THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND MAGAZINE. the era of their actual redemption. God made them willing and obedient to his servant's word. He gave the people to be his to lead up out of Egypt, for the faith by which he thus had given glory to the faithful God of promise*. MISSIONS AT HOME. No. XXVI. of them a people for his name" (Acts xv. 14). To the converted Jewish nation verily we have to look, according to the testimony of scripture (Is. 1x. 1-3, xlii. 21; Zeph. iii. 14-20; Hos. xiv. 4-7; Zrch. viii. 13, 20, 23; Rom. xi. 12) for accomplishing, under God, that great work which is the church's chief expectation. They are the people who are predestined, according to the hidden counsel of Jehovah, to be the instruments for ushering in that blessed dispensation, when "the knowledge of the glory of God shall fill the "Let us show our thankfulness to Christ by fruitfulness. Let us bring forth the sweet fruits of patience, heavenly-earth as the waters cover the mighty deep" (rev. mindedness, and good works. This is to live unto him, who died for us. rocks. .... Be zealous for Christ's name and worship. Christ doth most abominate a lukewarm We Zeal is increased by opposition: it cuts its way through x ternper. The Lord cause the fire of holy zeal to be always burning upon the altar of our hearts."-T. WATSON. CLAIMS OF THE JEWS.-"We see the Jewish nation still in a state of unbelief!" What! the kingdom of Christ come, and the whole Jewish ration in a state of rebellion against the Lord's anointed! The idea is monstrous. What inconsistency and confusion must this view introduce into the scriptures and the prophets ! It is a strange doctrine indeed which recognizes the kingdom of Christ as established, whilst the whole world lieth in wickedness; but it is setting aside a large portion of the word of God to assume the #reign of the Messiah, without taking into account the condition of the outcasts of Judah and the dispersed of Israel. Shall it be thought that the kingdom of the Son of David is set up, whilst both Judah and Israel disclaim with one voice all part and all inheritance in David's Son ? do not understand the nature of that kingdom which leaves nineteen-twentieths of the world in an unconverted state, and the whole Jewish nation in unbelief. The kingdom whereof we speak, and whereof prophets and evangelists write, E comprehends the uttermost parts of the earth, em= bracing more immediately the twelve tribes of Israel. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to find a passage of scripture announcing the reign of Messiah, where the unconverted Jewish nation is not included, or where they do not occupy a very conspicuous position among the happy subjects of the great King. In all the prophets that nation has a distinguished position assigned unto it, in the kingdom of Immanuel. It is important to draw attention to the fact that throughout the bible the two are constantly joined together; and we must not put them asunder. According to the concurrent testimony of all the scriptures, the two events, the establishment of Christ's kingdom on earth, and the conversion of the Jewish nation, shall synchronize." The one cannot take place without the other: the one is part of the other. When the Deliverer shall come to Zion, he will then turn away ungodliness from Jacob (Rom. vi. 20). The day of Israel's conversion is the Messiah's coronation-day! Our efforts to promote Christianity among Jew and Gentile will ever be paralyzed in proportion as we fail to see and to embrace the scripture view of the present dispensation; a dispensation wherein God purposes to gather out "a remnant according to the election of grace" (Rom. xi. 5) from the dispersed of Judah, and to visit the Gentiles, to take out 6. .... • There seems a reference to this in Exod. xxxii. 7. A. M. Myers's "The Jew," fifth edit., 1852). Many The aid of the society is now afforded to 343 incumbents, in charge of an aggregate population which gives 7,564 souls to each. The average income of these incumbents is only £210 per annum, and 176 of them are without parsonage houses. The existing grants, when all are occupied, for 317 clergymen and 115 lay-assistants, make the total liabilities of the society £38,333. Through the operations of the society 569 additional public services on the Lord's-day have been instituted, besides 307 week-day services, 376 school-room and cottage lectures, and 279 bibleclasses. The society's grants have likewise led to the erection, opening, or keeping open of 150 churches or chapels; and, in districts at present receiving the society's aid, 158 rooms are, in consequence, licensed for the celebration of divine service. It may be added that, by means of the grants now made, additional and more systematic pastoral visitation is provided for a population exceeding 2,594,692. journey men or otherwise being 16, it follows that this excellent asylum is affording employment and support, together with important spiritual and moral benefits, to no less than 33 believing Israelites. Since its establishment in 1831, 309 members of the house of Israel have participated, more or less, of the privileges which it affords. PROTESTANT ASSOCIATION.-It was stated at the anniversary meeting, on the 12th of May, that the income of the society for 1851-52 had been £1,013, and the expenditure £963. One of the resolutions passed at the meeting was to this effect: "As it is manifestly a departure from all sound principle and consistency that protestants should propagate popery by paying for the education or support c a priesthood, whose object it is to disseminate that religion against which we protest, as anti-social, anti-national, anti-christian, and idolatrous, this meeting desires that all grants of public money for the support of popery in any shape may be with drawn, more especially that to Maynooth-college and that, in order to this desirable end, it is highl expedient that the nature of the education ther given should be thoroughly investigated”*. - The IRELAND. THE IRISH SOCIETY. thirtieth annual meeting of the "Irish Society of London" was held at the Hanover-rooms, Hanover-square, on Thursday, May 6, the marquis of Blandford, M.P., in the chair. The meeting was very numerously attended, every part of the large room being densely crowded. After prayer by the rev. C. Smalley, an abstract of the report was read by the clerical secretary. The repor stated that 28 clerical missionaries, 220 lay-agents, SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIANITY scripture readers, and schoolmasters for the young, AMONG THE JEWS.-I desire to commend to and 620 teachers were in connexion with the the support of those who have large hearts in society during the past year; that the work bad Christ's cause the "Operative Jewish Converts' been considerably enlarged in the counties of Cork, Institution," in Palestine-place; and the more so Clare, Mayo, and Donegal, and that there were as "the income with which it is at present pro- 50 congregations of converts ministered to by the vided is not sufficient for the support of more than missionaries of the society. The receipts for the twenty Israelites." This deficiency of means is past year were £10,273 14s. 11d. (being £3,124 the occasion of painful embarrassment to the com- 8s. 4d, more than in the year ending March 31, mittee in the prosecution of their work. "While 1851). The receipts of the society in Dublin, the sum raised by the efforts of the Jews em- exclusive of remittances from the London com ployed in the institution, as the result of their in-mittee, were £5,654 7s. 7d. (being an increase of dustry, is increasing very considerably, it is surely not too much to expect that the income derived from the contributions of its friends should increase in the same proportion. Many converted and inquiring Jews are suddenly reduced to want as soon as their Jewish relatives discover that they are believers in the Saviour. They cannot con tinue those occupations from which they formerly derived a subsistence: their friends are become their enemies, their nearest relatives are often their greatest persecutors. Their previous educahas not prepared them for following those trades which are the only sources from which they can expect to procure a subsistence. If we wish that the Jewish mission should prosper, and that the gospel should be preached to the poor among the descendants of Abraham, we ought assuredly to aid, as far as we can, in an attempt to provide for the pressing necessity which is occasioned by the success which crowns our efforts; and we may well be thankful to hear that God has graciously granted a great blessing on that which has hitherto been done." The present number of inmates being 17, and the number of those employed as £799 2s. 5d. above those of the last year), and of the Ladies' Auxiliary 1,604 103. 3d.; making £17,532 12s. 9d. as the total receipts of the Irish Society for the year ending March 31, 1852. THE LITTLE CONVERT'S ANSWER TO A ROMAN PRIEST.-Kilmacthomas, Waterford.Yesterday one of the children here, who with their parents have embraced the religion of the bible (a most interesting child), was met by a Romanist in this place, who asked him to repeat the Lord's prayer. He did so; but not adding the "Hail, Mary," he was desired to go on. His reply was, "That is all of it." He was tempted with sugar candy, and still refused. He was then asked, will you come to mass?" "No.” “How, can you be saved?" Answer: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." The man was astonished and went away. May this child continue to be trained up in the truth.-J. F. PARKER. then, education at Maynooth has been sufficiently investigated. * We regard such a resolution as almost nugatory. The We do not now want investigation, but extinction of the grant. -ED. THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND MAGAZINE. SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. The annual scholars' meeting of the "Church of England SundaySchool Institute" was one of peculiar interest, from the circumstance that, among the crowded multitude which gathered together on this occasion, no fewer than 37 Sunday-schools were represented by the presence of teachers from each of them, and 3,000 pupils. The earl of Waldegrave presided; and one of the resolutions adopted was, I conceive, quite in the right direction: it announced "the opinion of the meeting, that it is very desirable that senior Sunday scholars should be well instructed in the evidences of Christianity, and in the protestant principles of the established church of this realm; and they therefore strongly recommend the formation of classes for these especial purposes.' At a time when the souls of millions are imperilled by the aggressive character which the Romish church has assumed throughout the land, the universal adoption of such a system in all our Sunday-schools, where it admits of being carried out, commends itself with abundant reason to all those followers of Jesus who are engaged in bringing "little ones" to him through the instrumentality of the Sunday-school. Weekly Almanac. H. S. "Such trust have we through Christ to Godward."-2 COR. iii. 4. "My Lord and my God, I know thou art infallible truth and canst not, thou art infinite love and wilt not, deceive me; glory be to thee. Lord, daily increase my faith; make it active and fruitful; that I may believe and love thee as becomes one entirely devoted to thee in thy dear Son, Jesus Christ. Amen" (Bishop Ken). ........ Acts xxvii. J Hos. x. Acts xxviii. {Matt. ii. Joel ii. {Matt. iii. EVEN. LESSONS 2 Kings xviii. 2 & 3 John. Hos. xiii. Rom. ii. Amos i. Matt. iv. Rom. iii. Amos ii. Rom. iv. Amos iii. Amos iv. Rom. v. {Matt. v. you to be told that this last question is tantamount to the following: How long shall we persist in holding God to be a liar? He himself distinctly resolves it to this alternative: he tells us of the record that he has given of his Son, even that he has given us eternal life, and that this life is in his Son; and he complains of being made a liar by all who will not believe all this! (He that be lieveth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, He that hath the and this life is in his Son. Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (1 John v. 10-12). This, one might think, is bringing salvation very near to us. It is telling us to take and live; to trust and be satisfied. On this footing, and it is the true one, there should be an instant transition from death to life, from darkness to the marvellous light of the gospel. Let us not think that the way of being washed from our sins is anything more complex or circuitous than this, else we fall into the error of Naaman the Syrian, when told to wash him from his leprosy in the waters of Jordan, 'We are washed from our sins through the blood of Christ.' But this is, through faith in his blood. Let us so believe; and so shall it be done unto us. These are plain sayings; yet how few think of a salvation so nigh, and so placed by God within our reach, even that God who offers and entreats, and beseeches and commands, nay, threatens it upon our acceptance! What need of prayer, then, that the scales might fall from our eyes!" H. S. (Chalmers to his daughter, July 24, 1841). 4. Saturday In the verses just before the apostle discusses the character of God, as it is exhibited to fallen, sinful man. This character is love. In the eighth verse, and again in the sixteenth he "God is love." Wonderful verse, says, words these! The apostle would not say, "God loves," or "God has love;" but "God God's is love," love itself; that is to say, love, like all his attributes, is perfect, complete, consummate, wonderful. But how do we know this? Because he created us? because he abundantly blesses us with health, plenty, comfort, luxury? No. These are not the circumstances by which we judge of God's immense love; and, therefore, St. John leads us higher, and says: In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." But he takes us higher still in the verse which forms our text; for he says, "Herein is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." That is, the apostle would say, God's love was indeed exhibited in having sent his only-begotten Son; but it was exhibited in far mightier energy, with vastly increased magnitude, in colours far more gorgeous, imposing, and excellent; when we remember the fact that God loved us without our loving him, nay, while we were enemies to him, that he displayed this love by not only providing the means by which we might be reconciled to him, but by sending, giving his only-begotten Son, that he in our nature might obey the law for us, because we cannot obey it ourselves, and by the sacrifice of his body make the propitiation for the sins of the whole world. So this apostle confirms the testimony of another, who thus writes on the same topic, "God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Now, there are three chief points here to be considered, the facts which God the Holy Ghost here puts before us— I. Our state by nature, i. e., enmity against God: "Herein is love, not that we loved God." II. The fact that God loves man, though fallen: "He loved us, and sent his Son." III. The provision his love has made for us: "He sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." God; for what can an enemy do more than to dishonour you in every way he can, to speak ill of you, despise your orders, disregard your wishes, and live in rebellion against your lawful authority? This is exactly what the poor wretch does, who does not love God. He serves the devil, who hates God, and all that is good and holy. He then despises the commandments of his Maker, and shows that he does so by breaking them. He disregards the will of God; for he refuses to listen to it as it is revealed to him in the written word, or as it speaks to his sometimes moved conscience. And thus he lives in rebellion against the King of kings, in hatred against his Father, Preserver, Redeemer. But you will say, perhaps, "This is the character of the very profane and wicked; whom everbody condemns as the devil's friends, and God's enemies." True, we reply; but, if you pass on to observe those whose position in life prevents them from committing great sins in public, or whose education has properly trained them to dislike and avoid the grosser vices of humanity, unless they have been converted to God, made new creatures by his Holy Spirit, they are still the enemies of God; for they are living in disobedience to his will. For such, if they seek salvation, seek it not altogether through the Son of God, but through themselves, through their own doings, and their own fancied merits; not remembering that the word of God denounces all the righteousness of man as utterly worthless to pro cure salvation; not remembering that God says, as plainly as language can speak, that no works of man, no virtues, no education, no talent can save man; but, that if he be saved, it can, and must be, only by his grace, I. First we are to consider the fact, that through the merits of Jesus Christ. Then I by nature "we do not love God." This is put it to you, my brethren, to decide for your one of the principal features of our ruin, we selves whether, if men do not seek salvation do not naturally love God. Among earthly as the first duty of life; if they do not obey relationships we love those who are bound to the command to "seek first the kingdom of us by the closer ties, and we love those too God and his righteousness;" if they turn a who are in no way related to us except by the deaf ear to the gospel, its promises and its bond of dear friendship. We possess some threats; or if they attempt the hopeless task sort of love too, and usually show it, for those of procuring salvation by some other way who are kind and benevolent to us. But than that appointed by the Almighty, and relook at man in his relationship towards God, vealed in his gospel, can they love God? who is his Maker, his preserver, his bene- No; for they despise the richest boon he has factor every hour that he breathes. Man in given to this wicked world. And, surely, if his natural state, if he acknowledges this with they do this, whatever may be their natural his tongue, proves the falsehood of his asser- amiability, or what we call good disposition, tion by his wicked conduct. Surely, he, who they must after all be the enemies of God. can wilfully and openly break God's positive" The carnal mind is enmity against God," commandments and live in gross sin, cannot says the apostle Paul; and the "carnal mind" love God, whatever he may say; nay, he must is the mind which is still unrenewed by the hate God, whatever he may say. He is Holy Ghost, which has no sense and convic nothing more nor less than the enemy of tion of sin, which loves itself, and decides that, since great evil is avoided, and kindness men by nature; this is the state of each one ez manifested and outward duties attended to, of you, if grace has not converted your hearts. salvation must be the consequence. O fatal This is the awful state of the whole uncondelusion! O ruinous darkness! So that if verted world: "The whole world lieth in men say they are seeking salvation, yet do wickedness." The "natural man" is in a so, not by howing completely before the gospel state of alienation from God, is " far off" from G(not by yielding themselves to God as clay God; and therefore does St. John say, in the hands of the potter), but by doing" Herein is love; not that we loved God, works of their own, and calling these their but that he loved us.' de stepping-stones to heaven, are they not setting up their own doctrines against the p'ain doctrines of the gospel? Are they not thus disputing, doubting, and contradicting those gospel doctrines, and thus living in opposition to God's revealed will? Then, if so, they do not love God: they are his enemies. Yes, my brethren, believe me, that, if you will judge yourselves by the pure word of God, you will soon see that all classes of people who call themselves Christians, while their hearts remain unchanged, whether they be gross and open and notorious sinners, or whether they be only what are called moral and respectable people, or whether they be the self-righteous ones, who make their own conduct the groundwork of their hopes for eternal safety-all such are, in fact, the enemies of God. Now, I wish to put this very plainly before you, because, though it is so clearly expressed in the bible, the bible is so little ad and studied by people in general, that really the greater number of them are quite ignorant of the humbling truth of the gospel; and go on fancying that, if they are well-behaved and kind, and do not fall into very gross crimes, they will be rewarded hereafter as a natural consequence. They say the Lord is merciful; but they forget that he is just likewise, and must punish those who live and die in opposition to his will, and in departure from his truth. Not if your virtues were without number, not if you could live a thousand years in what we call goodness, would you obtain your salvation by these means. It is utterly impossible. God has pronounced it so: "By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified." Therefore your labour will be in vain if you attempt it. And while you thus labour you do not love God: you are at enmity against him: you are yet in your sins: you are in a lost state. Humbling truths these, my brethren; but they come from the gospel of Christ; and I pray that they may humble your minds. They are not the "witty inventions" of man: they spring from the fountains of God's unerring wisdom. And, therefore, if men are not humbled by them, if they resist them, and live in opposition to them, they show that they do not love God. And this is the state of all II. And this leads us on to the second fact which our text announces, viz., that, though man does not by nature love God, God loves him, and has manifested this love, by having sent his Son to be "the propitiation for our sins." As you have often heard, God hates sin, but loves the sinner. He creates man with never-dying properties. The soul, even in its lowest state of sin, yet retains the stamp of the divine image in this respect-that it is immortal. When once it is called into being, it no more loses its powers, but goes on increasing in these powers, from childhood to manhood; and when God calls it to himself again it does not cease to exist as the body it leaves behind does; it does not cease to perceive and understand as the corpse does. Its faculties are yet in full energy, its powers in full exercise in another world more fitted to its nature; and so will it continue to exist. for ever and ever, doubtless increasing in knowledge, in comprehension, in capability of enlarging happiness, or more deep despair, eternal glory, or eternal shame. But, though dyed with sin the moment it begins to live in this world, the soul, my brethren, may be cleansed of its inquities, and so made fit even to dwell in the palaces of heavenly majesty itself. On the other hand, if it should not be cleansed, if it should pass from this world in its natural state, then it must be doomed to the lowest depths of degradation, and be for ever the tenant of that awful world of sin, where the devil and his angels hold their cruel and abominable dominion. But God loves your souls. He would see them rescued from the wilderness of sin, and transplanted into the happy regions of holiness. He would rather exercise his bright attribute of mercy than the stern attribute of condemning justice. But man was lost by sin. Sin had ruined him; sin had destroyed the excellence, the purity, the perfect innocence which marked him as he came fresh from the hands of his Maker. How was he to be restored? Could he restore himself? No; for now he could do no good thing whatever. Sin was mixed up with his every thought, word, and action. Besides, how could he appease God's wrath against him? How could he turn away the just anger of the Almighty? Could he ask, as we read in prophet Micah: |