then returned via Bonda and Wener to road to the same church, and on arriving I LEER, where I got safely through, with the found the walls by the roadside, and the necessary precaution. wooden rails well lined with men and women I remained only a few hours at the house of the Stadt Barbier, in Sunday garb, waiting the arrival of the a pious man, where brother Bonk and wife, minister. I sought out a shady spot under and brother Coers and wife, were assembled. an ancient chesnut, where leaves waved all With the two brethren I broke bread, and above and around, and the grass covered we had all of us a glorious evening. The slopes sank in gentle undulations, and lost brethren have since been before the magis-themselves in foliage below my feet. Above trate, but nothing of importance has trans- rose the mountains, the green pyramids, pired; except that the whole town is in a the snowy peaks. Groups of men, and terrible commotion. At five next morning groups of women all neatly attired continued I was off, and reached OLDENBURGH in the to arrive from La Serre, and at last, without evening. I visited JEVER, preached twice, any call of bell, or any sign, the chapel and joined the church at the Lord's-table. opened, and service commenced." Their [The day] following, in company with bro- Bible and Liturgy are in French; the serther Remmers [held a] missionary meeting mon also was in French, and though only at VAREL, visited the brethren at OLDEN- the more educated speak French, they said and proceeded to BREMEN, [one of the all could understand discourses in that lanfree cities of Germany, situated on the guage. "Their liturgy is very different Weser, in the kingdom of Hanover,] where from the Roman and Anglican liturgies, the greatest excitement has been occasioned and is much such an one as might be made by having baptized seven persons and con- up out of some book of family prayers of stituted a church. Last Lord's-day even- the shortest and, simplest kind. The suping-week, we surrounded the sacred board plications are few, and confined to the most with fifteen dear christians in that town." general ideas of sin, penitence, grace, and It appears therefore that three baptized pardon. The profession of faith is very churches have been formed by brother decidedly Calvinistic. On original sin, Oncken during this journey, one at ZUTPHEN, one at LEER, and one at BREMEN. BURG, THE VAUDOIS, VALLEY OF ANGROGNA, PIED- free grace, and election, it is positive and unequivocal. The forms for the Lord'ssupper adopt our Lord's language, but might be used by an advocate of the real presence, without one shade of objection. Even the language about the effect of the participation of these elements is ambiguous. In the ceremony for the re-admission of a DR. HENDERSON's recently published work brother who has been excommunicated, the on the Vaudois, has awakened an interest minister pronounces positively that the sin is which will be gratified with the following forgiven by God; however, the prayer that particulars from another source. "It was a follows intreats him to 'ratify' in heaven fine Sunday morning, the 22nd of June what has been done on earth, and asks 1845, when I started from my inn for the grace for the penitent more and more to chapel or church at Angrogna. It had been believe that he is forgiven, that he may enjoy clear, but, as usual, cumuli, with their sun- the peace of believing. The burial service lit fleeces, gathered on the mountain tops. consists almost entirely of scripture. There The sky was blue, and the light and shade are prayers for morning and evening in the were of that gay and playful sort that is so family, which I am told are constantly used. favourable to mountain scenery. I soon There seems to be no such thing as extementered among the chesnuts; some young, pore prayer; people commit the prayers to light, and airy; some mighty trees of fifteen memory, and so dispense with the book, but feet girth, and more than one hundred feet they seem to have no idea of free prayer. high; all now rich in bloom. Even the To return. A portion of scripture was read walnut here is a handsome tree, the poverty from the Old and New Testaments, with of its foliage which makes it so miserable on Osterwald's Commentary, by the clerk. the plain, is even an advantage when After that, two verses of a hymn were mingled with other trees on the mountain sung, one or two short prayers followed, and side. All was calm as heaven; no labour then came the sermon, the subject of which here; no violation of the sacred day; but was, the study of perfection, as characterissong birds warbled, and the breeze gently tic of christianity;" Walk in love." From stirred the leaves, while rippling murmur- some remarks in the sermon, it appears ing rivulets ran gurgling by. All was that the preacher's views incline to general sweet, and rich, and fair. I saw a few redemption, and that he questions whether peasants wending their way along the same even the heathens are hopeless. "The "A short prayer for the royal family, another in conclusion, and a notice or two finished the service, and once more the road was seen thronged with women's white caps, and the rather pale blue coats and trousers of the men, some in black hats, some in dark caps. They sit separately in the church. The general continental idea seems to be, that it is not consistent with public decency for men and women to sit promiscuously together. people are cleanly in their persons compared albeit the Protestants are almost everywhere with other Piedmontese, have a sensible cast the more numerous, there are Catholics in of countenance, and are almost free from every village. any traces of brutality; but I have no idea that they are a pious people in our sense of the word; that the mass of them are so I cannot believe, and I could not understand that they have any discipline or usage which distinguishes the pious from the indifferent. They bear a high character for honesty. But men who talk proudly of their religion and their history use coarse language and oaths, and yet pass for very respectable men, and in many cases appear to be so. I met with more than one whose "After the service, I sauntered on to La word was worth nothing. The master of Serre, and turned left down a retired path the hotel has a billiard table, where there is among some meadows. I discovered a spot much noise and gambling, yet he goes to with a delicious view, and a felled tree on church on Sunday, &c. The minister says which I could sit, and there I stopped. It is there is no drunkenness, and after all deduc-a place where the meadow sinks from your tions, I quite think the people deserve a feet in sweet undulations; here fresh green high character. The little hovels in which after the scythe, and here covered with long they live, built of the brown rock of the grass, thick spangled with wild flowers. A rivuvalley, with rough roofs and balconies, let gurgled by; lofty chesnut trees mingled in the Swiss way, are pretty landscape with the pale scattered foliage of the walnut, objects, but alas, inside! The little case- and the light feathers of the ash waved over ment is something covered with oil paper, head, and spread a gay leafy pattern between mostly much torn; no glass, and often me and the deep blue sky and yellow clouds nothing at all. The rooms are so dark that above. Before me, looking up the vale, you can scarcely see in broad daylight, and was an opening hedged in by waving leaves you find only the coarsest utensils, and of ash and walnut, backed on either side by black rye bread. The houses are by no chesnut and other wood, further and further, means cleanly, and although every one mingling and retiring, screen after screen. appears neatly clad on Sunday, yet you see And there, far below, lay the narrow vale many in sad rags and tatters, particularly with the torrent dashing down its rocky small children on the working days. They path. On either side rose the mountain certainly have to struggle with want and slopes, vested in green, with meadow grass poverty. Their valley produces nothing but and robe of foliage, the trees almost reduced a little rye, hemp, and potatoes, besides the to a microscopic woolly dress. Over the grass, hay, and chesnuts, and the pasturage first slopes lapped others more remote, on the higher mountains, which are very more dark, more indistinct, crossing alterrich, and support a considerable number of nately, and then above them all, the rocky cattle. They appear to be perfectly con- crest, with its pointed outline and snowtent with their mode of life, although very dappled sides. A shower had fallen, and all sensible of the value of money, and inclined was fresh and moist as with the morning to beg sometimes of a passing stranger. dew, and bright with the brightest ray of heaVery few people visit their valleys, and the ven. No sound save some scarce-heard voice occasion is seldom given. They beg directly of nature's melody, the chirping gri-gri or a only by their children, and indirectly by few notes of some nightingale. The hedgecontrivances to sell you something, hoping for row and the stream, bank and mead, all handsome pay. Their anxiety cannot be decked with England's home flowers. Yes, attributed to any other motive, it is quite every blossom that smiles in my own plain that it is not generosity; yet there country's hedge-rows and meads, and that prevails throughout, a kindliness and civility is fair and beautiful, smiles here; every of manners in the valley of Angrogna flower that poetry of highest bards has sancwhich is delightful. Every one salutes tified with sweetest thoughts and dearest you in Patois or French, always with ci- sentiments, grows here, and fairer, and vility, and mostly with a smile. Catholics brighter, and fresher, than at home; its and genuine Protestants can never be on petals more expanded, and its tints more very good terms, and I think a religious rich and deep than under England's sun; struggle will ultimately arise in these val- and others that bloom only in our gardens, leys. Everywhere the Catholic church more brilliant perhaps, but not so dear. stands near the Protestant church, and And here the same God, adored with the same simple rites, and (be it hoped), with | tional Church to read a political proclamation faith and hope and purity. I sung a verse in defence of the new constitution, about or so of a hymn or two that came to mind, forty of them refused. They were charged with none to hear but God above, and I felt by the government with rebellion against as if I could weep. It seemed a kind of its authority, and at a meeting of the clergy paradise, and thoughts of change and im- held at Lausanne, at which nearly 180 were mortality came unbidden, and asked in a present, about 160 sent in their resignation. still small voice that seemed to swell within Since that time it is said that at least 30 or the breast, and heave with energy, And | 40 have withdrawn their resignation. The all this made to die and come to nought ? past submission of these clergy to the state Can our eyes for one hour dwell on scenes will not render it surprising if others do so like this, and our hearts feel such emotions, to, but there seems to be at least the basis of and the next lie cold, and dead, and hope- an important movement in favor of the less in the grave? Surely this is the voice emancipation of religion from civil bondage. of God which speaks to me of immortality, -bliss to come.' Never have I seen a vale so rich, so sweet as this; nor do I expect to see another where every circumstance so combines to fill the soul of an Englishman with deep and sweet emotions, And oh! if there be an elysium on earth, it is this! it is this!" SPECIAL PRAYER BY ROMAN CATHOLICS FOR MORTALITY IN EAST PRUSSIA. THE Augsburgh Gazette states that the mortality in East Prussia has been double that of preceding years, and greater in country districts than during the time of the cholera morbus. Gastro-nervous fevers engendered by want of sufficient nourishment and other privations consequent on the THE ENTIRE CONVERSION OF ENGLAND TO high price of food, are the cause of this POPERY. mortality. The potatoes are rotting in the places where they have been stored for pre PREPARATION OF BRETHREN FOR THE THE Constitutionel states that the follow-servation. ing notice was posted in all the churches in Paris, on Monday, Dec. 8. ،، At the request of the Catholic Bishops of England, expressed to his Lordship the Archbishop of Paris, prayers will be said in all the churches for eight consecutive days, to reckon from to-day, (being the fête of the immaculate conception of the Holy Virgin Mary) for the return of the entire British nation to the Roman Catholic faith." The Bishop of Nantes, at the suggestion of Dr. Wiseman, has also prescribed nine days of prayer for the same object. It has been stated that the number of recent seceders to Rome amounts to 70, of whom 30 are clergymen of the Church of England. SPAIN. THE speech of the Queen of Spain in opening the Cortes, contains the following sentence. "My government will also present to you a project of law with the important object of endowing, in a permanent and solid manner, public worship and the clergy." SWITZERLAND. THE government of the Canton de Vaud having required the ministers of the Na MINISTRY. THE importance of this movement is yet but imperfectly appreciated by our churches, if we may judge from the manner in which they have responded to our appeals on its behalf. And yet it would be scarcely possi ble to exaggerate by any statements that we might make, the vitality of its connection with the future purity and prosperity of our churches. Where are we to look for the future pastors of those of our churches which still remain strict in their communion and orthodox in their doctrinal views? Alas! if we direct our attention to present institutions, we shall find that, generally speaking, they send out men who spare no pains to open the churches over which they are settled, should those churches happen to be strict. And unfortunately too many strict churches are compelled to choose open communion pastors because they cannot meet with men holding strict views who are qualified by sufficient education and discipline to take the oversight of them in the Lord. We are anxious to alter this state of things, and to train up a body of men who shall be competent, through the divine blessing on our labours, to take important pastoral charges. At the same time we desire to give to brethren evidently gifted | worthy Treasurer of this Society has exfor the ministry, but who have had little or pressed his anxious desire that the Comno education, such advantages as shall at mittee should publish a considerable number any rate lessen the inconvenience that they of them, if they can be obtained, notwithmust feel in consequence of their want of standing the debt which is accumulating on early education and mental discipline. Such his books. Brethren! can you not call to men will derive special benefit from our mind some theme for a tract of this descriporganization. We do not intend to reject tion, old or new, embodying important any candidate on the ground of an entire divine truth? Forty brethren-each onedestitution of education, provided God has and there would be a variety for immediate clearly called him to the work. Some of the use. It is desirable that they should be most eminently useful ministers have been presented in a form fit for the printer. men, who when they first began to preach, Some brethren have promised to supply a could scarcely read or write. Such brethren tract each before the third Tuesday in might have been spared much pain and have January, and it is hoped that others who been rendered still more useful than they may read this paragraph will do so too. were, had they enjoyed the advantages which The tracts to be directed to the secretaries, we propose to give to men similarly unedu- 24, Paternoster Row. It is hoped that cated, but as clearly called to preach God's brethren will not forget that the sale of old tracts is a most important help to the publication of new, and that subscriptions and donations are much needed. word. We appeal, then, to the wealthy among those christians who profess to wish well to our object. Brethren, aid us by your contributions, liberally, cheerfully, and immediately. And to others of less opulence we also appeal. He who regardeth the widow's mite with such approbation, calls upon you to aid us, and will you refuse? TESTIMONY OF ESTEEM ΤΟ MR. GOUGH, OF TERSHIRE. And we call upon our churches generally to look out for men whom God has evidently ON November 21st, 1845, the church called to the ministry, and to encourage them and young friends of the congregation at to make a trial of their gifts. We are Wythall-heath, presented their pastor, Mr ready to ask, Have the gifts of the Spirit Walter Gough, with a purse containing ceased from our churches? Are there no a handsome sum of gold, as a testimony of young men rising up among us, whom God their united approbation of his ministrahas called to labour in the ministry? Since tions, disinterested zeal, and affectionate April 1845, we have only received two appli- demeanour. "Behold how good and how cations from brethren anxious to enjoy the pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together benefits of our institution! We again make in unity!" it known that we are open to such applica- BAPTIST TRACT SOCIETY. INQUIRIES having been made by Subscribers, Auxiliaries, and Tract Distributors, for more narrative and conversational tracts, the UNION CHURCHES. A CORRESPONDENT in the Patriot of Nov.24, in describing the state of religion in Huntingdonshire, denominates the churches which receive Pædobaptists as well as Baptists to communion, "Union Churches," as "conveying a more correct representation of them" than the expression 66 open communion churches." He adds, "I have designated the close communionists as Baptists." This phraseology is certainly more correct than to call the mixed communion churches Baptist Churches. He writes from Huntingdon. He says that there are nine Union Churches in the county-at Huntingdon, St. Ive's, Ramsey, Houghton, Offord, Bluntisham, Hurst, Yelling, and Godmanchester; and ten Baptist at St. Ive's, St. Neot's, Warboys, Houghton, Great Gidding, Ellington, Somersham, Earith, Perry, and Godmanchester. Independent 1, Wesleyan 24, Plymouth bre- that truth for adherence to which they are of COUNSEL TO BAPTIST MINISTERS AND MR. POLK, ON OREGON. 66 state, although they do not at present think granted." This is most cautious language, but it clearly intimates a fear that this is, to some extent, the case. The Editor of the Baptist Magazine, who is also an opencommunionist, expresses, in the same num BAPTISMS. ber, his anxiety that Baptist ministers IN October, by Mr. S. J. Davis, at Salter's "should contemplate devoutly, not merely Hall, four; by Mr. Smith, at New Park their duty as Christians to promulgate the Street, twelve; by Mr. Hinton, of DEVONgospel, and as Baptists to maintain firmly SHIRE SQUARE, S. M. Peto, Esq., of Russell 1 |