THE SPIRITUALIZING SYSTEM.

"If the obvious sense of a great portion of the Bible be erroneous, what becomes of the great Protestant doctrine, that the Bible is a safe rule of faith, and of the great Protestant principle of the duty to circulate the Bible without note or comment?"-M'CAUL'S PLAIN SERMONS, page 151.

DEAR MADAM,

IT is gratifying to be enabled to acquaint you, that the "EXTRACTS," (which you so kindly inserted in the SEPTEMBER NUMBER OF THE CHRISTIAN LADY'S MAGAZINE,) have been the means of getting several copies of Dr. M'Caul's work into circulation. Now, as it is a matter of no small importance in these 66 PERILOUS TIMES," that a work so sound and convincing, should have the widest possible circulation, I do hope and trust that the purchasers will strive, as far as practicable, to induce others to follow their example. God be praised, there seems to be a stir on this momentous point. I trust that multitudes in this land will yet be found to abandon the pernicious system, and "to ask for the OLD PATHS,' where is the good way," &c.

Few, and very few comparatively, have at present set to work in earnest, to examine the system with which they have been inoculated (a system, doubtless, which took its origin from the spirit of Antichrist) and being opposed to the doctrine of our

BLESSED LORD and all HIS HOLY APOSTLES: all who endeavour to carry it out, not only aim at "being wise above what is written; "but positively fly in the face of some of the clearest precepts and commands in the word of God, who says, (in language which cannot be gainsayed by any ingenuity)" Ye shall not ADD to, nor DIMINISH aught from it." Deut. iv. 2. What plea can be offered for persisting in such error, I know not; perhaps there is no one in the land, (I mean among biblical readers of course) who has not been WARNED against it: still they persevere, and not only so, but seduce others into the same acts of disobedience. The wise-heartedness of the BEREANS, in our researches for truth, should ever be borne in mind, for they searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so." Acts xvii. 11. With a view to draw further attention to this point, and that our elder brother, the Jew, may appear in his proper station, which the spiritualizing system' entirely forbids, and envelopes, as it were, in midnight darkness, I beg to transmit some "EXTRACTS" from another work, bearing especially on this point, from "LECTURES ON THE PROPHECIES;" the author of which is mighty in the Scriptures, “ whose praise is in all the Churches," and I believe, a faithful and uncompromising ambassador for Christ, the REV. HUGH M'NEILE, M.A. Would to God that every pulpit in the united kingdom were manned with the like! I for one, should care but little what were the colour of bis habiliments; or, whether he kept his head due North or South ;* for I am persuaded that his course

*The attention of CHURCH-WARDENS is invited to the hundred and tenth Canon, wherein they will find that they are commanded to detect and prevent defenders of Popish and erroneous doctrine.

would be in FULL ACCORDANCE with that solemn and awful declaration which he made, that he was 66 INWARDLY MOVED BY THE HOLY GHOST, TO TAKE UPON HIM THAT OFFICE "which gave him a passport by the door into the Sheepfold. John x. 1. May the blessing of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, rest upon him, and enable him "to fight a good fight, to finish his course, and keep the faith."

66 * * * I had rather avow my inability to answer the question, "How can that be?" in a thousand instances, than put an evasive interpretation upon a single verse of the word of God. When our brethren shall cease to beat the air in refutation of what we never advanced; when they shall see the absurdity of prejudging the question, by good-natured lamentations over our sad, sad delusion; and when they shall gird up their loins to the work in good earnest, betake themselves to study the subject patiently in detail, and produce grave and solid arguments, not negatively alone in opposition to an erroneous system of interpretation; but positively also, in support and confirmation of a genuine system; I repeat, I am open to conviction, and shall in all sincerity, rejoice to be instructed. I protest, with all my soul, against the idea of any man supposing that he knows enough, and thereupon refusing to inquire into the depths of revealed truth, on the plea of dangerous novelty, or non-essential speculation. Additional instruction in the meaning of the Scriptures, is growth in the knowledge of God; and in that knowledge it is my desire and hope that I shall increase, not only during this life present, but throughout eternity." (preface, p. vi.)

«*** Now it appears to me, that our chief embarrassments arise, not from finding any passages of Holy Scripture, in the obvious meaning of the language, contradicted by our scheme; but from a lack of more revelation, to explain to us how these things can be, and thereby to supply us with answers to curious (sometimes captious) questions; whereas the spiritualizing scheme has to encounter the direct grammatical contradiction of revelation given." (preface, p. v.)

“* * * In examining this subject (viz. the purpose of God concerning the Jewish Nation, as it is revealed in the Holy Scriptures) my chief auxiliary has been the decision which history has already pronounced upon the right interpretation of prophetic language, and in any anticipation of the future: all I assume is, that the species of interpretation which events rendered imperative, as it respects fulfilled prophecies, ought to be adhered to, with consistency and candour, in the examination of those prophecies which are as yet unfulfilled." (preface, p. iii.)

"The language of the prophets is often, almost always, figurative in some degree; but the events predicted are not the less on that account literal events. When the Holy Ghost spake by the mouth of Zechariah, saying, "Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered;" the language was figurative; our Lord not being literally a shepherd, neither the disciples sheep. But the event predicted in that figurative language was a literal event; and to the matter of fact, as it occurred in Gethsemane, the pro

phecy is applied by St. Matthew xxvi. 31. It is therefore no objection to the literal interpretation which I advocate, to say, that the prophetic language is figurative. I admit that it is so-sometimes highly so the question is, What do the figures mean? Do they mean other figures, or do they mean facts? My opinion is, that facts are the legitimate themes of prophecy. I appeal to history, comparing it with the prophetic volume, for the establishment of a principle by precedents; and I endeavour to convince by candid argumentation. I dogmatize not at all, I am open to convictions when a more excellent way of interpreting the language of the prophets shall be pointed out. But I must be permitted to say to some of my esteemed brethren, who have opposed the interpretation here offered (without themselves offering any other) that a simple denial without reasons assigned, or the true interpretation given to supersede the false, cannot in fairness, be expected to have any weight of conviction. I have heard such denials frequently, but in vain. I have heard them accompanied with much persuasive eloquence, with many loud and affecting appeals; sometimes with illdissembled personal mortification, but all in vain." (preface, p. v.)

«*** All truth is linked together in one harmonious chain: an accurate investigation, therefore, of any one point, in all its bearings, is invariably connected with such a clearing up of collateral points, that existing error is detected, and unlooked-for controversy thereby elicited. To the study of prophecy, we are thus indirectly indebted for the re-examination of many important doctrines which had been