ledge. VI. On the Gift of Tongues.- Holy Spirit, has, it is presumed, been exVII. On the Interpretation of Tougues.-hibited in the foregoing explanation of them. VIII. On the Discerning of Spirits.-IX. The gift of the word of wisdom comprised On Miracles.-X. On Healings.-XI. On the whole scheme of Gospel doctrine, with Faith. XII. On the Diversity of Gifts. its perfect system of moral precepts and XIII. On the Diversity of Ministries.- positive institutions. The importance of an XIV. On the Diversity of Operations.-inspiration which should raise some to the XV. On the manger and extent of the Com- unquestionable dignity of infallible organs munication of Spiritual Gifts.-XVI. On and interpreters of the wisdom of the everthe necessity of Spiritual Gifts for the work lasting God, in all the glorious excellence of of the Ministry.-XVII. On the Nature its benignity and fulness, was understood and End of the Ministry.-XVIII. On the since Moses, the man of God, had received Difference between ordinary and extraordi- the living oracles to deliver to the Jews. nary Offices.-XIX. On the office of Evan- Prophecy, which was next in dignity, as gelists.-XX. On the evidence arising from under the Mosaic economy, gave instruction Miracles for the truth of Revelation. to the people, predicted such events as God XXI. On the perfection and authority of was pleased to reveal, and was distinguished Revelation. also by its divine adaptation to the devotional exercises of the church. The gift of the word of knowledge, uniting the true explication of Moses and the prophets, collection of the doctrine of the apostles, with a preternatural understanding and rewas of inestimable value, both for evangelizing the nations and instructing the be To say that this plan is filled up with ability, that the subject is luminously exhibited, and its practical tendency powerfully enforced, would be saying comparatively little. Indeed, we cannot trust ourselves to describe the plea-lievers. By these three gifts were all the sure with which we have, with great care, gone through the volume. We do not say that we never differ from the author in his views, but even when we cannot adopt his representations, we are instructed and profited, and we are free to acknowledge, that in not a few cases we have been constrained to ex change our own preconceived ideas, for more correct ones with which he has supplied us. We have been hesitating whether we shall enlarge the notes we have written as we read the work, and give a view of each chapter in regular order, or whether we shall present the reader with a few extracts from the volume which shall enable him to judge of its character for himself; and we have resolved on the latter mode, partly because the first would occupy a large portion of our room, but chiefly because the last will, we think, be more likely to have the effect we wish for-the circulation of the book. In the following passage Mr. Macleod gives us an epitome of the view he has largely illustrated, of the precise nature of the gifts spoken of in 1 Cor. xii. and Ephes. iv. treasures of wisdom and knowledge' communicated to the church, while the gift of these sacred treasures to all nations and tongues and interpretations readily unlocked languages. Moreover, to enable the disciples to defend themselves from false inspiration, imposture, and error, which, like poison, is subtle, quick, violent, and deadly in its operation, the discerning of spirits' was imparted to some. And the truth of the Gospel received the strongest confirmation from the gifts of miracles and healing; while the inestimable benefits of health and life itself, which they so frequently conferred, were wonderfully calculated to conciliate the esteem and confidence of all reasonable men." pp. 278, 279. That our readers may have as full a view of the subject as our limits will allow us to impart, we shall present the author's enumeration of the gifts mentioned in the "catalogue" to which we have referred, and the persons to whom they were given. After having shewn the errors on the subject, of Lord Barrington and Drs. Benson and Macknight, he remarks— "Having so far endeavoured to prepare the way, and gather out the stones,' we shall now present the reader with another table, according to our view of the real agreement of the several enumerations of gifts and gifted persons, and to the order "The obvious variety of the gifts of the in which we propose to discuss them : "It will appear from this table, that our account of prophecy, as being the only gift peculiar to a prophet; of the word of knowledge, as the gift of the teachers; of the denomination helps, as denoting interpreters, are the principal, though not the only points of difference between our view of the subject of spiritual gifts, and the explanations to which we have referred. Miracles Miracles. making the worship of God unintelligible by any means whatever :- For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding (or intelligibly) also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.' Were we to interpret these words as some “The practicability of ascribing to each do, we should suppose a man might pray order of mighty men in the Redeemer's and sing by the inspiration of the Holy service its appropriate spiritual weapons, Spirit, and yet not understand what he may be explained by the supposition that himself uttered; a supposition which (uneight sets of arms (agreeing with the num-intentionally certainly) reflects dishonour ber of the gifts of the Spirit) were sent to on the work of the Spirit, as if ignorance as many military officers; but that the di- and devotion could go hand in hand. But rection on three of the eight were partly to pray and sing with the understanding, is effaced in the carriage. The address on to perform these exercises in an intelligible five being legible, they would be delivered and rational manner, by using a language with entire confidence. To these you may which the hearers understood. Else, when compare prophecy, tongues, interpretations, thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall miracles, and healings. The other three he that occupieth the room of the unlearned sets of arms only remained to be disposed of; and this was done without difficulty, by comparing what remained of the address, and the articles to which it was affixed, with the names, rank, and situation of the "With regard to our modern Christian three remaining officers. You may apply assemblies, it is evident, that unless the this to the word of wisdom, the word of lines are read, a practice which certainly knowledge, and the discerning of spirits. rose from the unintelligible character of our These, as disposed of in the preceding singing, it often matters not to the blind, table, and illustrated in the Scriptures, are the bookless, the unlearned, whether the evidently correspondent to the orders to psalm or hymn be in their own or some other which they are attributed; whereas any other disposition of them would appear quite as incongruous as a wrong disposition of the parts of a machine, or an unskilful distribution of military weapons." pp. 73-75. say Amen, at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.' language, for they cannot understand it. Both they who compose, and they who sing our tunes, think of nothing less than making them the means of a natural and soothing communication of spiritual sentiments to the souls of others. Sense, indeed, is frequently It must not be imagined that the vo- so far out of the question, that, in singing, lume before us is merely occupied with words are strangely cut asunder, sentences are whimsically mutilated and dismembered, illustrations of a curious subject. It emphatic sentiments are friskily skimmed abounds with striking illustrations of over, and others, which are not distinguishScripture, and with practical observa-ed for emphasis or force, are again and again tions, an attention to which would emi-repeated. One consequence of the time nently tend to promote the happiness of and exertion required by a burdensome, the churches of Christ. Let the follow-complicated mode of singing, is, that a part, and perhaps a small part only, is sung of a ing passage, on singing the praises of psalm, of which Asaph and his brethren God, be read in proof: would easily have sung the whole, without feeling the exercise too severe a task on "Paul's reasoning against the use of fo- their vocal energies. And certainly a whole reign tongues, condemns the practice of song of praise, sung in a natural and easy strain, must be more edifying, than a part | A Letter to John Broadley Wilson, Esq. of it sung in a laborious and unintelligible manner. "Music, when cultivated by itself as a science, or a mere system of sounds to gratify the ear, leaves nothing for the understanding, insomuch that a pipe or harp conveys as much meaning as the human voice. Men thus sing like the choristers of the forest-sweet, indeed, it may be, but utterly without meaning; not surely like the holy prophets, or the angels of light, whose the beloved disciple understood, for he has preserved it: And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; hast made us unto our God kings and priests: song and and we shall reign on the earth.' Rev. v. 9, 10. Treasurer of the Baptist Missionary Society, occasioned by "A Statement relative to Serampore, by J. Marshman, D.D. with introductory Observations by John Foster;" including Original Correspondence, &c. By JOHN DYER, Secretary to the Baptist Missionary Society. 8vo. pp. 86. Price 2s. Wightman and Co. MR. DYER'S pamphlet having appeared at the latter end of the month, the want of time and the present progress of our Magazine, will not allow us to present so full an analysis of its contents as we could otherwise have wished-a circumstance, however, which we the less regret, because we doubt not every one will speedily possess the pamphlet itself, who feels an interest in the discussion, and because other pamphlets are shortly to be laid upon our table, which will recal our attention to the points at issne. For the present, therefore, we content ourselves by observing, that the Secre ticated narrative of all that the case demands. He rebuts the charges which have been urged against the Committee with such reckless temerity, by a reference to facts the most convincing, and in a tone and spirit the most mild, generous, and dignified; and greatly shall we be mistaken, if any unprejudiced reader can rise from the perusal of his statements without acknowledging that the transactions of the Committee, with their Serampore brethren, have been uniformly characterized by holy love, christian meekness, and unmixed integrity. "The primitive believers, it is manifest, frequently in private engaged in the exercise of praise. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.' Col. iii.tary has given a calm and well-authen16. And be not drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord.' Ephes. v. 18, 19. Metrical composition being, from its structure, most easily remembered, and this being very copiously produced by the prophetic inspiration so richly enjoyed in those days, seems more particularly referred to, as what the disciples could store up in their minds. By this means they could engage in alternate singing, which is supposed to have been then, as in after ages, frequently practised. This might be called a poetical or musical dialogue. What exercise could better excite meditation and devotion? Dr. Watts, I think, in his Improvement of the Mind, recommends when conversation has run low, even to the dregs,' that some one take a book, and after reading a sentence or two, that he should pause, in order to give the company an opportunity to make remarks. Thus alternately reading and conversing, they would the better improve the hours of social intercourse. The advice is good, but inferior to the inspired admonition. Were Christians to sing to one another wisely and intelligibly, for which unreasonable repetitions, fantastic slurs, and lowing semibreves are certainly not adapted, how much would the pleasure and improvement of social intercourse be promoted." pp. 186- 189. (To be continued.) The first question on which we suppose our readers would wish to be enlightened, respects the painful separation which has taken place--what were the grounds of it-and on whose shoulders mnst the burden of its consequences (we use the term in its moral acceptation) ultimately rest? The following quotation will supply the answer. "In the month of March, 1827, at a special meeting of the General Committee, forty members being present, discussions took place which terminated in a separation between the Society and the Serampore missionaries." This was chiefly "occasioned by the opposite sentiments of Dr. Marshman and the Committee on the following questions: 1. Whether the Society, maintaining or principally supporting certain missionary stations abroad, ought to have any share whatever in the direction or ma tion to all dispute or discussion on the subject of pecuniary claims-that, notwithstanding this, he should now bring forward a fresh requisition of one-sixth of the same amount, accompanied, as I am informed, by an intimation, that it is possible this may not be his ultimatum. This proceeding has all the appearance of a tentative process, designed to ascertain how far our anxiety to avoid a breach will prompt us to submit to his encroachments. What security have we against future requisitions if we yield to the present? What reason to suppose our encourage him to embrace an early opportunity of making further demands? It has all the appearance of the commencement of a series of unfounded pretensions and endless exactions. nagement of them, so as to have the means of restraining the expenditure within such limits as the other engagements of the Society rendered necessary?-2. Whether, provided the So-ready compliance in this instance will not ciety allotted for the Serampore stations as large an annual sum as their finances would possibly allow, they could sanction a further appeal for the same object, through a distinct and independent agency, to the parties who had previously contributed towards it through the medium of the Society?" The Committee contended, that such share in the management of the stations they assisted to support as the first question embraced, was their due; and that, after having assigned to the Serampore stations as large a portion of pecuniary aid as their annual resources would justly allow, they could not sanction that further appeal for the same object which is included in the second question. Respecting the successive and aug mented claims which Dr. M. made on the funds of the Society, we subjoin the following letter: "Bristol, March 12, 1827. "GENTLEMEN, "IT is with much diffidence that I presume to address you on the present occasion, nor am I certain whether I am perfectly in order in so doing; but conceiving this to be a crisis in the Mission, and not being able to be present at the meeting, I could not satisfy myself without communicating the result of my reflections on the important business which has called you together. "Dr. Marshman, it seems, as the representative of the brethren at Serampore, has instituted a demand of one-sixth of all the money collected or subscribed towards the Society, to be paid annually in aid of the Missionary operations going on there. It must strike every one as strange that this demand should almost immediately follow a preceding one which was acceded to, which he then professed to consider as perfectly satisfactory, and as putting a final termina "That a set of men, in the character of of the Society which sent them out, and Missionaries, after disclaiming the authority asserting an entire independence - after claiming an absolute control (whether rightfully or not) over a large property which that Society had always considered as its own, should demand an annual payment from selves, and thus attempt to make their conthose from whom they had severed themstituents their tributaries, is a proceeding scarcely paralleled in the history of human affairs. "I am utterly at a loss to understand on the position in which they have placed themwhat principle the Serampore brethren, in selves, have any claim whatever on the funds of the Society whose authority they have renounced, after appropriating to themselves the management of an extensive revenue, in the disposal of which they will not brook the smallest interference or control. Without reverting to former grounds of controversy, it will surely be admitted that the independence we have, for the sake of peace, conceded to them, is reciprocalthat our right to it is not less than theirsand that we are consequently at liberty to dispose of our income in the way which we conceive most conducive to the purposes of our institution. "It may be very proper, under certain circumstances, for us to aid the brethren at Serampore by occasional donations, regulated by the state of our funds, and the attention necessary to other objects; but this is essentially different from absolutely engaging to pay an annual sum, which would, in my humble opinion, be equally inconsistent with the interests and the honour of this Society. As our brethren of Serampore have chiefly exerted themselves in translations, and are confessedly in possession of great pecuniary resources, there seems no imperious necessity for regularly diverting those funds to their aid, which are unequal to the demand which Bengal alone would create, were our Mission (a most desirable event) concentrated within that province. Calcutta, to say nothing of other stations, cries aloud for more labourers, but cries in vain. "It has been said that we are indebted for our success to the celebrity attached to the names of Carey, Marshman, and Ward, and that but for the unbounded confidence of the religious public in these men, our funds would never have been realized. Supposing this to be the case, to take advantage of such a circumstance in order to bring the Society into subjection, would not be to make a very generous use of their influence. But I believe it is a mistake; it is my firm conviction that the Baptist Mission, like other kindred institutions, rests on the basis of its own merits, and that it will not fail to secure the confidence of the public, in proportion to the purity of its motives, the wisdom of its counsels, and the utility of its objects. If it cannot sustain the ordeal of public opinion on these principles, let it sink, rather than owe its support to the illu sion of a name. occasion, with the wisdom which is from "Your obedient humble servant, The whole truth will eventually be communicated, and the unrighteous cause will not be able to stand. The Sea Side; a Series of short Essays on the shores of the Epithet-exhausting ocean" never fails to produce in the mind of the pious and intelligent visiter. To contemplate the possibility of being compelled to an open rupture with our brethren of Serampore is unquestionably painful; it is their knowledge alone of our extreme reluctance to hazard that consequence which emboldens them to advance The present volume is from the pen these exorbitant claims. If we can avoid of an evangelical clergyman in one of it by a consistent and dignified mode of procedure, let it be avoided; but if peace ditable to his Christian character. His our principal cities, and is highly crecan only be purchased by an ignominious surrender of our rights as a Society, by a object is to direct the minds of those tame submission to unreasonable demands, who are accustomed to visit the sea and by subjecting it to a sort of feudal de-coast, into a channel of instructive, appendance, in all time to come, on persons we know not whom-whose characters we cannot ascertain, and whose actions we cannot control, the purchase is, in my humble opinion, too dear. The treatment of the Serampore brethren has not been such that we need shrink from its most ample exposure to the public; nor have we any other censure to fear on that head, except it be for lavishing upon them a too over-weening confidence. We have no such secrets to conceal that it should cost us a large annual payment to secure their suppression. "Of the three brethren, with whom we were lately in treaty, one is already gone into eternity, and the remaining two are advancing to that period of life which ought to make us pause ere we enter into engagements, which will give to persons of whom we know little or nothing a permanent right of interference with our funds. "The crisis is most solemn, and a hasty compliance with the present requisition may, when it is too late, make matter for bitter and unavailing repentance. That you may be indulged on this, and on every other propriate, and pious meditation. Such Debase the mind and heart of half the land; Pour luscious nonsense o'er the tender breast, And make it strangely sad, or wildly blest." Two families, the "Hamiltons" and |