Mr. Hormasdji Pestonji also read before the Presbytery two of the discourses prescribed to him as a student of divinity, and passed the trials necessary for admission as a candidate for license. In connexion with this young Parsi convert, it is interesting to know that his countryman and brother-Christian, Mr. Dhunjibhai Nauroji, has passed similar trials at home before the Presbytery of Edinburgh. that though we are yet far from the position Notices of Books. Four Letters to the Rev. E. B. Elliott, on some books; along with much valuable information, Dick's Christian Philosopher. Vol. I. Glas- HUMILITY.-Saints increase in humility as they draw nearer to heaven. be called an Apostle," said Paul, concerning "Unworthy to himself, seven years after his conversion. As he advanced still farther in years, he cried out, "Less than the least of all saints." A little before his martyrdom, his cry is, “The The examination of the English school took place on the 6th of August, and was well attended. The school consists of upwards of a hundred boys, most of whom acquitted themselves remarkably well. But the Marathi schools at Poona, which were examined on the 10th, brought forward still Ir our readers wish to enjoy a rich intellectual more remarkable specimens of skill, ardour, treat, if they wish to see an able defence and and diligence, on the part of Mr. Mitchell, exposition of truth, and an effective refutation of and his native teachers. The Scriptures, the error, we advise them to read this masterly Assembly's Shorter Catechism, Natural Theo-treatise of Dr. Candlish. The errors and mislogy by Gallaudet, Works on Algebra and representations of Mr. Elliott relative to Church Geometry, were read, and shown to be mas- Establishments, the recent Disruption in Scot-chief of sinners!" tered with almost equal ease. land, and the Free Church, together with the strange interpretations given by him as to "the measuring of the temple," and "the ascension of the witnesses," (in Rev. x. and xi, chap.) have SINCERITY.Our fear commonly meets us drawn upon him a castigation, severe, but well merited; and at the same time have called forth it. He that will save his life shall lose it. at that door by which we think to run from a most valuable and interesting contribution to As you love your peace, Christians, be plainthe interpretation of the prophetical Scriptures. hearted with God and man: keep the king's Matthew Henry's Commentary. Carefully printed highway, the plain, honest way of God's from the original folio edition, with engrav-commands and Christ's doctrines.-Gurnall. ings, representing scenes, customs, and religious rites. London: Partridge and Oakey, 34, Paternoster-row. 1846. HUNGARY. EXTRACT of a letter from one of the mission- execution is beautiful, and that it forms one could be got for them through the frontier to hear more. the harvest. DEPRAVITY-Nature is so corrupted as not to understand its own depravation. Owen. Advertisements. EDUCATION. Mr. BOWMAN, with the assistance of experienced MASTERS. Terms, including the use of books. Board, and Tuition in the Classics, Ditto, above that age ... 21 Guineas per Ann. 23 66 25 Washing, &c., 21. 10s. per Annum. FRENCH, GERMAN, DRAWING, and Music, are extras. THIS edition of Matthew Henry's Commentary, &c." Mr. Bowman is permitted to refer to the Rev. Professor Lorimer, Presbyterian College, London; Rev. W. H. Stowell, Rotherham; Rev. J. Har rison, Norwich; Rev. W. L. Alexander, D.D., Edinburgh; Rev. A. Reed, Newcastle; Rev. A.. Jack, North Shields; Rev. M. Harvey, Maryport; and to numerous ministers and gentlemen in the neighbourhood. A circular will be forwarded on application. Lately Published, BY JAMES NISBET AND CO., AT THEIR SELECT THEOLOGICAL CIRCULATING. A COMMENTARY on the BOOK of LEVITICUS; By the Rev. ANDREW A. BONAR, Collace; Author of "Memoirs of Rev. Robert M'Cheyne," Tenth Thousand, in 18mo., price 2s. cloth boards, Or, Words for the Suffering Family of God. Just Published, in two handsome vols., small 8vo., of Denmark,) GERHARDT: ': an Historical Tale Pathe Lutherans and Reformed in Brandenburg, under the Great Elector. By C. A. WIL DENHAHN. Translated from the German, by Mrs. STANLEY CARR. London: James Nisbet and Co., Berners-street. MORNING ESTABLISHMENT. GREAT CORAM STREET, BRUNSWICK SQUARE. MT ISS RICHARDS avails herself of this opportunity to express her sense of the kind approbation which her plan of EDUCATION has elicited, and she trusts that by pursuing the same course of systematic Instruction, enlivened and aided by the introduction of the various methods rendered available by modern improvements, to continue to receive assurances of her successful endeavours to promote the intellectual and moral welfare of those entrusted to her guidance. Now publishing, and may be ordered through any bookseller, the Original Penny Illustrated ATTHEW HENRY'S COMMENKorrentes kindly permitted to the Rev. J. H. M TARX, beautifully printed in deny Mo., in Evans, Hampstead; and Rev. J. Hamilton, 7, Weekly numbers 1d., and Monthly Parts, in a Lansdowne-place, Brunswick-square. wrapper, at 44d. Parts I. to VI. are ready, and may be ordered through any bookseller. Just Published, BY JAMES NISBET AND CO., AT THEIR SELECT THEOLOGICAL CIRCULATING LIBRARY, 21, BERNERS-STREET, In one thick vol. 18mo., price 1s. 6d. cloth boards, HE CHURCH in the HOUSE, and THE other TRACTS. By the Rev. JAMES HAMILTON. This volume contains "The Church in the House," ""Remembering Zion," "Dew of Hermon, This edition will be without the slightest abridgment, and will be the cheapest edition ever CHOCO HOCOLAT DE SANTE which requires no boiling, in Canisters of ls. and 2s, each. These Dietic preparations are manufactured by, and only to be had of NICOL and Co., RathbonePlace, Oxford-street. Just Published, published, the total cost not exceeding Thirty-five"MAN'S CHIEF END;" or, the WEST Shillings. A splendid Portrait of the venerable Commentator, with a fac-simile of his hand-writing, was presented to the Subscribers with Part VI., published December 1st. "Thankfulness," "Address of the Provi- AN sional Committee of the Evangelical Alliance," "Recollections of Rev. Robert M. M'Cheync," and "Lecture on Pastoral Theology." Also, by the same Author, The Thirtieth Thousand, in 18mo., price 1s. 6d. The MOUNT of OLIVES, BEAUTIFUL NEW YEAR'S GIFT. Morocco, 10s. ; roan, 7s. 6d. ; WITH PSALMS OF Thirty-ifth Thousand, 18mo., price ls. 6d. cloth priate heads :-Morocco, 12s.; roan, 9s. 6d. HELEN PLUMPTRE, Author of "Scripture Stories; or, Sacred History Familiarly Explained and Applied to Children." Sixth Edition, in one thick vol. 12mo., 6s. cloth boards, BASKETS of FRAGMENTS; Being Notes from Sermons preached by the late Rev. THOMAS JONES, of Creaton. By the Author of “ Scripture Stories." "Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost." John v1.2. James Nisbet and Co., 21, Berners-street. Collin's Cheap Series of Valuable and Popular Works. Price 1s. 6d. sewed, and 2s. cloth, and 3s. Royal 12mo., cloth, per volume. On 2d December will be published, VITAL CHRISTIANITY; or, the Religions of Man and the Religion of God. By ALEXANDER VINET, D.D., Professor of Theology in Lausanne, Switzerland; with an Introduction, by Robert Turnbull, Boston, United States; and a Frontispiece of Lausanne. to the getting up' of some of the Bibles which have been produced on this side the Tweed since the suspension of the patent of Her Majesty's printers."-Free Church Magazine. To be completed for 20s., YOBBIN'S DOMESTIC BIBLE. The COBI best and cheapest Family Bible ever published. In numbers, published on the 1st and 15th of every month, price 3d.: and in monthly parts, price 6d. Section I. of the "Domestic Bible," containing the Pentateuch, neatly done up, is now ready. price 3s. 6d. "The completest, compactest, and most convenient One Volume Bible that has ever appeared."-Christian Witness. BIBLE ALMANAC and PROTESTANT REFORMER'S CALENDAR, for the year 1847. Edited by the Rev. INGRAM COBBIN, M.A. Consisting of Bible Texts and Hints for Every Day in the Year-Plan for Reading the Bible in a Year-Sketches and engraved Portraits of the principal Reformers-Lists of Bibles, and a variety of miscellaneous articles, with the usual appendages to almanacs. Price 6d. MINSTER ASSEMBLY'S SHORTER CATECHISM arranged in Sections and Divisions, and exhibiting, at one view, under the pendium of Faith and Duty; printed on a large different heads, the whole of this admirable comsheet suitable for placing on the walls of Schools, or being framed and hung up in Session-rooms, private houses, &c. Price, plain copies, 3d.; elegantly printed, gold lettering, or glazed and framed, at various prices. London: James Nisbet and Co. Manchester: Thomas Anderson and Son. Edinburgh: W. P. Kennedy. Glasgow: David Bryce. Profits to be given to the "School Fund" of the Presbyterian Church in England. FREE CHURCH CHEAP PUBLICATIONS. NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS. THE SUBSCRIBERS to the Cheap Publications are respectfully informed that the third and fourth volumes for the year 1846 are now on delivery at 16, Exeter Hall. The Works in preparation for next year's issue will fully commend themselves on the score of popularity and importance. The Committee (of which Dr. Candlish is Convener) have fixed on the following as the issue for 1847: 1. MEMOIRS of the LIFE of the REV. THOMAS HALYBURTON, Professor of Divinity in the University of St. Andrew's. 2. SKETCHES of CHURCH HISTORY, by the Rev. THOMAS M'CRIE, embracing the period from the Reformation to the Revolution, revised by the Author. Vol. I. 3. Do., do. Vol. II., completing the work. 4. HISTORY of the REVIVAL at CAMBUSLANG, in 1742, from the Narrative and Notes of the Rev. William M'Culloch, then minister of the parish, with a series of Sermons by the Rev. GEORGE WHITEFIELD, preached in connexion with that event, and never before published. M'Crie's Sketches is perhaps one of the most interesting works which could be offered to the general class of readers; and no publication is better fitted, in the present day, for conveying to the minds of young and old the true character of Popery, and for inculcating those principles which our forefathers held so sacred. Halyburton's Memoirs have long been held in deserved estimation; and an account of so important an event as the Revival at Cambuslang cannot fail to be acceptable to all who feel an interest in the progress of vital religion. Each volume will contain about 320 pages 12mo., first volumes are expected to be ready BIBLE ALMANAC and EVANGELICAL carefully and neatly bound in clody for delivery TEXT-BOOK, bound together, 1s. 6d. Important to Superintendents of Schools, Sabbath THE Publishers of The volume will be strongly bound in neat cloth, and will undoubtedly be the cheapest pocket commentary ever published. London: Partridge and Oakey, Paternosterrow: William Collins, Glasgow; Curry and Co., Dublin; and sold by all booksellers. | in January, and the other two in April next. Subscriptions will be received by Mr. JAMES Price to SubP. BROWN, 16, Exeter Hall. scribers (paid in advance), 4s, the set ; to Non-subscribers, 1s. 4d. per volume. 16, Exeter Hall, Strand, London, November, 1846. Printed by ALEXANDER MACINTOSH, of No. 20, Great New street, Fetter-lane, London, and published by JAMES MACINTOSH, of No. 47, Church-road, De Beauvoirsquare, in the parish of Hackney, at the Office, No. 16, Exeter Hall, Strand, London.-Tuesday, Dec. 1, 1846, Sold by HAMILTON, ADAMS, and Co., Paternoster-row; and JAMES NISBET and Co., 21, Berners-street. PRICE-PER ANNUM, Stamped (to go post-free).... Four Shillings. Unstamped Three Shillings. Advertisements received not later than the 20th of each month. PRESBYTERIAN NEC TAMEN ONSUME EBATUR MESSENGER. THE great thing in the Church is Christ, the eternal deity of Christ, the blood of Christ, the Spirit of Christ, the presence of Christ among us. The great thing is Christ, but there is also advantage in a certain government of the Church. I am a Presbyterian, not only of situation, but of conviction and choice. Our Presbyterian way is the good middle way between Episcopacy on the one side, and Congregationalism on the other. We combine the two great principles that must be maintained in the Church-Order and Liberty: the order of government, and the liberty of the people.--MERLE D'AUBIGNE. HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN ENGLAND. On the accession of Queen Elizabeth to the throne in 1558, it was expected that the work of Reformation, interrupted by the bloody reign of Queen Mary, and left so incomplete at the untimely death of Edward VI., would be vigorously carried on in England. The persecuted Protestants came forth from their prisons, and left their places of concealment; the exiles hastened home from foreign lands; and hopes were on all hands cherished that the Church would at length be settled on a liberal and enlarged foundation. But these hopes were soon blasted. It was found that Elizabeth, while opposed to the authority of the Pope in England, and to the Popish measures of the last reign, thought that the Reformation had already been carried too far, and was resolved to admit no further innovations on the ancient forms of religion. In her own private chapel she retained her altar and crucifix; the gentlemen and singing children appeared there in their surplices, and the priests in their copes; the altar was furnished with rich plate, with two gilt candlesticks and lighted candles, and a massive silver crucifix in the midst; and the whole service was conducted in a way gave great grief to the best of her Protestant subjects. The Queen was often also heard to say that she hated the Puritans that more than the Papists. The PURITANS were so named from their desiring a purer form of worship, discipline, and government, than had yet been estab- | diction, within the realms of England and lished in England; and also from the strict- Ireland, &c.; to visit, reform, redress, order, ness of their lives and purity of doctrine. correct, and amend all errors, heresies, They contended that all things should be schisms, abuses, contempts, offences, and settled according to the word of God, with- enormities whatsoever." out admixture of human inventions and traditions; holding in short the great principle, that "the Bible, and the Bible alone, is the religion of Protestants." They therefore saw many things in the Church, as left at King Edward's death, requiring further and more perfect reformation. But not only was no advance made in the work in which gcod King Edward and the Reformers were engaged when the storm of the Marian persecution arose, but measures were adopted which effectually prevented further progress. The two principal Acts passed in the first Parliament of Elizabeth were, the ACT OF SUPREMACY, and the ACT OF UNIFORMITY. By the Act of Supremacy the chief jurisdiction ecclesiastical and spiritual was vested in the Crown: and there was a remarkable clause in the Act giving rise to a new Court, afterwards famous in English history, the Court of High Commission. It was enacted that "the Queen and her successors shall have power by their letters patents under the great seal, to assign, name, and authorize, as often as they shall think meet, and for as long time as they shall please, persons being natural born subjects, to use, occupy, and In passing the Act of Supremacy the question at issue was, "Whether ought the Pope or the Queen to be head of the Church of England?" Those who hold that Christ is the only Head of the Church, visible as well as invisible, deny the claims of either to this supremacy. And, indeed, if the choice must be made of the two, more might be said in favour of a man and an ecclesiastic, than of one of the laity and a female. But Elizabeth possessed the same high ideas of Royal prerogative and ecclesiastical supremacy as her imperious father Henry VIII. And so this assumption of the Headship of the Church by the Crown, this Erastianism (so called from the name of an eminent writer in defence of the system), this interference of the civil power in the conduct of affairs ecclesiastical and spiritual, continued to be the bane of the Church in England, and the hindrance to further progress in reformation. By the Act of Uniformity, entitled "An Act for the Uniformity of Common Prayer and Service in the Church, and administration of the Sacraments," the matters which had been so much debated in the time of Edward VI. were authoritatively settled; and that in a way the most unfavourable to the Reformers. exercise under her and them, all manner of In reviewing the liturgy of King Edward, jurisdiction, privileges, and pre-eminences, instructions were given to allow all postouching any spiritual or ecclesiastical juris-sible latitude to the Papists. The rubric explaining that the kneeling at the sacrament implied no bodily presence was expunged; the prayer, also, for deliverance "from the tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and all his detestable enormities," was struck out from the litany. All the passages objected to in the prayer-book were retained; and all the ceremonies, vestments, and forms offensive to the Puritans were ordered to be used. From this time the Puritans were discountenanced and oppressed by the Queen and by the court Reformers, and the most stringent measures were taken to secure compliance with the Act of Uniformity. Commissions were issued for a general visitation, and severe penalties imposed for disobedience to the new act. By fines, by suspension, deprivation, and, if need be, by imprisonment, authority was given to coerce the non-conformists. In vain they appealed to the Queen as loyal and devoted subjects. In vain they appealed to the bishops as fellow-Protestants agreeing in the essentials of faith; and if, as the bishops said, the points in dispute were of mere indifference, why should they be turned out of the Church, and schism occasioned, for things acknowledged to be so trifling? whereas they solemnly declared that they felt these things unlawful, nor would they part with their livings, and court poverty and disgrace, if they felt not that they would do violence to their consciences by conforming. Meanwhile the principles of the Puritans were gaining ground throughout the nation, and all the ablest preachers, and the most learned men, were on their side. At the University of Cambridge, the celebrated Cartwright, Fellow of Trinity, and Margaret Professor, delivered lectures to vast audiences, wherein he maintained such propositions as these:That there was no order of bishops raised above the rest of the clergy; that bishops should each have the oversight of a particular flock; that they should be chosen by the Church; that each Church should be governed by its own ministers and presbyters, with deacons to take charge of the poor; that archbishops, archdeacons, and other officers of the hierarchy were unscriptural and ought to be abolished. Cartwright having published a book setting forth his views on these and other controverted points, Dr. Whitgift was employed to reply. The argument being manifestly against Whitgift, Cartwright was silenced by being forbid to lecture, deprived of his fellowship, and soon after expelled from the university, and driven into banishment. Whitgift received the thanks of the court, and was rewarded with a bishopric. Beza declares Cartwright to have been the most learned man of his day in England, and from his great talent and piety he has obtained the honourable name of the "father of the Puritans." We have referred to this instance as illustrating the means used for suppressing the progress of truth and reformation at this period. The bishops of the court greatly It was then found that separation from the Established Church did not give security against penal laws and persecution, which continued to be used against the assemblies wherever they could be discovered. It was still hoped that the English Parliament might listen to grievances which the Queen and the Bishops disregarded. A treatise was accordingly drawn up by two of the ministers of London, setting forth their principles, and concluding with a petition to the Houses, that a discipline more consonant to the word of God, and agreeing with the other Reformed Churches, might be established by law. The authors were sent for into custody, and by the influence of the bishops, committed to Newgate, where they were illegally detained and cruelly used. This was in the summer of 1572. dreaded the writings of the Reformers, and | prised and broke up a meeting at Plumber's The Queen on being informed that many keep the laity to their parish churches, and There being now no further prospect of a public reformation, some of the leading Puritans agreed to attempt it in a more private way, For this purpose they met on THE 20th OF NOVEMBER, 1572, at Wandsworth, in Surrey, when eleven brethren formed themselves into a Presbytery, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church. This was THE BEGINNING OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN ENGLAND. All imaginable care was taken to keep their proceedings secret, but the Bishop of London having received intelligence, informed the Queen, who immediately issued out a proclamation for putting the Act of Uniformity into (To be continued.) BYTERIAN CHURCH. THE Standards of the Presbyterian Church in England are the Confession of Faith and Catechisms, which were drawn up by the Westminster Assembly of Divines, at the desire of the English Parliament. Of this assembly Richard Baxter, their contemporary, says," The divines there congregated were men of eminent learning and godliness, and ministerial abilities and fidelity. And being not worthy to be one of them myself, I may the more freely speak that truth which I know, even in the face of malice and envy, that as far as I am able to judge by history and any other evidence left us, the Christian world, since the days of the apostles, had never a Synod of more excellent divines." Of those summoned to the assembly about a hundred attended, including almost all the most learned and godly of the Puritan divines of the seventeenth century. From the Church of Scotland there were five ministers sent as commissioners, among whom are the well-known names of Alexander Henderson, George Gillespie, and Samuel Rutherford. Calamy, Gouge, Burges, Arrowsmith, Caryl, Greenhill, Case, and a cloud of other eminent English non-conformists, whose matchless writings, after long neglect, are again commanding public notice, were engaged in the active work of the assembly. Every article and every clause of "The Confession," and "Catechisms," as well as of "The form of Presbyterial Church government," and "The Directory for Public Worship," was fully and solemnly discussed, and nothing set down without the authority of some proof from the word of God. The assembly was opened on July 1st, 1643, with a sermon in Westminster Abbey, by Dr. Twisse, the Prolocutor, both Houses of Parliament being present. It was not till April 17, 1648, that the Larger Catechism, the last of the formularies, was presented to the House of Commons, when the house ordered six hundred copies to be printed for the service of the members; and the whole was printed by authority, for public use, Sept. 15, 1648. It has long been too much the custom in England to abuse and decry the Westminster Assembly, as well as everything connected with the Puritan times. In fact, it is very common to meet with Englishmen, otherwise well educated, and even English clergymen, otherwise well informed, who are totally ignorant of the history of this, the most important era of the English Church since the Reformation. Frequently we hear the Westminster standards and the whole system of Presbyterianism referred to as of Scotch origin; and the names of "Scotch Catechism," "Scotch Psalms," are given to the venerated works of the English Puritans, which are still used in our schools and churches. The Church of Scotland had the good sense and the wisdom to adopt the Westminster standards at an early period; and they are still retained in Scotland, as well as in other Protestant Churches. But, as we have seen, they were drawn up by English divines; and they were once the authoritative standards of the English Church, When King Charles II. was restored, and when the 2,000 non-conformists were ejected, the Westminster standards were no longer retained by the Church of England. But among the Protestant Dissenters they were held in the highest veneration;—until another generation arose that knew not the work of their Puritan fathers. In the present day the greater part of Dissenters are too liberal to require subscription to creeds, and too enlightened to follow the standards of the seventeenth century. Let the Presbyterian Church all the more feel it an honour and a duty to stand by those admirable standards, which, beyond all other human compositions, have tended to consolidate the faith and preserve the orthodoxy of the Reformation Churches. STATISTICS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN ENGLAND. THE Presbyterian Church in England at present (Jan., 1847,) comprises six Presbyteries, with eighty congregations, besides preaching stations. Under the jurisdiction of the Presbytery of London there are sixteen Churches; of the Presbytery of Newcastleon-Tyne, fifteen; Presbytery of Northumberland, fifteen; Presbytery of Berwick-onTweed, eight; Presbytery of Cumberland, seven; and under the Presbytery of Lancashire, nineteen Churches. The Presbyteries meet once a-month for ordinary ecclesiastical business; besides Meetings for ordinations or induction of ministers, visitation of congregations, and other special objects. The Synod of the Church meets annually; intervening Meetings of the Commission of Synod being held when required for special business. The Meeting of Synod for 1847 is appointed at Sunderland, on the third Tuesday of April. The last Annual Meeting was held at Manchester, when deputations attended from the Free Church of Scotland, and other Presbyterian Churches. There is a Theological College at London for the preparation of students for the ministry. The classes meet at present in temporary rooms, at 16, Exeter Hall, Strand; where also are the offices for Home and Foreign Missions, and other schemes of the Church. There is a Central or Supplemental Fund for securing a certain amount of stipend to all the ministers. To this fund, as well as to the various schemes of the Church, the congregations throughout England severally contribute according to their ability. Thus, according to Scripture rule and primitive practice, the strong help and bear the burden of the weak; all being knit together in mutual dependence and sympathy; united under one superintendence and government, holding the same standards, and maintaining the same principles, enjoying a visible as well as a spiritual unity, according to the scriptural idea of the Church, the body of Christ. (Eph. iv. 8-16.) ་ Very humble is the present position of the Presbyterian Church in England, compared with what it was two centuries ago. In 1647, the Synod of London met in St. Paul's, as a Court of the National Church, under the In authority of the English Parliament. 1847, the Presbytery of London meets in a hired upper chamber in Exeter Hall, as a court of an obscure body of Protestant Dissenters. and its practices fallen into desuetude, and its property seized by Socinians and other spoliators, it is high time for us to wake out of sleep. It is time to strengthen that which remains of the good old Presbyterian cause in England. God has given to us a time of reviving and quickening, as manifested in the state of our congregations, and in the enterprises of Christian love, both at home and abroad, on which our Church has entered. Since the disruption in the Church of Scotland, we have received accession of strength, both from the coming among us of some of the devoted men who gave up their livings in the northern establishment for conscience sake; and still more from the infusion of new life by the reviving of those principles which the English Presbyterian Church and the Free Church of Scotland hold in common. The events of the last few years in England have plainly shown that the existing ecclesiastical systems present but feeble bulwarks to the advances of Popery and other forms of error. In times of approaching trial the weakness and disunion of the Congregational system will be sadly experienced. It is well, therefore, that the Presbyterian Church, with its Evangelical truth, canonical discipline, and apostolical order, has been again set up as the rallying point for the friends of Protestant truth. 66 'While," (to use the words of a distinguished member of the Presbytery of London, the Rev. James Hamilton, of Regent-square Church,) "While we rejoice unfeignedly in the successful labours of Christian ministers in other communions, we will not disguise our belief, that nothing can so effectually meet the present crisis in English Christianity as a revival of the Presbyterian polity and the Presbyterian pastorate-that polity and pastorate which IN TEN YEARS DID MORE TO RENDER ENGLAND A RELIGIOUS PEOPLE THAN ALL THE DISCURSIVE EFFORTS OF DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS SINCE. To revive this compact system and this efficient ministry is the great problem which we belive the providence of God suggests to us, and to which as a Church we now stand publicly and solemnly pledged. Whilst in number so few, and with resources so limited, our position is as arduous as it is responsible; but we look for the strength and the means to Him who has given us the hope and the desire.” GRACE.-God neither looks to anything in the creature to win him to show kindness, nor yet anything in the creature to debar him; neither righteousness in men that persuades God to pardon sin, nor unrighteousness in men that hinders him from giving this pardon, and acquitting them from their transgressions. It is only and simply for his own sake that he pardons men.-Crisp. But there have been many such reverses in the history of the Churches of Christ; and we think of the upper chamber at Jerusalem, and Paul's HEART.-Thy corrupt heart is like an ant's hired house at Rome as having had the pre-nest, on which, while the stone lieth, none of sence of the Lord more specially than the them appear; but, take off the stone, and stir Temple or the Pantheon. And, although them up but with the point of a straw, you humble, our Presbyterian Church in England will see what a swarm is there, and how is a free and united body. After a long heart afford thee, did the Lord but withdraw lively they be. Just such a sight would thy period of inaction, during which the prin- the restraint he has laid upon it, and suffer ciples of our Church have been in abeyance, Satan to stir it up by temptation.-Boston. |