the manner in which wakes and funerals are frequently conducted, loudly calls for immediate reformation. Some may ask, how is this to be effected? We answer, let ardent spirits be banished from the house of mourning, and Let the by that alone a reformation will be effected. practice of "serving," as it is called, be done away with, and then there will be sobriety, decorum, and solemnity, which should prevail amongst those who accompany the remains of a departed friend to the tomb. It is incumbent on Ministers and Elders to do all in their power, that such a desirable object be accomplished. Let Ministers propose it to their congregations; and let the most influential among the people, resolve, by affixing their signatures to resolutions judiciously drawn up, that they will abandon the pernicious, although prevailing custom, of serving out ardent spirits at wakes and funerals. Let the influential classes commence; others will follow the example; and, by the blessing of God, a reformation will be effected, highly important, both to the temporal and spiritual welfare of the community. W. C. wwwwww.x^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^www. ANDREW THOMSON, D. D. ST. GEORGE'S, EDINBURGH. A DISTINGUISHED genius, a laborious author, an eloquent preacher, a faithful Minister, a warm-hearted friend, the intrepid opponent of all he believed to be wrong, the zealous advocate of every good work-such was Dr. Thomson in the church: yet the Lord, wise and merciful, in the "very noonday of life, has called him away from his labours. Dr. Thomson had, on the morning of Wednesday, the 9th, assisted at the ordination of a Missionary to Demerara. He afterwards took part in a case before the Presbytery. Thence he retired apparently in perfect health; and when arrived at his own door, in company with a friend, dropped suddenly on the pavement, and expired within an hour. Loudly does his death proclaim to every Minister in the church: "Be ye also ready." The loss of such a man as Dr. Thomson, at any time, and under any circumstances, must be felt not more as a private loss to his friends than as a public calamity to the Church of Scotland. With what power he defended her doctrines and constitution;-with what zeal he laboured for the redress of her grievances ;-with what giant arm he smote the idols, patronage, and pluralities, all her members can testify. But his efforts were not confined to the Church of Scotland alone. The unwearied labours, the indomitable perseverance, the unblenching courage, with which he defended the cause of the Bible against the commixture of the Apocrypha, have made all the churches his debtor. He stood in the front rank of that noble phalanx of "Scottish Worthies," who, in the spirit of their fathers, were "valiant for the truth upon the earth." In no department of the churches will his loss be more severely felt than by his faithful associates in this good cause. May the Lord raise up some amongst them to wear his mantle! "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."-JOHN iii. 3. THAT the way of open transgression is ruinous, is admitted by many who have no correct idea of the nature of heartfelt religion. Such persons conceive indeed that reformation of conduct is necessary in the case of the openly profane, but they have no conception of any thing farther being essential. In the view of such persons, those who have always been of moral character, are considered to be in a situation entirely safe, independent of any internal change; and to speak of such persons having need to be born again, almost excites contempt. But the superficial views thus taken of man's condition, and of true religion, are not only essentially defective, but diametrically opposed to the word of God. Let such as embrace these opinions, survey carefully the view of the human heart, which was given in our last number; its deceitfulness, its carnality, and its desperate wickedness, and let them then answer the question, how it is possible that any creature so depraved could, without a total change of principles and character, become pleasing to God? Reformation of conduct would be but making clean the out. side of the cup and platter, while the inside would be full of ravening and wickedness. Let us in proof of this calmly contemplate the character of the individual who conversed with our Lord in the third chapter of John.Nicodemus was a Pharisee, no extortioner, no unjust man, no adulterer, but a correct moral professor of religion, and an earnest inquirer after truth; and yet when this man came to our Lord, he, instead of congratulating him Q as a saint, as the world would have done, immediately apprizes him that something far beyond his present attainment was essentially necessary to place him in the way to eternal life: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." What was indispensably necessary in the case of Nicodemus, is equally important to each of us; for that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and only that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Let no man marvel then if we say to him, and to all, "Ye must be born again;" but let our readers candidly and prayerfully accompany us, while we bring the solemn subject before them, and point their attention to this great and gracious change. 1. The necessity of this change arises from the fact, that man is by nature a fallen creature. God, indeed, made man upright, a fair image of his great Creator. His understanding was clear as the sun walking in meridian brightness; his will chose only what was in exact conformity to the will of God; his affections were attracted spontaneously and incessantly to the centre of all good, and to such other things as were pure and lovely; so that the whole current of his soul flowed in one clear stream of universal holiness. Had he retained this primeval purity, no change were necessary to glorify God on earth, or to enjoy him for ever in heaven. But man being in honour retained it not.-He ate of the tree of which God had forbidden him to taste; he rebelled, he sinned. His understanding became darkened, his will became perverse, his affections were set on the creature instead of the Creator. The whole head became sick, the whole heart became faint, so that from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot there remained no soundness in him, but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores. His sons were born in his own likeness, and humanity in descent became polluted by sin. We are all as an unclean thing, being conceived in sin, and shapen in iniquity, Ps. li. 5; and hence it follows, that if the Lord wash us not, we can have no part with him in time or in eternity.-John xiii. 8. 2 The author of the new birth is the Holy Spirit. In the work of atoning for the sins of a lost world, help was laid on the Lord Jesus Christ, one mighty to save. He bare our sins in his own body on the tree, and we are, in the great concern of justification, pointed by faith to him, as the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. But in the matter of regeneration and sanctification, we are directed to the Holy Spirit. Hence it is said: It is the Spirit that quickeneth or imparteth life to those who are dead in trespasses and sins.-John vi. 63. The washing of regeneration is called the renewing of the Holy Ghost.-Titus iii. 5. A man that is born again, is said to be born of the Spirit.-John iii. 5. And the whole work of holiness is called the sanctification of the Spirit.2 Thess. ii. 13; 1 Peter i. 2. Those who receive Christ are born not of blood, or earthly kindred, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Compare John i. 13, with John iii. 5, and it will distinctly appear that this change is the work of the Spirit, the third person of the adorable Trinity. The work is so great as to be called a new creation and a resurrection, a work so great that nothing short of Almighty power can be sufficient for its completion. 3. The instrument or means by which the work is effected, is the word of God. Sometimes the simple and serious reading of the word, but generally the plain and pointed preaching of it, is blessed by the Holy Spirit. Hence it is said, that the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.-Ps. xix. 7. And men are said to be born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever.1 Peter i. 13. Hence, also, ministers are said to be sent to open men's eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in Christ Jesus.-Acts xxvi. 18. And a successful minister is taught to say to those who are the fruits of his labours, "In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel."-1 Cor. iv. 15. O that the careless world would turn their attention to the divine word, for then might we hope it would prove to many the savour of life unto life. O that Presbyterians in hearing it would constantly keep in view the momentous purposes which their catechism teaches them it is designed to produce. There they are informed that "the Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith unto salvation." 4. In regeneration the understanding is enlightened.Of those who are born again it is said, "Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord." In their state of darkness, they knew not the things that concerned their everlasting peace. They knew not their danger by sin, the plague of their hearts, nor the way of pardon, peace, and salvation. Like a blind man approaching a deep and dreadful precipice, they hastened on towards ruin, unaware of their danger. But when God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, shined into their minds, they have seen that they were wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; and they have also seen the glory of God, and the way of consolation exhibited in the face of Jesus. Hence they are disposed to adopt the sentiment of Paul, and to say, "Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord."-Phil. iii. 8. - 5. In the new birth the love of God is shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost. That the heart must be eminently concerned in this change is obvious, for it is the great seat of principle, and the great source of action. Out of the heart of the unrenewed man proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, and all the other abominations that defile a man. Now the tree must be made good if the fruit would be made good. While man is unconverted, his carnal mind is enmity against God. He delights not in thinking of him,-he declines fellowship with him, he sets the affections of his heart on the world, and says, by his conduct, to the Most High," Depart from me, for I desire not the knowledge of thy ways; what is the Almighty that I should serve him, and what profit shall I have though I should pray to him?" There must, therefore, be a real and universal change in such a man, or there never can be fellowship with God, nor delight in his service. Hence, when the Lord promises to exert his power in producing the change which we are now considering, his language is, "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in, |