THE year, bustling and exciting as it has been, is drawing near to its close. The subjects which have so moved the public mind, as to leave few individuals unaffected, are passing into forgetfulness. Trite as is the remark, yet is it as important as it is true, that, although we may be, for the time, most strongly moved by questions of secular concernment; yet, like all objects of earthly perspective, their visible magnitude diminishes as the spectator recedes from them, while those which he beholds when looking upwards, remain always the same in their appearance, and are known to be always inconceivably larger than they appear. Morals have what are sometimes called their "common-places." And this is equally the case with religion. But it is only carelessness that thus speaks. We may give to the truth a verbal acknowledgment in passing, while we refuse its entrance to the innermost sanctuary of our nature. In saying to it, "Hail!" we may only think of the honour we do to ourselves by this passing, and often unmeaning, homage of our lips: to the throne of our hearts it is seldom conducted. Our language to it may be complimentary, for such language is cheap; but the claimed totality and supremacy of its dominion are practically rejected.

But He whom we forget is not unobservant of us. "The kingdom is the Lord's; and he is the Governor among the nations." And such declarations are not to be considered as possessing no meaning beyond something titular and honorary. It is a government of personal observation and administration. And it is this which men, even professedly Christian men, are so disposed to deny. The philosophy of Epicurus is deeply rooted in human nature; and is found extensively in the very precincts and inclosures of the visible church. Many are not unwilling to allow that "the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness VOL. II.-FOURTH SERIES.

thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein;" who will allow no dominion to him, except that which may vaguely be called so, as signifying his power operating in established and unchangeable physical laws. But such notions fall immeasurably short of the plain and evident meaning of those scriptural declarations which assert and describe the reign of God. And it is moral government, administered by a moral governor, founded on moral principles, observing and enforcing moral rules, and direc ed to moral objects and purposes. Nor ought the Christian believer by any means to lose sight of the great fact, that it is the God of Zion who reigneth; that it is on the shoulders of the Child born, the Son given unto us, that the government rests; that the Mediator is Sovereign, and that himself has declared, “All power is given to me in heaven and earth." In the "midst of the throne" which God, whose "kingdom ruleth over all," hath "set in the heavens," is "the Lamb," who is the "Prince of the Kings of the earth," "King of kings, and Lord of lords;" SO that Providence is evangelically administered: and, mysterious as its proceedings frequently are to shortsighted and short-lived man, yet, as one of its ultimate earthly objects is, the fulfilment of the declaration, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our God and of his Christ," so one of its most important rules is," Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine." And they whose "soul waiteth for the Lord," and who say, "He is our help and shield," have received the command, "Offer unto God thanksgiving, and pay your vows unto the Most High; and call upon him in the day of trouble: he will deliver you, and ye shall glorify him." Of the obedient subjects of this 4 I

kingdom, therefore, it is an unfailing characteristic, that THEY GIVE THEM

SELVES UNTO PRAYER.

We have endeavoured to speak explicitly on this subject, not only because of its great importance at all times, but because present circumstances render it specially so: not only because there always exists a proneness in some, practically at least, to overlook it, and in others, to deny it altogether; but because, at the present day, if it be not forgotten by them whose acknowledged duty it is to remember it, the tendency to its denial is manifested with a fearful strength and clearness of developement. Never were Christians called more impressively than they now are, both to cultivate, and practically to exhibit, sound views of the evangelical providence of God. A scarcely disguised infidel philosophy reasons against it; while by too many, even in the high places of the land, where the affairs of the nation are investigated and directed, it is only mentioned to be mocked, and that with scoffings as bold and shameless as they are bitter. There are times, as even Seneca could perceive and acknowledge, when not to do impiously, is considered to be great piety. A verbal confession of Providence, at all times insufficient by itself, is now most especially so. This is required from us; but it is now particularly required, also, to be unabashed, unshrinking, and practically consistent. In proclaiming to the earth that the Lord reigneth, the church must make it evident, beyond the possibility of doubt, that she believes herself. It is perhaps that portion of the once-delivered faith that is most immediately in danger it is the portion, therefore, which calls for immediate and courageous defence. "Tell it out among the Heathen, that the Lord is King; and that it is He who hath made the round world so fast that it cannot be moved; and how that he shall judge the people righteously."

Acting on the principles thus derived from the explicit teaching of the Scriptures, all who have sincerely and consistently acknowledged their divine au

thority, have always felt it to be their bounden, and at the same time most grateful, duty, when they have witnessed fruitful seasons and abundant harvests, thankfully, and in their public religious services, as an integral portion of their worship, to acknowledge, that "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man; that he may bring forth fruit out of the earth; and wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart." We are thankful, therefore, that in the "Book of Common Prayer," recognised by law, provision is made for the constant acknowledgment of this our constant dependence on the divine bounty, by the brief, but significant, petition, "That it may please thee to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth, so as in due time we may enjoy them; WE BESEECH THEE TO HEAR US, GOOD LORD."

But adversity is in Scripture referred to Providence, as well as prosperity, and is equally to be acknowledged. "I have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places. I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your figtrees and your olive-trees increased, the palmer-worm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord." This concluding language, which our readers will, we doubt not, recollect is repeated after each statement of particular infliction, indicates, beyond the possibility of honest doubt, the character of the infliction itself, as occurring in the course of the morally-providential government of God, and the object which it sought to secure. We are therefore commanded both to "trust in Him at all times, and to pour out our heart before him," ," "in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving to make known our requests unto God;" and of one of the most beautiful and instructive of the songs of Zion, the frequentlyrecurring burden is, "Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses,

O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"

In the year 1845, it was ascertained that the potatoe-crops, especially in Ireland, through a new and mysterious disease, had very extensively failed, and great distress even then ensued in many places. It was hoped, however, that it would be only a temporary visitation, and that plenty would return with the coming year. To plenty we have been so accustomed, that it is almost regarded as matter of course, and even temporary interruption occasions great alarm. In the present instance, so deep were the apprehensions awakened in the country, that the whole mass of public feeling was moved; and by the disease of a small root not only was British legislation directed into a new course, but a powerful, and in many respects a popular, ministry, were obliged to surrender office to their opponents.

But the potatoe disease still continues, and is, both in its ravages and its localities, far more extensive than it was last year.

Great distress is thus occasioned; and, in Ireland, the cry of famine is already heard, though the harvest has been so lately completed. By the failure of one crop, a larger number of persons have to be fed by other crops, and these, comparatively, have afforded a supply considerably below the average quantity. The consequence is, that provisionprices have greatly advanced, and some persons fear that they may be higher still. And all this at an early period of the foodyear. The weather is gradually changing; but winter has not yet commenced. Seldom, certainly not for many years, has the approach of winter been invested with so much of gloom, or connected with so many fears. It has, therefore, given us unfeigned and hearty satisfaction to find, not only that the Government is fully aware of the impending crisis, and is taking the steps which prudence dictates to lessen, as far as possible, the magnitude, and diminish the extent, of the evil; but that its members have not forgotten that they have to direct the affairs of a Christian people,

nor that, by the essential constitution of the country, divine Providence is explicitly recognised. Lord John Russell, Her Majesty's Prime Minister, in conjunction with his colleagues, has advised the Queen to direct, through the Archbishop of Canterbury, that special prayer be offered to God, that he may have mercy on us and help us. That Her Majesty would receive this advice gladly, we are fully persuaded; but as, if it had not been given, we should have blamed, not the Sovereign, but her unfaithful Counsellor, so now that it has been given, we are thankful to have this opportunity of acknowledging the truly wise and Christian patriotism of the noble Lord at the head of Her Majesty's Government. We should have been glad had a day of fasting and prayer been appointed. We believe that the solemnity of the occasion would have warranted the appointment, and that the vast majority of the nation would have approved of it. But his Lordship, we doubt not, has acted for the best. We can readily conceive that there were difficulties in his way; and we are far more ready to thank him for going so far, than even to whisper censure for not having gone farther. We are glad, too, because he has thus taken a step in the right direction. His present position is one of much difficulty. He has great evils to overcome; and to devise the proper remedy would seem to be a harder task, than carrying it into effect if it were known. We wish that he may be as successful as we believe he desires to be; and therefore we are glad that he has come forward, and called on the nation to acknowledge the providence of God, by prayer and supplication. God himself has promised to direct the paths of those who acknowledge him in all their ways.

And, as we have already intimated, we are the more thankful for this national step, because the doctrine opposed to it is seeking to spread itself through the land. In many minds it has obtained complete establishment. We could give instances that would, we are satisfied, surprise our readers. We will,

of very respectable publications, extensively circulated, and in many respects of much value, occur the following sentences. We give them in illustration of that which many regard as the only true philosophy:"But so far is meteorology from being, like astronomy, in the condition of positive science, that prayers for dry or rainy weather are still offered up in churches; whereas if once the laws of these phenomena were traced, there would no more be prayers for rain, than for the sun to rise at midnight." And as thus we are to get rid of prayer, so likewise of all reference to providence, as personal, living, wise, and moral. Thus, a page or two after, we read, "When we see so great a writer as Niebuhr unable to give any other explanation of the stability and progress of the Roman people, than that of destiny, -unable to read any signs but those of the finger of God,'-it is high time to bestir ourselves to rid the world of this

supernatural method of explaining

facts."

Because we know that such mischievous principles as these are insidiously spreading themselves, often in con

political doctrine; because we are thankful to see our rulers thus acting suitably to their character as rulers of a country whose constitution is essentially Christian; but especially because we believe that this public call to prayer will be heard through the land, and responded to in conformity with its intention,—and that, therefore, according to the merciful promise of our most merciful God, blessings shall come to us from Him who in all ages shows himself to be the hearer of prayer; we rejoice to put the fact on record, that because a scarcity of provision has been apprehended, and in some measure felt, by public authority the nation has been called to address prayer and supplication to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the God of nature, providence, and grace, beseeching him to hear us and help us. We trust that while the reasons for such special prayers continue, the prayers themselves will continue; that, in fact, they will not cease till the gloom has been dispersed, and that they then cease only by issuing in praise!

London, Oct. 21st, 1846.