Christian Counsel. ers, how naturally would pride swell his heart, and lead him to sleny God's glory! For the same reason the wise temporal prince, who would humble any one of his subjects, should heap upon him partial favours, and raise him to one dignified station, in preference to others more deserving; for should his subjects believe him just and impartial in his government, they must of courier become haughty, and arrogate to themselves the glory of his administration, And if princes have not yet adopted this policy, it is because (such is the blinds ness of men, and such their attachment to old habits) that no one yet bas ever had the wisdom to reduce this modern logic to practice. And what is indeed very worthy of remark, the truth of this reasoning is wonderfully confirmed by the well known fact, that all the warmest advocates for this doctrine, and especially the great INVENTOR of MODERN LOGIC, have themselves been unusually free from spiritual pride, and totally unassuming. Nay, to deny, that God rewards and punishes men without regard to their works, is to deny his sovereignty. And it ought to be high treason in every temporal kingdom, to maintain that the monarch' has any regard to merits or demerits in the distribution of justice : for being a denial of his power, it tends to subvert bis government. I hirdly, Moral and religious duties are in like manner incontrovertibly proved. Thus for an example: whatever an unregenerate person does is simtul : if he prays or searches the scriptures, he but displeases God and adds to his guilt: therefore every man ought, in wisdom and duty to God, to pray and search the scriptures. No works that a man can do will avail any thing to the salvation of his soul; of course every one will be condemned, who does not work out his own salvation. Every work, which a man does, renders him more deserving of eternal punishinent: If then he would escape eternal punishment, he must work with all diligence. The great business of a gospel preacher is to tell people that they can do nothing: for this end he is bound to “ reprove, rebuke and exhort with all long-suítering and doctrine;” “ for this is a faithful saying, and he must aftirm constantly, that they who have believed in Jesus Christ, be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” Fourthly, By the same happy mode of reasoning, the moderns have found the true spirit of prayer. It is now clearly ascertained that to pray by thie spirit is nothing more nor less than to pray without premestitution. And for this very plain reason ; that what a man preconsiders, weighs in his mind and rationally approves, cannot come from his heart: that only comes from the heart, which is uttered extempore, without forethought or reflection. This reasoning is founded on the well known principle of new divinity, that God's blessing does not attend the means of his own appointment: or that he will not help those who inake any attempt to help themselves by a holy life. This principle we might illustrate also by temporal things, in which no doubt, it is equally true. But the above will suffice for a sample of the pure abstract reasoning, by which the doctrines and duties of the gospel are explained and inculcated. “At some future time, perhaps I may shew how happily the same logic has been used in reasoning from the scriptures. Health and fraternity.-JOHN CALVIN. X. CHRISTIAN COUNSEL. known sin. IN Let your obedience be uniform, your life regular and consisteni. your behaviour be serious and modest; your prayers fervent ; your read- WRITTEN BY THE LEARNED AND INGENIOUS DR. OGILVII, at 10 years of age. A PSALM. His praise in softer notes declare, Each whisp'ring breeze of yielding air, 1. BEGIN, my soul, th'exalted lay, And breathe it to the soul. Let each earaptur'd thought obey, And praise th’ Almighty's name. 8. To him, ye graceful cedars, bow; Lo, heaven anlearth, and sea and skies, Ye tow'ring mountains, bending low, In one melodious concert rise, Your great Creator own ; To swell ta' inspiring theme. Tell, when attrighted nature shook, How Sinai kindied at his look, 2. Ye fields of light, celestial plains, And trembled at his frown. Where gay transporting beauty reigns, Ye scenes divinely fair ; [claim, 9. Ye flocks that haunt the hu mble Your Maker's wond rous power pro- Ye insects futt'ring on the gale, [vale, Tell how we form'd your shining frame, In mutual concourse rise ; And breata'd the fluid air. Crop the gay rose's vermeil bloom, And waft its spoils, a sweet perfume, 3. Yeangels, catch the thrilling sound; In incense to the skies. While all th' a bomag tarones around His boundless mercy sing ; 10. Wake, all ye mounting tribes, and Let ev'ry listning saint above sing;. Wake all the tuneful soul of love, Ye plumy warblers of the spring, And touch the sweetest string. Harmonious anthems raise To him who shap'd your finer mould, 4. Join, yeloud spheres, the vocal choir; Who tipp'd your glittering wings with Thou dating or of liquid tire, gold, Tie in gnty chorus aid: And tun'd your voice to praise. Soon as grey evening gilds the plain, Thoumou, protract the melting strain 11. Let man, by nobler passions sway'd, And praise nim in the shade. The feeling heart, the judging head In heavenly praise employ; 5. Thou, heav'n of heav'ns, his vasť Spread his tremendous name around, abode; Till heaven's broad arch rings back the Yeclouds, proclaim your forming God, The gen’ral burst of joy. (sound, Who call'd yon worlds from night; Yesiades dispel!"—th'Eternal said; 12. Ye, whom the charms of grandeur At once th’involving darkness fled, please, And nature sprung to light. Nurs'd on the downy lap of ease, Fali prostrate at his throne ; 6. Whate'er a blooming world contains, Ye princes, rulers, all adore ; That wingstheair,thatskimsthe plains, Praise him, ye kings, who makes your Uitei praise bestow : An image of his own. [power Ye dragons, sound his awful name To leav'li dloudi; and roar acclaim, 13. Ye fair, by nature form'd to move, te swelling deeps below. O praise th' eternal source of love, With youth's enliv'ning tire : 7. Let every element rejoice ; Let age take up the tuneful lay, Ye inunders, burst with a wiul voice Sigh his bless'd name—then soar away, 10 him why bids you roli : And ask an angel's lyre. A HYMN. G From tuy glorious throne above, In the awful dying hour ! Then vouchsafe thy sacred aid, Siew the originess of thy face. Brighten death's dark gloomy shade! Lezd us thorn this vale below, Give us, Lord, from earth to rise Sixte of trouble-scene of woe. To thy glorious Paradise ; Cain, REDEEMER, every fear, Let us soar on Angel's wings, wipe away eacii orduy tear; To thy presence, King of kings ! I. HAT sounds of great mercy salute our glad ear! What wondertul tidings from heaven we hear! Proclaiming to mortals,—"A Saviour is born.” God's glory on high and man's peace here below! 3. Shall angels sing praises and seraphs rejoice, And man, O ungrateful, not join his glad voice! 4. Let earth join her voice with the heavenly throng, Let saints and archangels unite in the song. And sing thro' all nations, “ A Saviour is born.” A manger his cradle-a stable his throne. To raise us to hope, and inspire us with love! To Christ our Redeemer, our God and our King: ANECDOTES STRAYING FLOCKS. W popular preachers. Good old Bishop Latimer told such complaining divines, ir l'eed your flock better, and then they won't stray.” TRUE COURAGE. A MILITARY officer, who was so unfashionable as to profess religion, being challenged by another, coolly returned this answer" Tell him that though I fear not man, I am afraid of offending God; and though I want not courage to face a cannon, I dare not venture to rush into the mouth of hell,” A SINGULAR CONFESSION. A PROFESSOR in one of the German universities, whose unconcern for religion in general was notorious, was not less remarkable for the care which he took in the religious instruction of his children: One of his friends, astonished at this inconsistency, asking him the reason of his conduct, he answered, “ It is because I wish my children may enjoy more peace of mind, anti more conient in this life than has ever fallen to my lot ; and this they can obtain by ilo oilier means than by possessing more faith than mysell. THE CIIRISTIAN. A CHRISTIAN on his death bed, being asked how he was, answereci, well :” do you think, said his friend, you shall die? “ Yes," replied he, “ that gives me no uneasiness ; if I die. I shall be with God, and it I live, Gulbe will be with me,” Marriages, Obituary, Sc. DANGER OF UNBELIEF. MARRIAGES: OBITUARY. to the prevalent disorder, a malignant Dysentury. lloraham Lewis-One of Mr. Benjamin Ufoot-One of Cot. Matihias Nichol --And one of Mr. Lerois Wheeler-Mrs. Martha Osborne-A child of dir. William Walker, OF OTHER DISORDERS. Departed this life, at STAMFORD, the 30th of November, Mrs. Martha Jarvis, in the 77th year of her age. - At STRATFIELD, the 24th of November, Mrs. Elizabeth Suley, in the 62d year of her age.--At STRATFORD, che ich of December, Miss Nancy Nichols, in the 23d year of her age. NOTE. The Presbyters and Deacons of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, are earnestly requested to transmit to the Printers of this Magazine, as early as possible, un account of the Marriages and Deaths in their respective parishes, during the month of January, together with such other matters as they may think proper to communicate. 70 CORRESPONDENTS. The piece, entitled, “ An Inquiry into the difference between Innocency and Holiness," has been receired, and is under consideration. in explanation of the doctrine of faith and Works, received from A. B. shill appear in the next number, ERRATLM.]–Eighth page, Art. 3d, line 1st, after the word “ vacant," huntut the wurds“ by dean or otherwise.” CONCLUDED FROM No. 1, PAGE 6. Thirdly. WHAT these powers of the Church are, and to whom each of They may be reduced under the following heads, viz. The power, 1. Of preaching 2. Of prayer. 3. Of baptism. 4. Of celebrating the Lord's Supper.. 5. Of confirming persons baptized. 6. Of ordaining ministers. 7. Of making canons. 8. Of jurisdiction. 9. Of demanding maintenance, First, The first of these powers is that of preaching the Gospel, which naturally precedes all the rest, because it is the means which God has been pleased to appoint for converting men to the Christian faith, in order to bring them into his Church, wherein the other powers are exercised. None have a right to preach without a commission; for how shall they preach except they be sent ? (n) Our Lord himself was sent and commissioned by the Father to preach the Gospel, (o) and this was one of the functions to which he was anointed by the Holy Spirit. In like manner he solemnly called and set apart his uposties to this office, (p) and gave them commission to teach all nations. (9) And this branch of the apostolic office, viz. preaching the Gospel, was derived to their saccéssors the Bishops. Hence St. Paul charges Timothy to preach the word, Pr) and one previous qualification required of such as were to be ordained Bishops, is, that they be apt to teach ; (s) but this power was not confined to the Bishops, or superior order of ministers in the Church, for the apostle calls the Presbyters his fellow-labourers, that is, his associates in preaching the Gospel; and Philip who was only a Deacon, preached the word in Samariu. All the different orders exercised this function; the Bishops, as invested with the plentitude of power, the Priesis and Deacons by an authority derived from them. Secondly, Another religious act, which has always been appropriated to the Clergy, is offering to God the prayers of the Church. In secret, every man is his own orator; and in private families, performance of divine worship is incumbent on them, to whom the care and government of the family belong : but in the public congregations of Christians, divine worship must be celebrated only by those to whom it has pleased God to commit this office. The presenting of the people's prayers to God, and interceding with him to bless then, has always been reckoned an essential part of the sacerdotal office. The apostles join the offices of preaching and prayer together: We, say they, will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. (t) St. James directs sick persons to send for the Presbyters of the Church to pray and intercede for them, (v) that their sins may be forgiven. And the twenty-four Elders in the Revelation, who represent the ministers of the Christian Church, hate every one of them golden rials full of incense, which is the prayers of the saints. (u) (n) Rom. x. 14, 15. (0) Luke iv. 18. (P) Mark iii. 14. vi. 9, (9) Mat. xxviii. 19. (r) 1 Tim. iy. 1, 2. (3) 1 Tim. iq. Si (1) Acts vi. 4. (0) James v. 14. (u) Rey. v. 6, с |