to live in all the commandments of the Lord blameless: that is to say, that he is ready to sacrifice the satisfactions of life, and to expose even life itself, to gratify this desire which inflames his heart; all the ways that lead to heaven, are the objects of his delight: and he would willingly choose the most rugged and straitest way, provided it does but prove the shortest and the surest. This truly religious temper of mind, which we call devotion, will put us upon inquiring into all the particulars of our duty, which we owe both to God and man; we shall be at a stand no longer than till we know the way wherein we should walk. The natural language of such a soul is, Lord, what wouldest thou have me to do? let me but be acquainted with thy will, and I am ready to obey it. Nothing can abate his courage, or cool his zeal, in stedfastly pursuing what he is convinced God's laws require from him. He bears with admired composedness all the various humours of those with whom he converses, which too often disorder and affect weak minds. The sense of his own great imperfections neither disquiet nor discourage him, but make him more diligent to reform and amend them. His constant employment is, to subdue his passions, to quell those storms that are apt to arise in his mind; and he contemns all the vain censures of worldly men, which seek to ruffle and discompose him. He aims at perfection by an exact performance of the duties of that station wherein the Providence of God has placed him. He lives not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit; and is dead to the world, and to all the cares and enjoyments of it. He lays a greater stress upon doing his duty, than upon those outward or inward consolations that attend it. He is no ways terrified by those difficulties that are sometimes strewed in the path of life: they rather raise his courage, increase his resolution, and make him more intent upon victory. Prosperity and adversity appear to him no farther agreeable or grievous than as they advance or hinder his great design. He frequents not the assemblies of the man of pleasure; but sets a greater value upon his time, thau to consume it in trifling and unnecessary diversions. His greatest delight is, to mortify his senses, to live by faith, well knowing that the things which are seen are temporal, but that the things which are not seen are eternal. His chiefest pleasure is, to converse with God; and therefore you find him so often in the church and at the altar, as the surest places to enjoy him here below. Whenever he appears in the presence of Infinite Love, he adores with the lowest humiliation of soul and body. He frequents the public prayers, and receives the holy communion with heavenly affections, and with holy impatience for the blessings of God's love. In the midst of business his mind is upon heaven; and even in conversation with others, he silently breathes forth pious ejaculations to the blessed object of his love and desires. He lives under a constant sense of God's omnipresence; and therefore he is not more upon his guard not to offend him, than he is intent upon doing those things that are acceptable in his sight. Robert Nelson. SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN FOREIGN PARTS.-Various meetings have been held during the last quarter in all parts of England; and the Society, while thankfully acknowledging the increased support which it has received, recommends most earnestly, as the best way of raising_means at all adequate to its claims, the formation of Parochial associations. Great success has already attended them in many parishes. The following calculation is taken from a paper of suggestions on the subject, which has been extensively circulated. There are in England about 1,600,000 families in communion with the Church; if each family gave on the average 2s. 6d. a year, (which is scarcly more than a halfpenny a week,) the amount contributed would be 200,000. The rich may be reasonably called upon to give much more liberally from their abundance; but surely there is hardly a single Church family in the country that cannot afford to contribute, though it be of their poverty, a penny a week towards the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Lands." 66 The following letter with regard to Parochial Associations has been addressed by the Rev. James Clutterbuck, to the Secretary of the Society :-"Rev. SirAs I know that you are looking with some anxiety for the practical results of your suggestions for the formation of Parochial Associations, in aid of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, it gives me great pleasure to be able to tell you that I have adopted them with a success far exceeding my most sanguine expectations. I proceeded in a manner which I know will be approved by the Society, and which appeared to me most likely at the same time to test the real feeling of my flock, and to ensure steady and permanent support. I placed notices on the Church doors, stating that sermons would be preached on the subject of the Society, and that a meeting would be held on the follow, ing Tuesday, for the purpose of establishing a Parochial Association in aid of the funds. Without canvassing a single person, either for their attendance or support, otherwise than I have stated, our school-room, capable of containing more than a hundred persons conveniently, was crowded to excess, and I fear that those who crowded round the doors and windows, were unable to hear the explanations of the nature and objects of the Society, in giving which I had the kind assistance of the neighbouring clergymen, I enrolled no less than eighty names at the close of the meeting, mostly agricultural labourers, at a payment of one penny monthly, I admitted the children of the school at a halfpenny monthly. I had not done yet, and I shall be much disappointed if a considerable addition is not made to my list before the end of the week (my population is 541). I had no collection at the doors, as I am now more than ever convinced that the system of enrolment is the only one to secure the sort of support we are so anxious to obtain: only let the clergy be persuaded to follow your suggestions, and by God's blessing nothing can hinder the results that you anticipate; not only will you get abundance of money, but the interest excited for the members of our communion in foreign lands, will he found to form a new bond between the pastor and his flock; it will kindle the love of the people to their church, by showing them, that it is not a mere name or abstraction, but a living and spreading connexion;' and I am most fully persuaded, that 'whatever labour any clergyman may take in the establishment of an association, and in the superintending and directing its machinery, will not only prove a blessing to the ends of the earth, but will also return abundantly into his own parish, and into his own bosom.' In the anticipation of these results in my own case, I beg to return the Society my sincere thanks for their suggestions; and I only speak the words of truth and soberness, when I declare that I would not accept from any single person a sum double the amount in exchange for my list of subscribers. That God's blessing may rest on the Society's labours, is the earnest prayer of yours, very faithfully." The following legacies have been received by the Society in the present year Rev. William Richard son, of Chester, (free of duty,) £2,000. Mrs. Sarah Wakefield, of Chethurst, Herts, £500. Miss Elizabeth Nugent, of Berkhampstead, St. Peter, Herts, £100. Rev. T. M. Shann, vicar of Hawsthwaite, Yorkshire, (free of duty,) £50. Mrs. Mary Ann Corbett, of Adweighton, Gloucestershire, £10. The following legacies have been bequeathed during the same period :Henry Gordon, Esq., of Stoke Court, Somerset, £500. Miss Mary Ann Wiseman, of Lowestoft, Suffolk, (free of duty,) £100. Nearly all the collections under the Queen's letter have now come in. The following is a summary of the amount contributed by the several counties of England and Wales. England.-Bedford, 2817. 12s. 9d., Berks, 7381. 5s. 8d., Buckingham, 4271. 9s. 2d., Cambridge, 483/. 3s. 3d., Chester, 6221. 3s. 9d., Cornwall, 3421. Os. 3d., Cumberland, 2487. 19s. 1d., Derby, 6191. 7s. 8d., Devon, 1,1847. 2s. 10d., Dorset, 5891. 6s. 9d., Durham, 3991. Os. 8d., Essex, 1,3571. 7s. 8d., Gloucester, 1,5897. 16s. 8d., Hereford, 3601. 9s. 11d., Hertford, 7271, 10s. 11d., Huntingdon, 173/. 19s. 5d., Kent, 1,7147. Os. 4d., Lancaster, 2,009, 11s. 3d., Leicester, 7327. 17s. 11d., Lincoln, 1,0037, 6s. 2d., Middlesex, 5,2067, 10s, 7d., Monmouth, 2061. 5s. 3d., Norfolk, 8051. 14s. 8d.. Northampton, 9737. 7s. 11d. Northumberland, 2957. 14s. 11d., Nottingham, 5881. 15s., Oxford, 763. 4s, 11d., Rutland, 1297, 5s. 8d., Salop, 7951. Is. 10d., Somerset, 1,170, 19s. 10d., M M Southampton, 1,4887. 10s. 10d., Stafford, 1,013/. 178., Suffolk, 8581. 7s. Ild., Surrey, 18561. 10s. 6d., Sussex, 1,1967. 11s. 6d., Warwick, 9127. 2s. 8d., Westmoreland, 130. 14s., Wilts, 8187. 18s. 9d., Worcester, 6497. 3s. 9d., York, 2,5037. 17s. 11d. Miscellaneous, 197. 4s. 2d. Wales. -Anglesea, 387. 8s. 10d., Brecon, 75l. 1s. 7d., Cardigan, 681. 4s. 11d., Carmarthen, 771. 13s. 11d., Carnarvon, 75l. 12s. 10d., Denbigh, 153. 18s. 2d., Flint, 1347. 14s. 9d., Glamorgan, 1787, 10s. 1d., Merioneth, 651. 9s. 3d., Montgomery, 1251. 9s. 4d., Pembroke, 1277. 13s. 9d., Radnor, 19. 9s. 4d. Total in England, 37,9771. 16s. 3d. Total in Wales, 1,135l. 6s. 9d. Isle of Man, 771. 2s. 6d. Total, 39,1901, 5s. 6d. NEW CHURCHES IN BETHNAL GREEN.-The Court of Common Council of London have come to the resolution to "subscribe the sum of £1000 in aid of the expenses of erecting and endowing each of the proposed ten churches, upon the same being completed and opened for public worship." This grant of £1000 was strongly opposed, but was carried by a considerable majority. Results which have arisen from the building of the first of the new Churches in the Metropolis. The Church of St. Peter, Globe Road, Mile End, has been erected by the Bishop of London's, or Metropolis Churches' Fund. It was the first of those built by his Lordship's exertions, having been consecrated in August 1838. Since that time the following institutions have been formed in connexion with the Church, and supported by the congregation. I.-A Sunday school; scholars, 600; average attendance, 450; number of gratuitous teachers, 41; income about £50. 2.-A National School, lately opened, into which most of the Sunday-scholars have been drafted, the whole forming one school on the Lord's-day. The average attendance at the day-school is, boys, 230; girls, 120. Total boys on the books, 281; total girls. 150. Total boys and girls, 439. Total educated, about 600. The minister hopes to increase this number to 1000. The number does not include about 40 or 50 of the children of the more affluent persons in the congregation, who meet weekly for christian instruction in the church. The National schools adjoin the church, and have cost £1,000. This sum has been raised by the congregation; with the exception of 3501, grants from the Treasury and the National Society. Should the minister deem it right to decline the government grant, the difference has been promised by members of the congregation. Income of the National school at present from 260 to 3007. 3.-A Congregational Lending Library, number of volumes upwards of 600. 4.-A Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. Bibles lent or sold, about 80; Prayer-books, 300; besides tracts to a considerable amount. 5.-Association for the Propagation of the Gospel. 6.-District Visiting Society, by which every house in the district suitable to the labours of such an institution, will be visited once a fortnight. 7.-A Society for the better Observance of the Sabbath. The aggregate gross sum contributed by the congregation, and through their instrumentality, in one form or other, for church purposes, has been nearly 15007. An organ is now being erected at the cost of 4007. It is but bare justice to say, that these results are greatly owing to the indefatigable exertions of the minister of this new church, the Rev. T. Jackson. The following new churches have lately been consecrated. One at Breisley in the parish of Gressley, by the Lord Bishop of Lincoln. The Church of St. Catherine in the town of Northampton, by the Lord Bishop of Peterborough. Four new churches by the Lord Bishop of Chester, within his diocese; one at Broughton, one at Cheetham, one at Openshaw, and one at Staleybridge. The Church of St. John, at Stockcross, in the parish of Speen, by the Lord Bishop of Oxford. A church at Bradshaw, in the diocese of Ripon, by the Lord Bishop of Ripon. The new parish church and cemetery at Horseley, by the Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol. The new church at Scissett, in the parishes of High-Hoyland and Elmley, in the diocese of Ripon, was opened on the 4th of September, by licence from the Bishop of the diocese. NEW CHURCH AT DAVENTRY.-Miss Hickman, of Newnham, Notts., has given the site for the new church at Daventry, and 2007. towards its erection. NEW CHAPEL, DEPTFORD.-At a Meeting held in Bishopwearmouth Church vestry, by some of the gentlemen interested in the welfare of the populous neighbourhood of Deptford, Pallion, and Ayres Quay, the sum of 160l. was subscribed by such as were present, towards building a Chapel at Deptford, and we hear that further subscriptions have been promised. The Dean and Chapter of Westminster have given an allotment of ground and 3007., and the Dean of St. Asaph, 100l., towards building the North Hill District Church at Great Malvern. IRISH TRANQUILLITY.—It costs £12,000 a year more to maintain the peace in the counties of Cork, Tipperary, and Limerick, each of which is under Popish influence, than is expended for the same purpose in the nine counties of Protestant Ulster, although their population exceeds that of Cork, Tipperary, and Limerick, by a million souls!!- John Bull, Oct. 27. RESULTS OF WHIG AND TORY RULE.-The public debt of Great Britain on the first of January, 1831, stood as follows: Addition to the Debt in 8 years of Whig Government 8,521,236 The charges of the Debt stood as follows: Total annual charge on the Funded Debt on the 1st of January, 1831.... 27,657,004 Total annual charge of Unfunded Debt at ditto...... 793,031 28,450,035 Increase of charges of Debt in eight years of Whig management 940,225 The amount of the surplus or deficit in the two periods was as follows:. 2,600,000 Deficit on the 1st of January, 1839 441,818 Additional deficit from Canadian insurrection........ 500,000 The charges of the public Debt reduced by. Total deficit on the 1st of January, 1839..... Total Surplus extinguished, and Deficit created, in Thus it appears that during fifteen years of Tory profusion the public Debt has been diminished by While, during nine years of Whig foresight and economy, the public Debt has been augmented by 8,500,000 The charges of the Debt increased by 940,225 The surplus of the Revenue extinguished, and a deficit created-of 940,000 OPENING FOR MISSIONARY EXERTION.-The following is an extract from the forthcoming Report of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts: It is computed that 300 additional clergymen might be advantageously employed at the present time in the British colonies; and supposing that the Society allowed stipends, amounting on the average to £100 a year, to each of these clergymen, the increased expenditure for the colonies alone would be £30,000 a year. The demand for new Missions and additional Missionaries to the heathen must also be taken into consideration; and, on the whole, it may be said that three times the amount of the present annual subscriptions, or £60,000 a year, are required in order to place the operations of the Society on an adequate scale." OLD CHURCH OF ENGLAND ROYALISTS.-When a violent, victorious faction and rebellion had over-run all, and made loyalty to the King, and conformity to the Church, crimes unpardonable, and a guilt not to be expiated, but at the price of life and estate; when men were put to swear away all interest in the next world, to secure a very poor one in this; (for they had their oaths to murder souls, as well as sword and pistol for the body); nay, when the persecution ran so high, that that execrable monster, Cromwell, made and published that barbarous, heathenish, or rather inhuman Edict against the poor suffering Episcopal Clergy, That they should neither preach nor pray in public, nor baptize, nor teach school, no, nor so much as live in any gentleman's house, who, in mere charity and compassion, might be inclined to take them in from perishing in the streets; that is, in other words, that they must starve and die ex officio, and, being turned out of their churches, take possession only of the church-yard, as so many victims to the remorseless rage of a foul, ill-bred tyrant, professing piety without so much as common humanity; I say, when rage and persecution, cruelty and Cromwellism were at that diabolical pitch, tyrannizing over everything that looked like loyalty, conscience, and conformity; so that he, who took not their engagement, could not take anything else though it were given him; being thereby debarred from the very common benefit of the law, in suing for, or recovering of his right in any of the Courts of Justice (all of them still following the motion of the high one); yet even then, and under that black and dismal state of things, there were many thousands who never bowed the knee to Baal-Cromwell, Baal-covenant, or Baalengagement; but with a steady, fixed, unshaken resolution, and in a glorious imitation of those heroic Christians in the tenth and eleventh chapters of the Epistle to the Hebrews, "endured a great fight of afflictions, were made a gazing stock by reproaches, took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, had trial of cruel mockings; moreover of bonds and imprisonments; sometimes were slain with the sword; wandered about in hunger and nakedness, being destitute, afflicted, tormented." All which sufferings surely ought to entitle them to that concluding character in the next words, "of whom the world was not worthy. And I wish I could say of England, that it were worthy of those men now.— Dr. South. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Reasons for an Established Church" shall appear in our next. We are sorry that we cannot insert "Thoughts on Happiness," as from the author's statement, it appears to have been published before. We shall be happy to hear from him on any other subject. The paper is left at the publisher's, directed for the author. The paper on "the Trinity" is under consideration. We are much obliged to "L.S.F. S.C.R," for his communication, but regret that we cannot insert it. The subject of which he proposes to treat is of such a nature that we scarcely consider it accordant with the spirit of our pages. The Letter is left for him at the publisher's, directed to his initials. WILLIAM EDWARD PAINTER, STRAND, LONDON, PRINTER. |