found a hidden one in Christ, not the less enlightened from on high, though no ray was permitted to illume her dying bed."

Reader, are there none around your home and heart resembling her, whose mournful story I have traced! Oh! remember how soon they too may pass away, and lay not up for yourself the bitter feeling that you have not endeavoured as you ought, to show unto them " a more excellent way;" delay not to speak to them as a dying sinner to perishing souls!

It may be, that some Charlotte Mansergh may peruse these pages; pause then a moment, and while the Lord speaks to you through his creatures, in his word, or by his providence, oh! harden not your heart, nor turn away from him, whose voice once shook the earth: You desire to "die the death of the righteous," why defer trying his truth, who says, "Godliness has the promise of the life that now is, "Taste and see

as well as of that which is to come.'

attain the blesTrifle not with

that the Lord is good," and seek to edness of those who trust in him. him who but waits to bless you; nor, when he asks you to empty your cup of poisoned joys and sinful pleasures, that he may fill it to overflowing with unmixed spiritual happiness, answer, evasively and coldly" Lord, not now."

"THE GOSPEL BEFORE THE AGE."

OUR readers will bave observed in our last number a short notice of a work bearing the above title, by the Rev. Robert Montgomery. Our remarks gave great offence to the Author, who has sent us a paper; with a private note, insisting very peremptorily on its insertion, and threatening publication elsewhere if we decline it. To guard against a troublesome precedent, we distinctly state that we hold ourselves under no obligation whatever to publish the objections of any Author against such remarks as we may feel bound to make on his works; and as to the menace, we have not the slightest objection to see it printed and circulated all the world over. We do, however, insert this paper, because we have somewhat more to say on the subject; and wishing to give the Author every advantage, where we are extremely sorry to differ from one so much above us in learning and talent, we lay it before our readers. It is headed, "Neither Rome nor Geneva; and runs as follows.

"

(To the Editor of the Christian Lady's Magazine.)

MY DEAR MADAM,

AFTER making all due allowance for the haste and consequent danger of unguarded judgments,

with which your Editorial duties must often be fulfilled, I cannot but express my sincere regret for the very partial and unjust mode in which you have treated " THE GOSPEL BEFORE THE AGE." Indeed, in common with many christian hearts, and elevated minds, whose sentiments we both respect, I feel convinced you will revise your hurried and premature opinion; and if this be done, you will discover that in the "Gospel before the Age," there is not a single principle relating to vital christianity, or the constitution of a visible church, to which the writings of such men as Ridley and Hooker give not their full and unflinching testimony; and which moreover, I conscientiously believe to be in entire harmony with the revealed mind of the Holy Ghost. I have not time to analyse your "notice," but were I to do so, I fear you would not be pleased with my remarks either on the logic, the justice, and the consistency of your statements. But one error into which you have been betrayed, you must allow me to dissipate. When evangelical churchmen speak of "GENEVA” in contrast with the church of England-they do not intend to distinguish their views of ecclesiastical government from those which such men as D'Aubigné, Gaussen, &c. &c.-now hold; but they allude to that form of Polity, &c. &c., which Calvin and his disciples established, in contradistinction from what they (and I) hold to be the SCRIPTURAL EPISCOPACY of the English church. Permit me to add, that your allusion to Merle D'Aubigné is rather unfortunate for your argument; as the poem of "Luther" (which YOU lauded so highly) is dedicated to that very Author! I will not intrude any more; but in return for your wish that, your readers should pray BEFORE

they read my book, let me also entreat them to pray also AFTER reading your partial strictures, that they may never be induced to embrace the licentiousness of SELF-WILL; and under an EVANGELICAL FORM,— mistake it for that "Unity of Spirit," without which, neither Christ, nor the church, can be experienced, or understood. I beg the insertion of

these remarks, as an act of simple justice on your part.

Before we proceed farther, we would remind Mr. Montgomery, and our friends in general of the deep responsibility under which we lie. Permitted to conduct a periodical intended principally for youthful females, but, by the good hand of our God upon us, circulating widely among other classes also, we are called upon to make selections from a number of books forwarded to us for that purpose, and to state for the information of our readers the impression made on our own mind by their contents. For some time the task was comparatively easy, religious books being generally free from any glaring error in doctrine; but of late the press has teemed with pernicious heresies of every name and form, seeking circulation among the more thoughtful part of the community by assuming to convey the sentiments and to assert the principles of orthodox churches. This new peril imposes increased duties on such as

desire to act honestly by the heads of families, who are accustomed to regard their recommendation; and we, in our humble sphere, have been neither "hasty" nor “unguarded.” We have never admitted even the shortest notice written by another hand; nor have we recommended a book without trying it by the one only test to which we will allow a reference, The Word of God. Regarding books as nourishment for the mind and spirit, we consider our position to be that of an official appointed to examine and prove that nothing deleterious is mixed up in any dish placed by us before our employers. The quality of the meat may vary; it may be excellently, indifferently, or ill dressed; it may be elaborately garnished, or plain to homeliness; it may be served up on Sevres porcelain or on a wooden platter; and on each of these points we may be expected to remark but the one, great, all-important, preliminary enquiry that we have to make, is whether there be mixed up with it any poisonous or positively deleterious ingredient? As in the sight of the All-seeing God, we have faithfully fulfilled this our most onerous duty; and this we by His grace still intend to do, without fear or favour, as long as we wield a pen. This we did, in reference to Mr. Montgomery's book; we accorded to it the just praise of containing "much that is extremely pleasing, attractive and amiable, and sound in doctrine;" adding that some of our friends might "consider that a measure of evil is mingled, sufficient to neutralize the good; " and this being decidedly our own opinion of the matter, we suggested

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a careful and very prayerful perusal before introducing it into their domestic library." We instanced the exclusiveness of Mr. Montgomery's episcopal