with the condition of the Covenant, as fulfilled by Christ alone, as well as the promises of it to be fulfilled to them; and with the promise of sanctification, as well as justification and glorification.—Boston.

FRIENDLY VISITOR.

No. LIV.

MARCH, 1823.

VOL. V.

Price one penny, or 7s. per hundred.

PRINTED AND SOLD BY A. FOSTER, KIRKBY LONSDALE; And sold by Seeley, Fleet Street, London; Timms, Grafton Street, Dublin; the Religious Tract Society, at their Depository in East Register Street, Edinburgh: and by all other booksellers:

Of whom may be had, in stiff printed covers, the four first volumes; 1s. 4d. each also the numbers for the four first years, bound in two volumes, sheep and lettered, 3s. 4d. each.

BENJAMIN C. THE SHOEMAKER.

Benjamin C. had long been an open infidel. He worked at his trade of shoemaking on the Sabbath, and carried home shoes to his different customers on that holy day. He was a shrewd, intelligent man; but all his religion was bounded by this notion, "God never sent men into the world to be damned!"

I

I often called upon him; but though he received me civilly, I had no reason to think that any impression had been made. On one occasion, I urged him to read the Scriptures, and gave him a Bible. His plea for not coming to church, was the want of a coat; and he was softened for the moment, when gave him the one I had on my back. But, Mr. Editor, the man was not sincere: the coat never brought him to church, and the neglected Bible is now testifying against him. After waiting a month, and seeing no fulfilment of his promise, I called at his cottage, and told him how dearly he would one day pay for the Bible and the coat, which he had received. The man seemed more hardened than usual; and merely replied, that his breath was so short he could not walk. About a week after this,

C

I was informed that Benjamin was very ill; and I fondly hoped that I might now see some signs of a change. On Sunday the 3d of February I called to see him, when the following conversation took place :

Minister-Well Benjamin, do you feel any fear

of death?

Benjamin.-I am full of fear-dreadful terrors ! M.—When I used to talk to you in the time of health, had you not some misgivings?

B.-Yes, Sir; but I kept them under.

M.-Why did you not give way to what you felt? B.-I thought the neighbours would laugh at me. M.—Ah! Benjamin, your principles won't do to die by will they?

:

B.—No, Sir, nor to live by; for it has been a time of misery all along.

M.-Do you feel that you deserve hell? B.-I have it, Sir! The devil has begun his work.

He

At this time, the dropsy had rendered him the most awful object. His eyes were starting from their sockets, and he scarcely seemed human. reminded me, "Sir, you told me I should not die a common death, and God fulfils your words." I observed, "Benjamin, I cannot see your heart; your confession of sin may arise from the fear of hell; but Jesus Christ can save to the uttermost ; his blood can cleanse from all sin." He replied, it may be So, but he cannot look on me."

I was now obliged to go, as evening service was about to begin. Some of the pious poor went to him, with a little sum they had collected among themselves; and proposed to pray with him; to which he agreed, but added, "it is of no use!" On the following day, the overseer removed him to his own parish, and I wrote a letter to the clergyman, stating his case. He was visited in the work

house, with great kindness; but it appeared, as if the Lord had "sworn in this wrath, that he should not enter into his rest:" for he died after a few days in a truly awful state of hardness.

May this affecting narrative lead the readers of the Friendly Visitor, to "work while it is called to day; for the night cometh, when no man can work!" May it lead us all to great searchings of heart, that we may know whether we have fled to that Saviour, who is "the way, the truth, and the life!"

SCRUTATOR.

ON THE ABSOLUTION.

The Absolution is that part of the service of the Church of England, which is directed to be read by the priest alone, immediately after the Confession has been repeated by him and the congregation. It begins with the words, “Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner," &c. and goes on to declare God's pardon to "all them that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel." A matter surely of some importance, to persons who have just called themselves "miserable offenders!" and yet, it is to be feared, little attended to, even by many well-meaning persons; perhaps for want of duly understanding what the benefit is, which it is intended to convey; and which, it is hoped, the following short explanation may help to set in a clearer light.

It is hardly necessary to remind any reader of the Bible, that all men are sinners: that God sent his Son into the world to save sinners: that the Gospel is the good tidings of forgiveness through him, offered freely to all such as truly repent, (that

is, are sorry for, and heartily desire to forsake their sins,) and believe these good tidings to be true. Such a gracious offer might seem sufficient, as it is undoubtedly" above all that we can ask or think." Yet our merciful Lord has still farther provided for the comfort of humble and contrite souls. He who knew what was in man, knew that such would be tremblingly alive to the fear of his displeasure, and anxiously desirous of some pledge or token, that God would forgive their sins; not only those they committed before they turned to him, but those daily sins, "whereof their conscience is afraid.” He, therefore, for their full comfort and encouragement, committed to his ministers the power of remitting sins. (See John xx. 22, 23.) Not that a priest, any more than another man, has an arbitrary power to forgive, or refuse forgiveness at his pleasure;-no; we know that none can forgive sins but God only, against whom they were committed; but from his Lord's commission, the priest derives the power and privilege of conveying God's gracious message of pardon, to those who are in a right state to receive it.

If any of us were convicted of a crime against the laws of the land, and sentenced to punishment, the king only could remit that punishment; but should he grant us a pardon, we should not expect him to bring it himself, or to write us a letter with his own hand to satisfy us of it; we should thankfully, and without gainsaying, receive it from the hands of the proper officer. Just so, we are to receive the assurance of God's pardon, through his commissioned officer, the priest; who is called in Scripture, his ambassador, as being sent by him, and acting in his name. And it is matter of faith, that we should not doubt the truth of his message, (that is, God's forgiveness of us,) if we are of that description of persons to whom it is declared to belong; and who