.

ing the knowledge of them as widely as our means will allow. Theological pamphlets are not considered very attractive by the generality of readers, and we have Mr. Newman's admission, or rather boast, in his Letter to the bishop of Oxford,' that he has not yet proclaimed from the pulpit what he thus, by the press, avows as his settled convictions. It is the character of all dangerous error to steal in privily and unawares; and the distinguishing mark of those teachers against whom Paul exhorts Timothy to guard his flock is, that they creep into houses, leading captive silly women.. The Lord has mercifully revealed the mischief coming upon the church, that His own people, as in the days of Jerusalem's judgment, may see the peril and escape. It is an awful juncture: many are building upon the sand, while the clouds are actually gathered for the stormy outburst that will overthrow the fabric, and the ruin of that house shall be great!'

THE

CHRISTIAN LADY'S MAGAZINE.

JUNE, 1841.

JUDAH'S LION.

CHAPTER III.

6

THERE is one thing that I can't understand,' said Alick to a Midshipman, with whom he was parading the deck, and that is the rank held by your friend the Gunner. He seems to me to belong to every class, and yet to form a class by himself. Seeing what disciplinarians you are, and how rigidly you all observe the distinctions of rank, it often puzzles me to see this Gordon an exception from all rules.'

'You are right,' answered the Middy. 'The Gunner is individualized among a ship's company: his office is very important, though more akin to a non-commissioned officer in the Army than any other, and attained in the same way. He is a picked seaman of courage, conduct and experience, and so necessary to us that we could not get on without him. Gordon would be a regular character in any JUNE, 1841.

2 I

situation, but the one he holds is just made for him; and he is thoroughly good-natured. When I was but half recovered from a sharp fit of illness, nervous, restless, and all that, he let me go to his cabin, night after night, and read, talk, or hold my tongue, as the fancy might be, by his cheerful lamp, when all the rest was darkness.'

'Why, is he exempt from the barbarous regulation of "lights out"-at half past eight?'

'Yes: the Gunner has always leave to burn his till ten.'

Nay, then, I must make friends with him,' said Alick for you can't think how I hate the extinguishing system.'

'Take care, however, Cohen: for he'll certainly make a Methodist of you,' said the young man smiling; and then, as if a sudden thought had flashed across his mind, he blushed, stammered, and hesitatingly added, 'I—I beg your pardon.'

'For what?' asked Alick staring: for thinking I could be made a Methodist of?'

'No, no: only I forgot just then-I-oh, by the way, do you know tomorrow is a royal birth-day, and as there's a frigate in company, we shall treat you landsmen to a little gunpowder at sea.'

What could put him so out of countenance all on a sudden? was Alick's mental enquiry: and then the conviction struck him that his being a Jew had recurred to his companion's mind, in some connection with the word Methodist; probably as being alike terms of reproach. It ruffled him, and produced the usual effect of an increased feeling of estrangement from all around him. Meanwhile a very different conversation, of which he was the sub

ject, was going on in another part of the ship between Gordon and an old sailor, no less devout and zealous than himself, but by no means so partial to the Jewish cause.

'I can't see what difference it makes,' remarked Tom Miller, 'his being Jew or Gentile so long as he is not a Christian. All you have to do is to seek his conversion, and then, be his birth and lineage what they may, he becomes Abraham's child, and an heir according to promise. That's my mind, Gunner.'

'In one sense, I agree with you Tom; as regards the spiritual privilege, we are all equal. Sinners alike by nature, lost and ruined: saved alike, wholly and perfectly by grace; in which salvation there is no difference put between us, God purifying our hearts by faith. Children of wrath together, lying under the curse, until we receive together the adoption of children, becoming equally heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ.'

'Ay: what a wonderful work is there,' said the old sailor; 'choosing such wretches as you and I, taking us out of the mire, from the dunghill of sin, and exalting us among the princes. Glory be to redeeming grace!'

'Amen, brother! And now, having agreed in this, let us look a little farther, and we shall see that even in a family of children where all are to inherit property, there is a distinction belonging to the elder, and this I claim for the Jew. You know how Paul, having shewn to the Romans the universal sinfulness of our race, and that the national privileges or superior knowledge of the Jew will not save him, puts the question, as from one taking your view of the matter: "What advantage then hath the Jew, or

what profit is there in circumcision?" and replies to it, "Much every way;" going on to shew that the unbelief of individuals could not make the promise of God of none effect.

For, Tom, they are still be

loved for the fathers' sakes.'

'You don't mean, any how, that an unbelieving Jew will be saved for the fathers' sakes?'

'No, Tom, no. I speak of Israel as a nation, now a sapless trunk indeed, blighted and naked, and to all appearance dead: but for the sake of the root which was holy before God, he will once more cause life to circulate, and the old tree to put forth leaves and branches yet again: ay, and such branches too as shall overshadow the whole earth!'

'Well, I shan't argue with you, seeing I have not half your knowledge, Mr. Gordon; but my poor prayers are offered for yonder dear boy, that he, at any rate, may grow up as a young plant in the courts of the Lord's house.'

It was the peculiar trial of the good Gunner to meet with very few, even among enlightened Christians, who could enter into his views respecting God's declared purpose towards his ancient people. Those views he perfectly well knew to be scriptural; but he also knew that their reception was by no means necessary to the spiritual well-being of a believer: though again he was aware that to overlook any plainly revealed truth, cannot be well-pleasing to Him who has given us no idle or unnecessary words to perplex us. He rather loved, when with his fellow Christians, to be building themselves up on their most holy faith in things absolutely essential, than to be engaged in controversy on matters that were not so: but seeing how manifestly the reception of these