which "a greater than Solomon" had | England, her subsequent history is entrusted to their care. They honoured more than sufficient to prove. But Him. They placed Him above all that it was so to the interests of "Reliearthly sovereigns. They had studied gion," of pure and vital godliness, may deeply the laws of His spiritual king- be questioned; nay, we think will not dom, and saw that these would be ut- be questioned by any, but that the reterly violated and set at naught by verse will readily be admitted by all. compliance with the unrighteous de- In proof and illustration of which we mands now made upon them. They might properly adduce, in connection were men whose love for their country, with Locke's testimony, the remarks of whose knowledge of its constitution, another sagacious writer of the same whose obedience to its civil laws, whose period. "Had all the ministers conregard to its interests, and whose formed, people would have thought prayers for its welfare, were known and there was nothing in religion; and that patent to all, admitted even by their it was only a thing to be talked of in adversaries, and questioned by none. the pulpit, and serve a state design; In all things temporal and secular they while the ministers turned and changed were most willing to obey the majesty any way with the state. But these men of these realms, to comply with all that giving up their livings, and exposing he and his parliament should impose, themselves and their families to outand to defend the rights of their king ward evils, rather than conform to and their country to the very utmost of things imposed, not agreeable (as they their power. But when he intruded so apprehended) to the gospel they far beyond his province, and claimed preached, have convinced men that to be acknowledged as legislator and there is a reality in religion, and given ruler in the house of God, by restrain- a check to Atheism." How could it be ing, ordering, and regulating all parts otherwise? Was anything ever more of his worship, they could no longer calculated to give Atheism a check in forbear. The liberties of man were not this, or in any land? Did the "reality to be trifled with: the rights of Jehovah of religion"-its deep, solemn, unutterwere not to be postponed. Resistance able reality—ever receive greater conwas a duty freedom a right: suffering, firmation by human hands, and human should it follow, in such circumstances, doings, than now? Two thousand true an honour. And they nobly said, and noble-hearted men, probably we "Let Cæsar's due be ever paid might say, without partiality, and without fear of contradiction, of the very best sons of the Establishment in those days, renouncing their status in society, their ecclesiastical privileges, their com

To Cæsar and his throne;
But consciences and souls were made
To be the Lord's alone."

Deeply interesting and most affecting were the consequences which now be-fortable homes, and pleasant vicarages, gun, on and after the 24th of August, 1662, when the obnoxious decree took effect, everywhere to ensue. "That day," says the calm, philosophic Locke, was fatal to our church and religion, in throwing out a very great number of worthy, learned, and pious orthodox divines." Undoubtedly it was; and only one exception can be taken to the language he employs. That it was fatal and injurious to the Church of

and lucrative livings, rather than retain these with a guilty conscience, and on terms dishonourable to Him who bought them with his blood. Amongst them were the Henrys and Howes, the Owens and Charnocks, the Baxters and Mantons, the Flavels and Bateses of the day, men "of whom the world was not worthy," and who, by their noble decision at that time, their holy lives and character, their precious writings,

from their knees, the gentleman ad- | The most tender ties were ruptured: dressed him to this effect: Your lan- the most cheering prospects were darkguage and manner discover you to be ened: the most useful labours were a very different person from what your terminated: and as the ejected minispresent appearance indicates. I con- ters took their farewell of listening muljure you to inform me who and what titudes on the Sabbath preceding that you are, and what were your views and on which the separation was to ensue, situation in life before you came into it was as when "the noise of the shout my service.' Whereupon he told him could not be discerned from the noise he was one of the ministers who had of the weeping;" or rather like that been lately ejected from the church, and affecting scene which took place on the that having nothing of his own left, he shores of Miletus, when "He kneeled was content for a livelihood to submit down and prayed with them all: and to the honest and peaceful employment they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's of tending sheep. Upon hearing this, neck and kissed him: sorrowing most Mr. Grove said, 'Then you shall be my of all for the words which he spake, that shepherd: and immediately erected a they should see his face no more." With meeting-house on his own estate, in the parting address of one of them on which Mr. Ince preached, and gathered that memorable day we conclude:-a congregation of Dissenters, which "And now, beloved hearers, give me continues to this day." The writer of leave to trespass a little more upon this paper has slept in the house in your patience, seeing this is like to be which he lived, preached in his pulpit, the last opportunity I shall have to and spoken at the side of his grave; speak to you from this place, being within sight of which the comfortable prohibited to preach, unless upon such looking residence of the worthy Mr. terms as I confess my conscience dares Grove, embowered among the trees, yet not submit to. Being therefore enremains. forced to lay down my ministry, I thought good to let you know that it is neither out of singularity, nor stub. bornness in opinion, which many, it may be, may conjecture, but because the things required are such as my conscience cannot close withal. Could I see a sufficient warrant from the word of God for these ceremonies, and other things that are enjoined, I should readily submit to them; for I can take the great God to witness with my conscience that nothing in this world grieveth me an hundredth part so much as to be hindered from the work of the ministry, and to be disabled from serving my great Master in that employment. But seeing I cannot find my warrant thence, I dare not go against my conscience, and so do evil that good may come thereby. Those strict prohibitions recorded in Deuteronomy iv. 2, and xii. 32; Proverbs xxx. 6, and in other scriptures, wherein

And now, what shall we more say? for the time would fail us to tell of all the sufferings, and wrongs, and privations, and "deaths oft" which these righteous men endured, and their families with them, during the rest of their lives.

The "Five Mile Act," which was afterwards passed, forbidding them to reside within that distance of any market town: the "Conventicle Act," which prohibited their assembling together in any place for Divine worship, added greatly to their loss of religious privileges and domestic comforts, and embittered almost all the little which their oppressors had left them. Many were the sighs and cries which could find no vent in human ears, but ascended upward to the throne of the Omniscient, from pious hearts and weeping homes, because of the ruthless hand which had made them desolate, and of the Lord's sanctuary, which was now laid waste.

we are forbidden to make any additions | it the lesser evil of the two to expose to God's own institutions in his wor- myself to sufferings in the world, rather ship; and the terrible threatenings than to undergo the checks and repronounced against those that shall proaches of a wounded and grieved transgress in this particular, have such conscience." impression on my heart that I dare not give my assent, nor consent, to any thing in God's worship which is not warranted from his word: but I think

Such were the men whom an earthly monarch rejected, but whom the King of heaven delighted to honour! M. C.

SCRIPTURE STUDIES.

IV. THE CHRISTIAN IN THE CLOSET.

"Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."-Matt. xvii. 21.

OUR Lord had come down from the mount of transfiguration with Peter, James, and John, and found the rest of his disciples engaged in a keen discussion with the Jewish scribes. The immediate subject of debate, when he approached, appears to have been the case of a youth possessed of a dumb spirit. It is not evident, however, nor, indeed, likely (according to Mark's account) that this originated the discussion. It seems as if the scribes had taken advantage of the absence of Christ, and had attempted by questioning to confound and perplex his disciples. While thus engaged in a controversy with these cavillers, the case of the afflicted youth was brought before them; but with the father's request, to cast out the dumb spirit, they were not able to comply. In the feebleness and imperfection of his followers Jesus was glorified. The father of the lad applied to him, and received the cure of his son in answer to his humble but earnest faith. The disciples subsequently asked him in private why they could not cast him out, and part of our Lord's reply contains the subject of our present study. It was not from any want of power, but from want of faith, that they could not effect this cure. Their Master had given them power ex

pressly to work miracles-power against unclean spirits, and if at any time they were unable duly to exercise this power, it was owing to some deficiency in their spiritual state at that time, and for which they were themselves culpable. There was nothing peculiar in this kind (yévos, race) of possession, which rendered it beyond their power, endowed as they were, to cast out the evil spirit; and the reply of the Saviour to their inquiry distinctly intimates that their failure was owing to their moral state at the time-their unbelief. It is probable that their discussion with the scribes, previous to this application to them, may have unhinged, so to speak, their spiritual confidence, or ruffled their tempers, and damped their devotion, so that in such a state of mind and feeling they are not able to exercise the power given them, and perform this miracle. The great moral truth which is taught us is, that fervent prayer is necessary to cast out evil. The connexion of fasting with prayer is not because of any merit or efficacy in the fasting itself; only in so far as it may be the means of fitting the mind for the highest exercises of devotion. Abstinence for a time may help the spiritual element, and tend to render prayer more fervent and

vigorous. Apart then, altogether, from | He may bewilder the intellect, blind the region of miracle, and as applicable the mind, or deaden the affections. At to the ordinary experience of the Chris- one time he may work as an angel of tian life, we learn from our Lord's de- light, at another as the prince of devils, claration the important truth, that THE with manifold agencies of evil at his SPIRIT OF EARNEST AND ELEVATED DEVO-command. TION IS NECESSARY TO EMINENT PIETY,

I. THE CHRISTIAN IS EXPOSED TO INVISIBLE AGENCIES AND EXTERNAL IN- flesh, the pride of life, the fashions and