UNTO PERFECTION. ilor's Slug. ignorant, unable to receive the higher truths, to comprehend the more exalted states of experience in the Christian life. As children they still needed to be nursed delicately, to be fed upon milk, and could still only linger around the first principles or rudiments both of religious knowledge and experience. The strong meat, the solid food, indicating the more sublime doctrines of the Gospel of Christ, and the richer experience, the higher blessedness, the more advanced and perfected gifts and graces of the Christian life, they were unable to bear. Leave, therefore, these first principles, advance beyond the mere rudiments of divine things, and go on unto perfection, that ye may be able to see the higher blessedness of the Christian profession, to receive the richer experiences of the Gospel, and become "able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and hight; and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled with all the fullness of God "--who "is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” To suppose that the great plan of human redemption contemplates in its adaptations and final purposes any thing less than the restoration of all that was lost by the apostasy of Adam to every one who avails himself of its benefits, is not only to place unwarrantable limitations on the system itself, but involves a reflection on the wisdom and power of God. It may in the abundance of its gracious provisions exalt us eventually far above the perfection of the first man, but can not fail in making provision for at least the attainment of all that was lost. If God is incapable of conceiving any plan by which degenerate man may be restored to purity and holiness, or in other words to the favor and image of God which he originally possessed, or if after conceiving such a plan he is unable to execute it, then he can no longer be accounted infinite in wisdom and illimitable in power. But if, on the other hand, he is able both to conceive and execute a scheme of redemption which by its immediate operation or progressive influence on human nature is capable of destroying all corruption and restoring all purity, and of effecting these results in all men on conditions consistent with the divine perfections and the constitution of man, if he refuse to do so, then we might call in question his own holiness and his love of purity and his hatred of sin. The Gospel, then, as a scheme designed by infinite wisdom and goodness, is a full and perfect remedy, designing in its ultimate action the complete restoration of man to purity and holiness, to the image and likeness of God. Whenever or wherever the glorious result may be accomplished, the Gospel evidently means that it shall be accomplished somewhere and sometime. There is therefore in every true Christian life an evident and never-ending progression toward an ideal standard of perfection-a progression continued through life and through eternity itself. It is impossible therefore to place too high the aims of the Christian, or the possibilities of religious experience, since the Divine Teacher himself places the ultimate standardning, progress, and consummation. It has its rudihigh as God, when he says, "Be ye perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect." Nor is it possible for us to say how far the Christian may advance toward this perfection in the present life; certainly we have no warrant to place limits upon his growth, while the examples and precepts of the Scriptures lead us to urge and exhort him to still higher attainments in the life divine. " Leaving the first principles of the doctrine of Christ," says the apostle, "let us go on unto perfection." The exhortation is based on the low state of Christian knowledge and experience reached by the Hebrew Christians, in contrast with the advanced and mature state they should have reached, both in view of the length of time they had been in the service of Christ, and of the gracious provisions which are made in the Gospel for still higher attainments in knowl edge, grace, experience, and happiness. In this state he compares them to children-weak, wavering, and Christianity, both as a system of truth and as an experience, has its beginning, its progress, and its consummation. As a revelation from God it has its first principles or rudiments of doctrine, such as repentance, justification by faith, baptism, the future life and | judgment-fundamental doctrines lying at the beginning of the truth of God. Beyond these it has also its higher and sublimer revelations, as of the ever-blessed Trinity, the glorious character, work, and exaltation of the Savior, the mysterious and all-pervading influ ence of the Divine Spirit, the vast scheme and purposes of redemption, the higher mysteries and more exalted experiences of the Christian life, the eternal life bestowed on the Christian through Christ, the life of progress to the full image of God, the revelations of entire sanctification and Christian perfection. As an experimental religion it has also its begin ments or first principles of Christian experience—such But what is the perfection which is set before the Christian as the aim and purpose of his life? We answer, first, it is an undefined perfection, an ideal standard toward which it is his duty and privilege ever to be approximating both in this life and in the life to come. God has placed no boundaries beyond which we may not go-he is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we are able to think or ask; there is no position in the Christian life where we may stop, and beyond which we can not go. Our ultimate standard is "Perfect, as he is perfect." But is there not a position in the Christian life realizable here and now, a blessed state of experience well marked, and constituting a well-defined attainment in the life divine, which has been designated as Christian perfection, entire sanctification, perfect love, entire consecration, etc.? To any one that reads the Word of God, we think it must be clearly evident that the Scriptures hold out to the people of God, and urge upon them, a state of Christian experience under these titles which they should attain in this life. It is presented to us both as a revealed doctrine, or as a state of high and blessed religious experience, and also in the form of earnest exhortations to strive after it, and in devout prayers for it on behalf of the people of God. What is this experience of Christian perfection? We say Christian perfection, for, when we speak of a perfection that is attainable here, of course we do not mean a perfection that is absolute, like that of God, or a perfection that is immaculate, free from all mistakes and infirmities, like the angels, or a perfection that is sinless, perfect in holiness, like that of Adam when he came from the hands of his Maker. We speak of a perfection which constitutes the true character, the completeness or fullness of a Christian, that character in which he reaches the will of God concerning him as set forth in the Gospel-in which he is complete as a Christian, and having reached which he may be said to be a complete, an entire, a perfect Christian, as the man who is fully grown, matured in form and faculties, may be said to be a perfect man. We conceive a difficulty in stating this experience lies in the tendency of the mind to associate the idea of absoluteness with the word perfection, and yet this idea can only belong to it when it is applied to God himself, while it is a word of very extensive use and application. That thing is perfect which wants nothing requisite for the end whereto it was instituted." It is in this sense perfection is used in its application to the Christian; he has all Christian graces; he answers the end for which God made him; he reaches the character which God has set before him. It is this St. Paul means when he says, "Put ye on charity, which is the bond of perfectness;" or when he says, "Whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus;" or when he says to the Corinthians, And this also we wish, even your perfection." It is what St. James means when he says, "Let patience have perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." " Such a Christian is perfect in faith. His faith is pare, strong, steady, resting upon God, receiving all the truths and promises of his Word, realizing all the facts and revelations of the Bible, resting sweetly on Jesus as the all-powerful and all-sufficient Savior, who is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, and who is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God by him. He has a faith that always admits him into close and precious communion with God in Christ, the faith of adoption that realizes a perpetual Father and Friend in God, the faith that sweetly works by love, that powerfully and enduringly lays hold on the substance of things hoped for, and is itself the evidence of things not seen. He is perfect in righteousness. His character as a Christian is complete and acceptable, to God. He is holy, good, true, sincere, without hypocrisy, and without deceit. His sins are all forgiven. He is justified in Christ. His heart is renewed after the image of Him that created him in righteousness and true holiness. God imputes no sin to him, and he commits no actual, voluntary sin. Of course we do not mean that this is a sinless perfection, that is, that the Christian is absolutely free from all sin or sinfulness, and from all possibility of sinning. The perfect righteousness of the Christian consists in the fact that all his sins have been fully and freely forgiven in Christ Jesus, and he stands absolved before God, while through the grace of the Holy Spirit he no more commits known, willful, or voluntary sin against God. For he that is thus born of God doth not commit sin-but the blood of Christ cleanseth him from all unrighteousness. He is perfect or complete in the fruits of the Spiritsuch as love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, patience, goodness, fidelity, meekness, temperance. These undivided fruits of the Spirit are in him, and appear in his life, in his manners, character, conver sation, intercourse with his family, his fellow-Christians, his neighbors, and his business relations with the world. He is perfect or complete especially in love. He loves God with all his heart, mind, soul, and strength, and his neighbor as himself. All his life toward God springs up and develops itself from love to him. He dwelleth in love, and therefore dwelleth in God, and God in him. This full and perfect love fills the soul with confidence toward God, casts out fear, and is the bond of perfectness. In like manner love is the ruling principle of his life toward his fellow-men-the charity that suffereth long and is kind, that envieth not, that is not puffed up, that is not easily provoked, that thinketh no evil, that beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. " He is perfect or complete in his devotion or consecration to God, his service, and his cause. He meets and fulfills the Lord's request, My son, give me thy heart" that is, thy whole heart-or the apostle's injunction, "Present your bodies living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God." It is a complete consecration, in which all we have and all we are is offered to God, with the desire and purpose that whatsoever we do may be done unto the glory of the Lord. He lives for God, as he lives in him. He accepts both the privilege and the duty implied in the great doctrine that we are not our own, that we are bought with a price, and should therefore glorify God in our bodies and spirits, which are his. God;" and, "May the God of peace sanctify you wholly," sanctify you now, "and may your whole spirit, and soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!" Here is evidently the indication of a present attainable blessing in the divine life. There have been long and warm debates on the question whether entire sanctification or perfection is a progressive or instantaneous work. It is evidently both. One mind looks at the evident progress of the Christian from regeneration to entire sanctification, and seizes hold of the obvious feature of progress. And such is the true Christian life; it is a growth, a going forward, an increasing in the knowledge and love of God, a perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. Sanctification is progressive. But another mind admitting the progress, the growth in grace, yet fixes the attention on the time when full consecration is reached, the day when entire sanctification is attained, and seizes the idea of instantaneousness. And so it is. Entire sanctification is instantaneous. There is in the Christian life a progress, it may be of days, or weeks, or months, or years, a progression toward perfection. But there is also a time, it may be after a very short or long progress, when the Christian reaches full consecration, a day or moment when he enters into the character of a complete or perfect Christian. In the advancement of the Christian toward entire sanctification there is progression; the actual attainment of entire sanctification is instantaneous; just as the approach toward regeneration is progressive, while the actually being regenerated is instantaneous. But how is this present actual state of sanctification to be realized? Says the inquirer, "I have been grow. ing in grace. I have been increasing in the knowledge and love of God and the Savior, and in the fruits of the Spirit. Now I wish to become a complete, a full, a perfect Christian. My heart is awakened to the importance and desirableness of a full salvation. How can I attain it?" The thing to be reached is perfect love, perfect faith, perfect rest in God. The condition of such a blessing is perfect devotion, a perfect consecration, a full surrender of our souls and bodies, our all to the keeping of Christ and the service of God. The essential and indispensable act on our part is an act of definite, conscious consecration; a giving up of ourselves to God, a complete surrender of soul and body; gifts, talents, possessions, all offered as a living, a whole sacrifice to God-a purpose to live for God, to devote to his service and glory ourselves and our all-a complete committing of the keeping of our souls and bodies and all our interests to the blessed Savior for time and eternity. While the condition of full salvation is full consecration, the medium through which we receive the full salvation, the perfect love, is perfect faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; and this perfect faith God will give us when we seek it with fixedness of purpose and earnestness of spirit. Like Paul, we first commit to the Lord all our ways and interests, the keeping of our souls and bodies, now and forever, and then with Paul's full assurance of faith we exclaim, "I know and am persuaded that he will keep that which I have committed to him unto that day." This full consecration, with this full, confident faith, or persuasion, brings to the heart full love, and joy, and peace in the Holy Ghost. The soul rests in the fullness of Christ. And so may the Lord "make us to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, to the end he may establish our hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints!" THE AMERICAN CONFLICT: A HISTORY OF THE GREAT REBELLION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 1860-65. By Horace Greeley. Vol. II. 8vo. Pp. 782. Hartford: O. D. Case & Co.-This is the completion of Mr. Greeley's great history, the most thorough, philosophical, and comprehensive history yet issued on the great "conflict." The author studies the rebellion not merely as a military contest between opposing forces, but in its causes, incidents, and results, especially exhibiting its moral and political phases, and the drift and progress of American opinion respecting human slavery, from the birth of the nation to the close of the war. It is not a hastilycompiled work, but a carefully-written and digested history, the author having spent nearly four years' labor upon it, besides availing himself of the studies and materials of previous years. The present volume is essentially military, as the former was civil; that is, it treats mainly of armies, marches, battles, sieges, and the alternations of good and ill fortune that from January, 1862, to May, 1865, befell the contending forces respectively of the Union and the Confederacy. "But he who reads with attention," says the author, “will discern that I have regarded even these under a moral rather than a purely material aspect. Others have doubtless surpassed me in the vividness, the graphic power of their delineations of the noise of the captains, and the shoutings:' I have sought more especially to portray the silent influence of these collisions, with the efforts, burdens, sacrifices, bereavements, they involved, in gradually molding and refining public opinion to accept, and ultimately to demand, the overthrow of human slavery, as the one vital, implacable enemy of our nationality and our peace. Hence, while at least three-fourths of the present volume narrates military or naval occurrences, a larger space of it than of any rival is devoted to tracing, with all practicable brevity, the succession of political events; the sequences of legislation in Congress with regard to slavery and the war; the varying phases of public sentiment; the rise, growth, and decline of hopes that the war would be ended through the accession of its adversaries to power in the Union." The volume is illustrated by portraits on steel of generals, statesmen, and other em inent men; views of places of historic interest; maps, diagrams of battle-fields, naval actions, etc., and is provided with an ample table of contents by chapters and a copious index. Such a work should be in every household. As years roll on its pages will become more valuable, and be a priceless legacy to the future patriot and statesman. of men, and ascribes all things to fate or chance. The notes are admirable, and are preceded by twenty-four pages, giving an able exposition of the structure of the work. We earnestly hope the professors of ancient languages in our colleges and theological schools will take into consideration the propriety of adopting this and some other works like it in the course of classic reading. THE JEWISH CHURCH IN ITS RELATIONS TO THE JEWISH NATION AND TO THE GENTILES; or, The People of the Congregation in their Relations to the People of the Land, and to the Peoples of the Lands. By Rev. Samuel C. Kerr, A. M. 16mo. Pp. 237. $1.50. Cincinnati: William Scott.-This is a very carefully-prepared treatise on a subject of importance to the student of the Old Testament, and one on which there is still great confusion both in the English version and in the renderings and expositions of commentators. The subject is the constitution of the Jewish Church, and the laws which governed membership in it, and which determined the relations of the chosen people of God to strangers living among them and to the nations surrounding them. By a very close and critical study of the original language and the various terms determining these relations, Mr. Kerr has gone far toward unraveling the confusion and making obvious the consti tution of the ancient Church. It is certainly a valua ble contribution to the interpretation of the Scriptures, and is obviously the result of a vast amount of patient A JOURNEY TO ASHANGO-LAND; and Further Penetration into Equatorial Africa. By Paul B. Du Chaillu. Author of Explorations in Equatorial Africa. With Maps and Illustrations. 8vo. Pp. 500. $5. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Cincinnati: R. W. Carroll & Co.-Du Chaillu is celebrated as an African explorer, both by the extent of his explorations and the prolonged and warm controversy over many of his remarkable discoveries related in his former volume. Entering into a territory previously unexplored by European travelers-the wooded region bordering the equator, in the interior of Western Africa-it was his good fortune to observe the habits of several remarkable species of animals found no where else. On the publication of his discoveries not only were his accounts of the animals and native tribes stigmatized as false, but the journey into the interior itself was pronounced a fiction. The controversy stimulated Du Chaillu to a better preparation for another journey into the same region to vindicate his former accounts by facts not to be controverted. The present volume is the report of the second journey, and is an ample vindication of the facts of the former narrative. It is proper to say, however, that most of the principal statements of the former book had been already fully Pp. 208. New York: Carlton & Porter." These letconfirmed by other travelers in the same part of Africa. Du Chaillu thus stands before the public as a reliable explorer, and his narratives occupy a foremost position among African wonders. The present volume fully equals the former in interest, and from the increased skill of the adventurer in the use of instruments and the construction of maps, claims to be more minutely accurate. and laborious research. LETTERS TO A SCHOOL-BOY. By his Father. 16mo. ters," says the author, "were written to my son, fourteen years of age, while absent at school. A father who understands the temptations and moral perils that beset the pathway of a boy of that age at school, can not conceal his solicitude if he would. These letters were designed to put the youth upon his guard, to make him watchful against temptation, to impress his mind with the importance and value of school-days, and to inspire his soul with the noblest aims. They express just what every thoughtful and anxious parent would say to his son at school. They treat of studies, books, games, sports, companions, duties, temptations, morals, and religion. As I deemed them necessary for my son, they may prove of some advantage to other men's sons; and so they are given to the public in this form." CHRISTIE'S FAITH. A Story by the Author of "Mattie, a Stray," "Carry's Confession," etc. 12mo. Pp. 519, muslin. $1.75. New York: Harper & Brothers. Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co. PLUTARCH ON THE DELAY OF THE DEITY IN PUNISHING THE WICKED. Revised Edition, with Notes. By Professors H. B. Hackett and W. S. Tyler. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Cincinnati: R. W. Carroll & Co. $1.50.-It is an admirable design to furnish this valuable classic as a text-book, intended especially for theological students as a sort of parallel course with the study of the New Testament. The title indicates the general object of the book. It discusses questions almost as old as man, and as interesting now as ever. It is the same problem that perplexed the mind of the Psalmist-the prosperity of the wicked and the apparent silence and delay of God in punishing the sins of men. It is remarkable with what largeness of view and elearness of statement the pagan Plutarch presents and meets the difficulties of the problem; few Christian writers have been able to do any thing better than to reaffirm his positions, and perhaps amplify and illustrate his arguments. Flourishing at the close of the first century, it is quite possible that Plutarch knew something of Christianity, and certain that he had considerable knowledge of Judaism. The discussion is in the dialogue form, representing a debate with a certain Epicurus, who denies the accountability 1867. With Notes and a Collection of American and SYBIL'S SECOND LOVE. By Julia Kavanagh, Author of "Beatrice," "Nathalie," etc. 12mo. Pp. 432. $2. New York: D. Appleton & Co. Cincinnati: R. either of the above books, and do not know whether W. Carroll & Co.-We have not read or examined they are good, bad, or indifferent. Both authors have written previous works of considerable popularity. For those who read this kind of literature these we presume are about as good as any. THE BANKRUPT LAW OF THE UNITED STATES. English Decisions upon the Principles and Practice of the Law of Bankruptcy. Adapted to the use of the Lawyer and Merchant. By Edwin James, of the New York Bar. 8vo. Pp. 325. $3.50.-This is a complete edition of the recent act of Congress establishing a general bankrupt law. Mr. James, the editor, was one of the framers of the recent English Bankruptcy Amendment Act, and has given much labor to gathering American and English decisions on the general subject of bankruptcies. The work is adapted to the wants of the general reader as well as to the lawyer, and will be very useful to the merchant. MISCELLANEOUS.-Sunday School Requisites.-Messrs. Carlton & Porter, of New York, have placed on our table several valuable contributions to the department of Sunday school helps. First are "Our New Sunday School Maps." No. I, "Map of the Scripture World," is first, a very neat, convenient little map, mounted on stiff pasteboard, exhibiting in a very clear type and distinct lines the Scripture countries from Italy on the west to Persia on the east, and from Sarmatia on the north to Ethiopia on the south. Secondly, the same territory on a much larger scale, about five and a half feet by four, on muslin, for hanging in the school-room. Then we have a "Sunday School Text-Book "-"Two Years with Jesus." This is the first of a series of studies in the life of Jesus, preparing by Rev. J. H. Vincent. The present little volume is designed for the first year-and views Christ as the "wonder-worker," giving a historical outline from Bethlehem to the Ascension-his journeyings and his miracles. The next volume, for the second year, will view Christ as the Great Teacher, embracing his parables, his conversations, and his discourses. Four little pamphlets addressed to officers and teachers come next-"The Art of Securing Attention in a Sunday School Class." By Joshua G. Fitch, M. A. "The Art of Questioning, with an Introductory Address on Training Classes," by the same author. What is a Child? or, the Properties and Laws of Chud nature Stated and Illustrated." By William H. Groser, F. G. S. "Our Battle-Cry: Imme diate Conversion." These will well repay the examination by teachers and parents. Knowledge for the People. Part 116, Tune-Union Chambers's Encyclopedia, a Dictionary of Universal Jack, 25 cents. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. tion. New York: Leonard Scott Publishing Co. LITERARY ANNOUNCEMENTS.-D. Appleton & Co. announce a very important and interesting work, entitled, "The History of the Navy During the Rebellion," by Rev. Charles B. Boynton, D. D., to be complete in two elegant octavo volumes of about five hundred pages each, extensively embellished and illustrated. The work will be issued on subscription only, at $5, $6, or $7.50 per volume, according to style of binding. Hurd & Houghton announce their intention of publishing immediately the Globe Edition of Dickens's works in thirteen volumes, at $1.50 each. Riches & Moore, of Columbus, Ohio, announce a new and beautifully-illustrated edition of the Melodies of Thomas Moore, Ireland's greatest poet, to be issued in ten monthly parts at one dollar each, the whole work containing about five hundred large quarto pages, beautifully and elegantly illustrated. To be issued only on subscription. Biterary, Briratific, and Statistical Zirms. LONDON IN 1866.-The tabular results appended to the Registrar-General's Annual Summary of London for 1866, recently issued, show that the estimated popu lation of the metropolis was composed of 1,416,919 males and 1,621,072 females. Without distinction of sex, there were 1,285,041 persons under 20 years of age; 1,023,549 of 20 and under 40 years of age; 542,812 of 40 and under 60 years of age; 175,031 of 60 and under 80 years of age; and 11,558 of 80 years of age and upward. The population increased in 1851-1861 at the annual rate of 1.73 per cent., and since 1861 it is estimated that London has received an accession of 234,002 souls. If the population continues to increase at this rate, while the area remains the same, new and improved sanitary arrangements will yet have to be provided for this constant accumulation of human beings, in order that the great increase to the population of the metropolis may become a blessing. The births of 54,956 boys and 53,036 girls were registered in London in the year; the proportion of births to population was 35 per 1,000. The death rate was 26 per 1,000 population, and the deaths of 40,978 males and 39,151 females were recorded. ers. THE ENGLISH CHEAP PRESS.-The greater part of the portentous political power now being displayed by the working classes of England, may be attributed to the influence of the cheap press. The daily and weekly cheap political papers of London and other English cities have a really enormous circulation among working men. They are all Liberal, or Chartist, or Democratic, and there is an intensity about their style of writing, and about their political appeals, that is calculated to tell with very great effect upon their readTheir assaults upon the aristocracy and the privileged classes are of quite a revolutionary character, and their mode of asserting popular rights certainly gives proof that the freedom of the press in England is something more than a name. These papers have taught the working classes their power. It may almost be said that they have created the power of the working classes. They have developed it; they have instructed it; they have organized it; they have displayed it; and now they are making it practically effective. It looks as though this power were becoming irresistible, and that it were about to assert a supremacy, which it is sure ever after to retain. |