66 his face is still Zion-ward, his heart and his eye still toward Jesus, and longing after a brighter manifestation of himself, as his salvation-yea, all his salvation and all his desire? These, dear reader, are among— and but few among-the blessings and blessedness of preservation. And now what is the child of God preserved unto? The apostle answers the inquiry, " Unto his heavenly kingdom." He is in the kingdom of grace here, and in that kingdom, being under the hand and in the holy care and keeping of so merciful and almighty a Preserver, he is as safe as he can be. More happy, but not more so secure," says dear Toplady, "the glorified spirits in heaven." But he is kept for a purpose he is preserved for an end, and that to glorify God-mark the expression, to glorify God, or, in other words, to bring a revenue of praise and glory to God,-by being preserved unto-reserved for-the heavenly kingdom. He is not always to be in this chequered timestate; he is not always to be encompassed by enemies, who are devising against him an "evil work;" the Canaanite is not always to dwell in the land; a routing time is to come-a deliverance-day is to dawn—a freedom-day, a jubilee-day, a victory-day, is to be proclaimed, when this poor, tried, exercised, sin-and. Satan-buffetted soul is for ever to be set free, and to go home and take possession of his inheritance in the "heavenly kingdom." Oh, sweet day! oh, bright morning! oh, auspicious time, that sets this poor captive spirit free, and bids me enter into the joy of my Lord. Then "Farewell, tempter, death, and sin, My port's in view, I'll enter in." Lastly, The glory to be ascribed. Ah! beloved, if ever you and I get home to heaven, it will be by such a peculiar way-such a trying route-so contrary to flesh and blood, and so evidently of God, and by God alone, that when we reach the "heavenly kingdom," we shall know to whom to attribute our praises and thanksgivings. We shall be at no loss to know who our deliverer is, nor where he is; for our full heart and raptured eye will be directed to-gazing upon-Him, whom our souls love. Really, beloved, the subject seems too much to contemplate. Grovelling as we do-bound down to earth as we are our thoughts engrossed about the poor perishable things of this time-state, and full of anxiety and full of suspense as to how things will go with us during the journey, the thought of reaching home at last, seems too much to expect too large and too vast a subject to dwell upon. We are so fretful, so peevish, so rebellious, and withal so dreadfully tried with unbelief, and turning all the Lord's mercies to a reverse account, that it seems madness in us-the very height of presumptionto think that we-poor, vile, helpless we should ever get there, And yet, if we read the written word, we find that such were the creatures that did reach the "heavenly kingdom;" and when they did reach it, these very failings, short-comings, and infinite undeservings, seemed but as so many pre-requisites to make them to enjoy the place, and cause them to ascribe all glory and praise, might, majesty, and dominion, to Him who brought them there. Lord-great, mighty, all-glorious Lord-fulfil this blessed assurance in our happy and heartfelt experience" The Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom : to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen," THE EDITOR. TABOR AND HERMON SHALL REJOICE IN THY NAME. PSALM LXXXIX. 12. COME ye faint and weary travellers, whose only road lies through this misty wilderness. Arise, and gird up thy loins; neither be discomforted though thy way is dark and dreary, for dost thou not know that in the night season of thy journey the Angel of the Covenant is leading thee with his rod; and though it is darkness to thee, yet the darkness with him is no darkness at all? Fellow soldiers, is it good that the Lord be not seen of us for a little season, that we may feel what we are with him, and what we are without him. Blessed be his name, he never leaves his children only to hear them cry; but loving to listen to their pitiful voice for his return, and their recollections of the signals of his love, that he may put a new song in their mouths touching the king. But ye who a long time have tarried for his entrance-who have looked out for his enlivening ray more duly than the morning watch, can you clain Tabor and Hermon as your portion? Have you ever stood upon those glorious hills and sang the ancient covenant song of righteousness and peace? If so, though their hazy tops may hide the heavens from your view, yet the time of sun-rising shall come, the dews shall be dis persed, and you shall rejoice in his name. If the Lord hath dedicated or set you apart for himself, according to the riches of his grace, you are an inhabitant of Mount Hermon, and a citizen of Tabor, for thou art all fair, neither is their spot or wrinkle in thee. Can you, then, recal those hours when with rapturous delight you have looked on Jesus, and felt him to be indeed your Saviour? Well, then, if you have lost sight of the king, and have gone about with the inquiry, Where is my beloved gone? he will be found of you; your joy shall be great while you tell among your friends, I have found my beloved. Awake then ye children of a king, whose birthright is heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord. For although clouds may overshadow and enwrap in darkness the illustrious scenery round about Tabor and Hermon, yet you are still citizens, and free-born too; fellow heirs of a kingdom whose dazzling splendour shall employ our everlasting gaze, If thou art now riding mountains high on some tempestuous sea, and the master doth seem to be asleep, oh think that he is a pilot Almighty, who hath de * Tabor (purity)-Hermon (dedicated). clared himself "our guide even unto death." Poor tempest-tossed soul, why labour so hard to get the ship to land? Better, much better to let the waves carry her whithersoever they will. Commit thy way unto the Lord, for he ruleth the waves of the sea, and measureth the waters in the hollow of his hand; and depend upon it, you will get safe to land-and who shall be waiting to receive thee?-Jesus! And what will he say? Come ye blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world." Yes, to this kingdom, beloved, we are all fast sailing, and the time of our arrival is fixed, the hour when every elect vessel shall be due is at hand, when our weatherbeaten bark shall crumble to pieces at the appointed time, and we enter the everlasting harbour, where storms never arise, and darkness is unknown. Cheer up, then, inhabitants of Tabor and Hermon, the voice of the Lord shall soon say, Ye have dwelt long enough in these mountains, when to mount Zion you will take wing to see Jesus as he is. LAUDI DEI. MAKE THY FACE TO SHINE UPON THY SERVANT. PSALM CXIX. 35. Plymouth. JESUS! who art the source of light divine, Deign, as thou hast been wont, on me to shine; Chace from my soul th' impending gloom, Oh! let a ray of thine illume My mental darkness, and display, Once more a glimpse of heav'nly day. Thy cheering presence, Lord, I humbly seek, The accents of thy voice to me, Excel seraphic minstrelsy Oh! let me thy sweet whisper hear, And know that thou art ever near. Come, dearest Jesus, th' impervious shade dispel, Now say I'm thine, and always with me dwell; My feeble frame e'er to defend And in this dreary wilderness, With thy protection deign to bless : Most Holy Spirit, do thou my faith increase, ELIZUR. THE CHURCH-AND WHAT IT IS. (Continued from page 274.) It would be fruitless and foreign to our purpose to give the names and tragical death of the various emperors that aspired to the throne-suffice it to say, that for the remainder of the century it was a constant succession of anarchy, confusion, and bloodshed. At one period there were nineteen usurpers to the throne. The empire was invaded on all sides by the barbarous nations, who overran and depopulated all the provinces. Their devastations produced also a famine, and this, with a furious plague that raged from A.D. 250 to 265, carried off large numbers. It is said, that for some time 5000 persons died daily at Rome. Mr. Gibbon indeed almost suspects, from a document relating particularly to Alexandria," that war, pestilence, and famine, had consumed, in a [few years, half the human species;" insomuch, that the wild beasts of the earth were multiplied. In one instance, "500 wolves together" are reported to have entered a city which was deserted of its inhabitants. It was these inroads of the barbarians that sowed the seeds of the dismemberment of the Roman Empire, and the establishment of the dif ferent kingdoms of Europe, as they now exist. Amidst the apparent cares and confusion we behold the wonderful band of our God setting down one kingdom and putting up another, that thereby he might ac complish His purposes of mercy towards His own predestinated children in after ages. "All things are for your sakes," and it is no presumption for the child of God so to view all these earthly affairs and changes. This confusion and bloodshed were necessary steps towards the salvation of the church in the present age. How mysterious are the judgments of our God, and His ways past finding out! I shall merely then refer to a few detached events that occurred during this age. Alexander, who became Emperor in the year 222, was considered one of the best moral characters in profane history. Eusebius calls his mother, Mammæ, a most godly and religious woman; but she does not appear even to have professed christianity, but only, with her son, to have approved of, and countenanced the christians. How perfectly unwarrantable are the application of these epithets to her by this historian, and how vague must his ideas be of christian truth. However he is not far distanced by many modern professors, who are but too ready to lavish the terms decidedly pious, improving characters, &c., upon those who have merely the form, but deny the power of religion, and have shown no signs of true conversion. Alexander merely viewed our Lord as a great hero, and introduced his statue, and that of Abraham, in his private chapel, amongst the gods and heathen princes. In the year 229 Alexander resided for some time at Antioch, and sent a guard of honour to bring Origen to him; the result we are not told, but it is not likely that Origen, with his philosophical religion, could communicate anything of that pure religion which he himself had not tasted or handled. He certainly was enabled to confute many heresies, but this we find can frequently even be best done by those who are them. selves ignorant of the gospel. About A.D. 230 Örigen was ordained Presbyter by the Bishops of Cæserea and Jerusalem: this offended his own Bishop, Demetrius, of Alexandria, who divulged what had hitherto been kept secret with respect to Origen's making himself an eunuch. He also procured his ejection from the church on account of some errors discovered in his books; but it may strongly be suspected that envy urged him on to this step; nevertheless Origen truly deserved to be ranked amonged the heretics. In the year 235 Alexander was murdered, together with his mother; and Maximin, the murderer, obtained the empire. His malice against the house of Alexander disposed him to persecute the christians; and he gave orders to put to death the pastors of the churches. The persecution was not confined to them; others suffered at the same time. The reign of this ferocious tyrant lasted three years. Philip the Arabian became Emperor A.D. 214, and was a professed christian, but not a real one. The rest from persecu tion enjoyed by the christians does not seem to have been profitably employed, as may be judged by the following extract from one of Origen's homilies, which shows the name of christian had become as common and cheap as in this our day, When evangelical profession is general it also becomes superficial, and the devil is not opposed to a superficial religion:-" Several," says Origen," came to church only on solemn festivals, and then, not so much for instruction as diversion; some go out again as soon as they have heard the lecture, without conferring or asking the pastors any questions: others stay not till the lecture is ended, and others hear not so much as a single word, but entertain themselves in a corner of the church." No doubt this state of things was much fostered by the character of the ministrations, for when the pastors left the simplicity of the gospel, it is no marvel that the hearers also should depart from that life which is according to sound doctrine. We now turn to a more pleasing quarter, for Cyprian bishop of Carthage we may reckon among the number of those we are seeking after, viz. the Church of Christ scattered abroad. Of course we must not expect to find him altogether free from the errors of the age in which he lived; but he does seem, in a great measure, to be free from the philosophising spirit. Cyprian was a professor of oratory in the city of Carthage, and a man of wealth, dignity, and quality. He was converted under the ministry of Cæcilius; his conversion was about A.D. 246, and two years after he was elected Bishop. He sold large estates and distributed the money to the poor, although opposed by his wife in doing so; but it would seem that his motive was true christian liberality. When he perceived the people's intention of making him Bishop he retired to avoid their solicitation: his house was besieged, his retreat was rendered impossible; he yielded at length, and with much reluctance accepted the painful pre-eminence for so he soon found it. Five presbyters, however, were enemies to his exaltation: his lenity, patience, and benevolence towards them, were remarked by every one. |