for

remaining prejudices, could not perceive the consistency of his death with the purposes which they imagined he came into the world, he thus addressed them: " O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the pro

the prophecy with the events reorded in the gospel history. Daniel foretold that the Messiah should be cut off, but not for himself, that he should finish transgression, make an end of sins, make reconciliation for iniquity, and bring in everlasting righteous-phets have spoken! Ought not ness. Daniel ix. 24-27. These Christ to have suffered these predictions demonstrate, not only things, and to enter into his that Jesus of Nazareth was the glory?" As though he had said, Messiah, but also that the re- "According to the prophecies of demption of men was to be ac- the Old Testament, it was necescomplished by means of his death. sary that the Messiah should die Zechariah foretold that a fountain for the sins of his people, rise should be opened to the house of again for their justification, and David, and the inhabitants of take possession of his glory as Jerusalem, for sin and unclean- their head and representative; ness. But if repentance alone and having these scriptures in had been sufficient to obtain the your hands, you ought to have forgiveness of sin, this fountain been acquainted with them." could not have been necessary, Surely, then, we, who have the nor should we have known on New Testament in our hands, in what principle to account for the which this doctrine shines with fact. This prophet refers to the meridian splendour, shall be same subject when he says, highly culpable if we reject it. "Awake, O sword, against my Had the evangelists and apostles shepherd, against the man that been silent on the subject, we is my fellow, saith the Lord of must have sought a different Hosts!" During the season of meaning for the prophetic decla God's patience and forbearance, rations; but as the sacred penthe sword of divine justice seem- men illustrate and confirm each ed to sleep; but in that import- other, we cannot doubt that our ant hour when the types and interpretation is according to shadows were to be accomplish- truth. ed, and satisfaction made for sin, it was commanded to awake, not however against an ordinary or common person, but against the man who in his divine nature is the companion and equal of Jehovah. He must be stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted; wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities: the chastise-ral character we feel great rement of our peace must be laid upon him.

The evidence is so various and conclusive, that it seems wonderful any should attempt to evade its force, especially they who profess a desire to understand the will of God; men too, whose manners arc refined by the polish of education, whose minds are enlarged by science, and for whose gene

spect. But when we consider the depravity of human nature The Spirit which was in the under all its modifications, and prophets testified before hand of that no natural qualifications nor the sufferings of Christ, and of incidental advantages are sufficithe glory which should follow.ent to teach the true knowledge When ourLord's disciples,through of God, we cease to wonder,

being convinced of the necessity | be given of the sacrifices and services of the Jewish dispensation, but by the admission of the atonement by the death of Christ, nor is it possible, on any other system, to understand the apostolical writings.

of divine influence to enlighten and sanctify the soul. "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

If any thing more were necesI will refer to only a few pas- sary on this important subject, sages: "The Son of Man came we might refer to the state of not to be ministered unto, but to mind which Jesus manifested minister, and to give his life a under his sufferings. Death preransom for many." Matt. xx. 28. sented itself to him arrayed in "Whom God hath set forth to more than its usual terrors. He be a propitiation through faith in was in an agony; his sweat was his blood, to declare his righteous- as it were great drops of blood ness......that he might be just, and falling to the ground. What the justifier of him that believeth could so overwhelm him with in Jesus." Rom. iii. 25, 26. Is it consternation and dismay, but the not evident from this passage, consideration that his death was that remission of sins is connected to be an expression of the Divine with faith in the blood of the Sa- displeasure against sin; and that viour; and that the Divine justice in passing through it his sout is hereby manifested? "As Christ was to be made an offering for also hath loved us, and hath sin? Had he died merely to con given himself for us, an offering firm his doctrine, we cannot supand a sacrifice to God for a sweet- pose it would have been thus ; smelling savour." Eph. v. 2. " Ye uor have we any method of acwere not redeemed with corrupt- counting for his singular distress, ible things, as silver and gold- but the peculiarity of his condibut with the precious blood of tion. Which of the martyrs ever Christ, as of a lamb without blem-so cried out under the greatest ish, and without spot." 1 Peter i. 18, 19. "Christ suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God." iii. 18. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." Rev. i. 5, 6. These writers would not have used such language, had they not wished their readers to understand that the death of Christ was a sacrifice for sin. Writing to a people, the ceremonies of whose religion were sacrificial; if the doctrine of the atonement had been false, such language would have been absurd. No rational account can

sufferings? and can we imagine that the Lord of life and glory had less strength and fortitude than any of his servants? This could not be. We conclude, then, that he died in the stead of sinners; that their sins were imputed to him; and that God required him to feel his indignation.

But he conquered when he fell. Sin and Satan were vanquished, and condemned; sinners were redeemed; and occasion was given for the rapturous song, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing;" which will be sung by ransomed millions, to all eternity.

B.

G.

Juvenile Department.

HISTORICAL ESSAYS.

No. XIII.

On the Corruption of Christianity in
Britain, during the Reign of
King John. A. D. 1199-1216.

IN our introductory remarks to this essay, in the month of April last, we endeavoured to show the Antichristian nature of Popery, by the contrast of it with Christianity in its purest state. The occurrences of this reign abundantly confirm the truth of those remarks.

Innocent III. who now filled the -papal chair, was a prelate of great ability, and unbounded ambition, and having arrived at that dignity at the early age of thirty-seven, he had greater encouragement to devise, because he had greater hope of executing, a system of tyranny; and he was favoured in his object, as it respects England, which even then had attained a commanding station in the rank of nations, by the weak and contemptible character of John. To complete the usurpation of the see of Rome, it was necessary that its various agents should be entirely under its controul; and the better to effect this, Innocent determined to make them tributary, and, accordingly, imposed on them a tax of one-fortieth part of their revenues, on the pretence of a new crusade, aware that for so pious a purpose, it would ill become them to refuse.

king's displeasure which might have been expected.

The death, however, of the archbishop afforded a much more favourable opportunity for royal humilia tion, and the advancement of cleri cal power. The canons of Christchurch, Canterbury, had the privi lege of voting in the election of their archbishops. The growing power of the clergy so elated the younger among them, that they anxiously waited for the primate's death, and secretly met on the same night, and appointed Reginald, their subprior, as the successor, elevated him to the archiepiscopal throne, and dispatched him immediately to Rome for the papal confirmation. Reginald, intoxicated with his new honours, observed not that secrecy which had been enjoined on him, but tattled to every one of his errand, on his arrival on the Continent, and thus afforded the means of information at home, before the object of his journey could be accomplished.

The king was exasperated on hearing of this extraordinary pro ceeding; the suffragan bishops of the see, who were generally con sulted on such occasions, were of fended at the neglect of their privileges, the senior monks of Canterbury were not a little displeased at the temerity and assuming conduct of their juniors, and even the agents in the choice of Reginald, seeing he had manifested so much weakness and vanity, were ashamed of what they had done. John, who had good The work of encroachment on the reason to fear that so fine an opporroyal prerogatives soon commenced.tunity for ecclesiastical encroach→ Hubert, archbishop of Canterbury,ment would not be lost, hastily reby virtue of his legatine commis-signed somewhat of his right, in sion, ventured, in the absence of the king, and without his permission, to summon a meeting of all the English clergy, notwithstanding the remonstances of the chief Justiciary, ---an innovation of a novel nature: yet dangerous as it might prove, it received not those marks of the

merely informing the canons of Christchurch, privately, that they would greatly oblige him if they would make choice of the bishop of Norwich for their primate. The request was granted, but the suffragan bishops would not concur in the election, and accordingly sent an

agent to Rome, to remonstrate concerning the contempt with which they had been treated. The king and the canons forwarded twelve monks to plead their cause; and thus all parties virtually acknowledged the power of this great tribunal.

Innocent, that he might secure the disposal of this great dignity in future to the see of Rome, decided against the appointment both of Reginald and Norwich, and insisted, before the twelve representatives, on their chosing Cardinal Langton, who was peculiarly attached to the great see, on pain of excommunication. One only of their number had sufficient courage to oppose so flagrant an innovation.

The pope, in order to appease the king's indignation, endeavoured to amuse him by four pretty rings, accompanying the present with a letter explanatory of their invaluable pro- | perties, exhorting him to regard the instructions suggested by their form, their number, and their matter. What effect, these conceits had on the weak mind of John we know not; but certain it is that he was greatly enraged at the insult offered to his dignity, and the inroad made on his power, and the monks of Christchurch were the first to feel the weight of his indignation. His threats against the clergy were inordinate, and it is probable the pope judged from the violence of his anger, that it was less likely to be lasting, and therefore persevered in enforcing the pretended rights of the church.

In this state of reciprocal hostility affairs remained for some years, until the pope inflicted his next punishment, excommunication, which had seldom failed of success with abler princes than John. It was no sooner pronounced, than the remaining bishops refused to act, and, to avoid the king's fury, stole out of the kingdom; and their example was followed by many of the nobility. John became alarmed; he requested a conference with Langton at Dover, consented to acknowledge him primate, to receive the clergy, and make them some compensation; terms which, though so humiliating, were refused. Complete compen

sation for all losses, &c. was demanded: a condition, probably, which if he had the inclination, he had not the ability to fulfil. The next step in papal discipline was the absolution of the subjects from their oaths of allegiance to the king, and the excommunication of every one who had intercourse with him; which also failing of success, it only remained to declare and execute the sentence of deposition. To pronounce the decree was easy, but to carry it into effect required an armed force. The pope applied to the King of France, promising him in return for his aid, the pardon of all his sins, great spiritual blessings, besides the possession of the kingdom of England; which last consideration, it is likely, induced him to assemble his troops. John immediately prepared to act on the defensive, and collected an army of 60,000 men,

The first degree in the scale of † punishments was to visit with an Innocent aware, that should Phi interdict, which Innocent artfully lip prove victorious, he should have suspended for a time over the king- to treat with the conqueror for any dom, but without effect, for not all advantages he sought from this the humble entreaties of the clergy, | quarrel, rather than with John, nor even their tears, could induce whose character was better suited the king, by submission, to avert the to his purpose, instructed his legate, dreaded calamity. John proceeded, if possible, to contrive an accomon the contrary, to retaliation. He modation. Two knights templars confiscated the estates of those who accordingly waited on the threatenobeyed the pope, exiled the disobe-ed king, represented to him his imdient prelates, imprisoned the monks, particularly the friends of Langton, and morcover put into confinement the concubines of the clergy, which, awful to relate, were very numerous,

pious and perilous situation, and brought him to obedience on terms the most abject and ignominious. He consented to abide implicitly by the judgment of the pope, to acknowledge Langton primate, to re