day to the present I have diligently observed who those are that most strenuously plead for open communion. (See Luke vii. 30.) Certainly not the poor, the broken and contrite in spirit.

I have often said it, and again I repeat it, that in the primitive age during the life of the Apostles, no person was recognized as a Christian who had not believed the Gospel, repented of their sins, and been baptized in water into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All such had the remission of past sins, the Holy Spirit, free access to God in his Word, at a throne of grace, and at the Lord's table. The offering up of these persons, whether Jews or Gentiles, was most acceptable to God, seeing they had purified their souls by obeying the truth. No other persons were entitled to participate in these high and distinguished privileges. "God is a Spirit, and they who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." Oh, how much things are altered in our day! From whence does this arise? By what means has the present state of things been introduced ? What interest can any one have in perpetuating them? Certainly not the glory of God nor the salvation of man.-ED.

SCRIPTURE DIFFICULTIES.-No. XV.

"FOR Our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance."-1 Thess. i. 5.

THE truly sincere are distressed by being taught from this verse that the "word only" is powerless and dead, and unless the Gospel from the mouth of the preacher, finds or meets in the hearts of the hearers, a special gift of divine power, the Holy Spirit and much assurance, such hearers remain unconverted and destitute of saving faith. Should any of them say, I have not experienced any of these inward motions and therefore fear I am not converted, he or she, is taught to prayLord, send thy converting power into my heart; pour down thy Holy Spirit to convince me of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; give me the full assurance of faith; Oh! give me to feel that I am thine." Also, to sing,

"Lord, 'tis thy work alone, and that divinely free;

Send down the Spirit of thy Son, to work this faith in me."

With many, however, the distress thus occasioned and thus expressed, is of so poetic and exciting a nature, that they are found unwilling to doubt its propriety, or to examine with candour the teachings by which it is produced. Now, dear reader, if this teaching from this verse is error; how great, because wide-spread, is that error; and how strong the admonition to take nothing for granted in religion, until indubitably proved by the Word of Truth.

We first ask, is there any declaration in Scripture that the Gospel word alone (if it can be alone) is a dead letter, and powerless? If we are candid our answer must be, "Not one, or those who so teach would long since have produced it." On the contrary, we are there assured that word" is living and powerful;" "able to make wise unto salvation:" that, in fact, the Gospel is itself divine power-" the power of God to salvation:" that for such as should believe on him through his

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Apostles' word, the Lord Jesus prayed-and that by the same despised word all will be judged!

It is taken for granted that the Gospel proclamation would have done nothing had it come to the Thessalonians in "word only." This, however, is only inference and weak inference too. Inconclusive reasoners are always in extremes. With them, it is all or none. The accurate infer differently. "Without the power, &c., fewer persons might have been induced to give attention, and fewer persuaded by its truth. The word only, might thus have had less effect without being wholly ineffectual."

It is contended, that, in converting sinners all that man can do is to preach the "word," which, alone, is powerless and ineffectual: but if to meet the "word" from the preacher God puts his converting power, and the Holy Spirit's influence and divine assurance into the hearer's heart to prepare and dispose it for the reception of the "word,” then, but not otherwise, conversion takes place. This is plausible and captivating, being mysterious. Man likes mystery because it seems depth of wisdom. Those, however, who seek truth, find it first of all necessary to ascertain the meaning and intention of divine words; and in this instance naturally ask, does the Apostle mean that the power, the Spirit, and the assurance, were in the idolators who heard, or in the Apostles who preached? "Our Gospel came-unto you— in power, in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance.' Now can we, by any construction, make the Apostle mean that his preaching met or found these in the ignorant Thessalonians? Every candid person answers we cannot. Do not the words plainly say, the Gospel went from the Apostles to the Thessalonians "in," or clothed with power, &c.? Each answers, "They do," just as plainly as when one says, My letter of good news came to you, not open, but in a sealed envelope." It is thus conclusively ascertained that the power, the Holy Spirit, and the assurance, were then not in the ignorant and idolatrous hearers, but in and with the Apostles, clothing the words of their Gospel with divine manifestations and heavenly authority.

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We can now be at no loss to understand, that the power, the Holy Spirit, and the assurance, were soul-satisfying credentials and divine testimonials given by the Heavenly Father to his messengers and their message, consisting in "signs and wonders, and divers miracles (powers) and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will," confirming their word by amazing supernatural attestations, and through such "mighty signs and wonders by the power of the Spirit of God," making even Gentiles "obedient in word and deed." The Apostles' preaching was not so eminently successful in consequence of splendid talents, or the eloquently "enticing words of human wisdom," but "by demonstration of the Spirit," by which they spake, "and of power," in the miracles they wrought, and of much assurance in the undaunted boldness displayed, and the divine authority manifested in their words and works.

The happy effects of the Apostles' Gospel, thus preached and confirmed to the Thessalonians, were-They received the heaven accredited tidings, not as being the words of men, but (as they truly are) the words of God; they turned from idols to God; they became

imitators of the Lord Jesus and his Apostles; they waited for the Son of God from heaven; from them sounded out the Word of the Lord to other Gentiles; they became examples in works of faith, labours of love, and patience of hope; and they had the happiness of knowing their "election of God."

"Blessed are they who having not seen, yet have believed." J. D.

"I AM THAT I AM."

WHO ever conceived a more beautiful illustration of this sublime text than the following by Bishop Beveridge:

He doth not say, I am their light, their guide, their strength, or tower, but only "I am that I am." He sets his hand as it were to a

blank that his people may write under it what they please, that is good for them. As if he should say, Are they weak? I am strength. Are they poor? I am all riches. Are they in trouble? I am comfort. Are they sick? I am health. Are they dying? I am life. Have they nothing? I am all things. I am wisdom and power. I am justice and mercy. I am grace and goodness. I am glory, beauty, holiness, eminency, supremacy, perfection, all-sufficiency, eternity! Jehovah, I am. Whatever is amiable in itself, or desirable unto them, that I am. Whatsoever is pure and holy; whatsoever is great and pleasant; whatsoever is good and needful to make men happy, that I am.

ROME'S CONFESSION THAT SHE HAS NO

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SACRAMENTS!!

Seeing he (Christ) has ordained these determined actions, which we call sacraments, and no other, as the means of bestowing his grace on man-by these alone and no other can we obtain it. Hence, it follows, that no power upon earth can change what was ordained by Jesus Christ in the outward forms of the sacraments, without destroying them entirely; for if any change be made in what he ordained to be done, it is no more the same form to which his grace was annexed; and consequently ceases to be a sacrament at all."Hay's Sincere Christian, Vol. i. p. 368-Derby, 1843.

CHRIST instituted " immersion," according to the above. Can that baptism be valid in which there is No immersion? Again, our Lord in the "kingly repast" (Gr.) instituted bread and wine to be received by the church in remembrance of him. Then the withholding of the wine, must, according to this priest's own showing, deprive his church of this ordinance also!!

A NEW SECT ORGANIZED.

THE fanatical followers of elder William Miller, whose central idea in the beginning was, that the world would be burned up in 1843, after having failed in this and several subsequent calculations, have at last

held a convention in the city of Albany and adopted a creed; recommended the district organization of churches; ordained some five or more preachers; chosen a name, "Adventists," and regularly organized themselves into a sect; and all this in the face of an official disclaimer put forth a few years since, of any intention to form a party! Mr. Miller himself presided at the convention! If the world is not destroyed in accordance with their predictions, they have at least succeeded in forming a party-the highest ambition of many half-cracked geniuses in this day, who at least subserve the purpose of demonstrating the gullibility of poor human nature. Perhaps these results of the extreme tendency of the age to maddened ultraism, may in the end produce soberness of thought and action.-Christian Intelligencer.

A SURVEY OF THE WORLD.

By a very slight effort of the imagination, we can cause the hosts of eyil to pass before us; and what a spectacle to behold! First come the Jews, out of all nations under heaven, each with a veil over his heart, and stained with the blood of the Just One. Next, nominal Christians, by myriads, and from all parts of Europe, headed by one who drags a Bible in triumph, and embraces an image or an amulet instead. Then comes the crescent of imposture, followed by Turkey and Persia, by large tracts of India, the islands of the Eastern sea, Egypt and Northern Africa, the inhabitants of the largest and the fairest portions of the globe. After these, the swarthy tribes of Africa, central, western, and southern, with their descendants of the Western Indies, laden with the spells of witchcraft, and covered with the charms of their Fetish worship. Now come the aborigines of the two Americas, and the islanders of the great Pacific, fresh from the scalp-dance, the connubial feast, or the worship of the snake-god. Next, the selfish Chinese, one third of the species; in appearance all idolators; in reality all atheists-a world of atheists-to whom all truth is a fable, and all virtue a mystery. Last comes India; the nations of Southern Asia, and the many islands of the Eastern sea, a thousand tribes, including infanticides, cannibals-and the offerers of human blood, dragging their idol gods, an endless train, with Juggernaut at their head, worn with the toil of their penances, and marked with the scars of self-torture. And who are these that close the train? The Thugs of India, just discovered - -a vast fraternity of secret murderers-the votaries of Kalee, who has given one half of the human race to be slaughtered for her honour. Oh, God! and is this thy world! Are these thy creatures! Where is thy church? Oh, righteous Father! the world hath not known thee; and thy church appointed to declare thee, hath neglected to fulfil her trust! Christians, did you count their numbers as they passed? Six hundred millions at least. Go and testify this faithful saying, Christ has come to save them. HARRIS.

GUILT upon the conscience will make a feather-bed hard; but peace of mind will make a straw bed soft and easy.

ITEMS OF NEWS, STATISTICS, &c.

From letters received during the last month, we learn that some of the congregations are making progress, both in number and in moral standing before the world-consequently much of the prejudice formerly in existence in these places is dying away-while others appear to be stationary, not exerting that salutary influence which the truth is calculated to do when brought into full operation. Brethren, "let us not love in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth."-ED.