last accounts, however, favour the belief, that the torrent of opposition is too strong to be resisted, without partially yielding to its force. It seems that the popular cry, and the demand of the army is for a war with the Turks, and the capture of Constantinople. It is believed that the mission of the Duke of Wellington to St. Petersburgh, has the prevention of this war, if possible, as its principal object. We wait with some anxiety to see the issue of the state of things now existing in Europe, and especially in Russia, Turkey, and Greece. Great events in the womb of time seem struggling for their birth. Mere politicians regard not the overruling providence of God; but the Christian looks to it as extending to every thing both great and small, And if a sparrow falleth not to the ground without our heavenly Father, the sudden and unexpected death of the mightiest monarch on earth, is doubtless connected with ulterior events of importance. What they will prove to be, we pretend not to predict; but we may be permitted to say, that if the expulsion of the Turks from Europe, and the emancipation of Greece, should be among these events, nothing improbable will, as we think, have taken place, and nothing that we should contemplate with regret. For we think that the savage and cruel warfare waged against Greece, would long since have justified Russia in hurling the Grand Signior from his throne, if nothing short of this could have put an end to his oppressions and massacres. ca. TURKEY AND GREECE. It appears that the war with Greece is professedly, at the present, a war of extermination. If the Turks prevail, the depopulation of Greece is said, and we think truly, to be determined on-to be replaced with Arabs from AfriWe trust that this horrible design will not be permitted to be carried into execution. Yet, on the whole, we fear that the Turkish forces are gaining ground. Some accounts, which we earnestly hope may prove true, represent the Greeks as having recently gained some important advantages. But they want union, system, and above all, a leader of talents and integrity, in whom they might and would confide. Doubtless they will fight to desperation, for they know their fate if they are conquered. Yield they never will; but their force may be so broken, as to leave their country in the power of their enemies. This we do not on the whole expect, but whether their deliverance is to come from their own exertions, or from foreign interference, remains to be seen-We could wish it might be the former, but present appearances would seem to indicate that it must be the latter. We know indeed that great changes in favour of this interesting people may suddenly take place; and if they do, we shall hail them with no common pleasure. ASIA. It appears by the English papers, that an armistice has been concluded between the British forces in the Burman empire and the native troops to whom they are opposed; and that arrangements are made for treating for peace. The commissioners are appointed, and are to meet midway between the hostile armies; which, in the mean time, are to remain respectively within certain lines of demarcation. It is stated that the overture for an armistice and a treaty came from the Burman Emperor; but it is plain that the British are not in a situation to dictate terms at their pleasure. It will be seen under our head of religious intelligence, that the missionaries are probably in safety-Their preservation appears to us to be a singular and merciful dispensation of Him, who has the hearts of all men in his hands; and we hope these devoted men have been reserved for eminent future usefulness. AFRICA. From this large section of the globe we have nothing new to report, except what we have inserted relative to the missions in South Africa, in another department of our work. AMERICA. On comparing our statement for the last month, of the affairs of the republicks to the south of the United States, with the articles of news since received, we find little to add, unless we should descend to such details as the nature of our work forbidsWe shall notice very summarily a few items-The war between the Emperor of the Brazils and Buenos Ayres, or the Provinces of Rio de la Plata rather, is still carried on; but we have heard of no marked success, on the one side or the other-The Emperor has the command of the water-The Emperor also, with an evident design to concentrate all power as much possible in himself, has abolished the provincial juntas of government throughout his dominions, and appointed in their place presidents and secretaries of councils, with great honours and powers, and with large salaries-The vice-president of Colombia has transmitted a message to the Congress of that republick, which manifests great ability, and the most enlightened views of the true inter ests of the people, and of the measures which ought to be taken to promote their welfare-A like message has been sent by the President of the Mexican Union, to the general Congress of that confederation. Of the nineteen separate states, concerned in the confederation, fourteen have completed and put into operation their particular constitutions of government-It appears that these two republicks, Colombia and Mexico, are marching considerable bodies of troops to the sea coast of their territories severally; either with a view to meet any descent of Spanish troops on their coasts, or more probably to be prepared for an expedition against the Island of Cuba, as soon as circumstances shall favour such a design-We have heard nothing of importance lately, from the Congress of American nations at Panama. UNITED STATES.-Much precious time has been spent, or rather, in our humble opinion, mispent, by the Senate and House of Representatives of our general government, in discussing the propriety of sending commissioners, or agents, to the Congress of Panama, and on proposals or resolutions for amending the constitution of the United States. If the opinions and feelings of those who originated the discussions which have proved so tedious, and have also unhappily excited much acrimony, are not contrary to the wishes and views of the great body of the American people, we do grievously mistake. We doubt if any important measure could be named, not immediately touching our domestick interests, that would insure in its favour a larger share of the popular voice, than the mission to Panama; and we equally doubt, whether a single amendment to the constitution which has been proposed at the present session of Congress, would be sanctioned by the requisite number of the individual❤ states, if submitted to them. Whence, but from party spirit, the zeal has proceeded which has been manifested against the mission to Panama, and in favour of important changes in the constitution of our country, we confess ourselves unable to discoveralthough cordially desirous to make the discovery. Among other evils resulting from the unhappy controversies, produced by the causes to which we have referred, has been the call for, and the ultimate publication of, communications from our ministers at foreign courts-communications which certainly were intended only for the eye of the executive part of our government, and the publication of which cannot fail, as we apprehend, to be followed by bad consequences of a very serious character. We did intend to remark particularly on some profane allusions to revealed truth, which we have noticed in the late congressional debates. But our limits forbid us to say more, than that we have been shocked and grieved to observe that a certain coalition, or supposed coalition, of three individuals connected with the government, has been denominated a "Trinity in unity;" and that the whole Mosaick account of the temptation and fall of our first parents has been called-not, we have good reason to believe, through haste or inadvertence, but understandingly and intentionally—" an apologue," and thus put on the same footing with one of the fables of Esop. We have made the foregoing strictures on the proceedings of our representatives in the national legislature, with the most sensible pain. But it is through the medium of our free and popular elections that legislative errors are to be corrected; and it is by the instrumentality of the press that our legislators chiefly learn the publick sentiment, and those who appoint them learn in what manner they have fulfilled their trust. These considerations have constrained us, to offer our views of what has been doing through a large part of the present session of Congress-Much, which in our judgment ought to have been done, is yet undone. The subjects that have caused delay are now disposed of, and have at last met the fate which we think they deserved. Now, we hope, the various interesting concerns which have so long been suspended, will receive a due attention, and be speedily brought to that issue which shall most promote the honour, peace and prosperity of the nation. TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS. We take the liberty to remark to our distant subscribers, that by the members who shall come to the next General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church from the various parts of our country, they will have a favourable opportunity to make remittances either in payment for our work for the past year, or in advance for the current year-The time for paying in advance, it will be remembered, terminates on the first of June. We have several valuable communications on hand, which shall appear before long. We should be glad to know how we may communicate with the author of a piece in our February number, entitled "A Hint to Publishers of Books." THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. MAY, 1826. Heligious Communications. LECTURES ON THE SHORTER CATECHISM OF THE WESTMINSTER AS certain and stable felicity than that SEMBLY OF DIVINES-ADDRESSED hope shines upon ruined mortals, TO YOUTH. LECTURE XIX. (Continued from' p. 147.) We now proceed to considerIV. That a covenant of grace was made by God the Father, with his eternal Son, as the head and Redeemer of the elect world. This, it is affirmed in a passage already quoted, was before the birth of time; before man or angels were formed even from everlasting. Then, in foresight that man when created would fall, in the counsel of peace between the Father and the Son, a number of our race, considered as fallen sinners, were chosen in Christ, or were given to the Son, to be redeemed by him-he voluntarily choosing to undertake the whole work of redemption in their behalf. This topic is so well explained and so accurately expressed, by Witsius, in his justly celebrated work, called The Economy of the Covenants, that I will give you a general view, of it in some extracts from the English translation of that masterly treatise. "If any thing ought to be accounted worthy of our most attentive consideration, certainly it is the covenant of grace, of which we now attempt to treat. Here the way is pointed out to a paradise far preferable to the earthly, and to a more VOL. IV.-Ch. Adv. which ought to be the more acceptable, the more unexpected it comes. Here conditions are offered, to which eternal salvation is annexed: conditions, not to be performed again by us, which might throw the mind into despondency; but by him who would not part with his life, before he had truly said, It is finished. Here, with the brightest splendour, shine forth the wonderful perfections of our Goo; his wisdom, power, truth, justice, holiness, goodness, philanthropy, or good-will to man, mercy-and what tongue can rehearse them all? never before displayed on a more august theatre, to the admiration of all who behold them. Whoever therefore loves his own salvation, whoever desires to delight himself in the contemplation of the divine perfections, must come hither, and deeply engage in holy meditations on the covenant of grace: which I think may not improperly be thus defined "The covenant of grace is an agreement, between God and the elect sinner; God declaring his free good-will concerning eternal salvation, and every thing relative thereto, freely to be given to those in covenant, by and for the sake of the Mediator Christ; and man consenting to that good-will by a sincere faith. "That the nature of the covenant 2 B 1 of grace may be the more thorough ly understood, two things are above all to be distinctly considered. 1. The compact which intervenes between God the Father, and Christ the Mediator. 2. That testamentary disposition, by which God bestows, by an immutable covenant, eternal salvation, and every thing relative thereto, upon the elect. The former agreement is between God and the Mediator; the latter between God and the elect. This last presupposes the first, and is founded upon it. When I speak of the compact between the Father and the Son, I thereby understand the will of the Father, giving the Son, to be the Head and Redeemer of the elect; and the will of the Son presenting himself as a Sponsor or surety for them; in all which the nature of a compact and agreement consists. The scripture represents the Father, in the economy of our salvation, as demanding the obedience of the Son even unto death; and for it promising him that name, which is above every name, even that he should be the head of the elect in glory: but the Son, as presenting himself to do the will of the Father, acquiescing in that promise, and in fine, requiring the kingdom and glory promised to him. "Christ himself speaks of this compact in express words.* Kaya διατίθεμαι ὑμῖν, καθώς διέθετε μοι ὁ πατηρ μου βασιλειαν. And I engage by covenant unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath engaged by covenant unto me. In which words the Lord Jesus says, that by virtue of some covenant or disposition, he obtains a kingdom, as we also obtain it by virtue of the same. "And Heb. vii. 22. where he is said to be κρειττονος διαθήκης εγγυος, α surety of a better covenant or testament. But he is called the Surety of a testament, not principally on this account, because he engages to us for God and his promises, or be *Luke xxii. 29. cause he engages for us that we shall obey; as Moses intervened as a surety between God and the Israelites.* For by how much Christ was greater than Moses, in so much he was also a surety in a more excellent manner. His suretiship consists in this, that he took upon himself to perform that condition, without which, consistently with the justice of God, the grace and promises of God could not reach unto us; and which being performed, they were infallibly to come to the children of the covenant. less then we would make void the suretiship of Christ, and gratify the Socinians, the very worst perverters of the scripture, it is necessary we conceive of some covenant, the conditions of which Christ took upon himself; engaging in our name with the Father, to perform them for us; and which, having performed, he might engage to us for the Father, concerning grace and glory to be bestowed upon us. Un 'Moreover,† Paul mentions a certain day, covenant, or testament, that was confirmed before of God in Christ. Where the contracting parties are on one side God, on the other Christ; and the agreement between both is ratified. But lest any should think, that Christ is here only considered as the executioner of the testament bequeathed to us by God, the apostle twice repeats, that Christ was not promised to us, or that salvation was not promised to us through Christ, though that be also true; but that the promises were made to Christ himself. That Christ was that seed, ώ επηγγελται, to which he had promised, or to which the promise was made; namely, concerning the inheritance of the world, and the kingdom of grace and glory. It is evident therefore, that the word dan does here denote some covenant or testament, by which something is promised by God to Christ. Nor do I see what can be objected to this, unless by * Exod. xix. 3-8. † Gal. iii. 17. Gal. iii. 16. Christ any one should understand the head, together with the mystical body, which with Christ is that one seed, to which the promises are made. This indeed we shall very readily admit, if it also be admitted, that Christ, who is the head, and eminently the seed of Abraham, be on no account excluded from these promises, especially as the promises made to his mystical body, ought to be considered as made also to himself; since he himself too hath received gifts for [in] men.* "Nor ought those places to be omitted, in which explicit mention is made of the suretiship of Christ; as Psal. cxix. 122. Be surety for thy servant for good; that is, as surety receive him into thy protection, that it may be well with him. In like manner, Is. xxxviii. 14. I am oppressed, undertake for me; be to me a surety and patron. And that none but Christalone could thus undertake, God himself says, Jer. xxx. 21. Who is this that engaged [in] his heart, or quieted his heart by his suretiship, or sweetened his heart, by a voluntary and fiducial engagement, or, in fine, pledged his very heart, giving his soul as both the matter and price of suretiship (for all these are comprised in the emphasis of the Hebrew language) to approach unto me, that he may expiate sin? These words also point out what that suretiship or undertaking was, which David and Hezekiah sought for; namely, a declaration of will to approach unto God, in order to procure the expiation of sins. "In fine, we may refer to this point, what is to be found, Zech. vi. 13. The counsel of peace shall be between them both; namely, between the man, whose name is the Branch, and Jehovah: for no other pair occur here. * which the Son of God was constituted by the Father, with the approbation of the Holy Spirit, the Saviour of mankind, on this condition, that in the fulness of time, he should be made of a woman, and made under the law; which the Son undertook to perform. Peter has a view to this when he says, that Christ was foreordained before the foundation of the world. To this purpose is also, what the Supreme Wisdom testifies concerning itselft I was set up [anointed] from everlasting; that is, by my own and the will of my Father, which is one and the same, I was appointed to the performance of the mediatorial office in time. Paul likewise declares, that we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.‡ Consequently, Christ himself was constituted from everlasting, the head of those that were to be saved, and they were given unto him,§ for whom he was to merit salvation, and in whom he was to be glorified and admired. From this constitution, the Son from everlasting bore a peculiar relation to those that were to be saved. Hence the book of life is, by a special appropriation, ascribed to the Lamb, as containing a description of the peculiar people as signed to the Lamb from all eternity. Hence also it was, that God, in bis amazing wisdom, so ordered many things in man's state of innocence, that the attentive remembrance of them after the fall, and the comparing them with those things which were afterwards revealed, might have reminded man of this divine counsel. "The second period of this covenant I place in that intercession of Christ, by which, immediately upon the fall of man, he offered himself to God, now offended by sin, actually to perform those things, to which he had engaged himself from eternity; saying, Thou hast given them |