle, in that part of the Epistle, is speaking particularly of the salvation of the members of Christ as respects their deliverance from trial and suffering; and that the term "creature" is used by him in a similar way with other like terms, as body and flesh, &c.; in contradistinction to the term "new creature," on the one hand, and to the term "natural man," on the other, and as expressive of the body and animal nature of the Christian. To illustrate more particularly my view of the spirit of the passage, I venture to submit the following sketch of a commentary. I am not without hope that the interpretation will appear to place the passage very naturally in connexion with the context; or, if this should be proved not to be the case, will, at least, excite a useful discussion respecting the signification of a passage which has been the subject of much controversy, 18 I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.-I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us; for the Lord Jesus shall change our vile bodies, and make them like unto his glorious body. The whole man shall be assimilated to the glorified and holy Saviour; we shall be obkeshim; for we shall see him as he fisa new on har sidianga bau auf blo19 For the earnest expectation of the creature writeth for the manifestation of the sons of God. To this glorious consummation of salvation, in which the sons of God shall appear for ever delivered from their Benemies, sorrows, and sufferings, the creature [see verse 11],even our carnal animal nature, turns with earnest expectation, under the pressure of temptation and suffering; ardently longing for deliverance, and for its share in the holy rest which remaineth for the people of God. " 2 of the children of God Behold, the hour of deliverance is at hand! Our body our carnal nature, shalb be delivered from the bondage of corsruption, and all its consequences: this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put ön immortality. Then shall we attain to the inconceivable blessedness prepared for the children of God. Then shall we expatiate unrestrained amidst the glories of heaven, in the blissful presence of God; and our God shall do for us exceeding abundantly above all that we ever asked vor thought. bitted- av tadi po.) 10 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. But, for the present, no creature is exempt from suffering: the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain to deliverance a deliverance which those who possess and believe in Divine revelation know to be promised to it." The Lord will dwell with men. God himself shall be with them, and be their God; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away: Behold, I make all things new." ་་ en 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. For, notwithstanding we are become new creatures in Christ Jesus, the creaturethe Christian, as the child of Adam-gether; labouring, as it were, for is still subjected to the changes, sorrows, and temptations of this vain and sinful world. Not that God loves to afflict his children, or that sin is not hateful to him, and to those who - are born of him the law in the members wars against the law of 1. the mind, and causes the Christian Tuto exclaim, O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death!" The various -sufferings also to which the body is exposed, are not joyous, but grievous In this tabernacle we groan, being burdened; and nature (the creature) longeth for deliverance from this state of vanity and sorrow. But Christians are thus subjected, in order that, by patient endurance of the heavenly discipline, they may to attain to completeness in the will of God, and, like their Lord, be made perfect through suffering. Therefore may they lift up their heads 01 or with joy amidst all their tribulations; hasting, as it were, to the coming or of the day of God; looking for that blessed, hope, and the glorious aptapearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ 918 9 3+ od 21 Because the creature itself shall be delivered from the bondage Corruption into the glorious liberty *{ 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. But, during the continuance of the present state, even we, who are a kind of first-fruits of his creatures, and now enjoy the firstfruits of the Spirit, are left to take our part in the sufferings of this ruined world. But, though we have frequent loccasion to groan within ourselves, we sorrow not as those who are without hope; assured that our light affliction, which is, as it were, but for a moment, worketh out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; and that the day approaches when we shall. Calvinistice It appears to me so just and sensible, and so well calculated to do good, that I should be put in full possession of all the blessings of our adoption; when the body shall be rendered pure and -immortal; band we shall be pre--wish to see it inserted in your pubsented faultless before the presence «lication. of) to ¿trag Jal of his glory, with exceeding joy., rokszíne mono Lundby J Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory." T 24 For we are saved by hope; but hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. It is the design of God that we should be saved by hope; that the object of complete and eternal salvation should be placed at a distance, and, with regard to sense, be quite invisible; that, by chastening and discipline, we may be prepared for the heavenly inheritance; counted worthy of the kingdom for which we also suffer. But there would be no room for the exercise of this Divine grace, which is necessary to our preparation for that state of perfection, if the regeneration of the soul were to be immediately followed by the glorification of the body. But while we have hope to animate us in pressing toward the mark for the prize of our high calling, then are we enabled to endure, as seeing Him who is invisible: patience has its perfect work we are gradually subdued to the will and conformed to the image of the Saviour. The trial of our faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, will be found unto praise, and honour, and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: for unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation. Even so ! come, Lord Jesus. O. J. K. Dear Sir,The engagements of the last and present week have hindered my replying to your letter till this moment: nor do I know that I should have troubled you with any reply, but that the spirit in which you write (which I am happy to acknowledge) obliges me in courtesy to notice your communication. It is, however, far from my intention to enter into a long discussion of the several points upon which we are at issue. Each of these would almost require as extended a consideration as the three sheets of paper with which you have favoured me. And why should I embroil myself in a controversy of this kind? My nature and inclination revolt from it. We live in an age in which moderate men of all persuasions are particularly sickened with controversy. Besides, the cui bono haunts me. What good is this to do? Whom am I addressing? Not a layman; not a person under spiritual depression; not a person calling in question the evidences of our most holy faith. Under such circumstances I should consider it an imperative duty to enter into minute particulars with my correspondent. You, sir, are surely well acquainted with the grounds on which moderate Calvinists stand. These grounds have been gone over again and again. No theologian can be ignorant in this respect; and the repetition of the arguments by me would most probably only diminish their effect and force. 1 Allow me, at the same time, to observe, that I am no stranger to the sentiments which you seem to advocate. I was for some years intimately connected with a most able minister who held them. But I do from my heart abjure these sentiments. I consider an ultraGospel equally false, dangerous, and delusive with a defective Gospel, such as the doctrine of salvation by works, or by, works and grace to gether. I tremble as much at the high statements of high Calvinists, as at the doctrines of the low Arminian. The incessant preaching of privilege, I consider as improper and unscriptural. It never will lead to the results which persons of your views suppose, I have invariably found such teachers less spiritual and devoted to God, less humble, and less solid, than others. I do not wonder at your taxing me with inconsistency in my statements. When a preacher goes all lengths with Scripture, his teaching will always appear teeming with contradictions, in the estimation of rigid systematizers of every school. You possibly will meet me with that Scripture,-If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself to the battle? But I am not alarmed. What you probably may term the uncertain sound, is a mode. of preaching which has always been blest to the conversion of souls more than any other. It was by a preaching like this, that such men as Whitefield, and Venn, and Newton, and Cecil, slew their thousands," I am content to take my stand with them; and why? Not from attachment to the men; for what had they which they had not received? but because the Spirit bure them witness. Men may refine and speculate upon nice points in Divinity; they may sit in judgment upon their brethren, saying, "This man does not come up to the standard; that man is not accurate in exhibiting the truth:". but I am influenced, sir, by what our Lord tells us, By their fruits, ye shall know them. This is my system. I bring doctrines and doctors to this touch-stone. I am no other systematist. I do not regard the charge of inconsistency. I speak one while to man as a rational, responsible being; and presently I speak of God as a sove-, Effect, and not nicely, is my aim. If I can give the just contour, the proper air and attitude and general proportion, to my statue, let who will make the coat-buttons or carve the finger-nails. All systems of human device, which I have ever studied, seem to me to break down somewhere, and shew their humanity. I endeavour to preach according to the letter of Scripture, and leave Infinite and Unsearchable Wisdom to be his own interpreter. If a man steps forward and cavils, let him eavil: what I know not now, I expect to know hereafter. But do not mistake me, sir. 1. A plan, a glorious, harmonious system, doubtless there is in the Divine word. But have you, sir, discover ed it, or traced it in all its bearings? Has Calvin? Has Arminius? Has Huntington? Every one of them has marred the Scripture. And are we to be surprised that the word of God will not submit to the rule and square of human systems? Turn your mind, and contemplate the operations of your Maker elsewhere. Look at the dealings of his Pron vidence. How mazy and intricate! how appalling, and apparently unlike God! how mysterious and chaotic! Can you unravel, can all the earth unravel, the windings of God's Providence? And, yet, has He not a PLAN ?-Survey again the works of Creation. These jmeet/ your very senses, You can examine, handle, and reflect upon them, and watch them in their evolutions and progress. These seem to come more within the comprehension and sphere of man; but, sir, can you!! thread this labyrinth? Can you dive to the bottom only of the secrets of nature? Is it not a fathomless abyss? How little did Buffon, or Derham, or Reaumur, or any other professed Naturalist, discover of the system of nature? It is like God, my dear sir, to be unsearchable. The open books of Nature and Providence prove it; and so does the Word of His grace......... 1. sha 1 t " 1 -It has long, therefore, been my conviction, that if a preacher of that blessed word will be what is NEGRO SLAVERY. 563 slnini No. XII.CO THE QUARTERLY REVIEW ON THE Sixtieth Number of the Quar- The Reviewer begins with refering his readers to a former article on the same subject, which appeared in the Fifty-eighth Number of his work, as containing a detailed sketch," and he means, of course, that it should be considered as an authentic sketch, of the actual condition and treatment of the slaves in our West-India colonies." Whoever will take the trouble of turn ing to that article, will find that it consists of assertions without a shadow of proof. The Reviewer, who, it is plain, never visited the West Indies himself, instead of citing authentic documents, or adducing unimpeachable testimony, in support of his assertions, gives ex tracts from anonymous letters, and détails obviously taken from the mouths of West-India planters, anxi ous to vindicate themselves in the eyes of the public. And these extracts and details he seems to expect will obtain credit, in considera tion of the dispassionate tone in which they are communicated, and the kind of demi-official character which the work enjoys. At the same time, it would be difficult to select, from the immense mass of our periodical criticism, an article which has less claim to accuracy of statement, and more contemptuously sets at defiance every received maxim of political economy, which, on other occasions, the same work so ably defends. We do not accuse the respectable individual whose pen traced that article, of a studied attempt to mislead the public. Others have, no doubt, abused his confidence, and made, him the unconscious instrument of misrepresentation. In a similar strain of unfairness and false reasoning, an article, entitled "Mexico," has been employed, in a subsequent Number of the same work, to institute a comparison between the productions and trade of Mexico and those of Jamaica, in order to establish, what seems a favourite hypothesis with the conductors of this work, that, slave labour is more productive than free labour. The attempt, in the present era of light and knowledge, would be ridiculous enough from the pens of the meanest scribblers! but when it appears in the pages of the Quarterly Review it merits reprobation rather than ridicule. The Reviewer actually seems to perceive no difference in the two cases of Mexico and Jamaica, except that cultivation in the one is conducted by freemen, and in the other b slaves; just as if the miserable po licy and oppressive institutions of Spain, its restrictive laws, its ruin ous exactions, the absence of all inous encouragement to industry, the total want of security to property as if all these were nothing in the scale. Nay, he even overlooks, in his esti mate of the causes which have depressed the productive industry of |