preach every night, and am obliged to have a private meeting afterwards with those who wish to speak about their fouls. But my own health is fuffering much, nor fhall I probably be able long to bear it. The ship is like a tabernacle; and really there is much external reformation. Capt. raises no objection. I have near a hundred hearers every night at fix o'clock. How unworthy am I!-Pray for us."-Ev. M. 84. The Testimony of a Profane Officer to the Worth of Pious Sailors.

• Mr. Editor, In the mouth of two or three witnesses a truth fhall be eftablished. I recently met with a pleafing confirmation of a narra. tive, ftated fome time fince in your Magazine. I was furprized by a wifit from an old acqaintance of mine the other day, who is now an officer of rank in his Majefty's navy. In the course of conversation, I was fhocked at the profane oaths that perpetually interrupted his fentences; and took an opportunity to exprefs my regret that fuch language fhould be fo common among so valuable a body of men. "Sir," faid he, till interfperfing many folemn imprecations, "an officer cannot live at fea without fwearing ;-not one of my men would mind a word without an oath it is common fea-language. If we were not to fwear, the rafcals would take us for lubbers, ftare in our faces, and leave us to do our commands ourselves. I never knew but one exception; and that was extroardinary. I declare, believe me 'tis true (fufpecting that I might not credit it) there was a fet of fellows called Methodists, on board the Victory, Lord Nelfon's fhip (to be fure he was rather a religious man himself!) and thofe men never wanted fwearing at. The dogs were the best seamen on board. Every man knew his duty, and every man did his duty. They used to meet together and fing bymns; and nobody dared moleft them. The commander would not have fuffered it, had they attempted it. They were allowed a mess by themelves; and never mixed with the other men. I have often heard them finging away myself; and 'tis true, I affure you, but not one of them was either killed or wounded at the battle of Trafalgar, though they did their duty as well as any men. No, not one of the pfalm-finging gentry was even hurt; and there the fellows are fwimming away in the Bay of Bifcay at this very time, finging like the D-, They are now under a new commander; but ftill are allowed the fame privileges, and mess by themselves. These were the only fellows that I ever knew do their duty without fwearing; and I will do them the justice to say they do it.". J. C.-Ev. Mag, p. 119, 120.

These people are spread over the face of the whole earth in the shape of missionaries.-Upon the subject of missions, we shall say very little or nothing at present, because we reserve it for another article in a subsequent number. But we cannot help remarking the magnitude of the collections made in favour of the missionaries at the Methodistical chapels, when compared with the collections for any common object of charity in the orthodox churches and chapels.

Religious Tract Society.A molt fatisfactory Report was prefented

by

by the Committee; from which it appeared, that fince the commencement of the Inftitution in the year 1799, upwards of Four Millions of Religious Tracts have been iffued under the aufpices of the Society; and that confiderably more than one fourth of that number have been fold during the last year. '-Ev. Mag. p. 284.

These tracts are dropped in villages by the Methodists, and thus every chance for conversion afforded to the common people. There is a proposal in one of the numbers of the volumes before us, that travellers, for every pound they spend on the road, should fling one shilling's worth of these tracts out of the chaise window-thus taxing his pleasures at 5 per cent. for the purposes of doing good.

Every Chriftian who expects the protection and bleffing of God, ought to take with him as many fillings worth, at leaft, of cheap Tracts to throw on the road, and leave at inns, as he takes cut pounds to expend on himself and family. This is really but a trifling facrifice. It is a highly reasonable one; and one which God will accept.'-Ev. Mag. p. 405.

It is part of their policy to have a great change of ministers.

Same day, the Rev. W. Haward, from Hoxton Academy, was ordained over the Independent church at Rendham, Suffolk. Mr Pickles of Walpole, began with prayer and reading; Mr Price, of Woodbridge, delivered the introductory difcourfe and asked the questions; Mr Dennant, of Halefworth, offered the ordination prayer; Mr Shufflebottom, of Bungay, gave the charge, from Acts xx. 28; Mr Vincent, of Deal, the general prayer; and Mr Walford, of Yarmouth, preached to the people, from 2 Phil. ii. 16. '—Ev. Mag. p. 429.

Chapels Opened. Hambledon, Bucks, Sept. 22.-Eighteen months ago this parish was deftitute of the gofpel: the people have now one of the Rev. G. Collifon's ftudents, the Rev. Mr Eaftmead, fettled among them. Mr English, of Wooburn, and Mr Frey preached on the occafion; and Mr Jones, of London, Mr Churchill, of Henley, Mr Redford, of Windfor, and Mr Barratt, now of Petersfield, prayed. '— Ev. Mag. p. 533.

Methodism in his Majesty's Ship Tonnant-a Letter from the Sail

maker.

It is with great fatisfaction that I can now inform you God has deigned, in a yet greater degree, to own the weak efforts of his fervant to turn many from Satan to himself. Many are called here, as is plain to be seen by their penfive looks and deep fighs. And if they would be obedient to the heavenly call, inftead of grieving the Spirit of grace, I dare fay we fhould foon have near half the fhip's company brought to God. I doubt not, however, but, as I have caft my bread upon the waters, it will be found after many days. Our 13 are no increased to upwards of 30. Surely the Lord delighteth not in the death of him that dieth.'-Meth. Mag. p. 188.

It appears also, from p. 139. Meth, Mag, that the same prin

ciples prevail on board his Majesty's ship Seahorse, 44 guns. And in one part of the Evan. Mag. great hopes are entertained of the 25th regiment. We believe this is the number, but we quote this fact from memory.

We must remember, in addition to these trifling specimens of their active disposition, that the Methodists have found a powerful party in the House of Commons, who, by the neutrality which they affect, and partly adhere to, are courted both by ministers and opposition; that they have gained complete possession of the India-House; and under the pretence, or perhaps with the serious intention of educating young people for India, will take care to introduce (as much as they dare without provoking attention) their own peculiar tenets. In fact, one thing must always be taken for granted respecting these people, that wherever they gain a footing, or whatever be the institutions to which they give birth, proselytism will be their main object; every thing else is a mere instrument

this is their principal aim. When every proselyte is not only an addition to their temporal power, but when the act of conversion which gains a vote, saves (as they suppose) a soul from destruction,-it is quite needless to state, that every faculty of their minds will be dedicated to this most important of all temporal and eternal concerns.

- Their attack upon the Church is not merely confined to publications; it is generally understood, that they have a very considerable fund for the purchase of livings, to which, of course, ministers of their own profession are always presented.

Upon the foregoing facts, and upon the spirit evinced by these extracts, we shall make a few comments.

1. It is obvious, that this defcription of Chriftians entertain very erroneous and dangerous notions of the prefent judgments of God. A belief, that Providence interferes in all the little actions of our lives, refers all merit and demerit to bad and good fortune; and causes the fuccessful man to be always confidered as a good man, and the unhappy man as the object of divine vengeance. It furnishes ignorant and defigning men with a power which is fure to be abufed; the cry of, a judgment, a judgment, it is always eafy to make, but not eafy to refift. It encourages the groffeft fuperftitions; for if the Deity rewards and punishes on every flight occafion, it is quite impoffible, but that fuch an helpless being as man, will fet himself at work to discover the will of Heaven in the appearances of outward nature, and to apply all the phenomena of thunder, lightning, wind, and every ftriking appearance, to the regulation of his conduct; as the poor Methodist, when he rode into Picca dilly in a thunder ftorm, and imagined that all the uproar of the elements was a mere hint to him not to preach at Mr Romaine's

chapel.

chapel. Hence a great deal of error, and a great deal of fecret mifery. This doctrine of a theocracy muft neceffarily place an exceffive power in the hands of the clergy: It applies fo inftantly and fo tremendously to men's hopes and fears, that it must make the priest omnipotent over the people, as it always has done where it has been established. It has a great tendency to check human exertions, and to prevent the employment of thofe fecondary means of effecting an object which Providence has placed in our power. The doctrine of the immediate, and perpetual interference of Divine providence, is not true. If two men travel the fame road, the one to rob, the other to relieve a fellow creature who is ftarving; will any but the most fanatic contend, that they do not both run the fame chance of falling over a stone, and breaking their legs? and is it not matter of fact, that the robber often returns fafe, and the juft man sustains the injury? Have not the foundest divines of both churches, always urged this unequal diftribution of good and evil, in the prefent ftate, as one of the strongest natural arguments for a future ftate of retribution? Have not they contended, and well, and admirably contended, that the fuppofition of such a state is abfolutely neceffary to our notion of the juftice of God,-abfolutely neceffary to restore order to that moral confufion which we all ob ferve and deplore in the prefent world? The man who places religion upon a falfe bafis, is the greatest enemy to religion. If victory is always to the juft and good,-how is the fortune of impious conquerors to be accounted for? Why do they erect dynafties, and found families which laft for centuries? The reflecting mind whom you have inftructed in this manner, and for present effect only, naturally comes upon you hereafter with difficulties of this fort; he finds he has been deceived; and you will foon discover that, in breeding up a fanatic, you have unwittingly laid the foundation of an atheist. The honest and the orthodox method, is to prepare young people for the world, as it actually exifts; to tell them they will often find vice perfectly fuccefsful; virtue expofed to a long train of afflictions; that they must bear this patiently, and look to another world for its rectification,

2. The fecond doctrine which it is neceffary to notice among the Methodists, is the doctrine of inward impulfe and emotions, which, it is quite plain, must lead, if univerfally infifted upon, and preached among the common people, to every fpecies of folly and enormity. When an human being believes that his internal feelings are the monitions of God, and that these monitions must govern his conduct; and when a great ftrefs is purpofely laid upon thefe inward feelings in all the difcourfes from the pulpit; it is, of course, impoffible to say to what a pitch of extravagance mankind may not be carried, under the influence of fuch dangerous doctrines.

3. The Methodists hate pleasure and amufements; no theatre, no cards, no dancing, no punchinello, no dancing dogs, no blind fiddlers; all the amusements of the rich and of the poor muft difappear, wherever thefe gloomy people get a footing. It is not the abuse of pleasure which they attack, but the interfperfion of pleafure, however much it is guarded by good sense and moderation; -it is not only wicked to hear the licentious plays of Congreve, but wicked to hear Henry the Vth, or the School for Scandal ;it is not only diffipated to run about to all the parties in London and Edinburgh,-but dancing is not fit for a being who is preparing bimfelf for eternity. Ennui, wretchednefs, melancholy, groans and fighs are the offerings which these unhappy men make to a Deity, who has covered the earth with gay colours, and fcented it with rich perfumes; and fhown us, by the plan and order of his works, that he has given to man fomething better than a bare existence, and scattered over his creation a thoufand fuperfluous joys, which are totally unneceffary to the mere fupport of life.

4. The Methodists lay very little ftrefs upon practical righteoufnefs. They do not fay to their people, do not be deceitful; do not be idle; get rid of your bad paffions; or at leaft (if they do fay these things) they say them very feldom. Not that they preach faith without works; for if they told the people, that they might rob and murder with impunity, the civil magiftrate must be compelled to interfere with fuch doctrine-but they fay a great deal about faith, and very little about works. What are commonly called the mysterious parts of our religion, are brought into the fore-ground, much more than the doctrines which lead to practice, -and this among the loweft of the community.

The Methodists have hitherto been accused of dissenting from the church of England. This, as far as relates to mere subscription to articles, is not true; but they differ in their choice of the articles upon which they dilate and expand, and to which they appear to give a preference, from the stress which they place upon them. There is nothing heretical in saying, that God sometimes intervenes with his special providence; but these people differ from the established church, in the degree in which they insist upon this doctrine. In the hands of a man of sense and education, it is a safe doctrine-in the management of the Methodists, we have seen how ridiculous and degrading it becomes. In the same manner, a clergyman of the church of England would not do his duty, if he did not insist upon the necessity of faith, as well as of good works; but as he believes that it is much more easy to give credit to doctrines, than to live well, he labours most in those points where human nature is the most liable to prove defective. Because he does so, he is accused of giving up the articles of his faith, by

men