some time been felt, it is necessary that we should see human nature as it exists where the Gospel has never exerted its influence; we must see human nature as it exists in a perfectly unchristian state, and also as it exists in a perfectly Christian state. In short, we must see man as he exists in hell, and as he exists in heaven, before we can have a full conception of the greatness of the change which Christianity effects. Nevertheless, we need not go out of our own country, or beyond our own dwelling-we need not go beyond our own individual experience, if Christianity has ever touched our vital part, if it has ever been introduced into the well-spring of our life, in order to see and feel, too, that the change which Christianity effects is, indeed, a very great and wonderful change. 1. It is an inward and spiritual change. It is not a change in man's looks, conduct, or dress. It is not a change in his opinions or belief merely. It is a soul change-a heart change. The outward change that may appear in a Christian man is not, strictly speaking, the change, but the fruit of it. It is not in the eye, or the ear, or the tongue-it is not in the outward man that we are to look for this change. The kingdom of God is within man. The man who is a perfect stranger to the saving power of Christianity may use his eyes, and ears, and tongue-he may conduct himself, generally, just in the same way as the man who is most fully and totally under its influence. The forms under which this change will manifest itself in the outward life may be imitated, but the change itself cannot be imitated. It is inimitable, because it is an inward and spiritual change-a change that is going on in a region into which the senses cannot penetrate-a change which no man can know but he who has experienced it. The soul is ever true to its own character-if we could but look into it we should see it as it is. It is only by means of the outward man that it is able to act the mimic the hypocrite, and appear under a character which it does not possess. The soul-the heart of man-is Christ's kingdom. It is there He rules and reigns. 2. It is a thorough change. It is not a partial change, affecting only a few of the faculties of the soul. It does not act merely on the reason, or the will, or the affections, or the imagination, the memory, or conscience, but its influence runs through the whole soul, purifying and regulating all its faculties and powers, and thus imparting to it a new life. There will be new thoughts, new feelings, new hopes, new fears, new joys, new sorrows; in short, the man becomes a "new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.” The figurative language which the sacred writers employ in describing this change is very expressive of the thoroughness of it. It is described as a change from darkness to light-from death to life-from bondage to freedom from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of God. It is a new birth-new creation. 3. It is progressive. Although the change is a thorough change→→→ affecting the whole man-it is not perfect at once. The new nature can attain to perfection only by degrees. The regenerated man does not become a perfect Christian man at once, any more than a new-born infant becomes a perfect man at once. The infant arrives at perfect manhood by degrees the child grows into the man. The new birth which Christianity effects is the commencement of a new life, which, like all other life, arrives at perfection gradually. The child of God grows into the man of God. The progressive nature of this Divine life in man is often referred to in Scripture. "The path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." It is compared to a seed sown in the earth. "There is first the blade, then the ear, and then the full corn in the ear." There is a continual growth in knowledge, faith, hope, and love. The old nature is not subdued and expelled at once. There still remains the elements of the old nature, but they are not what they once were the ruling principle of life. The old nature, with its sinful propensities, is kept under, subjected, crucified by the new nature, and its power to do that is an ever-increasing an ever-growing power.-Phil. iii. 12-14; Eph. iv. 11-16. II. THE CONDITIONS ON WHICH THIS CHANGE IS EFFECTED. The leaven has no power to change the nature and properties of the dough unless it is brought in contact with it; and its power effectually to impart its own nature to it will depend on the position which it occupies in relation to the whole mass it has to act upon. The leaven, if placed on the surface of the dough, would no doubt act upon it, but its action would be very limited and imperfect. If it is to infuse its nature thoroughly and uniformly through the whole mass, it must be hid in a central position, having an equal quantity of dough on either side-then its action will be general, uniform, and thorough. Now, there is something similar to that in the condition on which Christianity acts upon the human heart. Christianity will not produce within us any change-will not impart to us its own nature and spirit, if we keep it at a distance from us-if we will shut it out of our hearts. If it is to work in us mightily and effectually, it must be received and retained. A full reception, and a faithful retention of Gospel truth are. the conditions on which this change is effected. 1. It must be received. It is not enough that we have a printed copy of the Gospel in our possession-that we are well acquainted with the letter of Scripture. Thousands have the Bible in their possession-are to a considerable extent familiar with its contents-believe it to be divinely inspired—and yet their hearts have never been changed by it. The truth, in order that it might work in us effectually must not only be known-have a place in the understanding and memory-but it must be fodged deep in the heart, where alone it can exert a quickening and sanctifying influence. Christianity has no power over that man whose heart is closed against it. It is only as the heart opens to receive Divine truth, that it will enter into it and purify and renovate it. 2. It must be retained. The leaven must be hid in the meal-allowed to remain there-not put there and then hastily taken away-if the meal is to be leavened. So Divine truth must not only be received, but also kept— held fast-if we would be made perfect. The Gospel does not come to us as a stranger, whom we are expected to receive and treat with civility for a while, and then bid him a long farewell. It comes to us as the bridegroom of our souls, whom we are to love and cherish as long as we live. It is not something which we are to receive to-day, and then cast away to-morrow. The work of reformation will cease, and the new life will die if it is not kept alive. This new life is not only given by Christ, but it is also sustained by Him. He is not only the source from whence it comes, but also the food on which it lives. He is to the renewed soul the bread of life and the water of life, which we must continually eat and drink if we would live and thrive and become strong men. It is only as Christ dwells in us and we in Him, that we can spiritually live. The soul in a state of separation from Christ is like the branch that is severed from the tree, it must be quickly grafted back again, or it will soon die. "Without me ye can do nothing." "For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord." This new life in its origin and progress is so constantly and thoroughly under the influence of Christ, so thoroughly dependent upon His truth, grace, and spirit, that it may be said that our life is hid in Christ, and His life manifested in ours. "I live," said Paul, "yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." Friend-Have you experienced that inward spiritual change which it is the design of the Gospel to effect? Does Christ dwell in your heart by faith? Are you becoming, day by day, more and more conformed to His image? Let me beseech you to remember that bodily exercise will profit you little; that mere conformity to outward forms of religion, that a mere head-knowledge of the Gospel, can never transform your heart and impart to you true and spiritual life. Christ alone can give you eternal life, and it is only as He is received into your heart, and dwells there, that you can partake of His life. Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father, so he that eateth me even he shall live by me." It is only as Christ dwells in us that our souls can be quickened and our hearts purified. It is only as Christ dwells in us and we dwell in Him, that we are able with open face to behold the glory of the Lord, and are changed into the same image from glory to glory. "A little Remember, also, that what is true of leaven as a symbol of that which is good, is also true of it as a symbol of that which is evil. leaven leaveneth the whole lump." The least tendency to that which is evil-a little error, if it is received, kept, cherished, hid in the heart-it will not remain there inactive-it will work there silently, yet surely and effectually. Beware, then, of the least tendency to yield to the temptations of Satan and the evil suggestions of your own heart-to distrust Christ-to forsake God. If it is not checked it will increase; if it is not expelled, and that at once, it may soon so spread its pernicious influence through the whole soul as to prove its eternal ruin. "Let the word of Christ dwell in your hearts richly in all wisdom, that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be filled with all the fulness of God." E. J. ROBERTS. Criggion, Nov. 4th, 1859. THE CHARIOT OF ISRAEL AND THE HORSEMEN THEREOF. A Funeral Discourse for the Rev. J. A. James, delivered in Legge Street Chapel, Birmingham, October 9, 1859, by the Rev. Peter Sibree. 66 'My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more."-2 KINGS ii. 12. DEATH is the lot of all men, for all have sinned. Only two individuals, Enoch and Elijah, of the human family, have escaped. Our adorable Redeemer tasted death for every man, that all might be left without excuse, who neg lect salvation, and that the future condition of the heathen, and the infant race of Adam might not be one of hopeless and absolute despair. The translation of Elijah, and the testimony borne to the truth of it by Elisha and the inspired historian, gives us enlarged views of the character and government of God, and goes to prove the reality of the fact of man's immortality. It also shows the possibility and certainty of his bodily resurrection. Flesh and blood, we know, cannot enter into the heavenly state, any more than can carnal and unrenewed men enter the kingdom of God. Yet in both cases it is still possible for the dead to be raised, and sinners to be converted. The translation of Elijah was sudden, and why may we not expect corresponding spiritual translations from the kingdom of darkness into that of His dear Son in the present day? Live we not under the dispensation of the Spirit? and is it not this which the prophet wishes us to understand, rather than that Christ or Elijah are to appear in person before the general judgment? Behold, I send Elijah before you, before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord, aud the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to His temple," &c.-Mal. iv. 5, and iii. 1. In common with my brethren of almost every section of the church in this town, I am called upon, alas! too soon and unexpectedly, to improve the departure of our beloved father in Christ. And I feel myself required in a measure to do so from personal and peculiar considerations. Long before I was called by Mr. James to be his fellow-labourer in this town, now more than twenty years ago, from my honoured parents, and from Dr. Bogue, his tutor, now resting with him in glory, I learned the interesting fact, that to my revered father's ministry, while an apprentice at Poole, in Dorsetshire, he was brought to decision of mind, and first enjoyed light and liberty in the Gospel. And oh! how great the grace, when he who came to scoff remained to pray! I should not probably have noticed this, to me, pleasing information, had not some (whether garbled and apocryphal I cannot say) statements appeared in our newspapers respecting Mr. James's conversion; but having only a short time ago, in a gratifying interview with him, received from his hands, in his study, nearly five pounds' worth of his books as a token of friendship, he then told me of that memorable day, when his anxious and trouble-smitten soul found peace in believing. He looked back on that period with adoring gratitude, and informed me the words of the sermon on which my father at that time preached, "He will be very gracious at the voice of thy cry; when He shall hear He will answer it."-Isa. xxx. 18. From which words I also discoursed the day after Mr. James's death, and now again am called to exclaim with heartfelt sorrow, 'My father! my father!" &c. 66 The subject is not inappropriate, for we may all, as well as the sons of the prophets in our colleges and universities, desire to catch his mantle, and be made partakers of a double portion of his spirit. I. The continuance of good and great men on earth is a privilege and blessing greatly to be desired. Elijah was a great and good man. Next to Moses, the servant and prophet of the Lord, a greater had not appeared in Israel, a type of John the Baptist, the greatest born of women, who went forth in the spirit and power of Elias to testify of the Redeemer that He is mighty to save! True greatness consists in the possession of eminent gifts and graces; but it was not miraculous gifts alone that distinguished this eminent servant of God, and raised him to his exalted position. It was not that he was so peculiarly favoured above other men, and fed by ravens at the brook Kedron-that he confounded the priests of Baal, by calling down fire from heaven at Carmel--was sustained by the widow's cruse of oil and barrel of meal in the time of famine-and divided the waters of Jordan with his mantle. It was not that he possessed these miraculous gifts alone, which a Balaam might have had without his grace. It is inoral and spiritual strength that gives vigour and force to character, and it is not difficult to trace a parallel between the prophet and our departed father in Christ, endowed as he was, amply with the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit. He declined university honours, to which, perhaps, our students attach undue importance, though none more richly deserved, from the soundness and consistency of his theology, to be associated with our masters in Israel as a teacher and doctor in divinity. Eminent men like Mr. James, combining in such delightful harmony the gifts and the graces of the Spirit, are the saviours and defenders of the church, their country, and the world. We can ill afford to lose the benefit of their ministry and doctrine, their example and their prayers. They are the salt of the earth, that preserve it from dissolution-the stars in Christ's right hand, that cheer us in sorrow and darknessand the refreshing dew sent to revive us in this parched and barren wilder ness. are They are not perfect. Elias was a man of like passions with ourselves. They are sent of God to be our teachers. In a subordinate sense only they the chariots of Israel, our bulwarks and saviours. They claim no supernatural powers-assume no infallibility. "I, even I am the Lord, and beside me there is none else—a jealous God. Look unto me and be ye saved." -Isa. xlv. 21. Salvation is the appropriate work of Deity. The ministers of Jesus never yet gave life to one dead sinner. The faith and hope they possess themselves, and call on us to exercise, are the gift of God, and no man can keep alive his own soul. Hear the expostulations addressed to Job (ch. xl. 9), "Canst thou compare thyself with the Almighty? Gird up thyself now like a man; wilt thou disannul my judgment? Hast thou an arm like God?" Stretch out that weak, withered, ulcerous arm of thine. Canst thou thunder like Him? Deck thyself with majesty and excellency; array thyself with glory and beauty; cast abroad thy rage and wrath; try thy powers on thy fellowmortals; look upon the proud and abase him; see if thou canst crush all the haughty ones of the earth, and bring them down. "Then will I also confess unto thee that thy own arm and thy right hand can save thee (v. 14); when thou canst establish the foundations of the earth, and bind up the influence of the stars." Let us tremble to usurp the offices and titles of the great Immanuel, who is "called Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins."-Matt. i. 21. None knew better the truth of this than our departed friend. He did not merge the minister in the Mediator, nor attempt, by any priestly assumption, to eclipse the glory of the Divine Saviour. He knew that the treasure was put into earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power might be of God and not of men. He possessed qualifications corresponding to his name. Such was his intelligence, benevolence, and moral strength, that the Angel shone forth illustriously between those apostolic epithets so significant of love and prac tical Christianity, John and James, that leads almost to the belief that there was something prophetic in it as suggested to his parents. He was, certainly, the most perfect man and minister, on the whole, I ever knew. He has been a messenger of mercy to millions, and one of the most glorious angels of the churches, and as such he was received and beloved by them. And is not the continuance of such ministers desirable, and is it wrong to express an ardent wish that such might be retained a . little longer on earth? The Jews at Mount Sinai received the law by the dispensation of angels (Acts vii. 53), and have not we, for more than fifty years, had the Gospel dispensed by one? Has a brighter star ever appeared of late in our horizon? one enriched with more. gifts, or a more persuasive eloquence, and who knew how to garland the most dry and uninteresting subjects with the richest and most appropriate imagery? His denunciations against sin and sinners, though accompanied with thunders and lightnings, had a pathos and power to soften and melt the most obdurate heart. Those who have heard sermons from such passages as these Is Ephraim my dear son, is he a pleasant child, how shall I give thee up?" &c. and "O, Jerusalem, Jerusa-. lem! thou that killest the prophets," &c. -felt his appeals to be irresistible. Like the preaching at Nazareth by the Son of God, men marvelled at the gracious words that proceeded out of his mouth. The kind thoughts he cherished towards all men, and the love of this seraphic angel clothed his themes with eloquence, and the compassion of his heart moved the tears and sympathies of others. We have lost the benefit of his instructions, his counsels and prayers. I am much mistaken if America is not greatly indebted for her revival to his fervent intercessions; and I feel persuaded Ulster and Newcastle, and every county and town in England and Wales, had a share in his supplications. Neither shall we, in this forsaken and now impoverished town, remain unblessed. We shall not cry in vain, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah ?" Men of sterling worth and commanding abilities, thanks to a kind Providence, have been recently sent amongst us. We see already the cloud of mercy moving towards us, and ready to break in blessings on our heads. "Go on, go on praying for re |