and witnessed by their blood, soon sprung up into a flourishing tree, and gloriously overspread that whole country. WE promised to give our readers a specimen of this excellent man's tract, called Patrick's Places, which have ever been esteemed by the most able and serious Christians (especially considering the time when they were written) as an admirable and invaluable performance. They were prefaced by Mr John Frith, the martyr, in the following manner : JOHN FRITH unto the Christian Reader. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, in these last days and perilous times, hath stirred up in all countries witnesses unto his Son, to C testify the truth unto the unfaithful, to save at the least 'some from the snares of antichrist, which lead to per'dition; as ye may here perceive by that excellent and 'well learned young man, Patrick Hamilton, born in Scotland of a noble progeny: Who, to testify the truth, 'sought all means, and took upon him priesthood (even as Paul circumcised Timothy, to win the weak Jerus) that he might be admitted to preach the pure word of 'God. Notwithstanding, as soon as the chamberlain and other bishops of Scotland had perceived, that the 'light began to shine, which disclosed their falsehood that 'they conveyed in darkness, they laid hands on him, and 'because he would not deny his Saviour Christ, at their instance, they burnt him to ashes. Nevertheless, God of his bounteous mercy (to publish to the whole world, 'what a man these monsters have murdered) hath reserved a little treatise, made by this Patrick, which if ye list, ye may call PATRICK'S PLACES: For it treateth exactly of certain common places, which known, ye have the pith of all divinity. This treatise I have turned into the English tongue, to the profit, of my nation: To 'whom I beseech God to give light, that they may espie the deceitful paths of perdition, and return to the right ‹ way, which leadeth to life everlasting. Amen.' ་ 6 The following are extracts from the treatise. The doctrine of the Law. "He that keepeth not all the commandments of God, keepeth not one of them. Argument. Argument. "He that keepeth one commandment of God, keepeth all: "Ergo, he that keepeth not all the commandments of God, "keepeth not one of them. Proposition. "It is not in our power to keep any one of the com"mandments of God. Argument. Ba- "It is impossible to keep any of the commandments of "God, without grace. CO. "It is not in our power to have grace. "Ergo; it is not in our power to keep any of the com"mandments of God. "And even so may you reason concerning the Holy "Ghost and faith, forasmuch as neither without them "we are able to keep any of the commandments of God, "neither yet be they in our power to have. Non est volentis neque currentis, &c. Rom. ix. 16. Proposition. "The law was given us to shew our sin. "By the law cometh the knowledge of sin; Rom. iii. 20. "I knew not what sin meant, but through the law; "For I had not known what lust had meant, except the law "had said, Thou shalt not lust. Without the law, sin was "dead, that is, it moved me not, neither wist I that it was sin, which notwithstanding was sin, and forbidden by the law. Rom. vii. Proposition. "The law biddeth us do that thing, which is impossible for us. Argument. Da- "The keeping of the commandments is to us impossible. "The law commandeth to us the keeping of the com"mandments. ri i. "Ergo; the law commandeth unto us, what is impos"sible. "Objection. But you will say, Wherefore doth God "bid us do that, which is impossible for us? "Answer. To make thee know, that thou art but evil, ❝and that there is no remedy to save thee in thine own "hand: And that thou mayest seek a remedy at some other: "For the law doth nothing else, but condemn thee. "The doctrine of the GOSPEL. "The GOSPEL is, in other words, good tidings *; and "may be expressed in the following manner. * Luke ii. "Christ «Christ is the Saviour of the [elect] world'. Christ is "the Saviour 2. Christ died for us 3. Ghrist died for our «sins. Christ bought us with his blood 5. Christ "washed us with his blood. Christ offered himself for "us 7. Christ bare our sins on his own back 8. Christ Christ came into " came into this world to save sinners 9. "this world to take away our sins 10. Christ was the "price that was given for us and our sins 11. Christ was "made debtor for us 12. Christ hath paid our debt, for "he died for us 13. Christ made satisfaction for us and "our sins 14. Christ is our righteousness 15. Christ is our "sanctification 16. Christ is our redemption 17. Christ is ❝ our peace Christ hath pacified the Father of heaven "for us 19. Christ is ours, and all his 20. Christ hath "delivered us from the law, from the devil, and from hell 21. The Father of heaven hath forgiven us our "sins for Christ's sake. And many other similar ex"pressions, equally scriptural, which declare unto us the mercy of God. 18. "The nature and office of the Law and of the GOSPEL: "The law sheweth us our sin. Rom. iii. "The gospel sheweth us a remedy for it. John i. "The law sheweth us our condemnation. Rom. vii. "The gospel sheweth us our redemption. Col. i. "The law is the word of ire [wrath.] Rom. iv. "The gospel is the word of grace. Acts xiv. 20. "The law is the word of despair. Deut. xxvii. "The gospel is the word of comfort. Luke ii. "The law is the word of disquietude. Rom. vii. "The gospel is the word of peace. Eph. vi. "A disputation between the LAW and the GOSPEL, in which "is shewed the difference or contrariety between them both. "The law saith, Pay the debt. "The gospel saith, Christ hath paid it. "The law saith, Thou art a sinner, despair, and thou "shalt be damned. "The gospel saith, Thy sins are forgiven thee; be of good "comfort, for thou shalt be saved. "The law saith, Make amends for thy sins. "The gospel saith, Christ hath made it for thee. "The (2) Luke ii. (1) John iv. (6) Rev. i. v. (7) Gal. i. (8) Isa. liii. (9) 1 Tim. i. (11) 1 Tim. ii. (19) Rom. viii. (13) Col. ii. (3) Rom. v. (4) ibid. iv. (5) 1 Pet. ii. (15) 1 Cor. i. (16) 1 Cor. i. (17) Eph. ii. (18) Rom. v. fii. (20) Col. iii. (21) John i. (10) 1 Fobn iii. (14) 1 Cor. vii. (19) 1 Cor. "The law saith, The Father of heaven is angry with thee. "The gospel saith, Christ hath pacified him with his blood. "The law saith, Where is thy righteousness, goodness, and "satisfaction? "The gospel saith, Christ is thy righteousness, goodness, "and satisfaction. The law saith, Thou art bound and obliged to me, to the "devil, and to hell. "The gospel saith, Christ hath delivered thee from them "all. "A comparison between FAITH and UNBELIEF. "Faith is the root of all good. "Unbelief is the root of all evil. "Faith maketh God and man good friends. "Unbelief maketh them foes. "Faith bringeth God and man together. "Unbelief separates them. "All that faith doth, pleaseth God. "All that unbelief doth, displeaseth God. "Faith esteemeth God to be true. "Unbelief looketh upon him to be false and a liar. "Faith knoweth God. "Unbelief knoweth him not. "Faith loveth both God and his neighbour. "Unbelief loveth neither of them. "Faith only saveth us. "Unbelief only condemneth us. "A comparison between FAITH, HOPE, and CHARITY. "Faith cometh of the word of God; hope cometh of "faith; and charity springeth of them both. "Faith believeth the word; hope trusteth to enjoy that "which is promised in the word; charity doeth good unto "her "her neighbour, through the love that it hath to God, "and the gladness that is within herself. "Faith looketh to God and his word; hope looketh " unto his gift and reward; charity looketh on her neigh"bour's profit. "Faith receiveth God; hope receiveth his reward; cha"rity loveth her neighbour with a glad heart, and that "without any respect of reward. "Faith pertaineth to God only; hope to his reward, " and charity to her neighbour." This little treatise of Mr Hamilton's (continues his editor) though short, is very comprehensive, containing matter sufficient for several volumes; and shews us the true doctrine of the law, of the gospel, of faith, and of works, with their nature, properties, and difference. Which difference is thus to be understood, that in the article of salvation, and in the office of justifying, they are distinct and to be kept asunder, the law from the gospel, and faith from works: Though in the person that is justified, and also in the order of doctrine, they ought and do go necessarily together. Therefore, wheresoever any question or doubt ariseth respecting salvation, or our justification before God, there the law and all good works must be utterly excluded, that grace may appear to be sovereign, the promise free and gratuitous, and that faith may stand alone; which faith alone, without law or works, confirms to every believer his own particular salvation. For as the grace of God is the efficient cause, and Jesus Christ the meritorious cause of our redemption; so faith is the instrumental cause, by which the believer applieth the merits of Christ particularly to his own salvation. So that, in the act and office of justification, both the law and works are entirely out of the question, as things that have nothing to do in the matter. The reason is this, that as all our salvation is by Christ alone, so nothing can savingly profit us, but that with which we can apprehend Christ. Now, as neither the law nor works, but faith alone is that by which we can apprehend Christ as an almighty and all-sufficient Saviour, so faith alone justifieth the sinner before God, through the object it doth apprehend; namely, Jesus Christ. For the only object of our faith is Christ, just as the brazen serpent lifted up in the wilderness, was the object only of the eyes of the Israelites looking, and not of their hands working; by virtue of which, through the promise of God, immediately proceeded health to the beholders: So |