SCRIPTURE UNIONS.

There are three glorious, indissoluble, and mysterious unions made known in the sacred scriptures-each of which merits the most profound attention.

1st. The union of the personalities or samenesses in the Eternal Godhead, is a mysterious union indeed. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is a deep and infinite mystery, but not an unreasonable abursidity. There are in God's being, perfections, revelations, and works, great mysteries, whilst there are no absurdities. There are in the nature, developments, and doings of the Lord, heights which the unsanctified reason of man never can scale. There are in the divine word, doctrines too heavenly in their origin, nature, and tendency, for the misdirected and paralised powers of reason to embrace. If mysteries were not above the reason of man they would cease to be mysteries. None can comprehend these divine truths, yet many are enabled to apprehend them. The mind can apprehend many things which its powers are too enfeebled and too limited in their range to comprehend. One of the doctrines of the bible is the essential union of the divine personalities in the holy and incomprehensible Trinity. "These three are one" in nature, perfection, design and interest. This is a doctrine finite reason never could have found out without divine revelation. The mind of man has vast powers, but created understanding cannot comprehend the least of God's designs or works, not to say any thing about the doctrines of the Trinity, which can only be known through the person and mediations of Jesus Christ.

2nd. There is the deep and illustrious union of two infinitely distinct natures in the person of the Son of God. In Him the human and the divine are for ever united, the begotten and the

unbegotten nature: this union does not interfere with the distinct properties of each nature so united. The divine is not humanized, nor is the human deified. Jesus is God-man in one glorious person, the natures are distinguishable but must remain for ever inseparable. His natures may be distinguished although never divided. In the person of the Saviour there are inconceivable glories, complex beauties, and everlasting loveliness. In his person, finity and infinity are for ever united. "In the person of his Son, God hath all his mightiest works outdone." In Jesus Christ, time and eternity, heaven and earth, Creator and creature are for ever brought into an illustrious oneness. By Jesus Christ all divine honors are conferred, all blessings are transmitted, and all manifestations of God are made. The complex person of Christ is God's most resplendent temple. Here the majesty of the eternal God shines forth in softened rays through the cross. Here the eternal perfections of Jehovah are unveiled, and in emblazoned harmony are seen around the true mercy seat. Here the invisible God is seen in his visible image, even in Jesus, "who is the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person." Here, in the unity of natures and in the personal majesty of the Son of the living God, we behold the foundation of all mediatorial triumphs. In him all divine glories are reflected, and by him all divine honors are secured. Christ in the union of his natures, in his incarnation, in his humiliation, and in his exaltation, is the great mystery of godliness.

3rdly. There is the mystical and everlasting union of Christ and his people. This union to Christ is the foundation of true holiness, the ground of spiritual and endless triumph, and the source of all real happiness. The union of the redeemed to the Son of God is one of a very ancient date. It originated

in the divine will and is expressive of sovereign and dateless favor. It is rooted in the complex person and headship of Jesus Christ. The eternal God never changes his thoughts or purposes. The dispensation may be varied, but the dispensator is without variableness or the shadow of a turning. This ancient union to the Son of God is the foundation of interest in the victories of the cross, and in the happiness, dignity, and glory of a tearless world. It is a union in which one profits many. It is a union which is indissoluble and everlasting. Death is a terrible dissolver of all human unions-death rends asunder "Whom love has knit, and sympathy made one." It is a union manifested by walking in the Spirit, walking in the truth, and abiding vitally therein. The causes of this holy oneness are permanent, and the relationship by which it is expressed are endless; Rom. viii, 38, 39.

J. E. BLOOMFIELD.

INTELLIGENCE SENT BY AN AGED MINISTER. OUR aged and much esteemed christian brother, Mr. James Castleden, many years pastor of the Church of Christ at Hampstead, entered into his eternal rest early on Lord's-day morning, June 4th. His end was peace. A most solemn service was held at his chapel on Monday afternoon 12th inst, when brother Dickerson, of Alie Street, read the word, and engaged in prayer; the brethren Bloomfield, of Meard's-court, and Gittens, of Camden Town, each delivered addresses of great and most weighty importance; and brother Warn, of Hendon, closed in prayer. The funeral procession was then formed, and our late brother's remains, borne by members of the church, the pall

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held by his deacons, followed by many brethren in the ministry, and a very long train of, no doubt, real mourners, slowly wended their way to the family grave in Hampstead church yard. In the evening, service was again held in the chapel, when our brother, J. A. Jones, of Jireh, preached from John xi, 23, 26, "Our brother shall rise again," &c. The funeral Sermon was preached by brother J. Foreman, on Lord's-day evening, 18th. Some account of our brother Castleden may be expected in a future uumber.

The following most striking Scriptural letter by brother Richard Ware, pastor of the church at Potter's bar, is inserted at the request of several who have seen it. It will, doubtless, be read with interest.

HEATH STREET, HAMPSTEAD,

JUNE 5TH, 1854.

MY DEAR BROTHER JONES,

Providence has laid upon me the duty to inform you of the departure of the spirit of our old friend, James Castleden. It evidently has been tired of its habitation for some considerable time. The fact is, that the old house has heen out of order, and getting worse and worse for some years; till, at last, it could hold out no longer. The tenant has left, and the tottering building is taken down.

I believe it is the intention of the owner to re-build it some day; (indeed the plan is already made, and the order given.) The old materials are to be used-the site of the erection is to be changed-but the identity of the fabric is to be strictly preserved; yet, without its original defects and deformities.

The understanding is, that it is to be a glorious House, eternal

in the Heavens.

I have learned that there is, somewhere in existence, an old Deed, (which the good old-fashioned folks used to call an "everlasting Covenant") that secures the possession of the new House, with all its appertunances and conveniences to the old Tenant. What James Castleden will say when he gets into it, I cannot tell, but I shrewdly guess it will be something like this" Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, &c." (Rev. v. 12.)

As his friends are ignorant as to the time when the great Master will require the old materials for its RE-erection, they propose (D.V.) removing it, for the present out of the way, to a convenient spot in Hampstead church-yard, on Monday next, the 12th inst, at three o'clock, p.m.

The deacons of the Church request me to say, that, as you knew the Old Building and its Tenant, so long, they would like for you to be present on the occasion. Can you, and will you,

be there?

An early answer will oblige,

Yours fraternally,

RICHARD WARE.

THE FORCE OF CONSCIENCE.

Illustrative of the arguments used in the second article in this number.

A lady, about 38 years of age, elegantly dressed, entered the shop of Mr. a respectable pastrycook, in a state of great were still alive.

mental excitement, and enquired if Mr. On being answered in the affirmative, she, in the most earnest manner, begged to see him. Being engaged in superintending the making of some confectionery, he begged to be excused, and referred her to his daughter, who, he said, would wait upon her. The daughter immediately withdrew with her into the parlour; when, after sitting a few moments in silence, she burst into a