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T' 
 
A VOICE 
 
 FROM 
 
 THE WILDERNESS 
 
 OF CANADA. 
 
Ai 
 TI 
 FI 
 
 th 
 in 
 sa 
 wl 
 
A VOICE 
 
 •_# 
 
 FROM 
 
 THE WILDERNESS 
 
 OF CANADA. 
 
 ADDRESSED TO ALL LN GENERAL, AND 
 PRESBYTERIANS IN PARTICULAR, 
 
 By THOMAS SLOAN. 
 
 " Let ALL THIO nations DK OATIIUUF.D TOGKTUER, and I,ET the PKOPl.E BE 
 AfiSEMBLKD : WHO AMONG TIIKM f'AN DECLAKE THIS, ANU SHOW US FORMER 
 TTirNOSI? LKT THKM ItniNG FOUTH THKIR WITNF..SSK8, THAT THEY MAY BE JUSTI- 
 FIED: Oil LKT THEM HEAR AND SAY, IT IS TRUTH."— 7saia/i xliii. 9. 
 
 "IT IS TRUTH, the same truth, wliicli the om.' belioYi-s and is saved, (and 
 therefore atoueineut iiiaili? for liim,)Vhieh same truth tlif other (lisbelieveB, and 
 is cciKh'imiecl. Is triitli not truth liecauso yon do not hclievo it ? If it ia tlie 
 same tnitli and name for hotli, wliere is tlie Calviniaii, iiiin-eh>ct sinner, for 
 wh(jni no atonement is made ? " 
 
 See page l!JO, vhcrc the Argument Iryius. 
 
 T O R O X T o : 
 GLOBK PRINTING COMPANY, 26 & 28 KING STREET EAST. 
 
 18 7 0. 
 
■RM 
 
 429 
 
 it> 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 •fJH* 
 
 CIIArXER I. 
 
 PAflK. 
 
 Geneual Observations concerning Divine He- 
 
 VELATION AND InFIDEL OPINIONS 13 
 
 • CHAPTEK II. 
 
 The Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ troved 
 FROM Scripture; as also concerning Faith 
 AND its Fruits 44 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Temperance yp]LECTioxs, showing the progress 
 OF Total Abstinence Principles in Great 
 Britain and the United States ; as also 
 Errors of professing Christians in refer-. 
 ENCE TO Temperance Principles •.•..••. X^\ 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Conceiving some of the Fj^rors prevalent in 
 the Roman, Anglican, and Presbyterian 
 Churches ,..,.., , , .^ 125 
 
^vm 
 
 u 
 
 VI. 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CIIAPTER V. 
 
 Concerning tiho Universality of the Atone- 
 ment MADE BY THE SON OF CiOD FOR THE 
 
 Sin of Man, and the Calvinian Errors in 
 reference thereto, with other errors, 
 shortly exposed and refuted 147 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Concluding Observations, with a short Sequel 211 
 
rREFACE. 
 
 Time is short. The future every moment "becomes the 
 present, and the present every moment becomes the past ; 
 and if wo allow the certainty of the uncertainty of time, 
 wo shall at once perceive the importance, the unspeakable 
 importance, of every moment to every human being who 
 believes he hath pre-eminence above a beast, and is 
 capable of reflecting on good and evil — soul and body — 
 divine and human things — man and God the true, and 
 God the false — sin and salvation — time and eternity. 
 
 Knowing that the majority of mankind have little time 
 to read and reflect on such matters, a short preface will 
 introduce this little volume to the reader, that ho may 
 consider and ponder well the contents thereof. 
 
 It is not fitted for trifling or amusement ; but, in many 
 respects, this is an earnest world, and when you are 
 thoughtful and in earnest, then read with care and atten- 
 tion, and you may find that which will not only instruct 
 your mind but cheer and gladden your heart, pointing 
 you onward and upwards while passing rapidly along the 
 present stage of existence. 
 
 It was originally written as a sort of bequest to mem- 
 bers of his own family, by one secluded from the busy 
 
^^mmm 
 
 mmn 
 
 vm. 
 
 TREFACE. 
 
 I 
 
 ( 
 
 i; \ 
 
 I. i 
 
 world, iunl no longer uIjIc to i)artako of tlu; labours of the 
 day. 
 
 In the l)ackwoocls of Canada, whcro my lot has hocn 
 cast during the greater part of thirty-eight years, religious 
 and moral teaching Ib, from various causes, often left in tho 
 background. In some measure to remedy such omission 
 of duty, I tliought it good to write out a few sheets for 
 my family, chiefly on Temperance and the lleligion of 
 Jesus, being prompted thereunto by a regard for their 
 spiritual and temporal welfare. 
 
 In reference to Temi)eranco princi2)leS; there is nothing 
 very dilFicult or abstruse ; but, on account of the selfish- 
 ness, ignorance, and stupidity in man, it is difficult to 
 induce him to look at and believe tho trutli, even when 
 written, as it were, in characters of living fire, or with 
 the blood of the victims which annually fall in tliousands 
 as sacrifices to satiate the avarice of those who trallic in 
 the souls and bodies of their fellow-men. Nor in regard 
 to heathen mythology, or false systems of religion, is 
 there much real mystery to contend with. Man must and 
 will worship. They who believe in idol Avorship, with 
 its debasing, licentious, and superstitious rites, must 
 become corrupted, immoral and degraded, ami partakers 
 of the vices of those who minister in impure and unholy 
 things. IJut this proves there must l)e a tnie (Jod, who 
 must be Avorshipped "in spirit and in truth," and such 
 worship must have a holy, happy and divine tendency. 
 
 The fact of Divine Kevelation implies mystery, and so 
 we find, on opening the Book: "In tho beginning God 
 created tlio heaven and tlie earth." lint the mysteries are 
 
 
r-IlKFACIJ. 
 
 IX. 
 
 RlronR proofs that tho revelation is not of man, Imt of 
 Cnn\. Man may liave satisfactory eonoo]»tions of the 
 works of man, hut can never fully comprehend tlie works 
 of (jO(1, nor understand **the mystery of His will." 
 
 In writing on tlie doctrines of Keligion, tlierefore, T 
 soon found "hard knots," to wliie.h 1 had pn^viously 
 only given a superlicial attention; and, on applying to a 
 luimhor of tlu; ministeis of our Church, found "tlieir wit- 
 ness did not agret^," and was otherwise unsatisfactory, 
 especially in reference to tlio atonement made for the sin 
 of man. This led nic to a more tliorough and earnest 
 examination of Calvinism and our Stiindarda in tho light 
 of (iod's Word, and the results of this humhle effort will 
 he found in part of this work. There will also be found 
 "an argument of weight," in which is laid a foundation 
 according to the Scriptures, on which tlie whole world 
 may build — may believe and live ; and, therefore, wliat 
 may bo called "a Calvinian, Standard, non-elect sinner," 
 never did exist, nor can exist, in our world. 
 
 Some one may say, "Why remain in a Cliurch unless 
 you believe in all the doctrines contained in its Standards'?" 
 I cannot consistently and silently remain in such Church, 
 which is one reason for the publication of tliis treatise. 
 But if all wore to leave tlui Presbyterian Church who do 
 not believe in all the do<'.trines of the AVestminster Con- 
 fession of Faith, I think the number in many congiv.ga- 
 tions would be surprisingly small. 
 
 AVhether office-bearers and memljors of Presbyterian 
 Churches are bound to believe the doctrines of the 
 Standards, or what difTcrcnce from the Standards, if any, 
 
:z33=: 
 
 ■rasBM 
 
 * i 
 
 {? 
 
 I 
 
 X. 
 
 I'UKl-'ACK. 
 
 is allowaWo, are questions I caiinctt answer '? To leave the 
 Church, or begin an agitation in one Church or Presby- 
 tery, would not meet the difficulty at all, nor set "the 
 vexed question" at rest. It is needed, if it were possible, 
 that every member of every Presbyterian Church through- 
 out the whole world shoidd so perform his or her duty, as 
 in the siglit of God, tliat the name of Christ be no longer 
 tarnished ])y men setting forth that so many only under 
 the Gospel can believe, and that the influences of the. Holy 
 •Spirit arc restricted to these few — the rest being passed 
 by, and predestined to everlasting death from eternity, 
 "because CJod is pleased to exclude them" — thus placing 
 infidels in the same positi(ni with ])elievers, namely, ful- 
 filling the decrees of God. 
 
 In presenting this treatise to the public, therefore, and 
 in preparing the original sheets for the i)ress, I have so 
 altered and enlarged them, that the work is addressed to 
 all — a universal call given, as far as possil)le, in order that 
 somothinjf ellectual may bo accomplished, that we may 
 search, and know, and understand inore perfectly '* what 
 is the Avill of God concerning us" as a part of Christ's 
 Church, in these latter and eventful days which seem to 
 be coming on all the eartli — this one thing always keeping 
 in vi(}w, T mean a more enlarged and comprehensive 
 scheme of unioii, in reference to ourselves and other 
 Churches, so that "our love may increase and abound one 
 toward another and toAvard all men." 
 
 If I may be allowed the expression, the Divinity of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ is the key-stoni; of Christianity, as well 
 as the "chief corner-stom " thtM-eof, without Avhich the 
 
 a i 
 
 
fUIOFACK. 
 
 XI. 
 
 building would neither bo "iitly framed together" nor 
 be at all maintained in poaition, as reaching from 
 earth to heaven by means of the divine and liuman 
 alliance. Because of this, and other special reasons, I 
 have searched out and set forth such scriptural proof as 
 must satisfy the careful reader of the truth of this all- 
 important doctrine. 
 
 As the author is neither an important nor learned indi- 
 vidual, some readers may readily suppose that the matter 
 will be too dull and common-place to attract attention, or 
 deserve that interest and importance M'hicli the nature of 
 such subjects demands. I would say to such, by way of 
 encouragement, that the original manuscript, somewhat 
 altered, was submitted to one of the "master-spirits of tho 
 present age," a "master in Israel," and "whose praise is in 
 all the Churches," and ho was pleased to say "that I had 
 written many valuable truths, and happily presented 
 them in an impressive form, and sometimes in a clear and 
 striking light, but that some of my statements savoured 
 strongly of Armhiian interpretation, and that the manu- 
 script should be carefully re-written and condensed before 
 it was lit for publication." It was, therefore, laid aside 
 for a number of months, and kept according to first inten- 
 tion. It is now i^artially re-"written, and whatever was 
 Arminian or Calvinian, as being unscriptural, has been 
 carefully excluded. I desire to write Scripturism oidy, 
 and not to pleas« men, or any sect or party, save one — tho 
 peculiar appellation of which was first known in Antioch. 
 
 As the preface is longer tlian I intended, I will only 
 add that the work is not so much for the. wise and learned, 
 
XII. 
 
 PIlKli'ACE. 
 
 and the critic, as for tliosc avIio tread the Jmnible walks of 
 life; and it exhibits truth, as opposed to untruth and 
 error, it may be in a plain and familiar style, yet with all 
 the force and earnestness of one whose heart's desire and 
 prayer to God is, that every reader of tlic following pages 
 may be benefited, blessed and saved. 
 
 N. B. — The greater part of MS. from which this little 
 volume is composed, was written a year ago. 
 
 AUTIIOPt. 
 
walks of 
 ruth and 
 b with all 
 Lesirc and 
 ing pages 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 GENEEAL OBSEIlVxiTIONS CONCERNmO DIVINE REVELA- 
 TION AND INFIDEL OriNIONS. 
 
 All mankind are by nature disinclined to receive 
 tlie Scriptures as a divine revelation — tliey are dis" 
 posed to question the truth therein revealed ; and 
 having no sympathy with the spirituality of its 
 doctrines, andn o relish for the purity of its pre- 
 cepts, tliey reject the Bible as the only rule of their 
 faith and practice, and often, under the accusation 
 of conscience, feel a sort of sorrowful relief when 
 any thought is uttered, statement made, or argu- 
 ment advanced, which by militating against the 
 authority or infallibility of the Word of God, 
 might lessen its claims upon their credence, and 
 its power over the conscience. 
 
 This innate principle of opposition to the truth 
 and holiness of God will explain the reason of 
 that reluctance manifested by mankind, even in 
 the early history of our race, heartil}^ to receive 
 the messengers or the message of the Lord, though 
 bringing tidings of mercy and love. Hence, too, 
 that many, even now, amid the light of higher 
 privilege, are slow of heart to believe what God 
 has spoken, or heedlessly let slip what they have 
 heard, and turn from the lively oracles which are 
 
14 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDEllNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 11 
 
 I I 
 
 able to make men wise unto salvation, and give 
 heed to lying fables, or the teachings of human 
 philosophy and science, falsely so called. 
 
 From the above truths, it will not appear won- 
 derful that a portion of our race (in times past 
 and now), being called Atheists, or fools, Deists, 
 Sceptics, Infidels, &c., entertaining their natural 
 aversion and dislike to the truths of the Bible, 
 have strongly opposed it, and being " vain in their 
 imaginations, and their foolish hearts darkened by 
 reason of sin," have strenuously endeavoured, by 
 enlisting learning, talent, and science, not only to 
 impede the "light of the glorious Gospel," but 
 also to turn " the truth of God into a Jlie," and "to 
 worship and serve the creature," instead of the 
 Creator, " who is God over all, blessed for ever." 
 
 It is not my design, in these pages, to review 
 the arguments of unbelievers, some of them being 
 men of ability and earnestness, who, in bold and 
 defiant tones, throughout the length and breadth 
 of the civilized world, seek to prove that there is 
 no God, no Creator of the heavens and earth; that 
 the Bible is, in part, if not wholly, a fiction, not 
 of God, but of man ; that the proof for creation 
 and revelation is unsatisfactory; that the faith, 
 hope and love of Christians are a delusion ; that 
 Christianity will be of short duration ; that man 
 has no Father in heaven, nor home in the future ; 
 that his hope and love must terminate with the 
 winding-sheet and the grave. 
 
 Against these and a multitude of other errors 
 put forth by infidelity, many learned, and wise, 
 and good men, have stood forth in all ages, and at 
 
 m ', 
 
A VOICE FROM THE ^VILDERNE.SS OF CANADA. 
 
 15 
 
 tho present time, and successfully contended for 
 truth, in opposition to error and falsehood, and 
 shown that the Creator of heaven and earth is the 
 God of the Bible ; that in it alone can be found 
 the truth, and the power of truth, the truth which 
 sets us free, and raises us from moral darkness and 
 death, to light, and life, and happiness, as rational, 
 conscious, responsible, and immortal beings. 
 
 Now, although it is true that many have borne 
 unanswerable witness to the truth, and even super- 
 fluous works have been unavoidably issued, such 
 as one hundred and forty, or more, answers to 
 Bishop Colenso's crude and undigested ideas in 
 reference to the Pentateuch, <fec., whereas one of 
 them was sufficient to show the absurdities of 
 Colenso's conclusions, yet we know that vast 
 numbers have not the requisite ability, time, nor 
 opportunity to attend to such controversial works, 
 some of them " speaking great swelling words of 
 vanity, not knowing whereof they affirm" when 
 speaking of the natural and supernatural, rational- 
 istic and materialistic systems ; the discrepancies 
 and contradictions of the Gospel ; of endless suc- 
 cessive developments from seas of nebulous mat- 
 ter, or fire-mists; hence (say they) the heavens and 
 the earth ; also, that man has been endlessly devel- 
 oped from microscopic monads or embryotic points- 
 From these points, after a long cycle of ages, our 
 ancestors attained the intellectual and dignfied posi- 
 tion of the baboon genus, who, after cracking nuts 
 with round stones for several ages, discovered that 
 sharp stones were better, and by careful meditation 
 successive developments were perfected. This 
 

 IG 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS 01* CAlfADA. 
 
 was during the " stono ages," occupying millions 
 of years "in the dark postern of time, long elapsed." 
 After a like number of successive and successful 
 developments, lo ! the present generation of organ- 
 ized matter ! And it is contended that matter 
 is also developed into soul or spirit, as well as 
 body ; not only substance extended, but soul ex- 
 tended, and that these material extended souls are 
 now capable of reasoning upon the civil and re- 
 ligious rights and privileges of the present race of 
 quadrupedal bipeds, and also that conscience, 
 faith and hope, have been developed ! And millions 
 of the most enlightened " developments" contend 
 that they are conscious and responsible beings, 
 and believe there is a living and true God, who 
 created the heavens and the ear% ; not only so, 
 but they believe there is a difference between good 
 and evil ; virtue and vice, sin and righteousness ; 
 that there is a holy, wise and just law for the 
 government of our moral actions. These latter 
 also contend that experience teaches them that 
 they, and all others, are unable to render obedience 
 to this law, on account of an evil or sinful tendency 
 in their natures, which leads them towards sin^ 
 suffering, darkness, and death. 
 
 In this perplexity, a wonderful " development " is 
 perceived ; a strange entity called the Book of 
 God, which holds out a master-key to all their 
 difficulties. A way is unfolded, whereby they are 
 unloosed from their state of darkness and error, 
 sin and suffering, and at the same time restored to 
 the favor, and communion, and love of the God of 
 heaven and earth, and thus faith, and hope, and 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNEHS OE CANADA. 
 
 17 
 
 lovo are being now developed, and will, in one 
 sense, so continue to be developed for ever and ever. 
 
 But, says the sceptic, "I do not believe in these 
 kind of developments. I know nothing about 
 creation, faith, hope, and love, and being conten- 
 tious, and a disputer of this world, and as religion 
 is against me, I am against religion, and hold that 
 all kinds of faith are alike ; the faith of him who 
 believes in drunkenness, debauchery, or crime, to be 
 held of the same moral value as hio who practises 
 such virtues as are lovely and of good report, and 
 against which there is no law ; the faith which 
 puritieth the heart, working by love, and ensures 
 to its possessor the enjoyment of peace, joy, and 
 gladness, while on earth, anil a life of endless 
 felicity in the world to come, is no more to be 
 desired than the most degrading superstitious 
 belief to be found in the heathen world. Finding 
 it hard work to believe it, I hold that the world 
 was not made, or created, but tliat it made itself, 
 and has been peopled as already mentioned ; also, 
 that man is a beast onlv, that the soul is the 
 body, and the body is the soul, and after death 
 there is neither body nor soul, but all are absorbed 
 into a sea of matter, enshrouded in the blackness 
 of darkness forever. And as religion is against 
 me, I believe there is no religion, that natural 
 religion is the only religion, and all religion unna- 
 tural. I believe in tradition, the Koran, Brigham 
 Young, and Tom Paine, but not in the Bible, and 
 I try to believe all unbelief." 
 
 Now, it will easily be perceived how un- 
 profitalile it would be to enter into argument 
 
18 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 rolativG to such vain delusions. It would bo idlo 
 to contend with such as have no first principles. 
 You cannot throw a man down who stands upon 
 nothing. It is much better, therefore, to compound 
 all such error and falsehood, by setting forth the 
 truth. By filling the measure with good grain, we 
 exclude tares and chaff. If good seed be sown on 
 a fertile soil, and well cultivated, noxious and 
 poisonous weeds will more easily be prevented and 
 destroyed. 
 
 But we also know that the effects of such kind 
 of writings as above referred to are widely seen 
 and felt in many parts of the world, and that now, 
 as in. Paul's time, infidelity attends "in the school 
 of one Tyrannus, still speaking evil of the new 
 and living way before the multitude, and disputing 
 of the things concerning the kingdom of God," 
 deceiving and being deceived. 
 
 It appears it was part of Paul's duty, during 
 two whole years, to dispute in this school, with the 
 wise men and people of Ephesus, and with blessed 
 results, so that not only the inhabitants of Asia 
 had the gospel preached to them, but many of 
 those dwelling at Ephesus believed and confessed, 
 and brought their books together and burned them 
 before all men, to the value of fifty thousand 
 pieces of silver. 
 
 Now, the school of Tyrannus still continues, 
 and its disciples are increasing (the reasons for 
 which, see mentioned on page 13) ; and as their 
 master is, so are they. Infidelity is not only tyran- 
 nical, but inimical to the best interests of our race, 
 for wherever the gospel is unknown, and its power 
 
A VOICK FROM THK WILDKIINESS OF CANADA. 
 
 19 
 
 unfolt.. no beneficial alteration or improvement 
 takes place in the character of man ; and when, 
 through the workings of sin, Satan, and unbelief, 
 the blessed gospel has been ignored or abjured, 
 confusion and every evil work have reigned in its 
 stead. 
 
 Although it might be a "consummation devoutly 
 to be wished" that all the books, writings, and 
 publications of what kind soever, tending to per- 
 petuate the kingdom of darkness, could be also 
 burnt up, yet present appearances indicate that 
 their time shall be prolonged for a little space. 
 
 In the midst of this war of words and conflict 
 of opinions which still prevail in the human family, 
 it is cheering to know and believe that the truth 
 has, and will, and must overcome, and that the 
 Word of the Lord endureth for ever. 
 
 That a sinful disposition, and a natural ten- 
 dency to evil exist in man, is not only a Bible 
 doctrine, but shown by the world's history, and 
 the actual experience of the human race, so that we 
 are inclined to " darkness, rather than light," our 
 " deeds" being " evil." 
 
 In the moral warfare, therefore, continued on 
 our globe betwixt light and darkness, truth and 
 error, virtue and vice, sin and righteousness, good 
 and evil, there must arise doubts and fears, anxious 
 inquiries, unbelief and perplexities, and many 
 serious questionings of the human soul, of solemn 
 and momentous import, in reference to the past, 
 present, and future. 
 
 The truths of the Bible arc not only of a 
 glorious, elevating, purifying, and soul-satisfyin 
 
 
ff? 
 
 I 
 
 Iff , 
 
 20 
 
 A VOICE FROM TIIK WILDKRNEH8 OF CANADA. 
 
 nature, but are also soloiun, mysterious, aiul un- 
 speakably important as connecting time with 
 eternity, ih^ visible with the invJHiblo world. 
 
 To the many the investigation of the external 
 evidence of Christianity might bo said to be 
 impracticable, and therefore they are shut up to 
 the internal evidence, and such teachings as may 
 surround them. But in the experience of such 
 evidence and such teachings the mind is often 
 bewildered with thoughts of doubt and uncertainty, 
 which are often increased by the subtleties and 
 arguments of scoffers, and such as hold the truth 
 in derision and unrighteousness. 
 
 It has been well and truly said, that the best of 
 all arguments for the truth of Christiauit}'- is that 
 of a Christian life. Believe and live Christ. That 
 is the most convincing and available, and deserv- 
 edly called the argument of arguments, as without 
 the doctrines and principles of oiir holy religion 
 exhibited in our lives and conversation, through 
 the influence of the Holy Spirit, all else would bo 
 a myth and a delusion indeed. 
 
 But we are also called to search the Scriptures, 
 to prove all things, holding fast that which is 
 good, to be able to give a reason for the faith that 
 is in us, that we may be able to convince the gain- 
 sayers, and contend earnestly for the faith delivered 
 to the saints, and in nothing terrified by our adver- 
 saries, nor their works, but rather reprove them. 
 
 Now I think I am only one of many thousands, 
 who, in searching the Scriptures of the Old and 
 New Testaments for the words of eternal life, have 
 also earnestly sought additional light and know- 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNKSS OF CANADA. 
 
 21 
 
 lotlgo from tlio written word, in order, as it were, 
 to see more clearly, in reference to the Scrijitures 
 being a basis or resting place, a pillar and gronnd 
 of our faith, sure, steadfast, and immovable, thereby 
 realizing an assuiance of the truth of God's holy 
 word, and his loving kindness to us, as also proof 
 to those unprejudiced, that the Creator of the 
 heavens and the earth is the God of the Bible, and 
 that Divine Eevelation is a message of grace, love, 
 and mercy, through Jesus, the Christ, to our fallen 
 race. 
 
 Now whether the thoughts which have arisen 
 in my heart connected with the first and, last verses 
 of the Divine Eecord furnish strong proof, the 
 reader must judge. 
 
 I think there is such proof in the very first sen- 
 tence of the Book of God. " In the beginning God 
 created the heavens and the earth." What other 
 book in the whole earth, ever was, is, or can exist, 
 which makes such a sudden, and strange, and 
 wonderful announcement as is contained in these few 
 words of sublimity and truth, in reference to the 
 disclosure of time and eternity ? Whence had the 
 writer his conceptions ? The Eternal Jehovah alone 
 could usher into being those innumerable worlds 
 " which night's blue arch adorn," and they are all 
 connected with time in eternity. 
 
 It is true that Atheists, Deidts, ttc., (they arc 
 all of the same school, all under one master, *' who 
 abode not in the truth, in whom there is no 
 truth," and in deceiving and being deceived, it is 
 clearly seen that they speak of their own), assert 
 that there is no God, no work of creation, nor 
 2* 
 
22 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDEIIN-EKB OF CANADA. 
 
 I 
 
 I' i 
 
 revolrttiou from God. Accoriliiifi; to tlio infidel 
 platform, thexoforo, the writer of Gcnsis^rst sen- 
 tence must have imagined an absurdit^vfmismueli 
 as we cannot make a declaration without having pre- 
 vious conopptions concerning it ;-bttxTTicro being no 
 God, nor revelation from GotL as asserted by them, 
 the writer ( atvliau boon oaid ; amni^ have imagined 
 ^^^ absurdity. Verily they who contend for such 
 absurdity must be guilty of a greater. 
 
 Apart from these reasonings, it will be seen that 
 this announcement is in harmony with the whole of 
 the teachings of Scripture throughout, even to the 
 last sentence of God's holy word. Thus we have 
 it declared, that the High and Holy One who 
 inhabiteth eternity, the only living and true God, 
 created the heavens and the earth in the begiu- 
 nin -■•, and has not left himself without a witness, 
 " for the invisible things of Him from the creation 
 of the world are clearly seen, being understood by 
 the things that are made, even His eternal power 
 and Godhead." 
 
 As the existence of God is the basis of reli- 
 gion, you will easily perceive the vast importance 
 of this great fundamental truth, for " he that 
 Cometh unto God must believe that He is, and that 
 He is the rewarder of all those who diligently seek 
 Him." I would greatly desire, then, to have this 
 truth deeply engraven on your hearts, as it is the 
 foundation of all man's hopes and aspirations, his 
 joys and sorrows ; for were there no God, the idea 
 of salvation by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 
 would be out of the question. 
 
 The revelation contained in Genesis concerning 
 the creation of the heavens and earth, was an 
 
A VOK'K FKOM TllK WM.UEUNKW.S OF CANADA. 
 
 2:\ 
 
 essential part oi the Jewish polity. They were to 
 love the Lord their God, to keep His command- 
 iiientH, and statutes, and judgments, to teach them 
 to their children on their lying down and rising 
 up, and when they walked by the way. The minds 
 of all the people would thus bo familiarized with 
 the numerous observances of the ceremonial law, 
 and in an especial manner with the moral law, or 
 ten commandments. And thus the fourth com- 
 mandment, commemorative of the creation of the 
 heavens and earth, and the sea, and all that in 
 them is, Avas daily taught, and the seventh day 
 exclusively a^jpointed for the contemplation of 
 these great and marvellous events, even as it is 
 among the Jews at this day. 
 
 By these public and private teachings, the 
 study of the works of God, being interwoven with 
 their secular as well as sacred duties, was kept pro- 
 minently before the minds of the whole people, 
 and the study of His works being glorious, beau- 
 teous, and sublime, Avould furnish a pure and ele- 
 vating source of happiness " to every one taking 
 pleasure therein," notwithstanding the partial ruin 
 of our world which man's fall had occasioned. 
 
 In accordance therewith, we find their kings 
 and priests, prophets and teachers, breaking forth 
 in rapturous and sublime strains of admiration or 
 worship, when meditating on the wonders of crea- 
 tion, and the marvellous acts of the Lord their 
 God. And as such parts of the holy Scriptures are 
 not only corroborative of the solemnizing truths 
 contained in the first section of holy writ, but also 
 show that these heavenly truths, like so many 
 
24 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 enduring links of an adamantino chain, run through 
 the whole of the inspired volume, from its sure 
 and immutable foundation until the last stone with 
 shoutings of grace, grace, be added to the spiritual 
 building, I will present you with a few of these 
 gems, and in order that I may not tarnish their 
 lustre, will give them pure from the wells of salva- 
 tion. 
 
 " And the priest of the most high God blessed 
 him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high 
 God, possessor of heaven and earth." 
 
 " And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have 
 lift up mine hand, unto the ' Lord, the most high 
 God, the possessor of heaven and earth," etc. 
 
 " And he brought him forth abroad, and said. 
 Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars if thou 
 be able to number them : and he said unto him, so 
 shall thy seed be." 
 
 "And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the 
 God of heaven, and the God of the earth, the Lord 
 God of heaven, which took mo from my father's 
 house, and from the land of my kindred," <fec. 
 
 " Behold the heaven and the heaven of heavens 
 is the Lord's, thy God, and the earth also with all 
 that therein is." 
 
 " But will God indeed dwell on the earth ? be- 
 hold the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot 
 contain thee; how much less this house that I have 
 builded!" 
 
 "And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and 
 said, O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest between 
 the Cherubim, thou art the God, even thou alone, 
 of all the kingdoms of the earth, thou hast made 
 heaven and earth." 
 
A VOlCt', FIIOM Tin; WILDE UN ES8 OF CANADA. 
 
 9r, 
 
 "Sing unto tlic Lord, all tlio cnrtli, «liow forth 
 from Jay to Jay His salvation." 
 
 " For all tlio goJs of tlio people are iJols, but 
 the Lord maJe the heavens." 
 
 " Let the heavens be glaJ, and let the earth re- 
 joice, and let men say among the nations, the Lord 
 reigueth." 
 
 " Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, 
 and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty : 
 for all that is in the heaven and the earth is thine : 
 thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted 
 as head above all. Now, therefore, O our God, wo 
 thank thee and praise thy glorious name." 
 
 "And Pethahiah said. Stand up and bless the 
 Lord 3'our God for ever and ever ; and blessed be 
 thy glorious name, which is exalted above all bless- 
 ing and praise. ThoU; even thou, art Lord alone, 
 Thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, 
 with all theii hosts, the earth, and all things that 
 are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and 
 thou preservest them all, and the host of heaven 
 worshippeth thee." 
 
 " Where wast thou when I laid the foundations 
 [of the earth ? (saitli God) ; declare if thou hast 
 understanding. 
 
 " Where is the way v/liere light dwelleth ? and 
 IS for darkness, where is the place thereof ? " 
 
 " Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who 
 
 lath created these things, that bringeth out their 
 
 host by number ; He calleth them all by names, by 
 
 the greatness of His might ; He is strong in power, 
 
 lot one that faileth." 
 
 " Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard 
 ^hat the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of 
 
 
 n 
 
A' 
 
 « 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 the ends of the earth, faintcth not, neither is weary ? 
 there is no searching of His understanding." 
 
 " Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, and Ho 
 that formed thee from the womb : I am the Lord 
 that maketh all things, that stretcheth forth the 
 heavens alone, that spreadeth abroad the earth by 
 myself ; that frustrateth the tokens of liars, and 
 maketh the diviners mad, that turnetli "wise men 
 backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish." 
 
 " For my thoughts are not as your thoughts 
 nor your ways my ways, saith the Lord ; for as 
 the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my 
 ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than 
 your thoughts." 
 
 I would now say, by way of parenthesis, 
 reader of many books, or of any book, didst thou 
 ever hear or read in man-made books such sublim- 
 ities as these ? What are the loftiest strains and 
 the highest conceptions of the historians and poets 
 of Greece and Home, or of later periods, (apart from 
 the Book of God), as compared with these ! ItJ.g.: — 
 
 The most famous of the Greek poets thus 
 begins : 
 
 " O Goddess, sing thou the destructive wrath of 
 Achilles, the son of Pcleus, which occasioneci a 
 thousand woes to the Greeks." And a man of the 
 name of Virgil, famed among the Roman poets, 
 speaking about Jupiter, calls him Omnipotens 
 Pater, or Almighty Father, and these two instances 
 are thought, among the literati of our world, to | 
 border on the lofty and sublime. How is it, thatj 
 within the whole compass of human learning, there! 
 is no such language, nor ideas, nor revelations off 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILUEllNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 27 
 
 heaven and earth to be found comparable to what 
 we find in the Divine Records. If they are of man 
 why do they not resemble other human productions? 
 Do they not breathe, as it were, their own heavenly 
 inspiration ? 
 
 " For thus saith the high and lofty one who in- 
 habiteth eternity, whose name is holy : I dwell in 
 the high and holy place, with him also that is of a 
 contrite and humble S2)irit, to revive the spirit of 
 the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite 
 ones." 
 
 " He hath made the earth by His power, he hath 
 established the world by His wisdom, and hath 
 stretched out the heavens by His discretion. When 
 He uttereth His voice there is a multitude of waters 
 in the heavens ; every man is brutish in his know- 
 ledge ; they are vanity and the work of errors ; in 
 the time of their visitation they shall perish." 
 
 " Let us lift up our heart with our hands to 
 God in the heavens." 
 
 " In the daj'S of these kings shall the God of 
 heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be de- 
 stroyed." 
 
 " And I lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and 
 mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed 
 the Most High, and I praised and honored Him 
 that liveth for ever and ever, whose dominion is an 
 everlasting dominion, and all the inhabitants of the 
 earth are reputed as nothing, and he doeth accord- 
 ing to His will in the army of heaven, and among 
 the inhabitants of the earth." 
 
 " For thus saith the Lord of Hosts, yet once, it 
 is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the 
 
 (-. 
 
I 
 
 I 
 .1 
 
 
 ' w:l 
 
 1 U 
 
 il I 
 
 h 
 
 28 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNES8 OF CANADA. 
 
 earth, and the se;i, and the dry land ; and I will 
 shake all nations, and the Desire of all nations shall 
 come, and I will 11:1 this house with gl' ly, saith the 
 Lord of Hosts." 
 
 " I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and 
 earth, because thou hast hid these thincs from the 
 wise and .irudent, and hast revealed them unto 
 babes." 
 
 " God, that Made the world and all things 
 therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, 
 dwelleth not in ter.ples made with hands, but giveth 
 to all life and brccith and all things." 
 
 "And I saw ar, other angel fly in the midst of 
 heaven, having th-^ everlasting Gospel to preach to 
 them that dwell c:i the earth, saying with a loud 
 voice. Fear God, smd give glory to Him, for the 
 hour of His judginent is come; and worship Him 
 that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the 
 fountains of waters." 
 
 " And I saw a new heaven and a now earth, for 
 the first heaven and the first earth were passed 
 away ; and there was no more sea." 
 
 " By the word of the Lord were the heavens 
 made ; let all the earth fear the Lord, let all the 
 inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him." 
 
 " And the ang d wliicli I saw stand upon the 
 sea, and upon the earth, lifted up his hand to 
 heaven and swarc by Him that livetli for ever and 
 ever, who created ]ieaven and the things that there- 
 in are, and the eai Lh, and the things that therein 
 are, and the sea, aid the things which are therein, 
 that there should be time no longer. But in 
 the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when 
 
A VOICE FIlO>t THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 00 
 
 midst of 
 
 preacli to 
 
 th a loud 
 
 m, for the 
 
 rsliip Him 
 
 a, and the 
 
 earth, for 
 ire passed 
 
 le heavens 
 et all the 
 Him." 
 upon the 
 is hand to 
 ►r ever and 
 that there- 
 lat therein 
 Hre therein, 
 But in 
 mgel, when 
 
 ho shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should 
 be finished, as he hath declared to His servants the 
 prophets." 
 
 Read the Psalms; they abound with such quo- 
 tations, but these few, taken in connection Avitli 
 what I Lave said, will show to the unprejudiced 
 mind that the truths contained in the Old Testa- 
 ment, (tliope boiuf'; r.io^ifly selected therefrom), 
 were deeply engraven on tlic minds of the Jewish 
 people, especially in reference to the work of the 
 creation and the worship of the true God. And, 
 as we know, they continue to believe the books of the 
 Old Testament to be divinely inspired. They ob- 
 serve the seventh day of the week as their Sabbath j 
 (when was time divided into weeks '? ) as also a 
 number of various festivals, which they were en- 
 joined to keep in commemoration of those remark- 
 able events mentioned in. their history by the 
 I inspired writers. 
 
 i They still expect the Christ, the Messiah, as a 
 I temporal prince or deliverer, who will gather them 
 I out of all nations and establish them in their own 
 «land. They do not believe that, in the birth, life, 
 ^sufleriiigs, death, resurrection and ascension of 
 Jjesus, the Christ, the Son of God, all the pro- 
 hecies in the Old Testament, concerning Him that 
 as to come, vrere fulfdled, and that Jesus, the 
 nighty Saviour from sin and death, Davids son 
 nd Lord, who hath brought life and immortality 
 o light through the Gospel, and "is now highly 
 xalted far above all principalities, and powers, 
 nd might, and dominion, and every name that is 
 amed, not only in this world, but in that which is 
 
30 A VOICL; FllOM THE WJLOEUNESH OF CANADA. 
 
 II'. 
 
 to come," was the Lamb of God who takcth away 
 the sins of the world, and of whom all their own 
 sacrifices, sin-ofi:V3rings, and ritualistic observances 
 wore only tj^pical or representative. But they are 
 still beloved for the Father's sake, and things 
 glorious are f;poken of their restoration, when the 
 fulness of tl: 3 Gentiles shall have come in, Avhich 
 must be hastening apace. 
 
 I would now claim your earnest attention to 
 some texts from the New Testament, showing it is 
 a continuation and fulfilment of the Old, and that 
 both are inseparably connected as the revealed 
 will of God to man : — 
 
 " The Book of the generation of Jesus Christ, 
 the son of David, the son of Abraham," to the end 
 of the chapter. 
 
 " Herod demanded of the chief priests and 
 scribes of the Jewish people where Christ should 
 be born. And they said unto him, in Bethlehem '■■ 
 of Judea : for thus it is written by the prophet, ] 
 And thou, Bethlehem, in the land of Judea," &c. I 
 
 "And Joseph remained in Egypt until tlici 
 death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which i 
 was spoken of the Lord by the prophet," &c. I 
 
 When Herod slew all the children under twc| 
 years old, " then was fulfilled that which was 
 spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying : Tu Bama| 
 was tliere a voice lieard, lamentation an' weep-i 
 
 " In those days came John the Baptist, preaclij 
 ing in the wilderness of Judea, saying, repent ycj 
 for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'' 
 
 ^^ For this is He that was spoken of by tin] 
 
 prophet Esais, saying, the voice of one crying in 
 
 foJ 
 
 )e| 
 
ictli away 
 their own 
 bservances 
 it they are 
 xnd things 
 t, when the 
 e in, which 
 
 attention to 
 lowing it is 
 ihl, and that 
 he revealed 
 
 A VOICE FROM TIIIG WIT.DEKNKSS OF CANADA. 
 
 ?>\ 
 
 the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord,"ttc. 
 
 " That it might be fulfilled which was spoken 
 by Esais the prophet, saying, the land of Zabulon, 
 and the land of Naphthalim, by the way of 
 the sea, beyond Jordon, Galilee of the Gentiles ; 
 the people which sat in the darkness saw great 
 Hght, and unto them which sat in the region and 
 shadow of death light is sprung up." 
 
 " Think not that I come to destroy the law or 
 the prophets : I am not come to destroy but to 
 fulfil." 
 
 " Ye have heard that it was said by them of old 
 time, thou shalt not kill," &c. 
 
 " But I say unto you, swear not at all, neither 
 by heaven, for it is God's throne, nor by the earth," 
 
 &G. 
 
 " Verily I say unto you, it shall be more toler- 
 iable for Sodom and Gomorrha, in the day of judg- 
 [meut, than for that city." 
 
 " And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which 
 I was for to come." 
 
 " Christ said unto them, have ye not read what 
 IDavid did," etc., " for the son of man is Lord even 
 |of the Sabbath day." ^ 
 
 " Esaias, the prophet, behold ni}' servant whom 
 have cliosen," etc.; "and in liis name shall the Gen- 
 tiles trust. The men of Nineveh shall rise in judg- 
 lent with this generation, and shall condemn it, 
 [or they repented at the preaching of Jonas, and 
 )ehold, a greater tlian Jonas is here !" 
 
 " If 3^0 will enter into life keep the command- 
 lents. He saitli unto him, which? Jesus said, 
 jhou shalt do ijo murder, honor thy father anfl thy 
 lother," 
 
 
 i 
 
32 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 
 " Neither can they die any more ; for they arc 
 equal unto the angels, and are the children of Godj 
 being the children of the resurrection," (could any 
 one but the Lord from heaven give such an 
 answer ?) " Now that the dead are raised, even 
 Moses showed at the bush ; when he calleth the 
 Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, 
 and the God of Jacob. For He is not a God of the 
 dead, but of the living, for all live unto Him.'' 
 
 " Jesus said unto them, ye know that after two 
 days is the feast of the Passover, and the son of 
 man is betrayed to be crucified. All je shall be 
 offended because of me this night ; for it is writ- 
 ten, I v/ill smite the shepherd, and the sheep of 
 the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I 
 am risen again I will go before you into Galilee. 
 But all this was done that the Scriptures of the 
 prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples 
 forsook him, and fled." 
 
 " And they crucified him, and parted his gar- 
 ments, casting lots; that it might be fulfilled whicli 
 was spoken of by the prophet. They parted my gar- 
 ments among them, and upon my vesture did they 
 cast lots."^ 
 
 "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have 
 believed me ; for he wrote of me." 
 
 " Martha saith unto him, yea. Lord : I believe 
 that thou art the Christ, the son of God, which 
 should come into the world." 
 
 " Therefore lot all the house of Israel know 
 assuredly that G )d hath made that same Jesus, 
 whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." 
 
 ''Then stood up one in the Council, a doctor of 
 the law, had in reputation among all the people, 
 
A VOICK FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 
 and said unto tlicm, yo men of Israel, take hood 
 to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching tlieso 
 men. I say unto you, refrain from these men, and 
 let them alone : for if this work be of men, it will 
 come to naught, but if it be of God, ye cannot 
 overthrow it, lest haply ye bo found even to fight 
 against God." 
 
 " And Philip heard him read the prophet 
 Esaias, and said, understandest thou what thou 
 readest? And he said, how can I except some 
 man should guide me The place of the Scripture 
 which ho read was this : He was led as a shee]> to 
 the slaughter ; and like a lamb dumb before his 
 shearer, so opened he not his mouth," ttc. "Then 
 Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same 
 Scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And the 
 eunuch answered and said, I believe that Jesus 
 Christ is the Son of God." 
 
 " And He commanded us to preach unto the 
 people, and to testify that it is He which was 
 ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 
 To Him give all the prophets witness, that, through 
 His name, whosoever believeth in Him shall re- 
 ceive remission of sins." 
 
 " But when they departed from Perga they 
 
 came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the 
 
 Synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down. And 
 
 after the reading of the lav/ and the prophets, Paul 
 
 stood up, and said, men of Israel and ye that fear 
 
 God, give audience ; the God of this people of Israel 
 
 ; chose our fathers, and of David's seed hath God, 
 
 I according to his promise, raised unto Israel a 
 
 [Saviour, Jesus, and unto you is the word of this 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 ifl 
 
 
 I 
 
 ^ 
 
III 
 
 >!'■ 
 
 I '' 
 
 ir'f 
 
 II 
 
 In 
 
 :U 
 
 A VOICK FUOil TIIK M'lLDERNEHS OF CANADA. 
 
 salvation sent. And when they had fulfilled all 
 that was written of Him they took Him down from 
 the tree, and laid Him in a sepulchre, but God 
 raised Him from the dead." 
 
 "And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto 
 them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them 
 out of the Scriptures ; opening and alleging that 
 Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again 
 from the dead ; and that this Jesus, whom I 
 preach unto you, is Christ." 
 
 " For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that 
 piiblicly, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was 
 Christ." 
 
 " Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and an- 
 swered for himself, I think myself happy. King 
 Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day 
 before thee. My manner of life from my youth, 
 which was at the first among mine own nation at 
 Jerusalem, know all the Jews. I now stand and 
 am judged for the hope of the promise made of 
 God unto our fathers. Why should it be thought a 
 thing incredible with you that God should raise 
 the dead? I verily thought with myself that I 
 ought to do many things contrary to the name 
 of Jesus of Nazareth, which thing I also did in 
 Jerusalem," &c. "Wherefore, as I went to Damas- 
 cus with authority and commission from the chief 
 priests, at mid-day, O King, I saw in the way a 
 light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, 
 and when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard 
 a voice speaking unto me, and I said, Who art thou, 
 Lord ? And he said, I am Jesus, whom thou per- 
 secutest. Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not 
 
A VdlCK FUOM Tin: Wl I.DtKN KSS OK CANADA. 
 
 
 cUsobediciit unto tho heavenly vision ; but showed 
 first unto them of Damascus," (ho went straightway 
 into tho synagogue of Damascus, and preached 
 Jesus, that ho is tho Son of God, see Acts ix., 19, 
 20), ** and at Jerusak^m, and througliout all tho 
 coasts of Judea, and then to tho Gentiles, that 
 they should repent, and turn to God, and do works 
 meet for repentance. For these causes tho Jews 
 caught mo in the temple, and went about to kill 
 me. Having therefore obtained help of God I 
 continue unto this day, witnessing both to small 
 and great, saying none other things than those 
 which the prophets and Moses did say should come ; 
 that Christ should suffer, and that He should be 
 the first that should rise from the dead, and should 
 show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles." 
 
 You must not forget why I set this array of 
 Scripture texts before your mind, viz., that the Old 
 Testament and tho New^ are so interwoven as to 
 be inseparable. 
 
 Read again, by way of conclusion. "Knowing 
 this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of 
 private interpretation. For the prophecy came 
 not in old time by the will of man; but holy men 
 of God spake as they were moved by the Holy 
 Ghost." 
 
 "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, 
 coming down from God out of heaven, prepared 
 as a bride adorned for her husband." 
 
 " And I heard a great voice out of heaven, say- 
 ing, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, 
 and He will dwell with them, and they shall be 
 His people, and God himself shall be with them, 
 
 ■Ml 
 
 » 
 
 3 
 
 I 
 t 
 
 3 
 
 il 
 
36 
 
 A V0IC13 FROM TIIK WILDEIINE.SH OF CANADA. 
 
 M 
 
 
 aud bo tlioir God. Aud God shall wipo away all 
 tears from their eyes ; aud there Hliall bo no more 
 death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall 
 there bo any more pain : for the former things are 
 passed away." 
 
 " And ho said unto me, these sayings are faith- 
 ful and ti'iijo : and the Lord God of the holy 
 prophets sent his angel to show unto His servants 
 the things which must shortly be done. Behold I 
 come quickly. Blessed is he that kccpeth the say- 
 ings of the prophecy of this book." 
 
 "Blessed are they who do His commandments, 
 that they may have right to the tree of life, and 
 may enter in through the gates into the city. For 
 I testify unto every man that hoareth the words of 
 the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add 
 unto these things, God shall add unto him the 
 plagues that arc written in this book. Ho which 
 testifieth these things, saith, surely I come quickly. 
 Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." 
 
 There are some who do not attach to tho Old 
 Testament Scriptures that consideration which 
 their importance demands, but it will plainly be 
 perceived from these passages that tho New Testa- 
 ment is, in one sense, as I have said, a continua- 
 tion of the Old, in respect to the fulfilment of its 
 prophecies concerning the Messiah, and the won- 
 derful events attendant, and consequent, upon His 
 coming in the flesh. 
 
 The principal truths, then, to be found in the 
 Bible, are, in brief, that God in the beginning 
 created the heavens, and also the earth, as an 
 abode for man, whom Ho made and placed iu a 
 
 fi' 
 
A VOICE FUOM THE WIT.DKRNES.S OF CANADA. 
 
 37 
 
 ^ay all 
 o more 
 r shall 
 iigs arc 
 
 faitli- 
 10 lioly 
 ervants 
 eliold I 
 ,ho say- 
 
 Imonts. 
 ifo, and 
 y. For 
 ,'ords of 
 all add 
 lim tlio 
 wliicli 
 juicldy. 
 
 ilio Old 
 wliicli 
 inly be 
 Testa- 
 ntinua- 
 of its 
 e won- 
 lon His 
 
 in tlie 
 winning 
 as an 
 id iu a 
 
 itatc, and that 
 
 man sinned aganis 
 
 d 
 
 t 
 
 
 holy and happy state, aiu 
 God ; and these truths relate to his history as a 
 sinner, and his restoration to salvation, by the 
 grace, love, and mercy of God, manifested in 
 Christ Jesus. 
 
 As already' said, the natural disposition in man 
 has a tendency towards that -which is evil, (called 
 by some original sin), and this is not only a Bible 
 doctrine, but every reflecting person will bear 
 testimony to the truth thereof, and our world's his- 
 tory will corroborate it. 
 
 Sin is rightly said to be " want of conformity 
 to God's law, or a violation of it by a conscious, 
 responsible, moral agent." 
 
 In respect to man as a sinner, and prone to 
 that which is evil, I might state first, in reference 
 to the Jews, that, notwithstanding the advantages 
 possessed by them above all other nations of anti- 
 quity, their history seems to be a contiiuied circle 
 of sins, judgments, contrition, deliverances, and 
 renewed transgressions. Mingling with idolaters, 
 they are tempted to sin ; their sins bring the judg- 
 ments of God upon them ; they arc moved to 
 repentance, are again delivered, and return to their 
 sins. 
 
 The sins of Adam, Noah and Lot, Moses, 
 David and Solomon, are set before us with sim- 
 plicity and truth. " Let him that standeth take 
 heed lest he fall." 
 
 The Bible informs us of the sins and corrup- 
 tions which ruined the old world. " All flesh cor- 
 rupted their way upon the earth." It also tells us 
 of the enormous vices which finally destroyed 
 3 
 

 A VOICK FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 f 
 
 ! 
 
 it > 
 
 Sodom, Egypt, Babylon, Nineveh, and other great 
 and ancient kingdoms. Sodom, and the cities of 
 the plain, " were sinners before the Lord exceed- 
 ingly." A number of the Jewish kings and queens 
 not only forsook the commandments of the Lord, 
 and " did that which was evil in his sight," but 
 caused " Israel and the inhabitants of Judea to 
 commit sin. This state of idolatry and wickedness, 
 cruelty, sinning and repentance, continued during 
 the reign of their kings, for upwards of four hundred 
 years. And their sins, under Manasseh and his 
 son Amon, and their successors in the kingdom of 
 Judah, with some exceptions, became so heinous, 
 that the judgments of the Lord came upon them, 
 and their country was laid waste. " There was no 
 bread in the land for the people thereof," and the 
 conquering army of Nebuchadnezzar laid siege 
 to Jerusalem, and after a siege of two years, the 
 city " was broken up," and the men of war fled, 
 and the remnant of the inhabitants who were 
 spared were carried captive to Babylon. Zedekiah 
 had sinned against the Lord, and done evil, accord- 
 ing to all that his fathers had done, and he was 
 taken and brought up before the king of Babylon, 
 at Riblah, and judgment given upon him. His two 
 sons were slain before his eyes, and his own eyes 
 being put out, he was bound in fetters of brass, 
 and carried away into captivity, the victim of 
 sorrow and despair. He not only forsook the 
 commandments given to Moses, " but he caused 
 the people to sin, and filled Jerusalem with inno- 
 cent blood, from one end to the other, which the 
 Lord would not pardon." 
 
A VOICE FR{).^r THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 39 
 
 inno- 
 Ih the 
 
 How often, iu later ages of our sinful workl. 
 have kings and queens, and the princes of the 
 earth, forsaken the commandments of the living 
 and true God, worshipped and served graven 
 images, trusted to legal and ritual forms of religion, 
 set themselves againt the Lord, and his Christ, 
 and filled the land with persecution and cruelty, 
 and shed the blood of the innocent, and impiously 
 desecrated the pure, and holy, and heavenly re- 
 ligion of the meek and lowly Jesus, by pretending 
 such tilings were done for the glory of God. 
 
 While thus attempting to impress your mind 
 with the dark picture of sin, and its fearful conse- 
 quences to both the people and their rulers, it must 
 be a relieving and joyful emotion which will arise 
 in the hearts of those who may read this little 
 book, when they reflect on the British Empire 
 being blessed with our present much beloved and 
 gracious Sovereign, Queen Victoria. The acts of 
 her reign, and the quotations from her book, all 
 point one w^ay, viz: upwards and heaven-wards, 
 and show that she delights in her wanderings 
 to be " doing good ;" which no one can do unless 
 they be good. And wdiile she of Spain has been 
 driven by her own people, for her ungracious 
 conduct, to wander as a fugitive among the 
 nations, our much loved Queen sits enthroned 
 in the hearts of her people. Should any 
 power or powers on earth make an attempt 
 upon her throne, all England, and the men, women 
 and children of Scotland would be found united to 
 repel such attempt, and drive the invaders into the 
 nearest waters of the Atlantic. And according to 
 
 I 
 
40 
 
 A VOICE FUO.M THK WILDPJRNKS.S OF CANADA. 
 
 {ippGaraiicos, slio may yet live to boliokl one ol' 
 the most glorious rei'orinations " that ere the sun 
 shone on," in reference to the civil, religious and 
 political regeneration of the nations of Europe, 
 effected during her reign. Tliis is a kind of 
 digression, and I will now resu"""^-^ 
 
 Until the Messiah, the Del ler came, such a 
 state of sinning and suffering, under governors 
 and priests, continued after their restoration under 
 Gyrus. 
 
 If we turn from Jewish to profane history, v/c 
 will find that its leaves, like Ezekiel's Roll " are 
 full of lamentation, mourning, and woo," the dire 
 effects of sin." 
 
 I do not wish to dwell on the scenes of misery 
 and horror which sin has occasioned in our mal- 
 evolent world. It is true that man, even in his 
 fallen state, is capable of great things. His un- 
 derstanding, will, affections, and imagination, are 
 noble and amazing powers. His natural faculties 
 and abilities afford sufHcient evidence that the 
 " band which made him is divine." He can 
 measure the earth, and count some of the stars. 
 He abounds in arts and inventions, in science and 
 policy. The ancient heathen nations, the inhabi- 
 tants of Egypt, Greece, and Rome, were eminent 
 for this kind of wisdom. 
 
 But so long as man is destitute of the true 
 light, and without the saving grace of God, not- 
 withstanding all his boasted attainments, his con- 
 duct, in reference to his true interests, is not only 
 sinful, but as absurd and inconsistent as that of 
 the veriest idiot. 
 
 
)iie of 
 [10 sun 
 LIS and 
 iirope, 
 ind of 
 
 such a 
 
 -ernors 
 
 under 
 
 iry, v/o 
 11 " are 
 lie dire 
 
 misery 
 ir mal- 
 . in iiis 
 lis un- 
 on, are 
 iculties 
 at the 
 ^e can 
 itars. 
 tee and 
 nhabi- 
 mineiit 
 
 le true 
 d, not- 
 is coii- 
 ot only 
 that of 
 
 A VOICE FROJf THE WILDEIINESS OF CANADA. 
 
 41 
 
 
 
 Their most admired philosophers, legislators, 
 logicians, orators, and artists, were as infants in 
 regard to that knowledge which alone deserves 
 the name of true wisdom. " Professing themselves 
 wise they becanie fools." Their system of reli- 
 gious fables, in point of certainty or truth, was 
 more like a collection of dreams, or the ravings of 
 lunatics. Their sins and vicious practices reduced 
 them to the lov.est state of dep,radation and igno- 
 rance. The Eomans, after subduing the Greeks 
 and other nations within the reacli of tlieir arms, 
 finally subdued and enslaved themselves by their 
 own vices. 
 
 The moral character of all such nations, where 
 Christ's gospel is not known and believed, is best 
 given in the words of Him who cannot err. "They 
 are filled v.'itli all unrighteousness, fornication, 
 wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of 
 envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, v/hisperers, 
 back-biters, h.aters of God, despiteful, proud, 
 boasters, inventors of evil tilings, disobedient .to 
 i)arents, v>'ithout understanding, covenant-breakers, 
 without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful." 
 
 I would noAv briefly glance at the New Testament, 
 in reference to its teachings ccmcerning the curse of 
 our world, the cause of aM our woe, misery, sufier- 
 xng, and death. " For by one man sin entered 
 into the v.'orld, and death by sin, and so death 
 passed upon all men, for that ail have sinned." 
 
 In some sense, it might he called a kind of 
 ti'eatise on sin and stdvation. 
 
 " Christ came to put away sin by the sacrifice 
 of himself. lie was the Lamb of God who taketh 
 
 I 
 
 y'' ! 
 
mm 
 
 I a; 
 
 42 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDKRXESS OF CANADA. 
 
 away the sin of the world. Ho came to finish 
 transgression, and make an end of sin. He was 
 made sin for us, who knew no sin, that we migiit 
 be made the righteousness of God in Him. There 
 is none righteous ; no, not one. Tliere is no fear 
 of God before their eyes. The whole world is 
 guilty before God. Sin hath reigned unto death. 
 The wages of sin is death. In me (that is, in my 
 flesh) dwelleth no good thing. If Christ is not 
 risen, our faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins. 
 When lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, 
 and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death. 
 If any man sin, we have an advocate with the 
 Father. Whosoever committeth sin, transgresseth 
 also the law ; for sin is the transgression of the 
 law." 
 
 Such is a brief sketch of sin, and its existence 
 in our world, and its consequences since the fall of 
 man, as given in God's holy word, and otherwise. 
 
 I have said that the principal truths in the 
 Bible related not only to man's history as a sinner, 
 but his restoration to salvation, through the grace, 
 love and mercy of God, manifested in Christ 
 Jesus. 
 
 The reader will now perceive that we are 
 brought, as it were, into contact with the whole 
 Scriptures, as also the last sentence of the same, 
 and however marvellous the revelation may be in 
 Gen. 1st, the contents of the closing sentence 
 unutterably transcend it in glory, wonder, and im- 
 portance. It will bo in eternity that we shall 
 realize this, and therefore I cannot explain it. 
 The Lord Jesus Christ. He was " the Lord" from 
 
 f' I 
 
 I! !!ii • 
 
A \01CE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 4:3 
 
 finish 
 e was 
 might 
 There 
 .0 fear 
 )rlcl is 
 death, 
 in my 
 is not 
 ir sins, 
 th sin, 
 death, 
 th the 
 resseth 
 of the 
 
 istence 
 > fall of 
 
 erwisc. 
 
 in the 
 
 sinner, 
 grace, 
 
 Christ 
 
 ^ve arc 
 whole 
 same, 
 be in 
 kntence 
 Lud im- 
 shall 
 llain it. 
 froiu 
 
 heaven. From the very nature of the case, no one 
 <3ould give us an absolute certainty ot an immortal 
 existence but God alone. There are many facts 
 from nature proving this doctrine, but we want a 
 certainty in this thing, even one from the other 
 world to tell us. Therefore God himself, in Christ 
 Jesus, came and told us the wonderful tidings. 
 
 All other knowledge, then, you will perceive, is 
 only as trifles, light as air, in comparison with the 
 knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and His grace. 
 Other knowledge is seen and temporal, but what 
 relates to Him is in a great measure unseen and 
 eternal. 
 
 Some readers may now be ready to enquire, 
 who is the Lord Jesus Christ, and what is his 
 grace ? 
 
 Since beginning to write these pages, I have 
 often been in trouble, and at a loss for words to 
 express my thoughts, and could not find words to 
 convey the ideas. Nor can I find words now to 
 give an answer to one of the most important of all 
 enquiries, and of more interest to us than all other 
 considerations. Oh that I could convey a kind of 
 answer to you in ideas without words ! Bat as this 
 is impossible, I will give you some description of 
 His name and character, and what He hath done 
 "to take away the sin of the world;" to make us free 
 from the law of sin and death ; to restore us to 
 the favour and fellowship of our Father in heaven ; 
 '- to make us meet to be partakers of the inheri- 
 tance of the saints in light ;" to be " made perfectly 
 blessed, in the full enjoying of God to all eternit}'," 
 
 These des(!riptions must be taken froin the 
 (Scriptures of truth, 
 
 r'il 
 
u 
 
 A \(nCE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE DIVINITY OF OUR LOUD JESUS CIirilST PlIOVED FROM 
 
 yOi^x- rrjRE; as also concerning faith, and its 
 
 FRUITS. 
 
 To every reflecting person, having beard of 
 Christianity or read even a part of the Bible, and 
 having ..u k u;t of superficial knowledge of the 
 momenteii:j .t^ ;. all-important truths therein con- 
 tained,— who aix"! ^''hat is the Lord Jesus Christ? 
 is ai? enqa^y vhioV il at once appear of solemn 
 and everlasting intvrc ^, rot only in reference to 
 his or her condition in this world, bat also through 
 the ages to come. 
 
 That our blessed Saviour, through whose grace 
 we are saved, is represented in Scripture as " God 
 manifest in the flesh," as " God with us," as both 
 God and Man, the following texts will abundantly 
 prove : — 
 
 " Then they that were in the ship came and wor- 
 shipped him, saying, of a truth thou art the Son of 
 God." " Go ye therefore and teach all nations, 
 baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of 
 the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; and lo, I am with 
 you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." 
 " Prepare ye the way of the Lord ; and they went 
 forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working 
 with them, and confirming the word with signs 
 following." " For unto you is born this day, in the 
 city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." 
 
A VOICE FROM TllK WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 4.-) 
 
 3D FllOM 
 ,\I-!D IT8 
 
 eai'tl of 
 3lc, and 
 
 of the 
 iin con- 
 Christ 1 
 
 solemn 
 [•ence to 
 ;hrough 
 
 e grace 
 i " God 
 as both 
 ndantly 
 
 nd wor- 
 Son of 
 lations, 
 and of 
 in with 
 A.nien." 
 y went 
 ,^orking 
 signs 
 , in the 
 Lord." 
 
 " The Lord said unto my Lord, sit thou on my right 
 hand ; David tliercfore calloth him Lord, how is he 
 
 then his Son ? 
 
 In the besinninc: was the word. 
 
 and tlie word was witli God, and the word was 
 God. And tlie word was made fk^sh, and dwelt 
 
 amon 
 
 o 
 
 )th 
 
 u" " As the Father know 
 so know I the Father." " And he said, Lord, I 
 believe ; and he worshipped him." " I and my 
 Father are one." " For a good work we stone thee 
 no*, but for blasphemy ; and because that thou, 
 being a man, makest thyself God." " Say ye of him, 
 whom the Father hatii sanctified, thou blasphemest, 
 because I said I am the Son of God? Though ye 
 believe not me, believe the works ; that ye may 
 know and believe that the Father is in me, and I 
 in him. Therefore the v souprht ao-ain to take him." 
 
 The Lord knew their opinions of him. To 
 allow the Jews to entertain a false opinion or 
 belief, would have been proof of dishonesty. But 
 He confirmed their opinions, njid was tried, and 
 condemned, and crucified, " because he, being a 
 man, called himself God." What further need 
 have we of witness ? He was hated, and suffered 
 not for his humanitj', but for his divinity. He 
 claimed divinity, manifested divinity, received 
 divine worship, fulfilled prophecies respecting a 
 divine ^Messiah, received proofs from heaven of his 
 divinity. 
 
 The following are among the last sayings of 
 Napoleon I. : — " The divinity of Christ is an article 
 of mere faith, and upon it depend all the other 
 articles of the Cliristitm system. This doctrine 
 once admitted, and Christianity appears witli the 
 
 fi^ 
 
 ■m 
 
40 
 
 A VOICE FllOM THE WILDERNESS' OF CANADA, 
 
 'I 
 
 * '!' 
 
 clearness of algebra ; it lias the connection and 
 unity of a science. This doctrine, resting on tlio 
 Bible, best explains the traditions prevalent in tho 
 world. It throws light upon them; and all tho 
 other doctrines of Christianity are strictly connected 
 with it, as links of the same chain. The nature of 
 Christ's existence is mysterious, I admit ; but this 
 mystery meets the wants of man. Reject it, and 
 tho world is an inexplicable riddle ; believe it, and 
 tlie history of our race is satisfactorily explained." 
 
 But these, although the sayings of a great man, 
 are only a man's sayings ; and as many do not admit 
 the teachings of Scripture, in reference to our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, but reject them, and honor Him not 
 as they honor the Father, we will make a brief 
 search into the divine records, setting forth such 
 further proofs as no unprejudiced mind can easily 
 resist. 
 
 " Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and 
 tho life ; whosoever believeth in me shall never die. 
 Bolievest thou this ?" Martha saith unto him, ' Yea, 
 Lord ; I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son 
 of God, which should come into the world.' " 
 
 " Thomas answered and said unto him, ' My 
 Lord and my God.' " 
 
 " They lifted up their voice to God with one 
 acccord, and said, ' Lord, thou art God, which hast 
 made heaven and earth, and the sea ; who by tho 
 mouth of thy servant David hast said,'" &c. 
 
 " The kings of the earth, and the rulers, were 
 gathered together against the Lord, and against 
 Ids Christ." 
 
 " When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight, 
 and the voice of the Lord came unto him saying, 
 
 tt^ 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 47 
 
 and 
 
 die. 
 
 Yea, 
 
 Son 
 
 My 
 
 I <im f/ie God of thy fatlicrs, and tlio God of Abra- 
 ' Then Moses trembled and durst not 
 
 am, 
 
 it 
 
 iVC. 
 
 behold. Then said the Lord to liim, Put off thy 
 shoes," etc. > 
 
 " And they stoned Stephen calling upon 6roc/, 
 and saying, Lord Jesus, receive," ttc. 
 
 " And ho kneeled down, and cried with a loud 
 voice. Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." 
 
 " Then answered Simon and said, Pray yc to 
 the Lord for me," &c. 
 
 " And Saul yet breathing out, etc., against the 
 disciples of the Lord. And Saul said, who art thou. 
 Lord ? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou 
 persecutest. And he, trembling and astonished, 
 said. Lord, what wilt thou have me to do ? And 
 the Lord said unto him, Arise and go into the 
 city," etc. 
 
 "And the Lord said unto him in a vision, 
 Ananias ; and he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. 
 And the Lord said unto him. Arise, and go into the 
 street called straight, and enquire for one called 
 Saul of Tarsus, for behold he prayeth. Then 
 Ananias answered. Lord, I have heard by many 
 of this man, how much evil he hath done to thv 
 saints, etc. But the Lord said unto him. Go thy 
 way," &c. 
 
 Do you not see from these passages that Jesus is 
 the Lord, and that Lord and God are used by the 
 inspired writers as synonymous wdth the Lord our 
 God, as will yet even more plainly appear. 
 
 "And the next Sabbath day the whole city 
 came almost to hear the word of God. And the 
 Gentiles were glad, and glorified the word of the 
 
 I 
 
 ■i 
 
 lii' 
 
48 
 
 A VOICE FROM Till: WILUlOllNEiiS OF CANADA. 
 
 Lord. Then Paul waxed bold and said, Ifc was 
 iiecossaiy that the word of God should first have 
 been spoken to you." 
 
 *' And the word of the Lord was published 
 throughout all the region." 
 
 " And Paul and Silas said, Believe on the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, and thou slialt be saved, and thy 
 house." 
 
 " And they spake unto him the word of tlio 
 Lord, etc., and ho set meat before them, and ro- 
 joieed, believing in God with all his house." 
 
 " God that made the world, and all things there- 
 in, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth," tte. 
 
 " That they should seek the Lord, if haply they 
 might feel after him, though he be not far from 
 every one of us ; for in Him we live, and move, 
 and have our being. For we are also his offspring. 
 Forasmuch, then, as we are the offspring of God, 
 wo ought not to think that the Godhead is like 
 unto gold or silver," &c. 
 
 " Over the which the Holy Ghost hath made 
 you overseers, to feed the Church of God which he 
 hath purchased with his own blood." (The Church 
 of God, and the Church of Christ, is one Church.) 
 
 " And Paul declared particularly what things 
 God had wrought among the Gentiles by his min- 
 istry. And when the}^ heard it, the}' glorified the 
 Lord." 
 
 " Whose are the fathers, and of whom, as con- 
 cerning the flesh, Christ came, Avho is over all, God 
 blessed for ever. Amen." 
 
 " Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord 
 shall be saved. God hath not cast away his 
 
A VOUi; FIIO.M Tllli WILUKllNKSS OF CANADA. 
 
 4!) 
 
 'Eli;isin:ik('tli intercession to God nsjruiuHt 
 
 f>' 
 
 ;on- 
 \God 
 
 ^ord 
 his 
 
 ])eople.' 
 
 Israel, saying, Lordy they liavo killed the prophets. 
 
 itc. 
 
 For we shall all stand before the judgment 
 
 seat of C'lrist." 
 
 '' For it is written, as I live, saith the Lord, 
 every knee shall bow to me, and every tongne shall 
 confess to God." (The judgment seat was the 
 judgment seat of Christ, the Lord was the judge to 
 whom every knee should bow and confess to God). 
 
 " But he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore 
 judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, 
 and then shall every man have praise of God." 
 
 ''Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them 
 also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents." 
 
 Compare this with Numbers xxi.: G, 7, 8. Whom 
 did they tempt and speak against ? The people 
 spoke against God, and against Moses. And the 
 Lord (Christ) sent liery serpents among the people, 
 therefore the people came to Moses, and said: Wo 
 have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, 
 (Christ), pray unto the Lord, (Christ), that he take 
 away the serpents from us." (Surely if there be 
 meaning in words, these verses show that Christ is 
 divine, that he is God and Lord.) " No man can say 
 that Jesus is the Lord but by the HolyGhost." "Now 
 there are diversities of gifts, but the same Sjni'it; 
 dilferenees of administrations, but the same Lord ; 
 and diversities of operations, but it is the same 
 God who worketh all in all. The second Man is 
 the Lord from heaven. 
 
 " Be ye steadfast, alwaj^s abounding in the work 
 of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour 
 is not in vain in the Lord." 
 
 Hi 
 ^1 
 
no 
 
 A VOUI: FROM TIIK \V1 LDIMINIISS Ol-' CANADA. 
 
 " Finally, luy brotliron, bo stroiif^ in ilio Lord 
 and in the power of His nii^lit. Vnt on the wliolo 
 jirniour of Ood. For onr t!onvorsatit)n is in 
 heaven, from whence also we h)ok for tlio Saviour, 
 the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall chan<j;e our vile 
 bod}^" itc. 
 
 " llejoice in the Lord. The Lord is at hand. 
 For by Him, (the Lord, Christ), were all things 
 created that are in heaven and that are in earth, 
 visible and invisible." 
 
 " That their hearts might bo comforted, being 
 knit together in love, to the acknowledgment of 
 the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of 
 Christ." 
 
 " As ye have, therefore, received Clirist Jesus, 
 the Lord, so walk ye in Him." 
 
 " So them also which sleep in Jesus, will God 
 bring with Him." 
 
 " For the Lord himself shall descend from 
 heaven with a shout," ttc. 
 
 " For the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." 
 
 " Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and 
 have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is 
 very pitiful and of tender mercy." 
 
 Head the last five chapters of the Book of Jobj 
 and you wall see that the names, the Lokd and God, 
 are given to the eternal power and Godhead, or 
 divine nature, and also many other wonderful 
 things. You must perceive now that the name 
 Lord throughout the holy Scriptures is applied to 
 our Lord Jesus Christ, and is synonymous with 
 God. By reason of sin, our understandings being 
 darkened, we are not able to comprehend truths 
 
A VOICi: FIIOM Tin; WlI.DKnXRMS f)F CANADA. 
 
 1 
 
 from 
 
 f Job> 
 God, 
 d, or 
 lorful 
 name 
 od to 
 with 
 )ciiig 
 Irutlis 
 
 lliiitiiro in3-storioiis, ill roforciico to spii-ituiil and 
 (liviiio thin<^'^4. ]Jut our inability to coniproliond 
 trutli cannot, surely, furnish a reason why wo 
 sliouhl nulHfy tho truth. 
 
 " And without controversy, great is th(^ mystery 
 of godhness: God was manifest in th(j tlesh," i^'c. 
 
 " Ncverthek!ss, tlio founchition of God standeth 
 8ure, having this seal, tho Lord knoweth them that 
 arc His." 
 
 *' And the Lord shall deliver me from every 
 evil work, nnd shall preserve me unto his heavenly 
 kingdom : to whom be glorj' for ever and ever. 
 Amen." 
 
 *' But unto tho Son, ho saith. Thy throne, O 
 God, is for ever and ever, a sceptro of righteous- 
 ness is tho sceptro of thy kingdom." 
 
 "And thou, Lord, in tho beginning, hast laid 
 ho foundation of tho earth, and tho heavens arc 
 tho works of thino hands." 
 
 Do you not think that our Lord and Master is 
 God as well as man? " I will reeompenco, saith 
 tho Lord ;" and again, "The Lord shall judge his 
 people." 
 
 " It is a fearful thing to fall into tho hands of 
 the living God." 
 
 " Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but 
 of incorruptible, by tho word of God, which liveth 
 and abideth for ever." 
 
 " For all flesh is as grass, but the word of the 
 Lord endureth for ever." 
 
 " Grace and peace be multiplied unto you 
 through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus, our 
 Lord, according as his divine power hath given,"ttc. 
 

 I W 
 
 1*1 1 
 
 m 
 
 I 
 
 
 52 ^^ VOICE FUUM THE WlLDEIlNESI-i OF CAN'ADA. 
 
 " The Lord is not slack concerning liis})romises." 
 
 " But the (Lay of the Lord will come, as a thief 
 in the night." 
 
 " Looking for and hasting unto the coming of 
 the day of God, wlierein the heavens boiiig on fire," 
 ttc. 
 
 " But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of 
 our Lord and Saviors Jesus Christ." 
 
 "To him (Jesus (Jhrist) be glory both now and 
 for ever. Amen." 
 
 " Whosoever deiiicth the Son, the same hath 
 not the Father." 
 
 " There arc tlireo that bear record in heaven, 
 the Father, the Word, and the Hol}^ Ghost : and 
 these three are one. ' 
 
 " He that believoth on the Son of God, hath 
 the witness in himsolf : he that believeth not God 
 hath made him a liar ; because he believeth not 
 the record that God gave of his Son." 
 
 " And this is the record, that God hatli given to 
 us eternal life ; and this life is in his Son. And 
 unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for 
 ever and ever." 
 
 " Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand 
 of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and 
 convince all that are ungodly," ttc. 
 
 " Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking 
 for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal 
 life." 
 
 " And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. 
 And he laid his right liand upon me, saying unto 
 me : * Fear not ; I am the first and the last ; I am 
 he that liveth and was dead ; and, behold, I am 
 
A VOICE FROM TIIR WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 53 
 
 ii 
 
 alivo for evermore, and liavo the keys of hell and 
 of death." (This sentence contains proof of his 
 divinity and humanity. What is there before that 
 which is first ?) " I am the first and the last," ttc. 
 
 " And I behold, and I heard the voice of many 
 angels round about the throne, <tc., and the number 
 of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and 
 thousands of tliou='ands, saying with a loud voice 
 Worthy li, the Lamb tliut w.is slain to receive 
 power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and 
 honor, and glory, and blessing. And every crcatui'e 
 which is in heaven, and in the earth, ttc, heard 
 I saying : Blessing, and honor, and glorj^ and 
 power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, 
 and unto the Lamb, for ever and over." (Here 
 was equal worship rendered to the Father and the 
 Son. They honored the Son even as they honored 
 the Father.) 
 
 "And the seventh angel sounded, and there 
 were great voices in heavcai, saying. The kingdoms 
 of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, 
 and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and 
 ever. And they worshipped God, saying : We give 
 thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and 
 wast, and art to come." 
 
 Now that Lord God Almighty is a name given 
 to our Lord Jesus Christ will appear jilain on read- 
 ing carefully versos 7 and 8, cha[). i. Kov. The 
 Alpha and the Omega of the 8th verse, tlie begin- 
 ning and the ending, the Lord which is, which was, 
 and which is to come, the Almighh', is the same 
 divine and human Saviour, God-man, as is again 
 mentioned in verse 11: I am Alpha and Omega, the 
 
 I 
 
?'li 
 
 m 'it I 
 
 I'M 
 
 r 
 
 -A 
 
 A VOICI': FllOM THE WILDEIINE.SS OF CANADA. 
 
 first and the kist. Read on the prophet's descrip- 
 tion of this wonderful personage until ver. 17, when 
 you will find he is again (as above niGutioned) "the 
 first and the last, who was dead," &c. 
 
 And yet there are those who contend that our 
 blessed Savioir; is not divine, not God as well as 
 man. 
 
 " Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify 
 thy name, for thou only art holy." 
 
 Compare John, Chap. xii. : verses 38, 39, 40, 41, 
 with Isuiali, Chap. vi. : verses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, G, 7, 8, 
 and you will find that the Lord spoken of by John 
 and not believed in, was the same Lord whom 
 Esaias saw sitting upon a throne, high and lifted 
 up, worshipped by the seraphim as the Lord of 
 hosts, whose glory filled the whole earth, and who 
 is called "the King, the Jjord of hosts," and 
 throughout the preceding and following chapters 
 called the Lord, tlie Holy One, the Lord God, God 
 that is holy. See Isaiah vi : 6. " For unto us a 
 child is born, unto us a son is given ; and the 
 government shall be upon his shoulders, and his 
 name shall bo called Wonderful, Counsellor, the 
 mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of 
 Peace." 
 
 But, exclaims one, how can these things be? 
 It is not our stupidit}^ and ignorance, and the how 
 it can be that I am setting forth, but the "so it is," 
 the proof direct and positive from God's own Book, 
 that Jesus is the Lord from heaven, that the Lord 
 he is God, God-man, the Lord of hosts, the Lord 
 God Almiglity, God blessed for ever, tli(5 first and 
 the last, the great central truth of the universe, 
 
A VOICE FROM THK AVILDKUNliSS OF CANADA. 
 
 iji) 
 
 bo? 
 low 
 
 5) 
 
 tliG sun and sliield of Christianity, without whoHo 
 divinity the whole system would collapse, and the 
 scriptures of the Old and New Testaments be ir- 
 reconcilable, 
 
 Now compare Mat. iii.: verse 3, with Isaiah xl, : 
 verse 3. Surely you will now perceive that John 
 the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, speaks con- 
 cerning him in the very words of the prophet 
 Esaias, viz., "Prepare ye the wa}^ of the Lord, make 
 his paths straight," and the prophet adds, " make 
 straight, in the desert a highwa}- for our God.''' 
 And in the tenth verse of Isaiah xl., the second 
 person of the trinity, God the Son, is called the 
 Lord God, etc. ; and in verse 11 the good Shepherd 
 who feeds his flock. 
 
 Thus you will perceive, by a careful attention 
 to these numerous passages, that our glorious 
 Mediator is not only the Son of Man, but the Son 
 of God, (which the Jews understood to mean the 
 true God, the Messiah, the Christ of God, the 
 mighty God, the God of Israel, the Lord of Hosts, 
 God, God over all, the Lord God Almighty, the 
 everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends 
 of the earth. There not many pages in which he is 
 not spoken of in his divine or human nature. 
 
 You will perceive also, in reading the Scriptures, 
 that the Apostles invaiiitbly speak of the grace, 
 mercy, love and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, in 
 the same wa"v and in the same words as when thev 
 invoke those graces and blessings upon the 
 Churches in the name of the Father.. They give 
 the same honor to the Son as to tlie Father, and 
 begni and end their o])istlos to ilin Churches, and 
 
 ^^ 
 
56 
 
 A VOICE FIIOM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 to one another, by using the same form of benedic- 
 tion in respect to the Son as in respect to the 
 Father. Head a few examples in your Bible. 
 Romans i. : 1, 3, 4, 7 ; xiv. : 24; I. Cor., i. : 2, 
 (these worshipped him by calling on his name,) 3, 
 0,7,8; xvi.: 23,24; II. Cor., xiii.: 14; GaL i.: 1, 
 2, 3; vi.: 18; Eph. vi.: 23, 24; I. Tliess., i.: 1, 3 ; 
 iii.: 11,12, 13; I. Tim. i.: 11, 12, 14; Phil.: 3, 
 4,5,25; James i.: 1; II. Peter, i.: 1, 2, 3; last 
 verse of II. Peter ; Piev. v.: 11, 12, 13, 14. Last 
 sentence, " The grace of our Lord Jesus Clirist bo 
 with you all. Amen." 
 
 As you will find abundance of other proofs 
 throughout the Scriptures in confirmation of this 
 glorious and all-important doctrine, viz., that Jesus, 
 the Christ, our Lord and Saviour, is divine, I will now 
 pass forward, pointing out in a few words to one of 
 t]ie most emphatic of all the proofs as mentioned 
 by John, who looked upon and handled the word of 
 life. Compare first epistle of John, chap, i.: 1, 2, 3, 
 4, 5, with John viii.: 12. The word of life was that 
 eternal life which was with the Father, and was 
 manifested to them, that is, was made flesh. 
 
 " And we have heard of this word of life, and 
 declare it unto you," viz., " That God is light, and 
 in him is no darkness at all." Where did they 
 hear this message '? 
 
 John viii.: 12 : — "Jesus saitli unto them, I am 
 the light of the world ; he that followeth me shall 
 not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of 
 life." 
 
 The Apostle, under the spirit of inspiration, 
 jnakes use of the most plain and iiTosistible Ian- 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERXESB OF CANADA. 
 
 
 ), and 
 aucl 
 they 
 
 hill-' 
 
 guago ill his gospel and revelation, declaring that 
 the word was God, and that Jesus, as the light of 
 the world, was God. The message he heard was, 
 " God is light, (the light of the world,) and in him 
 is no darkness at all." 
 
 However strange it may appear, there are some 
 sects of professing Christians wllo have fallen into 
 pernicious error by denying the record which God 
 hath given of our Saviour-God, that he is not a 
 divine and human Saviour, that he is not God over 
 all, blessed for ever. 
 
 There are some of the glories of Christianity so 
 dazzling and bright, that, in our present condition, 
 and with the feeble powers we now possess, we are 
 unable to approach them, and can only, " as in a 
 glass, behold the glory of the Lord in the face of 
 Jesus Christ." But the truths respecting the God- 
 man, concerning Jesus and his resurrection, his 
 ascension, and the position he now occupies as 
 Mediator between God and man, as the great High 
 Priest that is passed into the heavens, until tlie resti- 
 tution of all things, when he will appear the second 
 time without sin unto salvation, seem to us now to 
 have a glory that excel. He hath deified our hu- 
 manity, and through his finished work here below 
 hath " become the Author of eternal salvation to 
 all them that obey him." He hath opened the 
 portals of the tomb, hath ascended " to his Father, 
 and our Father, to his God and our God," and earth 
 has now a representativje in the heaven of heavens, 
 an advocate clothed in glorified humanity, Avhose 
 intercession must prevail. The risen Saviour is 
 now highly exalted in the heavens, " far above all 
 
 
 l! 1 
 
ml 
 
 
 58 
 
 A VOJCK FROM THE WILDERNESS OK CANADA. 
 
 principality, aucl power, iiud might, and dominion, 
 and every name that is named, not only in this 
 world, but in that which is to come." And he is 
 there now, in our nature, and can be touched with 
 a feeling of our infirmities, and he is also here now, 
 certainly, spiritually, and graciously present wdtli 
 every one of us, as God over all. In his humanity 
 as our Forerunner he hath entered the heavenly 
 mansions, passed into the holiest of all, within the 
 veil, and entered upon the purchased possessions, 
 to have and to hold the same unto us, " who do 
 believe that God raised him from the dead," and 
 that for ever, even for ever and ever. And for all 
 such he is now preparing places, " that where 
 he is, there we may be also ;" for " he is heir of all 
 things, and by him all worlds were made." And 
 not only so, but he is preparing all such by his 
 word and spirit for these buildings of God, these 
 houses not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, 
 by calling, pardoning, justifying, electing, adopting, 
 and regenerating all who shall be heirs of salvation. 
 Surely those who contend that Christianity is not 
 from God, must, at least, confess that its truths are 
 God-like. Surely this unworldly religion cannot 
 be of this world. There are many, even some pro- 
 fessing Christians, who seem, as it Avere, surprised 
 if they hear of any stepping out of " the even tenor 
 of their w^a,y," and that Christians, with such a 
 glorious destiny awaiting them, should ever get 
 " excited," even a " little excited," or that gladness 
 and jo3^ should arise in the heart and soul, and be 
 manifested in the conduct of the most truly noble 
 and dignified of all characters, a Christian. Sj)eak 
 
A VOICIC I'lloM Till': WJLDKllNKSS OF CANADA. 
 
 if) 
 
 lis are 
 lannot 
 pro- 
 )risecl 
 1 tenor 
 Lcli a, 
 get 
 blness 
 ibc 
 hoblo 
 peak 
 
 of a revival in Scotland, England, in any of the 
 States, or the islands of the ocean, in Gait or in 
 some other part of our Dominion, where there are 
 so many unsaved souls, tlicy will look as if Chris- 
 tianity wero a science, whoso lengths, and depths, 
 and heights were already explored, and to move 
 out of the beaten track were something undigni- 
 fied and to be deprecated. 
 
 But should it not rather be a wonder that the 
 hopes and fears, joy and rejoicing of Christians, 
 and the emotions of joy and wonder arising in the 
 new-born soul saved by grace, should not be more 
 manifest, when iliey think of all that he has done 
 for them, is now being done by the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and God the Father, and the Spirit of truth, 
 of love, and of supplication, and that the holy 
 angels feel deeply interested in us, and the work 
 being now carried on for the regeneration of our 
 world at his second coming. They must surely 
 look forward to that marvellous event, the second 
 advent of the Lord of Angels, when these " multi- 
 tudes of the heavenly hosts " shall receive such 
 countless numbers of the human race, as an acces- 
 sion of deathless companions through the endless 
 ages of eternity. For our blessed Saviour told the 
 Sadducees, who knew neither the Scriptures nor 
 the power of God: " Neither can they die any more, 
 for they are equal unto the angels, and are the 
 children of God, being the children of the resurrec- 
 tion." 
 
 Then think of the " Upper Sanctuary." Their 
 services will close. There will be silence in that 
 part of heaven, for " all that are asleep in Jesus 
 
r,o 
 
 A VOICE FROM TIIK AV1J,DKUNEHS 01'' CANADA, 
 
 will God bring with him." They must also feel 
 deeply interested in " things pertaining to salva- 
 tion." " The Church below, and all above, but one 
 communion make." 
 
 " There is joy abounds iji I'uriuliso, 
 
 Athoii;:( (Ikj hosts of heaven, 
 Soon as a siiuiei' ([uits liis sin, 
 
 Kt'peuts, and is tbigiven." 
 
 (( rr 
 
 They have not received the promises, God 
 having provided some better thing for us, tliat they 
 without us should not be made perfect." 
 
 " They are waiting for the adoption, viz., the 
 redemptioA of the body." "And we must bo 
 hastening on to the coming of the day of the Lord." 
 " For yet a little while, and he that shall come will 
 come, and will not tarry." " Establish your hearts, 
 for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." 
 
 Eighteen centuries may seem long to us, who 
 are creatures of a day, but it is not two days in his 
 reckoning, and he may be here before the end of 
 the second day. '• Behold I come quickly and my 
 reward is with me." 
 
 His second coming, so much spoken of in Scrip- 
 ture-, seems to be more rapidly approaching, and is 
 as sure and certain as his first appearance 18G9 
 years ago. And if a multitude of the heavenly 
 host, with the angels, then praised the God of 
 heaven and earth, saying, " Glory to God in the 
 highest, peace on earth, good-vvdll to man," what 
 tongue can tell, or heart conceive of his second 
 appearance, "when he shall be revealed from 
 heaven, with his mighty angels, to be glorified in 
 all them that believe, taking vengeance on all them 
 that know not God." The heavenly witness, (the 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 Gl 
 
 Iso feel 
 > salvn- 
 but one 
 
 es, God 
 lat tlicy 
 
 viz., the 
 Qust bo 
 ) Lord." 
 )mo will 
 I' hearts, 
 
 tis, who 
 
 'S in his 
 
 end of 
 
 and my 
 
 Scrip- 
 and is 
 Ice 18C9 
 eavenly 
 God of 
 in the 
 " what 
 second 
 from 
 ified in 
 11 them 
 ss, (the 
 
 i 
 
 Angel), assures us ho will so come, in like manner 
 as he ascended in the clouds of heaven, " and every 
 eye shall see him. He shall descend with a shout, and 
 with the voice of the archangel, and with tho trump 
 of God, and all those who are asleep in Jesus, the 
 ever-blessed KSaviour shall bring withhim." Thoy are 
 all in the heavenly mansions, and he feeds them, and 
 leads them unto tho living fountains of waters. It 
 is long since it was a great multitude which no man 
 could number, and it has been increasing by an 
 overflowing stream, out of all kindreds, and tongues, 
 and people, of those who are redeemed and added 
 unto the Lord. 
 
 What glorious and triumphant anthems of love 
 and praise will resound through the open firmament 
 of heaven, wo know not. But the unnumbered 
 multitudes of saved sinners might well exclaim, 
 
 "To Thy groat, name, Almighty Lonl, 
 
 AVo grateful hoiior.s pay ; 
 And glad hosaiiuahs shall proclaim 
 
 The triumphs of the day. 
 
 ' ' Salvation and immortal praise 
 
 To our victorious King ; 
 Let heaven, and earth, and seas, and skies, 
 
 "With glad hosannahs ring. 
 
 •'To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 
 
 The Ckxl -whom -we adore, 
 Be glory, as it was and is. 
 
 And shall be evermore." 
 
 The teachings of Scripture, in reference to what 
 may bo the results of the second coming of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, do not come within the design 
 I had in view in Avriting this treatise or abridge- 
 ment. And, in one sense, I might here close my 
 remarks, as I wished to show that the principal 
 truths of God's word may bo said to be condensed 
 4 
 
 ! ifi 
 
.if^ 
 
 1% 
 
 Sf 
 
 .:, 
 
 f 
 
 G2 
 
 A VOICK FUOil THE WILDERNKSH OF CANADA. 
 
 into one, in tlio person of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 and that they all have a reference to him, directly 
 or indirectly, as the great central Truth of God's 
 own Book. But as there are many other truths of 
 the most important nature which I feel earnestly 
 desirous to place before your minds, in the light of 
 the truth of the Avord of God, so far as I am able 
 to judge, by the assistance of his grace given mo, 
 I therefore beg your most earnest attention to 
 what yon may find written ia the remaining part 
 of this work. 
 
 As already observed, I often feel at a loss fur 
 words to express ideas, the truths being of such 
 solemn and momentous import that I know not 
 with what words to clothe them, and will resort to 
 the " fountain pure," which is the " more excellent 
 way." 
 
 Man's salvation is by grace. We are saved by 
 the grace of God, or by the "grace of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ." The terms are s^-nouymous. Yfo 
 are justified by grace, through faith ; faith is the 
 means. Saving grace, then, is the free and un- 
 merited kindness and favor of God, the Father, 
 Son, and Holy Spirit, bestowed on unworthy sin- 
 ners, totally irrespective of works done, or any 
 merit possessed by them, but on account of what 
 Jesus, the Christ, hath done and suffered for them. 
 As there has been much said and written on this 
 important doctrine, I would wish you to have as 
 simple and clear conceptions of what I mean as 
 possible. Faith is the gift of God. Eecoiving the 
 gift, and believing in Christ, and regeneration, 
 justification, adoption and sanctification, are siniul- 
 
A VOIC'!' 1"1{()M Tin; Wll.DKUNKisS OF CANADA. 
 
 /•«» 
 (j.» 
 
 lUl- 
 
 tancons and co-existent with believing tlic tnith. 
 The sinner's beUeving the truth, as it is in Jesus, 
 is the effect of the gracious operation of the Spirit 
 of God upon the sinner's heart. He is pardoned, 
 justified, elected, ado})ted, sanctified, born of the 
 Spirit, converted, ^vill not perish, but have ever- 
 lasting life, and is a new creature from the moment 
 he helieves. 
 
 How glorious, cheering, and overpowering is 
 the sinner's salvation by grace ! 
 
 "JcHus, liow-pflorious is thy griic(.' ! 
 
 ^Vlicii in 'J'!iy iuuir' \\\' trust, 
 Our t'ailh rc'civ.'s ;i ri.^liti-ousucss 
 
 That iHiikos the. .siuuoi' just. " 
 
 How sin]i)le and sublime is salvation by grace! 
 Simple, by an act of faith, a mental act. " Incline 
 your ear, hear, and your soul shall live. Believe 
 and thou shaltbe saved. Believe and Ua'c." One 
 believing look saves the sinner. " To him that 
 worketh not, but believeth on him who justifieth 
 the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness," 
 and the unspeakable and astonishing change in the 
 heart and character of the sinner is the result. 
 He is no longer held to be ungodly, but declared 
 to be righteous or godly. He is passed from dark- 
 ness to light. God is just, and the justifier of him 
 who believeth in Jesus. It is God who justifieth 
 the ungodly. " Whosoever believeth that Jesus is 
 the Christ is born of God." 
 
 It is the belief of the truth that the whole world 
 is guilty before God, that the human heart is deceit- 
 ful above all things and desperately wicked by 
 nature, that every one of us, instead of keeping 
 pure and entire God's holy law, doth daily violate 
 
 •i 
 
04 
 
 A VOICK FIIOM THE WILDERNESM OP CANADA. 
 
 hid coinmaiulnicnts, in thought, word nnd dood, 
 and are thoroforo exposed to Ids righteous indig- 
 nation. In this sinful, and k)st, and helpless con- 
 dition, our God and Lord undertook for us ; took 
 on him our nature^ was made of a woman, made 
 under the law, and in him we obeyed the law, and 
 in his sufferings and death full satisfaction was 
 made to the law and justice of Clod, for the sin of 
 man ; the debt was paid in full ; an atonement was 
 made for the sins of the whole world. And let us 
 over remember that this was done that our sins 
 might be forgiven, that we might not perish, that 
 wo might be saved from everlasting condemnation. 
 O the dei^tli of the love, and grace, and mercy, 
 and compassion of our divine and human Saviour, 
 which prompted him to suffer such untold agonies 
 for the sin of man. " And when the Roman Cen- 
 turion saw that he so cried out, he said, Truly this 
 man was the Son of God." 
 
 We are saved, then, by grace, through faith, 
 which is the gift by grace, and is the instrumen- 
 tality or eye of the soul, which perceives the 
 glorious promises and truths of the Gospel, and 
 receives and believes them, on the testimony of the 
 Divine Word, and appropriates them as all "yea and 
 amen, in Christ Jesus. "But it is all of grace, and, 
 therefore, Paul, through the Spirit concludes his 
 reasoning : " But where sin abounded, grace did 
 much more abound ; that as sin hath reigned ui 
 death, even so might grace reign through righteon 
 ness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ, our Lord." 
 
 You have often seen, read, or heard the words 
 I am about to write, and such words and sentences 
 
A VOICK FUOJl Till': \VlLI)i;»NKSS OF CANADA. 
 
 u5 
 
 i iiYo often repeated -without that Bolemn regard 
 
 which their niiHpcakabh) iuiportanco requires. And 
 although, in some sense, they are now uttered and 
 ])ul)Hshed throughout the wliole world, and encom- 
 pass our globe, ytst like the air, and the sunlight of 
 heaven, tliey are not the less valuable on account 
 of being free, and the means of furnishing light, 
 and life and comfoi't, and peace, and joy, and glad- 
 ness to all who experience their benign influence. 
 1 mean the Scriptural words and sentences express- 
 ing the love that God hath for us. All the kind- 
 ness, mercy and grace of God toward man originate 
 in the love of God, the Father, Son, and Holy 
 Spirit. 
 
 " The Father loves us, and gave his only begot- 
 ten Son to die for us. He is rich in mercy, and 
 hath loved us with a great love, and spared not 
 his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, that 
 he might, with him, freely give unto us all things. 
 He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is 
 love. In this was manifested the love of God to- 
 ward us, because that God sent his only begotten 
 Son into the world, that we might live through 
 him." 
 
 Our ever blessed Saviour also loved us, " and 
 
 f^i\c himself for us. We love him because he first 
 
 ovi'd us. Who shall separate us from the love of 
 
 ?" etc. 
 
 " Nay, in all these things we are more than con- 
 querors through him that loved us. And to know the 
 love of Christ which passeth knowledge, and walk 
 in love is Christ also hath loved us, and given 
 himsr^ >r us an offering and a sacrifice to God," 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
66 
 
 A VOICE FROM TIIK ^Yll.DEUNES.S OF CANADA. 
 
 " Hereby perceive we the love of God, because 
 lie laid down hit; life for ns." 
 
 " Unto liim tlu't loved us, and washed us from 
 cur sins in his own blood." 
 
 " As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved 
 you. This is my commandment, that ye love one 
 another as I have loved you." 
 
 Jesus, the Christ, came into the world as tlr^ 
 embodied love of God. He so presented the char- 
 acter of God, thb Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that 
 every human being might feel that " God can be 
 just, and the justitier of him who l^elieveth in 
 Jesus." He assumed our nature, expressly that 
 he might be able to suffer in our stead, and make 
 his "soul an offering for our sin. He so loved us, 
 that while we were yet sinners, or ungodly, Christ 
 died for us, tliat the moment we believe, our faith 
 would be reckoned lor holiness, " and we would be 
 made the righteousness of God in him." 
 
 The Ho]y Spirit also loves us, and is sent by 
 the Son, from the Father and llie Son, as our divine 
 " teacher, sanctilier, guide and comforter," that 
 we may have joy, ho})e, peace and consolation in 
 life, and victory over sin, death and the grave, 
 " being begotten again unto a lively hope, by the 
 resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." ■ 
 
 But observe, although a kind of " threefold love, 
 it is all one love." Oar salvation comes fiom God, 
 because God is love, and the love of Fatiier, Son 
 and Holy Spirit nnist have tlie sau^e end in view, 
 and nuist embrace the same objects. 
 
 How shall v>e be able " to comprehend the love 
 of Christ, which passeth knowledge," or to know 
 
 
A VOICK FROM THE WlLDKllNKSS OF CANADA. 
 
 ()? 
 
 fove, 
 
 [Son 
 icw, 
 
 love 
 
 and understand the hciglit, and length, and breadth 
 and depth of the glorious plan of man's redemption 
 as unfolded in the redeeming love of God. 
 
 When you consider that the Father loves you 
 with a great love, ami spared not his own Son, but 
 1 delivered him up for us all, that the Son loves j'ou 
 
 and gave himself for you, that the Hoi} Spirit 
 loves you and is given to ever}^ one that ai:ks, and 
 is now waiting to be gracious, you may well exclaim : 
 I shall, I must be saved, if I could only believe " in 
 the Lord Jesus Christ, who was made sin for me, 
 that I might be made the righteousness of God in 
 him.' 
 
 A natural inquiry now springs up in the mind — 
 What U it to believe ? At the risk of repeating 
 the same words, (which indeed is often necessary on 
 account of our stupidity, and the ignorance that 
 is in us), I must make a few more remarks on this 
 all-important truth, viz., the belief of the truth of 
 the Gospel. 
 
 It seems to mo as if theologians, and others 
 setting forth the truths of the glorious Gospel of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ, have so done it as to raise 
 confusion and needless perplexity in the minds of 
 those who are anxiously enquiring, What must we 
 do to be saved ? There is only one answer can be 
 given, viz.. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and 
 thou shalt be saved. There is only one living and 
 true God, the former of our bodies and the Father 
 of our spirits ; one creator of the heavens and 
 earth, one ^Mediator between God and man ; one 
 Lord, one faith, one baptism ; one loving, and 
 livin'j;, and life-giving Saviour ; one man, by 
 whom sin eutercd into the world, and one Mau, 
 
 
 ii 
 
68 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE AVILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 tlie Lord from licayen, who takcth away the 
 sin of the world ; one sacrifice for sins ; one new and 
 living way; one full, free, and sufficient atonement 
 for the sins of one Avorld, but needed for the re- 
 demption of the soul and body of one sinner; one 
 name only given whereby we must be saved ; one 
 door leading into one fold, the kingdom not of this 
 world. 
 
 Every one must have this one kind of know- 
 ledge, that there is one holy law of God, and to 
 offend in one point he is guilty of all, and he must 
 have one kind of faith, and with his whole heart 
 breathe one prayer of faith and repentance to tho 
 one Holy Spirit, that he miglit be taught one of 
 the most important of all truths, that he is one of 
 the chief of sinners, that there is only one righteous- 
 ness of God ; the righteousness of no created being 
 could avail for one sin, the righteousness of God 
 manifest in the flesh, believed in, and imputed to 
 us is absolutely necessary for tlie salvation of every 
 one of us, but it is all-sufficient for every one; and 
 his prayer must also be, that, by divine grace, he 
 may be enabled one thing to do, to perform one act, 
 one mental act of faith in the one Saviour of all sin- 
 ners, who made one perfect obedience for every 
 one, and paid one price, one ransom for all. He 
 gave himself for every one of us ; surely our souls 
 must be precious in his sight. 
 
 We may all thus have access by one Spirit unto 
 the Father, and by faith enjoy the blessed hope 
 which " entereth now into that within the veil, and 
 the full assurance of faith will cheer and gladden 
 the heart of every one in Christ Jesus, until thp 
 
 /#%^ 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDEUXESS OF CANADA. 
 
 69 
 
 one 
 one 
 
 very 
 He 
 
 souls 
 
 eternal morn shall arise on the new heavens and 
 the new earth, when we shall be all one in Christ 
 Jesus, our God and Lord and Saviour. 
 
 If such blessed results flow from believing, what 
 is faith ? Faith is the belief of testimony. So that 
 all men and women, young and old, have faith. 
 Boys and girls believe there is a School House 
 and Teacher, on the evidence of their parents and 
 others, never having seen either of them. Men 
 sail across oceans, and travel to distant countries, 
 in the pursuit of different objects, on the belief of 
 what others have told them. You will at once per- 
 ceive that faith is a necessity to all created beings. 
 AVhoever believes any matter or fact on the infor- 
 mation of others, has faith. It is a mental act, and 
 considered as such is as untversal as the mind of 
 man. 
 
 It miijfht be said that as soon as we become 
 conscious, we can scarcely perform a single action 
 but what has relation to faith in some way or other, 
 and as w^ grow older find out additional objects to 
 act faith upon, and in this respect our faith and 
 hope will continue to increase, for ever and ever. 
 
 You will also now observe, that faith or belief 
 implies knowledge. There must be some knowledge 
 of the objects of belief, and a declaration of them 
 set forth in order before our minds, that we may 
 bo enabled thereby surely to believe them. 
 
 I trust you will now give earnest heed to the 
 remarks I endeavour to make respecting what is 
 all-important to every one, viz., the belief, re- 
 reliance, trust, confidence, or faith of the Gospel. 
 It is the same in essence or substance as other 
 4* 
 
70 A VOICE FROM TllW WILDERNESS OF CANADA, 
 
 fiiitli ; it is a mental act, or the assent of tlio mind 
 ti) certain truths presented to be beheved. But it 
 is peculiar and altogether different from all other 
 faith in tliis respect, that "without that faith " it is 
 impossible to please God," for without it we are in 
 a state of condeiunation. It is also peculiar and 
 unspeakably important, inasmuch as it is " a belief 
 to the savi]jg' of the soul," the object to be believed 
 being the great central trutli " that Jesus died for 
 our sins." All other truths harmonize with, and 
 centre in this glorious aud cons})icuous truth of the 
 Gospel. 
 
 You must also believe that our vroiid is a physi- 
 cal and moral wreck ; that " sin reigns unto death ;" 
 that the v/hole revealed will of God is trutli ; that 
 the Father, Hon, and Holy S])irit, in love to man 
 have ])rovided a remedy for his fallen state, even 
 that tlio Son of God was majiifest in the flesh, and 
 lived in our nature, obeyed God's holy law for us, 
 and died tor us. If you believe these truths v.ith 
 all your heart, and that all was done for you, you 
 yourself, however sinful, and lost, and undone, and 
 of sinners the chief, you may not only now, this 
 moment, be saved, but you are saved, shall be saved 
 from }-our sins, for ever saved by the mighty 
 Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, v.ho came to seek 
 and save the lost, and " saves to the uttermost all 
 that come unto God by him." 
 
 But faith is not easily desc-ibed. It is more 
 than a mental act. It becomes .n the Christian a 
 ruling principle, the connecting link between 
 heaven and earth, the hinge or motive power on 
 which his salvation is suspended. It is the heart 
 
us, 
 vitli 
 you 
 and 
 
 liis 
 
 tved 
 
 lity 
 
 (>ek 
 
 idl 
 
 (3rc 
 a 
 )en 
 on 
 art 
 
 A VOICK FRO^I THU WlLDERNEiiSi OF CANADA. 
 
 71 
 
 and soul, and love and affectioi', and all that is 
 within him, hciiui stirred up to magnify and bless 
 the holy name of Jesus for all that has been done 
 for himself and all lost sinners in time and for 
 
 I eternity, and his acts must be proof in some vray 
 
 I or other. 
 
 But see to it, that j'ou are selfish in the great 
 
 ^ question to be settled by every one for himself, or 
 
 herself, viz., Am I saved ? It is personal salvadon 
 every one needs. There is none righteous, no not 
 one. You need no preparation in order to believe. 
 Every sinner is lost and undone until he repent 
 and believe the record which God hath given of 
 his Son. But observe, only sinners need salvation. 
 If you are not a sinner, salvation concerns 3'ou not. 
 From the moment you believe and repent, (faith 
 and repentance are inseparable), 3'ou are pardoned, 
 justified, elected, adopted, and sanctified. You are 
 righteous, that is, the righteousness of God is im- 
 puted to us, and we have power to become the sons 
 of God, because, by his grace, we believe in his 
 name. AVe are also regenerated or born of the Spirit. 
 "Whosoever hdievelh that Jesus is the Christ, is 
 born of God." No longer under the law, but under 
 grace. No longer under the ministry of condem- 
 nation, but are new creatures in Christ Jesns, and 
 sanctified by the hdkf of the truth, and delight in 
 the law of God after the inward man, and with the 
 mind serve the law of God and doth not commit 
 sin because we are born of God. 
 
 But we are not only the children of God by 
 fidlh in Christ Jesus, but heirs, heirs of God, and 
 joint-heirs with Christ, and He is heir of all things. 
 
 ;ir 
 
 '<1 
 
 i 
 
72 
 
 A VOICE FI10J[ THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 All things were not only made by him, but for him. 
 "We are heirs of the kingdom of heaven, heirs of 
 eternity, heirs of the riches of eternity, for our 
 treasure, our riches are in heaven, even our God 
 and Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, *' in whom is 
 all the fulness of the Godhead bodily," and he is 
 ours, being " made of God unto us, wisdom, and 
 righteousness, and sanctification and redemption," 
 and we are heirs of the promises ; they are all 
 yea and amen to the heirs of salvation by grace. 
 
 " This very word of grace is strong as that 
 which built the skies, the voice that rolls the stars 
 along, speaks all the promises." Such knowledge 
 is too great for us, too high to understand. 
 
 But you will now be read}^ to say, How shall I 
 know if I have faith, true faith, living faith, and am 
 thus saved, and will never perish, but have ever- 
 lasting life ? 
 
 Many say it is difficult to tell and hard to be 
 understood, in reference to our being in Christ, or 
 a new principle of life and power implanted in the 
 soul being discoverable. 
 
 Are you at war with yourself, the world, sin, all 
 sin; and does your conscience testify that the spirit 
 of Christ is found in you, and that you are desirous 
 to do those things which are well-pleasing in his 
 sight ? It is the Avork of tlie Spirit of God. " We 
 are washed, and sanctified, and justified in the 
 name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our 
 God." It is also mysterious. The nature of the 
 change cannot be explained. We cannot understand 
 earthly things, much less heavenly things. " The 
 wind bloweth where it listeth, and we hear the 
 
 
 ( 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 7:3 
 
 sound thereof, but cannot tell whence it cometli or 
 whither it goeth;" so is every one who is born of the 
 Spirit. His work is visible, but his working is not. 
 We are conscious of the results of the operation of 
 the Spirit, but not of the work itself. We do not 
 see the wind, but we see the effects of it. " That 
 which is born of the Spirit is spirit." 
 
 In our bodily nature there is a wonderful pro- 
 cess being carried on dail}-. The food we eat to 
 satisfy our hunger is soon converted into blood, 
 and, nightly, from the blood circulating through 
 the system, bones, muscles, and other parts of the 
 body are made, and supplied by nourishment from 
 the blood in an almost miraculous manner, and the 
 blood itself must be preserved in a healthy condi- 
 tion by an invisible agent — the atmosphere — or we 
 would almost instantly expire. 
 
 We know and believe that this process is being 
 carried on continually, from the ejects jjyoduced, 
 but cannot describe the process itself; cannot tell 
 how it is that one set of vessels knows what kind of 
 blood is needed for bones, for muscles, etc. If earth- 
 ly things and our bodily nature be mysterious, why 
 not heavenly things, and our spiritual life more so ? 
 
 It is in the belief of the truth that the mystery 
 is involved, concerning which 1 might say a few 
 words further: You can only receive faith and 
 repentance by a preternatural agenc}', or work of 
 the Spirit of the living God ; hence called being 
 born of the Spirit, born from above, justified, <tc. ; 
 "but ye are washed, but jq are sanctified, but ye 
 are justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and 
 by the Spirit of our God;'' but we must ask, that 
 
 n 
 
 
 I 
 
II 
 
 74 
 
 A VOICE FKO.M THE \V1LDEUNE8.S OF CANADA. 
 
 WO may receive. When an nnsaved sinner becomes 
 convinced " of sin, of righteousness, and of judg- 
 ment," iuid thinks on the holiness and puiitj of 
 the divine kxw,of liiy own seliishuess and eartliliness 
 and sinfulness, as shown by the daily pursuits of 
 his life, that he is laboring, as it were, in the very 
 fire for that which satisfieth not, that he is ex- 
 exhansting his energies on trifles " light as air," 
 and that will perish with the using ; when he feels 
 a conviction of his sins against God, and the neglect 
 of the r-alvation of his own soul, there will surely 
 arise in his heart some feelings of fear and trem- 
 bling when lie learns that of himself he can do 
 nothing, that he cannot even cease from sin, that 
 he is actually dead in trespasses and :;ins, that he 
 is not only lost, but helpless and undone, without 
 hope, and without God in the world, yuch an one 
 must siirely be astonished with a very great aston- 
 ishment to learn, as it vrere, at the same moment, 
 that there is help, that there is hope, that he is not 
 in reality lost, that there was one came to seek and 
 to save the lost, that he has been seeking him and 
 actually found him, and at once by the most incon- 
 trouertible and ovenohduiiug ecklcncc assures him, 
 not only that he may not be lost or perish, but that 
 he will have everlasting life, which means all the 
 happiness the soul can wish or enjoy for ever and 
 ever. " What is the cvklencc" he will exclaim, 
 "what is it? What shall I do to be saved?" "I 
 am One mighty to save ; I am Jesus, whom (it 
 may be) thou persecutest. The evidence is, ' I 
 have died for you,' and, 'my blood cleanseth from 
 all sin.' " " For me ? For me ?" " Even so, for you i 
 
I(r- 
 
 [aim, 
 "I 
 
 (it 
 
 ,'I 
 
 from 
 
 rou; 
 
 I 
 
 A Voice kho.m thi; wiLDEUNi:y« ok canada. 
 
 
 for }'ou I Jiotl, tluit you mij^lit live for evermore, aiul 
 you can do iiotliii]^', only believe ; I have done all. 
 The work of your salvation is liuislied, everlastiii{jf 
 righteousness is -wrought out ; the Spirit, or seed 
 of grace, and love and supplic.ition sluiil be im- 
 planted in your heart, and will grovr and l)ecome a 
 tree. But I cannot tell you all ; yoii could not 
 bear it now. I will give you documents, ' that 3'ou 
 jnay know and understand the love that God hath 
 for 3'Ou.' ' Searcli tlie Scriptures, for they testify of 
 me, and the Holy Spirit, the promise of the Fatlicr, 
 will teach you all things,' and ' be thou faithful 
 until death, and I will give you a Crown of Life.' " 
 The poor, but now rich, "trembling and astonished" 
 sinner has no reply to give. His heart, too big 
 with emotion, cannot believe for "joy and wonder," 
 and 3'et he believep and, not knowing w.;at he 
 does, exclaims, "itlyijord and my G-od," and, pray- 
 ing for the promised grace, iuul that he may not 
 sin, betakes himself to tho school of eternity, the 
 .documentarv evidence of his "Lord and God." 
 
 Thus, or in some similar way, do we get in pos- 
 session of the incorruptible and invisible seed of 
 grace. But it is the work of the Holy Spirit, and 
 inexplicable by man. I do not at all n.iean to assert 
 that the believing or saved sinner is conscious of 
 the work or agency of the Holv Spirit, in or at the 
 time of believing, as I am strongly convinced that in 
 most cases it is otherwise, and that we are conscious 
 and sensible, as I sai 1 before, of the results of the 
 Spirit's work upon the sinner's heart and conscience, 
 •but not of the work itself. We do not see the wind, 
 but its efTects are visible. It is rather in the saved 
 
 :iri 
 
 i 
 
70 
 
 A VuICE FROM THE WlI.UEllNESS OB' CANADA. 
 
 sinner's experience, or felt results of God's pardon- 
 ing, electing, and justifying love upon his soul that 
 he becomes convinced that ho is a believer and a 
 child of God, and joint heir •svitli Christ of eternity 
 and all that it contains, than his realizing any sud- 
 den or striking manifestation of the Holy Spirit ; 
 but with some it may be otherwise, and they may 
 be conscious of the time of their regeneration. It 
 is the warfare that is the true test, the being saved 
 from their sins ; the joy and peace in believing ; their 
 living Christ ; their running with faith and patience, 
 (they must not only walk, but run, as the avenger 
 of blood is at their heels), which proves that they 
 have been with Jesus, and will become "a sign from 
 heaven that they are passed from death unto life," 
 that they are no longer under the law but under 
 grace, and wdll not " let sin reign over them." 
 
 I beg the reader to keep these last sentences 
 in remembrance, as they are intended to apply in 
 different places, and need not be repeated. 
 
 In searching the scriptures of truth, the sinner 
 will find that his salvation is by grace, through 
 faith as the means ; and that in believing, he has 
 not only eternal life, but, as before said, finds he is 
 elected, justified, adopted, regenerated, sanctified, 
 and saved from the moment he believes. And he 
 finds that all is a gift, a gift by grace, the gift of 
 the righteousness of God upon all who hear or read 
 and believe the Gospel. And amidst many fears 
 and doubts and perplexities, he is led and walks in 
 the way, and endeavors to " run the race set before 
 him," looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher 
 of our faith ; and although he may stumble and 
 
igh 
 
 ars 
 in 
 ore 
 icr 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 A VOICE rilO>t TFIH WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 77 
 
 fall, and have occasion to say, " O wretched child 
 that I ain, who shall deliver iny feet from falling ?" 
 yet his falls havo an upward tendency, and he gets 
 his feet upon a more even place, and stands with 
 more steadfastness, and blesses the Eternal *' that 
 all things are working together for his good." He 
 will find himself assailed from within and without 
 by friends and foes, and by the infidel after his 
 kind, who seeks, by perverse disputings, to 
 " turn the truth of God into a lie," and subvert 
 those who are weak in the faith. And, as 
 I said in the beginning, we are not naturally 
 inclined to believe the truths of God's word ; 
 but otherwise, the ar, uments of materialists, c^'C, 
 not only prove a stumbling block to themselves, 
 and others who are only nominal or professing 
 christians, but also to such christians as being weak 
 in faith, and " turning aside to vain jangling," are 
 greatly hindered in their journey by sophistry and 
 perversion of the truth. And I also said I designed 
 not to review the arguments of sceptics, yet I feel 
 inclined to make one short example, that it may bo 
 seen how they deceive themselves and others in 
 their misapprehension of the truth of the Scriptures, 
 and especially as I find some well-meaning people, 
 as well as members of my own family, at a loss to 
 understand the words used by Solomon in a satiS' 
 factory nninner. 
 
 We read in the Gospel by John, " Jesus saith 
 unto her, thy brother shall rise again. ^Martha 
 said unto him, I know that he shall rise again in 
 the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto 
 her, I am the resurrection and the life ; he that 
 
 a 1 
 
7S 
 
 A VOICK FllOM Till; WILDKKNKHS OF CANADA. 
 
 bolicA'otli ill 1110, tliongli lio wore doixd, yet .shall ho 
 livo ; .'ind Avhosoovor livotli and l)oliovoth in mo 
 shjill never dio. Bolievost thou this? Sho saitJi 
 unto him, yea, Lord." But the unboliovor naitli, 
 Nay, these utterances are not truth, for Solomon 
 saitli tlio contrary, viz : that man cannot l)tdieve 
 and never die, "for ho is only a beast, and hath 
 no pre-eminence over a beast ; that they have all 
 one breath," that " th:it which befallcth the sons 
 of men, befalleth beasts, even one thinf]; befallcth 
 them ; as the one dieth, so dieth the other ; all go 
 unto one place ; all are o'l the dust, and all turn 
 to dust again." 
 
 To some minds it may seem strange, that these 
 texts and some others should be adduced as proof 
 that man is a beast only, and that he has no spiri- 
 tual and immortal nature, or that tlio.t too is buried 
 ill the grave. 
 
 " Cry aloud," said ElijuL, "for he is a God; 
 either he is talking, or in. a journej', or peradvcn- 
 turo he slecpetli and must bo awakened." 
 
 What would be thou'>]it of him who would cite 
 these words to prove that the prophet believed and 
 meant that Baal was a God, or the true God, 
 witliout reference to the context, or other parts 
 of Scripture ? Elijah spoke ironically, and shows 
 unto the propliets of Baal, and all the people of 
 Israel, "that the Lord ho is the God," the true 
 God, to whom only bolongeth worshi]) in time and 
 eternity. So with the words in Ecclesiastes. The 
 book contains many ironical sentences, and this is 
 one of them. The context clearly jirovos that 
 man has a material and immaterial nnture ; that 
 
A VOIC'K KUO.M TItK \VI I,IH;UNKSS OF CANADA. 
 
 71) 
 
 ho 
 i is 
 lat 
 
 Jit 
 
 he is body find spirit; tluxt ho in morally conscious, 
 theroforo rospoiisil)hi, find ^vill bo judged for tho 
 deeds done in tlio body; thiit " liis spirit goeth 
 upward, and returns to (rod who gave it." 
 
 The words of tho Book of ]*jcclesiastes must 
 not bo road in fragments, but read all tlirougli at 
 onco, in order to ascertain the meaning. It is a 
 sermon. " Tho words of tho preacher, tho Hon of 
 David. I, the preacher, was king over Israel, in 
 Jerusalem." This sermon contains twelve cliaptors 
 or divisions, or two hundred and tw(Mity-iwo verses. 
 The poor erring finder of contradictions selects 
 two of these verses, 11) and 20 in tho third chapter, 
 as containing tho sum and substance of tho whole 
 sermon, viz: that tho preaelicr M'as a materialist, 
 and believed in the " great darkness" doctrines; 
 therefore, all the teachings of tho prophets, and 
 apostles, and our Lord Jesus Christ, concerning 
 the glory, honor, and immortality of the human 
 race, are falhicious, and not to bo believed, being 
 contradictory of these two verses, as he ignorantly 
 
 imagmes. 
 
 When ho reads the whole book, or. sermon, 
 carefullv, ho must arrive at a very different con- 
 elusion. He will llnd that Solomon's teachings arc 
 clear as the skv of eludoa, and not only in accor- 
 dance with, but direct proof of other important 
 truths of the infallil)le Word of God. 
 
 He teaches that man's body is of tho earth, 
 earthy ; " then shall the dust return to tho earth 
 as it was." " Dust thou art, and unto dust slialt 
 thou return." In this respect a man hath no pre- 
 eminence over a beast; "as the one dieth, so dieth 
 the other." 
 
 '1 
 
 i 
 
 ; > 
 
"1 
 
 80 
 
 A VOICE FROM TilK Wl I,UKRNE.SH OK CAXADA, 
 
 But lie also saiih, "Eojoico, O young man, in thy 
 youth, and walk in the ways of thin(»- heart, but 
 know thou, that for all these things (loil will surely 
 bring thee into judgment." " liemember now thy 
 Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil 
 days come not, or ever the silver oord bo loosed, 
 c^'C., then shalt the: dust return to the earth as it 
 was, and iJic spirit shall rduni to (rod who (javc it^ 
 Let us hear the eonclusion of the whole matter. 
 (Saith the ])r(\ichcr) " Fear God, and keep his 
 commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." 
 " Fear him who hath power to cast both soul and 
 body into hell," (saith Chi-ist). We are to fear 
 God and keep his commandments (saith Solomon), 
 for it is the duty of man, and " because God shall 
 bring every work into judgment." " Because God 
 (saith Paul) hath appointed a day in which he will 
 judge the world in righteousness, by that ^lan 
 whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given 
 assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised 
 him from the dead." " In the dav when God 
 shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, 
 according to my Gospel." " God shall judge the 
 righteous and the wicked, and bring every secret 
 thing into judgment" (saith the Preacher). "God 
 shall redeem my life from the power of the grave, 
 ^nd I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever" 
 (said the Preacher's father). " In my Father's 
 house are many mansions, I go to prepare a place 
 for you," said the Preacher of the everlasting 
 Gospel. 
 
 Thus it will be seen tliat these verses in Eccle- 
 siastes, wjjeja comjiared with other passages, are 
 
A VOICE FROM TIIK WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 81 
 
 .1) 
 
 i 
 
 not only agreeable with, but plainly corroborate 
 the teachings of God's word, relative to man's 
 bodily and spiritual nature;, and that life and im- 
 mortality are brought to light through the Gos])cl, 
 and tiiis life is in the Son of God, and in believing 
 WG shall have life through his name, even life for 
 evermore, " and shall never die," and our bodies 
 shall be raised again in the resurrection, at the last 
 day, by him " who is the resurrection and the life." 
 It will be readily understood that it is oidy the 
 arrogant and superficial class of sceptics who 
 would attempt such ignorant misrepresentation 
 of God'e holy word, as to set forth that the teach- 
 ings of thu Lord Jesus Christ were not to be 
 believed because these verses were to be found in 
 Ecclesiastes. 
 
 Ab I have made this kind of digression, I would 
 beg your attention to a few lines from the poet, 
 which you will find most expressive and compre- 
 hensive of the sum, and substance, and conclusion 
 of the whole matter of infidelity. 
 
 "Development divine I 
 Cause yon sun to uiisliine : 
 AVe liiite .Telioviili Jali, 
 J I is Hible, Tnitli, and \ai\\: 
 We'll lianlsli Christian mist ; 
 Oui- light, we do insist, 
 Will free the world from sadness, 
 Di'Velop truth and gladness. 
 Extinguish lo\-e and faith, 
 And cheer the soul in death. 
 The Sabliatli is a eui'se. 
 And jirayer ten tim<'s worse. 
 Preaehing coo is vain. 
 Ah saith Thomas I'aine. 
 ( »iiv reason too is matter, 
 <,Stv) fiu'c tliinking smatter. 
 
 I ' 
 
 ( r 
 
 -I 
 

 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 M 
 
 We'll in ii sea oi uiixttvx 
 
 ill diirkno.ss over swiiUcr. 
 
 Wo only will Loliovo 
 
 Wli,it snits us to rcocivo. 
 
 At tlic (11(1 of liiiitc space, 
 
 Wo do conclude our race ; 
 
 Tliat s])aee should !x' inlliiite, 
 
 We don't lielieve a minute." — Amkn. 
 
 Altliougli it would, in most cases, bo a vain 
 thing to attempt to reason with those who believe 
 such absurdities, yet I have no doubt there are 
 many of those of an unbelieving mind who 
 are nearer the kingdom of heaven than nominal 
 professing Christians, who have a name to live and 
 are dead, for the Lord from heaven camS not to 
 call the righteous but sinners to repentance. 
 " Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unright- 
 eous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the 
 Lord, for He will have mercy upon him, and to 
 our God for He will abundantly pardon." 
 
 But tliis is digressive, and I would now say that 
 we are not left without witness in reference to this 
 all important cliange consequent upon believing. 
 A nevv' kind of light, life, power and love are com- 
 municated to the soul, as well as a sense and per- 
 ception of divine and S])iritual things. The light 
 may be faint and dim; the life almost impercep- 
 tible; the power seem more like weakness than 
 strength; and the h)ve unworthy of the name in 
 respect to men; but in every believing soul tlioy 
 in some degree exist. Observe lirst, in reference 
 to the light and life. You will no longer find the 
 word of God a book without meaning, a sealed 
 book and prolitless, but with prayer to the God of 
 all grace, will find that it contains wondrous 
 
 I 
 
A VOICE l-'ROM Tin: V,l LDEItNKS.S OF CANADA. 
 
 
 
 m 
 
 tixcy 
 
 hlCG 
 
 the 
 
 lied 
 
 lof 
 
 lous 
 
 tliiDgy, thai the LordJesus Christ is "the v/ay, the 
 truth, and the life," that He is the " Light of the 
 world, the light of life, eternal life;" that the words 
 of God's own book are nofc dead matter, but "spirit 
 and life" quickening the new-born soul; as Luther 
 said, "They are livinr? creatures having hands and 
 feet," taking hold of the conscience and energies 
 of the heart and soul, and we are thereby quick- 
 ened from dead works to serve the living and true 
 God, and we ,,ill feel desirous to practice iiiul 
 abound in all those moralities and fruits of the 
 Spirit which are estimable and lovely, and "ag;iinst 
 Vvhicli there isno law." "We v/ill perceive we are dead 
 unto sin, (on account of Christ's suffering and dying 
 in our stead), but also alive from the dead, alive unto 
 God, and will no longer "let sin reign in our mortal 
 bodies, that we should obey it in the lusts thereof." 
 
 If this principle of light and life be in us, and 
 the truth hath made us free from the lav/ of sin and 
 death, we will not w;dk after the liesh, but after 
 the Spirit, ever remembering " that we v.-all: ])y 
 faith, as seeing Him who is invisible." 
 
 And if you luive believed, and if you do believe 
 the love that God hath for you, and hath recom- 
 mended that love to every perishing soul, in that 
 Christ died for the ungodly, then be ye sure of tliis, 
 the light and life will become more manifest; the; 
 light will become more visible, and *' shine more 
 and more unto the perfect day," being irradiated 
 by the sun of righteoasuess, "the true light which 
 lighteth every man that cometh into the world." 
 And the life, being a life of faitli upon the Son of 
 God, iind being daily alimented with the living 
 
 
 
 'li 
 
84 
 
 A VOICE FIIOJI THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 I 
 
 bread and the living water of life, and refreshed 
 and invigorated by faith acting upon all the pre- 
 cious promises, will become, as it were, " a well of 
 living water, springing up unto everlasting life," to 
 the praise and glory of Him " who is the resurrec- 
 tion and the life." 
 
 But power and love will also, in some measure, 
 be given ; the Gospel, the glad tidings that God is 
 one with us, that he hath brought in an everlasting 
 righteousness, which entitles us to eternal life, 
 being a state of everlasting holiness, happiness, 
 love and joy, of which, here, the heart of man 
 cannot conceive, this Gospel " is the power of God 
 unto salv . .on to every one that believeth." It is 
 the helief of these glorious, soul-satisfying truths, 
 that brings to the heart a sense of reconciliation, 
 and that God is for us, and it is this which regene- 
 rates the soul, under the renewing influences of the 
 Spirit of Grace, and originates in the heart a new 
 moral existence, and with emotions of "wonder, 
 love, ai)d praise," we exclaim " O Lord my God, 
 full many are the wonders thou hast done." 
 
 We are a^vays in need of this moral poT/er, 
 this spiritual power, communicated by the Holy 
 Spirit to the new-born soul, or spirit, to "babes in 
 Christ," to the taught of God, who are lisping the 
 first letters of heaven's holy alphabet, as well as 
 unto these who have left "the principles of the 
 doctrines of Christ," and are "perfecting holiness 
 in the fear of God." 
 
 This power is often mentioDed in the Scriptures. 
 " But as many as received him, to them gave ho 
 power to become the sons of God." The disciples 
 
 I 
 
freslied 
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 well of 
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 !surrec- 
 
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 God is 
 L'lasting 
 lal life, 
 Dpiness, 
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 truths, 
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 iciples 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 »0 
 
 were to tarry in Jerusalem ''until tlicy were endued 
 with power from on high." " But jq shall receive 
 power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon 
 you." " That your faith should not stand in the 
 wisdom of man but in the power of God." And 
 Paul's preaching and conversation was in demon- 
 stration of the Spirit and of power. 
 
 The power of the grace of Our Lord Jesus 
 Christ is made sufficient for us, and " he perfects 
 strength (or power), in our Y»'eakness," And Paul 
 would even gladly glory in infirmities, that the 
 power of Christ might rest upon him. "And wo are 
 able to do exceeding abundantly above all that wo 
 ask or think, according to li'.s pov/er that worketh 
 in us." We are kept by the power of God, through 
 faith unto salvation. Wo are to be *' strong in tho 
 grace that is in Christ Jesus." 
 
 Without this power avo v/ould be helpless, hope- 
 less and undone. Y/o are saved by the grace of 
 God in Christ Jesus, and kept by his power, 
 through faith, and we need to be clothed vvith the 
 whole armour of God, and receive fresh supplies of 
 the graces of faith, love, and hope, out of his 
 
 fulness, and " grace 
 
 for grace.' 
 
 The Gospel of Christ is the great equalizer of 
 the human family. " With God there is no respect 
 of persons." " He that worketh righteousness in 
 every nation is accepted of him." "The rich and 
 the poor meet together." "He that worketh not, 
 but believeth, is added unto the Lord, knows the 
 truth, and is made free indeed, and has power 
 given to become a son or daughter of the Almighty." 
 
 Now, I pray you take notice, hereby also shall 
 5 
 
 i 
 
 ii 
 
 
 '•I '.i 
 
86 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE "WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 Ii I 
 
 ye know, if yc liavo this faith, this saving faith 
 which purilios the heart and works by love, then 
 the prayer of faith will be the utterance of yonr 
 heart. You will be instant in prayer. You will 
 Avish, and sigh, and pray for light, ^nd life, and 
 love and power, and that your dimness and dark- 
 ness and ignorance may be done away, and that 
 the new sense and perception of spiritual things 
 may be strengthened, and your eyes opened to see 
 and " understand the wondrous things contained in 
 His holy law." You will, in some measure, have a 
 new moral existence, and as it were, breathe in a 
 new atmosphere. AVithout prayer you cannot be a 
 Christian. A prayerless Christian would be a grace- 
 less Christian, which is a contradiction in terms. 
 
 You cannot believe that grace reigns, that you 
 are saved by grace, that the God of all grace is 
 waiting to be gracious unto you, and that a throne 
 of grace is erected wherever the Gospel is pro- 
 claimed, to the uttermost ends of the earth, to 
 which every one may have access at all times ; I 
 say 3'ou ' Minot believe this without a desire, a 
 prayer, thai the Holy Spirit may be given you, as a 
 sj^irit of pr.iyer and supplication, and to teach you 
 all things, and " how to pray, and wliat to pray for." 
 
 But some, or a great many, perhaps, may say, 
 I cannot pray, I never pray ; what is prayer ? If 
 you never pray, you have " neither part nor lot in 
 the matter." You are deceiving and being de- 
 ceived, if you are pretending or professing hris- 
 tianity. And the scoffer and the iniidel may be 
 said to be nearer the kingdom of God, than he who 
 is deceiving himself and others with vain pretences. 
 
 ' 
 
A VOICE FUO>[ THE WILDEllNE.S.S OF CANADA. 
 
 87 
 
 
 "Bo not deceivccl, God is not mocked ; wliat you 
 sow you shall reap." 
 
 Although it is true, " that we know not what to 
 pray for as we ought," j-et every one who believes, 
 will feel a sincere, anxious, heart's desire to our 
 heavenly Father that the Holy Spirit will be given 
 him to teach him how to pray. Such a desire is 
 prayer. 
 
 " Pmyor is the nroatliiiig of a sigli, 
 
 The falling of a tear, 
 The upward glancing of the eye 
 
 When none lait Clod is near." 
 
 You will be instant in uttering such prayers as the 
 following: 
 
 "0 thou, by -whom wc coiue to God, 
 
 The life, the truth, the way, 
 The path of prayer thy.self has trod, 
 
 Lord, teac'h us how to pray." 
 
 No Christian can live without prayer. " Prayer 
 is the breath of heaven in man, returning whence 
 it came." " Prayer, ardent, opens heaven, lets down 
 a stream of glory on the consecrated hour of man, 
 in audience with the Deity." 
 
 " Xo prayer is made on earth alone. 
 
 The Holy Spirit pleads ; 
 And Jesus, on the eternal throne. 
 
 For sinners intercedes." 
 
 And thus we have boldness to enter into the 
 holiest of all, by the blood of Jesus, by the new 
 and living way, and with full assurance of faith 
 we will find the God of all grace, waiting to be 
 gracious, and that the throne of grace is ever nigh 
 at hand. Lying down or rising up, going out or 
 coming in, in the streets or in the house, in public 
 or in j)rivate, in the fields or in the sanctuary, we 
 
 I 
 
 I > 
 
 4- 
 
 
 ii.* 
 
88 
 
 A VOICE PROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 may lift up our heart to tlio Lord our God, aud 
 realize Lis merciful, spiritual, and gracious presence 
 to be always with us, and we shall assuredly 
 " obtain mercy, and find grace to help us in time of 
 need ;" and, as we are i..ucrly unworthy, and totally 
 without merit, and " in us (that is, in our flesh) dwel- 
 leth no good thing," we may pra}^ without ceasing. 
 Lord evermore give us this grace, that we may " be 
 led by the Spirit, and enabled to grow in grace, and 
 rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ, having no confi- 
 dence in the flesh, and with our minds serve His 
 holy law, evor remembering that with the flesh, or 
 carnal mind, we serve the law of sin." 
 
 The singularity and mystery of the Christian 
 life, (and without which he cannot bo a Christian), 
 is, that he doth not commit sin, he cannot sin, 
 and yet every day he does sin ; he commits sin and 
 at a throne of grace obtains forgiveness of the 
 same, because God is faithful aud just to forgive 
 his sins. 
 
 And this is the state of warfare and experi ;ice 
 of every Christian ; he is even a mystery to himself 
 until he is delivered from his body of sin and death. 
 " Be thou faithful uiitU dealli, aud I will give you a 
 crown of life." [See Sequel.] 
 
 But there must be a performance as well as 
 prayer. No one can believe the truth as it is in 
 Josus, that we are His, that we are pardoned, 
 washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the 
 Lord, that we are bought with a price, that he hath 
 gone to prepare a place for us, and that we l:now 
 not the day or the hour or moment when we may 
 be called and received unto Himself, and that the 
 
 h 
 
 IV 
 
'I 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDEUNEHS OF CANADA. 
 
 80 
 
 miHsion of tho Son of God into our world wa,s to 
 raise man from a state of sin and death unto a state 
 of holiness and life, without realizimj new motivcfi 
 of obedience ; a new moral gladness will spring up 
 in our liearts, and we will not only be industrious, 
 but active and diligent in all the ordinary pursuits 
 and duties of life, and endeavor to run with alacrity 
 in the way of all God's commandments ; " diligent 
 in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord," 
 and esteeming all " a reasonable service." But 
 remember there will be warfare. We live in an 
 enemj^'s country. There ill be a struggle for vic- 
 tory. We must needs be in a state of vigilance 
 and alarm, and we will be sore beset with tempta- 
 tions from within and without, and will find "when 
 we would do good, evil is prer^ent Avith us, and how 
 to perform that which is good we find not." In other 
 words, tlie christian is in a state of composition. 
 His nature is complex. Tlie incorruptible seed of 
 grace is j^lanted in his soul by the Spirit of God, 
 and " in his flesh dwelleth no good thing." He is a 
 saint and a sinner ; a perfect saint and a perfect 
 sinner. 
 
 By an appropriating belief of all the promises 
 of our blessed Saviour, we " are made partakers of 
 the divine nature." " Love is of God, and everyone 
 that lovetli is born of God, and knoweth God." 
 Wiien we are led hy the Spirit, and walk after the 
 Spirit, by the operation of the gracious principles 
 of divine light, life, power and love, implanted in 
 the heart when wo believe, surely we are rut at 
 the same time walking after the flesh, and fulfilling 
 the lusts thereof. And the consciousness of our 
 
 E-ll 
 
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 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 ii 
 
 reconciliation with God in Christ, "svhilo under the 
 inllucnco of these heavenly ])rinciples, regenerates 
 the soul, and under the influence of the Holy Spirit 
 we become alive unto God, and are made new 
 creatures in Christ Jesus, and, as it were, con- 
 strained to " offer up prayers and supplications ;" 
 it may be " with strong crying and tears," to the 
 prayer-answering Jehovah, that our faith, hope and 
 love, joy and rejoicing, may be increased, and that 
 we " may bring forth fruit unto God." 
 
 In so far, then, as these spiritual exercises of 
 the soul are produced by the Spirit of God, we are 
 perfect. " The love of God shed abroad in our 
 hearts by the Holy Ghost is perfect love ; the peace 
 of God, which passeth all understanding, is perfect, 
 and his righteousness is perfect, and his mercy, 
 grace and truth, are perfect, all his ways are per- 
 fect," " all his works are done in verity," " and the 
 Lord Jesus Christ liatli, by one offering, for ever 
 perfected them that are sanctified," and he is "made 
 unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctifica- 
 tion, and redemption," all which arc perfect, and "if 
 we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His 
 love is perfected in us," and in this sense, therefore, 
 the Christian is perfect. But is he changeless, and 
 therefore sinless ? Alas ! No, in no wise. As I 
 have f'llready stated, the Christian life is a state of 
 conflict. "We have easily besetting sins. Sin still 
 remains in us, but it must not feign, or woe be unto 
 us because of sin. " If ve sav we have no sin, we 
 decei.e ourselves, and the tru'.h is not in us." We 
 will, while in this body of sin and death, have sins 
 io confess, but He is faithful and just to forgive us 
 
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 A VOrCK FROM TltK WlU»r,UNKSS OK ('.WADA. 
 
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 our sins, and wo daily come short of perfect ubo- 
 dionco to the pure and holy law of Clod, and, there- 
 fore, violate the same in thought, word, and deed. 
 Be not deceived in reference to this all-important, 
 glorious, mysterious, scriptural doctrine. I heard 
 a Wesleyan Methodist Minister, a short time ago, 
 during his sermon, say unto his congregation, 
 " When the soul is converted to God, the old nature 
 wo inherit from Adam is iiprootcd and ahoIisJicd.^^ 
 This witness is not true, as you will perceive from 
 what I have already written. It is not " uprooted 
 and abolished." Although " we delight in the law 
 of God after the inward man, and with the mind 
 serve the law of God, yet with the flesh we serve 
 the law of sin." " Through the Spirit we are ena- 
 bled to mortify the deeds of the body," but sin 
 still dwelleth in us, and is neither " uprooted nor 
 abolished." 
 
 The warfare, under the Captain of our salva- 
 tion, continueth until death, until we are delivered 
 from this body of death, and we need to be con- 
 tinually in armour, for " we wrestle not only with 
 flesh and blood," but with an unseen and inveterate 
 enemy, Mitli the power of darkness, with spiritual 
 wickedness in high places. We are certain and 
 conscious of the existence of moral evil, from 
 our own cNLperience, and the actions of others. 
 But when, or how, it was introduced into the intel- 
 ligent creation of Jehovah, we cannot tell. A 
 little while ago we could not reckon twenty ; and wo 
 cannomoie grapple with this impenetrable difficulty, 
 than we can with other inscrutable mvsteries and 
 depths of past eternity. But we know " an enemy 
 
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 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
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 liatli done this," antT that enemy is continually 
 upon our path, " with his snares and wiles," and 
 alas ! it is too true, " he raay too often find some- 
 thing in us," as wo are not rid of the presence of 
 sin, it is only of its tyranny and dominion over us. 
 With the Christian, there is a daily process of 
 offending, and application at the throne of grace 
 for forgiveness. But grace reigns, and "wo are 
 enabled more and more to die unto sin, and 
 become alive unto God, who givetli us the victory." 
 
 While this warfare is going on, we are, while 
 under the motions of sin, imperfect and sinful. 
 " There is not a just man tipon the earth, who doeth 
 good and sinneth not." The imagination of man's 
 heart is evil, and even with the Christian, how 
 often does he give reason to the ungodly and pro- 
 fane to speak evil of the right ways of the Lord, 
 and bring shame and contempt on the cause of 
 his Master, by his conformity to the wicked prac- 
 tices of those around him. 
 
 "The tongue is an unrul^^ evil (saitli James); 
 therewith bless we God, even the Father, and 
 therewith curse we men, who are made in the 
 image of God ; out of the same mouth proceedeth 
 blessing and cursing." "My brethren, these things 
 ought not so to be" (saitli James). But they be so. 
 When lust conceives, and we consent unto the con- 
 ception, and will it, sin is brought forth, and the 
 act perfected, and in this sense the Christian is a 
 sinner, and a perfect sinner, for God cannot be 
 tempted with evil, nor does he fore-ordain sinful 
 acts ; nor are they the works of the devil (as I 
 think), they are the sinner's own acts come to pass; 
 
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 pass; 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 03 
 
 but to say that the High and Holy One decreed 
 these acts, or fore-ordained them, is a wicked 
 absurdity. To permit, is not to decree or fore- 
 ordain. 
 
 I think very few words will convince you tliat 
 there are no small, venial, or excusable sins, as 
 Papists and others seem to think. " Let us nofbe 
 deceived; God is not mocked." " "Whosoever com- 
 mitteth sin is the servant of sin, and transgresseth 
 the law. By one man's offence, judgment came 
 upon all men to condemnation. Ho that offendeth 
 in one point is guilty of all." Read our Saviour's 
 sermon on the mount, and you will find it clear and 
 plain, as if written with a sunbeam, that the 
 thoughts and desires of man's heart are sin, and 
 violations of God's law^, which Christ came not to 
 destroy but to fulfil. And although the believer is 
 not under the law as a covenant of works, whereby 
 to gain heaven, yet as a rule of life, he will en- 
 deavour to keep the commandments, realizing the 
 glorious assurance and blessing of the Saviour. 
 " He that keepeth the commandments, he it is that 
 loveth me, and he shall be loved of my Father, 
 and I will love him, and manifest myself unto him," 
 and he will be as scrupulous to offend in one point 
 " as if the keeping of them were the price of his 
 salvation." But he will at last overcome, being 
 led by the Spirit, and kept by the power of God, 
 " for whatsoever is born of God oveicometh the 
 world, and this is the victory that overcometh the 
 world, even our faith." And he will gain ground 
 in the contest, become moro heavenly minded, 
 " not as though he had attained or were already 
 
 5* 
 
94 
 
 A VOICE FUOM THK WILDERNESS Ol<^ CANADA. 
 
 perfect," but witli Paul striving tliereunto, that he 
 may become a perfect man in Christ Jesus. " We 
 must be faithful until death," having this blessed 
 assurance, "Ye are of God, little children, and 
 shall overcome, because greater is he that is in 
 you than ho that is in the world." 
 
 And thus the Christian life is a mystery to the 
 world, the infidel, and partly to himself. But it is 
 a real, sensible, and conscious, as well as a glorious 
 and soul-satisfying mystery. Thousands and tens 
 of thousands of the most sinful, wicked and 
 abandoned of humanity, have, by grace, become 
 " peaceable, pure, gentle, and easy to be en- 
 treated ; full of mercy and good works, sober, just, 
 holy, temperate, showing forth in their lives and 
 conversation that the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, 
 peace, long sufifering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 
 meekn.ss and temperance, and that their love 
 abounded toward one another and toward all men:" 
 that Christianity is, in reality, all that is holy, pure 
 and heavenlj', intended to raise man from earth to 
 heaven, and teach him all that concerns his best 
 interests for time and eternity, and cannot be com- 
 bined or contaminated with the dross of earth, 
 thereby proving its divine and heavenly origin. 
 
 And thus the poor pitiable infidel, and all who 
 " despise and wonder and perish," have to deny 
 the evidence of their own senses, pronounce it a 
 delusion, being no more able to perceive the truth 
 than a man born blind can tell what light means. 
 :§ii There are many who say, " If Christianity is truth 
 and its Founder came to bear witness to the truth, 
 and is the way, the truth and the life, how is it 
 
A VOICE FllOM THF WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 05 
 
 
 it 
 
 tliei'G are so many iliilereut kiiuls of it? — every 
 Churcli and sect cl;'imiiig to be in possession 
 of the truth, and, oi' course, the others more or 
 less in error. I don't iaiow whicli is right ; I seldom 
 go to hear the Gospel preached; I sometimes go a 
 Sabbath or two before the Sacrament, or before a 
 child is to be baptized, to keep up appearances, 
 but it is uphill work, and I generally spend the 
 Sabbath in idleness, or reading newspapers or 
 something interesting — something I have a relish 
 for ; and although I pay little or no attention to what 
 God requires of me, I am just as good as others, and 
 not a very wicked sinner like as Paul was. Look 
 at the Baptists. They believe that baptism is re- 
 generation, but I don't believe that, and so I must 
 be right. Look at the Methodists, too. They are 
 very noisy, and don't tell the truth at their class- 
 meetings, and because they pray very loud, and 
 make great ado at their protracted meetings, think 
 there is nobody religious but themselves. I don't 
 believe in such things, and so I never pray in a 
 loud or earnest manner, or seldom pray at all, 
 and not having any religious experience, it would 
 be difficult to relate the same at class meetings or 
 any other place." 
 
 Such an one also contends that Presb^'terians 
 say there is an elect number who only can be saved, 
 and the rest perish, as there was no atonement 
 made for them. Also, that every one of the elect 
 will believe at the decreed time, and the others are 
 not effectually called, but have been passed by in 
 the decree ; so, if I am elected, I am safe; if not, 
 what is the use of preaching to the congregation of 
 
 1'^ 
 
 IV 
 
 
OG 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDKUNESB OF CANADA. 
 
 M 
 I'll' 
 
 tlio dead, wlion there is no life in them nor for 
 them? — the atonemciit being for the lost elect 
 only. 
 
 Ho says, also, there is no soundness in the 
 Church of liome, or ti^e Church of England ; that 
 the Pope is no more a successor of St. Peter 
 than the " Lords spiritual " of the English Church 
 are successors of Matthew and Mark. The one 
 saith, and the other saith, "the temple of the Lord 
 are we," when it is well known throughout Chris- 
 tendom that the priesthood of both Churches have 
 made the temple of the Lord " a den of thieves." 
 And as they regard the Sabbath as a kind of holi- 
 day, a day of amusement and sport, I am better at 
 home than attending their Churches. Now, al- 
 though these reasonings may be partially true, yet 
 he who thus reasons is in a state of delusion and 
 error. " His heart is not right with God." He 
 will find by comparing his life and conversation 
 with the word of God, that he has not the Spirit of 
 Christ, that he is none of his ; that the religion 
 of Jesus, the belief of the truth as it k in Christ, is 
 a personal matter, and leads the sinner to the all- 
 important inquiry, What shall I do, I m3^self, do to 
 be saved ? Am I saved, for^ever saved ? — and not 
 to be judging others uncharitably, exaggerating 
 and misrepresenting the doctrines and tenets of 
 Christian Churches, as well as the practices of 
 their members, regarding which " they may have 
 been slanderously reported." He will find witness 
 for the truth among all these Churches, and every 
 Church is a Christian Church, only so far as its 
 doctrines and practices agree with the infallible 
 word of God. 
 
and 
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 not 
 
 ness 
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 liblo 
 
 
 A VOICE FROM TIIC WILDERNESS OF CANAIJ.N. 
 
 07 
 
 The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments 
 are the only nile to direct all Churches a: d their 
 members, and it is not difficult to conceive why 
 they are not all of one mind. 
 
 The light, and love, and life, revealed to man in 
 the sacred volume, have been set forth in the most 
 plain and simple language, and so repeated that 
 the humblest capacity might know they are the 
 words of life, eternal life, and he who opens the 
 sacred volume, is, in one sense, studying in the 
 school of eternity-. 
 
 But the carnal mind is '* enmity against God," 
 and desireth not the knowledge of his ways, and 
 "perceiveth not the things of the Spirit, for they are 
 sim'itually discerned." AVe only see through a glass 
 darkly while in our earthly tabernacle ; we only 
 know in part ; but when that which is perfect is 
 come, that which is in part shall be done aAvay. The 
 best of men are but men at the best, and we can- 
 not see clearly on account of the darkness and 
 ignorance that is in us. 
 
 And therefore it is that so many differences of 
 opinion arise in reference to the mysteries of the 
 Gospel of the grace of God. But these differences 
 often work together for good, and prove, as it were, 
 a salutary means of agitating the moral atmosphere 
 of truth, and of purifying it from the noxious errors 
 and delusions which would otherwise obtain over 
 the minds of men. 
 
 The divisions and contentions in the Christian 
 Churches is not, then, after all, a strong argument 
 to the unbelieving mind, as against the truth of 
 Christianity. Do not the Christian Churches of 
 
 
 ! 
 
98 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WlLUEllNESH 01'' CANADA. 
 
 .;iffli 
 
 Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, testify with one 
 accord that God, in the beginning, credited all 
 things very good, but devils and sin have made man 
 very b;i,d; that our world is a moral and physical 
 wreck and ruin ; that man is a sinner ; that the 
 incarnate Goci, or the Word made flesh, hath made 
 an atonement for the sin of man, by obeying, 
 suffering, and dying for him? Do they not all tes- 
 tify that Christ is risen from the dead, and become 
 the first fruits of them that sleep ? Do they not all 
 preach Jesus and the resurrection, and teach that 
 life, light, and immortality, are brought to light 
 through the Gospel ; that all true Christians are 
 one in Christ Jesus, and saved by His grace, and 
 shall for ever live and love in a state of endless 
 progression in knowledge, happiness, and joy, which 
 alone can satisfy the human soul? 
 
 These are the cardinal doctrines of the Chris- 
 tian's faith. And although there is difference of 
 opinion amongst the Churches regarding their gov- 
 ernment and discipline, their connection with the 
 world, and the meaningof passageshardtobe under- 
 stood, that does not affect the truth of the principal 
 doctrines believed, any more than the differences of 
 opinion of a number of persons appointed to draft a 
 new code of laws for the Spanish nation would affect 
 the existence of the constitution made out by them. 
 They might, and likely would differ, in reference to 
 carrying out the plan proposed, regarding the civil, 
 religious, and political rights and privileges of the 
 community. But no question would be raised about 
 general principles, such as, there must be a govern- 
 ment, and an administration of justice ; there 
 
 ! 
 
hris- 
 
 Hce of 
 
 gov- 
 
 revn- 
 there 
 
 A VOICE FllUM TIIK WILUi:UNK«S OF CANADA. 
 
 90 
 
 must bo civil and religious rights and privileges, 
 and observation of the Sabbath, and a system of 
 education ; and they would likely agree that this 
 was the year of our Lord 18G9, and compute their 
 time accordingl}'. 
 
 And I might say further, in reference to this 
 point, that the divisions in the Churches, and the un- 
 tenable dogmas held by some or all of them, do not 
 affect the truth as it is in the infallible word of 
 God, any more than the false systems of error and 
 idol worship prevalent among the nations of the 
 earth would i)rovc there vv^as no truth, and no living 
 and true God. ''There is truth at the bottom of all 
 religions." 
 
 "We know that all tlio gods are idols dumb, 
 
 Which blinded nations fear ; 
 lUit our Ciod is the Lord by whom 
 
 The heavens created were. " 
 
 The human race testify that there must be 
 religion ; that there must be worship, and an 
 object of worship ; these therefore must exist in 
 deed and in truth. As concerning worship, wo 
 know that "an idol is nothing" etc., and the first 
 conceptions of mankind relative to an object of 
 worship must have been of the living and true 
 God, and cannot otherwise be found than in his 
 revealed will, as contained in the Bible. 
 
 To contend, therefore, that because there are 
 false systems of religion, and differences in some 
 or all of the Churches, that, therefore, all religion 
 is false, and a delusion, and that mankind can 
 ex st without religion, as well as other animals, is 
 not only contrary to the Scriptures of truth, and 
 the experience of the human race, but even Phren- 
 
 '11 
 
100 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNEHS OP CANADA. 
 
 ologistn would exclaim, " You might as well cou- 
 tend that mankind shall hereafter bo born v»ithout 
 the coronal portions of their heads ; and that 
 reason, faith, hope, and veneration shall no longer 
 belong to man's spiritual nature ;" but were it pos- 
 sible that man's moral and spiritual nature could 
 be extinguished; then, then indeed, the unbelieving 
 soul, who labours in the very fire for that Avhich 
 satislioth not, and the whole school of infulclity, 
 might successfully contend that they would h.avo 
 a beastly termination, and their grovelling desires 
 and propensities end with their mortal existence. 
 
A VOICK FROM TlIK WlLDEllNESH OF CANADA. 
 
 101 
 
 U cou- 
 iitboiit 
 (1 that 
 longer 
 I it pos- 
 } could 
 ^lieving 
 ^v]licll 
 rulclity, 
 d liavo 
 desires 
 tciice. 
 
 
 CHAPTEIl 111. 
 
 TEMTEUANCE KICLECTIONS, SIIONYINO THE rUOGUESS OF 
 TOTAL ABSTINENCE PIJINC'IPLEH IN DIUTAIN AND 
 THE UNITED STATES, AS ALSO EllIlOKS OF PllOFESS- 
 INCr CIIUISTIANS IN REFERENCE TO TEMPERANCE 
 rillNCirLES. 
 
 But ho who balicvcs, although lie may not judge 
 othurs in a fault-finding spirit uncharitably, while 
 neglecting his own eternal interests, vainly mistak- 
 ing a censorious for a religious spirit, will, never- 
 theless, deeply deplore the inconsistencies and sin- 
 ful conduct of professing Christians, as well as what 
 lio may sui^pose or believe to be unscriptural tenets 
 or principles held by his own or any other Church. 
 
 First, sinful conduct of professors. 
 
 I can only glance at this, as it is awa}' from the 
 design I have in view. Without attempting to set 
 forth the opposition of the human heart to God 
 and things sacred (which forms the key to the 
 greater part of infidelitj-), and the covetousness and 
 selfishness of our race, as displayed in our daily 
 practices and pursuits, I would merely wish to state 
 briefly a few ideas in reference to drinking and 
 drunkenness as it prevails in the Christian Churches, 
 as well as in the circles of society throughout the 
 world. 
 
 Because of the object I have in view, I cannot 
 even glance at the fearful results of drinking habits 
 
 S 
 
 1 ni 
 
1.02 
 
 A VOICK FUOM THK WII.DKIIXESH OK CANADA. 
 
 Ill 
 
 !;;■,'' 
 
 as regards ilio physical, moral and eternal wretch- 
 edness and ruin of an incredible number of the 
 human race, consequent upon the liquor traffic. 
 They cannot be told in time; eternity must reveal 
 what is meant by the condemnation of the drunkard, 
 and the dread realities thereof. 
 
 In reflecting on astronomy, the mind gets be- 
 wildered and lostin endeavcu'ing to form conceptions 
 relative to the magnitude, velocity, and inconceiv- 
 able distances of the other worlds which astrono- 
 mers have brought to light ; so the greatness and 
 extent of the evils resulting from the lusa of intoxi- 
 cating liquors, to the inhabitants of our globe, seem 
 to overwhelm the mind with an overpowering sen- 
 sation, in attempting to form any conceptions 
 thereof. 
 
 There are those who would not take heed, even 
 should an angel fly through the open fh'mament of 
 heaven, leaving his message in cliaracters of living 
 fire, "Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of earth," 
 because of the drink system. 
 
 Above I said tlie use, and meant what I said ; 
 all moderate drinkers are on the road to drunken- 
 ness. It is drinkers wdio become drunkards. Where 
 does the use of alcohol end and its abuse begin ? 
 
 In reference to the results of its use, the follow- 
 ing may suffice : — 
 
 From unquestioned medical statistics, it appears 
 "that the United States of America are consuming 
 more than five hundred and forty million gallons 
 of intoxicating liquors annually, or nearly twenty 
 gallons for a man, woman and child ; and these 
 liquors jare almost all adulterated with strychnine, 
 
 t 
 
A VOICK PROM TIFK WII.DKnN'RSS OF CANADA. 
 
 lo:i 
 
 coculus, tobacco, opium, sulpliiuic acid, rod pepper, 
 potash, brueiiio, A'c. In ono state alone (Ohio) tho 
 chemical inspector, in one year, after an analysis of 
 tho liquors in six huntlred different places, reported 
 above ninety per cent, adulterated." And yet man- 
 kind buy, sell and drink them. The use or con- 
 sumption of these poisonous li(piids results in such 
 an enormous and fearful amount of disease, crime, 
 taxation, mental and moral disorder, delirium tre- 
 mens, and death, which could not be summed up, 
 and which words cannot describe. 
 
 Such consequences from the use of alcoholic 
 drinks arc not confined to the TTnited States. 
 
 Ono of the oldest, most eminent and reliable 
 medical journals in London, England, in one of its 
 late issues, speaks most unmistakeably on the ter- 
 rible national evil of drunkenness, or tho use of 
 alcoholic poisons. " It is drink (says the Lancet) 
 which fills our hospitals, and gives the medical 
 profession endless, though unprofitable occupation ; 
 in fact, it is the cause of nine-tenths of the misery 
 and poverty which prey upon the vitals of our 
 social system. Old and young, men and women, 
 grandfathers and girls, at least seven-eighths of 
 the sick and afllicted are drunk when they n^'o 
 brought on stretchers to the hospitals ;" and con- 
 concludes by asking the following question : "Can- 
 not legislators, clergymen, and tlic reasonable por- 
 tion of the public do anything on their side to 
 restrain the progress of a vice which is at the root 
 of all the poverty, misery and guilt of this great 
 city?" London contains more inhabitants than 
 tjje whole dominion of Canada,. 
 
 l: 
 
 
mmmmmm 
 
 10-4 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 m: 
 
 lii" 
 
 The Lancet is silent, but one answers the ques- 
 tion thus: " Let legislators, christians, doctors, &c., 
 discountenance the present free use of alcoholic 
 liquors, which are the prolific sources of the evils." 
 All such answers are so much splash the water. 
 The evil cannot be discountenanced or corrected ; 
 it must be " uprooted and abolished." 
 
 So long as the people are ])linded, and send 
 unprincipled men to do their business, who, in 
 respect to the liquor traffic, "frame iniquity by 
 laws," so long will this accursed system continue, 
 and its sure and certain effects be " to drown man- 
 kind in destruction and perdition." 
 
 The liquor traffic is not confined to London, it 
 prevails throughout the British Empire and its de- 
 pendencies, and among the nations of the earth, 
 in a greater or less degree. 
 
 But is it so here in the Dominion of Canada ? 
 The common law, I think, authorizes a tavern 
 license for every'two hundred and fifty inhabitants, 
 besides liquor stores and almost innumerable grog- 
 geries. Our public papers often contain horrible 
 recitals of the most dreadful crimes too often re- 
 sulting from the use of the deleterious poisons by 
 the unthinking, deluded and miserable victims, who 
 obtain them from greedy and selfish retailers, who, 
 on payment of a certain amount, are authorized by 
 the general law to open and perpetuate the most 
 infamous nuisances to the disgrace of morality and 
 religion. The consequence is, an enormous in- 
 crear-io of taxation has to be paid by the sober and 
 industrious portion of the community. And thus 
 our Government, as well as others, "frame iniquity 
 by a law." 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 105 
 
 311 re- 
 us by 
 , who 
 
 who, 
 ed by 
 
 most 
 y and 
 \s in- 
 r and 
 
 thus 
 
 qiiity 
 
 I said "horrible recitals." One paper saith, 
 " One McWhinnie, of Ho wick Tp., bayonetted, and 
 afterwards shot, his own neighbour." Both had 
 been drinking at a bee. Says another, " At Shef- 
 field, in Beverley, a young man v.-as stabbed by 
 his father, Charles Lamb, who was maddened with 
 drink at the time. The young man has since died." 
 "Near Seaforth, one Doncvan, and his wife, were 
 brutally murdered, it is believed by his own son 
 and another relative. The woman was horribly 
 mangled. Amongst the bloody clothes belonging 
 to the murderers was a whiskey bottle, nearly 
 empt}'." Whelan slioi McGee, and was executed. 
 " Whiskey is the devil," said Whelan; " if it had 
 not been for the cursed whiskey, I would not have 
 shot McGee." <tc., <tc. 
 
 And the trial and execution of such unfortunate 
 victims of this bloodstained traffic, costs the rate- 
 payers tens of thousands of dollars annually, and 
 this is called " Administration of Justice." 
 
 No wonder the public mind is corrupted, when 
 a drinking saloon has been kept and encouraged 
 in the Parliament Buildings, and some of the mem- 
 bers have been drunk at noon-day. In other 
 words, the people, (for they are to blame more 
 than their rulers), send men to frame and pass 
 such laws as authorize the inundation of society 
 with such deleterious poisons, as already men- 
 tioned, which open the flood-gates of iniquity, 
 crime and murder, a millionth part of which has 
 never been told, for what tongue can tell, or pen 
 describe 
 
Mm 
 
 mmmm 
 
 fllli, 
 
 % i 
 
 lOG A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 " The long, long hours of watching, 
 
 The chaugel'ul hopes and fears; 
 Tlie lieart's unspoken anguish, 
 
 The bitter sighs and tears " 
 
 occasioned by tlio use of strong drink? 
 
 Now who support this state of things ? Is it 
 not a large majority of the population by their 
 votes, as well as Christian Churches, or it could 
 not exist. Governments are instituted to promote 
 the good of the people, and not to enact laws for 
 the encouragement and protection of vice and im- 
 morality. They ought to prevent, not protect evil ; 
 and if the people commission their agents to enact 
 laws for the support and perpetuation of the use of 
 intoxicating liquids, the drink system and drunken- 
 ness, and, of course, all the evils arising therefrom, 
 who are to blame ? 
 
 Ah! yes, yes, saitli the British Government, 
 ours, and other Governments; we know, we know ; 
 why write and dwell upon these things ? All that 
 is an old story. You are one of the extremists. 
 Do you not know that we must have revenue? 
 Know you not, Babbler, that by this craft we have 
 our wealth ? We must have money, and the people 
 will drink. Then what are we to do for the hundred 
 talents which have been invested for the army of 
 Israel ? Rather say for the army of drinkers. Aye, 
 "there's the rub." Amaziah, king of Judah, sin- 
 fully leagued himself with idolaters from motives of 
 worldly policy, and the prophet of the Lord warned 
 him, "not to let the army of Israel go with him, for 
 the Lord would make them fall before the enemy." 
 The king hesitated. "But what shall we do," said 
 he, " for the hundred talents which wo have given 
 to the army of Israel?" 
 
 ! 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 107 
 
 And thus it is " with the powers that be now." 
 Think (say they) of the immense sums invested by 
 respectable Christians and others, in distilleries, 
 breweries, wine factories, taverns, kc, for the ad- 
 vantageous promotion of the liquor traffic. Think 
 of the injustice and suffering which would ensue to 
 themselves and their families, should the millions 
 of gallons annually produced, of good, wholesome, 
 invigorating liquids, be diverted from their legiti- 
 mate channel; how would the people at large also 
 su^er from the needful supplies being cut off, and 
 no longer enjoy the salutary effects of the free use 
 of these harmless and natural stimulants ? And the 
 national revenue would be grievously diminished. 
 
 "And the prophet said unto king Amaziah, the 
 Lord is able to give you much more than this." 
 Perhaps some may listen to this ; but the principles 
 of truth, and justice, and righteousness, do not 
 apply to Governments, as if they were private par- 
 ties. We cannot compromise in such matters. 
 We must have a material guarantee : an instalment 
 in hand. The working of Government is difficult, 
 and not easily understood, and we must have 
 money from the drink system, or some other sys- 
 tem, irrespective of consequences. Neither will 
 private parties listen. 
 
 Why should we be encouraged by Acts of Par- 
 liament (say they) to invest our funds to establish 
 works for the public good, and then be put down 
 by law? that must surely be very great injustice. 
 This is the same kind of logic (say they) that Mr. 
 Gladstone uses in reference to his spoliation of the 
 Irish Church, and of course, the English Church 
 
108 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS Or CANADA. 
 
 also, viz.: that we are not a good, but an evil. We 
 shall see to it, that all such reasoning be exposed. 
 
 But besides Governments, and all self-interested 
 parties, who make a gain by trafficking in the 
 souls and bodies of their fellow-creatures, and who 
 support the drink system, and will contest the 
 matter to the bitter end (although many of them 
 are convinced of the error of their ways), it is also 
 supported by Christians and Christian Churches. 
 One would think that every one who is a Christian 
 indeed, must experience a kind of feeling of horror 
 and alarm flit through his heart and conscience on 
 hearing such words repeated. TVe are all, more or 
 less, guilty of the blood of our brother in this 
 matter. 
 
 There are thousands of ^jrofessing Christians, 
 in 1869, who still imagine they can countenance, 
 support, manufacture, sell and buy, and drink the 
 accursed thing, and be blameless. And Christian 
 Churches say, Amen, and invoke the blessing of 
 the God of heaven upon the labours of such, even 
 that their handiworks may be established, pros- 
 pered and blessed. With the whole dreadful array 
 of accumulated instances of poverty, disorder, 
 delusion, degradation, drunkenness, delirium, the 
 most revolting murder and crime, moral, spiritual 
 and eternal death, before our eyes in 1869, conse- 
 quent upon the consumption or use (some use more 
 than others) of intoxicating liquids, which this 
 "mystery of iniquity," viz., the drink system, hath 
 already worked, " we are slow of heart to believe 
 the will of God concerning us." 
 During the late revolutionary struggle between 
 
 i 
 
A VOICE rnOM the WILDERNESB OI- CANADA, 
 
 109 
 
 twceu 
 
 the North and South, it was well known that many 
 of the ministers of Christ, in the South, not only 
 sympathized with the slave-holders, but also prayed 
 with them, and for them, and that their efforts 
 might be successful for the extension and perpe- 
 tuation of slavery. In view of these things, I have 
 no doubt that hundreds of well-educated and intel- 
 ligent ministers of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, and thousands of other professing Chris- 
 tians in Britain, and on the continent of Europe, 
 would lift up their hands in holy horror to think 
 that those whom the truth had made free would 
 in any wise countenance and support a community 
 of men who were determined, at all hazards, to 
 condemn to perpetual slavery and degradation 
 their brethren of mankind, chiefly on account of 
 .their own ba-se and selfish purposes. 
 
 And now, when a struggle and warfare is being 
 carried on of vastly greater proportions, and more 
 extensive interests involved (the States' vv^ar being 
 only local), as this war is general, and the issues of 
 permanent importance, affecting in some degree 
 the whole human race, these same parties, or 
 many of them, stand aloof, or are found in the 
 ranks of those who are concerned to uphold and 
 perpetuate the works of the devil, this " mystery 
 of iniquity," by means of which thousands are 
 held in a state of slavery and galling bondage to 
 sin and Satan. 
 
 But who is to blame in all this ? Rather, who 
 is not to blame ? Let him cast the first stone. In 
 reference to this I would just mention two or threa 
 prominent facts. 
 6 
 
th " 
 
 SI', 
 
 110 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 The Methodist Churches (it is well known) hold 
 their discipline, in this respect, " unstained and 
 pure." It is one of the glories of Methodism, 
 that the members of the churches of Wesley shall 
 abstain from all intoxicating liquors. The mem- 
 bers are of one mind in this ; and although some 
 of them may bring disgrace upon their cause by 
 violating the rules of discipline, that detracts not 
 from the purity of their Christian standard. 
 
 But I regret exceedingly to have to say that the 
 ministers and members of our noble Presbyterian 
 Church are divided in their opinions in reference to 
 drinking intoxicating liquids. Her members buy, 
 sell and drink them, and a majority of her Ecclesi- 
 astical Courts vote yea in their deliverances, and 
 publish to the world that the manufacturer, seller 
 and drinker of alcoholic poisons are equally eligible, 
 so far as membership in our Church is concerned. 
 
 And thus the glorious blood-stained Banner of 
 the Covenant, which hath braved " the battle and 
 the breeze " of Popery, Prelacy and Episcopacy, is 
 disgraced by this " accursed thing," this Babylon- 
 ish garment (not even a goodly one) hanging in 
 detestable rags around its shining folds. 
 
 But do not members of the Eomish, English, 
 and other Churches, and a great many respectable 
 people, drink and use these liquids every day? 
 They do, and commit many other sins besides. 
 
 But are not Christians divided in their opinions 
 concerning it ? Yes, and that is a greater difficulty. 
 Let us, then, as Christians, reason together. Are 
 we Christ's in reality, or in name only? "What 
 solemn and momentous realities are herein involved- 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. lH 
 
 
 Have WG evidence from God's word, our consciences 
 also bearing witness, that we are the cliildren of 
 God by faith in Christ Jesus ? Then blessed are we ! 
 happy are we ! " And we know and believe the love 
 that God hath for us." If so, then He hath given 
 us a new commandment, that we "love one another," 
 and we must not only abound and increase in love 
 one toward another, but toward all men, to the end 
 He may establish our hearts unblameable in holiness 
 before God, even our Father, " at the coming of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints." Now, 
 if we are led by the Spirit, we are the sons and 
 daughters of the Lord Almighty, and will do those 
 things which are well-pleasing in His sight, and Ho 
 is spiritually and graciously present with us now, 
 and therefore I write, and you read "as seeing Him 
 who is invisible." We are brothers, then, " and 
 heirs together of the grace of life," life, eternal 
 life, and as His friends, willing to do whatever Ho 
 commands or enjoins in His word. 
 
 Then Christ's Gospel says to you and me, " It 
 is good neither to eat flesh nor to drink wine, nor 
 any tiling whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is 
 offended, or is made weak." It is good, then, not 
 to drink wine (except as medicine), it is good not 
 to drink anything whereby our brother stumbleth, 
 &c. We know the fearful results of the drink sys- 
 tem. Our Lord and Master says it is good to re- 
 frain from drinking such liquids as cause our 
 brethren of mankind, for whom Christ died, to 
 offend against him, or to stumble or fall, or have a 
 tendency thereunto. We know, when we do such 
 things as are evil, our good name will be evil spoken 
 
112 
 
 A VOICE PROM THE WILDERUESS 01" CANADA. 
 
 of, and therefore ought to shun every appearance 
 of evil. " All things are naked and open to the 
 eyes of Him with whom we have to do." 
 
 We know, then, it is not good to do those things 
 mentioned by the Apostle ; therefore it must be evil 
 to do them. It is evil, then, to drink wine, it is 
 evil to drink anything whereby our brother stum- 
 bleth, &c. 
 
 It is evil (and all unrighteousness is sin) to drink 
 any kind of liquid, or encourage the use of it di- 
 rectly or indirectly, that causes any one to offend 
 against God and society, because it is here, 
 and in other places, expressly forbidden, and is 
 an evil and bitter thing, and displeasing in 
 His sight. Our divine and human Saviour went 
 about doing good. One part of His mission was 
 to bind up the broken-hearted, and to comfort those 
 who mourn, and raise them from their fallen state. 
 Let us follow His example, and do good, and not 
 evil, to all as we have opportunity, and " whether 
 we eat or drink, or tvhatsoever we do, to do all to the 
 glory of God," and ''not be partakers in other 
 men's sins." 
 
 " A poor weak man lay in the street, and a soli- 
 tary woman was observed doing her best to raise 
 him up, while the rest passed by on the other side. 
 * Why do you show him so much attention ?' one 
 asked. ' Because he needs it,' she replied. 'Does 
 he belong to you, then ?' rejoined the Levite. * No,' 
 replied the good Samaritan, * but he belongs to 
 somebody.'" Ah yes, every tnie mother, every 
 father, son, daughter, wife, husband, feels and 
 knows what this saying means. How many 
 
 . 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 113 
 
 a, soli- 
 raise 
 side. 
 
 ?' one 
 Does 
 ♦No,' 
 
 igs to 
 
 every 
 
 and 
 
 many 
 
 
 " need " your assistance also ! How many daily 
 suffer from the use of these liquids, and the heart of 
 humanity seems so callous and indifferent that many 
 of our respectable public journals so represent the 
 police reports, and other statistics of the degrada- 
 tion and crime, fighting, stabbing or murder, and of 
 the routine of drunkenness, as to be intended for a 
 kind of entertaining amusement for civilized and 
 Christian society. Are they not of us ? Do they 
 not belong to somebody ? Are they of a race who 
 have no souls ? Sliould not the authorities who 
 furnish them with the means, and all the aiders and 
 abettors of their crimes, be oftentimes punished in 
 their stead ? And Christians say they can drink 
 and not get drunken ; but Christ says, " Take heed, 
 lest by any means this liberty of yours become a 
 stumbling block to those that are weak, and so sin 
 against Christ." 
 
 In short, let no man deceive us with vain words. 
 The Son of God was manifested to destroy the 
 works of the devil. Let us see to it that ourhearts 
 condemn us not. He that is not with Him is against 
 Him in this, as in all other abounding wickedness. 
 Let us examine the matter in the light of God's 
 word and human experience, and we cannot avoid 
 the conclusion that the whole drink svstem is to be 
 condemned and shunned, ever remembering that 
 " to him that knoweth how to do good, and doeth 
 it not, to him it is sin." 
 
 If, therefore, in view of these teachings from 
 Christ's Gospel, we still continue, or countenance, 
 the use of intoxicating liquors, and so teach others 
 by our example to do that which may lead them 
 
 I 
 
\'> 
 
 114 
 
 A VOICE PROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 to eternal ruin, wo must bo forced to exclaim with 
 one of old, " Blessed Lord, l)lessed Saviour, either 
 these are not thy words, or wc are not Christians." 
 I know very well that sucli reasoning will 
 appear satisfactory and convincing to many, hut 
 some Christians may differ. Far be it from me to 
 judge any one. There are some who still use 
 what are called " spirituous liquors," and believe 
 when the question is narrowed down to "just a 
 little," Or so many drops, or small quantity, it can't 
 do any harm. I doubt not such are consci- 
 entious, and only need more light. They seem to 
 overlook what is a sense of duty in this matter. 
 There is a numerous class who say that the people 
 wish to have the liquors, and therefore they are 
 manufactured and distributed throughout the 
 country, and sold and drank. And great numbers 
 of these are Christian people too, and say, I may 
 as well sell as another ; but that if they would 
 begin at head-quarters, lay the axe to the root of 
 the tree, instead of the branches, and by legisla- 
 tive enactment endeavour to suppress the monster 
 evil, they would have no objections, (when they 
 could no longer have any), and turn their attention 
 to something more respectable. All such seem to 
 overlook their own individual and personal respon- 
 sibility, and their duty to God and man, and that 
 each one of us makes one of the people, in whom 
 such law must originate. " Nothing (say some) 
 can reach the evil but a prohibitory law; why 
 should I make a sacrifice when others won't ? 
 Christians drink as well as others. Look at the 
 money invested. What shall wo do for the hun^ 
 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 115 
 
 mtiou 
 lem to 
 jspon- 
 tl that 
 
 rliom 
 
 |some) 
 
 why 
 
 on't ? 
 
 lat the 
 
 hun- 
 
 dred talents which we have given for the extension 
 of the consumption or use of alcoholic liquids ?" 
 And thus the system continues to be bolstered 
 up by the selfish and interested classes, Christian 
 and otherwise, and the community suffer, even as 
 it is at this day. 
 
 All such arguments, or falsities, have been so 
 often exposed, that it is strange they would now 
 be found in the mouths of Christians, or any 
 respectable people. Even the unbelieving mind, 
 who searches the Scriptures for the sake of dispute, 
 knows that all such are only professors of Christi- 
 anity, " have a name to live, have a form of god- 
 liness, but denying the power thereof." Indeed it 
 may safely be asserted, that a drinking Christian, 
 a sober drunkard, and an honest thief, are alike 
 incompatible. 
 
 It is painful to write such things; and though I 
 thus write, " I am pursuaded better things of 
 Christians, and things that accompany salvation." 
 We believe that Christianity is the means of our 
 God for the amelioration and regeneration of the 
 human race, and let every one strive to do the will 
 of his Master who is in heaven, assured that the 
 smallest act of benevolence towards a suffering 
 fellow-creature will not lose its reward. 
 
 I have now written more than I intended, too 
 much perhaps, as those in public life, and with a 
 better understanding of the subject, and better 
 qualified, have already written, and will write (to 
 attain an end we must use means), and some may 
 say it is an old story, why write another jeremiad 
 in a whining tone about the evils of intemperance ? 
 
!' 
 
 Ill: 
 
 !«■ I' 
 
 il 
 
 IIG 
 
 A VOICK FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 Because I boliovo, with thousands of others, that 
 better days are about to arise; that tliero is strong 
 hope sot before us ; that thousands who were in a 
 state of indifference, in reference to their duty, are 
 awakening from their slumbers, and instead of op- 
 position, are putting forth earnest efforts in the right 
 direction. Bauds of Hope are multiplying. Various 
 orders of Good Templars are doing good service 
 in Europe and America. Christian Churches are 
 becoming more alive to their duty. Young Men's 
 Christian Associations are now increasing and 
 becoming powerful auxiliaries, and being untram- 
 meled with sectarian prejudices, will greatly assist 
 and promote all Christian and benevolent efforts 
 on behalf of suffering humanity. 
 
 There is, therefore, the most abundant reason 
 to thank God and take courage. " The Lord 
 reigneth, let the earth be glad, and isles rejoice 
 each one." The matter is being agitated. In Europe 
 and America, those most interested, the laboring 
 classes, are getting stirred up. It is a question of 
 time, but the victory is certain. It is a public vice 
 that must bo banished from the earth. It cannot be 
 
 *• Tliat vice shall triumpli, virtue vice obey ; 
 Tims si)ring some doubt of Providence's sway." 
 
 Christian effort is wanted. Christian morality 
 must be enforced. It cannot be Christian morality 
 to drink deleterious poisons, and thus teach men so 
 to do. The leaven is at work. The commendable 
 efforts of the past may be seen at the present day 
 in the old and new world. In Britain there is a 
 strong feeling in reference to the Permissive 
 Bill. Some of the great centres of population have 
 
 1 
 
 I i 
 
A VOICK FROM TIIK WILDKIINKHH OF CANADA. 
 
 117 
 
 
 spokon out in favor of tlio Bill. I greatly adniiro 
 thoir common sonso, in comprosHing tho 'vvholo 
 matter into such a small bulk. Their concluHion 
 is, "That as alcoholic liquids are fxtd in t/iemsclucs, 
 and cannot be altered in their nature, by Act of Par- 
 liament or otherwise, it is our duty (say they) to 
 demand that tho Legislature shall enact laws for 
 tho entire abolition of the traffic, and that wo have 
 a right to protect ourselves from tho evils resulting 
 from their /<w." That's the way to talk. The 
 heart of Scotland seems to be getting aroused. 
 
 Nor is England behind Scotland in this great 
 work of reformation. "The working men of Eng- 
 land (says Professor Henry Munroo), who arc tho 
 most earnest supporters of the Permissive Bill, are 
 getting their eyes open to a new focus. They have 
 opened their eyes to the truth, that the traffic is an 
 evil one ; to the fact, that it is the source of the 
 greatest portion of all tho misery, crime, and pau- 
 perism in the country, and that they are unjustly 
 taxed and burdened therefor; and deeming it a 
 curse to the land, claim that every license, new and 
 old, shall be vetoed, if two-thirds of the ratepayers 
 desire it. Why should a whole borough, parish, 
 or district be cursed with an abominable and de- 
 basing traffic, evil in its consequences, because a 
 few individuals have embarked their capital in this 
 life-destroying business, and are determined to 
 make their fortunes at the cost of the sober and 
 industrious, and compel them to maintain the pau- 
 pers, criminals and lunatics, the use of these liquors 
 is daily creating ? But (say they) tho filling our 
 jails with criminals, breaking up happy homes, and 
 
 'I!- 
 tl) 
 
Mf^ 
 
 118 A VOtcrO I'HOM TlIK WII.DKUNKHH OK CANADA. 
 
 Rprojuliniij hioIvIu^ms !11h1 (Hhimimo lI>r()U|j,Ii i\\o lutfd, 
 is jihoui, to 1)0 (h)ouioil, Mnd (lu^ iiiMiiiifiu'lnid of 
 ilnink.'ird.s io bo .sioppod ; mikI (lioicroro ilio cvy in 
 raisod, '(^ivc luo ooinponsMlion ; in\\\o. in si lofjfa! 
 tr.'ulo, oarriiul on by Aofc of l\'irliiinH*nl.' 
 
 " Vt^M, onr l\'irli.'itM(Mii, for tlio IuhI (liroo Inuidrod 
 yo.ir.s, h.'iH found ilio inillio yo diini^iM'ous to tlio 
 nionila and liappinoBM of tlio i)oopl(\ that it lia.s 
 boon oon\p(01(Hl ii) oonirol its operation, by no 
 fowor than \i\o linncUod Acts. Tlio working nion 
 of Kni^land, tiiort^foro, arc dc^tiM-niinod (says P. 
 INlnnroo) no loni^or to plaoo tluMr fjiitli in ])olitioal 
 parti/ans,\vliothor (ulitors or M.P.s,bnt ai'o rosolvod, 
 irrospootivo of politics, to sn])])ort nioasnros, not 
 nion. No niattm' what tho polilical ])rinciplos of 
 tho candidate may bo, thoy aro dotorniinod to snp- 
 ])ort him who will In^irkon to tlnMr manifold wroni^s, 
 and tlolivor tlnnn from tlio soni-enslaving trallic, by 
 snppi>rting tho IVrmissivo JJill." 
 
 This is only a glanoo at tho state of tho liciuor 
 tralVic u\ IJritain. 
 
 Tho Scottish Tomporanco League, assisted by 
 
 upwards of four hundred societies, aro doing tho 
 work there, having received last year nearly thirty 
 thousand dollars, spent in tracts, publications, ttc, 
 and they unite with the working men of England 
 in declaring that, while there should bo no relaxa- 
 tion of individual and united elVort, nothing short 
 of a Prohibitory Liquor Law will prove available 
 for the removal of tho evil. Above three thousand 
 clergymen in England arc abstainers ; of this num- 
 ber, six hundred belong to the Independent Church. 
 How many clergymen in Scotland are abstainers 
 
 
 
\d by 
 tho 
 iliirty 
 
 I, c^'C, 
 
 ;land 
 llaxa- 
 
 liort 
 liable 
 .saiul 
 
 lum- 
 lurcli. 
 -iners 
 
 A VfUCK KIIOM TIIIC WII/f)KllNI';HH (iV CANADA. | |!) 
 
 I know iiof, bni a (l(^|)1(»ral>l(^ contraMt iir^^cH iinclf 
 ui)()ii puhlii? ii(>ii(Mj aH rof^'ardM iliiH iar^(5 iiinnbor in 
 ICn^Maiid. 
 
 Jioi lis look at wliat aro (jallcnl "frai(iriial hii^^ph- 
 iioiiH," proposed io l)o iiiado to tli<< (jlniKwal Ahhoiii- 
 My of th(^ Vroi) Olinrcli, l)y tlio (loiioral AHH(5inl)ly 
 of tlio Pr(!Hl)ytorian OluircJi, mot jit Now York in 
 Juno lant. It in Haid, "Tho Froo Cliiircli niado fra- 
 tornal Hiijjj^c^HtionH to uh durinj^ tin? days of nl/ivory, 
 and might it not l)o a kindn<!HH to n'f(3r in our (;or- 
 r«Hpoijd(?nc,o with thorn to wliat H(H3niH to uHaHoou- 
 lar mod 5 of proooduro in thoir (hnnsral AHHomldy 
 {inier (i(i(t), tho frotpnMit and tumnltouH oxproH.sionH 
 of fooling, tl)o cla])piiig and Htanif)iiig, ami hooting 
 and hisHing ; and oHpooially niay wo not Hpoak a 
 word of romouHtranco fHay thoy) against tho rostau- 
 raut, or saloon, ho c()nHi)iououH in tho lobby of tho 
 Fico Churoli Assomljly Hall, largoly Htookod with 
 alo and wino, and tho .strongor licpiors, frooly and 
 publicly drank by MinistorB and Eldors." It 
 is (in tho year of our Lord, 1809) impoHHiblo to 
 commont on tho al)ovo. Tliero is a sort of HJiarp 
 click sound mado by tho Scottish pooplo, whon at 
 a loss for words, by putting tho tip of tho tonguo 
 to the roof of tho month, and withdrawing it in 
 rajiid succession, making a kind of sound somewhat 
 like the click in a telegraph ofiice. Now, if all those 
 belonging to the Free Church and all other 
 Churches would sit down and click click for a whole 
 day, occasionally drawing a long breath, Avhen they 
 thought of the liootings and hissings and yellings 
 in the Free Church Assembly Hall, where strong 
 liquors wore freely used by the Ministers and 
 
.■ i iM nj II n^ii .ir » 
 
 saam 
 
 120 
 
 A VOICK FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 iP 
 
 Elclors, that would bo a kind of comment. Wae's 
 mo for tlio Scottish Temperance League. I would 
 fain think that it is some mistake or exaggeration, 
 and that our American brethren must have been 
 misinformed. If true, no wonder that our good Sir 
 John A., and the Honorables B, C, D, and other 
 thirsty souls, should have a saloon in their Assembly 
 Hall. Why not enjoy their freedom as well as the 
 Ministers and Elders of the Free Church of Scot- 
 land? 
 
 A few words from the proceedings of the Sixth 
 National Temperance Convention, 1868, will show 
 what is doing in the United States of America. 
 
 " Friends of Temperance, nobly has the Sixth 
 National Temperance Convention done its work. 
 A new step in advance has been taken. Hence- 
 forth, 'The ballot is for Temperance.' Let this be 
 faithfully carried out by every Temperance voter, 
 and it needs no prophet to foretell the early and 
 complete overthrow of the liquor traffic. "We give 
 notice to politicians of all parties of our earnest 
 determination to give our support to those men 
 only ivhom tve know to be in favor of the suppression 
 of the liquor traffic, and who will aid in the prose- 
 cution of our work. Instead of heeding that inven- 
 tion of the enemy, 'keep it out of politics,' we must 
 and will carry it further and further into politics. 
 It is a matter of principle, radical, lasting, and 
 comprehensive. Believing, as we do, that God 
 never instituted a government on earth to protect 
 vice and immorality, we are resolved to elect no 
 man to office who is not engaged in labouring for 
 the suppression of the mightiest evil that now 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 121 
 
 men 
 fssion 
 n'ose- 
 iven- 
 must 
 litics. 
 aud 
 God 
 potect 
 let no 
 
 |g foi' 
 now 
 
 curses cor nation. "Wo must, therefore, prosecute 
 intemperance down, vote it down, legislate it down, 
 follow it to the courts, follow it to the polls, follow 
 it to the Capitol. 
 
 " Grand as is the position now taken, (by the 
 National Temperance Convention,) think not the 
 task before us is an easy one. It is no puny or 
 timid foe we have to contend with. This new 
 movement provokes sharjDer criticism, and stouter 
 opposition, and will be resisted by a combination 
 of money, talent, and zeal, desperate and formid- 
 able beyond all previous example. Conscious that 
 the battle is the Lord's, let us in His might go 
 forth to the conquest. 
 
 " If ever a cause demanded devotion, and sacri- 
 fice and energy, ours is the cause. The interests 
 of the stake are the most momentous. The youth- 
 ful interests of our country are at stake : female 
 ■virtue is at stake ; domestic happiness is at stake ; 
 national progress is at stake; the Church's piety 
 is at stake ; the salvation of souls is at stake. Up, 
 then ; press forward. Fear not. 
 
 "Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, 
 
 And looks to that alone ; 
 Laughs at impossibilities. 
 
 And cries, it shall be done." 
 
 Surely, then, it becomes every man, woman and 
 child, to array themselves on the side of truth, as 
 against error and falsehood. Above all is it the 
 duty of every one, who nameth the name of Christ, 
 to depart from all iniquity in this matter, as in all 
 else, and to prove their faith by their works, and 
 labours of love, and remember with their brethren 
 of the American Convention, " that the battle is 
 the Lord's," that tnith and righteousness will 
 
 '•ft 
 
 I 
 
122 
 
 A VOICE PROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 prevail, that the contest is not over, the battle 
 thickens ; as has been said, the foe is desperate 
 .and formidable, but let us be of good cheer, " and 
 in nothing terrified by our adversaries." Greater 
 is He that is with us, than all that can be against 
 us. Faith, hope and love, must and shall over- 
 come. The opposing power hath no such weapons 
 of warfare as are given unto us, by Him who hath 
 all power in heaven and on earth. 
 
 Let all, then, be well exercised with these irre- 
 sistible weapons, and"beinggirt about with truth," 
 come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the 
 Lord against t^e mighty, and " be strong, and quit 
 themselves like men, for the victory is certain, 
 and their reward is sure." 
 
 Surely the Dominion of Canada hath something 
 to do in this matter. We are, as it were, coming 
 into existence as a nation. Let us consider our 
 ways and be wise. We have the experience and 
 testimony of the old and new worlds placed before 
 our minds. 
 
 The Scottish testimony is pointed, truthful and 
 conclusive, and must prove convincing and over- 
 whelming, not only to the supporters of the traffic, 
 but to all other nations, kindreds and tongues, when 
 the credibility of the witness is for a moment con- 
 sidered. Who will condemn, or even doubt, the 
 competency and veracity of " mine own nation," 
 touching the matter in question ? Have they not 
 had the most ample and long-continued experience, 
 under all circumstances, to test the qualities and 
 properties of those far-famed liquids ? Have they 
 not obtained a world-wide celebrity, not only for 
 the production of the rarest and finest extracts. 
 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNEH8 OP CANADA. 
 
 123 
 
 jitracts, 
 
 called spirituous and malt liquors, but also for a 
 persevering and practical testing of the same ; some 
 of them f]'om the day of their birth till the day of 
 their death, and sometimes both days inclusive? 
 
 Their evidence, then, their findings, their utter- 
 ances, in reference to the temperance premises, 
 must have a telHng effect on the whole civilized 
 world. Turn over and take note of their deliver- 
 ance. I venture to say, it is the most powerful, 
 irresistible and emphatic temperance lecture that 
 can possibly be conceived. It should be printed 
 in largo letters and hung conspicuously in all 
 public and private places of resort in our world. 
 Hear it O ye people, jurymen and judges : — 
 
 " Tliat as alcoholic liquors are had in themselves, 
 and cannot he altered in their nature hy Act of Parlia- 
 ment or other luise, it is our duty to demand that 
 the Legislature shall enact laws for the entire aboli- 
 tion of the traffic ; and that we have a right to protect 
 ourselves from the evils resulting from their use. 
 To establish by law an extensive national manu- 
 factory for drunkards, and then pretend by local 
 and municipal regulations to enforce pains and 
 penalties upon those committing crimes in conse- 
 quence of usiiKj the liquors, is a mockery of justice 
 and the common sense of the human race." 
 
 That is the true position. That is the conclu- 
 sion of the whole matter in a nut-shell. Who, then, 
 are to blame ? Those who vote for and send such 
 men as frame and establish iniquity by law. They 
 are the aiders and abettors of the crimes committed 
 by poor, silly, deluded, ignorant victims, and ought 
 in many cases to have the pains and penalties in- 
 flicted upon themselves. 
 
 I 
 
124 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNEaS OF CANADA. 
 
 Now read again what the people of Scotland, 
 England, and the United States of America are 
 doing, and their designs in reference to the future, 
 and let every man, woman and child in the Domin- 
 ion of Canada go and do likewise. 
 
 These temperance items were written last 
 winter, but the National Temperance Convention 
 of Sept. 8 hath assumed the true position, and 
 given forth a clear, certain and definite soimd, and 
 their utterances are cheering and full of encourage- 
 ment, as they express their faith and hope to be in 
 God, while they diligently use all lawful endea- 
 vours to attain the desired end. The regene- 
 ration of our world implies the annihilation of 
 drunkenness, which implies the total suppression 
 of the liquor traffic, and all diTinken, and, of 
 course, all drinking practices. Moral suasion in 
 the one hand, and legal protection or prohibition 
 in'tlie other, is the motto of the Convention held in 
 Toronto, and will be supported by the people at no 
 distant day. Fight the enemy wherever found, 
 whether at home or abroad, in the house or in the 
 fields, among friends or foes, in public or in private, 
 by day or night, in the church or out of it ; let the 
 whole earth raise the " hue and cry " against this 
 fell destroyer of man, woman and children's happi- 
 ness, until the ]oit close its mouth on the last 
 drunkard, and the bitter sighs and tears and the 
 heart's unspoken anguish no longer afflict our race, 
 but peace, joy and comfort shall cheer and gladden 
 the heart when the common deceiver of man and 
 woman hath been destroyed, viz., Alco'i. 1, or the 
 Devil materialized. 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 125 
 
 3otlancl, 
 rica are 
 ) future, 
 Domin- 
 
 :en last 
 avention 
 ion, and 
 und, and 
 courage- 
 ! to be in 
 il endea- 
 regene- 
 lation of 
 ppression 
 , and, of 
 uasion in 
 •oliibition 
 )n held in 
 )ple at no 
 er found, 
 or in the 
 n private, 
 fc; let the 
 ainst this 
 I's happi- 
 the last 
 and the 
 our race, 
 d gladden 
 man and 
 1. or the 
 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 CONCERNING SOME OF THE ERRORS PREVALENT IN THE 
 ROMAN, ANGLICAN, AND TRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES. 
 
 I must now recall your attention to what I 
 stated in a previoiis page, that he who believes, 
 who knows the truth, and whom the truth hath 
 made free, who is the Lord's freed-man, free from 
 the law of sin and death, will not only deeply de- 
 plore the inconsistencies and sinful practices of 
 themselves and others, but also those principles, 
 tenets, or doctrines, held by his own or other 
 Churches, which he thinks or believes to be un- 
 scriptural, and, therefore, "a stumbling-block in the 
 way of righteousness," and in some degree " causing 
 the word of God to be of none effect." 
 
 This is a field of such dimensions, that, were I 
 adequate to write volumes on such a subject, the 
 object I have in view forbids my entering upon 
 it, excej)t in the most summary manner. I 
 will, therefore, briefly take notice of a few of 
 the most conspicuous of what I deem erroneous 
 tenets in two or three of the principal Churches. 
 This, you may think, is rather presumptuous for me 
 to propose. But there is no respect of persons 
 with God. It is the solemn duty of every one of U3 
 (official or not), as far as in us lies, " to hold the 
 mystery of the faith in a pure conscience, proving 
 all things, holding fast that which is good," 
 
126 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 As concerning the errors and delusions, and 
 vain traditions of men, as well as the unscriptural 
 dogmas, formularies and teachings prevalent in the 
 religious world, let the present condition of Chris- 
 tendom now testify. 
 
 The Decrees of Councils, Confessions of Faith, 
 Test Articles, Liturgies, and all other human 
 Standards are to be accepted and believed, in so 
 far as they arc agreeable with the infallible word 
 of God. 
 
 It is not what saith the Jewish Church, the 
 Romish Church, Greek or English or other Church, 
 not what saith John Calvin, John Knox, or John 
 Wesley, (however venerable their names), but what 
 saith Scripture, touching this matter in question ? 
 What is truth can only be answered by the words 
 of truth, as contained in God's holy word. And 
 when we consider the teaching of some of these 
 Churches, and the theories of man, and how much 
 they have corrupted and departed from " the truth 
 as it is in Jesus," and the simplicity of the Gospel 
 of God, is it any wonder there are infidels ? 
 
 Let us look for a moment at the Church of 
 Rome. 
 
 Popery has been w^ell called " A conspiracy 
 against civil and religious liberty." It is difficult 
 to reconcile our ideas relative to the fact of the 
 human mind becoming so degenerated, and so 
 "foolishly darkened," as to worship dumb idols 
 instead of the living and true God, as the heathen 
 world have done. Yet so it is, and so it is with 
 Romanism as a corruption of Christianity. 
 
 Were it not tl](vt the history of our race testifies 
 
 i \ 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OE CANADA. 
 
 and 
 tural 
 1 the 
 liris- 
 
 'aitli, 
 Liman 
 in so 
 word 
 
 h, the 
 lurch, 
 John 
 b what 
 istion ? 
 words 
 And 
 these 
 much 
 truth 
 Gospel 
 
 rch of 
 
 piracy 
 fficult 
 of the 
 and so 
 idols 
 leathen 
 is with 
 
 testifies 
 
 127 
 
 to the sinful and corrupt tendency of the human 
 heart ; that it is deceitful above all things and 
 desperately wicked ; that credulous man will follow 
 the multitude to do evil; that the Mahomedan and 
 Swedenborg delusions are matters of fact; that the 
 fool hath said in his heart there is no God, under 
 such names as Atheism Paganism, Deism, Materi- 
 alism, Scepticism, lately developed into Secularism, 
 having its hcad-c outre in London, under the aus- 
 pices of one George Holyoake, who has at last 
 found out "the positive truth," viz., " That the duties 
 pertaining to man as an animal and mortal are to 
 be preferred to all those pertaining to his spiritual 
 and immortal nature, as enjoined in the book of 
 God. Why ? Because there is no such book, and 
 man hath no pre-eminence above a beast. Do not 
 all go to one place ? Therefore, ' let us eat and 
 drink, for to-morrow we die.' To seek first the 
 kingdom of God, and his rightousness, (say they,) 
 is a myth. Christendom, so far as it believes in 
 the glorious truths of the Bible, is labouring under 
 a vain delusion, and the new light and love of Secu- 
 larism will supersede the Bible, and the laws and 
 governments of the civilized world, as predicated 
 upon Christianity, will soon be numbered among 
 the things that were, and the principles and truths 
 of Atheism, alias Secularism, as per G. Holyoake, 
 and an unbroken sucession will reign in their stead.'* 
 I say, were these not matters of fact, and that man- 
 kind " will not cease to pervert the right ways of 
 the Lord," and that Mormonism reigns in the valley 
 of Utah, and above all, were it not for the teach- 
 ings of God's word, we would certainly be at a loss 
 
 1 
 
 ' 1 
 
 H 
 
 I 
 
128 
 
 A VOICE PROM THK WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 fi 
 
 to reconcile the long-continued existence of this 
 "mystery of iniquity," called Popery, with the re- 
 velation of God's will to man. 
 
 " Of all the corruptions of Christianity, (says 
 one,) which have prevailed to any considerable 
 extent. Popery presents the most numerous points 
 of contrast to the simple doctrines of the Gospel." 
 Think of her confessional ; her purgatory ; her 
 licenses to sin, called sale of indulgences ; her wor- 
 ship of images and forbidding to marry ; her nun- 
 neries and convents ; the horrid blasphemy, that 
 the real bod}' and blood of Christ is present in the 
 sacrament, under the appearance of bread and 
 wine ; the pretended, impossible miracle being 
 wi'onght by the words of consecration uttered by a 
 sinful worm of the dust. Compare this with the 
 word of God. 
 
 The maxims of Popery are, " We are not bound 
 to keep faith with heretics," " and mankind are 
 now so corrupt, that, being unable to bring them 
 to our principles, we must bring our principles to 
 them." Also, " Ignorance is the mother of devo- 
 tion." She maintains the right to persecute, even 
 unto death, every deviation from her creed, and 
 her Councils have decided, "that heresy and 
 schism are mortal sins." 
 
 These are her principles and maxims, now, by 
 the solemn decision of her councils, and she can- 
 not change or reform, because she claims and 
 maintains that she only is the true and un-, 
 changeable, pure and infallible Church of Christ, 
 and without her pale is no salvation. 
 
 But a few sentences from God*s word will teach 
 
 
A VOICE FROM TUE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 129 
 
 this 
 ro- 
 
 says 
 ■able 
 3ints 
 pel." 
 
 her 
 
 wor- 
 
 iiun- 
 , that 
 in the 
 I and 
 being 
 :lby a 
 th the 
 
 lound 
 id are 
 
 them 
 )les to 
 
 devo- 
 
 , even 
 d, and 
 
 y and 
 
 ow, by 
 e can- 
 is and 
 id un-, 
 
 I Christ, 
 
 you more clearly as concerning the Romish Church 
 than any words of mine could do. 
 
 Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, said to the 
 Thessalonians, " Let no man deceive you, for the 
 day of Christ shall not come, except there come a 
 falling away first, and that man of sin shall be 
 revealed, the son of perdition, who opposeth and 
 exalteth himself above all that is called God, or 
 that is worshipped, so that ho, as God, sitteth in 
 the temple of God, shewing himself that ho is God. 
 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work, 
 whose coming is after the working of Satan, with 
 all power and signs and lying wonders, and that 
 wicked shall bo revealed, whom the Lord shall con- 
 sume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy 
 with the brightness of his coming." 
 
 To Timothy he says, " The Spirit speaketh ex- 
 pressly, that in the latter times some shall depart 
 from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and 
 doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy; hav- 
 ing their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbid- 
 ding to marry, and commanding to abstain from 
 meats, which God hath created to be received with 
 thanksgiving of them which believe and know the 
 truth." 
 
 She is called " the mother of the abominations 
 of the earth." 
 
 " John saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-coloured 
 beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven 
 heads and ten horns, arrayed in purple and scarlet 
 colours, and decked with gold and precious stones 
 and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of 
 abominations." 
 
 11 teach 
 
130 
 
 A VOICE FROM TIIK WILDKRNE88 OF CANADA. 
 
 Sho stiil bokls tlio cup, but, alas ! that groat 
 city Babylon, (the Popo [iiid priesthood of Rome), 
 must begin to sco that her dainty and goodly things 
 are departing from her, that the ten horns are no 
 longer of one mind to give their power and strength 
 unto the beast, and no longer agree to give their 
 kingdom and support to this " mystery of iniquity." 
 Even Franco, Austria and Spain, as well as Italy, 
 "hate the whore, and make her desolate and 
 naked," and their priestly ordei'S, down to the 
 lowest rabblemont of Monks and Friars, must begin 
 to see that their sins have reached unto heaven and 
 they can no longer traffic and "make merchandise of 
 gold and silver, and precious stones, and pearls, 
 and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and 
 beasts, and slaves, and souls of men." They see, 
 also, that Popery has nearly run its race, and are 
 gnawing their tongues for pain. 
 
 "John also saw the woman drunken with the 
 blood of the saints and with the blood of the mar- 
 tjYs of Jesus, and when I saw her, I wondered with 
 great admiration." 
 
 We may, surely, readily suppose that it would 
 have been strange if the prophet had not wondered 
 at such a marvellous vision. Let us look for a mo- 
 ment at the strange sight, the wonderful imagery. 
 A woman (who could say, "I sit a queen, and am 
 no widow, and shall see no sorrow"), dressed in 
 gorgeous apparel, "arrayed in purple and scarlet 
 colours." No wonder her garments were of a fiery 
 red colour. Being so often dyed in blood, they 
 would look of a blood red or scarlet colour on one 
 side, and like the appearance of flame on the other. 
 
 i<!n 
 
A VOICE l'*ROM THE WILUKRNE.SS Op CAKADA. 
 
 131 
 
 groat 
 omo), 
 hiugs 
 ce no 
 cngtli 
 their 
 
 [uity." 
 Italy, 
 3 and 
 DO tlie 
 :. begin 
 en and 
 idiso of 
 pearls, 
 at, and 
 Ley see, 
 md are 
 
 ith the 
 le mar- 
 ked with 
 
 would 
 
 mdered 
 
 )r a nio- 
 
 jmagery. 
 
 land am 
 
 5ssed in 
 
 scarlet 
 )f a fiery 
 |od, they 
 
 on one 
 
 Le other. 
 
 Some of the folds of her raiment might have been 
 bespangled with the likeness of an auto da fc of 
 three or four hundred in full blazo, or parts of the 
 scenery of the Alpine Mountains, where hundreds 
 of thousands of the Waldenscs wore slain on ac- 
 count of their "mortal sins," viz., heresy. But 
 the prophet's attention was fixed upon the state 
 and condition of the woman, rather than her dress. 
 "I saw her drunken with the blood of the saints, 
 and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus." No 
 wonder that he marvelled, if it was revealed to him 
 that the blood of more than fifty millions of saints 
 and martyrs only made her drunken, not surfeited, 
 for who can doubt, that if the kings of the earth 
 were now to give their power and strength unto 
 the beast, the same principles would produce like 
 results. The present Pope, a short time ago, in 
 his letter of invitation to the various heretical de- 
 nominations to return from the error of their wavs, 
 and they would be received into the bosom of the 
 only true and infallible Church, set forth exclusive 
 claims to supremacy; that is, that the Romish 
 Church is tlie Cluirch. She is a beast of one mind. 
 But if all schismatics would confess they had 
 sinned against heaven, and in His sight, they might 
 be again received into favour, and His Holiness 
 (even the Lord God, the Pope), would deal gently 
 with them, and absolve them from their mortal 
 sins, and enforce more salutary discipline, viz., 
 Inquisiton, fire and faggot, at a more convenient 
 season. 
 
 But " whom the gods destroy, they first make 
 mad," is a Roman adage. His son Napoleon's 
 
132 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 n 
 
 zealous affection seems less ardent, and Austria is 
 in rebellion against his holy will, and even Spain 
 is so presumptuous and self-willed as to throw 
 off its galling yoke, and speak of religious liberty, 
 while his most dutiful daughter takes refuge in the 
 Castle of Pau ; all these things are against him, 
 bringing him to his wit's end. 
 
 A Pope's bull is no longer feared as in the olden 
 time. The last two horns being now broken off 
 (Austria and Spain), the beast has become hornless 
 and harmless, so far as his temporal power is 
 concerned. 
 
 But he of France has a lingering desire to sup- 
 port the Holy Father ; and he might at last take 
 refuge in Pau Castle with his immaculate daughter, 
 adorned with the blessed rose, and thus Pau become 
 an ultimatum for the last of two infamous races of 
 tyrants, the Pope and his Bourbon daughter. 
 
 But thoughts, at once solemn and impressive, 
 arise in the mind at the present day, when consid- 
 ering the scriptural declarations in reference to 
 the destruction of this "man of sin." 
 
 Although it is not for us "to know the times 
 and the seasons," yet the time must come "when 
 the beast will be taken, and with him the false pro- 
 phet, that wrought miracles before him, &c.; these 
 both were cast alive into a lake of fire, burning 
 with brimstone." 
 
 The march of events in Europe seems to point 
 towards the fall of the Mohamedan delusion, as 
 well as the destruction of Popery. It seems as if 
 the "sick man" would, ere long, terminate his 
 career by a kind of suicidal process ; but many think 
 
>A. 
 
 .ustria is 
 en Spain 
 ;o throw 
 3 liberty, 
 Lge in the 
 inst him, 
 
 the olden 
 
 roken off 
 
 3 hornless 
 
 power is 
 
 re to sup- 
 last take 
 daughter, 
 an become 
 .s races of 
 hter. 
 
 mpressive, 
 en consid- 
 Eerence to 
 
 the times 
 
 me " when 
 
 false pro- 
 
 &c.; these 
 
 e, burning 
 
 IS to point 
 elusion, as 
 jeems as if 
 ninate his 
 nany think 
 
 A VOICE FUOM TJiE WiLDEllNKSS Ob' CANADA. 
 
 loo 
 
 that the judgments of God will bo abroatl in the 
 earth when the "man of sin" shall bo utterly des- 
 troyed. The following seem to authorize such a 
 conclusion : "And I saw the boast, and the kings 
 of the earth, and their armies, gathered together, 
 to make war against Him that sat on the horse, 
 and against his army. And the beast was taken, 
 and with him the false prophet, ttc. And in her 
 was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and 
 of all that were slain upon the earth. And I heard 
 another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of 
 her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, 
 and that ye receive not of her plagues : for her sins 
 have reached unto heaven, and God hath remem- 
 bered her iniquities. Reward her even as she 
 rewarded you, and double unto her double, accord- 
 ing to her works. Therefore shall her plagues 
 come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine, 
 and she shall be utterly burned with fire ; for strong 
 is the Lord God Avho judge tli her. Rejoice over 
 her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and pro- 
 phets, for God hath avenged 'you on her. And 
 great Babylon came in remembrance before God, 
 to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness 
 of His wrath. I beheld till the thrones were cast 
 down, and the Ancient of days did sit ; I beheld, 
 even till the boa-.t was slain, and his body destroyed, 
 and given to the burning flame. And he shall speak 
 great words against the Most High, and think to 
 change times and laws (convert Christianity into 
 Popery), and shall wear out the saints of the Most 
 High ; and they shall be given into his hand, until 
 a time and times, and the dividing of time. But 
 7 
 
134 
 
 A VOICE FROM TUB WILDERNESB OF CANADA. 
 
 «! ii 
 
 l*-^^» . ■ 
 
 tliG jiuhjment shall sit, and they shall take aioay his 
 dominion, to consume and to destroy it urdo the end. 
 And the kingdom {^nd dominion, and the gre/itness 
 of the kingdom under tliro whole heaven shall be 
 given to the people of th( mts of the Most High, 
 whose kingdom is an evf sting kingdom, and all 
 dominions shall servo and obey Him." 
 
 Bead the 17th, 18th and 19th chapters of Revela- 
 tion, and 3'ou must be convinced of their application 
 to this corruption of Christianity. "We live in an 
 age of the world when it may surely be said the 
 signs of the times are portentous. We know that 
 when the seventh angel begins to sound, the 
 mystery of God shall bo finished, as He hath de- 
 clared to His servants the prophets. " And the 
 seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices 
 in heaven, saying, the kingdoms, of this world are 
 become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His 
 Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever." 
 
 In the days of the voice of the seventh An.cjel, 
 then, the mystery of God shall be finished, and 
 there v/ill be harbingers of His second coming, and 
 of the millenial era, and of the coming regenera- 
 tion of our world from shi and suffering, and the 
 whole creation will no longer travail together in 
 pain, " vdi3n the stone cut out of the mountain 
 shall fill the Avhole earth, when all nations shall 
 call Him ' blessed,' when Uie v/hole earth shall be 
 lightened with His glory, when He sh.'dl proclaim 
 unto His Church in all lands, 'Arise, shiae, for thy 
 light is come, and the glory of the Lord hath risen 
 upon thee.'" 
 
 And if it was said unto John in Patmos that 
 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 135 
 
 tliG tilings revealed must sliortly come to pass, and 
 that tlio time was at hand, we may now surely be 
 looking for and must be hasting unto the day of 
 God, knowing that He that will come, shall come, 
 and shall not tarr}^ " Surely, I come quickly, and 
 my reward is with me. Amen. Even so, come. 
 Lord Jesus." 
 
 But the Romish Church is not the onl}^ one 
 which hath departed from the simplicity of the 
 gospel of Christ, and turned the grace of God into 
 lasciviousness, and, as it were, buried the truth as 
 it is in Jesus under a mass of traditionary observ- 
 ances, ritualistic forms and ceremonies, and instead 
 of contending earnestly for the faith once delivered 
 to the saints, are led away with human theories and 
 creeds, worldly titles and pomp, and endless gen- 
 ealogies ; having the form of godliness, but den}'- 
 ing the power thereof : such a Church is the Estab- 
 lished Church of England and Ireland at the pre- 
 sent day. But the affair^^ of said Church are now 
 matters of public notoriet^^, and it seems about to 
 be weighed in the balance, and knowledge is in- 
 creasing among the working classes of England 
 in reference to the errors and impositions, the 
 tithes and other grievous burdens, oppressive to 
 the laboring classes, and which too many of the 
 dignitaries of the nation, "touch not with one of their 
 fingers." The Spiritual Lords, and honorable and 
 venerable archiepiscopal dignitaries and stipen- 
 diaries, who, having usurped power and patronage, 
 have so long "lorded it over God's heritage," (and 
 who call sinful men like themselves brethren in 
 the Church, but out of it they are something very 
 
f.\ ■' ' 
 
 136 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 II y- 
 
 
 Mln 
 
 different,) must now sec " that the fan is in His 
 hand," and many of them must be conscious that 
 " the word of God has been too long handled de- 
 ceitfully, and that he will thoroughly purge his 
 floor, for what is the chaff to the wheat, saith the 
 Lord." . 
 
 Having written at greater length on the fore- 
 going subjects than I at first intended, I am 
 desirous to conclude what I had in view, viz., 
 that the principal truths of the Bible, and all other 
 moral and j eligious truth, have a reference to, and 
 centre in, one wonderful and glorious truth, our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, by whom, and for Avliom, all things con- 
 sist. Butnolieisof the truth, and there mustbe a puri- 
 fication of Churches, and whether it is not rapidly 
 approaching from the signs of the times, judge ye. 
 
 I will^ therefore, pass over this Established 
 Church, by making a few remarks on the declar- 
 ation presented some time ago to the Archbishop 
 of Cantcrburj^ at Lambeth Palace, by Earl Nelson, 
 and signed by upwards of 20,000 clerical and lay 
 communicants, in reference to Dr. Colenso ; and 
 which shows the d^:plorable and degraded condition 
 of that branch of Christ's Church. 
 
 It begins with, "To his Grace, Lord Archbishop 
 of Canterbury, Primate of all England, and Metro- 
 politan : may it please your Grace," &c. In the 
 days of Paul, Bishops were called by their names ; 
 Timothy, Titus, &c., but that man, of like passions 
 with ourselves, would seem from his titles not to 
 have been a Minister of the Gospel, or Angel, or 
 Preacher, or an Apostle, but some super-angelic 
 being, having the oversight of all England, even a 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA^ 
 
 13^ 
 
 ){ 
 
 in His 
 IS tliat 
 3(1 de- 
 go liis 
 ith tlio 
 
 e forc- 
 I am 
 r, viz., 
 1 otlier 
 bo, and 
 ir Lord 
 gs con- 
 sapuri- 
 i-apidly 
 dge ye. 
 blislied 
 declar- 
 bisliop 
 elson, 
 ud lay 
 and 
 iidition 
 
 DisllO]! 
 
 Metro- 
 In the 
 lames ; 
 assions 
 
 not to 
 
 gel, or 
 angelic 
 
 even a 
 
 spiritual Lord. Verily tliis Church has the advan- 
 tage of having Lords many, who arrogate to them- 
 selves strange titles. It is then said "that Dr. 
 Coleuso has denied that large portions of the 
 Holy Scriptures are the word of God, has charged 
 our blessed Lord Jesus Christ with error, and 
 has denied that he is the proper object of 
 worship;" and, therefore, they solemnly renounce 
 christian communion with Colenso, &c. Earl 
 Nelson then told his Grace, that, having heard 
 that Dr. Colenso had been deposed by a Church 
 Court, and, therefore, spiritually excommunicated, 
 for that reason they had thought it necessary 
 to take this step. They felt thankful for the 
 way in which the conference of Bishops, at Lon- 
 don, reaffirmed all those truths which Colenso had 
 attacked ; they also felt, that until some Synod- 
 ical action of the Church it became patent to 
 the world that one who had held such doctrines 
 had been condemned by a true Court of the 
 Church ; the Church itself must be in very 
 great danger, and that they themselves, for their 
 own safety, ought to make this public protest of 
 their renunciation of such rrrors, and also of 
 communion with the man who had given utterance 
 to them. 
 
 The answer is more remarkable than the declara- 
 tion. There were above 20,000 clerical and lay inem- 
 bersof the Church, jMembers of Parliament, c^'c, who 
 had set forth, that one Colenso had denied, &c., as 
 above ; and that he had been legally deposed, and 
 spiritually excommunicated; but yet the Church 
 was in great danger, &c. His Grace said; "Lords 
 
 I 
 
T 
 
 II 
 
 
 I ! 
 
 138 
 
 A VOICK FROM THE W1IJ)E11N];SS OF CANADA. 
 
 and Gentlemen, "(ouc of old in speaking to liisfellow- 
 men, said; 'Men, Brethren, and Fathers')" not till 
 Lord Nelson put this lir'uiied imper into my hands 
 had I any idea what was the object of the deputa- 
 tion. I am, therefore, hardly prepared to give any 
 ic mal or written answer to it. But as it is not a 
 prayer to me to perform any aot, it docs not seem 
 to require any answer." 
 
 Now His Grace had known for years respecting 
 '"^ ~1 .•<^: "being of corrupt mind, endeavouring to 
 sul; > '^ '• "-"'le truth with perverse disputings, and 
 that he x^'or a false teacher striving to bring in 
 cvn /liable i' ' ■'ies, even denying the Lord who 
 boughl hii i/ '^-H r.ot forth by Earl Nelson, &c.,) 
 and caused others to follow his pernicious ways, " by 
 reason of whom, the way of truth had been evil 
 spoken of." His Grace also observed, that his 
 sentiments, with respect to Oolenso, were suffi- 
 ciently well known : — "I think he is in giievous 
 error, and I think, (didn't know,) he has been spiri- 
 tually deposed from his functions." He said : "they 
 might regret that the Church had not pronounced 
 as distinctly as it might have done, but Colenso's 
 matter will be brought before Convocation." 
 
 You will easily perceive, by careful reading of 
 the above, that although Colcnso had been in the 
 above position for several years, ( and as before said, 
 answered by above one hundred and forty,) yet the 
 discipline, rules, and government of this large and 
 influential Church were such, that, after he 
 (Colenso) had been deposed by legal Church 
 Courts, and by the ecclesiastical law of the Church 
 spiritually excommunicated, and his Grace thought 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 139 
 
 he was spiritually cloposc J from liis fimctions, yet 
 " it was subject of regret that the Church had not 
 pronounced more distinctly." But yet there was 
 hope; "for," said his Grace, "the report of the com- 
 mittee of the Upper House of Convocation will be 
 before the public in two or three da3's ; tlien it is pos- 
 sihle that the report will give more satisfaction to 
 the Church than anything that has yet been done ;" 
 adding, "I am not aware that I have any more 
 to say on the subject. Undoubtedly my sj^mpathies 
 go entirely with those who have done their best 
 to check the mischief occasioned by Colenso's 
 doctrines." 
 
 The above needs little comment. Here was a 
 numerous and highly respectable body of Chris- 
 tians, feeling that the most momentous and 
 solemn interests of their Church were imperilled, 
 and anxious that their Cliurch, as forming a part 
 of the mystical bod}' of Christ, should purify itself 
 from this iniquity, applying to the Primate of all 
 England by a declaration of their views, and 
 expecting such information as might be satis- 
 factory in view of the alarming crisis, in res})ect 
 to the Church, in which Colenso's i)ublications and 
 position had now placed them. Nothing satisfac- 
 tory was elicited. This Church is so allied to the 
 ^State and the common law, and we know that the 
 common law cannot take cognizance of man's sal- 
 vation by grace, and although Coleuso was deposed 
 by such law, he still continued in his position. 
 Then His Grace also said he Avas spiritually 
 deposed ; but their Church Courts are so ruled by 
 the common law, that " he thought" Colenso was 
 
 r 
 
i fir 
 
 ■ 
 
 i ! 
 
 I ; 
 
 1-40 
 
 A VOICE FIIOM THE WILDEUN'ESS Ol'' CANADA. 
 
 spiiituallj cleposod, but added, " it was possible 
 the fortlicomiiig report of the Upper House would 
 give more satisfaction than anything the Church 
 had yet done." 
 
 " My kingdom is not of this world," (saitli our 
 Lord Jesus Christ) ; " but it is of this world," say 
 the legal and ecclesiastical courts of the Church of 
 England and Ireland, as by law established. In 
 short, the glory, and beauty, and simplicity of the 
 principles and practices of this Church, as accord- 
 ing to the Scriptures, are being so lost sight of and 
 buried under the rubbish of formalism, ritualism, 
 and Popism, that the necessity has arisen not 
 only of disendowing, but disestablishing the Irish 
 branch of it, which, no doubt, will pave the way 
 for more thorough reformation. For what mem- 
 ber is there of the English Church who would not 
 wish to see it purified, as well as other Churches, 
 from its abounding iniquities ? Their Church may 
 truly say: "lam rich and increased with goods, 
 and have need of nothing;" "but a time shall 
 come upon all the earth, to try them that dwell on 
 the earth," and such Churches will be found of this 
 world, "poor, and blind, and naked ;" and in so far 
 as they are Homewards, and have the mark of the 
 beast upon their foreheads, will be partaker of her 
 plagues. 
 
 "lam rich." His Grace, the Archbishop - of 
 Canterbury has died. His income is reported to 
 have been $75,000 annually. A Bill to reduce all 
 such incomes to one-fourth, would soon realize 
 vast sums for the support of the poor and needy, 
 or in the hands of the Church be appropriated for 
 
 I II' 
 
A VOICK FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. ±4:1 
 
 ossible 
 
 woiiUl 
 
 ^liurcli 
 
 itli our 
 id," say 
 urcli of 
 ed. In 
 ■f of the 
 accord- 
 ; of and 
 tualism, 
 sen not 
 he Irish 
 tlie way 
 it mem- 
 )iild not 
 [lurches J 
 ch may 
 goods, 
 He shall 
 well on 
 ,d of this 
 in so far 
 i of the 
 !!• of her 
 
 shop ■ of 
 )orted to 
 3duce all 
 1 realize 
 d needy, 
 ated for 
 
 the payment of earnest, faithful preachers of the 
 Gospel, instead of the miserable pittance which 
 thousands of the lower clerical orders receive for 
 the lifeless performance of their legal services. 
 But Britain is a land of Bibles. The Word of God 
 has been taught, and the Gospel of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ been preached for a long season, and is now 
 being preached in thousands of churches, and the 
 seed sown has been abundantly blessed, and is 
 now producing fruit " to the glory of the riches of 
 His free grace." 
 
 The Christian Institutions and the -Christian 
 efforts of Britain have been productive of the 
 most blessed results, and their cheering and 
 glorious effects are now being felt and realized 
 among all nations. And as the knowledge and 
 belief of divine truth, and light, and life, and love, 
 joy and gladness, continue to increase, there will 
 be a growing interest manifested among all classes, 
 at home and abroad, in reference to their eternal, 
 spiritual and immortal interests, and that the re- 
 demption of the soul is precious, and there will be 
 sincere and strenuous exertions made for the pro- 
 motion of their best interests, relative to their 
 civil, political and social rights and privileges, as 
 brethren in Christ Jesus, and of the same human 
 family. 
 
 But, as already observed, we are to accept and 
 beheve the teachings of men, human creeds, con- 
 fessions, decrees of councils, &c., only in so far as 
 they agree with the Word of God, which is the 
 only rule of our faith and obedience. 
 
 And it is not to be expected that other Churches 
 
 7-?f 
 
142 
 
 A VOICE FllOM THE WlLDEllNE.SS OF CANADA. 
 
 will be fouud perfect, any more than the Roman, 
 Greek, or Anglican Churclics ; but one thing wo 
 know, that if each individual member of every 
 Church, who nametli the name of Christ, shall 
 depart from all iniquity, there would bo a glorious 
 reformation in all Churches ; every member become 
 " an habitation of God, through the Spirit," and 
 a building of such lively stones, fitly framed 
 together, would grow unto an holy temple in the 
 Lord, and thus every house of God, " which is the 
 Church of the living G.od, would become a pillar 
 and gi'ound of truth." 
 
 I would now say a few words, in the light of tiic 
 Scriptures of truth, in reference to our own Church, 
 the Presbyterian Church. Considering the time 
 when, (more than two centuries ago,) and the cir- 
 cumstances under which the Westminster Assem- 
 bly of Divines wrote their Confession of Faith and 
 Catechisms, the productions are truly wonderful, 
 and are to be greatly esteemed and held in venera- 
 tion as forms of sound words, but some of the 
 doctrines contained therein cannot be reconciled 
 Avith the Scriptures. The best of men are but men 
 at the best ; and if Peter was to be blamed in Paul's 
 time, and we cannot allow the findings and decrees 
 of the Councils and Assemblies of other Churches 
 to be infallible, and in everything agreeable to 
 the word of God, it would surely be presump- 
 tuous to conclude that the deliverances of our 
 Church have been all pure, perfect, scriptural and 
 unalterable. 
 
 Many of the findings are worthy of all accep- 
 tation, but the exceptions I mean are in reference 
 
A VOICE FIlOM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 143 
 
 omau, 
 ng wo 
 every 
 , shall 
 loriouB 
 )ccoino 
 :," and 
 framed 
 ) in the 
 11 is the 
 a pillar 
 
 it of the 
 Church, 
 he time 
 the cir- 
 Assem- 
 aith and 
 )nderful, 
 venera- 
 of the 
 conciled 
 3ub men 
 in Paul's 
 decrees 
 hurches 
 cable to 
 presump- 
 s of our 
 tural and 
 
 dl accep- 
 rcferenco 
 
 1 
 
 to the decrees of God, so called, and what is called 
 " eternal unconditional election and reprobation," 
 as connected with the limited view of that atone- 
 ment " which taketli away the sin of the world." 
 "When we consider the "fiery trial'' and relent- 
 less persecution endured by these men of the 
 olden times, " that they were slain with tlie sword, 
 not accepting deliverance;" were tortured and had 
 trial of cruel mockiugs, and of bonds and imprison- 
 ment, and death ; that the}' wandered in deserts 
 and on mountains, and in dens and caves of the 
 earth, being destitute, afflicted, tormented ; and of 
 whom the world was not wortliy ; out of weakness 
 were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, " turning 
 to flight the armies of the aliens ; " when we 
 open their book, (Confession of Faith,) and read : 
 " We Noblemen, Barons, Knights, Gentlemen, 
 Citizens, Burgesses, jMinisters of the Gospel, and 
 Commons of all sorts, in the kingdoms of Scotland, 
 England and Ireland, living under one king, and 
 being of one Reformed Religion, having before our 
 eyes the glory of God and the advancement of the 
 kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 
 have resolved and determined to enter into a 
 solemn League and Covenant, wherein we all sub- 
 scribe, each one of us for himself, and with our 
 hands lifted up to the most high God, do swear 
 that we shall sincerely and constantly, with our 
 estates and lives, through the grace of God, en- 
 deavour the preservation of the Reformed Religion 
 in the Churches of Scotland, England and Ireland, 
 in doctrine, worship, discipline and government, 
 according to the word of God," &c.; — when we read 
 
 » 1 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 If. 
 
 I' 
 
 (i 
 
144 
 
 A VOlCi: FttOM TUE WILDERNKSH OF CANADA. 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 as above wo must bo ready to exclaim, "Suroly tlioy 
 must have boon in torriblo earnest ! " Ah, yes; in 
 terrible earnest indeed ! These might bo said to 
 bo " the days of vengeance." They lived " in 
 troublous times." How little do thousands now 
 think of the tribulations endured by our ancest* 
 in their contest for civil and religious freedom. 
 They were as the Jews building the walls under 
 Nehemiah ; " Every man had his sword girded by 
 his side, and so built, and ho that sounded the 
 trumpet was by them." In their meetings their 
 armour was often held in readiness, and one or 
 more watches appointed. 
 
 But wo, too, need to be in terrible earnest. 
 True, men are not now taken, without trial, to their 
 homes and there shot in presence of their families, 
 and the lone widow left to gather up the fragm h 
 of her husband's skull, and such like atrocxt. . 
 But it was not the relentless persecutors they feared, 
 (they could only kill the body) so much as Him 
 who could cast both soul and body into hell. 
 They feared Him, feared to offend His holy laws. 
 Their earnestness arose from the consideration of 
 their duty, in reference to their believing the 
 record that God hath given us concerning his Son, 
 our Saviour, and that they "should obey God 
 rather than man." But the redemption of every 
 one of our souls is equally precious with theirs. 
 Therefore ought we also, with uplifted hands to 
 the most high God, the possessor of heaven and 
 earth, in such like earnestness, be stirred up to 
 present our vows and prayers before his throne of 
 grace, even that we too, each one of us for him- 
 
 i I 
 
 ill' i' 
 
A VOICE FROM TlIK WILDERXEHH OF CANADA. 
 
 U5 
 
 ily tliey 
 yes; in 
 said to 
 cd "in 
 ids now 
 
 icest* 
 
 • 
 
 reedom. 
 3 under 
 i-ded by 
 dcd tlio 
 gs their 
 . one or 
 
 earnest. 
 
 , to their 
 
 families, 
 
 ragm ^ 
 
 trocxi- . 
 
 V feared, 
 as Him 
 
 nto hell. 
 
 oly laws. 
 
 ration of 
 iiig the 
 his Son, 
 
 bey God 
 of every 
 theirs, 
 lands to 
 
 iven and 
 d up to 
 hrone of 
 for him- 
 
 self, will endeavour the salvation of our souls, 
 through the grace of God, and tliat wo will do the 
 work of God, which is to believe on Him who;n ho 
 hath sent. That includes all other cftbrts and 
 duties. 
 
 When we consider these things, it would seem 
 as a kind of sacrilege for any one even to question 
 the findings of those martyrs of freedom, " who wit- 
 nessed a good confession, counted not their lives 
 dear unto them, but hazarded their lives for the 
 name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and were ready to 
 die for His name." 
 
 But I might say, in mo this feeling is deepened. 
 Four years ago, on visiting my native hills and 
 glens, after an absence of thirty-thr (3 years, what a 
 crowd of reminiscences and imagery associated 
 with former days seemed to pass in review, as I 
 stood on one of the mountain-tops, and could see 
 far in the distant hills westwa. 1, beyond the spot at 
 Priesthill, where John Brown was shot near his 
 own dwelling, and onwards was "Aird's iVIoss," 
 where fought one of the most gallant bands „lio 
 ever suffered martyrdom for the testimony of 
 Jesus. But they fell not in vain. Popery and 
 Prelacy were taught another lesson, viz: "that 
 such men were unconquerable," and as Cameron 
 said," the SanquharDeclaration," (placedonthe old 
 cross June 22nd, 1G80, one month before his 
 death,) " would shake the throne of Britain." And 
 it is well known how the prediction was verified ; 
 " for while Lord Russell, Sydney, and other patriots 
 in England, were plotting against Charles, from a 
 conviction that his right was forfeited, the Coven- 
 
 » 
 
 I 
 
 i,''i 
 m 
 

 14G 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE -WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 « 'I 
 
 ■ ,1 
 
 anters in Scotland had the courage to declare war 
 against him, and as the Sanquhar historian, Dr. 
 Simpson, says, " the earliest tramplings of the feet 
 of the great host which ultimately effected the rev- 
 olution, v/ere heard in the streets of Sanquhar," in 
 my native vale. 
 
 Did not my heart burn within me, as I looked 
 east and west, and north and south, from t]\e 
 great mountain-top, and could see a large portion 
 of that extensive district; ^vhicli was the main thea- 
 tre of the Scottish persecution, and think of its 
 being traversed by the feet of holy men, branded 
 as rebels, and followed by dragoons, who merci- 
 lessly shed their blood on the desert wastes : — 
 
 "Whore v.ivc':) luul little ehildreii were faitliful to the tleatli, 
 And graves of ]\[art\r AVarriors are in the desert lieatli." 
 
 It seemed as if every mountain and hill, and 
 glen, and streamlet, could tell a tale of its ov/n, a 
 
 tale " of the killing time," of cruelty and bloodshed, 
 
 which yet stirs our souls within us. 
 
 But how different nov/ ! Amid the quietude and 
 sublimity of this romantic mountain district, silence, 
 peace, and plenty, now seemed to reign, and every 
 one could worship the God of his fathers in sim- 
 plicity and truth, there and throughout the British 
 Isles, " none daring to make him afraid." 
 
 But while I admit and revere t.:e testimony of 
 those famous men of the olden times, men of re- 
 nown, and all such as composed the Westminster 
 Assembly, in reference to matters pertaining to 
 Godliness, yet " the testimony of God is greater ;" 
 and this opei;s the way for making a few remarks 
 relative to the doctrines already mentioned. 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 147 
 
 ire war 
 an, Dr. 
 
 the feet 
 tlic rev- 
 liar," in 
 
 ; looked 
 rom tlie 
 portion 
 lin tliea- 
 ik of its 
 branded 
 o merci- 
 es : — 
 
 tlic death, 
 b lieatli." 
 
 hill, and 
 
 its ovvn, a 
 
 ood^hed, 
 
 ;ude and 
 
 t, silence, 
 
 and every 
 
 •s in sini- 
 
 British 
 
 3tiinony of 
 nen of ro- 
 estminster 
 •taining to 
 greater ;" 
 w remarks 
 led. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 CONCEllNI^G THE UNIVERSALITY OF THE ATONEMENT 
 MADE BY THE SON OF GOD FOR THE SIN OF MAN, 
 AND THE CALVINIAN ERRORS IN REFERENCE THERE- 
 TO, WITH OTHER ERRORS, SHORTLY EXPOSED AND 
 REFUTED, 
 
 I consider the doctrine of the limited atone- 
 ment, as held by Calvin, and set forth in our Stand- 
 ards and maintained by Presbyterian Churches, as 
 being the principal source of most of the other 
 errors and heresies which have been productive of 
 so much contention, bitterness of feeling and per- 
 verse disputings, and concerning Avhich so much 
 has been written in the ages that are past, and in 
 reference to which a large proportion of the mem- 
 bers of the Churches of the present day are still 
 labouring'as in the fire ; seeking a resting-place, but 
 finding none ; calling out, peace, peace, v/hen there 
 is no peace. 
 
 If, therefore, we could discover some sure and 
 immutable, undeniable, simple and eternal basis of 
 truth, as a satisfactory common ground or platform 
 which the whole human race could occupy, and 
 v/hich might, or would, put an end to all strife 
 touching this solemn matter in question, all must 
 agree that this would be a great desideratum. 
 
 I need not say that such finding must be seen 
 to be founded on a rock — on the " rock of ages" 
 
 ill 
 I 
 
 * 1; 
 
m' < 
 ii 
 
 iiiiiin 
 
 148 A VOICE i^ROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 — having its base on the testimony of the Son of 
 God, who loved man and gave himself for him, and 
 is himself " the truth." And if our finding have 
 this base, and be in accordance therewith, it must 
 be true — an eternal verity — whose foundation can- 
 not be shaken, and against which the gates of hell 
 cannot prevail. 
 
 In the fear of God, humbly, hopefully and 
 believingly, do I, therefore, present the following 
 argument based on Christ's words, John, chap. iii. 
 18, specially last clause of the verse. I would here 
 make a general remark, viz., that Christ's death did 
 not reconcile God to man, but proved that "he was 
 already reconciled in Christ Jesus, and being " 1 1 jli 
 in mercy, for the great love wherewith he loved us" 
 (that is, a love of pity, and compassion, and tender 
 mercy, not of moral complacency), " even when we 
 were dead in trespasses and sins, he delivered 
 him up to the death for us all," that we might be 
 reconciled to God. " God is in Christ, reconci?iii5 
 the world to himself, not imputing unto men their 
 trespasses." But to those under the Gospel the 
 benefits of his death are conditional on believing. 
 
 You will perceive that the words of Jesus in 
 the last clause of the verse place the condemned 
 sinner in his true position, viz., " that God is 
 reconciled to him in Christ Jesus," that there is 
 a name for him to believe in and be saved, the 
 same as for the saved sinner ; and if a name, there 
 must be virtue and efiicacy in the name, and there- 
 fore atonement made for him, and he is condemned 
 for not believing that to be the truth of God wbich 
 Calvinists say is not truth at all, inasmuch as they 
 
> Son of 
 im, and 
 ag have 
 it must 
 ion can- 
 s of hell 
 
 ally and 
 bllo-wing 
 
 chap. iii. 
 ouldhere 
 leath did 
 it he was 
 ing "i.-li 
 loved us" 
 nd tender 
 L when we 
 delivered 
 might be 
 }Conciliii5 
 en their 
 ospel the 
 elieving. 
 Jesus in 
 indemned 
 ,t God is 
 ,t there is 
 laved, the 
 ,me, there 
 ,nd there- 
 mdemned 
 od which 
 ih as they 
 
 A VOICL; from the wilderness of CANADA. 
 
 140 
 
 maintain that all condemned sinners are non-elect, 
 that is, there was no atonement made for their sin 
 by Him who oiFcred himself as a sacrifice once for 
 all in the sinner's stead, taking " away the sin of 
 the world." They, therefore, maintain a palpable 
 contradiction, which will appear more plainly here- 
 after. 
 
 I beg to crave your earnest attention to the 
 following preliminaries : — 
 
 " There is none other name under heaven, given 
 among men whereby we may or must be saved, 
 but by the name of Jesus." Acts iv. 12. 
 
 " Jesus ! how glorious is thy grace, when in thy name we trust ; 
 Our faith receives a righteousness, which makes the sinner /just." — 
 
 Rom. iii. 19-22. 
 " His name forever .shall endure, last like the sun it .shall ; 
 Men shall be blest in Him, and blest all nations .shall Him call." 
 
 — P.salm Ix.x. 17. 
 " For God his gen'rous love to man with honours just hath crowu'd, 
 And rais'd the name of Jesus far above all names renown'd ; 
 That at this name, with sacred awe, each humble knee should bow, 
 Of hosts immortal in the skies, and nations .spread below." — Phill. 
 
 ii. 9, 10, 11. 
 
 As some may object to the first thesis of the 
 argument, alleging that it is not faith that saves, 
 to prevent mistakes I may say that when faith, 
 belief, or bolieving is mentioned, it is to be under- 
 stood that faith is the gift of God, and only saves 
 as being the means, instrumentality or eye of the 
 soul which perceives, receives and believes *' Christ 
 crucified" for the salvation of the sinner. In a 
 certain sense faith saves. Jesus said, " Thy faith 
 hath saved thee, go in peace." 
 
 Be it remembered that the words of Jesus, in 
 John iii. verses 17, 18, have a direct reference to 
 
 II 
 
 f^l 
 
I: I 
 
 ','■ ' 
 
 H ' I 
 
 150 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS Ot' CANADA. 
 
 tlio " vexed queMion" raised by man, as the 
 Saviour of sinners is teacliing Nicodemus concern- 
 ing the design of liis mission into onr world, and 
 especially that all hearers of the Gospel are salv- 
 able, and the reason of their condemnation in the 
 clause referred to ; hence it appears that a Calvinian, 
 Standard, non-elect sinner never did or can exist 
 in our world, for the " Scripture cannot be broken." 
 
 ARGUMENT. 
 
 1. Is the sinner saved through or by means of 
 believing in the name of the only begotten Son of 
 God ? 
 
 2. Is the unsaved sinner condemned because he 
 hath not believed in the nf.me of the only begotten 
 Son of God ? 
 
 3. If it be truth that the saved sinner believes, 
 is it not truth — the same iridli — that the unsaved 
 sinner disbelieves ? 
 
 4. Is not the one condemned, then, for not 
 believing the same truth, the belief of which saves 
 the other ? 
 
 5. What is that truth ? In brief, is it not 
 Christ ? " He is the way, the truth, and the life." 
 Hence it is said, " believing we have life through 
 His name ; " therefore, believing in His name is 
 synonymous with believing the Gospel, or believing 
 the whole atoning work of Jesus, including His 
 life, obedience and death, as done for the sinner. 
 
 G. If the one is thus saved by believing these 
 objective truths, are they not truths as regards the 
 other, even the same truths for the^ disbelief of 
 which he is condemned ? 
 
 I 
 
ft 
 
 A VOIC'K FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 15]. 
 
 7. Ill reference to tlie Gospel preached unto tlio 
 sinner, comprehending " Jesus and the resurrec- 
 tion," even the whole work of Christ needed and 
 done on his behalf, can the belief or disbelief of 
 the sinnei aflect the nature, extent, or reality of 
 such work done for him ? 
 
 8. If the above are truths, did not Christ die in 
 the same sense for both, that is, made the same 
 atonement and satisfaction for each, that both 
 might believe and be saved ? If not, how can the 
 one believe and the other disbelieve the same truth, 
 unless it be in existence for both ? 
 
 9. Is it not then morally certain that God, in 
 setting forth our Lord Jesus Christ as a propiti- 
 atory sacrifice for both, intended and secured the 
 salvation of both, conditional on believing ? 
 
 10. Poes not the fearful sentence of condemna- 
 tion and eternal punishment for the sinner's 
 unbelief in His name also prove that he might 
 have believed, and that, therefore, he is in a proba- 
 tionary state, free to choose, and a conscious moral 
 agent responsible for his acts, which implies that 
 he could and should believe in His name, after all 
 God hath done and is doing through the agency of 
 his Holy Sf nit, until he finally reject Christ ? 
 
 11. The ioregoing premises being truth, might 
 it not be said, that by how much of one iota the 
 saved sinner attempts to detract from the virtue 
 and efficacy of Jesus' name as regards the con- 
 demned sinner, by so much he detracts from the 
 name by which himself hath been saved ? Where- 
 fore ? Because believing in His name, or believing 
 that the whole work of Christ done for him was 
 
 I. .' 
 i I 
 
 .? ; 
 
 J;, 
 
 I 
 
152 
 
 A VOICE FllOit I'lIK WILBLJRNESS OF CANADA* 
 
 it ii 
 
 
 
 !! 1 
 
 .1 i Ii 
 
 11 I 
 
 ill 
 
 
 necessary for his salvation, and the other is con- 
 demned for not believing tlie same truth (see the 
 words of Jesus, last clause of the I8tli verse, 
 " because," <tc.) ; and if it was truth the one 
 believed it must be truth the other disbelieved. 
 See Nos. 5 and G. 
 
 12. Should any believer in Christ, therefore, 
 maintain that the atonement of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ was not intended to satisfy the justice of 
 God for the condemned sinner in such sense that 
 he was salvable as well as himself, he must also 
 maintain that he himself hath believed in vain, 
 and that he is yet in his sins. Wherefore? 
 Because the one is condemned for not believing in 
 Christ, and the other is saved through the belief 
 of that very truth for which the other is condemned 
 for not believing. If there was a name and 
 Christ for him who believes, can the disbelief of ihe 
 other aff; ct the extent and reality of that same 
 truth as regards himself ? See Nos. 7 and 8. 
 
 13. A part of Christ's Church classify mankind 
 under the Gospel according to the theory of one 
 Calvin, calling some by the name of elect, and 
 the rest non-elect, setting forth in their Standards 
 that God so loved the world that he sent his Son 
 to be the Saviour of the elect only ; that all the 
 elect, and the elect only, can be effectually saved ; 
 and the rest are passed by, being particularly and 
 unchangeably designed and pre-ordained to ever- 
 lasting death from eternity for their sin, as their 
 salvation was neither intended nor secured by the 
 death of Christ, no atonement being made for their 
 sins ; therefore, to these non-elect, or greater propor- 
 
 ; n 
 
u 
 
 r IS con- 
 (seo the 
 li verse, 
 tlie one 
 jelieved. 
 
 berefore, 
 rd Jesus 
 justice of 
 inse that 
 nust also 
 in vain, 
 lerefore ? 
 lieving in 
 the belief 
 .ndemned 
 ame and 
 ief of the 
 liat same 
 d8. 
 
 mankind 
 L'j of one 
 sleet, and 
 itandards 
 t his Son 
 at all the 
 y saved ; 
 ilarly and 
 . to ever- 
 as their 
 dby the 
 for their 
 jrpropor- 
 
 V*r 
 
 i 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 153 
 
 tion of mankind, the word " salvation" has the same 
 meaning as to the lost spirits in the regions of woo, 
 as they are not salvable. Christ (say they) died 
 for the elect only. This section of the Church also 
 maintains that God is no respecttir of persons. 
 Are these teachings in accordance with the words 
 of Jesus contained in John, chap. iii. IG, 17, 18, 
 especially the last clause of the 18th verse ? 
 
 Now, if we are right in reference to the meaning 
 of the words of Jesus, we have an argument 
 which affects the whole world, at least all to whom 
 the Gospel is sent ; neither can the subtleties of 
 Infidels, Doctors and Lawj'ers overturn it ; nor can 
 all the theological exegesis or dialectic reasoning 
 of Calvinian or other divines overturn it ; nor can 
 the whole human race overthrow it. Wherefore is 
 it impossible ? Because it is the argument of Jesus, 
 the Christ, the Son of God, who came from heaven 
 in the name of the Jjord to save us, and whose 
 word is quick and powerful to the dividing asunder 
 of truth from error. The argument is substanti- 
 ally contained in the first two theses and developed 
 in the others. If you are saved and have life, it 
 is because you have believed in His name. If you 
 have not believed, you are already condemned, 
 because (having had the Gospel preached to you), 
 you have not believed in the name of the only 
 begotten Son of God. Heaven and earth will pass 
 away, but the words of Jesus will not pass away. 
 What a cheering, encouraging, life-giving argu- 
 ment for every sinner. " I am come that ye might 
 have life." He is come that the world might be 
 saved. " For we have seen (saitli John), and do 
 
iil '■ 
 
 m 
 
 Ml 
 
 m 
 
 ■• liiii 
 
 154 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE W1LDERNE.S8 OF CANADA. 
 
 testify that the Ftitlier sent tlio Son to bo the 
 Saviour of tlio world." " He is the true Light 
 which hghteth every man that cometh into ihe 
 world.'' — John, chap. i. 9. Not into the Iloman 
 Empire, or Jewish nationality, because in the next 
 verse ifc is said, " He was in the world, and the 
 world iDcis made by him." There is light, and life, 
 and love for every creature to v/hom the Gospal is, 
 or may be, preached. If you consider the salva- 
 tion of your soul ay precious ; if you have not 
 already laid hold on eternal life by believing in His 
 name, then think " on what a slender thread hang 
 everlasting tilings." The Holy Spirit is striving 
 to convince you of sin, and there is an Almighty 
 Saviour, even Jesus, and "grace reigns," and if 
 you call on the name of the Lord Jesus he will 
 save you from your sins ; if you cannot speak 
 words. He will save you ; if you give a believing 
 look to Jesus you will be saved, for he " waits to 
 be gracious," and delights in mercy ; and v/e are 
 so allied to heaven that there will be joy in 
 Paradise among the hosts of heaven over another 
 repentant sinner saved. 
 
 But remember that the atonement made for the 
 sin of the world has a double asj^eot. There is 
 an indoscribabty dread alternative. I do not mean 
 that double aspect which a certain School of 
 Divinity in my own country, overlooking the 
 glorious provision made for the wants of humanity, 
 has ascribed to the propitiation set forth by the 
 Divine Father for human sinfulness. They would 
 limit the Holy One of Israel. On account of sin, 
 the ignorance, and stupidity, and darkness which 
 
A VOICli FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 155 
 
 becloud our minck, and obscure our reasoning 
 faculties, have such an effect that wo often find it 
 difficult and laborious to build a superstructure on 
 the foundations of truth. But if we attempt to 
 reason from false premises (as infidels do), then 
 confusion, fallacy, and " wild work is surely and 
 oft produced." Hence this strange, absurd and 
 senseless double reference of said School of 
 Divinity, viz., " that the intention of God in the 
 death of his Son was to secure the salvation of 
 jome, calL ^ elect sinners, and open a door of 
 mercy for th. rest, called non-elect, for whom there 
 was no salvaaon secured, as Christ died for the 
 elect only." Yet as there was a door of mercy for 
 them, they might bo saved some way or other ; the 
 fault would be in themselves if they v/ere not 
 saved, although there was no atonement made for 
 them ; their salvation was not intended. A min- 
 ister who has preached the Gospel for ten years 
 thus writes to me : " It is nonsense to speak about 
 the non-elect being saved if they believe. Faith 
 is the sign of election ; how can they believe if 
 they are not elected?" Then I would ask, how 
 are they (the non-elect) to enter the door of mercy 
 if tlie}^ cannot believe, not being elected ? Who 
 does not see that the steps of this pretended door 
 of mercy can only take hold on hell ? Is not such 
 solemn mockery of sacred things so absurd as to 
 furnish sufficient reason for Mil ton's devils to "grin 
 horriblj^ a ghastly smile?" Such findings are a 
 consequence of reasoning from Calvin's premises 
 and classification, which are unscriptural and false. 
 All such reasonings and doctrines of men which 
 
 I' 
 
 i 
 
 || / 
 
 15 
 
15G 
 
 A VOICE FROJI TUli WILDKIINKS.S OF CANADA. 
 
 I< ■i., 
 
 M; 
 
 have so long striven on the groat sea of confusion 
 must at onco and forever disappear before the 
 argument based on the words of Jesus, " the faith- 
 ful and true witness." You will see in the argu- 
 ment there is no respect of persons with God ; no 
 double aspect or pretended door of mercy, but 
 the same name, the same Christ crucified, the same 
 atonement, the same Gospel to be preached to every 
 creature under heaven, not offered, but preached. 
 Paul was not sent to preach offers of the Gospel, 
 but to declare and preach the Gospel of the grace 
 of God which bringeth salvation to all men, the 
 first deliverance of which was not an offer, but 
 " how that Christ died for our sins according to 
 the scriptures." 
 
 In keeping with the double aspect heresy, what 
 a pitiable spectacle does the Scottish Synod of 
 18-15 present, composed as it was of learned 
 Doctors and Professors, when a Dr. Marshall ^ re- 
 ferred a libel against Dr. Brown for heresy in 
 reference to his views on the doctrine of the 
 atonement. No wonder they were " in a painful 
 condition," and sat for several days " ill at ease," 
 trying a case of heresy by our own lieretical Stand- 
 ards, as the final deliverarce proved This is the 
 deliverance : " The Standard doctrine and the 
 decision of this Sjmod on this subject is, that the 
 death of Christ secures the salvation of the elect 
 only, but that a foundation has been laid in His 
 death for a full, sincere, and consistent offer of the 
 Gospel to all mankind.'^ It will be perceived that 
 this foundation is as meaningless as the door of 
 mercy. If it be security for a few only, on what 
 
DA. 
 
 3onfuHion 
 3foro tlio 
 tlio faitli- 
 ilic argu- 
 God ; no 
 )rcy, but 
 the same 
 1 to every 
 preached. 
 3 Gospel, 
 the grace 
 men, the 
 offer, but 
 ording to 
 
 •esy, \vhat 
 
 Synod of 
 
 ■ k^arncd 
 
 ;hall ^re- 
 
 leresy in 
 
 3 of the 
 
 a painful 
 
 at ease," 
 
 al Stand- 
 
 lis is the 
 
 and the 
 
 that the 
 
 the elect 
 
 id in His 
 
 ff'er of the 
 
 ived that 
 
 door of 
 
 , on what 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNERH OP CANADA. 
 
 157 
 
 aro the rest to build ? How can that bo a founda- 
 tion for "all mankind" to build upon which secures 
 the safety of a few only ? Now I need not insist 
 on what you already know ; that by the argument, 
 according to the words of Jesus, the foundation is 
 alike secure to all. That whicli is truth for one 
 must be truth for the other ; that His name, 
 obedience and death, secured the salvation of all 
 sinners alike, conditional on believing, and the 
 condemned (non-elect) sinner is condemned for not 
 believing there was a name for him, and atonement 
 made for him, whicli the other believed, and is 
 saved. 
 
 But the absurdity of the non-elect doctrine 
 would not even stand in the wisdom of men. 
 Suppose the whole human race congregated, say 
 five hundred million, who can discern between 
 good and evil, and a Spurgeon pov/erful enough to 
 preach the Gospel to the vast assembly. He selects 
 the parable of the sheep, and from a Calvinian 
 standpoint insists it was the intention or will of 
 the Father in sending the Son to save the elect 
 only, and that Christ died for the sheep only, leav- 
 ing out the condition, " If any man enter in he 
 shali be saved," adding also, " that the atonement 
 is sufficient for all, adapted to all, and freely offered 
 to all," and as there is a foundation laid they may, 
 in some way or other, be all saved. To detect the 
 fallacy of this kind of reasoning, let it be supposed 
 that some (the elect) shall be separated, say 
 two hundred million, whose salvation was intended 
 and secured, and the rest remain under the sound 
 of the Gospel offer. The preacher stiU continues 
 8 
 
 I': 
 
 1 
 
 »■: 
 
ir,s 
 
 A Void'; I'liu.M I'uii; \viLi>KUNi<;.-).-i of Canada. 
 
 1 1 
 
 to tlic non-olcct : " TIio atonGinont is suIHciont for 
 till, adai^tod to all," (why not say niado for all ?) and 
 freely offered to all, or, according tcj the profanity 
 of the Synod of 1845, " there is a foundation laid 
 in the death of Christ for a full, sincere, and con- 
 sistent offer of the Gospel to all mankind, but 
 the elect only can bo saved." It is at once asked, 
 " Wliat is the offer of the Gospel to us without the 
 death of Christ? If (as you say) there was no 
 atonement made for us, but for those gone out, and 
 we are excluded from the benefits of Christ's 
 death, so that to believe is impossible, as that 
 would be a sign of election, what do you mean by 
 preaching offers of the Gospel to us?" That 
 matters not (saith the preacher); if you don't under- 
 stand it Calvin did, and he says that you are all 
 particularly and unalterably fore-ordained from all 
 eternity to everlasting death for your sin. No 
 doubt there is mystery in God's ways, but as 
 being sovereign, He has a right to do as He 
 pleases ; and then continues, " the atonement is 
 sufficient for all," Sec, as above, insisting that 
 according to the Confession of Faith, Head 4, this 
 is necessary to make the reprobate inexcusable, 
 until they either lay violent hands on him, or for- 
 ward him to a Lunatic Asylum. 
 
 In reference to this classiiication of mar^ > 
 Confession of Faith, Head 4, among ' -^c 
 
 things it is said, " By outward ordinr js the )rd 
 makes the reprobate inexcusable (by suchsrimons 
 as we have been considering), and applies u \o the 
 Lord's elect all saving graces. In particular lie 
 doth convert the Lord's elect. He gives the Lord's 
 
\ VOICE FROM THE WILnEIlNr.SM Ot' CANADA, 
 
 151) 
 
 elect saving faith. He sanctifies the Lord's elect, 
 justifies and adopts the Lord's elect, so that the 
 Lord's elect are no longer children of Satan, but 
 children of God." 
 
 You will see there are three classes of Standard 
 sinners: the Lord's elect, who are saved; the 
 Lord's elect, who are also the children of Satan, 
 but who are sure to believe and bo advanced to the 
 other class, and " the rest," or " passed by," who 
 cannot believe, as that would be the sign of election. 
 These errors result from assuming that God's elect 
 are elected from eternity, or that the design or 
 purpose is the work done. It is, therefore, set 
 forth that the children of the devil and the chil- 
 dren of God are the Lord's elect at the same time, 
 and to overcome the difficulty the Lord's elect have 
 to become the Lord's elect by being again justified, 
 elected and saved by the use of means. And thus 
 these deplorable and manifest errors which are 
 dishonouring to God, are still prevalent in our 
 Church and maintained at the present day. One 
 reason of these errors may be found in a simple 
 but important fact being overlooked. I mean the 
 difference between the ^9Z«7'pose or intention of 
 doing a work, and the actual performance of that 
 work. Would you argue that, because Jehovah in 
 the depths of past eternity purposed the creation 
 of our world, therefore the earth began to revolve 
 on its axis myriads of ages before it was created ? 
 Equally absurd is it for any one to contend that 
 '^od, foreseeing that sin would enter into our world, 
 irposed the sinner's salvation by grace in Christ 
 sus, conditionally through the use of means from 
 
 '(' 
 
iGO 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 :m^- 
 
 IM 
 
 
 ■<'\'$ 
 
 eternity ; therefore the means existed, and the sin- 
 ner beiieved, and was justified and elected, before 
 the world began. 
 
 But of this more hereafter, as I am digressing, 
 and would now recall your earnest attention to the 
 double aspect of the atonement in reference to the 
 sinner's salvation or perdition. And a few words 
 in reference thereto may suffice, as he who would 
 attempt to explain away or ignore the teachings of 
 Jesus, as regards the dreadful reaHty and eternal 
 duration of the punishment of thos^. who would 
 contend with God, would not likely "bt convinced 
 by the sayings of men. I refer to the different 
 classes of Universalists. 
 
 The glorious, heavenly and God-like aspect of 
 the atonement made for our world, I have already 
 endeavoured to set before you. It is done for all, 
 and the unbelief of the sinner cannot affect the 
 reality of the work done in his behalf. But his* 
 disbelief places him in a neiu and alarming aspect 
 in reference to his eternal destiny. The ground or 
 basis of his condemnation is different now. Jesus 
 hath been preached to him. There is a name by 
 which he may be saved. A propitiation hath been 
 made " for the sins of the whole world," and 
 therefore for his. There is an everlasting righteous- 
 ness wrought out for him. Christ hath died for 
 him. But he careth for none of these things. 
 " Who is the Lord that I should serve him? I 
 have no soul to be saved (saith he). It is all a 
 delusion and a lie that Christ came into this world 
 to save me. I am not the chief of sinners. I 
 am as good as any in this strset or concession, or 
 
 m 
 
A VOICE PROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 161 
 
 the next either. I neither know nor care about 
 the holiness or justice of the law of God, or sin, 
 death or hell. I mean to eat, drink, and be merry, 
 and, if I can keep clear of being hanged, I am 
 no worse than others." 
 
 And " thus do creatures of a day in gamesome 
 mood frolic on eternity's dread brink, unapprehen- 
 sive, when, for aught they know, the very first 
 swollen surge may sweep them in." 
 
 They who thus make light of solemn and divine 
 things, who despise Him that speaks from heaven, 
 and who virtually make God a liar, treating the 
 testimony which He hath given of His Son as an 
 idle tale, what can such expect but " a fearful 
 looking for of wrath and fiery indignation, which 
 shall devour the adversaries;" and " to be punished 
 with everlasting destruction from the presence of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ and the glory of His power," 
 " because they have not believed in the name of the 
 only begotten Son of God." And these fearful 
 words will be written as with flaming fire through- 
 out the blackness of darkness of the sinners' hell, 
 and will reverberate throughout the regions of 
 woe among all liars and lost spirits under the 
 Gospel. 
 
 But all sinners may be saved from their sins ; 
 their salvation was intended, but will not be 
 necessitated. They must choose whom they will 
 servo. But He is one mighty to save, and •' grace 
 reigns." Behold ! now is the day, the hour, the 
 moment of your salvation. And if you call upon 
 His name, with all the earnestness bf an unsaved 
 lost spirit, you shall be saved. 
 
 
 H:^ 
 
 H 
 
■ 'i 
 
 162 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 It will be seen, then, that the atonement of our 
 blessed Saviour hath a double aspect or reference, 
 not as intended to secure the salvation of some, 
 and save the rest from we know not what ; which 
 delusion has kept, and is now keeping, thousands 
 of otherwise intelligent Christians and Ministers 
 in a broil, vainly endeavouring to bolster up the 
 profanities of Mr. Calvin. 
 
 But then, it is asked : " If the salvation of all 
 'was intended, why are not all saved ? If Jesus 
 died for every sinner alike, why is any sinner con- 
 demned?" The words of Jesus is the true and 
 satisfactory answer : " Because he hath not believed 
 in the name of the only begotten Son of God." 
 According to these words the nature and duration 
 of the fearful punishment inflicted must have 
 reference to the sin and guilt of the oftender. And 
 his guilt must consist in this: that there was a 
 name to helieve in, and, therefore, atonement made for 
 him ; and that, after all God hath done, there is a 
 moral power in man to believe in His name for 
 salvation, or what would be the nature or meaning 
 of the condemnation and punishment ? Calvin's 
 system or theory of religion, as maintained in our 
 Standards, is so metaphysically and logically con- 
 trived and bound together with texts from Scripture, 
 often improperly applied, that it is difficult to show 
 wherein the fallacies consist. 
 
 Its four corners, viz., absolute decrees ( r fatal- 
 ism, unconditional election and reprobation, and 
 limited atonement, resemble the dovetailed corners 
 of the wooden buildings wo erect in the green 
 woods of Canada. The corners are so fitly framed 
 
A VOICE FllOM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 163 
 
 I 
 
 together, that in walking round John's strong 
 tower you cannot easily find an entrance for a wedge. 
 Its defenders say it cannot be touched, that Galvan- 
 ism is the only system Avhich hangs logically 
 together. 
 
 It is said the Old School and New School Pres- 
 byterians in the United States, two hundred and 
 fifty-four Presbyteries, joined together a short time 
 ago, and fell back on the Standards pure and simple. 
 But the words of Jesus can touch whatever is false 
 in any system. They not only act us a separating 
 wedge of pure gold, separating the dross and alloy 
 from what is pure and simple — the errors and 
 heresies of Calvinism from the truth according to 
 the Scriptures, — but will be found, on reflection, 
 as being powerful to the overthrow of all false 
 systems. Indeed the corners of Calvinism are 
 already getting shaky, " having met with so 
 many shrewd brushes," like the Pilgrim's giant, 
 that many of its abettors and advocates must feel 
 relieved to find a few simple and solemn words 
 uttered by the great. Teacher quick and powerful, 
 and applicable to every one of the corners 
 respectively'. 
 
 There can be no doubt that many of the min- 
 isters in our Church are earnest, faithful, zealous 
 christian men, and numbers of them are opening 
 their eyes in reference to the heresies in our Stand- 
 ards. Many are men of excellence, highly honoured 
 find deservedly so, and preach the truth ; but, in 
 so far as they hold the errors of Calvanism clasped ^- . 
 
 in their right hands, as so many living lies, they 
 are prevented from preaching the whole truth, and 
 nothing but the truth. 
 
IM 
 
 iinli 
 
 164 
 
 A VOICE PROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 Ill 
 
 li:! I 
 
 ill 
 
 The limitation of the atonement of the Son of 
 God made for the sin of man. This pernicious 
 error has been taught and preached in all Calvin- 
 istic Churches in the joast ages, and still persisted 
 in by eminent divines of the present day. In 
 reference to the past, Dr. Owen thus speaks : "But 
 that Christ in his obedience and death was a pub- 
 lic person in the room and stead of all, of all ages 
 and times, not only of the elect, but also of repro- 
 bate persons, hated of God from eternity, cursedly 
 unbelieving here, and eternally damned hereafter, 
 the greatest part of those already damned in hell, 
 and irrevocably gone beyond the limits of redemp- 
 tion he/ore he made any obedience, is to us such 
 a monstrous assertion," etc. He overlooks the 
 solemn and important truth, that " Christ was the 
 Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" for 
 all, and " Where there is no law, there is no trans- 
 gression, and sin is not imputed ; that God is no 
 respecter of persons, but in every nation he that 
 feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted 
 with him ;" and that all under the Gospel are con- 
 demned for not believing in His name ; or that 
 atonement was made for them, for not believing 
 truth which this man and others say is not truth, 
 and his sweeping doctrine of damnation shows he 
 was a presumptpous sinner, and the human race 
 might well pray, from sucli a Doctor of Divinity 
 " Good Loi'd deliver us," as he would be a judge 
 of all the earth with a vengeance. 
 
 But we must admire such men for their candour 
 and consistency, as they are genuine disciples of 
 their master, and set forth Calvinism in its 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 165 
 
 simplicity and truth. At the trial before the Synod 
 in Edinburgh (already referred to), in what an un- 
 favourable aspect Dr. Brown appears, as compared 
 with Dr. Owen, in reference to the subterfuge to 
 which he then resorted, as regards the extent and 
 reality of the atonement. Good J. Bunyan tells 
 of a Mr. Facing-two-ways, but Dr. Brown assumed 
 a three-fold aspect, so that it would be difficult to 
 outface him. Still he gives forth a certain sound 
 in one direction : " I hold (saith he) that Christ 
 died only for the elect, that he died with the 
 intention and to the effect of securing their salva- 
 tion only ; yet so as legal harriers were removed, 
 and a door of mercy opened for the rest, so in these 
 senses he died for all, and as I dislike all extreme 
 statements, all startling expressions," &c. Instead 
 of indulging in unmeaning phrases, a better way 
 would have been to say : " As for the other aspects, 
 they are not mere sounding brass, or a tinkling 
 cymbal, but are full of meaning, as that learned 
 divine. Dr. Owen, in his Salus Electorum, so clearly 
 and satisfactorily demonstrates." 
 
 Dr. Candlish is more clear and definite, and, 
 therefore, the more to be respected. He puts it 
 thus : " Was the death of Christ, or His obedience 
 unto death, considered in the light of a satisfac- 
 tion rendered to divine justice, and an atonement 
 made for human guilt, undertaken and accomplished 
 for any but the elect ? No." No qualification, or 
 reservation, or pretended doors of mercy for the 
 non-elect, or double or treble aspects. They are 
 passed by ; no atonement made for their human 
 guilt ; no name for them to believe in ; the elect 
 8* 
 
 
 
 
¥ 
 
 mmmmm 
 
 166 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 only can belieye and be saved. And ho consider- 
 ately leaves the reader to dispose of " the rest" 
 according to the deliverances of Calvin, Owen, &c., 
 in such case made and provided. 
 
 But we need not cite instances of great men in 
 Scotland, in reference to this limitation doctrine. 
 Have not the Presbyterians in the United States 
 in their late union (which union is surely a step in 
 the right direction), even 254 Presbyteries, agreed 
 to fall back on the Calvinian Standards, pure and 
 simple, and Dr. Musgrave gloried in his thorough 
 Calvinism, &c. And a Toronto Professor thus 
 writes to me : " Although, in preaching the Gospel, 
 I cannot say to every man, in the first instance, that 
 Christ died for him,yet lean assure him if he believe 
 in Christ he will find acceptance." What the mean- 
 ing of these words is I leave the reader to judge. 
 One thing they must mean, that the Professor does 
 not preach the same Gospel as Paul did, for what he 
 first preached to the Corinthians was, " First of all 
 I delivered unto you how that Christ died for our 
 sins according to the Scriptures." 1 Cor., Chap. 
 XV. 1, 2, 3. Read the three verses, and then think, 
 thinky these verses in Christ's Gospel by Paul being 
 truth, whether the utterance by the Professor can 
 also be truth according to the Scriptures. It would 
 seem, according to the Professor's Gospel offer, as 
 if the act of belief constitutes the object of belief, 
 or that a man can believe without previous concep- 
 tions, which is a moral impossibility. But the 
 words of Jesus himself are, 
 not believed in the name," &c. 
 a name to believe in, and virtue and efficacy in the 
 
 "Because he hath 
 ; showing there is 
 
A VOICE FROM TIIK WILDEUXEHS OF CANADA. 
 
 107 
 
 name to save the sinner, and, therefore, atonement 
 made for him, or how can he be justilied through 
 faith in the blood of the propitiation set forth by 
 Jehovah our God ? And if this faith come by hear- 
 ing, and hearing by the Word of Grod, then we can 
 partially know and understand the meaning of the 
 glorious truths delivered by Paul in the three verses 
 referred to ; and that this is the Gospel to bo 
 preached to all sinners " at first" and at last, and 
 that there is none other Gospel given under heaven 
 among men whereby Ave must be saved, but Christ 
 crucified for the sinner. 
 
 And only recently there was an Ecclesiastical 
 Court sitting in Guelph to consider and determine 
 in a case of alleged libel against the Rev. J. K. 
 Smith, for teaching and countenancing heretical 
 doctrines in his church during the time of the Gait 
 revival. There have been several Presbyterial 
 meetings in reference to these heresies, and an 
 appeal to Synod, all terminating without any 
 decision of importance. But much of the broil, 
 ill-will and bitterness of feeling has reference to 
 the Calvinian dogmas of unconditional election, 
 limited atonement, &c., as the Rev. Mr. Murdoch 
 says in his official account of this religious move- 
 ment " that families leaving his church candidly 
 told him they did not believe in election and limited 
 atonement, special operations of the Spirit, tfec." 
 
 It is surely no wonder these families could in 
 no wise believe the Standard classification of sin- 
 ners into several sorts as being Scriptural, and a 
 Saviour being sent into the world for one sort only. 
 The wonder rather is, how Mr. Murdoch or others 
 jcan imagine they do believe such things. 
 
 ■! ■ 
 
168 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 Mr. Murdoch also sa3's: "One noticeable 
 feature, and surely to us a painful one, but insepar- 
 able from the nature of the teaching, is, that the 
 converts have full assurance, &c." This is a strange 
 and noticeable feature of Mr. Murdoch's report, 
 as this much to be desired result should flow from 
 his own teaching and preaching according to our 
 Standards. There are many glorious utterances 
 in them. This is one taken from the Shorter 
 Catechism, viz., '^The benefits which accompany or 
 flow from justification, adoption, and sanctifica- 
 tion, are assurance of God's love, peace of con- 
 science, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace 
 and i3erseverance therein to the end." 
 
 At or in the moment of believing in Christ, the 
 sinner is pardoned, justified, elected, adopted and 
 saved, and may have assurance of God's love, and 
 as the Spirit teaches by Paul, " he has peace with 
 God through our Lord Jesus Christ, and rejoices 
 in hope of the glory of God," because " the love 
 of God is shed abroad in iiis heart by the Holy 
 Ghost given unto him." Now this may be the 
 case with many, and is the experience, in a greater 
 or less degree, of all who believe the Gospel, 
 believe in His name, but all such will *' rejoice with 
 fear and trembling," and so Avork out their own 
 salvation, knowing that " it is God who worketH 
 in them to will and to do of his good pleasure." 
 
 One would think Mr. Murdoch would have re- 
 joiced with those who rejoiced at the revival, and 
 even wept with those who wept, whose hearts were 
 too big with emotion to repress the falling tear, 
 and yet felt that joy which no man could take 
 
A VOICE rnOM the wilderness op CANADA. 
 
 169 
 
 from them, in full assurance of faith, as the living 
 water welled up in their souls unto everlasting life, 
 " even the secret raptures of the soul, which none 
 but those who believe can know, and even they 
 cannot communicate." 
 
 It will be seen that these supposed heresies are 
 imputed to those who do not believe in limited 
 atonement and the necessitation of the salvation 
 of a few, who only can believe, and the argument 
 at once sweeps away all such views which have so 
 long dishonoured the name of Christ. He is the 
 truth, there is no other name, the virtue and 
 efficacy of which can save the sinner, and his dis- 
 belief cannot lessen or detract from the atonement 
 made for him, although it is the reason he does 
 not receive the benefits intended thereby. " God 
 willeth nc*- that any should perish, but that all 
 should come to repentance." 
 
 The sinner, called by some non-elect, vainly 
 endeavouring to turn the truth of God into a lie, 
 and not believing His testimony, is condemned to 
 eternal punishment, " because he hath not believed 
 in the name of the only begotten Son of God," or 
 hath not believed in the atonement made for him, 
 which sentence, as before said, would be impossible 
 according to the dogmas of Calvin ; for if Christ 
 had not died for him, and there had been no name 
 and atonement for him, then he is doomed to ever- 
 lasting death for not hclieving a falsehood. 
 
 But the argument settles all such distressing con- 
 siderations. If the causistiy and sophistry of the 
 human race, nor the gates of hell, cannot prevail 
 against it, then, then, what a blessed argument in 
 
170 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 the mouth and heart of every unsaved sinner under 
 the sound of the Gospel, without regard to elect or 
 non-elect. No one " hated of God from eternity," or 
 so " cursedly unbelieving here" (as Owen hath it), 
 but that he* may believe and be saved, and " have 
 life through His name." But some one will say this 
 view of the atonement, this kind of argument, render- 
 ing the satisfaction made to Divine Justice for human 
 sinfulness, as done for all in the same sense that all 
 are salvable, and not for the elect only, just amounts 
 to this, that, although it may seem plausible, it is in 
 reality no atonement at all, as all may resist the Spirit 
 of Grace, and no one be saved ; and it is contrary to 
 the opinions of all those who believe in Calvinism in 
 reference to this important doctrine, and the con- 
 sequence of accepting this inference from the words 
 of Jesus, as an undeniable truth, would be deplorable 
 and disastrous to the cause of Christ in general, and 
 tlie Presbyterian Churches in particular. 
 
 Now, if I were able I might write a large folio 
 volume of divinity on the above sentence ; but it is 
 not needful, as the argument speaks for itself, and of 
 all men in the world. Christians have the least need 
 to be careful or afraid of the consequences of truth. 
 The Christian does not worship we know not what ; 
 he worships and believes in the great God, the creator 
 and possessor of heaven and earth, as revealed in His 
 word. He believes that the sun, moon and stars are 
 truth ; that heaven, earth and hell are truth ) that sin 
 and salvation, time and eternity are truth ; that Christ 
 is " the truth." And if his conceptions of these all- 
 important and momentous truths are correct, wlmt 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 171 
 
 lias he to fear ? His convictions and belief are founded 
 on the rock of ages, on the God of truth, and are 
 therefore indestructible. If his convictions are partially 
 erroneous, are false, then he will and must feel thank- 
 ful to be delivered from them, knowing that " no lie is 
 of the truth." The Christian, then, above all others, 
 will cherish a profound regard for truth, and those who 
 " do truth" wherever found, irrespective of con- 
 sequences. What is truth ? is the (question with him, 
 apart from what the real or supposed consequences 
 may be to the religious world, the political world, 
 or the whole world of mankind. 
 
 While on the one hand, therefore, I am not careful 
 as concerning the consequences arising from the 
 belief of the argument, but rather for the undeniable 
 truth contained in it, on the other I can only see 
 grace and truth given by Christ Jesus unto all who 
 believe in the virtue and efficacy of His name for 
 salvation, and that without exception. The greater 
 part of mankind are not excluded from the benefits 
 of Christ's death by the creed of other Churches. Do 
 not the Greek, Roman, English and other Churches 
 unite with the great Methodist family of both worlds 
 in proclaiming, with the apostle John, the universality 
 of the atonement in these words : " Behold the Lamb 
 of God, vv^hich taketh away the sin of the w^orld ?" 
 Let us also remove all legal barriers, and obstructions, 
 and doctrines of men, and let all limitations of what- 
 ever aspect, and every thing that opposeth, or letteth 
 the truth, be taken out of the way, that " the word of 
 the Lord may have free course and be glorified." 
 
 " Comingevents cast their shadows before." Things 
 glorious are said of Zion, which must be in the future. 
 
 ) > 
 
 ■> 
 
 .1'' 
 
172 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 Surely it might be said that the time to favor her is 
 come. Is not God willing to dwell in tlic midst of 
 her, and make her a joy and rejoicing in all the earth? 
 Are there not symptoms of a coming regeneration ? 
 Are there not many running to and fro on the earth, 
 as well as knowledge increasing ? The Churches are 
 in a state of agitation among the nations, and master- 
 spirits are in motion guiding the efforts made in the 
 direction of union — spiritual union — that they all 
 may be one as His name is one. There are even 
 world-embracing souls, who have been holding con- 
 ventions. For what ? To compass the evangelization 
 of the whole world in the present century. That's 
 noble, and bespeaks a nation jealous of its blessings ; 
 true nobility, when the whole soul, mind and strength 
 are put forth in mighty efforts, that the whole human 
 race may be raised from a state of sin, suffering, and 
 degradation, s,nd their heads be again crowned with 
 glory and honor, and all shall know the Lord, when 
 the Gospel shall be preached among all nations, and 
 whosoever calleth on His name shall be saved. Now, 
 in reference to human agency, these niighty works 
 can only be accomplished by combined effort and 
 unity of purpose. But this must originate in personal 
 exertion. It must first be every individual apart. 
 Every one can influence somebody for good or evil. 
 But no one can do good in the proper sense unless he 
 be good. " Our hearts must he right in the sight of God.^^ 
 Keep repeating these words very often until you 
 know and believe it is so. This you will know by 
 your being at war with all sin, at war with the devil, 
 the world, and the flesh, as respecting sin. If your 
 heart is right in the sight of God, you can have no 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 'or her is 
 midst of 
 iic eartli ? 
 le ration ? 
 ho earth, 
 rchcs are 
 1 inaster- 
 e in the 
 they all 
 are even 
 lii'.g con- 
 yelization 
 . That's 
 (lessings ; 
 strength 
 .e human 
 ring, and 
 red with 
 rd, when 
 ons, and 
 1. Now, 
 y works 
 Tort and 
 personal 
 al apart, 
 or evil. 
 unless he 
 of Godr 
 ntil you 
 mow by 
 he devil, 
 If your 
 have no 
 
 173 
 
 compromise with sin or meanness, and wherever a 
 horn or clover? foot appears you will smash it at what- 
 ever sacrifice or cost. If so, then you know the truth 
 (Christ), and the truth Imth made you free, and you 
 are a soldier of the Lord Jesus, and do good service 
 in His cause, and are a praying and a 'paying Christian 
 if you should only give a mite, and only be able to 
 say, " Am I not thine, thy ransomed one ?" 
 
 Tlie united efforts of all such saved sinners under 
 "the Leader and Commander of the people," can 
 regenerate the world. Let all such do everything in 
 His name, and for liis sake, and pray always, and not 
 faint, " that His kingdom may come. Let every mem- 
 ber of every Church work for union in his own Church, 
 and a union of all Churches, so that there shall be 
 one Church and one fold, and thus " prepare a high- 
 way for our God," and He will come and bless us, 
 and " men shall be blessed in Him, and all nations 
 sliall call Him blessed." 
 
 The following is a proof of the mighty results of 
 individual and united action, and what can be accom- 
 plished by persevering effort in the right direction. 
 From small beginnings the Young Men's Christian 
 Associations are becoming a great moral and religious 
 power for good. At a late Convention in Portland, 
 above eight hundred delegates from various parts of 
 America were present. The great, and noble, and 
 mighty men of this Continent were there. Cliampions 
 of the Cross were there ; and among other matters of 
 deep importance, and " after intense excitement as to 
 what Evangelical meant," gave forth a glorious deliver- 
 ance, signed by those from the north and the south, 
 the east and the west, and adopted by the whole 
 assembly. 
 
 ( 
 
 i!- 
 
 .(• 
 
 ■;' 
 
174 A VOICE rnoM the wilderness op Canada. 
 
 DELIVERANCE. 
 
 " And we hold those Churches to l^e Evangelical 
 ■which, maintaining the Holy Scriptures to be the only 
 infallible rule of faith and practice, believe in the 
 Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the 
 Fathcn*, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, (in whom 
 dwelleth the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and who 
 wus made sin for us, though knowing no i:in, bearing 
 our sins in his own body on the tree,) as the only 
 name under heaven given among men whereby we 
 must be saved from everlasting punishment." 
 
 That may be held aloft for the Western world, 
 and wafted across the great ocean as a " confession and 
 watchword" for the nations here below, and minister- 
 ing spirits will publish it among the "nations of 
 those that are saved," that His name may be exalted, 
 " for of His power and dominion there shall be no 
 end." 
 
 But although much has been done, and mighty 
 efforts are being made, yet certain it is, tliat " the 
 Light still shineth in c rkness, and the darkness 
 comprehendeth it not," and so far as v/e can discover 
 there must be a revolution in Christendom, not only 
 as regards political and social changes, but a revolu- 
 tionizing of the minds of all Christian nations in 
 reference to their sense of duty to God and man ; 
 the hearts of the people must be unsecularizcd, so 
 that their energies may not be absorbed in the collec- 
 tion of sticks and straws, and cheating and devour- 
 ing one another, to the neglect of what is heavenly, 
 God-like and eternal. There needs a revolutionizing 
 in Cliurches — in all Churches — both in reference to 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 175 
 
 most Preachers and people assuming a totally diiferent 
 attitude relative to their name and profession as 
 Christians. It seems as if there must be a general 
 muster, a different as well as a general and special 
 training, and more skilful marshalling of the forces of 
 Christendom, before there can be harbingers of the 
 coming regeneration. But although we cannot tell 
 how, yet it will come and not tarry ; what seems 
 impossible with men is possible with God, there- 
 fore let all pray and not faint, be glad and rejoice, 
 feeling assured that the Lord God Omnipotent 
 veigneth, and that the performance of present duty 
 will be blessed towards the accomplishment of what 
 we so much desire in the future. 
 
 ELECTIOX. 
 
 I would now say a few words additional relative 
 to this mystery of llis will, concerning which so much 
 has already been written and said by those better 
 qualified. We know but little concerning the deep 
 things of God, and therefore our reasoning should be 
 brief and our words few. Man's theorizing in this, 
 as in other mysteries of godliness, is often vain 
 jangling and idle speculation. " Where wast thou 
 when I laid the foundations ot the earth ?" And if 
 it should be said : " Wliere wast tliou when I pur- 
 posed the eternal purpose of the sinner's salvation by 
 grace in Christ Jesus ?" the reply is, we are sinful 
 dust and ashes of yesterday, and know nothing of the 
 depths of past eternity only as revealed in His word. 
 According to the Scriptures this eternal purpose being 
 purposed in Christ .lesus, it will be seen that the 
 HiirtKion of the J^on of God to our world wasarevela- 
 
 f. 
 
m 
 
 176 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 wl 
 
 ' .1" '. 
 
 ;3".'i^- II 
 
 i' 
 
 
 r- s -i* 
 
 It 
 
 tion of the mystery of His will concerning that eternal 
 purpose, — was a fulfilment of the purpose or intenti«>n 
 which God designed before the world began. Jesus, 
 therefore, is the true exponent, the truth in tliis as in 
 all other things hard to be understood. Through His 
 teachings, then, while on earth, and from those who 
 spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, can we 
 obtain any satisfactory conceptions concerning this 
 doctrine. 
 
 Now unless the reader have understanding in such 
 things, wliat I write will not be profitable unless he 
 himself search the Scriptures, believing he will be 
 taught of God. I think what is needful to be known 
 concerning God's purposes of love and grace to our 
 world will be found unfolded by the Saviour of sin- 
 ners in the third chapter of John, from the beginning 
 to the twenty-first verse inclusive, as clearly and fully 
 as in any other part of the sacred writings. You 
 will find in these verses that Jesus was a Teacher 
 sent from God — the Son of God from heaven— speak- 
 ing and testifying what He knew and had seen; 
 especially that He would be lifted up as a propitiatory 
 sacrifice, that the world through Him might be saved. 
 
 Now although it might be said that tl ' mission 
 of Jesus, the whole Giospel of the grace of God, 
 the truth as regards man's position upon earth, and 
 his eternal destiny, are all taught and explained in 
 this lesson to the Euler of the Jews, and also to us, 
 and that the verses contain an exposition of the 
 eternal purposes of Jehovah (called by some decrees), 
 in reference t<» the sinner's salvation or condemnation, 
 yet the same truths are also taught in a va?'iety of 
 
A. 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 177 
 
 it eternal 
 intentitm 
 . Jesus, 
 this as in 
 ougli His 
 hose who 
 ,t, can we 
 hiiig this 
 
 ig in such 
 unless he 
 e will be 
 be known 
 ice to our 
 ir of sin- 
 beginning 
 and fully 
 You 
 
 Teacher 
 
 —speak- 
 lad seen ; 
 Qpitiatory 
 be saved, 
 mission 
 
 of God, 
 3arth, and 
 lained in 
 ilso to us, 
 n of the 
 3 decrees), 
 
 nmation, 
 variety of 
 
 ^gs 
 
 ways by Christ anrl His Apostles, and to such teach- 
 ings I beg your earnest attention. 
 
 Do not, however, I pray you, overlook the all- 
 important initiative part of the lesson given to 
 Nicodemus in the third verse. No other teacher in 
 the whole w^orld could so teach, and with the same 
 authority — " Verily, verily," &c. Do not let the words 
 slip until you can tell or realize the meaning of them, 
 if you know not " these things" already. Knowing 
 about the doctrine of election is a non-essential, as 
 compared with some knowledge of these words. If 
 you know nothing about them, then it may be said, 
 you are " hair-hung, breeze-shaken" over the gulf of 
 eternal perdition. Therefore take no rest, day nor 
 night, till you find out the hidden meaning, and you 
 will find it " a treasure in the heavens that faileth 
 not." 
 
 Although the sinner's salvation is a whole, and 
 was included in the eternal purpose, yet it is divided 
 into various parts or branches, as pardon, election, 
 justification, adoption, sanctitication and regeneration. 
 But these parts are all, like the whole, conditional 
 upon faith as the means through which the sinner is 
 saved, or pardoned, elected, &c. But no merit is due 
 to the believer on account of his faith, as it is the 
 gift of God, — the gift by grace, — yet it entitles him 
 to merit, as it is counted to him for righteousness. 
 Now ic reference to these saving acts of God's free 
 grace joming to pass in time, w7ie7i the sinner believes, 
 you will observe that the sinner or ungodly "' is chosen 
 or elected through sanctification of the Spirit and 
 belief of the truth," and the other gracious acts 
 
 :■ 
 
 1 
 
lis 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE" WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 mentioned above take effect at or in the moment of 
 believing also, and are, tlierefore, inseparable and 
 without priority. As the sinner's faith in Christ's 
 name, or. that Christ died for him, is the means of 
 each and of all, through or by which means the 'Holy 
 Spirit justifies, elects, adopts, regenerates and sancti- 
 fies the believing sinner, the inference is apparent and 
 inevitable ; all these acts must come to pass simul- 
 taneously, and are co-existent with, as well as consequent 
 upon the sinner's belief of the truth as it is in Jesus. 
 Tliev are inseparable, and are all one in Christ Jesus, 
 priority is impossible; and it might be said : "The 
 first shall be last and the last first." God's eternal 
 purpose embraces a glorious election, a glorious justi- 
 fication and regenereition to every sinner who believes 
 the Gospel ; but tlie sinner has " grace given him," 
 and is adopted or justified from eternity in the same 
 sense as he is elected ; and in reference to the actual 
 fulfilment of the purpose in time, the sinner is not 
 justified because he is elected, nor elected because he 
 is adopted, as some imagine, who think election is 
 antecedent to the other acts ; for in the moment he was 
 elected, through belief of the truth, he was also birn 
 of the Spirit, adopted, "sanctified and justified 'n 
 the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of on.' 
 God." It will be seen, then, that the eternal purpose 
 of election was not prior to that of adoption or justi- 
 fication, but all one purpose, coromi Deo, before God, 
 one and inseparable. But the purpose was not an 
 act or work done ; there was in reality no eternal 
 adoption or election, because the earth did not revolve 
 on its axis millions of ages before its creation ; and 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS Of CANAbA. 179 
 
 aent of 
 )le and 
 Christ's 
 leans of 
 10 iloly 
 
 sancti- 
 ent and 
 3 simul- 
 isequent 
 a Jesus, 
 t Jesus, 
 d: "The 
 
 eternal 
 LS justi- 
 believes 
 n him," 
 le same 
 B actual 
 ' is not 
 
 ause he 
 
 ction if- 
 
 he was 
 
 so birn 
 
 ified 'n 
 
 of OU.' 
 
 purpose 
 r justi- 
 re God, 
 not an 
 eternal 
 revolve 
 n ; and 
 
 (I speak with revei-ence) God could not select nothino- 
 from nothing, therefore some could not be elected 
 from the rest, as some maintain. Their error is in con- 
 tending that that exists which does not exist, or, when 
 the purpose is formed the act is 'done, which is con- 
 trary to reason and Scripture. 
 
 In reference to Eph. i. 4, so often quoted and mis- 
 quoted, I might say the verse is a clause of a sentence 
 containing ten verses, which should be read together 
 with the other three sentences in the chapter, that 
 the meaning of the whole may be partially under- 
 stood. Tliose whom Paul addressed were faithful in 
 Christ Jesus, and verse 12 might be read at the end 
 of the 3rd, 6th and 10th, which would show that the 
 Ephesian Christians had first trusted in Christ accord- 
 ing as God had chosen them in Him before the foun- 
 dation of the world : that is, in the same sense that 
 Paul and Timothy had grace given them before the 
 world began, viz., in Christ Jesus according to His 
 purpose. But Paul and Timothy did not exist before 
 the world began, but the purpose of God according 
 to election, adoption and salvation, existed ; and the 
 Ephesians' trusting in Christ, and Timothy's unfeigned 
 faith, prove that that purpose was conditional upon 
 man's act of belief in time, which is abundantly set 
 forth in the pages of Holy Writ. If it be said " that 
 the purpose of the Lord sliall stand, and He will do 
 all His pleasure," and therefore His elect will be 
 elected in time according to His eternal purpose in 
 Christ Jesus — -I say that is truth, all but the two 
 words, " His elect," which should be one word, " sin- 
 ners.'' His pleasure is emphatically declared: " As 
 
 ' f 
 
 mM' 
 
180 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 W it! 
 
 i ; 
 
 I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death 
 or ruin of sinners, but rather that they would turn 
 unto me and live." He willeth not that any should 
 perish, and yet some say that i.t hath so pleased Him, 
 that the intention of Christ's death was that a few 
 only could be saved. If it be said that the eternal 
 purpose was unconditional — that so many shall and 
 must be saved — I reply, that is not truth, and my wit- 
 ness is threefold. 
 
 1st. The whole human race who can discern 
 between good and evil. It will be found they all 
 claim and assert the right and privilege that they 
 are free to choose ; and place them in certain posi- 
 tions, they will declare with one accord that certain 
 actions should be rewarded and others punished, 
 showing that mankind are in a probationary state, 
 free, moral, and conscious agents, and therefore 
 responsible to God and man. 
 
 2nd. The Scriptures of the Old and ISTew Testa- 
 ment are predicated upon this principle; assume as 
 the basis of all their teachings, " that God left free 
 the human will." "I am come that ye 7night have 
 life. God sent not, &c., but that the world, through 
 Him miffht he saved. Ye will 7iot come unto me. 
 Because he hath not believed. How often looidd I, 
 but ye would not. If ye believe not that I am He, 
 &c. If ye. neglect so great salvation." If it were 
 needful I might quote a considerable portion of the 
 Scriptures, proving there must be a moral power in 
 man after God has done His part — the power of 
 volition to refuse the evil or to choose the good — to 
 believe or disbelieve God's messajxe of love and errace 
 
 Hill 
 III 
 
DA. 
 
 L the death 
 'ould turn 
 my should 
 iased Hmi, 
 that a few 
 he eternal 
 ' shall and 
 id my wit- 
 in discern 
 id they all 
 
 that they 
 rtain posi- 
 hat certain 
 
 punished, 
 iiary state, 
 
 therefore 
 
 [ew Testa- 
 assume as 
 3d left free 
 nifjlit have 
 d, through 
 
 unto me. 
 in loould I, 
 I am He, 
 If it were 
 ion of the 
 il power in 
 
 power of 
 e good — to 
 
 and grace 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 181 
 
 to him as a sinner saved or unsaved. Suffice it to 
 say, all the exceeding great and precious promises 
 "whereby we are made partakers of the divine 
 nature," are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus, but 
 conditional, that is to say : there is not one uncondi- 
 tional promise of God's love to men in the Book 
 of God. He cannot be just, and the justifier of the 
 Gospel hearer, who does not believe in Christ. 
 
 But, in the 3rd place, the words of Jesus, " Because 
 he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten 
 Son of God," at once settles the whole matter of the 
 sinner's position involving a condition in reference to 
 his salvation, including election and the other acts of 
 God's free grace. The conjunction (because) is full 
 of meaning as referring to the preceding clause, and 
 the words surely imply the opposition, a possible 
 antithesis. Can any one be righteously condemned 
 for not performing a work which it was impossible he 
 could perform ? Does the condemnation not imply 
 that the eternal purpose included a drend alternative 
 or condition? that there was a name given under 
 heaven by which he could have been saved ; or, as 
 Mr. Cheyne has it in one of his sermons, "For, verily, 
 he took not on Him the nature of angels," &c. 
 " There is no doubt (saith he) a time in every man's 
 life when, if he opens the door, he will be saved ; if 
 he does not, he will perish." That great man could 
 not have been a non-electist. The words of Jesus 
 undeniably prove that the doctrine of men, called 
 decree of reprobation, whereby the greater part of the 
 human race are irrevocably decreed to everlasting 
 death from eternity, being non-elect and no atonement 
 n:ade for them, passed by, &c., ought to be ignored 
 9 
 
182 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
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 and alDJuretl by every one to whom the Gospel is 
 preached; has no foundation in the Word of God, and 
 ought to ''^'^ called a doctrine of devils rather than of 
 men. 
 
 And be not deceived with the Calvinian theory of 
 election, as if you could have an excuse by their 
 setting forth that Christ died for the elect only, and 
 that it is nonsense to speak about the non-elect 
 believing, no atonement being made for them, as you 
 now know and understand the contrary; and that 
 satisfaction and atonement have been made for your 
 sins, and for the sins of the whole world, and the 
 sinner is condemned for not believing that atonement 
 has been made for him, for not bel" jving there is a 
 name for him, which Calvin's followers say is not 
 truth at all. 
 
 The Scriptures abound with proof texts corrobora- 
 tive of these remarks relative to these various acts of 
 God's free grace. Carefully read rid compare the 
 following: — Justification and adoption, Gal. iii. 24, 
 26 ; election, 2nd Thess. ii. 13 ; sanctification. Acts 
 xxvi. 18 ; regeneration, 1st John v. 1 ; the eternity of 
 these acts, Eph. i. 4, 5. They are all one and in- 
 separable. What I have written is chiefly the result 
 of my own earnest and anxious inquiries into the 
 Scriptures of truth. But such doctrines belong to 
 the mysteries of godliness, and man is circumscribed 
 in reference thereto ; nor do I consider it profitable 
 for any one to attempt to be wise above what is 
 written, but, as little children, to grasp and hold fast 
 those words of eternal life which will make ns wise 
 unto salvation, assured that " a little while will clear 
 up all," and we will " learn the deep meaning of 
 things that have been." 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 183 
 
 >osi3el is 
 God, and 
 r than of 
 
 theory of 
 by their 
 only, and 
 non-elect 
 m, as you 
 and that 
 e for your 
 , and the 
 itonement 
 there is a 
 say is not 
 
 corrohora- 
 3US acts of 
 npare the 
 a. iii. 24, 
 tion. Acts 
 eternity of 
 le and in- 
 the result 
 into the 
 belong to 
 umscribed 
 profitable 
 e what is 
 hold fast 
 ke us wise 
 will clear 
 leaning of 
 
 iS 
 
 That we may know and understand more cloarl; , 
 I will endeavour to speak of the various ])rincipal 
 branches of our salvation as making a wh(jle, under 
 tlie emblem of a tree. As it is a tree of the Lord's 
 own planting, your earnest attention will be needed 
 in inspecting the trunk, main branches, roots, 
 blossoms, &c. 
 
 Around the trunk, noar the surface, you will see 
 inscribed, " God so loved the world, that He gave 
 His only begotten Son, tliat whosoever believeth in 
 Him should not perish, but have everlasting life," 
 and salvation ] grace " through faith, and that not 
 of yourselves, it is tlie gift of God." And immediately 
 above, "For as sin hath leigned unto death, even so 
 might grace reign, through righteousness, unto eternal 
 life by Jesus Christ our Lord." 
 
 The roots of trees being mostly hidden from view, 
 I am not able to tell you much about the roots of 
 this tree. But what I can say is most strange and 
 wonderful, and of infinite importance to the Imman 
 race. The tree is " rooted and grounded in love" — 
 in love which is sovereign, eternal and unchangeable 
 — and its roots penetrate to such an unfathomable 
 depth as to reach far beyond the ken of men or 
 angels, although it is a depth they often desire to 
 look into. We will, therefore, attend to such parts of 
 the tree as are discoverable by us. Above the last 
 inscription on the trunk we find all the remaining 
 belt of the stem, upwards to where it seems to be 
 divided into five main branches, closely written, in 
 such manner that "He who runs may read," with 
 the following among other texts : " Without faith it 
 is impossible to please God. Believe and live. If 
 

 m 
 
 & 
 
 k*!iU 
 
 184 A Voice prom the wilderness op Canada. 
 
 ye believe not that I am He, yo aliall die in your sins. 
 He tliat believeth on Me sliall never die. Believest 
 thoutliis? By the grace of God He tasted death for 
 every man. Tlicreftjre it is of faitli, that it miglit be 
 by grace. To him tliat workcth not, lait believeth on 
 Him who justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted 
 for righteousness," and a numl-cr of similar texts, 
 only the words, "Do you now believe" written in 
 larger characters, as if of special and paramount 
 importance. 
 
 You will now look upwards (it is a long way to 
 the top) where the tree divides itself into five main 
 branches, and what may seem strange, a number of 
 the sentences engraved on tlie stem run up into these 
 branches, beginning on the tt'unk and ending on the 
 branches. You will notice one text in large letters, 
 viz., "Believe on the Lord Jesus Clirist, and thou 
 slialt be saved," that the words, " Believe on the Lord 
 Jesus Christ" are written on the stem, and the remain- 
 ing words, "and thou shalt be saved" written on 
 each of the five branches ; bat instead of the word 
 " saved" it was written on one branch " jicstificd,'" on 
 another " elected" and " adopted" " regenerated" and 
 "sanctified" respectively. On each branch you can 
 read in golden letters, adoption, election, justification, 
 resceneration, sanctification. You will also observe 
 a number of the same texts on each branch as you 
 read on the trunk. Eead them again, they are 
 precious if you believe; if not, n-ead them. "Grace 
 reigns" that sinners may be saved, which word 
 " saved" includes all the other branches. 
 
 I think you will now understand that the differ- 
 ence between the branches is in reality nominal, and 
 
 1 I 
 
)A. 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 18." 
 
 i) 
 
 your SHIS, 
 Beliovcst 
 death for 
 might bo 
 [ievcth on 
 s counted 
 lar texts, 
 written in 
 aramount 
 
 iig way to 
 five main 
 number of 
 into these 
 ing on the 
 ge letters, 
 and thou 
 1 the Lord 
 le remain- 
 t^ritten on 
 the word 
 stificd^^ on 
 ratcdC' and 
 you can 
 stification, 
 ,0 observe 
 ich as you 
 they are 
 . " Grace 
 ich word 
 
 the differ- 
 ninal, and 
 
 30 with the trunk. He who is saved tln-ough faitli is 
 elected and adopted. Each l^ranch might be called a 
 continuation of the stem ; this will appear more evi- 
 dent as we ascend the tree. As the ])ranches keep 
 towering aloft, pointing upwards nnd heavenwards, 
 they seem so much alike that we can scarcely dis- 
 tinguish one from another, and on both justification 
 and sanctification you can read, " Ihit ye are washed, 
 but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name 
 of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our Ood." 
 On justification and election "Wlio shall lay any- 
 thing to the charge of (}od's elect, it is CJod who 
 justifieth." And on election and adoption, " Hath 
 not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith 
 and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to 
 them that love Him." (^n adoption and regeneration, 
 " But as many as received Him to them gave He 
 power to become the sons of God, even to them who 
 believe in His name, who were born of God." 
 
 You will now perceive that these five branches 
 are all one in Christ Jesus, and are all included in 
 the trunk, and in one another, and he, or she, who is 
 the subject of one possesses the whole, and by the 
 same means, viz., repentance towards God, and faith 
 towards our Lord Jesus Christ, which t\\'o are also 
 inseparal)le, and in one sense so also are faith and 
 works. 
 
 You can now see, as the branches shoot up more 
 rapidly towards heaven, that they seem to come in 
 contact with and embrce each other, and resemble 
 one another so much that you can no longer discern 
 any difference, and whatever insr.u'i[)tiou is on one is. 
 on all of them alike. Amongst otluir.) shine fortli. 
 
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 186 
 
 A VOICE FROM TH»-1 WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 Wherefore, my brethren, we also are become dead to 
 the law, by the body of Ohrist, that we should be 
 married to another, even to Him lolio is raised from 
 the dead, tliat we should bring fortli fruit unto God. 
 For the law was given by IMoses, but grace and truth 
 came by Christ Jesus. In Him dwells all the fulness 
 of the Clodhead bodily, and of his fulness have all we 
 received, and grace for grace. Our conversation is in 
 heaven. And if children, then heirs — heirs of God 
 and joint heirs with Christ — even heirs of the riches 
 of eternity." 
 
 There is a wonderful tree spoken of in the book 
 of Daniel. It grew up in sight of all the earth, and 
 its branches reached unto lieaven. But this tree is 
 indescribably more wonderful, as its branches not 
 only reach unto, but into heaven, " farther than our 
 imnrjination can extend itself," into the third heavens, 
 even unto the throne of the Eternal, where they will 
 continue to grow and flourish beside living fountains 
 of water while endless ages roll on. Tlie branches 
 now are more dimly seen, and appear to be interwoven 
 with each other, and look very much like the trunk 
 above the surface, but are almost invisible in the deep 
 blue sky. 
 
 We will now glance at the other parts of our tree, 
 the other boughs, leaves, blossoms, &c. The boughs 
 growing from the main stem and principal branches 
 seem all alike, and intertwine as they grow up, and 
 shoot forth in siglit of all the earth. The hand- 
 writing is common to all of them, such us, " Whatso- 
 ever tilings are true and honest, just, and pure and 
 lovely, and of good report, if there be any virtue, and 
 if there be any praise, think on these things." And 
 
 
 1 i 
 
DA. 
 
 fie dead to 
 ;liould be 
 lised from 
 into God. 
 and truth 
 he fulness 
 lave all we 
 ation is in 
 irs of God 
 the riches 
 
 1 the book 
 earth, and 
 this tree is 
 inches not 
 lY than our 
 d heavens, 
 e they will 
 
 fountains 
 e branches 
 interwoven 
 
 the trunk 
 in the dee]) 
 
 )f our tree, 
 'he boughs 
 al branches 
 w up, and 
 The hand- 
 " Whatso- 
 id pure and 
 virtue, and 
 MI'S." And 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 187 
 
 on those shooting forth to the uttermost sea and the 
 isles of the ocean, " What mean ye to weep, and to 
 break mine heart, I am not only ready to be bound, 
 but to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord 
 Jesus." The tree is bespangled witli clusters of 
 flowers which have a sweet-smelling savour, and 
 around them is written, " All the exceeding great and 
 precious promises of God, whereby we are made 
 partakers of the Divine nature, are all yea and amen 
 in Christ Jesus." And the leaves were written on 
 each side with promises, and " grace for grace," and 
 like the leaves of tlie tree of life " were for the heal- 
 ing of the nations." Faith, hope and love seem to 
 take great delight among the precious crimson coloured 
 flowers and blossoms (they would seem to be 
 besprinkled), and faith regales herself as in a well 
 watered garden, and you can see in legible letters, 
 '* Strong in faith, giving glory to God." 
 
 Only a part of the fruit of this tree is visible, as 
 much of what is enduring and fadeth not away is in- 
 visible to mortal eye, being " hid with Christ in God," 
 or grows on the tops of the tree, and is, therefore, 
 " unseen and eternal." But the visible parts of the 
 tree, nevertheless, are pendent with choice fruit, and 
 Ijcing of one kind — even God's own kind — is generally 
 marked as follows : " Love, peace, joy, gladness, all 
 is yours ; Christ in you, the hope of glory ; ye are 
 Christ's, and Christ is God's ; a hundredfold in this 
 life, and in the world to come life overlap 
 
 'O 5 
 
 "ye may well break out in mirth, for God is one with 
 you henceforth." 
 
 You will easily conceive that tlieseedof this tree, 
 l)ein<;<; alter its kind, wherever it is sown " taketh root 
 
 f- 
 
 i' 'I 
 
;il 
 
 li ! 
 !• I 
 
 188 
 
 A VOICE rnOM the wilderness op CANADA. 
 
 I ;( ••■■ 
 
 downwards, and beareth fruit upwards," so that you 
 can follow its " growth in grace," with all its rare and 
 wonderful results, until it becomes like the parent 
 tree, another similar " plant of renown." But there 
 is a strangeness about the seed. One seed costs as 
 much as a whole tree, on account of the price paid 
 for it. He gave Himself an offering and a sacrifice 
 to God for one sinner — for thee and for mc — and as " a 
 ransom for all, to be testified in due time." The seed 
 cannot die because it is incorruptible, and cannot 
 decay, but must grow ; all the efforts of sin and Satan 
 cannot prevent its growth. It is the seed of the new 
 birth, and he in whose lieart it is implanted " cannot 
 sin, because he is born of God." It differs from all 
 seeds in being invisible and wafted about by the 
 breath of heaven, and generally alighting on strange 
 soil, even in the broken and contrite heart, and in tliat 
 of the poor and needy, or in the heart of those wlio 
 have none to lielj) theiUj and it is sure to germinate 
 and grow, although we cannot tell how. Can you tell 
 or describe how any otlicr tree grows from a seed ? 
 
 Now although there is not much of the matter 
 relative to the tree and its branches of an argumentative 
 kind, yet you will perceive an argument grows out of 
 it in reference to the Calvinian Standard dogma of 
 election being eternal or unconditional in any other 
 sense than the other acts of God's free grace. There 
 is no one, in reality, elected or adopted in Christ from 
 eternity otherwise than ho is justified; and to say 
 that some of the human family are elected in Christ, 
 and fallen in Adam, before tlie world began, is to 
 assert tliat the work is done when the design thereof 
 is purposed, or that our world was in existence before 
 
,liat you 
 •are and 
 3 parent 
 it there 
 costs as 
 ice paid 
 sacrifice 
 ad as " a 
 The seed 
 I cannot 
 nd Satan 
 the new 
 " cannot 
 i from all 
 b by the 
 n strange 
 id in that 
 hose who 
 rerminate 
 n you tell 
 seed ? 
 le matter 
 ncntativc 
 ws out of 
 [^ma of 
 any other 
 3. There 
 u'ist from 
 to say 
 in Christ, 
 ran, is to 
 pi thereof 
 ice before 
 
 A VOICE FUOM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 189 
 
 it was created, or that the other branches of the tree 
 liad not the same root as election, and were not co- 
 existent ill the Divine mind from eternity, and not 
 all one in time when the sinner believes, and is not 
 only unscriptiiral, but fibsurd and contradictory. 
 
 Another inconsistency in Calvin's Tiieolojry, as 
 upheld. by our Standards, is the division of children 
 into " elect and non-elect" infants, assuming that the 
 one shall be saved and the other lost. Children are 
 not saved because they are " elect," but because Christ 
 died for human sinfulness. I\om. v. from verse 12 to 
 the end sets forth Man's Fall and llestoration. For 
 our purpose the verses may be resolved into tlie.se two 
 points, viz., INIan's Fall through Adam, and his Eestora- 
 tion through our Lord Jesus Christ, " by whom we 
 have now received the atonement" (how can those 
 receive the atonement for whom no atonement is 
 made ?) if we believe in His name, and " confess that 
 Jesus is the Son of God." 
 
 Verse 12. This verse is readily understood by all, 
 except those who wish to cavil. Every reflecting 
 person perceives and feels that there is something 
 morally wrong in himself, and in aU those around 
 him ; in short, that tlicy are sinners as well as he him- 
 self, and that " death rcitjns." 
 
 Verse 13. " F'or until the law (that is, the moral 
 law given to !Moses), sin was in the world, but sin 
 is not imputed when there is no law." It must then 
 have been the law written in their hearts, their con- 
 science bearing witness, which is spoken of in the 
 second chapter, that was the ruling principle or 
 standard of the moral actions of mankind until tlic 
 giving of the ten commandments. 
 9* 
 
 'i 
 
 t'l 
 
100 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 r 
 
 i 
 
 Verse 14. ^[ark well tlie words of this verse. (If 
 you have not a Testament by you go and get one, and 
 road the verse again and again, or it is vain for you 
 to read wliat I have written.) You will perceive the 
 edect of Adam's sin, in bringing death on his 
 postei'ity, is shown in this, that the sentence was 
 executed on those who had not sinned as he did ; that 
 is, on infants and others who could not discern between 
 good and evil, who, although guilty of original sin by 
 imputation, could not by possibility have committed 
 actual transgression. " Nevertheless death reigned 
 from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not 
 sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression." 
 It must clearly be seen, then, that as infants and 
 others not conscious of good or evil suffered death as 
 a punishment for sin, it must have been imputed sin, 
 or because Adam sinned, and in this sense it might be 
 said, " They sinned in him and fell with him in his 
 first transgression." 
 
 But wliat comes next ? Wherefore ti esc premises ? 
 Are they not the Ijasis of the glorious superstructure, 
 and of the consequent heavenly and eternal results 
 insisted upon to the end of the chapter ? 
 
 " Who is the figure of Him that was to come ?" 
 Adam, tlien, was only the figure or outline of what 
 was to be filled up by the second man, " the Lord 
 from heaven," who is the reality of this figure. But 
 many contend for the figure more than the reality, 
 and will not allow that the outline was filled up in 
 (Hn-ist. 
 
 Why be contented with the shadow, or rather the 
 " thorns and thistles," and not lay hold on the glorious 
 substance, " the tree of life," the good things to come. 
 
A VOICE FIIOM TIM': WILDERNKSS OF CANADA. 
 
 101 
 
 Paul, moved by the Holy (Jliost, sets ibrtli tliat over 
 infants and others death ?'cigned, and, therefore, sin 
 was imputed to them; hut this, however solenni, 
 afllictive and severe, prefij^'ured a glorious realization, 
 as shown in the following verses. Wliat heavenly 
 raptures must have taken possession of the heart and 
 soul of the apostle, as he Mrote these wonderful 
 "buts," "fors" and "much mores," which abound to 
 the end of the chapter, concluding with that strange 
 and glorious name by which wc are saved, even "Jesus 
 Christ our Lord." 
 
 " Wc have seen, then," says Dr. Chalmers, "that the 
 efiect of Adam's sin in bringing death upon his 
 posterity, is demonstrated by this circumstance, that 
 the sentence had full execution even upon those who 
 had not in their own person sinned as he did. Death 
 reigned even over them, l^ut Adam being the figure of 
 Christ, shows that what the one brought upon mankind 
 by his disol)edience, the other by His obedience took 
 away. But l)y these verses Christ did more than 
 remove the sentence which lay upon mankind, because 
 of the sin of Adam being imputed to them. The 
 sentence was all that could be inflicted on infants, or 
 those who had not sinned actually as he did. ])Ut 
 these verses clearly prove the superiority of that good 
 which Christ has done for us over that evil which 
 Adam has entailed upon us." " But not as the offence 
 (saith Paul), so also is the free gift." Wliatever evil 
 is imj)uted on account of Adam's sin, the gift by 
 Christ compensates for more. " ^lucli more the grace 
 of God and tlie gift by grace" is imputed to all dying 
 in infancy and others not morally responsible for 
 actual transgression, U\ wliom Adam's sin is imputed, 
 
 ! 
 
192 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 wliicli must be all children in all lands, and these 
 verses hmv^ the truth of (}od, they all shall be saved 
 " with an everlasting salvation," without respect to 
 man's vain-jangling about " elect and non-elect" in our 
 Standards or " Calvin's Institutes." 
 
 If there is abundance of grace, and the gift by 
 grace unto all whose offences abound, and who have 
 sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, 
 who is he that will condenni a great proportion of 
 the human race who have not thus sinned, and con- 
 tend for the figure ; that is, they have sinned in Adam, 
 but exclude them from the reality, viz., Christ's aton- 
 ing work of grace, and the free gift by grace, contrary 
 to the gracious declarations of Scripture ? Blessed 
 be the God of all grace, there is justification by the 
 blood of Jesus, and freely by His grace, to all and 
 upon all those who have not sinned as Adam did 
 (actual sin), as truly as that " the righteousness by 
 faith of Jesus Christ is unto all, and upon all those 
 that believe the Cospel," for there is no difference. 
 We, as Adimi, being conscious of good and evil, by 
 our offences sin against heaven's holy law, and against 
 God. By his offence sin entered into tlie world, and 
 death by sin, and by our offences sin abounds, and 
 we shall be judged according to the deeds done in 
 the body, whether these have been good or evil. But 
 this cannot apply to little children, but what has 
 been said and other teachings of Scripture make the 
 truth concerning them abundantly manifest. One 
 example : read the first fourteen verses, chap, xviii., 
 Christ's Gospel by Matthew. Compare the first five 
 verses with 10th, 11th and 14th. " Even so it is not 
 the will of your Father which is in heaven that one 
 
 i '' 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 193 
 
 (1 these 
 le Staved 
 spect to 
 " in ouv 
 
 ! gift by 
 ho have 
 ^ression, 
 irtion of 
 iiid con- 
 1 Adam, 
 t's atoii- 
 contrary 
 Blessed 
 I by the 
 D all and 
 lam did 
 sness by 
 xll those 
 ifrerence. 
 evil, by 
 d against 
 )rld, and 
 nds, and 
 done in 
 nl But 
 ^^hat has 
 nake tlie 
 st. One 
 ip. xviii., 
 lirst five 
 it is not 
 that one 
 
 of these little ones should perish." "Would the Divine 
 and Human Saviour take up little chihlren in His 
 arms, in the streets of Jerusalem, and bless them, and 
 such (perhaps dying in the same night) be for ever 
 condemned on account of Adiim's offence, which 
 offence v;as more than virtually expiated by the 
 obedience and death of Christ ? lie came to save 
 thatwhiclnvaslost. Inthat "that" infants are included. 
 Faith is not the procuring cause of our salvation. It 
 is the instrument to touch the hem of His garment 
 jis applicable to those who hear the Gospel. Therefore, 
 if death reigns over infants and others not guilty of 
 actual sin, the sin of him who was the figure being 
 imputed to tjiem, and they are non-elect and eternally 
 condemned, as some ministers of the CJosjicl contend, 
 or as Calvin hath it, " tliey are doomed from the. 
 womb to certain death and destruction that they may 
 glorify God," where then, I would ask, is the reality 
 of the figure? Of what is the figure an outline ? 
 Of dishonor and wrath ! What does the figure sym- 
 bolize ? Everlasting death ! ! Oh, no ! it cannot be. 
 These things are not so. They shall all reign in life, 
 " being justified by His blood," and the righteousness 
 of Him who is the reality imputed unto them. " But 
 Avhere sin abounded grace did .much more abound : 
 for as sin hath reigned mito death, even so might 
 grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life, 
 by Jesus Christ our Lord." 
 
 Laying aside, therefore, the erroneous conceptions 
 and t] iditions of men, and looking at the teachings 
 of God's word in reference to the salvation of infants 
 and others, we can, as it were, breathe more freely 
 when \vc consider, (as ha,3 been often stated,) that 
 
 il 
 
81 - 
 
 ' 
 
 194 
 
 A VOICE FllOM THK WlhDKllNK.SS OK CANADA. 
 
 more tluiii ouu-Uiird of tlic liumaii race diu in inraiicy, 
 or under live years of iv^o, wliicli nii<^lit be explanatory 
 of the (gracious injunction of our Saviour: " Snlfcr 
 little children to come unto nic and forhid tlieni not, 
 ibr of Hucli is the kin«^'doni of (Jod." 
 
 Hut, as you are aware, what I have endeavoured 
 to set before your mind as tlie trutli according to the 
 Scriptures, in reference to these doctrines, has been, 
 and still is, strenuously o^jjiosed by those who main- 
 tain John Calvin's views relative to the decrees of 
 election and reprobation, lu order, therefore, that 
 you may hear both sides, I will brielly place before 
 you the substance of what may be said in reference 
 to these matters. Two of the iive ministers in our 
 Church, to whom I wrote, say that tliey believe all 
 children will be saved because tliey are elect. Tlie 
 Standards do not say so. The other three say that 
 the Bible is silent in regard to this doctrine. One of 
 them thinks the children of believers will be saved. 
 On account of this, and what I find in the writings 
 of the learned Dr. J. Owen, who wrote a book of more 
 than live liundred pag"es called " Salus Electorum 
 Sanguis Jesu," a work still held in high estimation by 
 those of the same school, I was induced to make the 
 
 foregoing remarks. A few quotations from Dr. Owen's 
 work, with a reniark or two, and you can think out 
 
 for yourself " what is trutli," relative to this doctrine: 
 1st. " Now if the elect are justified, and sanctified, 
 and saved," saith Dr. Owen, " because of CJod's 
 decree that so they shall be, then, likewise, are the 
 reprobates, as soon as they are fiiuilly impenitent, 
 damned, burned, and want nothing but a manifesta- 
 tion of God's decree, which, whether it be so or no. 
 
 
A VOICK FROM THE WII.DKUNESS OK CANADA. 
 
 1 iir) 
 
 . 
 
 consult the wliolo (lispciiHation of (lod toward tlunn." 
 Tajrc 172. 
 
 2u(l "Tlio eturiial lovc! of God toward his elect 
 is iiothinj^ but His ])ur|)()se, j^mkhI pleasure, — a pure 
 act of His will whereby He deterniiues to do such aiul 
 such things for them in His own time and way." 
 Page 173. 
 
 3rd. " In brief, how is it" (the (iospel) "revealed 
 to those thousands of the offspring of uijldds, whom 
 the Lord cuts off in their infancy, that they nuiy not 
 pester the world, persecute the Church, nor disturb 
 human society?" Page 122. 
 
 4th. " It" (that is, that our Saviour is the reality 
 of the figure), " is attended with very many strange, 
 absurd and groundless consequences (saitli he) as, that 
 all infants dying before they come to the use of reason, 
 and the committing of actual sin, nuist necessarily 
 be saved, although our Saviour hath said that ' except 
 a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of 
 God,' John iii. 3 ; and Paul, from him, that the 
 children of infidels are unclean, but no unclean thing 
 shall enter the new Jerusalem ; and by this doctrine 
 the infants of Turks, pagans, infidels and persecutors, 
 are placed in a far more happy condition, if they 
 depart in their infancy, than the best of believers." 
 Page 351. 
 
 From the above quotations you may judge of the 
 work of this learned Doctor of Divinity. The book 
 is a laborious attempt to establish the wicked and 
 absurd doctrines of reprobation and unconditional 
 election from the Book of God, and you will see from 
 these few quotations the animus of this writer. His 
 arguments are dark and dismal, contradictory and 
 fiery, and characteristic of a mind " ill at ease." 
 
 < 
 
 i 
 
 11 
 
 V 
 
IDO 
 
 A VOICE FllOM Tllli WlLDKllNEHS OF CANADA. 
 
 HI I 
 
 No. 1. l^y rcadinj,' attentively you will perceive 
 the Dr. labours under two mistiikes. First, lie speaks 
 about the elect bein^' justilietl and sanctified because 
 of (iod's decree. Jle mi^ht as well have spoken 
 about unl)elievin',' sinners beinjjf justified and ekntted 
 before they believe. It cannot be found in the 
 Scri{)tures that Christ tlesus came to save the elect. 
 lie cauie to save lost sinners, " not to call the 
 righteous (the elect are righteous persons), but sinncsrs 
 to repentance," and no one to whom the Gospel is 
 preached can be .saved, adopted, justified or elected 
 until they believe in the Saviour Jesus Clirist, as I 
 have already shown. lie also says "that the elect 
 (meaning sinners) arc justified, &c., because of Clod's 
 decree." You already know tliat all sinners are saved 
 under the CJospel by believing the testimony which 
 (Jod hath given of His Son, who was made a sin- 
 offering for them without reference to decrees. His 
 next mistake is, " that the reprobates are not danmed 
 and burned until tliey are finally impenitent;" 
 whereas according to his erroneous and blasphemous 
 decree they are always impenitent, and their doom 
 unalterably fixed ; and, therefore, he is consistent with 
 himself in No. 3, Mdiere he says, " the Lord cuts off 
 the non-elect children by tliousands, that they nuiy 
 be damned and burned, and not pester the world nor 
 disturb human society." It appears these thousands 
 soon get finally impenitent. 
 
 No. 2. " The love of God is shed abroad in our 
 hearts by the Holy Ghost." " He that loveth Me shall 
 be loved of my Father, and / loill love Mm and 
 manifest Myself unto him." "That the love wliere- 
 witli Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in 
 
 I 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILUERNEWS OF CANADA. 
 
 197 
 
 A. 
 
 pcvci'ive 
 
 I because 
 
 (.1 eloclcd 
 I in the 
 the (.'lect. 
 call tlic 
 lit siinuii's 
 Gospel is 
 or elected 
 irist, as I 
 the elect 
 1 of God's 
 i are saved 
 ny ^vhich 
 de a Hin- 
 ees. 1 1 is 
 damned 
 lenitent;" 
 sphenious 
 leir doom 
 stent with 
 cuts off 
 they may 
 world nor 
 thousands 
 
 oad in our 
 Me shall 
 him and 
 :e wliere- 
 1. and I in 
 
 them." "As tlie Father hath loved me, so hair I loved 
 youy " Ciod is love, and we have known and believed 
 the love that God hath for us." There is a vibration 
 (if I may so speak) of the love of God in every 
 Christian's lieart in souk; dej^'ree ; if not, he may well 
 doubt his relationsliip. Ihit all such truths are resolved 
 into thin air with tliis man. Tlie love of God towards 
 His children is nothing but llis purpose, «S:c. He 
 that dwelleth in love, dwelleth " only in purpose, or 
 good pleasure, or pure acts of tlie Deity." 
 
 No. 4. H(jwever strange it may appear. Dr. Owen 
 seems to think tliat men only can enter the kingdom 
 of heaven, and tlierefore contends for the figure only, 
 and that to allow the reality as regards chiUlren would 
 be attended with strange, absurd and groundless con- 
 sequences, such as, tliat all infants dying before they 
 come to the use of reason, and tlie committing of 
 actual sin, must necessarily be saved. He calls this 
 absurd, and therefore un.scriptural, and all such being 
 included in the decree of roprobjition, no atonement 
 being made for them, being non-elect sinners, the 
 Doctor's prescription is, " that the infants of Turks, 
 pagans, infidels and persecutors, an; cut oif by the 
 Lord in thousands, that they may not pester the world, 
 and disturb human society." 
 
 I have no wish to say more on such a subject, or 
 in the slightest degree to fasten the tenets or dogrns 
 of Dr. Owen on any party or denomination farther 
 than they choose to maintain them. And although 
 his utterances may only be whispered in our Standards, 
 yet the division of children into elect and non-elect 
 infants, with its startling consequences, is ])lainlyand 
 unmistakeably set forth in Con., chap. .\. ■ 
 
 / J 
 
 » 
 
 i 
 
198 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 Tliose who would limit the Holy One of Israel 
 regarding the universality of the atonement made for 
 the sin of man, and consequent unscriptural absurd- 
 ities insisted upon by J. Calvin, Owen and others, are 
 often obliged to resort to manifest and lamentable 
 shifts and contortions in reference to numerous texts 
 of God's Word which set forth the doctrine in the 
 clearest light. Owen's remarks on 2nd Peter, chap, 
 ii. 1, on page 297 of his work referred to, is an ex- 
 ample of this. Eead the verse : " All things here 
 (saith he), as to any proof of the business on hand 
 are exceedingly dark, uncertain and doubtful." AH 
 things here. What things ? The things are concern- 
 ing the false teachers in Pontus, Galatia, &c., who 
 brought in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord 
 who bought them. In order to sustain his theory that 
 Jesus died for so many, but not for these teachers, he 
 says that " all here is dark, and uncertain, and doubt- 
 ful ; uncertain (lie says) that by the Lord is meant the 
 Lord Jesus Christ." Think of that. " The word in 
 the original (he says) being ' sespotes,' seldom or 
 never ascribed to Him " I wonder ichat other Lord 
 would buy him or me Init " the Lord, the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, the Lord God mercifal and gracious ;" and he 
 adds, " It is most uncertain wliether Christ as Mediator 
 be here intended by Lord or not, but the contrary 
 seems apparent." To seriously contend with such a 
 one would be equally fruitless as with him M'ho says 
 that " a wafer is not a wafer, but a wafer is'the 
 elements of the Eucharist in both kinds, and these 
 kinds the body and blood of Christ under the 
 semblance of bread and wine." 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 199 
 
 The truth of God is the truth of God, and that 
 will stand and endure for ever wliether mankind are 
 willing to let it or not. The time will surely come 
 when Courts of Eevision will be held in all Churches 
 in respect to these doctrines, but unless judgment 
 begin at the House of God, the men, women and 
 children of such Churches who insist on teaching 
 them will ere long arise, and ignore and abjure them 
 as relics of the olden time, whose place is to be 
 numbered with the tilings that were. But the time 
 may not be yet; man is "tenacious of his theme." 
 
 Christianity, nevertheless, is holy, heavenly and 
 divine, but the dross of earth, the sin of man, the 
 perversion of truth, prevents it from shining forth in 
 its native lustre and purity ; and instead of peace, 
 love, joy and gladness being attendant on its benign 
 influences, these are often mixed with the ills of life; 
 the dews of sorrow; the tear of repentance; "weep- 
 ing for the dying, and mourning for the dead ; " and 
 this condition of humanity will more or less obtain 
 until the coming regeneration of our sin-cursed earth, 
 when " old things will be done away, and behold all 
 things shall become new." 
 
 I would now shortly advert to another corner of 
 Mr. Calvin's stronghold, for although the corners tliere- 
 of are getting shaky (as said), and it may be, tottering 
 to its fall, yet its inmates and supporters are putting 
 forth strenuous efforts to streni^tlien their stakes and 
 enlarge their borders. As already said, the Old School 
 and New School Presbyterians in the United States 
 have agreed to fiill back on the Westminster Standards 
 pure and simple. It would surely have l)een an im- 
 provement had they fallen forward on the Christian 
 
 4: 
 
 H: 
 
 

 200 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 Standards of the Old and New Testaments, and gov- 
 erned themselves accordingly. A more extended view 
 is entertained in Scotland, even that these Westminster 
 Standards should be held aloft "as the common 
 watchword and confession of all the Avorld," and that 
 all should, therefore, build on the rock " Calvinism," 
 whether it be Christism or not. I mean by this last 
 corner (though in reality it should be called the first), 
 what is called God's eternal decree, viz., " God did 
 from all eternity freely and unchangeably ordain what- 
 soever comes to pass." See Con. of Faith, Chap. iii. 
 Now if you will think this out you will find the 
 whole matter of controversy settled. The words 
 "eternity," "unchangeably" and "whatsoever," stamp, 
 with an eternal, unconditional, undeniable fiat all acts 
 good and evil, of all angels and men, and all others of 
 all ages, and the eternal damnation of all devils and 
 men, and all others, as equally the will of God as the 
 salvation or conservation of those who are saved. 
 This is either true or false. But if it be true " that 
 God ivilleth not that any should perish, but that all 
 should come to repentance," tlien every man who 
 asserts or maintains the above doctrine must maintain 
 an untruth. Although there is no farther actual 
 exposition needed, as you will perceive pure fatalism 
 is the sum and substance of these words, yet the 
 remainder of the chapter more particularly divides 
 the doctrine into the Calvinian decrees of Election 
 and lieprobation. That is, "some men and angels 
 from eternity are predestinated unto everlasting life, 
 and others to everlasting death, and the means of 
 their salvation, as also tlie means of tlieir condemna- 
 tion fore-ordained, l)ecauso lie hatli fore-ordained 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 201 
 
 whatsoever comes to pass." Surely every sane person 
 may see manifest and detestable error in such doctrine, 
 and that there would be no distinction between good 
 and evil ; no moral or conscious responsibility ; sin 
 would not be sin at all ; and the infidel would be con- 
 sistent in maintaining that his opinions and acts were 
 also decreed as well as other acts, and Pope's panthe- 
 istic lie, " whatever is, is right," would be truth : that 
 is to say, whatever is good, is right; whatever is evil, 
 is right; whatever is true, and also false, is right; and 
 whatever is wrong, is right, &c. Now " one truth is 
 clear," that all such sayings as call good evil, and evil 
 good, are manifest errors, and dishonoring to God. 
 Yet the strangeness in the third chapter referred to 
 is this, that although God thus decrees " whatsoever 
 comes to pass," sinful actions or otherwise, " yet is 
 not God thereby the author of sin." This is con- 
 tradictory. R. Erskine, of the same school, has the 
 same doctrine condensed thus, " Heaven, without sin, 
 willed sin to be." 
 
 To will is to desire or wish, or command or direct, 
 that the act should be done. To will or decree does 
 not mean to permit. To say, then, that Heaven or 
 the Almighty willed or decreed sin to be, or come to 
 pass, is not only manifest eiTor, but turning the truth 
 of God into a lie, and to say He is not the author 
 of sin thereby, or does so " without sin," is a wicked 
 absurdity, and " darkening counsel by words without 
 knowledge." It is of no use to say that it is not 
 meant to make God the author of sin. It is not so 
 much what is meant or purposed, but what is said 
 and done that demands our attention. In short, God 
 decrees His own acts, which are holy, wise and good, 
 
 (I 
 
I! i 
 
 202 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 and man decrees his own sinful acts, which originate 
 in himself; "when lust hath conceived it bringeth 
 forth sin," and the acts are man's own acts, and come 
 to pass, but it is tmtrue and not according to the 
 Scriptutes, that God wills sin to be, or fore-ordains 
 man's sinful acts, or fore-ordains " whatsoever comes 
 to pass." 
 
 But all doctrines of men and human reasonings 
 are at once superseded, and forever settled as regards 
 man's power and freedom to choose, by the declara- 
 tion of Jesus, "the faithful and true witness," 
 " Because lie hath not," &c. The first clause of the 
 18th verse might be thus paraphrased : " He that 
 believeth shall be saved," because he hath believed in 
 the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is 
 in accordance with the remaining part of the verse, 
 showing that the sinner must make a choice, on which 
 his eternal destiny is suspended, and therewith con- 
 nected, that after all God has done to save him, 
 (but if Christ has made no atonement for his sins, 
 what has been done to save him ?) he can and should 
 accept of the gift of God, otherwise (as said before) 
 there could be no meaning in the words of Jesus in 
 the 18th verse; and such expressions as the following 
 — " How often would /," as He beheld the city and 
 wept over it, must surely mean that He wished to 
 save it, and would have saved it had the Jews 
 repented and believed, as surely as Nineveh, that 
 great city, would have been overthrown in forty days 
 had not the inhabitants believed God, and their king 
 made a decree that they should fast and be covered 
 with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God that they 
 might live and not die, might not perish ; " and God 
 
 ' 
 
 I I 
 
A. 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 203 
 
 originate 
 bringeth 
 md come 
 12 to the 
 e-ordains 
 '^er comes 
 
 easonings 
 IS regards 
 e declara- 
 witness," 
 ise of the 
 'He that 
 lelieved in 
 . This is 
 the verse, 
 on which 
 J with con- 
 lave him, 
 ir his sins, 
 ,nd should 
 lid before) 
 Jesus in 
 following 
 city and 
 wished to 
 the Jews 
 eveh, that 
 'ort-y days 
 |theii king 
 e covered 
 that they 
 I" and God 
 
 saw their works, that they turned from their evil 
 ways," and He destroyed not the city. Was the 
 destruction of these cities unconditionally and un- 
 changeably fore-ordained from all eternity ? 
 
 "I have called and ye have refused; I have 
 stretched out my hands all day long and no man 
 regarded." If all the acts of all the disobedient and 
 gainsayers be unchangeably predestinated from eter- 
 nity, what would be the meaning of these remonstran- 
 ces and invitations to our sinful race ? 
 
 These and the like we woukl compromise and allow 
 (saith Calvinists) if you will fall back on our Stand- 
 ards, and allow that Calvinism has a full Gospel too, 
 and hold aloft the distinctive characteristics thereof, 
 better known as eternal unconditional decrees; the 
 elect only can be sived ; efficacious or necessitating 
 irresistible grace, and the total passivity of the 
 resisting sinner ; and although Jesus testifies that all 
 Gospel hearers are condemned for not believing in 
 His name, or that atonement is made for them, yet 
 Calvinists assert there is no atonement made for 
 these condemned or non-elect sinners, and yet they 
 are condemned for not believing such to be the truth. 
 Now, whether Christism or Calvinism is truth, judge 
 ye. See Argument, Nos. 2, 3, 4. 
 
 Now, the above unscriptural dogmas we are to 
 confess and believe, whether we do or not, as a part of 
 the "sum of saving knowledge for ourselves and fami- 
 lies and the rest of mankind to all generations." But 
 why should we and our children have these fetters of 
 brass riveted upon us y Although I have defended 
 Calvinism for forty years, and often with sharp con- 
 tention (true Calvinism needs hot argument, see Dr. 
 
 1 
 
 ii» 
 
204 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 
 ) 
 
 Owen's "Salus Electorum"), I cannot say I was satisfied 
 with my own reasoning on calm reflection, and scarcely 
 ever found any one who would say they felt the state- 
 ments in our Standards to be clear or satisfactory, but 
 that doubt, perplexity and darkness rested upon Mr. 
 Calvin's findings, and no certain sound reaches the 
 ear of the bewildered inquirer relative thereto. Our 
 own minister, a consistent Calvinist, writes to me (I 
 have no doubt with candour and truth) as follows : 
 ** My dear sir, — If I seem to have delayed in replying 
 to your favor of the 3rd instant, it is not because I 
 have been indifferent to your request, or unwilling to 
 comply, but rather because I believe that God only 
 can show you the harmony between our * Standards' 
 and His word, and especially the right view of John 
 iii. 18, last clause," &c. So that it appears it is not 
 in Calvinism to show the harmonj' of its own findings 
 with the "Word of God. If it be impossible, then, 
 for man to reconcile his findings in the Standards 
 with the Word of God, or to show the harmony between 
 them, how is it he devised such findings as he himself 
 could not see to be in accordance with God's word ? 
 Surely J. Calvin was not at Swedenborg's school. 
 But our minister might safely have said that the 
 interference of heaven could not effect such harmony, 
 as it would require the Poet's " more than miracles 
 we want ;" we might as well ask ** for yesterdays to 
 come," as harmony between Jesus, the truth, the 
 word of God, and the pernicious heresies of Calvin 
 and others, as set forth in our Standards. 
 
 Now, I ask, why should these things be ? Why 
 should ourselves and families be perplexed and 
 rendered miserable, and the Churches of Christ 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 •205 
 
 harassed and torn with grievous contentions from age 
 to age, and the leaders thereof, obliged to stultify 
 themselves, asserting " it is nonsense to speak about 
 the non-elect or rest of mankind believing, as that 
 would be the sign of election," and recommending us 
 to God in reference to the meaning of the Standards, 
 leaving us to grope our way " b,mid the Frenchman's 
 gloom profound," and if we meet with rays of light, 
 in most cases they only " serve to make the night 
 more irksome." Instead of having our loins girt about 
 with truth — the simplicity of " the i/ruth as it is in 
 Jesus," with an atonement free as the sunlight of 
 heaven — how often do ministers and people find them- 
 selves hegirded with Calvinistic fetters of brass, tmd 
 the religion of Jesus — ^the religion of love, joy and 
 gladness — beclouded with horror, gloom and un- 
 certainty? . 
 
 And who was John Calvin that we should fall 
 down and worship the image he hath set up ? That 
 he was the son of a respectable cooper in France is 
 no disgrace to his memory, but the contrary, as all 
 honest labour is honorable and respected by every 
 well constituted mind; but that he was not the 
 respectable son of a cooper alters the case. Now, 
 bad as the world is, mankind do not generally respect 
 malice, cruelty, revenge and persecution unto death, 
 which history proves Calvin to have been guilty of. 
 Whatever difference of opinion we may find relative < 
 to his talents, learningf religious dogmas and moral 
 character, there seems no doubt that he compassed 
 the death of Servetus in a spirit of relentless cruelty, 
 because he differed from him in religious opinions. 
 And although the poor man addressed various humble 
 10 
 
 
 
 '% 
 
 ;3f 
 
! 
 
 m 
 
 206 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 petitions to the ** Syndics and Council" (of which 
 Calvin was the Dictator), praying that an advocate 
 might be granted him, his prayer was haughtily 
 refused, his doctrines misrepresented, and he was 
 opprobriously condemned to death on the 26t}i day 
 of October, 1553, and was executed on the day fol- 
 lowing, Calvin exulting over his death, and praising 
 a document received from the ^lite of Zurich, crying 
 " away with him," he is not fit to live, and the innocent 
 man was executed accordingly. Instead of showing 
 any relenting or remorse, Calvin, this Minister of 
 Christ, continued for some years afterwards to insult 
 with abusive epithets the memory of his victim, and 
 soon after the death of Servetus published a vindica- 
 tion of his own proceedings, in which he defended, 
 without any compromise, the principles on which he 
 had acted. It is called " A Faithful Exposition and 
 Short Refutation of the Errors of Servetus," wherein 
 it is shown that Heretics should be restrained by the 
 Power of the Sword. Short Refutation ! Condemned 
 to-day and executed to-morrow, being denied what is 
 allowed to the worst of criminals, an advocate to 
 plead his cause ! Whether it be a Roman or Genevan 
 Pope, it matters not, heretics have no cause ; short 
 refutation, executed or burned, as the case may be, 
 " to the praise of his glorious justica" I mention 
 these public acts not so much to show the animus of 
 *the man, but that the reader may see in the spirit of 
 malevolence manifested towarcfe Servetus, and Calvin's 
 consequent publication, a practical illustration, a kind 
 of transcript of his " decree of reprobation." Petition 
 and prayer in Servetus' case were inadmissable ; so 
 with Calvin's non-elect sinner, he is fore-doomed to 
 
 ^ 
 
 
A VOICE FROM TUE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 207 
 
 everlasting death ; it is uonsense to speak of prayers 
 or intercession for him ; no advocate allowed the poor 
 suppliant physician, Servetus ; he is predestinated to 
 execution next day, and delivered over to Satan. So 
 with the non-elect sinner, lie has no case ; " hope 
 that comes to all, comes not to him." Christ died 
 for the elect only. No name given under heaven 
 whereby he can be saved; no advocate with the 
 Father ; he is ruled out of court ; condemned without 
 benefit of clergy ; served as Servetus was ; as Calvin 
 hath it in his " Institutes," God passes by and repro- 
 bates the non-elect sinner, and excludes him from 
 the heavenly inheritance. There are *' individuals 
 born (saith he), ivho are doomed from the womb to 
 certain death, and are to glorify God by their destruc- 
 tion.'* Or as the learned Dr. Owen hath it, " When 
 a manifestation of the decree is put forth, the non- 
 elect with their children are swept away by the Lord 
 in thousands, that they may not pester the world and 
 disturb human society ;" and thus the name of the 
 Lord is blasphemed, as these wicked imaginings of. J. 
 Calvin and others are said to be decrees of God, and 
 the acts to be " for the praise of His glorious justice.'* 
 But the argument from the words of Jesus is a 
 "short refutation" of such ungodly and pernicious 
 heresies in leference to the instant and entire con- 
 demnation of this limited atonement theory, as that 
 is one of the chief corner-stones of Calvin's false 
 reasonings and assumptions, and connected with the 
 errors contained'in our Standards proposed to be held 
 aloft for the adoption of all the world. It is much 
 shorter'than Calvin's refutation, as it condemns every 
 sinner out of his own mouth who opposes it, and 
 
 
208 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 every such sinner pronounc s his own condemnation 
 on the instant he attempts to limit the glorious and 
 gracious atonement or propitiation made " for the sins 
 of the whole world" by the Son of (rod. See Nos. 1, 
 2, 3, 4 and 11 of argument, and you will surely be 
 convinced that there is no place for the Calviuian non- 
 elect sinner. We may surely and safely assume that 
 it will be a long time indeed before all the world 
 accept our Standards as the truth and nothing but 
 the truth, so long as they contain these strange, absurd, 
 unscriptural dogmas, and it would surely be prudential 
 and necessary, before holding them aloft as a creed for 
 the acceptance of the human race, to submit them to 
 a Court of Eevision and Amendment, mth the view of 
 rendering them more acceptable to our brethren of 
 mankind. 
 
 Shall we, then, cast away the Standards ? God 
 forbid. There are many excellent, solemn, as well as 
 Scriptural truths contained in them. The Solemn 
 League and Covenant, and statements connected there- 
 with, should and must be preserved unto the latest 
 ages. Much, if not all, of the ecclesiastical polity, 
 church government, discipline, &c., might be adopted 
 as according to the Scriptures, with such ^.Iterations 
 or amendments as might be approved by chosen men 
 of the Old and New Worlds. Let the doctrines be 
 abbreviated, summarized, and whatever is doubtful, 
 unscriptural, ungodly, and would tarnish the name of 
 the only begotten of the Father, who is full of grace 
 and truth, let that be obliterated anfl purged away, 
 and let " Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, 
 good will to man ; holiness to the Lord ; grace, mercy 
 and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 209 
 
 imnation 
 ious and 
 • the sins 
 eNos. 1, 
 lurely be 
 lian non- 
 Lime that 
 le world 
 hing but 
 », absurd, 
 rudential 
 creed for 
 : them to 
 e view of 
 ethren of 
 
 ,s ? God 
 LS well as 
 Solemn 
 ed there- 
 ;he latest 
 il polity, 
 adopted 
 terations 
 Dsen men 
 trines be 
 doubtful, 
 name of 
 of grace 
 3d away, 
 on earth, 
 !e, mercy 
 )rd Jesus 
 
 Christ ; in His name shall the Gentiles trust ; he 
 that belie veth in His name shall be saved ; he that 
 believeth not sliall be condemned, because he hath 
 not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of 
 God ;" Ho is come that you might have life, eternal 
 life, and is beseeching mankind, through the Holy 
 Ministry, Evangelists and other Messengers of the 
 Cross in Christ's stead ; be ye reconciled to God who 
 hath manifested His love to us in sending His Son 
 into the world that we might live through him," &c., 
 be inscribed on the banners of a Solemn League and 
 Covenant that shall never be broken. And let all 
 sin troific, liquor traffic and unchristian traffic be done 
 away, and whatsoever things are pure, and lovely, and 
 of good report, be our watchword and confession, and 
 let us be joyful and exceeding glad, and rejoice in 
 the God of our salvation, and God, even our God, 
 "bless us shall," and our Church would become a 
 praise and rejoicing in the midst of the earth, and 
 all other truly Christian Churches would give us the 
 right hand of fellowship, and hold communion with 
 us, and unite with us; and the time would come when 
 there would be one Church, one Lord, one faith, for is 
 not the whole family of heaven and earth one in 
 Christ Jesus, calling on His name, and called by His 
 name. 
 
 If, then, the casting away of unscriptural views of 
 the atonement made for the sin of man by the Lamb 
 slain from the foundation of the world, and the other 
 errors, would, in a great measure, be a reconciliation 
 of the Presbyterian Churches much to be desired in 
 these eventful days, what would be the effect of the 
 earnest and prayerful efforts of thousands of the 
 
 ! 
 
 lir 
 
r 
 
 210 
 
 A VOICE PROM THE riLDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 ministers of these Churches, joined by tens of 
 thousands of the members no longer straitened in 
 themselves, but proclaiming the Gospel of the grace 
 of God "which bringeth salvation to all men, specially 
 to them tliat believe?" Would not such efforts result 
 in much-needed revivals, and thousands be added unto 
 the Churches ? \Vliat would this be but " life from 
 the dead," and His name would be exalted, and man- 
 kind would be blessed in Him, and other Churches 
 would be stirred up " His holy name to magnify and 
 bless ! " 
 
 Is there not a want of vitality amongst us ? Who 
 is he that can shut his eyes to the coldness and form- 
 ality prevalent in so many Presbyterian Churches at 
 this very day ? I thorefore c )mmit this little book 
 with the argument to Him who is " the truth," and 
 who will plead His own cause, not thinking all who 
 read will be convinced, but greatly desiring that all 
 who read may be induced to search the Scriptures, 
 and be able to give a reason for the faith that is in 
 them as regards " what is truth" concerning Him that 
 was to come, and have peace and joy in believing in 
 " the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the 
 world," and with the hope and belief that those more 
 competent will improve these same truths, and cause 
 the light to shine more clearly. 
 
A VOICB FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 211 
 
 ;cn8 of 
 3nod in 
 e grace 
 pecially 
 ,3 result 
 led unto 
 fe from 
 id man- 
 hurches 
 lify and 
 
 ? Who 
 id form- 
 rches at 
 lo book 
 th," and 
 all who 
 
 that all 
 riptures, 
 lat is in 
 
 im that 
 ieving in 
 
 s of the 
 Ijse more 
 
 d cause 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS, WITH A SHORT SEQUEL. 
 
 By reference to i)reface it will be seen tliat what I 
 designed to write was not so much of an argumen- 
 tative as of an instructive kind, and therefore do I 
 willingly leave argument behind, and would now say 
 to all, especially Cliristians, that better days seem 
 about to arise. Tliere never has been a time when 
 Christians had more need to be grateful, to thank God 
 and take courage, than the present. Many old things 
 seem about to pass away. The hearts of the sup- 
 porters of the " Man of Sin" must be failing them 
 for fear of those things which are coming upon the 
 earth, when they consider their ominous position as it 
 is this day. And, as many think, it may be that the 
 proceedings of the QEcumenical Council about to meet 
 may hasten " the coming of the day of God." The 
 " True Light" seems to be penetrating Mahommedan 
 delusion and darkness. Numerous churches are being 
 built in the Moslem dominions, and copies of the 
 Scriptures are circulated in thousands, as also in Spain 
 and Austria. It is long since the Gospel was preached 
 far north and south. In some places in China the 
 anxiety to obtain tlie Scriptures, tracts, &c., is so great 
 that numbers have to wait round the places of distribu- 
 tion for hours, and the Bible Society Agents say, on 
 the doors of some of these places a few years ago 
 w\as written in Cliinese: "Gods made and repaired 
 
212 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 .ft 
 
 here." " He plants His footsteps in the sea." The 
 seeds of grace have been sown in Madagascar, and are 
 bearing fruit, a " kind of first fruits unto God." And 
 instead of the horrors of heathenism, churches are 
 reared and the " Sabbath" sheds its hallowed influence 
 in many parts of the Island. The stone cut out of 
 the mountain is rolling more rapidly. Many, very 
 many, are running to and fro, and knowledge is surely 
 increasing, and it will ere long surely come to. pass 
 that God's revelation to man contained in the Holy 
 Scriptures will be read in all the common schools and 
 seminaries of learning of all Christian nations through- 
 c ut the whole earth. It would seem as if there waa 
 about to be a dis-establishing, a purification, a shaking 
 of men-made things, and a removal of them " so that 
 those things" (the truths of God's word) " which 
 cannot be shaken may remain." 
 
 A spirit of unity too, and a disposition to fraternize 
 seem about to obtain among the forces which are press- 
 ing forward towards the accomplishment of the 
 triumphant reign of Christianity. Example : About 
 a year ago a deputation from * the Synod of the 
 Scottish Church of the olden time presented them- 
 selves in the Wesleyan Metliodist Conference, con- 
 gratulating that body as fellow-laborers and " heirs 
 together of the grace of life," members of the same 
 body, viz., the Church of Christ. "Or ever they 
 were aware" an electrical battery was brought to bear 
 upon them by a Eev. Mr. Punshon, an Englishman, 
 too. He congratulated them as sons of those sires 
 who had achieved a glorious Eeformation by " resisting 
 unto blood, striving against sin." " An(J I, too (said 
 he), have stood upon the graves of the martyrs on the 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILi>ERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 213 
 
 " The 
 and are 
 » And 
 hes are 
 ifluence 
 
 out of 
 ly, very 
 s surely 
 I to. pass 
 le Holy 
 ools and 
 ihrough- 
 lere was 
 shaking 
 " so that 
 
 " which 
 
 :aternizo 
 re press- 
 of the 
 About 
 of the 
 them- 
 ice, con- 
 " heirs 
 he same 
 er they 
 t to bear 
 ishman, 
 ose sires 
 resisting 
 ;oo (said 
 on the 
 
 mountains of Scotland, and in the name of this Con- 
 ference am now ready to join you in a 'Solemn 
 League and Covenant' against all sin, and the ' Man 
 of Sin.' " Such sayings should be remembered to all 
 generations. A new element of "power from on 
 high" is also " springing up," and may be included in 
 the heavenly array of means in operation in all parts 
 of the world for the education of the human race, and 
 the general diffusion of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ. I mean Young ISIen's Christian Associations, 
 
 It appears their number has more than doubled 
 in the United States in one year : from two hundred 
 and sixty to more than five hundred, attended by 
 upwards of eighty thousand members, and these 
 Societies are rapidly increasing in numbers in different 
 parts of the Christian world. 
 
 It appears from a late Methodist Quarterly Review 
 that there are ninety-five Associations in Great Britain; 
 in Holland, one hundred and four; in Germany, 
 seventy; in France, fifty-four; in Switzerland, ninety- 
 five. There are Associations at Turin, Gene'^'a, Naples, 
 Florence and Milan ; and at Algiers, Alexandria, 
 Beyrout, Smyrna and Constantinople ; at Madras and 
 Calcutta; in Australia, New Zeland and Ceylon; at the 
 Cape of Good Hope, at Natal and at Sierra Leone. 
 There are corresponding members at St. Petersburg, 
 Buenos Ayres, Honolulu and Bessarabia. The Mem- 
 bership of these Societies is larger in America than 
 in Europe. The Association in Philadelphia numbers 
 2,500 ; in Boston, 2,300 ; at Providence, 1,300 ; at 
 Troy, 1,250; at Chicago, 1,000, and Brooklyn and 
 New York City together, 5,547. The palatial edifice 
 lately erected in New York City for the meetings of 
 10* 
 
214 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 the Association, cost upwards of five hundred thousand 
 dollars, showing the deep interest and sympathy of the 
 popular mind regarding these Societies. 
 
 Surely young men, when their energies are 
 directed aright, are the stamina of the moral world. 
 And if " the hoary head is a crown of glory when 
 found in the way of righteousness," how much more 
 his w^ho remembers his Creator in the days of his 
 youth, lives much in little space, and is crowned with 
 honor even at the beginning of his reign ? What 
 glorious bands of ministering spirits, saving them- 
 selves and others from the paths of folly, sin and 
 shame. It may indeed be said of them what Paul 
 says in reference to certain brethren spoken of by 
 him to the Corinthian Church, vii:., " They are the 
 messengers of the Churches, and the glory of Christ." 
 But let them not " be weary in well doing, for in due 
 season they shall reap if they faint not." And they 
 go forth untrammelled with sectarian prejudices ; 
 ignoring the bigotry of the past ; " speaking more of 
 Christ," and s Peking first the kingdom of God and 
 His righteousness, being assured that all other things 
 shall be added ; 1;hat they have " a treasure in the 
 heavens that faileth not," and " the gold of that land 
 is good, there is bdellium and the onyxstone." 
 
 This I must say, take heed to yourselves regarding 
 the "pratings of infidelity." They would live by 
 contention. Now, as in the days of the Psalmist* 
 three thousand years ago, 
 
 "They set their mouth against the heavens in their bla."^ " emous 
 
 talk; 
 And their reproaching tongue througliout the earth at large doth 
 
 walk." 
 
 The best answer to all such might be similar to 
 
A. 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 215 
 
 jhousand 
 
 tiy of the 
 
 •gies are 
 il world. 
 )ry when 
 ch more 
 ys of his 
 ned with 
 ? What 
 ig them- 
 , sin and 
 hat Paul 
 len of by 
 r are the 
 f Christ." 
 for in due 
 And they 
 rejudices ; 
 more of 
 
 God and 
 ler things 
 
 re in the 
 
 that land 
 ." 
 
 regarding 
 live by 
 
 Psalmist* 
 
 )lap'^" emous 
 large dotli 
 
 imilar to 
 
 that given by the three Hebrew children to the 
 Babylonian King, viz., " We are not careful to answer 
 thee in this matter. Our God whom we serve will 
 give an answer to your vain-jangling ; but if not, be 
 it known unto thee we will not serve thy gods, nor 
 worship the image you set up." It matters not who 
 are the priests, whether Volney, Tom Paine, Kenan, 
 Colenso or George Holyoake, or what the name of the 
 image is, Atheism, Deism, Pantheism, Materialism or 
 Secularism, we will neither " worship the beast that 
 was, nor is, nor that which is to come." Also, we 
 believe only in the religion of Jesus, and are diligent 
 in studying the meaning of three words, " Lord, Jesus, 
 the Christ," and as the time is short and very un- 
 certain, would advise you to go and do likewise, that 
 ye may not be found " wanting in the day of His 
 glorious appearing." To some "the truth" can be 
 spoken in love, otliers will speak "great swelling 
 words of vanity," and might place you in a disagree- 
 able position, that is, " trample pearls under their 
 feet," and would then " turn again and rend you." 
 " From such withdraw thyself." 
 
 But surely a few words might also be said in 
 reference to young ladies, young Christian women 
 who may be professors only. Do you desire to be 
 allied to the most honorable name in heaven or on 
 earth ? Then the bond of alliance awaits your con- 
 sent and approval. Jesus is that bond. He gave 
 Himself for you, "so generous was His love ;" and by 
 simply believing His AVord, you will have made a 
 contract with one from whom death cannot part you, 
 nor any power ever separate you, and the name you 
 will bear is more honored and distinguished than any 
 
mmmm 
 
 216 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 other name " given under heaven, or known among 
 men," even among the principalities and powers, and 
 the angelic hosts ; for " His name is exalted above 
 every name that is named, either in this world or in 
 that which is to come." But you must jpersonally 
 consent to the conditions of the bond. Your signature 
 must be in some such words as these : " Lord, I 
 believe in Jesus the mighty Saviour, that He is able 
 and willing to save me, even me, from my sins." Then 
 "joy will abound in Paradise, because you have 
 believed in the name of the only begotten Son of 
 God." And know this, that faith, love and hope are 
 inseparable. If you believe that Jesus died for you, 
 you must love Him ; and belief and love beget hope 
 — that "blessed hope, that lively hope" — which caused 
 the apostle Peter to exclaim : " Blessed be the God 
 and Father," &c. Eead the sentence in 1 Peter, i. 3, 
 ending with " salvation of your souls," and you will 
 learn that "glory, honor and immortality" is the 
 ^portion of the believer in Jcbus, who is " the resurrec- 
 tion and the life." 
 
 I saw a beautiful sentiment a short time ago, under 
 these words: "Women's Missionary Movement." 
 " We know (says the writer) of no more auspicious 
 sign than the fire of holy love and zeal w^hich is 
 kindling upon the altar of woman's heart." There 
 may be reasons wliy young women could not form 
 associations similar to young men, but surely there 
 can be no good reason that they should not attend 
 periodically and join in the exercises. If they meet 
 together at any other mixed public assembly without 
 impropriety, why not in the place where " Holiness 
 to the Lord" is the hand-writing inscribed on the 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 217 
 
 walls ? " For ye are all the children of God by faith 
 in Christ Jesus," and to those who have put on Christ 
 "there is neither Jew nor Greek, tliere is neither 
 bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, for 
 ye are all one in Christ Jesus," and being of one heart 
 and mind, can join in prayer to the God of all grace, 
 who hath promised to pour out His Spirit in the latter 
 days, in accordance with His prophecy of old. " And 
 it shall come to pass in the last days," saith God, " I 
 will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh ; and your sons 
 and your daughters shall prophecy, and your young 
 men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream 
 dreams; and on my servants and on my hand-maidens 
 I will pour out in those days of my Spirit, and they 
 shall prophecy" (or preach or teach), " and it shall 
 come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name 
 of the Lord shall be saved." 
 
 Let all, then, who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 and " whose hope is in His word," who have known 
 and felt the power of " the truth," be stirred up to 
 work while it is called to-day, knowing that all 
 spiritual good and the coming regeneration is connected 
 with and dependent upon human instrumentality. 
 Let us lay our heads, and hands, and hearts together, 
 that \ve may be found " neither barren nor unfruitful," 
 remembering that it is not so much the amount done 
 as how we do it, " doing all in the name of the Lord 
 Jesus," and for His sake, feeling assured whatever is 
 done " unto the least of these" His brethren, or unto 
 the poor and needy, " is done unto Him," and shall 
 not lose its reward ; " and the peace of God, which 
 passeth all understanding, shall keep our hearts and 
 minds through Christ Jesus," 
 
■HiHi 
 
 mmm 
 
 218 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 
 ;►, i 
 
 Read this little volume often, ascribing all that is 
 human and imperfect to the author (I beseech you to 
 avoid all trashy and corrupt reading), holding on to the 
 words of eternal life and truth which your conscience 
 approves, and let every one of us see to it that we 
 have a conscience " void of offence toward God and 
 toward man," and that our hearts condemn us not 
 when we shall stand before Him in reference to that 
 accursed thing, that " foul monster," that scourge of 
 Christianity (drinking and drunkenness) which hath 
 made such havoc of ourselves, and of the world, and 
 of the Church of God, as the few gleanings set before 
 you in a former chapter will abundantly testify. 
 Above all, I beseech you to search diligently in the 
 records of eternity, and in your own hearts, and in 
 the present position of Christendom, whether the 
 principal truths of the Bible and all other moral truths 
 have not a special reference to the character and 
 mission of Him who came in the name of the Lord 
 to save us by making atonement for our world. 
 Jesus saith unto every one of us now, to yourself: 
 " Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My 
 word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath ever- 
 lasting life, and shall not Come into condemnation, 
 but is passed from death unto life." Mark well the 
 little word " hath" in the above sentence. It is most 
 emphatic and expressive. It means — ah me ! I cannot 
 tell you what it means. If all the preachers on earth 
 were to speak on these three words — "hath everlasting 
 life" — until " time should be no longer," the prelimin- 
 aries would only be entered upon and all eternity 
 would be needed to exhaust the heavenly mvstery. 
 But it (hath) is in the present tense of the verb (tense 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 219 
 
 means time), therefore in and from the moment you 
 hear or read His word and believe, the " spirit of life" 
 is breathed into your soul, and you are free from the 
 law of sin and death, " and shall not come into con- 
 demnation," being "passed from death unto life.' 
 " Search the Scriptures," then, for in them you will 
 find the " hidden wisdom," the true secret of happi- 
 ness, for all other "learning is vain till you this 
 secret have, hozv to avoid or triumph o'er the grave." 
 But do not defer ; defer not : 
 
 *' Be wise to-day, 'tis madness to defer ; 
 Next day the fatal precedent will plead, 
 Thus on, till wisdom is push'd out of life. 
 Procrastination is the thief of time : 
 Year after year it steals, till all are fled, 
 And to the merdes of a moment leaves 
 The vast concerns of an etertval scene. " 
 
220 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 SEQUEL. 
 
 •' WHOSOEVER IS BORN OF GOD DOTH NOT COMMIT SIN, 
 FOR HIS SEED REMAINETII IN HIM, AND HE CANNOT 
 SIN, BECAUSE HE IS J30RN OF GOD." 1 JOHN, III. 9. 
 
 The above is an alarming text to the Christian. I 
 am strongly convinced that no Christian can read the 
 words attentively without finding his " hopes and fears 
 start up alarmed," unless he has already settled the 
 matter with his conscience and his God. In some 
 degree we all have our experience in both temporal 
 and spiritual things. I, therefore, think it right to 
 say a few words relative to this text, as thinking some 
 other as well as myself may have been exercised in 
 reference thereto, or may now or hereafter be so 
 exercised. And I feel impressed, that should the fol- 
 lowing lines come under the notice of any one whose 
 mind is in a state of distraction, as concerning the 
 startling import of these words, this may tend not 
 only to soothe and alleviate his doubts and fears, but 
 to "stablish, strengthen, settle," cheer and gladden 
 his heart, and it may be to "rejoice with joy unspeak- 
 able and full of glory." 
 
 Some time ago, in reading the New Testament, I 
 resolved to note such passages as might seem con- 
 tradictory (not difficult or hard to be understood, but 
 
MIT SIN, 
 CANNOT 
 :n, III. 9. 
 
 3tian. I 
 read the 
 md fears 
 ,tled the 
 [In some 
 jmporal 
 right to 
 ig some 
 cised in 
 be so 
 the fol- 
 ic whose 
 ning the 
 end not 
 ears, but 
 gladden 
 mspeak- 
 
 ament, I 
 em con- 
 ,ood, but 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 221 
 
 contradictory), with the view of ascertaining 'whether 
 it were possible to reconcile such passages otherwise 
 than at the expense of truth, so far as man might be 
 able to judge. I found a number of such seeming 
 passages, indeed one in the first chapter of Matthew, 
 where it would appear, from verse 17 to tlie end, that 
 Jesus Christ was not the son of David, nor the son 
 of Abraham according to the first verse, because He 
 was not the son of Joseph. This and a number of 
 other passages, after some difficulty, and searching the 
 Scriptures, I found were not contradictory at all, but 
 corroborative of one another, as well as other cognate 
 texts. I found no real difficulty till I reached 1 
 John, iii. 9. 
 
 Previously, in the various readings in different 
 places concerning the state of the believer and his 
 warfare while on earth, and his conflict with sin, him- 
 self and his spiritual foes; of Paul's reasoning in 
 Romans, vii. chapter, from verse 13 to the end, in 
 reference thereto; and of the Spirit's lusting against 
 the flesh, and the carnal nature against the Spirit, I 
 had concluded from the plain teachings of God's 
 Word, and my own experience, that there is not " a 
 just or justified man on earth who doeth good and 
 sinneth not." • 
 
 I had often read the words before, and heard them 
 read, but on that morning how different was the feel- 
 ing. The first clause seemed astounding. I paiised 
 and read the words again, and then the reason, "for 
 his seed remaineth in him," and finished the verse 
 with astonishment and consternation. 
 
 I quickly reviewed the words, and felt more 
 appalled than if the thunder of heaven had suddenly 
 
r 
 
 222 A VOICE FROM ikfi WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 echoed through the cloudless skies. It would be 
 impossible to describe the workings of my mind. I 
 read the words until I was convinced of the reality- 
 contained in them. Then I thought "All is lost ! I 
 am not a Christian, for I can sin, and do sin, having a 
 reference to God's pure and holy precepts." Despair- 
 ing thoughts, and a conviction of the reasonings of 
 infidels being the truth, flashed through my soul. Was 
 this world, then, with man upon it, with all its sur- 
 roundings in the blue vault of heaven, only a contin- 
 gency developed from nothing? Or if a God, did 
 man sustain no relation to him in time and for 
 eternity ? I paced the room, I again read the epistle 
 from the beginning, and also onwards to Eevelation, 
 and found the indubitable and undeniable contradic- 
 tion set forth in words not to be misunderstood, viz., 
 "That if we say we have have no sin, we deceive 
 ourselves, and the truth is not in us," and "If any 
 man sin we have an advocate with the Father," &c., 
 then the contradiction, "Whosoever is born of God 
 cannot sin," and " We know that whosoever is born 
 of God sinneth not ; but he that is begotten of God 
 keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him 
 not." 1st John, v. 18. 
 
 Although I felt my mind bewildered, and as John 
 Bunyan said, "a thick horror of darkness seemed to 
 fall upon me," yet I could perceive here was enough 
 to silence Christendom, for who is he that will say he 
 does not and cannot commit sin ? And I wondered 
 that infidelity had not seized upon this formidable 
 and unanswerable argument, and thereupon insisted 
 that the whole matter of Christianity was a strong 
 delusion, and the Christian life a fallacy, themselves 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDE^ESB OF CANADA. 223 
 
 Duld be 
 nd. I 
 
 reality 
 
 lost ! I 
 liaving a 
 Despair- 
 lings of 
 ul. Was 
 
 its sur- 
 b contin- 
 Glod, did 
 
 and for 
 e epistle 
 relation , 
 ontradic- 
 ood, viz., 
 
 deceive 
 
 "If any 
 iier." &c.. 
 of God 
 is born 
 of God 
 
 eth him 
 
 as John 
 temed to 
 
 enough 
 fll say he 
 rondered 
 cmidable 
 
 insisted 
 
 |a strong 
 
 jmselves 
 
 being witnesses and judges. It seemed as if I had 
 at last come to a wall of brass, impenetrable and 
 insurmountable, an impassable gulf between heaven 
 and earth, and I felt 'as if all that could be adduced 
 by the whole human race would be powerless, being 
 impressed with the belief that it was a moral impossi- 
 bility to reconcile the premises. 
 
 So far as I remember, the first thoughts of relief 
 or mitigation that arose in my mind, were what others 
 thought of this matter, and how they coidd believe 
 the words, and reconcile them with their own experi- 
 ence and that of others. Although faithless and 
 dejected, and despairing, I applied to several members 
 of Christian Churches. The substance of their replies 
 was, that they did not know the meaning of it ; that 
 if they sinned, they would be forgiven, and that it 
 was best not to trouble themselves about things they 
 could not understand. One said, the Minister said at 
 a prayer meeting, " that a believer could not sin wil- 
 fully." 
 
 Finding nothing satisfactory, I wrote to several 
 Ministers of the Gospel, of different Churches, and 
 also spoke with several personally, with the following 
 results. The Wesleyan Ministers view the words in 
 this way, " that the Christian cannot sin when in a 
 state of grace; that is, when he has the witness in 
 himself, that then he is born of God, and at that time 
 cannot sin so long as he believes. But he may be in 
 a different state to-morrow, therefore liable to sin, and 
 therefore it could not be said of liim, that he cannot 
 sin except when he has the witness in himself, or, in a 
 believing state, and at other times may be, or is a 
 si7iner only. Wlien one of them, whom I greatly 
 
224 
 
 A tOIOE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 esteem and respect, was explaining his views to me, I 
 cotild not banish the words of the Poet from my 
 mind, " Each night we die, each morn are born anew." 
 And I also found that this highly respectable branch 
 of Christ's Church consider and believe that the 
 sinner when converted, or regenerated, is universally 
 changed, or as the Preacher said, "the old nature 
 uprooted and abolished;" which views are not only 
 at variance with the plain teachings of God's Word, 
 but surely do not accord with the thought, that the 
 sinner is born of God only when he has the witness 
 of the Spirit, or so long as faith abides in liim ; but 
 at other times may fall into sin, and become weak 
 and helpless as another man. 
 
 The Ministers of our Church to whom I applied 
 are not unanimous in their opinions concerning the 
 meaning of the passage. One says, "The believer can- 
 not sin deliberately, habitually or characteristically." 
 No adverbs in Christ's Gospel by John. " He cannot 
 sin, because he is born of God." Another, " that the 
 passage must be read in harmony with the rest of 
 the epistle, and that it cannot mean that the believer 
 doth not sin." But John saith he not only doth not 
 sin, but he "cannot sin." 
 
 A Professor says "cannot sin " means that the new 
 nature is Godly, holy. This is true, because he who 
 is born from above, is justified, elected and sanctified, 
 on believing through the righteousness of Christ im- 
 puted unto him; but he adds "the regenerated person 
 is not free from sin," that is, he doth sin and can com- 
 mit sin. 
 
 It will be easily seen, that, although these different 
 views of the state of the Christian may in some 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNE8B OF CANADA. 
 
 225 
 
 ;o me, I 
 
 cm my 
 
 L anew." 
 
 branch 
 
 lat the 
 
 versally 
 
 nature 
 
 lot only 
 
 3 Word, 
 
 :hat the 
 
 witness 
 
 im; but 
 
 le weak 
 
 . applied 
 
 ling tlie 
 
 pver can- 
 
 kically." 
 
 cannot 
 
 bhat the 
 
 rest of 
 
 Deliever 
 
 oth not 
 
 the new 
 he who 
 notified, 
 irist im- 
 person 
 an corn- 
 different 
 in some 
 
 measure satisfy, and are partially in accordance with 
 the description given in this work, yet there is some- 
 thing still felt to be wanting, as regards his holy, sin- 
 less, and Christ-like condition, plainly implied in the 
 beloved Apostle's writings. 
 
 The first glimpse of the "light of life" which I 
 felt satisfiictory was, on reading Christ's teachings to 
 Nicodemus, (which I had often read — we nmst go 
 again seven times), where it is said, "and that which 
 is born of the Spirit is Spirit." Then there is a 
 reality produced in both cases, the one is flesh, and 
 the other is spirit. What is born of God, that is 
 spirit. On believing, the man, the earthly carnal man, 
 the sinner, is born of the Spirit, and a new living 
 reality is produced in his soul, that is Spirit, and will 
 never die, nor be corrupted, that is incorruptible ; that 
 doth not commit sin ; that cannot sin ; that sinneth 
 not; that keepeth himself; and the wicked one cannot 
 touch that. That scattered the darkness from my 
 understanding, and I saw that the sinner is not the 
 Christian; that the believer is not the unbeliever; that 
 there are two of us ; that the carnal man is not the 
 spiritual man, nor the old man, (Adam), is not the 
 new man, (Christ); that the sinner is not the new 
 living principle breathed into him, that is spirit, 
 called in Scripture, *'babe in Christ," "little child," 
 " child of God," " Son of God," and doth not commit 
 sin, and cannot sin ; and the sinner is no longer a 
 sinner only, there is a new spirit in him, he is no 
 longer one, but two, — flesli, the old man, and Spirit, 
 the new man, and yet the two are one. The soul and 
 body are one, viz., the sinner, or old man; and the 
 sinner and new man, (Christ), are also one, viz., the 
 
226 A VOICE FnOM THE! WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 Christian or believer. To sin is the nature of the 
 sinner, but the new man (Christ), being a holy thing, 
 the Son of God, doth not sin, cannot sin, and he 
 keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth hirn 
 not. The knot was untied, and the pressure removed. 
 
 Imagine the feelings of a poor miserable sinner, 
 whose whole soul is, as it were, bound up in a piece 
 of earth, worth the paltry sum of ten thousand 
 dollars, but held under, (to him), an irredeemable 
 mortgage, which he has not the slightest hope of ever 
 removing; think of his feelings on being suddenly 
 presented by a friend, not only with a discharge in 
 full of such mortgage, but an inalienable right, not 
 only to said piece of earth, but to all the lands and 
 tenements in fifty townships, with all their appurten- 
 ances in any wise thereto belonging, to himseK and 
 his children for ever. 
 
 If we can fancy the extravagances of this poor 
 creature, when he thinks of his "great possessions," 
 what must a poor sinner, (but a joint heir of the new 
 heaven and the new earth) think when he tries to 
 realize what great things God hath done for him. 
 That because he is a helpless sinner, God in pity and 
 compassion sent His own Son from heaven to save 
 him, and commendeth his love in that while he is a 
 sinner, Christ died for him, and on his believing the 
 testimony of God, he is pardoned, accepted as right- 
 eous and blessed, and shall be saved and never perish, 
 but have everlasting life; and, being "born of God," 
 of incorruptible seed, and by the word of God which 
 liveth and abideth for ever, that is spirit, and takes up 
 his abode with Him, and shows him things to come, 
 and that all is his in time and eternity, because he is 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 227 
 
 of the 
 y thing, 
 
 and he 
 eth hirn 
 removed. 
 3 sinner, 
 
 a piece 
 thousand 
 ieemable 
 )e of ever 
 suddenly 
 jharge in 
 right, not 
 ands and 
 appurten- 
 nself and 
 
 |this poor 
 [sessions," 
 If the new 
 tries to 
 for him. 
 pity and 
 [i to save 
 e he is a 
 [eving the 
 as right- 
 er perish, 
 of God," 
 od which 
 takes up 
 to come, 
 ^use he is 
 
 Christ's and Christ is God's; and although we cannot 
 conceive of the things that are laid up for those tjuat 
 love Him, yet it will be "fulness of joy, and pleasures 
 for evermore," a treasure in the heavens which " fail- 
 eth not;" it will be always "greater things than these," 
 and the indelible impress of *'For ever and ever'' will 
 be stamped on man's estate in the " new heavens and 
 the new earth, for time shall be no longer." Instead, 
 then, of 1st John, iii. 9 proving an insuperable barrier 
 to the belief of Christianity, it is, when rightly under- 
 stood, one of the most cheering, consolatory, and 
 soul-satisfying proofs, sure and immutable, that the 
 Christian can exhibit of its divine origin ; and the 
 spirit of life, and love, and power which dwells within 
 him will manifest that he is, in some degree, a living 
 epistle known and read by all men, and he himself 
 will also realize that he doth not serve God for naught, 
 but that he is added unto the Lord, and one with him, 
 and an heir of the riches of the kingdom of God. 
 
 I might say one word in reference to numerous 
 passages of Scripture which seem to warrant the 
 belief, that the regenerate soul may or can fall from 
 its own steadfastness, and be born anew or again 
 regenerated. 
 
 All these can only apply to such as have no root 
 in themselves; "are not rooted and grounded in love;" 
 have not known the power of the truth ; are of those 
 who draw back unto perdition; false conceptions; 
 endure for a while, and then are offended. But they 
 who believe to the saving of the soul, do receive the 
 gift by grace, are born of the spirit; a new right spirit 
 is given them ; a spirit of holiness that doth not and 
 cannot sin, and from the moment of their belief of 
 
 t 
 
228 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OP CANADA. 
 
 the truth they are also, as I have shown, elected, 
 washed, sanctified .and justified, and, as God is true, 
 shall also be glorified. They are children and heirs 
 added unto the Lord; are one with Him, and can 
 never be subtracted ; shall never perish, but have 
 everlasting life, and this lif . in His Son, and His 
 Son is in them the hope of ; y, and this hope they 
 have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, 
 and which entereth into that within the veil whither 
 their Forerumur is for them entered. 
 
 A rush of ideas crowded into my mind, shedding 
 new light on a., variety of passages, establishing this 
 wonderful, mysterious, but still manifest. and immov- 
 able truth of the Christian system calculated to cheer 
 and gladden the heart under whatever circumstances 
 we may be placed. 
 
 The seed of grace which must grow : this seed 
 remaineth in him and cannot be corrupted ; this nev 
 man " which after God is created in righteousness 
 and true holiness" cannot sin, is first called a " babe 
 in Christ," then "a child," "Christ," "the Spirit of 
 Christ." " If any man have not the Spirit of Christ 
 he is none of His." His spirit dwelleth in us. We 
 are led by the Spirit, and the Spirit beareth witness 
 that we are the children of God, and if children, then 
 heirs, joint heirs with Christ. The sinner can only 
 be born again once. The new living spirit of life 
 and love cannot be corrupted, or changed, or taken 
 away. He is no longer under the law, but under 
 grace, and is " married to Him who is raised from the 
 dead," and no power, visible or invisible, nor life, nor 
 death, nor things present, nor things to come, can dis- 
 solve the alliance or separate him from the love of 
 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 •^ ^ «-' 
 
 elected, 
 i is true, 
 lud lieirs 
 , and can 
 but have 
 , and His 
 lope they 
 steadfast, 
 il wliitber 
 
 ., shedding 
 shing this 
 nd immov- 
 ed to cheer 
 iumstances 
 
 : this seed 
 this nev 
 fhteousness 
 (d a "babe 
 he Spirit of 
 It of Christ 
 lin us. We 
 5th witness 
 Lildren,then 
 ir can only 
 spirit of life 
 or taken 
 but under 
 led from the 
 [nor life, nor 
 )me, can dis- 
 the love of 
 
 God wliich is in Christ Jesus. Tlic believer hath 
 received the spirit wliich is of God. " Know ye not 
 that the spirit of God dwelleth in you ?" He that is 
 joined to the Lord is one Sjnrit. Know ye not that 
 your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost wliich is 
 in you, wliich is of God, and ye are not your own? 
 If any man be in Christ he is a new creature. There 
 is something new in him, a treasure from which he 
 will bring things new and old for ever and ever. " I 
 live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life 
 which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of 
 the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for 
 me. And if children then heirs, and joint heirs with 
 Christ, which is Christ in you the hope of glory. 
 And I will pray the Father, and He sliaU give you 
 another Comforter, that He may abide luith you for- 
 ever, even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot 
 receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth 
 Him, but ye know Him for He dwelleth with you, 
 and shall be in you. I in them and Thon in Me, that 
 they may be made perfect in one, that the love where- 
 with thou hast loved me may be in them and /m them." 
 But, perhaps, some one will say, does not the 
 Christian, the believer, after all, sin ? Did not Paul 
 do that which he hated ? I would say — No ; it is not 
 the believer who sins. He is truly the new man — the 
 Lord from heaven, that is, Spirit ; the Christian is 
 Christ, and He cannot sin. It is the old man, or sin- 
 ful nature which sins. "Yet, not I, but Christ liveth 
 in me." Christ could not sin ; it was his remaining 
 carnal nature, not being "uprooted and abolished, nor 
 universally 6hanged;" his body of sin and death 
 that lusted against the Spirit, it was that which 
 
 11 
 
230 
 
 A VOICE FllOai THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 II i 
 
 sinned. The saved siniiei- is a composition ; there 
 are two of us, and the component parts are contrary, 
 the one to the other, and the warfare continues, some- 
 times a sore conflict, for when we siii "worse things 
 will come unto us," but the good soldier of Christ 
 Jesus, under the Captain of his salvation, will, at last, 
 he more than a conqueror, through Him that loved Mm. 
 
 Thus it will he seen, that these seemingly contra- 
 dictory texts can be read satisfactorily, and tlie words 
 harmonize with other parts of Scripture, and, yet, 
 the meaning of the passages be what the words clearly 
 express. I feel more than satisfied with this view of 
 the matter, and have no wish to find fault with those 
 who may differ. But, would this not lead to "ease 
 in Zion" and a turning of the grace of God into 
 lasciviousness ? The emphatic "God forbid" is the 
 answer. Shall we sin, for whom Christ died ? Shall 
 we sin, that grace may abound ? It is impossible a 
 Christian can make use of any such argument. The 
 sinner may, who thinks God is like himself, and will 
 approve his sin. But the saved sinner, who knows 
 and feels with moistened eye, that his sins, his own 
 sinfulness, brought the mighty Saviour from heaven 
 ("For what the law could not do," &c. Eomans viii., 
 3) to save him fror^i his sins, but not in them, can 
 have no compromise with that "which first brought 
 death into the world and all our woe." 
 
 Should it be told you, that, in one month, you 
 were to be ushered into the presence of our noble 
 Queen, her lords and gentlemen, and to associate with 
 them only hereafter, would you not give all diligence 
 to prepare yourself for such an exalted and honorable 
 position ? But the believer will, in "a few short 
 
A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 231 
 
 ; there 
 oiitrary, 
 s, some- 
 ! things 
 f Christ 
 ., at last, 
 vecl him. 
 ■ contra- 
 le words 
 iiid, yet, 
 Is clearly 
 5 view of 
 ith those 
 to "ease 
 3od into 
 1" is the 
 1? Shall 
 )ossible a 
 nt. The 
 and will 
 10 knows 
 his own 
 n heaven 
 nans viii., 
 them, can 
 t brought 
 
 onth, yon 
 our noble 
 ciate with 
 diligence 
 I honorable 
 few short 
 
 years, it may be weeks or months," arrive at Mount 
 Z:on, in the City whose builder and maker is God, 
 and become the deathless companion of "an innumer- 
 able company of angels, and the spirits of just men 
 made perfect, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and 
 Jacob, in the Kingdom of God;" and being loosed 
 from the dross of earth, will be caused to fly swiftly, 
 not "on the wings of the morning," but on those of 
 "faith and love," and will visit the many mansions in 
 our Father's house, in the depths of eternity, and 
 know even as he is known, and also "learn the deep 
 meaning of things that have been." 
 
 How then can the Christian think of sinning ? 
 or, what time has he for frivolity and trifling ? or 
 to spend in "Vanity Fair," or collect straws and 
 sticks with the "muck rake," or enter into vain jang- 
 ling with him wlio drinks and promotes drunkenness ? 
 He must at once shun all appearance of evil, not 
 partaking of other men's sins, but "perfecting holiness 
 in the fear of CJod," for, Ijeliold, a greater than any 
 one of these above mentioned is with liim — even 
 Jesus, and as he "cannot go from his Spirit," he 
 will stand in awe and sin not, "will exceedingly fear 
 and quake" at such a terril)le siglit as the Son of 
 God "crucified afresh and put to oa (»pen shame." 
 He Avill, therefore, gird up tlie loins of his mind and 
 fight the good figlit of faith, laying hold on eternal 
 life, and through the Spirit be enabled to mortify the 
 deeds of the body, and "to die more and more unto 
 sin, and live unto righteousness," having liis armour 
 briglit, knowing tliat liis eld nature is not "uprooted 
 and abolished," but still in him, that is, "in liis flesh 
 dwelleth no good thing," and that old Adani "is a 
 
232 
 
 A VOICE TROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 I'' 
 
 I 
 
 ill 
 
 1 1 
 
 sturdy rogue," an inveterate mule, impatient of 
 restraint, wishes to "reign in liis mortal body," and 
 assisted by "spiritual wickedness in high places," lies 
 in wait in the path of poor pilgrims, even until death, 
 and even on the death- beds of some of them, (such as 
 Messrs. Fearing, Despondency, Eeady to Halt, Feeble- 
 mind, and multitudes which dwell in the Town of 
 ITiiv.^ tain); ho has shown the most relentless bar- 
 barity, (for he does not know how to show mercy), 
 giving them such twitches as would cause them to 
 exclaim, with tears, "Thanks be to God who giveth 
 us ' /•':;A(y through our Lord Jesus Christ." We 
 must I e ^; *":fiii until death that we may receive the 
 crown of Ine-- 
 
 ** A c J' —^ h • ]ian(\ :;al wove, meet for a child of God,— 
 
 Gemm'd wit I i,iie li- ,. -^f ?''is love, and purchased by His blood. " 
 
 But althougli in our body of shi and death 
 " dwelleth no good thing," yet " tlie Lord is also for 
 the body," mid it, too, shall he more than conqueror, 
 and one day be " a glorious body" like unto Christ's; 
 " GO when tliis corruptible shall have put on incorrup- 
 tion, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, 
 then shall be brought to pass the saying : Death is 
 swallowed up in victory!' "Therefore, my beloved 
 bretlu'en, be ye steadfast, umnoveable, always abound- 
 ing in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know 
 that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." 
 
 Then, then, " this is the work of God," that we 
 believe on Him whom He hath sent. In believing 
 we have life tlirough His name, and shall hereafter 
 have, posser:s and enjoy life — eternal life — have passed 
 from death unto life; shall not perish, for God hath 
 sent His Son from heaven to earth to declare it, and 
 
BUt of 
 
 jr," and 
 iS," lies 
 L death, 
 such as 
 Feehle- 
 'own of 
 ess bar- 
 mercy), 
 them to 
 ) giveth 
 ,t." We 
 jeive the 
 
 od, — 
 
 His blood." 
 
 id death 
 also for 
 
 'onqucror, 
 Christ's; 
 
 hicorrup- 
 
 nortidity, 
 
 Death is 
 
 beloved 
 
 abound- 
 
 ye hiiovj 
 
 " that we 
 believing 
 hereafter 
 ve passed 
 God hath 
 it, and 
 
 A VOICE FROM THE WILDERNESS OF CANADA. 
 
 233 
 
 He hath verily declared it, and all who believe " are 
 Christ's, and Christ is God's." 
 
 If, however, any one would persist, speaking of 
 free agency and the like, and cannot agree with me, 
 then I will not disagree with you. If you will not 
 sail in my vessel, we will trim our sails and keep on 
 our course luider the same Captain ; having the same 
 chart ; steering for the same point ; keeping our eye 
 Gteadily " on yonder Shining Liglit," the Pole-star in 
 the heavens, "even Jesus;" and should there be trouble 
 on the ocean, and we should even be tossed " high on 
 the broken wave," we M'ill find " His ear not slow to 
 hear," and tliat His arm is omnipotent to save. We 
 will find He is in the ship, saying now as of old: "It 
 is I, be not afraid." 
 
 " jffuvmn like thee, I sympathize ; 
 Divine, I rule the stormy skies ; 
 Lift up thine lieart, and wipe thine eyes — 
 You need not be afraid !" 
 
 And thus we will keep on our way rejoicing, 
 " knowini? that He who hath betjun tlie irood work 
 will perform it until tlie day of Christ;" and we will 
 at last cast anchor in the haven of rest, whither our 
 Forerunner hath for us entered. "There we shall taste 
 unmingled joys, and dwell in perfect peace," or, as 
 Sturm hath it, " we shall swim in an ocean of love 
 without shore or bottom." For in the new heaven 
 and the new earth, holiness, happiness and joy, like 
 one unbounded spring, shall for ever, ever bloom, and 
 " we shall see His face," and behold His glory, for 
 " His name is above every name," and in Him and 
 vrith Him we, too, will be exalted to glory and honor; 
 ■ for we shall be kings and priests unto God, and shall 
 
!'^ 
 
 231 
 
 A VOICK FHOM THK wilderness of CANADA. 
 
 reign witli Ilim," and be more and more " partakers 
 of tlie divine nature ; " and thus still perfecting 
 knowledge tliroughout an endless duration, while new 
 scenes of Avonder and delight will burst upon our 
 astonished vision as the myriads of stars give up their 
 secrets, and we still find there are myriads more in the 
 vast unknown, illimitable expansion which still lies 
 beyond in yon deep blue sky, but which worlds our 
 reason tells us must exist. But " such knowledge is 
 too great for us, too high to understand," and yet 
 nothing less can satisfy the aspirations of that human 
 soul which believeth in the Lord Jesus Christ, for 
 He is the great God and our (iod, and the Creator 
 and Possessor of heaven and earth. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 li 
 
;ada. 
 
 ! " partakers 
 L perfecting 
 1, while new 
 jt upon our 
 ^dve up their 
 more in the 
 lich still lies 
 
 worlds our 
 cnowledge is 
 id," and yet 
 
 that human 
 3 Christ, for 
 1 the Creator