ORIGINAL ESSAYS.

XV.

ON CONTENTION.

THE writer of these papers would disgrace the pages of the Spiritual Magazine, insult the understanding of its readers, and incur deserved rebuke, were he on naming the subject for present discussion to travel beyond the limits prescribed by the title and usual contents of this publication. But the volume of inspiration is his directory, which, like the covenant of grace, is ordered in all things and sure, whence to gather all useful argument and profitable information.

Great disrepute is brought on those who embrace, what are significantly called the high doctrines, and much odium is cast on the principles of the doctrine of Christ, and even by some who possess the fear of the Lord, by the intemperate and inconsistent mode of defence adopted in the ebullition of zeal for the cause of truth. Because the apostle instructs his 'son Titus' to rebuke sharply those who had erred from the truth, licence is taken to treat an opponent with derision and contempt. And because the saints are exhorted to earnestly contend for the faith, there appears a determination in some, at all events, by doubtful disputation and bitter reproach, to prove how far they can oppose themselves to the letter and spirit of the apostle's injunction. The sin of Moses in the case of the Egyptian, and the language of the fallen Peter, when in the act of denying his Lord, instead of being as beacons warning them from adjacent rocks and quicksands, seem to be taken as precedents from whence they tacitly encourage themselves in the pursuit of their unwarrantable course.

The authorised contention, which it is the duty of the saint to be prepared for, and which the present more than any preceding state of the church requires at his hands, is far different from the contumely of scorn, or the taunts of insolence.

When the apostle addressed Titus, whom he so affectionately styles his own son,' he wrote after this manner :-There are many (of the church of the Cretians, over which Titus was appointed elder) unruly, and vain talkers, and deceivers, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's suke. And after giving the testimony of one of their own prophets to their base and abominable character, the apostle adds,This witness is true: wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. To the grief of all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, the church of Crete has its counterpart in very many churches now in existence, among whose members may be found such as answer precisely to the description quoted. There are many unruly and vain talkers, and deceivers. Such are they who talk of the great

increase of religious profession, as though it proved the augmentation of spiritual prosperity; who, though they profess to believe in the scripture account, that man by nature is dead in trespasses and sins, talk of universal offers, and general invitations; and who, though they pretend to exalt the righteousness of Christ, as being the sole ground of justification, talk of faith as if that alone were the procuring cause. And that they are deceivers, as well as vain talkers, it requires not the wisdom of the wise to prove.

These are they who now subvert whole houses, and are ever teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake, and of whom the apostle declares, their mouths must be stopped. It is clear from the whole of the epistle, he did not signify, hereby, that the Cretians were to be deterred or reclaimed by personal restraint, or that they should be menaced and reproved by reproach. Neither should those with whom the believer has to contend, in this day, be assailed with weapons that are carnal and contemptible; but, equipped from the heavenly arsenal, the weapons of his warfare mighty through God for effecting the determined purpose, will bring to pass the fulfilment of the prediction of the man after God's own heart-the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

Whether the principles, conscientiously opposed, consist of the description before-named, or proceed immediately from the fallacious ground on which they rest, or branch out of those particular dogmas; each and every obvious discrepance demands the preparation adverted to, and a prompt execution of the means which are thence abundantly supplied.

It is a commonly received opinion, that no circumstance more palpably betrays the weakness of a cause than the display of intemperance on the part of its advocates; and, in worldly affairs, it is often found that the proposition belongs to that class which needs no demonstration; but the firmness of the basis on which spiritual matters are founded, and the incontrovertible character of the evidence by which they are supported, forbid the possibility of real injury accruing, either from the hostility of avowed enemies, or the rashness of professed friends. And yet the dishonour and the disgrace resulting from an ill-contrived defence of the principles of godliness, when impugned by the enemies of truth, require the best exertion of a well regulated mind to remove the stigma, and that the believer may justified in his sayings, and may overcome when he is judged. The admonition, rebuke them sharply, it need scarcely be added, conveys such advice as this:-oppose their vain conversation, and all deceivableness of unrighteousness, by words of truth and soberness, which the adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resist. Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: in all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

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In the short epistle of Jude, the apostle having given a faithful description of certain men crept in unawares, distinctly informs those to whom he wrote, in what manner they should earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints. After directing their attention to the tremendous destruction brought upon the Egyptians at the deliverance of Israel from their iron bondage-to the punishment of the angels which kept not their first estate-to the cities of the plain, whose ungovernable iniquities suddenly received the reward of irretrievable woe, &c. &c. he writes, But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Hence, they who are called to contend for the truth may take another view of what are indispensibly essential to a fitness for the holy warfare in which they engage-never forgetting that they who strive are commanded to strive lawfully. The apostolic address clearly states the requisites necessary for such as are exhorted to contend earnestly, and is followed by a faithful caution for the effectual prosecution of the important design. Praying in the Holy Ghost, can be the spiritual exercise of those only who are being built up on their most holy faith: and, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life, can be the act of those only who are kept in the love of God. The caution contains that which in many instances is grievously overlooked, or grossly abused,-inducing innumerable disgraceful consequences; it runs thus-of some have compassion, making a difference. The instruction here given, on the truly important point under investigation, comprehends all that is necessary to be known in behalf of a consistent and scriptural contention for divine truth, and all that is necessary for the government of the mind on whatever branch of theology it may be employed. Let the subject be--the distinct personalities, or the glories of each person in Jehovah-the mighty transactions of the eternal covenantthe person, or the personal glories of Christ-the mystical union of the church to her living head--or any one essential truth of scripture proceeding from these; the faithful testimonies of the apostles Paul and Jude, furnish the man of God with all needful information, corresponding with the whole tenor of scripture instruction, and forming a spiritual directory, unto which we do well that we take heed.

It is too evident to admit of doubt, and at the same time so palpable as to defy justification, that the multiplied instances of indiscretion in contenders for the truth, arise from the abominable spirit in which they enter on their unworthy occupation. In the exercise of prayer, and when engaged in any other spiritual exercise in a right frame, the mind will be borne on the wing of faith to a dependence alone on him who giveth power to the faint, and increaseth strength to them that have no might: but, where are the tokens of the knowledge that is from above, and the wisdom that dwelleth with prudence, when men give full scope to the dictates of their carnal minds, ranging without controul in the forbidden field of their own unsanc

tified tempers? How dwelleth the love of God with him, who, professing to expose the errors of others, with ruffian impetuosity attacks their persons, and runs riot in vulgarity and abuse? That the ways of Zion are evil spoken of, and the faithful ambassadors of Christ are vituperated unnecessarily, as the consequence, is most certain; and one of the variety of fruitless means adopted to obscure the most brilliant star which illumines the christian hemisphere, proves the ready advantage taken of the officiousness of rash advocates. These are spots in your feasts of charity-clouds without water-trees whose fruit withereth-raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame-wandering stars."

The spiritual church of Christ is sorely annoyed by the world that lieth in the wicked one-much more so by the professing world-but most of all, by those of her members who justly incur the reproof, thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme! And it is not of necessity that moral delinquency should disgrace the character, 'ere the lamentable rebuke is applicable; for many writers, and even ministers, whose moral conduct may be irreproachable, by pursuing a course not sanctioned by the lively oracles in their defence of the gospel, become equally obnoxious to the charge. In such cases the powers of hell have cause to triumph, and the tide of sorrow from external sources rises to its utmost height in the view of the humble saint, and his afflicted soul seems ready to be swallowed up of grief: and often will his sympathizing brethren hear him in anguish of spirit exclaim, their mutual sorrows blending in the same acknowledgment, -It was thou, a man, mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance! We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company! Blessed be God for such gracious lessons of instruction in his holy word as these,—I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee; they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. And these,-Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season ; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.

(For the Spiritual Magazine.)

A MEDITATION ON LUKE xxiii. 34.

"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

"I WILL now turn aside and see this great sight." In these words I behold Godlike compassion, mercy so great, that only He who is infinitely rich in mercy could, under such circumstances, have uttered the prayer. But who can describe in suitable language-who can paint in proper colours the astonishing scene that is here unfolded? Would the artist personify mercy, and draw her in her brightest attire, here is the original from which he must copy: but his skill fails, he drops his pencil, and confesses that the subject is inimitable. Shall

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the most eloquent of human tongues attempt to speak of the grace our adorable Jesus as it here shines forth? his oratory appears contemptible when employed in such a theme, and every effort proves that language is insufficient to tell the wondrous story. Shall the angels around the throne engage their capacious minds, and exert their powers to fathom the depths of the love of Christ? They confess that the task is too difficult for them, and while they delight to pry into the mystery, they, having no personal interest in the subject, cannot proclaim it unto others. Who then shall undertake the work that angels cannot be employed in? Who can describe the tender compassion of our expiring Saviour?

The only instruments that God sees fit to use for this purpose are sinners; who contemplate the object, here beheld, with the interest that would be felt by the soul that realized that he nailed our Lord to the accursed tree, that he mocked the agonies, and trifled with the groans of the suffering Saviour. Such a character, when led to view the Lord of glory as interceding on the cross for his salvation, is enabled to unfold the compassionate heart of the great Intercessor, for the encouragement of those sinners who, like himself, have seen their crimes more aggravated than those of the very persons who were the actors in this diabolical tragedy. With the cross before him he will say, "behold, desponding sinners, behold Jehovah incarnate delivered into the hands of sinful men; see how they scourge, mock, condemn, and at last nail him to the tree! He who could defy his most implacable foes to prove a charge against him, now hangs between two wretchess whose lives were justly forfeited on account of their crimes. And while hanging there, what reproaches do his crucifiers cast upon him! And does he call for vengeance upon them? No; but his dying lips drop these words on their behalf, "Father, forgive them!"

Ask you, for whom does he pray? His own words shall answer; for those that the Father gave to him. John xvii. 9. He viewed among his blood-stained murderers, some of those who were chosen in him from everlasting, for whom he became the surety of the better testament, whose sins he then bore, and for whose crimes he was then suffering. Say you, poor desponding souls, that you would rather have heard that Jesus prayed for every individual that was concerned in his crucifixion? Think again. What encouragement could it afford you, to be informed that the High Priest interceded for some on whose behalf he was not heard; who notwithstanding his prayer for them, died in their sins, and will endure the blackness of darkness for ever? Such a statement cannot be calculated to ease your troubled minds, nor to bring you to trust your cause in his hand, and depend upon his prevalent intercession. It is cheering to you to hear, that those persons whom the compassionate' Saviour then had in his eye, were some of the blackest sinners that ever dwelt upon this earth, and were then engaged in the commission of the greatest sin; yet the Lord Jesus Christ beheld them with love as his own