in the garrison at Elvas had been suppressed, after a good deal of bloodshed-The English newspapers call for the presence of Don Pedro of Brazil in Portugal, as essential to the stability of the constitution which he has given to the Portuguese. RUSSIA is still prosecuting, or rather preparing for, military operations against the Persians. It is stated that a Russian force, of about eleven thousand infantry and cavalry, was assembling on the river Aras, or Araxes; and that the Persian troops under Abbas Mirza, were at Tabriez or Tauris. In the mean time General Yermoloff, who commenced the war, has been displaced, and another commander with civil pow. ers appointed in his room; and it is conjectured that peace will be made with the Persians under the mediation of Britain. TURKEY.-The Sultan it appears is determined to adopt no medium measures with the Greeks. He says the Greeks are his subjects, and he will listen to no terms but those of unconditional submission. He is straining every nerve to prosecute the war, and if he prosecutes it to his own destruction, as seems not improbable, we shall not mourn over his fall. GREECE. We have been at some loss to make up our minds on the actual state of the Grecian cause. We have so often been deceived by false accounts, and by partial though brilliant successes of the Greeks, that we are slow to credit even what appears to be authentick. We have never believed that Greece would submit to the Turks; but what sufferings may yet await her children we know not. In this view we both hope and fear for her. The favourable circumstances are these-Lord Cochrane has been received by the Greeks with enthusiasm; his declaration that he would not serve them unless they would abandon their civil contests, has caused a union of the parties, by their representatives at Patras. His Lordship's proclamation is animated, and seems to indicate confidence in the success of their cause, and even the hope that Greece will yet conquer the country of her invaders; but this we know may be no more than a military artifice. The Acropolis of Athens, however, is certainly maintained; and the besieging Turks, although far from being entirely defeated, as was some time since confidently stated, and we fully believed, have no doubt been repulsed with considerable loss. Lord Cochrane, in his proclamation, says, “the fate of the Acropolis is no longer doubtful." His Lordship is gone, or going, on a secret naval expedition, from which, considering his enterprise and valour, much may be hoped. The Greeks are in spirits, and are receiving supplies of food and clothing from their friends in America and Europe. These are the favourable circumstances. On the other side, the Turkish army before Athens is, we fear, superior to the Greeks in the field, although Lord Cochrane says, "the besiegers in their turn are besieged." That city is still, we apprehend, in imminent danger of the fate of Missolonghi. The Sultan too, as already said, is making the most vigorous efforts, both by land and sea, to subdue the whole country. Meanwhile we hear no more of what Russia, and Britain, and France, intend, or are likely to do, in consequence of the Sultan's refusing their mediation. On the whole, the destiny of Greece is in the womb of time, and our hope for her is in God, and in the reanimated valour of her sons. ASIA. It appears that a pretty serious rebellion has broken out in China, which the emperor finds it not easy to subdue. Much the same occurrence has also recently taken place in the southern part of the Burman empire. Sir Archibald Campbell, with the troops employed in the Burmese war, has returned to India. The rebellious natives in the Island of Java, are still in force, and the Dutch troops find themselves driven to the neighbourhood of the capital, and it seems questionable whether they will long be able to sustain themselves even there. On the first of March the rebels had advanced to within 30 or 40 miles of Samarang. Troops were impatiently looked for from Holland. AFRICA. The slave trade is still carried on by Spain and Portugal to a great extent. In a single Spanish vessel, lately captured by a British ship of war, and carried in to Sierra Leone, were found between four and five hundred slaves. The enterprising traveller Major Laing, is believed to have lost his life in the vicinity of Timbuctoo. Not long since, a letter from his father-in-law in Tunis, announced a rumour of his death, but expressed an ardent hope that it would prove unfounded. The intelligence of his death, however, is considered unquestionable in Britain. The accounts in substance are, that he had reached Timbuctoo in safety, and was there well received; but that a wandering tribe of barbarians in the neighbourhood of that place, manifested hostility to him and his escort. These he attempted to elude by disguise, but he and his companions were all detected and slain.-It is feared that all his valuable papers have perished with him. AMERICA. PERU.-The Bolivian constitution is set aside in Peru. A revolution took place at Lima on the 26th of January. At that time a division of troops of 4,000 men, left there by general Bolivar, rose upon their officers, made them prisoners, and sent seventeen of those of the highest rank, under a strong guard, to Bogota, to be delivered up to general Santander. This revolution is represented as very popular throughout Peru and Bolivia; and a new Congress was expected to convene at Lima on the first of May, for the purpose of making a new constitution. COLOMBIA. This republick is in a state of great agitation. On the 10th of April the executive power summoned the Congress of the republick to meet at Tunja The decree recites as motives for the measure, the agitations of the republick, the violence of parties, the general distrust and alarm, the reaction or late revolution in Peru, and the derangement of the finances. We admit that some of the late mea sures of Bolivar seem to wear a frowning aspect on his character; but we trust and believe that he will be able to give such explanations as will at least prove, that if he has erred, he has still been honest. We still hope, with the editor of a Bogota paper, that "he will maintain pure and immaculate his own glory and that of his country." MEXICO.-The Mexican Congress has passed a law excluding native Spaniards from employment in any branch of the publick service, till Spain shall have recognised the independence of Mexico; and the legislature of the State of Mexico has forbidden all Spaniards in that State, to wear or use arms of any description, without special license from the governor. This measure is said to be very popular. Commotions, however, still exist in various parts of this extensive republick. The publick autho rities do not seem to be entirely friendly to our own country. The treaties conclu ded with us, and ratified at Washington, have not been ratified by them. BRAZIL.--The Emperor Don Pedro, in his speech at the opening of the Brazilian Congress, announces his determination to prosecute the war with Buenos Ayres, and we suspect he will do it to his own destruction. His forces, both by land and sea, have lately suffered greatly, and his resources are nearly exhausted. It seems, however, that he is expecting a reinforcement of Irish troops. But he is not only at war with Buenos Ayres: he is in controversy, on commercial subjects, with Britain, France, and the United States. Of these powers he is detaining vessels with the most valuable cargoes, under idle pretences; and treating the officers and crews of some of them in the most unjustifiable manner. Still he talks to his Congress of organizing systems of finance, establishing an efficient judiciary, and of his friendly relations with other powers. He speaks slightingly of his difference with our government. He denounces all who do not adopt his sentiments as "covert monsters," and is confident that the members of the Congress think as he does. We really believe he would better go back to Portugal. BUENOS AYRES.-It now appears that the troops of this Republick have gained decisive advantages in the Banda Oriental, which it seems to us will before long completely establish its independence. The little fleet of this state, (in all respects inferior in the number of its vessels, guns and men to that of Brazil,) has achieved wonders. Its commander, admiral Brown, is certainly an officer of uncommon valour, enterprise and skill. He lately maintained an action of two days and two nights continuance, against the whole Brazilian fleet in the La Plata, although two of his best vessels were aground; and he appears ultimately to have suffered less than the Bra zilians. He burned one of his grounded vessels after she had fired 3,200 shot, and returned to port in the presence of his enemies, with his other ships. UNITED STATES.-The soil and seasons of our country are usually favourable to an abundant produce of all the necessaries of life; but the promise of a most plentiful harvest was, perhaps, never more flattering than at the present hour. The hay har vest, which was last year uncommonly deficient, superabounds as much the present season; and although in some places the winter grain has suffered by the fly, yet take the country at large, the prospect of a most profuse in-gathering still remains. The Indian corn likewise promises an abundant crop. The season hitherto has been peculiarly favourable to vegetation, and to the health of our citizens. "O that man would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men." We hope it will appear, that our countrymen will have manifested their sense of gra titude to God for his goodness, and their desire to free our country from the sin and the reproach of slavery, by liberal contributions, on our national jubilee, to the funds of the African Colonization Society. If those of our subscribers who are in arrears for the Christian Advocate for two years, or more, will transmit what is due by an early mail, in bank notes of par value in places where they reside, they will, we assure them, afford us a very important accommodation-The letters ought to be post paid. THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. AUGUST, 1827. Religious Communications. LECTURES ON THE SHORTER CATECHISM OF THE WESTMINSTER AS SEMBLY OF DIVINES-ADDRESSED TO YOUTH. LECTURE XXIX. We are to begin the present lecture with considering the answer to the 31st question of our catechism, which is thus expressed-"They that are effectually called, do in this life partake of justification, adoption, sanctification; and the several benefits which, in this life, do either accompany or flow from them." This answer is to be considered chiefly as introductory to several answers which follow it. To enter far into any of the subjects of these answers would, you perceive, be only to anticipate what a proper discussion of those topics will demand, when they come in order before us. All that I shall, therefore, remark farther, on the answer now in our view is, that it should serve to impress on our minds this important truth, that all the blessings and benefits of redemption are indissolubly connected, or linked together; and that they are all insured to every individual, who is effectually called by the grace of God, to that vital union with Christ which was described in the last lecture. Hear the words of infallible truth-"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conVOL. V. Ch. Adv. formed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brethren: Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified." Let us now consider the next interesting answer in the catechism"Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight; only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone." In this answer is contained the sum and substance of the gospel. It explains God's method of forgiving sinners and receiving them into his favour, as it is revealed in the gospel; and which, but for that revelation, we could never have known. Here the great problem is solved, which perplexed and confounded all the heathen moralists and philosophers, namely, how God can pardon sin in consistency with his own honour and glory. Here it is shown, that God can be just, and yet the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. What wretched folly as well as wickedness is it, for any who call themselves Christians, to deny this doctrine; to ungospelize the gospel; to throw themselves back into all the darkness of heathenism; to have no ground to hope for pardon, but that which is common to them and to those who are denominated 2 U virtuous pagans. It was well said by Luther, that the doctrine of justification before God, by the imputed righteousness of Christ alone, is the doctrine of a standing or a falling church-meaning, that the church which maintains this doctrine, in its purity and fulness, will prosper; and that no other can or will. You will recollect, my dear youth, that when we discussed the nature of our Redeemer's priestly office, I showed you, at some length, the weakness and fallacy of the objections which the enemies of gospel truth bring against the doctrine of imputation; both as it relates to the imputation of the sins of his people to their Surety Saviour, and the imputation of his perfect righteousness to them. Our attention, at this time, therefore, need not be arrested or interrupted, by removing those objections. We may go on without delay in the presentation and illustration of this precious and fundamental truth of the gospel, just as it is given to us in the sacred Scriptures, and expressed in the answer before us. Our first object must be to obtain a clear understanding of the word justification itself. You will, then, be careful to observe that this is what is called a juridical term that is, it is a word used in, and borrowed from, courts of justice among men. When a person who has been arraigned, or brought to the bar, is, upon trial or inquiry, pronounced by the judge to be righteous, and in open court acquitted and discharged-such a person is said to be justified. Much pains have been taken by those who are, from various reasons, opposed to the gospel doctrine of justification, to show that the word does not always in Scripture carry with it the import of a judicial sentence of acquittal. Witsius, in his Economy of the Covenants, under the article justification, an article which will richly reward the pains of any of you who will read it carefully-Witsius has there shown, in a most accurate and satisfactory manner, what are the several senses of this word, both in the Old Testament and the Newfor it frequently occurs in both. And he has most unequivocally proved that its forensic or juridical signification, is not only its primary and general sense, but its invariable meaning, whenever it is used to denote a sinner's acquittal before his God. A single remark may make this evident. It is opposed to condemnation-as in that passage "It is God who justifieth, who is he that condemneth?" Now, as condemnation does never imply the making of a person guilty, but the sentence pronounced on him for being so, in like manner, its contrasted term justification, cannot mean the making of a person righteous, but the declaration that he is righteous. To justify a person, then, is not to make him righteous, but to declare him to be so, upon the ground of law and the trial of a competent judge. It is in regeneration and sanctification, that men are made-as far as in this life they are ever madeinherently holy. In justification, they are legally discharged from the guilt of all their sins. Regeneration and sanctification are graces wrought within us-justification is something that takes place without us, and is not our act at all, but the act of God. These things, therefore, are never to be confounded. "It is God that justifieth," saith the apostle. Witsius, in the place before cited, has excellently shown, that it is God, essentially considered in the person of the Father, who is especially the justifier of his people, in respect of judiciary power and authority. But he also shows, that our Lord Jesus Christ is likewise said to justify, in respect to the dispensation or exercise of that power. And that the Holy Spirit is said to justify, as making application of the blood or righteousness of Christ, by which we are justified. Justification, in the answer before us, is called "an act of God's free grace." It is called an act, because, like the sentence or decision of a judge, it is done and completed at once; and not carried on gradually like a work of time. It is called an act of God's free grace, because this grace is the sole moving cause in our justification. Thus it is said in the very words of inspiration"Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ." If it be asked, how it is an act of free grace, by which we are justified, since it is through the redemption that is in Christ? the answer is this-The redemption that is in Christ, is the channel through which justifying grace freely flows unto us. It was infinite grace that provided a Saviour; pure grace that led the soul to, and gave it an interest in, the Saviour; and therefore, an act of free grace is clearly performed when the sinner is declared to be justified in virtue of his righteousness. To the Saviour himself it is indeed an act of strict justice, that his people should be justified, since he has paid the full price of it. But to his people who receive the benefits of his redemption, it is grace from the foundation to the top stone. Justice is indeed satisfied, in all the extent of its demands; but it is by the provision of God, the work of the Saviour, and the application of his Spirit. From these sources alone all the benefits received in justification flow forth to the believer, and he therefore is plainly the recipient of the purest grace. In justification there are two parts distinctly noticed, in the answer before us-1. The pardon of all our sins. 2. The acceptance of us as righteous in the sight of God. The first of these is necessary and antecedent to the second. By the pardon of sin God absolves the sinner from the condemnation of the law, on account of Christ's satisfaction for sin. For till the sentence of the broken law be absolved by pardon, it is impossible that our persons can be accepted, or any blessing of the covenant be conferred upon us. In pardon, it is the guilt of sin which is removed-that guilt by which the subject of it is exposed to eternal wrath as its just reward, for "the wages of sin is death." Nor can the guilt of sin ever return upon a pardoned and justified believer. The obligation to punishment being removed, or once taken off, can never again recur, according to the economy of grace, because there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, and whom he loveth he loveth unto the end. In justification, all past and present guilt is pardoned, and the assurance is given, that new acts of pardon shall be granted after every future transgression. But be careful to understand this distinctly. The meaning is, that God will always bring the justified believer to deep repentance and humiliation, for his known offences, and also to the dereliction of his sin; and then will grant him a fresh act of pardon. To my apprehension it is perfectly preposterous to speak of sins being pardoned before they are committed. But it is a glorious gospel truth, that when God has once pardoned a sinner through Jesus Christ, he brings him into a state in which he will never fail to humble him and bring him to true repentance for every future sin, and then grant him pardon for it. And you will accordingly, be very particular in noticing and remembering, that in a passage already quoted, the apostle explicitly declares-" Whom he justified, them he also glorified"The apostle does here unequivocally assert, that all who have ever been in a justified state, will be glorified-This leads to the consideration of the 2d thing in justification, which is, our being accepted as righteous in the sight of God. Among men, indeed, a criminal may be pardoned, and yet it may not be the fact that he is considered as righteous in the eye of the law: |