vinistic) Church, that only in it is theology made accessible to all, and is rendered fruitful among the mass of the population. The broad line of demarcation which divides an official priestly order, which monopolises all knowledge, and an ignorant mass who depend exclusively on the public ministration of their teachers, and thus exposes them defencelessly to the assaults of all heretics, does not exist here. From an early period of the Reformation, the most important passages of the works of the Fathers, on which the controversies of the day were made to hinge, were translated in France, Holland, and elsewhere, and placed in the hands of the people, so that even mechanics, in controversy with the Papists, could cite from memory entire folio pages to prove that they held the ancient faith; and on the scaffold and at the stake could so maintain their faith as to put to shame those who, only through mere external formulas, retained connexion with the ancient Church. The same intellectual and religious training of her members has continued a characteristic excellency of the Dutch Church. In consequence, the people are thoroughly at home in questions of theology, and suffer no deviation from the orthodoxy of their Confessions. The churches of unsound ministers are deserted, while those of pious and orthodox pastors are overflowing." "On this topic of family worship let me here observe that I give a decided preference to the Reformed mode of unread prayers. [It will be remembered that Dr. E. is an advocate for liturgies in public worship, with what consistency, as we are not his counsel, we will not attempt to show.] In the Lutheran Church the general custom is, in morning and evening family prayer, to use some printed forms, such as those of Starck or Habermann, and even at table some small formulary, or a verse of the Bible, is recited or read. In the Reformed Church, on the other hand, and that part of it especially which is pervaded by the spirit of Calvin, where the immediate dependence of the individual upon God is more developed, and his intellectual and religious powers have been better cultivated and disciplined, prayer is offered up from the heart, unfettered by prescribed forms, and from the inward consciousness and daily experience. It is true that both modes are liable to abuse-the former to become a mere form, the latter a phrase. But, all things considered, the dangers are infinitely greater on the side of the liturgical. The prayer that has been read over thirty times is apt indeed to become wearisome and formalistic, while the prayer that is offered from the living prayer-book of the heart will ever renew its youth like the eagle. The child who cannot read, if properly taught, can lisp its heart's desires to its God, and why not the man?" Much more to the same effect does Dr. E. eloquently press in favour of free, as distinguished from fettered, or read prayers. This is, perhaps, the proper place to mention the moral condition of the people. "As regards the observance of the Sunday, nowhere in Holland is the day of holy rest so shamefully desecrated as it is with us. Still it is not observed with equal solemnity everywhere. In some towns, as Rotterdam, and throughout the country, it is held as sacred as in England, but in other places things are permitted which would not there be allowed. The principle of the duty of sanctifying the Lord's-day is a point in dispute in Holland, as it is among ourselves. The most general opinion, as with us, is the old traditional notion of the Reformed Church of the Continent, that the Sunday rests on the authority of the Church rather than on the Word of God. But among them, as with us, the correct view which has been maintained in Great Britain is gaining ground, viz., that the fourth commandment is as binding under the Christian dispensation as any part of the decalogue." "In regard to the observance of another commandment-the seventh, Holland stands at an incomparable altitude above our country, especially North Germany; and this is in no slight degree owing to the faithful exercise of the discipline of the Church. It is very true, that, in the sea-ports, sin exists to a considerable extent, but things are far indeed from being even there as they are in Hamburgh, Leipsic, Berlin, and elsewhere in Germany, where the people are so utterly corrupted, that the suspicion is but too often proved to be true that every hotel and tavern is in fact a brothel, and every female domestic in them purchaseable by the wages of iniquity." "It is an incalculable blessing to Holland that the middle and higher classes the vast majority of the populationstill live under the influence of vital Christianity. The millions are on our side,' said the pious Heldring. But, in one respect, at least, their goodness has been carried to excess. The Dutch are too charitable-excessive in their eleemosynary benefactions. Not long since, when, in a season of scarcity, Heldring applied to the public for aid to the poor, contributions flowed in upon him in such number and amount that he was soon compelled to advertise that he could receive no more! This excessive liberality has had an injurious effect. The lowest class of natives, knowing that they are certain of support from the charity of the rich, will not work, and the consequence is, that in Amsterdam, for example, the lowest sorts of occupation are almost all in the hands of Germans, and even many of the sailors belong to the same country. It is true the deacons still continue to visit the poor, and make inquiries into their condition. But from the spiritual deadness of the last century, they have ceased to exercise any religious influence or (at least) functions. To witness destitution is enough to induce them to give. Were it not better to remove the cause of the destitution-personal evils -than thus to support and so perpetuate it?" In our next we shall conclude with an account of the state of theology. We have, in this paper, very much condensed Dr. E.'s report, without in any manner, however, altering its complexion. DR. WILLIAMS' WILL. H. C. WE extract the following from the will of the Rev. Dr. Williams (London, 26th June, 1711), in reference to exhibitions for students to attend Glasgow College. As the testator expressly states that the sons of Presbyterian ministers are to be preferred, those who have sons they intend to educate for the ministry should keep in view this channel of assistance which is open to them :— "My Trustees and their assigns shall appoint and nominate, from time to time, four South-Britons, to be students at Glasgow; who shall receive six pounds per annum from the said College: and also three SouthBritons, who, after they are commenced Master of Arts in the said College, shall receive ten pounds apiece per annum, for three years; or otherwise two, at fifteen pounds apiece, as my Trustees shall direct: and both sorts to be removed at their discretion, and successors appointed by them to supply their place. My will is also, that the persons receiving the said ten or fifteen pounds shall be obliged to supervise and assist such South-Britain youths as are students in the said College. And when the lands of Totham become possessed by the said College, I appoint that more exhibitions be added, as the yearly profit will afford, to such youths of South Britain as my Trustees shall nominate to be added: and that they who shall receive the benefit be designed for the ministry, and appear likely to be useful and faithful. And that, in the filling up of the vacancies, my Trustees shall prefer the sons of poor Presbyterian ministers, equally qualified, before others." By order of the Court of Chancery, 29th July, 1774, exhibitions to the four under-graduates were increased to twenty pounds per annum each, and to the three graduates to twenty-five pounds per annum each. 27th March, 1776.-It was agreed, by the Trustees, that in future the vacancies at Glasgow should be filled up at the Lady-day meeting; that there should not be more than six on the foundation. THE SPIRITUAL DESTITUTION OF OUR LARGE TOWNS. THE spiritual destitution prevalent in the large towns of this country is so glaring, that it cannot have escaped the attention of either the real Christian or the true patriot. Though called a Christian nation, we have numerically but little claim to that title. Taking Manchester as a fair sample of the towns generally, we find that it is computed that scarcely onesixth of the entire population ever attend any Evangelical place of worship; and if we take the whole population at one-sixth, what estimate must we form of those districts where the working classes and the really poor reside? We cannot help concluding that the state of such parts of our towns must be awful. Nor must it be imagined, because there is so little church attendance, that the people are wholly inactive and apathetic regarding religious matters. With a few it is so, but with the many it is the reverse. In truth, amongst the humble classes there are a great number who, having by their own efforts obtained a tolerable education, are now seeking the truth for themselves, and leading others along with them. To these the pride-flattering sophistry of Rationalism is welcome, and its apostles are busy amongst them, increased. Might not the Evangelical Alliance take this work under its patronage? It would be another practical demonstration of that body's usefulness, and would take away the reproach of disunion which has been, and is so often, flung at our Protestantism. Periodical could be held, and therefrom a spirit of concord and affection might spread amongst the working Christians of our land, whilst along with that there would be a friendly emulation in well-doing. This experiment is now being tried in a district of Manchester, and up to this period everything has worked admirably. May many more of such unions be formed, that the Lord's work may prosper in our hands,—that the spiritually destitute of our countrymen may be made rich in Christ, that righteousness may run down our streets as a flood, and our Saviour's kingdom be every where spread, and glory redound to his name. whilst the superstitious dogmas of Rome find a suitable resting-place in the minds of the simple and ignorant. We may ask, what are the Evangelical Christians of the land doing for these their countrymen? Are they leaving the blind to be led by the blind to destruction? or are they shutting their ears and eyes to the evil, and fancy-reunions of the visitors and distributors ing all is well? Not altogether so. They have their City Missions, their District Visitors, their Tract Distributors. The Town Missionaries in Manchester are sixty-five in number, and there are few congregations that have not their tract distributors. But vastly more labourers are required in the field. Ministers of congregations have in towns enough upon their hands already. Town missionaries have to contend with the suspicion of interestedness, having as a paid agency many a slur cast upon them. And what can they do, when in many of their districts there are, for instance, out of 650 families, only seventy-five individuals, members of Christian Churches! There is much need that we should use every legitimate means for reaching these home heathen, and that every means should be used in the most efficient way. In our increasing towns, where there is a constant flow of the middling classes towards the suburbs, the outskirts are frequently very abundantly supplied with places of worship, whilst the densely-populated parts, where the operatives reside, are nearly deserted. The parts of these deserted localities that are nearest the suburbs are well enough attended to by visitors and tract distributors, but the more distant parts are well-nigh wholly neglected. That this is a state of matters to be deplored will be readily admitted. But, it is asked, how is it to be remedied? The suggestion contained in the following may point in the right direction : "The harvest is plenteous, but the labourers are few." Is there any reason wherefore, on that account, the labourers should all crowd into a corner of the field, and thereby incommoding each other, and seriously hindering the work? Could we get all evangelical Christians to unite, they might surely, if truly anxious to promote the Lord's kingdom, agree to apportion districts to each other. Let each congregation in our towns have the spiritual oversight of a given district, as large or small as their forces admit of. Were this done there would be no jostling, and the likelihood of the whole population being statedly visited would be much DISTRIBUTOR. SABBATHS AT SEA. It made me "OUT upon deck before breakfast, irridescent hue is presented in a more imposing manner. "At eleven o'clock, by request of the Captain, the Rev. James W. Alexander, D.D., late of Princeton, now of New York city, preached in the saloon. There was a full attendance of the passengers, and a psalm to the tune of Old Hundred was very well sung. At the solicitation of a good many passengers, Dr. Alexander read the Episcopal Litany. My eye caught a slight verbal change in that part of it which refers to the bishops and other clergy. I admired the catholic spirit that induced him to accede to the request to use this portion of the Episcopal service, to the real gratification of many of his auditors, and without any sacrifice of principle on his part. What place could be more appropriate for the exercise of a catholic spirit than the mid ocean, that belongs to no nation, and has nothing to do with sectarian differences, but is the great image of the Father of all those who call upon him, without respect of persons. Dr. Alexander then preached a most admirable and appropriate discourse upon the words, 'I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee;' and closed the services with a prayer, which a very intelligent gentleman, not a member of any Church, spoke of to me, as far better than the prayer that had been read from the Prayer-book. I observed how strong was the feeling in more breasts than my own, when he prayed for the safety of the dear ones left behind. I thought that I had never seen a more impressive instance of sublimity in different kinds, than was presented in the great ocean on whose bosom we were sailing; the great vessel moving rapidly without sails, in which we felt so secure, and in that united service of believers of different names below. It was the sublime of nature, of art, of faith, and of charity, and God in all. "Sunday, June 1st.-Another Sabbath on shipboard, a beautiful day. We have been favoured with uncommonly fine weather so far, and I believe that our two Sabbaths have been lovelier than any of the other days. But there is nothing on the ocean as on the land to remind one that the Sabbath has come-no suspension of labour; the ship ploughs on its wide furrow through the main; the mighty engine receives no Sabbath rest; the sailors are at their accustomed work, and the sea takes not the air of repose so noticeable on land in a Sabbath-keeping community, on a sweet summer's morn like this. I gazed for a long time this morning over the bulwarks, with a heart softened and swelling with the beauty of the scene, and it occurred to me that it is true of the ocean, what is certainly true of the starlit sky, that it is a specimen of the primeval beauty of the universe as it came perfect from the hand of its Creator. The earth, lovely as it is, is marred by man's disobedience, and its beauty is sorrow-stricken. But the sky was out of reach of man's sin and its curse, and the ocean escaped it. It is, it must be, just what it was in creation's dawn-so it is perfect, and so I felt it to be, before I thought of the reason for it. Yet, except this perfect loveliness, which is eminently Sabbatical, it has nothing to remind one that the Sabbath is different from other days, and there is, of course, great danger to us of forgetting it. It was, however, remembered here to-day, as it was this day week. Mr. Wilson, of Cincinnati, preached an excellent discourse upon the words, "Thou shalt call his name JESUS, for he shall save his people from their sins." It was well to call our thoughts distinctly to Jesus. We think of God the Father in the new scenes in which we find ourselves. - we acknowledge his power and his omnipresence, and feel our need of his providential care, but we are apt not to think as we ought to do, of Jesus our Saviour and High Priest, and are apt to forget how much we need him to wash us from our sins, and to defend us against the temptations by which we are beset, and especially the temptation to profane, by idleness or levity, God's holy day: Wash me, Saviour; defend me. The Episcopal Litany was used as on last Sabbath. The portion which returns thanks for giving us grace with one accord to make our common supplications to thee,' never sounded to my ears so appropriate. Again I admired the liberal spirit of Presbyterianism, which, dispensing with forms of prayer for itself, does not scruple to use them in accommodation to the feelings of others. And again I have to record the observation, that the closing extempore prayer by Dr. Alexander manifestly exhibited the superiority of praying to God for what we feel we want now, and under present circumstances, to uttering petitions, however proper and however well worded, for those things which, many years ago, others supposed we might want. After the services were concluded, the Missionary Hymn, and I would not live alway,' | were executed in a way to bring tears to my eyes, and to awaken feelings that were dormant when I heard Jenny Lind. Others were affected also. "In the afternoon, by a very general request, Dr. Alexander preached on 'The sea shall give up her dead.' It was a good Bethel discourse, with several very striking things in it. "Had a conversation on religious topics with Miss --, a young Christian, and a very interesting young lady. I promised to give her Dr. Green's tract upon Conversion, which promise she reminded me of to-night, coming to me in the midst of the assemblage in the saloon; she is now sitting apart, reading it; may it be the means of confirming and enlightening young faith. her "After tea, it was proposed to sing again, and almost the entire evening was spent in singing hymns in as sociable a way as I ever saw in my life. The tunes were, indeed, old-fashioned: 'Devizes,' Hotham,' 'Rock of Ages,' 'I would not live alway,' &c.; but the singing was by no means old-fashioned, there being quite a number of trained voices, and one female voice almost the most delightful I ever heard. In the midst of the singing, a lawyer, not a pious man, proposed that a chapter in the Bible should be read, and he himself read the fifteenth chapter of First Corinthians. After which the singing was resumed and continued for some time, and then we had worship (we have had worship every evening since the second night on board), conducted by Mr. Wilson, of Cincinnati. I almost feel inclined to say family worship, and in truth we seem very much like one large family. Really nothing has surprised me more than the religious privileges which we have enjoyed on board the Arctic. I doubt if any vessel, more favoured in this respect, has crossed the Atlantic since the May Flower brought over the Pilgrims. Such is the effect of the dissemination of truth. It has already secured everywhere an increased external respect for religion, and doubtless, in due time, in a greater degree than ever before, men will be brought to feel its saving power. I ought not to neglect to mention that much credit is due to Mr. Martin Tupper for the prompt and open manner in which he has taken the lead in all these things. "O God, keep us evermore, by the power and thy Spirit, from danger and from sin, for Christ the Redeemer's sake. Amen." GONE. ANOTHER hand is beckoning on, Another call is given; Poetry. And glows once more with angel steps The path which reaches heaven. And half we deemed she heeded not The blessings of her quiet life Fell on us like the dew; And good thoughts where her footstep pressed Like fairy blossoms grew. Sweet promptings unto kindest deeds We read her face as one who reads The pleasure of a blessed hymn To which our hearts could move, We miss her in the place of prayer, We |