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listen from time to time, especially from one they love, to discussions more or less interesting upon other points. Not so the Sunday evening crowd at Exeter-hall. The great realities alone affect them. Time and eternity; heaven and hell; man ruined by sin; Christ dying to save him, and ascending on high to bless him with the gift of the Holy Spirit. These things arrest and melt them, and these alone. To them, at least, to use the words of Richard Cecil, every other idea is "a grand impertinence."

The special services, those of Exeter-hall in particular, are nothing more than a return to the practice of the church of England in its best days. It was thus Latimer preached before the court, out of doors at Paul's cross; a pulpit of which Heylyn, Laud's chaplain, biographer and friend, candidly testifies, that from it had been heard more sound doctrine, and more true eloquence, than perhaps from any pulpit since the apostles' days. The custom is still retained in each of our Universities, where the sermon is preached without any prayer preceding, except the Lord's prayer and those silent devotions to which men are bidden by the canon, in what is improperly called "the bidding prayer;" which is, in fact, no prayer at all, but simply an invitation to the congregation to pray, accompanied with a suggestion of the subjects of devotion. Jealousy of the pulpit is no characteristic of the church of England. The caution about "itching ears," is quite as appropriate, nay, much more appropriate, to him who goes to church to be entertained with the music, than to him who goes there to be entertained with the sermon. Both alike are trifling with sacred things, and perverting what should be a help, into a hinderance and a snare. It is by the preaching of the word, in its purity and power, that the regeneration of the church is to be expected, and the recovery of lost sinners accomplished. The instrument may be weak, but it is of divine appointment. We rejoice to see it once more resuming its true position and high dignity amongst us; and we look with hope to these special services as nurseries of sacred eloquence, and as a field on which its greatest triumphs may yet be won. May the Spirit be poured upon them from on high! And to this end let not devout men fail to make their constant supplication.

NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS.

The Cave in the Hills; or Cæcilius Viriathus. A Tale of the early British Church. Parker. 1859. The scene of the story is laid in and near St. Alban's. After the martyr's death, the Christians hide themselves in dens and caves, where their worship is performed; and we have a description of one of these primitive temples. In a

work of fiction some licence is allowed, and the writer avails himself rather freely, as it appears to us, of the indulgence. At least we hope, for the sake of some bright visions we have long entertained of the purity of the early British church, and from which we are not quite prepared all at once to be divorced, that the scene within the cave may, like the cave itself, owe some of its peculiarities to the author's imagination. The place is fitted up for Christian worship thus:"At one end was a small raised platform of flint and chalk, about four feet long and three high." Stone altars in England, then, it seems, are of some antiquity. So, too, is Latin psalmody. "The Benedictus was rolling along the roof, concluding the singing of the anthem and Ter Sanctus; " and an elderly person at the further end," who seemed to act as leader, and who stood by the raised stone work before men

tioned, began reciting a prayer.' This was "the chief leader, or priest," we are told; and he gives a sermon which, however, is not without its difficulties. Amongst other points, he tells his little flock, lately gathered from among the heathen, "In place of many sacrifices, ye have now the pure, the unbloody one." And he is kind enough to add, in the place of other explanation, "Ye know what I mean, ye that are initiated." We must confess we are not initiated. But a true British convert of the school of the apostles would probably have made answer thus, had he been allowed to remain after the "Ite: missa est;" which was duly pronounced:"These mysteries savour of that heathen gnosticism which already pollutes the Eastern church; and they bring to mind the solemn words of the beloved disciple, 'Ye have heard that Antichrist shall come; and even now are there many Antichrists. . . . Little children, keep yourselves from idols.'

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Our Brothers and Cousins: a Summer Tour in Canada and the States. By John MacGregor, M.A., of the Inner Temple. Seeleys, 1859.-The substance of these notes appeared during the autumn of last year in the Record, under the signature of Rob Roy. Mr. MacGregor has done well to give them the sanction of his name, and to reprint them, with a view to a wider circulation. These views of American society, brought back to us by an English gentleman, who did not feel it necessary to lay aside his Christianity on his travels, are of more than passing interest. Were it only for the hearty love which, as it tells us, is still borne to England by all good Americans, the book deserves a welcome. We have fresh reason, we feel, to cultivate the warmest friendship with that sister-land; although, it is too true, we have much to bear sometimes from her too irritable government. A few pages at the close will inform the reader what we have to expect, should the ballot be introduced at our own elections. We should have been glad if Mr. MacGregor's time and opportunities had permitted him to give us more copious details of that grand movement, which, (copying the words Bishop MacIlvaine made use of the other day) "for want of a better term, we must call a revival." We lately had an opportunity of listening to the excellent Bishop of Ohio, who expressed his entire conviction that the work was of God,-as little sullied with admixtures of human infirmity as any work of the kind in these later ages. Dr. Pomroy, now in England, bears the same testimony.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

THE cloud which has been gathering over Europe so long, seems upon the point to burst at last. It is impossible for human sagacity to foresee what changes may possibly occur within the next few days; but before these pages are in the hands of the reader, the die will probably be cast, and Italy will have become once more the theatre of a European war.

At the suggestion of the emperor of Russia, a congress of the five great powers was proposed at the end of March. Though not absolutely rejected, it was not cordially assented to either by Austria or France. It was evident from the first, that while neither of them chose to hazard the risks of a refusal, yet that neither of them was earnest, if indeed sincere, in their profession of a desire for peace. Then, as the project was discussed, difficulties and objections multiplied. First of all, Sardinia claimed a right to be admitted to the congress. Then came other questions in quick succession. Should the contending powers disarm before the conference met? What were the subjects it should discuss? And how far should its powers extend? If Sardinia were admitted, why not the other independent states of Italy? These are but a few of the obstructions which were raised. Every post, almost every hour, has placed the matters in dispute in some new light, or brought some fresh difficulty forward. All this time military preparations on the largest scale have continued to be made, both by France and Austria. The French armies have been collected near her southern frontiers; those of Austria have been concentrated upon Italy, and now menace the very confines of Piedmont. At length Austria, impatient of delay, and determined, as it seems, to strike a blow before Sardinia can obtain the aid of her French allies, has formally notified to Victor Emmanuel, in the most peremptory terms, that unless he disarms within three days, war will be declared against him, and that any evasive answer will be regarded as a refusal. The note was delivered to the court of Turin on Saturday the 23rd. We are informed by the telegraph, that it was received in the only spirit in which so arrogant a message could possibly be received by a brave and independent people. The chambers were immediately convoked, and without discussion the constitution was suspended, and absolute powers were entrusted to the king. All the military preparations had been taken; and Sardinia, at this moment in full possession of the sympathy of every free state in Europe, calmly waits the onset. Faults she may have committed, but under this vast outrage they are all forgotten. England and Russia have protested, it is said, to the court of Vienna; but it is scarcely possible that she should now retract, and Europe awaits in silence the approaching conflict. It is the dead motionless stillness of an awful storm.

Into the affairs of other countries we cannot enter; and at such a juncture they seem to have lost their interest. Otherwise the inter

necine wars of the South American republics; the great slavery question of the United States, daily assuming a more angry character; the claim of France to a large share of the Newfoundland fisheries; not to speak of the condition of our vast colonial empire in India and the southern hemisphere, furnish materials which at any other time would be full of the deepest interest.

The month began at home with the defeat of the ministry in the house of commons. On the first of April, in a very full house of six hundred and twenty-one members, Lord John Russell's Resolution in opposition to the second reading of the Reform Bill, was carried by a majority of thirty-nine. On Monday the 4th instant, Lord Derby announced the queen's intention to dissolve the parliament, and make the constitutional appeal to the country. In consequence, many measures of great interest have fallen to the ground, and only those of urgent national importance, and a few private bills, have passed. A vote of thanks to our brave defenders in India received the enthusiastic support of all parties; and to Lord Canning has at length been awarded the just tribute due to his integrity, moderation, and firmness, in a moment of unequalled danger; and he has been raised a step in the peerage. The first of May is set apart, by royal proclamation, as a day of thanksgiving.

One of the last acts of the expiring parliament, it may be worth while to mention, was once more to reject Mr. Berkley's motion for the ballot. On the 18th the ministry gave their anxiously expected statement on the subject of foreign affairs. It had no tendency to remove the gloom which overhung the country. The time was now nearly come, said the premier, when it was a question whether a congress should be held at all; the period was nearly at hand, when England would have to say that the time for trifling had gone by. If there were a war, it would not be confined to Italy; it would extend itself, and involve the world in universal conflagration. Our policy was neutrality; but still an armed neutrality. His Lordship concluded with the expression of the hope, that war might still be averted; or if not, that England might not be drawn into it. Perhaps it may be of some importance at a future day to have placed on record the deliberate sentiments of the English government at such a crisis.

On the 23rd, parliament was dissolved; and the whole country is agitated, as we write, with the preparation for a general election. It is too late to offer advice, when both candidates and electors have taken up their ground. There has seldom been a more solemn crisis in our national history. We should have been glad to see a greater number of candidates coming forward on high christian principles. We should have been glad to see more courage shewn in the electioneering manifestoes of those who fear God, and really have at heart that protestant religion which is the palladium of English liberty. On the whole, there seems to be more integrity in the voters than in the candidates, and more sound English feeling. With the latter, the race seems to be in outbidding each other with professions of liberality. They make vague statements, and are, as usual, profuse of empty promises. In nine cases out of ten, transpose the signature, and the electioneering address will suit the other party just as well. In fact, there is no great question at issue, unless it be whether Lord Derby or his opponents shall hold the reins of government.

We turn with satisfaction to a happier scene. The great annual jubilee of our religious societies begins within a few days. For several years past the "May Meetings" have been assuming a more important character; they are now a great national institution. The foreigner who would study the English character feels that he must visit Exeter Hall. The historian of the church, and the secular historian too, must hereafter note its doings in his pages. How important, then, the tone these meetings shall assume! Tawdry compliments and childish anecdotes have had their day; a false eloquence, indebted for success to its turgid and over-wrought descriptiveness, is fast declining; and some of the speeches delivered upon these occasions may be matched against the best which either the senate or the bar produces. At such a moment as the present, the feeling that may be expected to prevail, will be deep, solemn, and devotional. Perhaps no speaker will rise to the height of so great, so awful, a crisis. Perhaps he will rather be stunned and fettered than aroused by the suddenness and fearful grandeur of the prospect. In Europe, wars and rumours of wars, and men's hearts failing them for fear. Abroad, all China opened to the gospel; all India at rest; every where the cry heard, Come over and help us. No doubt prayer will be made in all the churches-in England, and in other lands-for a blessing on these May meetings. May those prayers receive an abundant answer!

Could nothing be done to make these great anniversaries still more interesting, and thus to extend their usefulness? The question deserves to be considered; and we should like to hear that a conference of the representatives of our great societies had undertaken to discuss the subject. The Reports read at the opening of the meetings are very long; and the fatigue is often severely felt. Without wishing the Report omitted altogether, we should certainly be glad, in many cases, that it were curtailed. To this, indeed, it must come at last, or some of our greater societies will find it impossible to sustain the attention of a fatigued and exhausted audience. Another point of even greater moment: Could not an aggregate meeting for prayer and devotional exercises be connected with these great anniversaries? Might not the clergy, at least, assemble for one forenoon for this hallowed purpose? In offering these suggestions, we do but give expression to the wishes of many of the warmest friends of evangelical religion; and having suggested them, we are contented for the present to leave them to the consideration of the committees of our great Missionary and other religious societies.

ERRATUM. In the last Number, p. 234, line 8 from the bottom, read: "Witnessing in all their governments, and to do them justice in all of them alike,the same want of purity and virtue, purity and virtue, to say nothing of religion, seem at last to have become disreputable." The words in italics were omitted.

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