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VIII. The Song of Solomon interpreted; being the Unfolding of the Mystery of the Bride; the Lamb's Wife. (Parts 1 and 2.) This little work differs from most of those noticed, in its more sacred object and spiritual character; and whilst we call the attention of the prayerful student of all Scripture to this profitable exposition and practical application of the Song of Solomon, we would remind all others, in the language of the writer, the ground is most holy, the subject most sacred; 'therefore put off the shoes from thy feet; let none approach the 'holy precincts but those who out of a pure heart love the Lord 'Jesus Christ in sincerity and in truth.'

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Men call for logical reasons in favour of spiritual gifts: we prefer such interpretations as are here submitted "from faith to faith," "comparing spiritual things with spiritual." It is a delightful and powerful argument for the present manifestations, "foolishness and stumbling-blocks" as they are to many of " the wise and prudent," that they have, directly and mediately, clearly and copiously expounded and enforced so much of the obscured and neglected portions of the written word, and have induced many of those who "hear what the Spirit says unto the churches," to redouble their zealous and devout searching of the Scriptures as for "hid treasure:" as instanced in the case of the writer before us, whose spiritual interpretations of the Song of Solomon most appropriately succeed his diligent_and instructive labours as the author of "the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ explained," and also of the justly-celebrated and widelyblessed effort advocating the glorious truth of the coming Bridegroom, entitled "A Cry from the Desert." We thus allude to the former and valuable services of the author, for the purpose of calling attention to his present and difficult undertaking, the sacred subject of which ought, however, to form a sufficient recommendation.

IX. Sermons and Expositions (1831-2) by the Rev. Edw. Irving and Rev. Nich. Armstrong. From Short-hand Reports of W. Harding. These little messengers of faithful testimony, we are happy to learn, have been, and still are, travelling through the kingdom; and we are bound to include them in our notices, if it were only to urge attention to the powerful discourses of Mr. Armstrong, whose pulpit labours, with every high and holy recommendation in their favour, have been too much neglected, even by the friends of those truths for which he has so ably contended and so nobly suffered; whilst he himself, though recently one of the most popular preachers of the English Church, and most loudly applauded orators of the Religious World, has been altogether abandoned by his Christian friends and brother ministers; and

all his zealous and talented and disinterested and efficient services for God and truth, forgotten; because he has taken the liberty of an honest man and Protestant minister, to ascend above the low-water-mark of this newspaper's or that society's standard of faith; to diverge from the current of modern theology, and launch into the ocean of Divine Revelation.

As Mr. Irving's ministry continues to be attended by thousands of all classes and opinions, the duty of calling attention to his reported discourses is not so urgent; yet we cannot but express a desire for most of our readers to procure and circulate the Sermon delivered on the Fast-day, "On England's Rejection of Christ; " and that "On the Tests whereby to discern the Spirits," one of several preached from the text "Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits; " which if some critics would read, they would find their charges against Mr. Irving, for rashness, credulity, &c., amply refuted. At present we confine ourselves to a most earnest recommendation of all Mr. Armstrong's sermons; especially those on "The present degenerate State of the Church," "The Millennial Rest of God's people," "The Reformed Church a defective Church," and "The Church as it ought to be;" also, "The funeral Oration at the Grave of the Rev. W. Wilks" (together with a sermon by Mr. Bulteel at the opening of his new chapel at Oxford), and "The Services at the Opening of Salem Chapel."

X. A Word for Inquiry, previous to Decision, in the Matter of the Manifestations. By one of the Congregation (late) of the National Scotch Church.

This pamphlet contains a statement of the general doctrine-a narrative of recent proceedings-notices of principal objectionsconsiderations in favour of the particular cases, &c. It has passed through two editions without being noticed by any of the religious magazines or reviews, excepting only the Edinburgh Christian Instructor, which names it in a postscript, and dismisses it with the compliment of being "by far the ablest in defence, &c." The rest of our reviewers (with whom we believe the Author has communicated, and to most of whom we understand he is known as the son of a late popular minister) have followed on this, as on other occasions, the course of the Times Newspaper, and, when not invited to circulate malignant misrepresentation, quietly "decline saying any thing upon the subject." This "sign of the times" is worth observing, as a mark of the value of certain loud and "liberal" professions about love of inquiry and freedom of discussion.

XI. The Prayer of Faith viewed in Connexion with the Healing of the Sick. By the Rev. H. J. Owen, M. A.

Although the latter part of the title appears to limit the subject, we can assure our readers this is an elaborate and efficient treatise upon spiritual gifts in general. Recommending it without reserve as a pre-eminently scriptural and satisfactory work, we cannot do better than select its concluding sentences.

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The great moral and conclusion of the whole matter which 'I shall adduce, you will find in St. Paul's language; Be not ""ignorant of spiritual gifts," and "covet earnestly the best; yea, brethren, "covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues." Apostolical advice cannot prove injurious. Cast 'off the fetters of any system which runs counter to the revelation of the Holy Ghost. St. Paul would not have you igno'rant of spiritual gifts: fear, then, God's just rebuke and 'righteous judgment upon voluntary ignorance and wilful unbelief. Covet earnestly the best gifts; such as may most effectually tend to the glory of God, and the edification of the 'church. Implore God to put that energy into your prayers, 'that you may open the mouth of supplication as wide as are 'the demands of your souls' well-being and the interest of the 'church at large. Implore the Spirit of prayer to be out-poured upon all her members: cry aloud, that God may attest his work as heretofore, and multiply the signs of his approaching 'advent. Let each true believer pray for larger, clearer, and more general manifestations of the Divine power in the church, going unto Jesus in the spirit of the Syrophenician (Matt. xxv. '21-28), and, without particularly specifying the nature and 'character of the blessing, implore God to "raise up his great power and come amongst us, and with great might succour us. Throw not behind your back the great question of spiritual gifts. Blot not out of the book the innumerable passages 'which speak of them as the property of the church, and the ""earnest of her inheritance" (Ephes. i. 13, 14; Heb. ii. 4; 1 Peter i. 12; compared with those numerous passages in 'the Acts where the descent and effusion of the Holy Ghost are 'recorded). Because you possess them not, and I possess them not, do not say, God will never revive his works which he did in days of old. Do not, building upon fallacious premises, ' repudiate hastily the manifestation of healing virtue, or 'the gift of tongues, as necessarily imposture and deceit; ' remembering first whose example you may be following, even 'the revilers and mockers of the Apostles on the day of Pentecost; and further, that Joel's prophecy, quoted by St. Peter upon 'that occasion, has hitherto received but a limited and partial 'realization, and evidently looks for a full and final accomplishment in days, as we believe, soon about to come.'

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'But while you follow apostolical advice in understanding and coveting the best gifts, oh, learn to bring forth abundantly ""all the fruits of the Spirit," in their varied and harmonious 'exercise; and especially to walk in that "more excellent way 'he shews you, the way of charity. Strive and labour to 'dwell in love; and then shall you be stirred up to know and 'to exercise the gift that is in you; and, however humble your condition, and mean your endowment, you shall prove a blessing. "Your prayer shall be heard, your efforts shall be honoured; and, though you may be devoid of all gifts which may create astonishment, those manifestations which come by others may be in 'answer to your supplications, addressed to the Great Head of the 'church; while there is one gift of the Father which no man 'taketh from you, even that gift which is in His Son, the "gift of ⚫ God, which is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.""

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XII. Narrative of Facts, characterising the Supernatural Manifestations in Members of Mr. Irving's Congregation, and other Individuals in England and Scotland, and formerly in the Writer himself. By Robert Baxter.

The publication of Mr. Baxter's narrative was greatly deprecated by his best friends, but it was strongly urged by many to whom he lent an ear, and they prevailed. It was on his own account, and for his own sake, that such a step was to be deplored, lest he should become hardened thereby, and irrecoverably abandoned: for the sake of truth, it is always desirable that every thing should be made known; and in this particular instance the truth which Mr. Baxter now rejects will, by his own narrative, be received by thousands who are not beset with those temptations by yielding to which he has been snared, and lies captive in the power of the enemy. This publication will not stumble the weakest believer: those alone who have no real faith will be injured by it: they will be supplied with plausible" grounds for hardening themselves in unbelief.

This publication, too, will put an end to those significant hints and portentous surmises which were so industriously buzzed abroad, and by which many were led to imagine that a mystery of iniquity is now at work, so deep and dreadful that it may not be uttered. The mystery of iniquity has been at work truly, but it was in the opponents of the work of the Spirit, whom Mr. Baxter has for the present joined, not in the spiritual persons he has forsaken: these last love the light, and desire to have the eye of every servant of God upon them, knowing that His allsearching eye beholds the inmost workings of their hearts, and that all things are naked and manifest before Him with whom they have to do. Mr. Baxter was received by the spiritual

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church as a brother, with full confidence; was admitted into their domestic privacy; saw them, without the possibility of disguise, in their seasons of closest communion with God; when some might charge them with enthusiasm, but when it would be absurd to charge them with hypocrisy;-and what is the testimony he bears? His whole narrative shews that Mr. Baxter saw nothing but that holy walk and conversation which becometh the saints of God. The regard I bear them as sincere, though deluded, followers after truth; the debt I owe them, as well for 'the affectionate kindness evinced towards myself, as also for the wounds I have inflicted or exercised on them.''The word spoken seemed to be the Gospel of Christ, and the effect upon 'the hearers a prostration of pride, and a devotedness, and apparent patient waiting upon God.' (pp. 2, 7.) And just as the evidence writers adduce, the testimony of Judas, to the innocency of Jesus and his disciples, both from his opportunities of knowing and from his having every inducement to detect any inconsistency in them; so Mr. Baxter's testimony may be taken as perfectly competent and impartial, and will, we trust, be attended with a different result,-that no man, who calls himself a Chris‹ tian, will turn disdainfully away, saying "What is that to us? see thou to it; " and that Mr. Baxter himself may be among the first to be recovered by reflecting on his own case.

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This impartial testimony we could not have but by Mr. Baxter's temporary fall; and though he represents himself as in the awful state of scarcely daring to pray, lest he should fall into delusion, yet we assure him that the prayer of faith is continually presented to the Throne of Grace for him, by many, who fear not to put all their energies into their prayers, and pour out their whole souls to their heavenly Father; who will not give his children a stone instead of bread, or a serpent for a fish, and who can, and we believe will, recover Mr. Baxter from the state thus fearfully described. Long after I gave up the work as delusion, the power so continued with me, that I was obliged to resist it continually when in prayer, the power would come and carry out 'my utterance in power, and I was obliged to stop to resist it. This was very distressing for a long time, joined as it was to the 'darkness and deadness of a mind so long swayed by such delu'sions; but, under such circumstances, all we can do is to hold fast our confidence that God will not abandon us; and to watch against every spirit of repining, or complaint against God; humbling ourselves, and pleading the blood of sprinkling of the 'Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world: His ' mercies fail not, but are new every morning.'

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To do what in us lies to help forward the recovery which we hope and pray for, we would make a few remarks; not in the expectation that the wisdom of man can help him, but in the

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