and said, "This be mine atonement," and by that act of faith was accounted righteous. So when I, conscious of my sin and my inability to atone for it, go before the cross and say, His broken body! His gushing blood! be my atonement; then I believe on Christ and his righteousness is imputed to me. The simplicity of faith is essential to the freeness, and gratuitous character of the Gospel, "It is by faith that it may be of grace." And yet it is possible that its very simplicity may have occasioned you so much anxiety. Because faith is declared to be the instrument of the justification of the sinner, and allied to such momentous results, you have perhaps brought yourself to conclude, that its existence in the mind of the convert must be attended with a supernatural and overwhelming convulsion, and perhaps while with your face wrapped in the mantle you waited for the earthquake, the tempest, and the fire; the still small voice has not been heard, though speaking often words of peace and solace. But yet this is indeed the scriptural view of faith. If faith be more than this it would become " a work," and their salvation would not be "of grace." If there be any inherent virtue in believing, then it would usurp the place of Christ, and divest the cross of a portion of its glory. But the efficacy is not in faith but in its object--not in the act of believing, but in the nature of "the truth" which is believed. Are these, my dear friend, your views of the Gospel? Have you regarded believing" as the grateful and hearty reception of the truth that Christ died for sinners; and leading to the act and habit of a definite and entire reliance upon his atoning death; and terminating in a willing consecration of “the whole man" to his service? On the determination of this question depends not only your peace but your safety. And you will most readily discover the real state of your heart, not by withdrawing your thoughts from eternal objects,

and concentrating them upon your mental processes and endeavouring to analize the innermost feelings of your soul;-you would not thus proceed to discover your confidence in some proposed specific, but at once prove it by saying, "I have taken the medicine, believing what was told me of its virtues to be true." So to the Gospel which is "the Sovereign Balm" for the stricken and wounded spirit, have you gone with your "broken heart," that your "hurt may be healed," and made trial of its virtues? The cross is before you-no matter by what path you were led to it-whether longer or shorter-whether circuitous or direct-whether you saw it often on your journey crowning the distant height, or whether you beheld it not until close by its sacred precincts.-No matter. But have you been there? fallen before it; seen it as the sanctuary of refuge, and said, "This is all my salvation and all my desire." If so, then you believe. Nature showed you not that "way"-reason urged you not to take it-grace alone guided your footsteps to that cross; and "by grace you are saved, through faith." "Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means," is the prayer of E. F. W.

London, December, 1844.

PRESIDENT HUMPHERY'S DIALOGUES.

To the Editor of the Christian Watchman.

Sir, I am gratified to find that the REVIVALIST becomes incorporated with your new Magazine. I have read that little Journal for years with pleasure and profit. No arti>cles ever interested or instructed me more than the invaluable' Dialogues' by President Humphrey, of America, which enriched the pages of the REVIVALIST during last ycar. c 2

They are worthy of being printed in letters of gold. May I hope they will be continued and concluded in the CHRISTAIN WATCHMAN ? If so, I engage to circulate it in a wide and extended sphere.

Allow me to urge on every reader of these lines the vast importance of securing, if that be possible, the numbers of the REVIVALIST for last year. Never were two shillings more prudently expended than in procuring that Magazine for last year, even if it contained only these "DIALOGUES."

A LONDON MINISTER.

[We entirely concur in the opinion expressed by our esteemed Correspondent. Articles more valuable-displaying a deeper acquaintance with human nature, and with the provisions of the Gospel, have not been published—at least, such is our opinion— since Edwards gave to the Church his immortal work on the "Religious Affections." We intend to continue them in this Magazine, under the appropriate designation-" The Moral Anatomy of the Heart;" and any of our readers who wish to have the whole series, may obtain from Messrs. WARD and Co., copies of the REVIVALIST for last year. Early application is desirable.]— EDITOR.

QUESTIONS TO BE SOLVED.

To the Editor of the Christian Watchman.

Sir, I unteignedly rejoice in the establishment of the CHRISTIAN WATCHMAN; and cordially congratulate you in having at your command an instrument of so much power. Its freedom from party trammels is its most valuable feature in my eyes. May I hope that you will encourage inquirers to make known their wishes through your columns, and that you, or your correspondents, will use

your best efforts to answer their inquiries? With your kind permission, I will set the example, by proposing two questions on subjects of vital importance at all times; and let me add, of peculiar interest in these times. FirstWhat is the Apostolic Gospel? I mean what truth, or series of truths, did the Apostles preach as the Gospel of Christ? And, in connexion with this, in what form did they present it to men? Was it as a command, an intreaty, or an offer? Second-How did the Apostles preach the doctrine of divine influence or agency in relation to conversion? Did they, in addressing unconverted men, dwell on this as a primary doctrine? And did they urge men of that class to wait, or to pray for divine influence to enable them to repent and believe? Answers to these questions will gratify many, and among these

Poetry,

A SINCERE ENQUIRER.

WE WANDER IN A THORNEY MAZE.

We wander in a thorny maze,

A vale of doubts and fears;

A night illumed with sickly rays,

A wilderness of tears:

We wander, bound to empty show,
The slaves of boasted will;
We wander, dupes to hope untrue,
And love to wander still.

We wander--while unfading joy

The heart will not approve,
The bliss that sparkles to destroy,
Secures its warmest love:

Some syren leads our steps astray,
But speaks no peace within;
We wander in a flowery way,
We wander, heirs of sin.

We wander but though oft we roam,
Led by allurement strong,

Yet from our heavenly Father's home,
We would not wander long;
Cleanse us, O Saviour! from this stain,
In mercy's living flood;

Restore the lost, and bring again

The wanderer back to GOD.

THE SLAVE'S AVENGER.

"Who shall avenge the slave ?" I stood and cried.
"The earth, the earth!" the echoing sea replied.
I turned me to the ocean, but each wave

Declined to be the avenger of the slave.
"Who shall avenge the slave ?" my species cry-
"The winds, the floods, the lightnings of the sky!”
I turned to these from them one echo ran-
"The right avenger of the slave is man !"
Man was my fellow—in his sight I stood,
Wept, and besought him by the voice of blood:
Sternly he looked as proud on earth he trod,
Then said, "The avenger of the slave is God."
I looked in prayer towards heaven-awhile 'twas still,
And then methought God's voice replied—“ I will.”

Keviews and Literary Notices.

Selected.

[We are compelled to make our Reviews of books comparatively brief, as our space is so limited. We shall endeavour, however, in every case, to bring out any characteristic feature in the work reviewed, which may appear to us deserving of remark. Our notices shall be written in a spirit of impartiality and independence. We may state-once for all-that we are prevented by the Stamp laws from stating the prices of Books, and that Authors may have facilities for advertising, we have fixed s