But vengeance will his foes attend : And all thy chosen cheer; J. DE L. HOBSON. Hallelujah! "let the chorus Loud from ransomed souls ascend; Jesus! sway thy sceptre o'er us, For thy mercy knows no end. Hallelujah! all possessing, Thee we 'll laud in songs divine; Glory, honour, power, and blessing, Be, dear Lord, for ever thine. EMMELINE. ON THE LOVE OF CHRIST. It was indeed amazing love, He tabernacled here below, Oh! wondrous love, my soul adore, While in this vale of tears I stay, CHARLOTTE. "" HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOR EVER." LORD, to thee enthroned in glory, Mercy shone in rays resplendant, Laid thy princely glory by. Mercy still through endless ages Is our shield, our hope, our stay. Mercy great, surpassing measure, Towards thy church remains unmoved; Wandering oft, yet still thy treasure,Dearly bought, and dearly loved. Mercy, till o'er Jordan's river Safe we pass, shall us attend; From each foe thou wilt deliver, Lord, thy mercy knows no end. Thus, while faith on eagle's pinions, Rends the sky's ethereal blue, What to us are earth's dominions? Crowned with grace and glory too. A LEGACY FOR SOCINIANS AND ARMINIANS. "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost."-2 Cor. iv. 8. SOCINIANS, Arminians, I leave not a few, With whom I could seldom have peace; I'll give them a hint, then bid them adieu;— In the grave all contention will cease. On the brink of the grave, I will venture to tell, (Although it will not be forgiven) There's not a Socinian below now in hell, Nor yet an Arminian in heaven. In hell even devils they cannot deceive, No free-willer's note above can take place; Where the singers are only elect. No harmony there could whatever take place, If to them the indulgence was given: Confusion again-for free will and free grace Would make even discord in heaven. ""Tis not him that willeth," and "You may if you will," Form a contrast that 's truly so great, I often have said, and affirm 'tis so still, They never together can meet. Election secured all the angels in light; They were free all the others who fell, In pride they united 'gainst Michael to fight, Till in flames they were cast down to hell. Since then they endeavour mankind to deceive, And succeed upon many occasions, To make war with God, and despise his de THE SPIRITUAL MAGAZINE, AND ZION'S CASKET. "For there are Three that bear record in heaven, the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY GHOST: and these Three are One."-1 John v. 7. "Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.-Jude 3. "Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience."-1 Tim. iii. 6. OCTOBER, 1841. A BEE-HIVE AND A WASPS' NEST. "Some shall depart from the faith, gwing heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils; forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats." 1 Tim. vi. 1, 3. Those two insects have, as the naturalists observe, a likeness in sundry particulars. The wasps have one common habitation, as well as the bees and are under the government of a king; who, as the king of bees, is the largest, and most beautiful among them. In the building of their cells and combs they are exact, and make them much like the bees both for their figure and size. But they make no honey at all, nor yet any wax that is fit for service; they live only upon rapine, and are injurious to most kinds of fruits; like thieves they enter by force into the hives of bees and devour the honey which hath with much industry been gathered by them. So eager are they after what is sweet, that any narrow-mouth glass set near the hive with a little sweet liquor becomes a snare to drown and destroy and is a security to the bees to prevent their theft, which pass the more freely into their cells, and are not tempted to endanger their lives, or to neglect their work by the sight of such a pleasing bait. October, 1841.] And now who cannot easily conjecture my thoughts on this subject? Is there not a double polity, or society of men, the one of which may justly be resembled to wasps, and the other to bees Wasps make combs, but they are empty ones; and heretics make churches, but they are void of truth, which is that sweet honey that is to be found only amongst the assemblies of the faithful. What else is that mother of abominations the church of Rome, notwithstanding all those pretences it makes of being the mother-hive, but a nest of angry wasps under the rule and sway of a spiritual Abaddon. How many swarms have gone out from thence not to make honey, but to destroy what others have made? Frauds, robberies, violence and murders have been the things which they have practised, and with which their habitations have been filled; have they not thrust their stings deep into thousands, who have detected their impostures, and who have been enabled to hold the mystery of faith in a pure conscience? Have they not wasted many places, which were like the garden of the spouse, full of all manner of precious fruits, into which her beloved might come, and eat of his honey and honey combs. Who FF ? can express the rage and scorn with which they have trampled upon those, that would not embrace their impieties ? How fruitless then must the attempts of those be, who appear as if they had forgotten what Amalek hath done (and they are not altered) yet are for setting on foot overtures of peace, and terms of accommodation between protestantism and popery As if the distance betwen the one and the other was more seeming than real, and might as readily be brought together as the two extremes of a serpent, which can, when it pleaseth, cast itself into a circle, and take its tail into its mouth. But who knoweth not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump; and so will a little error diffuse its poison through the whole body of truth, like a drop of oil on cloth, it no sooner falls than spreads; like a spark on tinder it catcheth, and runs at once. And therefore Paul would not for one hour give place unto false brethren, lest the truth of the gospel might be endangered. To do it then with the least prejudice to truth is sinful: and to effect it without, is impossible. Sooner may they reconcile antipathies in nature, than in religion. When therefore they have combined fire and water, without extinction of each other, and made an amity between the dove and the hawk, between the wasps and the bees; so that the one shall not infest the other, then may they promise themselves success, in making up the breaches between Babylon and Zion. But O that they who are so studious to make strife to cease between the Philistines and the Israelites, may be led by the Spirit to heal the divisions of Israel, among, whom there are great thoughts and searchings of heart. Is it not a pity to see the industrious bees, whose labours are so useful to the owner, to make war in the mouth of their hive and to bite and devour one another by those stings with which they should defend their cells against wasps and drones? and is it not a sad spectacle to behold christians who should be joined together, by the bond and cement of faith and love, to be divided one from an other, and in animosities to draw the sword, and to sheath it also in the bowels of each other? And yet such animosities there have been and still are between brethren. How the wolf must grin to see the sheep and the shepherds biting and worrying one another! And well he may. He knows that contentions are a surer way to weaken the spirit of love, and stop the progress of the gospel, than his old stale method of fire and sword. I could methinks give way to sorrow and let it overflow the banks, to see those who profess to be the humble followers of Jesus Christ, to be less tender of Christ's body, than the soldiers were of his coat; for few seem to prize that unity which is the glory of the faith of the gospel. If we are be lievers, have we not all one Father, God blessed for ever? have we not one elder Brother that loves at all times? are we not quickened by one Spirit, who is a spirit of love? Are we not enlisted in God's service as his sold. iers? how can we then turn enemies to one to another? O God do thou, who hast made that blessed promise of giving thy people one heart, and one way, put into them a spirit of wisdom and love, "That they may put on as the elect of God, bowels of mercy one towards another loving oneanother and forgiving one another as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven them." And that they may walk wisely to those that are without and loving one towards another; that by this all men may know that they are Christ's disciples indeed and take knowledge of them that they have been with Jesus and drank deep of his spirit. Amen, And while such waspish worms, The power to feast upon thy grace May truth direct my tongue, While endless ages roll; A TRIED SOLDIER SERIES OF LETTERS FROM REV. E. PARSONS OF CHICHESTER, TO A FRIEND. No. 8.-To be continued. My dear Sister. May the grace, mercy, and truth of God be sweetly enjoyed in your heart through an all precious Jesus. Amen. I arrived safe home with the blessing of God upon me, for I was not like poor Naomi, who went out full and returned home empty, but quite the reverse, as my sister shall see, if God will, that our dear, almighty everloving, wonderful working, eternal God and Saviour may be glorified. Now my dear friend you must know that when I set out to come to your place, I had but five shillings; and this was not the heaviest burden, but one far worse, that made every thing dark respecting my coming, which was this having bills brought in to the amount of ten pounds, and no means to pay; this sent me to a throne of grace often, and at times I was fully persuaded my good God would appear for me; and to the double and triple honour of his eternal name he did for whilst I was with you, working in the vineyard of my dear, faithful and honoured Master, he was at work for poor hell-deserv. ing me in a most marvellous manner, for the letter I received when at your house informed me that the good Lord had sent me five pounds from London; Oh that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his surpassing love to you and worthless me. But this is not all, my loving sister, for my good God and loving Saviour surpassed all my : expectations in his great and unsearchable kindness to me, the very least of all his children, not worthy to be called one. Oh my dear friend, little could I think that your kindness to me ever would run so high, or flourish so abundant; this reaches to the very heavens, and spreads his blossoms through the earth, and God will own and honor it, yea acknowledge it before angels, men, and devils at the great day and this fruit shall abound to your account. Now my dear sister, rejoice with me, for I went out empty, and the Lord brought me back again full; so much so that I had more pounds when I returned than I had shillings when I went out. But this will not give me satisfaction, no nor all the world, nor that which is in the world of a perishing nature. What then, says my sister, will. Methinks she knows, it is my Beloved; to find the giver in the gift, to have souls for my hire, the prayers and affections of the Lord's dear family, and sensibly and sweetly to have the approbation of the Almighty resting on my soul, and to enjoy the heart-comforting presence of a dear, dying, and living Jesus. O my dear sister, what has prayer done for us;-overcome sin, satan, the world, all our foes, and all our fears; brought Christ into our hearts the hope of glory, heaven into our souls, and the joys of it in part. Yea it has caused coaches and horses to run to my relief, and taken sleep from the eyes of persons and constrained them to come to my relief when I have been almost in a perishing condition, and brought flesh by ravens into my house when my children have been crying for meat, paid my rent and kept a house over my head, clothed my back and filled my empty belly, and that of my poor little offspring, when to all outward appearence I must starve for want. Yea, moreover, have moved the most stubborn and incurable diseases of body and soul, when all human aid has failed. This, and much more, the poor mortal that now writes is a living witness of. O my dear friend, pray with out ceasing, and you shall prevail with thy Jesus, and constrain him to turn with you; and do not forget the poor helpless worm, as he cannot forget you and your's. Many cries went out of my heart for you on my road home. God for ever bless you and your's, so prays, EDWARD PARSONS. PRE-EMINENCE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. "I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised." BELOVED FRIENDS-I do most heartily rejoice with you for the grace manifested in your experience; calling you, by an act of sovereign and eternal love, out of darkness into God's marvellous light, by which you may be assured that he that hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of redemption. I felt quite happy in witnessing your attendance at our social prayer meetings, and do hope that you will ever regard this exercise as a mean the Lord has appointed to impart spiritual instruction, and comfort to the souls of his children, fitting and preparing them to every good word and work, 66 As you have now entered upon a public profession of the name of Christ see that you walk circumspectly, redeeming the time because the days are evil;" and if at any time you feel disposed to forsake assembling with your companions in tribulation for prayer and supplication, suspect that all is not right within, and never let it be said of you "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you." I would remind you that prayer and thanksiving were two of the principal features in the experience of the sweet singer of Israel, and that in his most highly favoured moments we see them blessedly united; hence we hear him say "I cried to thee, O Lord, and unto the Lord I made supplication thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing, thou hast put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness: I will give thanks unto thee for ever." It is to be lamented that we, who are the recipients of so many mercies, should allow them to be buried in oblivion; and that because they are so constant and oft repeated in their communications we should overlook the hand that bestows them, and so criminally fail to realize the fountain from whence they flow. If we survey the works of creation, and contemplate the mysteries of his providence. even these are only so many faint expressions of his infinite wisdom, and skill. Indeed, from the highest angel in glory, down to the meanest insect that crawls beneath the earth, all unite in setting forth the intelligence, the power, and the faithfulness of him who speaks, and it is done, who commands, and it stands fast for ever. David was quite familiar with this interesting subject, and refers to it on many occasions, in order that he might exhibit the uncreated glories of Jesus, as contrasted with his own nothingness and insignificance; hence he says, "When I consider the heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained, Lord what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou shouldest visit him." This view of the character of Jehovah, in connection with a feeling sense of interest in covenant mercy, led him afterwards to say, all thy works shall praise thee, O Lord, and thy saints shall bless thee." Again, I would say, were it not for the insensibility of which we are the unhappy subjects, so numerous are our mercies, and so constant in their return, our whole lives would be one continued expression of praise and thanksgiving. Do we fail, my dear friend, of motives of excitement to this exercise! Think for a moment of |