THE CHRISTIAN SYSTEM, or the Teachings of the New Testament. By BANKS FARRAND, author of Man Natural and Spiritual. London: LONGMAN, BROWN, & Co. THIS is a massive volume, of upwards of 500 pages,

and must have cost the author no small amount of labour and research; this, however, is no guarantee of its utility; it is more laboured than judicious, and though it abounds with repetition, is by no means clear and satisfactory in its teachings; so that we are unable to anticipate much benefit from its publication.

THE DISEASES OF THE TEETH, and how to Avert or Remedy them. By J. HOWARD RYAN. Pp. 32. Preston: HENRY OAKEY, Fishergate.

THIS little work contains all the information about the teeth which a non-professional person is likely to require, viz., to keep them clean and avoid injuring them with acids, so long as they are sound; and to lose no time in getting professional aid, when anything is amiss with them.

A TREATISE ON THE MOST EFFECTUAL MEANS OF PERSONAL AND FAMILY PROVISION, for Securing the Fruits of Prudential Forethought, as comprised in the capabilities of Associative Assurance, and illustrated in the arrangements of an existing institution. Fourth edition, revised and enlarged. Addressed to prudent and sensible men and women of all classes. London: R, WERTHIEMER & Co., Circus Place, Finsbury Circus. FROM the length of the above title, the reader would be led to suppose the work a ponderous volume. It is not so, however, being comprised within 48 pages, 12mo. It is an able and lucid defence of the duty and benefit of life assurance, supported by undeniable, most striking, and irresistible truths. The author's leading object is, to recommend the system adopted by the British Nation Life Assurance Association, the most comprehensive of any that has come under our notice; and we feel assured, that all into whose hands this pamphlet may come will unite with us in opinion, that he has very successfully accomplished his task. We cannot but wish the work an extensive circulation.

EIGHTH MONTH, 1856.

4th. At the Crescent, Cripplegate, London, JULIA, wife of Joseph Armfield, a daughter; who survived but eleven days. At Croydon, REBECCA, wife of James Rokes, a daughter; who was named Louisa Jane.

7th. At Birmingham, JANE LEAH, wife of Josiah Pumphrey, jun., a daughter; who was named Janet. 10th. At Evesham, MARY, wife of William Wright Brown, a daughter; who was named Mary Elizabeth. 12th. At the house of her father, Yate, Gloucestershire, Lucy, wife of Frederick Sargent, a son; still-born. 16th. At Southwick, near Brighton, Lucy RICKMAN, wife of Robert Horne Penney, a daughter.

EIGHTH MONTH, 1856.

7th. At Neath, CHARLES STRUVE PRICE, of Neath, son of Henry Habberly Price, and Julia his wife, both deceased, to HANNAH ISABELLA, daughter of Joshua and Hannah Richardson, also of Neath.

20th. At Dover, WYATT JOHN PETTITT, of Dover, upholsterer and cabinetmaker, son of Wyatt John Pettitt, of Kedington, near Haverhill, Suffolk, upholsterer, &c., and Sarah his wife, to SUSANNAH, daughter of William Bicknell, of Dover, and Hannah, his wife; the latter deceased.

28th. At Manchester, GEORGE ROOKE, to ELIZABETH, second daughter of Thomas Atkinson, all of Manchester.

Deaths.

FIFTH MONTH, 1856.

24th. At Hopkinton, Rhode Island, THOMAS FOSTER, an elder of South Kingstown Monthly Meeting, in the 53d year of his age.

The character of this beloved Friend was marked by genuine piety and circumspection, and by strict integrity in his transactions with his fellow-men, being concerned above all to do the will of his Heavenly Father, so as to stand accepted in the Beloved.

As a husband and father he was most affectionate and kind, endeavouring to discharge his duty, not only in these relations, but also to stand clear of the blood of all men. A striking feature in his character was a forgiving disposition. For many years he occasionally appeared in public testimony to the satisfaction of Friends. He was troubled with a severe cough from early life, at times occasioning much suffering and loss of sleep, which he endured with exemplary patience. For a year previous to his death he was aware that his constitution was giving way, and often spoke of it.

In the 2d Month last, being exposed to very severe weather in going to attend the Quarterly Meeting, he was attacked by lung fever, which terminated in consumption. He was apprehensive that he should not recover, and did not appear anxious as to the result; but subsequently said -"At the commencement of my illness, in viewing death so near, I feared I should not be ready, and felt distressed in my mind, but was finally enabled to resign myself entirely up into the hands of my Saviour. Here I lay for two months, feeling peaceful and quiet, but had not that certain evidence of being accepted which I desired. At the end of this time my Saviour assured me that my sins were all blotted out, and a mansion prepared for me in his blessed kingdom, and that he would be with me and preserve me unto the end." He related this to his wife, in much brokenness of spirit, saying-" My heart overflows with gratitude, my Saviour has done so much for me; more than I could ask or think for such a poor creature as I am. It is all of his mercy. It is wonderful that he should, so at once, blot out all my sins and receive me into his arms filling my mind with love and praise. I have not words to express the joy and happiness which I feel; it is beyond human conception! I now know my sins have all gone beforehand to judgment."

He lived more than five weeks after this, continuing to feel the same blessed assurance to the end. His family being called together, he addressed his aged father-in-law, John Wilbur, saying "I have felt great sympathy with thee from the first, in the many trials connected with the troubles in our Society, a large portion of which have fallen to thy lot. I believe thou hast been contending for the cause of Truth, and hope thou wilt not let in discour agement." To his wife and children he said "I want you to give me up freely, and not suffer any despondency to cover your minds, for there is no cause for discouragement if you are only faithful. I want you, dear children, to take up the cross now, in the morning of your day, and be watchful and obedient; don't look too much upon the dark side of things, but look steadily to Him who will support you and carry you through the deepest affliction, and enable you to dwell in the light." He had much to impart that was instructive, but most of his work was praise, saying more than once-"My heart is filled with praise from morning till evening, and from evening till morning;"

sometimes appearing vocally in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord.

His cough was so troublesome much of the time that he could get little rest, except in a sitting posture; for ten days and nights in succession he sat in his chair, but endured all with patience; not a murmur or complaint escaped him. He would often say that his sufferings were as nothing-that the Lord supported him in such a marvellous manner that all was made easy. "I want you,' said he, "to help me to praise my Saviour for his goodness and mercy to the children of men. He has washed away all my sins; and when my measure of suffering is filled up, he will receive me into his blessed kingdom, where I shall for ever sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, with the ransomed and redeemed of all generations. The enemy is not suffered to tempt me; I never had any conception of such happiness before; it cannot be conveyed by words; then what must the fulness be?"

He often requested to hear portions of the Psalms read, particularly where so much is said in praise of the Lord, saying he never comprehended so well before the feelings of the psalmist. He recommended to his children frequent inward retirement and reflection, adding, "there is plenty of time for it; I have had many good meetings in the field, wherein my intercessions have often been raised to the Father of mercies for you, my dear children, that you might be preserved in the Truth." All concern respecting his outward affairs was taken away; sometimes he would say, "I am prepared to go, and long for the time to come;" but generally finished by saying, "The Lord's will is my will, and his time is the right time."

He exhorted Friends to faithfulness in all their testimonies, speaking particularly of the importance of attending all their meetings, both for worship and discipline, encouraging to greater diligence therein, and referring to our ancient Friends, how much they suffered for these precious testimonies, and how little we had endured in comparison with them; saying, no fear of man or dread of suffering kept them from their meetings, although often taken from them and carried into loathsome dungeons and prisons, where many ended their lives.

It was very instructive to witness the calm assurance in the Saviour's promises, which constantly prevailed and sustained his spirit above all things else. Not a doubt appeared to be permitted to disturb hin. At one time he said "The enemy was around me last night, trying to look in; I applied to my Saviour and he fled away. He promised me, when he appeared to me, that the enemy should have no power over me if I kept close to him, and he will fulfil his promises, for they are yea and amen for ever." He then added-" The devil may truly be called an unwearied adversary; see how he follows me to this late period."

To his wife he said-" Thou art the nearest to me of anything in this world; thou and the dear children never felt so near before; and my love so extends to the whole human family that I feel as if I could inclose all in my arms; but though I love you so much there is One I love more, and whom I long to be with." He then said—" I think I shall be excused from saying much more; my work is done; what should I do now if it were not so?" The next day he lay very quiet and still, apparently pretty comfortable, his countenance bearing the impress of heavenly serenity. On his wife's saying to him, "Thou looks very happy." He replied, "I am." He requested those about him to be still, saying, "I want to pass quietly away."

He lay in this quiet and comfortable state until about five o'clock P.M., when he asked to have his pillows changed,

2d.

SEVENTH MONTH, 1856.

At Chorlton-on- Medlock, near Manchester, JOANNA HOULDING, in her 53d year.

The above was the first interment in the new burying ground at Ashton-on-Mersey, belonging to Friends of Manchester.

30th. At Linefoot, near Maryport, JANE PEARSON, wife of Jonathan Pearson.

This dear Friend was suddenly called away from her husband and four young children, the youngest only one month old. She was but little sensible during her brief illness, and was thus mercifully spared the bitter pang of parting with her family. Such is the marvellous condescension of an all-wise Providence, which in the midst of judgment still displayeth mercy; and although some expression of feeling on her part might have been desirable, yet, after her decease, there was a striking evidence granted that all was love, and joy, and peace; and that, through the merits of our Holy Redeemer, she had been permitted to enter one of the many mansions prepared for those who love Him in sincerity.

31st. RACHEL WILLIAMSON, of York, aged 30. EIGHTH MONTH, 1856.

7th. At Uffeulme, Devon, aged 43, RACHEL GREENFIELD, wife of George Southey. 10th. At Sidcot, HANNA FRANK, widow of Arnee Frank. 13th. At 10, Highbury Place, London, GEORGE, fourth son of Richard and G. Maria Smith, in his 23d year.

18th. At Bristol, WILLIAM BENWELL, son of Joseph Benwell. 23d. At Cambridge Terrace, Rathgar, Dublin, ELIZABETH, widow of Josiah Malone.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

J. C.-His article is more suited to the pages of a temperance publication.

J. II.-The style of his paper savours too much of the caustic, considering the subject on which he animadverts. relation to his suggestion, as to printing Yearly Meeting J. P. His letter is not quite adapted to our pages; and in documents in cumulo, we think they are more likely to be read as at present issued.

W. II., Jun.-His letter to hand, and its contents noted. Received:-Who's Right? A Letter to Sir George Grey, in reply to his Speech in the House of Commons, in opposition to the motion of W. Ewart, M.P., on the Punishment of in the House of Commons, 1856; No. 32, vol. iii., of the EduDeath; Capital Punishment: Speech of William Ewart, M.P., cational Record; A Treatise on the most effectual means of P'ersonal and Family Provision, &c.; The London Reporter, No. 164; The Leicester Chronicle, of 23d ult.; and the Sydney Morning Herald, of 5th Month, 19th.

M.P.; F.M.; E.&W.S.; R.S.; W.A.; J.F.; J.M.M.; T.S.; E.B.; Also, J.H.; J.B.; S. H.; I. W.; S. P.; J.P.; J. G.; E.D.; W. W.B.; J. HI-n.; J.S.; R.H.P.; J. W.H.; J.W.; F.D.; S.M.K.; M.F.; and W.S.

twenty minutes, when, without a struggle, he passed away, we have no doubt, to the heavenly mansion which he had seen prepared for him.-Philadelphia Friend.

SIXTH MONTH, 1856.

12th. ANNE GRUBB, of Bloomfield, Dublin. 24th. At Thirsk, at the house of a relative, JOSHUA HEDLEY, of Darlington, aged 74. 28th. At his residence, Cleve, near Bristol, ROBERT BAKER, in his 87th year.

Of this dear Friend it may be said that many times, during his long life, he felt much alarmed when he apprehended death was near; but when the pale messenger was sent to his house all fear appeared to be removed, and he was permitted, with a smile on his countenance, quietly to breathe his last. His relatives humbly trust that he was

Person as NURSEMAID, where there are four Apply to D. P., Post-office, Middlesbro'-on-Tees."

young children.

tion he was permitted to enter the kingdom.

ANT.

Apply to ROBSON, GREEN, & ROBSON, Saffron-Walden.

steward to a nobleman with him, and some others, besides his own family. He seemed to receive us with respect; nevertheless, in a short time there appeared a cloud of darkness: but I sat quiet and inward a little, and the truth arose as a standard against it, and the opposing darkness vanished, and truth reigned in me alone; and then I began to speak concerning the many divisions in the pretended Christian world, happening upon the pouring forth of the seventh vial by the angel of God, mentioned in the book of the Revelation of John; that the pretended Christian church, with all her various false notions, opinions, and doctrines, is that Babylon; that her three great divisions are the Papacy, the Prelacy, and the Presbytery, with their several subdivisions and confusions; who, being departed from the Spirit of Christ, the Prince of Peace, into the spirit of envy and persecution, were now, and from the time of that vial, warring and destroying each other, contrary both to the nature and end of that religion they profess which is love (Rev. xvi. 17-19). I was answered "That the Bishop of Rome, under pretence of being the successor of Peter, and, as such infallible, hath usurped a dictatorship over the Christian world in matters of religion, and imposed a multitude of anti-Christian errors by unreasonable force upon mankind; but God having committed His whole will unto writing in the Holy Scriptures, and in course of His providence, preserved them unto us, we have our whole duty declared therein, as our rule and guide in matters of religion; so that we are not to expect the manifestations of the Spirit, as in times past, that dispensation being now ceased."

I replied: "That what he said of the Bishop of Rome was true, and that the Scriptures are the most excellent books extant, which were given from time to time, by the word of the Lord, which is the Spirit of Christ; but men may read and speak the truths contained in the Scriptures one to another, and the readers and speakers remain still ignorant of the word of the Lord, and of the things themselves intended to be signified by the words, and not being sent of God (as the Scriptures send no man), cannot profit the hearers, but are themselves transgressors in so doing, unless they were sent by the influence, power, and virtue of the same Word that dictated the matter of the Scriptures unto the holy penmen thereof, as appears by the 23d chapter of the prophecy of Jeremiah: and then I called for a Bible and read The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully: what is the chaff to the wheat, saith the Lord? Is not my word like a fire, saith the Lord, and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces! Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words, every one from his neighbour. Behold I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith; yet I sent them not, nor commandeth them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord' (Jer. xxiii, 28-32). So that it is contrary to the declared mind of God, that any should use his words to others, as his ministers, who are not sent by himself so to do; for though they have been his words unto others, those who use them without his command, are charged by him as thieves, especially such as make merchandise of them to the people.

As to the dispensation of the Spirit being now ceased, I am sorry to hear it is so, for I can show thee to whom it is so ceased, but not to the church of Christ. Then I turned to the third chapter of the prophecy of Micah and read-"Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know judgment? who hate the

good and love the evil? who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones? Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the cauldron. Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but he will not hear them; he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings" (Micah iii. 1-4). Here, it appears that, for the ignorance, cruelty, and injustice of the princes, or heads of the people, the Lord would not hear or regard them. As again in the ninth verse the Lord resumes his charge against the great men in that day-"They abhorred judgment and perverted all equity: they built up Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads of that people judged for reward, their priests taught for hire, and their prophets divined for money; yet they pretended to lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? No evil can come upon us (Micah iii. 9-11). But the Lord was not to be mocked by such; his just judgments were denounced against them: "Therefore shall Zion for your sakes be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest" (Micah iii. 12). This was fulfilled upon them, and remains over them as a monument of the justice of God unto this day. The charge of the Lord, and His judgments against the prophets, I left to the last, viz.-"They made the people err; they bit with their teeth, and (yet) cried, Peace; and he that put not into their mouths, they even prepared war against him. Therefore night shall be unto you that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer of God" (Micah iii. 5–7).

Now, as to these scriptures, said I, like sin, like judgment. All these three divisions of the pretended Christian church, falling into the sins of the old heathens, are become hateful and hating one another; and, through that hatred, have persecuted and destroyed each other, when and wherever they have had power; and all these, in their turns (having deceived and subjected the temporal powers), have persecuted and destroyed the church of Christ among them. They have hated the good and loved the evil. They have exercised such cruelties upon the innocent and just as are here figuratively termed plucking off their skin and their flesh, and the breaking of their bones, and the like. The priests of every form have fleeced the people and the church of Christ, which they have not fed; they have made laws by their own power against them, and thereby made war against such as would not gratify their covetousness; they have worried them as with their teeth, and yet cried up the peace of the gospel in words; they have built and propagated their several sects and parties with the blood of others, and of the saints of God, and have filled their sanctuaries with evil-doing and fraud. Their heads, who lord over them, have exercised their offices for gain and pay; their priests teach for hire, their prophets divine for money, yet they pretend the Lord is with them in their various and opposite ways, and that no evil can come upon them. And yet, though the day of the gospel of Christ be dawned upon his church, and the Sun of Righteousness arisen and shining in her, yet the night of apostasy and mist of thick darkness and ignorance is over these; they have no vision of God, they cannot divine, the sun is set unto them, and the day is dark over them, for the light thereof they despise and hate, because they are

evil-doers; and to them there is no answer of God, who is that Spirit, and speaks no more unto them but by the letter, which killeth, and of which they make a trade and gain.

But the church of Christ here speaketh another language-she bears another, a true testimony to the true God: "But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgressions, and unto Israel his sin" (Micah iii. 8). Here it is apparent from whom the Spirit of the Lord is departed, and to whom he is not now revealed, and in whom he does not reside; that is, Mystery, Babylon, with all her divisions, sub-divisions, and members everywhere, and under whatsoever name. But God is with his people still, as in former times, according to the promise of the Son-"If a man love me he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (John xiv. 23).

The auditory heard what was said with patience, and none made any answer but the priest, and all that he said was (and that a little pleasantly), "Such as you, going about with such chapters, may do much mischief." To whom I replied, “That inasmuch as he was then silenced by the temporal powers that then were, he would do well never to look after that employment any more, or think to enrich himself thereby, and the rather since he had a competent estate independent of it, which the Lord would bless to him and his family if he disclaimed that ungodly practice of preaching for hire, and was silent in the things of God till the Lord should send him, if it might please Him so to do." The priest's wife seemed well pleased with what I said to him, and he made no reply. And so, a little after, we departed in peace and in friendship with them, and went to our inn.

(To be continued.)

ON MYSTICISM.

For THE BRITISH FRIEND.

WE are naturally interested in the opinions men entertain respecting any for whom we have expressed a decided preference or regard. In turning over the pages of a monthly periodical,* my attention was arrested by the words " George Fox" and "Early Quakerism;" and inasmuch as I confess to rather powerful feelings both as regards the man and the profession, I at once sought to know what the writer might have to say about them. There was not very much, but what there was, was highly suggestive. The paper was headed "Hours with the Mystics;" and was a carefully-written review of a book recently published, bearing the same title. Early Friends are placed in the same category with Hindoos, German philosophers, and French quietists, as mystics, and though the connection is certainly rather a forced one, yet I do not know that on the whole Friends are very unfairly treated. Both author and reviewer, indeed, have evidently much sympathy with the experience and character of George Fox; and in using the word mystic, they do not attach to it the common notions of wildness and extravagance, but more correctly as applied to one who understands or is acquainted with secret things or mysteries. I do not propose to follow the paper in all its statements, but rather briefly to state a few considerations which its perusal have served to revive.

It has been said with much justice, that in all matters of controversy, no party has a right to assign to another a title, which, whether from its own significance or the associations which are usually attached

* Fraser's Magazine.

to it, will in any way prejudice the issue of the question in dispute. The early Friends could speak feelingly on this point. It might be true enough, that George Fox told his hearers to "quake" or "tremble at the word of the Lord;" and it is indubitably true that many of them did so; but it is by no means a logical conclusion, that from this they were fairly liable to the epithet of "quakers;" and its unfitness becomes the more apparent, when it is considered that a certain amount of contempt was included in the very term itself. Now, as regards the word mystic, it is one which commonly indicates some degree of reproach or ridicule-as involving visionary enthusiasm, or a something which is unintelligible. This is the popular idea; and though it may be an erroneous one, yet, because it is a very common one, it would, on the whole, be better to substitute some other word to which no such objection would apply. It would not, I apprehend, be very difficult, and in an age when new words are not uncommon, it would be very easy to invent one. Yet why should we quarrel with a word? Words are but the expression of ideas, and it is the ideas which claim our attention now. Assuming, then, the meaning before quoted to be the correct one, let us at once accept on behalf of our forefathers the title of mystics. And in so doing, I am desirous that we should, if possible, attain to something like a just conception of the position which they filled, and of that peculiar process by which they were placed in it; and further, of the lasting influence which they exercised.

As opposed to the profession made by Friends, there was a religion which, whilst it had many incidental virtues belonging to it, was yet in the main of an outward and formal character. It was not wanting in a certain earnestness of manner; there was on the contrary much apparent zeal, and the recognition of Scripture history and doctrine was nearly universal. Yet it was not an intelligent recognition, although, as is frequently the case under such circumstances, it was one very dogmatic. It was the vast rebound from the clogged and cumbrous system of the Romish Church with its human instrumentality which set free the Holy Scriptures, and induced men in getting rid of priests to assume for the Bible the supreme place in all matters necessary to be believed. The direction was a right one, but the course was not clear. For whilst the circulation, free and unfettered, of the Bible was an established circumstance so far as the influence of the church could make it so, there was yet this significant fact behind, that whilst the church had very properly repudiated Romish priests as its authoritative expounders, it had failed to indicate with anything like force and clearness, where and what the interpreter might be. "The Bible, and the Bible alone," said Chillingworth, "is the religion of Protestants;" and "the Bible its own interpreter" was not an uncommon sentiment. It was perfectly natural that such views as these, however they might be accompanied by appreciation of the Bible contents, and a thorough understanding of the text, would yet be likely to fail as a religion of practice; and such was lamentably the fact. No man felt this more than George Fox. Brought up in the diligent perusal of the Bible as a habit, and always of a serious disposition, he was still sensible not only of a want in his own heart, but that there was also something vital wanting in religion generally. And I think no man, be he who he may, who knows anything at all what an inquiry after truth means, can peruse the touching narrative of George Fox's early years without feeling strong sympathy for him in his desolate condition. At length, and gradually, there dawned upon his soul a light from on high; at length he heard a voice, a