66

they

" they

incum

This has already been experienced. There is, undeniably, a much greater appreciation of religion,however short it may still fall of what there ought to be,-than existed half a century since. Though Popery and Unitarianism, and other kindred modifications of error, may be making proselytes, yet the Lord likewise adds to his church daily such as shall be saved.1 The church gains by those very departures from her pale. For, in truth, they never were her's indeed; else, as St. John says, would no doubt have continued with us; were spots in our feasts of charity; brances, not acquisitions; so that, vital Christianity is affected by their withdrawal, only as a tree is affected by the lopping off of its dead branches. The very heresies which characterize the age are a promising symptom: for they may be the mere effect of the powerful alterative of Divine truth, working energetically in the Christian body, and throwing out the disease upon the surface. The number of the godly is altogether greatly increased ; and there are doubtless many thousands in the empire, especially in Ireland, more than man knoweth of, who have not received the mark of the beast upon their foreheads. There are multitudes of the Lord's disciples, "but secretly" for fear of persecution.

1 'Protestants, as a body, are far more awakened than they were. They begin to value their religion, in proportion as they see that it is in danger. The hearts of many are weaning from the world, because its glory, even such as it had, is departed from it. Popery and infidelity are making common cause; and the natural effect has been, a closer identification of Protestantism and faith.'-WOODWARD.

Nor let me omit to mention, as another pleasing symptom, the healthful political reaction that appears to be progressing in the public mind. The tide of popular sentiment, that lately set so strong in the direction of revolution and democracy, appears to be rapidly turning. Britain, we would fain hope, is yet sound at the core.

It is another notable characteristic of the age, that almost all subjects are now investigated with greater accuracy than they were. Intellect is awake. The reign of prejudice seems fast expiring. Matters are no longer taken upon mere hearsay, but scrutinized and judged of, as they ought to be, by their own intrinsic merits. The revival of religion is diffusing a salutary moral and mental influence through the community. Surely this state of things looks auspicious for Christianity; which, the more it is examined in a spirit of fairness and candour, must ever appear the more deserving of all acceptation. Infidels, in general, are infidels only because they have never taken the trouble to give revelation a fair inquiry. They condemn it without trial without hearing what it has to say in its defence. As Bishop NEWTON says, They are only pretenders to learning and knowledge, who are patrons of infidelity.'

6

Again there never was a time, perhaps, when the gospel was so fully and faithfully preached in these kingdoms, as it is at present.1 "The LORD

'It appears from the second Report of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, that, within the last twenty years, accommodation and pastorship have been provided in Great Britain for 600,000 souls.

hath given the word; great is the company of those that publish it." And will their preaching be in vain? No: nor has it been, as the increasing multitude of the pious evinces.1

Once more there never was a period when the word of the Lord was so precious as it is in these days. The scriptures are disseminated in all shapes and sizes; with all helps and appliances; with every imaginable variety of attractive illustration. They are daily searched by the serious with prayer and a growing avidity; and made, as they deserve to be, the final referee and arbiter, in all cases of disputation. The worldly themselves appear growing weary and distracted with the conflicting opinions of man, and now at length begin to inquire, "What saith the LORD?" What could be a better omen than this? What a change, since the time when the sentences of Peter Lombard 2 were held in higher estimation in our universities, than the inspired volume! This increased appreciation and study of the scriptures affords a substantial basis for comfort and encouragement. For although the fruit may not immediately appear in that full luxuriance which were to be wished, and perhaps hoped for, yet we may be satisfied the Lord hath not put it into the hearts of his people, to make such efforts in his cause in vain. No: "

1 See Note XVII.

light is

2 A book composed principally from the fathers, designed to fortify religious faith with the aid of scholastic metaphysics. It was intended to form a complete body of divinity, and was the theological wonder of the middle ages.'-See LE BAS's Life of WICLIF. P. 95.

sown for the righteous." The seed may lie dormant even for years; still it is an incorruptible seed; " it shall not perish, but revive as the corn, and bring forth its harvest, although it be after many days. The period is rapidly approaching, when God will cause the precious deposit to expand in the hearts of mighty multitudes, and such an energetic moral resurrection ensue, as shall

astonish and confound the whole herd of infidels and scorners. Thus, while the armies of Israel are encompassing the walls of Jericho, blowing the gospel trumpet, the church is advancing with a steady, but irresistible progress toward her eventual triumph. The wall of Zion is built in troublous times. By means of preaching, scriptural schools, scripture readers, religious books, tracts, and other similar channels, the healing waters of salvation have been dispensed extensively over the land, and there has accordingly been created an under-current of godliness, flowing unregarded by the world, which shall, we trust, gradually undermine the foundations of the strong-holds of darkness, and burst forth and overflow the realm with righteousness.

How active have the godly been, not only in endeavouring to propagate the gospel at home, but moreover in despatching it to heathen lands. Hardly a ship leaves our shores for foreign ports, but bears with it either a missionary or a supply of the Scriptures. We observe also, that the amount subscribed to the various Missionary Societies has on the whole, for years past, been gradually

1

increasing. Thus, there are a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments." There is in the kingdom a holy seed, on whose behoof the Lord may say, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it. The righteous are the salt of the earth; and those in this country may haply yet be instrumental in saving it from corruption. Man's extremity is God's opportunity. He sometimes permits affairs to proceed to very desperate extremities, to show us the wickedness of man, and to force us to place our confidence exclusively in Him. We are naturally proud and self-sufficient. We lean upon any reed, in preference to the arm of Omnipotence. We are full, and reign as kings without Him. Then he allows us to go on, toiling in rowing upon the dark and troubled waters, till we are wearied in the greatness of our way, and at our wits' end. Then, when we betake ourselves to prayer, and get us to our God right humbly; and are feelingly persuaded of our own utter insufficiency, and disposed to render Him all the honour in the event of our preservation, the Lord cometh out of his place, walking upon the waves, and brings us into the desired haven. How forlorn, to all human consideration, was the position of the Israelites on their Exodus from the land of bond

1 In the year 1823, all the religious societies together raised L 367,000. In 1827 the sum was L502,000

From Rev. E. BICKERSTETH, on the Progress of Popery.'