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will now see thousands repairing to the sanctuary on the Lord's day; while few shops, compared with former years, are then kept open. Many pious individuals, too, employ themselves in teaching from house to house; hence a large amount of good is already gained,-much more being evidently in progress. To God be all the glory! To his kind providence we owe it, that such things as these can be reported of the locality where he has cast our lot. He has, in these respects, dealt bountifully with us, and done great things for us, whereof we may well be glad."

Mr. Lewis states, among other things, the following facts, which will be read with interest:

:

"I would here further observe, that in the year 1804 the church was first formed in Highbury-grove it then consisted of twenty-six members, four only of whom survive. In August, 1806, we removed to this chapel; and here we have been favoured with many tokens for good, and furnished with abundant reasons for speaking well of Jehovah's name.

"It is to us ground for thankfulness, that while there are heavy burdens resting upon many churches and chapels throughout our beloved country, and even in our own neighbourhood, this place of worship, which has cost us upwards of ten thousand pounds, is quite free from debt, and in good and sufficient repair for our comfortably assembling together, if spared, for years to come. No one need be afraid of uniting with us on account of prospective calls for liquidation of debts, since of these we have

none.

"It is ground for thankfulness that we have commodious school-rooms, capable of holding upwards of 300 children. These have cost us between six and seven hundred pounds, but are also free from every incumbrance, and in good and sufficient repair. There the children of the more respectable mechanics and of the labouring classes of the population are daily instructed, while several of our friends devote a portion of time to their religious instruction on the Lord's day.

"It is ground for thankfulness that amidst the depression of the times, and the general prevalence of poverty and distress, our institutions, six in number-that is, the Benevolent Society, the Boys' and Girls' School, the Missionary Society, the Tract and Maternal Societies, continue to be well supported; and that we are able to raise, as the last reports will show, from eight hundred to a thousand pounds per annum for purposes of benevolence.

"I bless the God of all grace that he has so highly distinguished this Christian sanctuary,that he has glorified this house of his glory, in making it the spiritual birth-place of many precious and immortal souls. It is a privilege, my dear brethren, which, next to my own interest in Christ, I reckon the highest I have upon earth, that I can address a goodly number among you, as Paul did the church of the Thessalonians, 'Our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.' Many that were savingly called to the knowledge of the truth in this place have since joined the church triumphant: others still in the church militant are scattered

through different parts of the country. Some are gone to foreign parts, while not a few of us remain here united to each other in the bonds of church fellowship to this day, delighting, on every returning opportunity, to show forth the Saviour's death, who so loved us as to give himself for us.

"Several of our friends, brought to the knowledge of the truth here, are labouring in their Lord's vineyard, both within and without the pale of the Establishment, and three young men of our number are in a course of preparatory study for the work of the ministry at home. Our prayer to God for them is, that they may be all made able ministers of the New Testament; that they may prove men of God, strong in the grace that is m Christ Jesus, and be prepared to endure hardness, as good soldiers of Christ, to fight the good fight of faith; and having been honoured as instruments in turning many to righteousness, may at last be received into their Lord's kingdom, and shine as the stars for ever and ever."

We beg attention to the following statements, and hope they will be pondered by all whom they do or may con

cern:

"Brethren, the statements I have been making are subjects of delightful consideration. They are good grounds for united thanksgiving. But bear with me while I mention one or two grounds of complaint and regret. They have been much upon my own mind; and I shall, I hope, be forgiven if I plead with you that they may be removed. Our weekly services need improvement. While singing meetings and lectures of various kinds can secure a goodly attendance, I cannot but lament that so few of our church members make a point of being present at the weekly lecture, and the prayer and the church-meeting. Why should it be so? A little family arrangement for the purpose would make your attendance easy, and obviate this complaint. Let us not, I pray you, forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but let us renew the practice of the primitive church: let us continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.' Let your pastor also observe that it would be pleasing to him to receive more of the children of the members and congregation to his Bible and catechetical classes than he has yet seen. He has an impression that many are not sufficiently aware of the importance of this mode of instruction, else they would be glad to send their offspring to reap the benefits of it."

6

It is somewhat mortifying to find that a church which has so long enjoyed the labours of such a pastor, and which presents a history containing so much that is laudable-a church comprising as much Christian worth, perhaps, as any one in the county of Middlesex,-should exhibit so large a share of that for which no church is to be praised. Nor is its participation in the discreditable confined to things moral and religious; even in this church, so justly famed for its liberality in matters of religion and philan→

thropy, it extends to pecuniary matters, as appears from the following indictment, which, while gently expressed, records facts that ought not to be :

"And now I would only add, that while I rejoice in your liberal support of many benevolent institutions, I do regret that so few seem to see and feel the necessity of contributing more fully to relieve the expenses incurred for their own accommodation in the sanctuary. Here there is a great deficiency; and an appeal is made to you this day for the purpose of making it up, to which, I doubt not, you will cheerfully respond, and will endeavour so to meet these unavoidable expenses as to render the repetition of such appeals unnecessary. If every one laid by a portion for religious purposes, and really considered what object had the strongest and most legitimate claim, the minister would be spared the pain of bringing such matters forward; and when accounts came to be audited, they would never show the treasurer in advance. But I need not enlarge on this matter before you, for I am well assured that where there is inherent benevolence, it will be readily demonstrated on merely calling attention to the urgency of the case."

"Inherent benevolence!"

66

What does

the venerable writer mean? Has he forgotten what he is speaking of, or whom he is speaking to? We know nothing of "benevolence" till the claims of right be satisfied. We consider this tone and these terms highly objectionable. The appeal is, not to benevolence," but to Christian principle, to stern justice! We ask debt, not charity! In the name of our Master we present, not a begging petition, but an audited account, and request a settlement. The financial arrangements of our churches generally call, loudly call, for revision. The whole thing is wrong, and demands rectifying.

A history of Union Chapel is appended to the "Retrospect," which contains a statement as follows:

"There are three public services on the Lord's day. A lecture is delivered on Thursday evenings, and prayer-meeting on Saturday evenings. A Reading Society is kept up among the members of the congregation, and supplied with the most interesting and profitable publications of the day a Circulating Library is also provided in the vestry for the use of the poor. This chapel also has connected with it the following institutions: a Benevolent Society, for relieving the afflicted poor at their own habitations, which has distributed no less than £6,261 among 4,342

cases.

A school for the daily instruction of more than 100 boys in reading, writing, and arithmetic, from forty to fifty of whom are clothed, as the funds may admit; with a school for sixty girls, who are instructed in household and needle-work in addition. Sunday-schools, together with district-schools, are also maintained by the congregation. As an auxiliary to the London Missionary Society, this congregation has contributed nearly £4,000 since 1812. The Tract Society has about 1,500 families under visitation. The

Maternal Society affords a box of linen to the mother and her infant during the season of confinement, with coals and other necessaries, money, &c."

The pastorship of this most excellent minister seems to have been as remarkable for general felicity as for length. The history of the shepherd and the flock is one, and, taken as a whole, it is full alike of instruction and encouragement to the youthful pastor. It strikingly illustrates a great truth, which ought to be sounded throughout the whole earth till it has filled all ears, and sunk into all hearts, that the qualities which are required to eminent usefulness in the church of God are moral rather than intellectual, solid rather than brilliant ;-that piety, true and deep, is power, strong and lasting. The cry of the age is for shining intellect; but the real want of the age is, devout emotion. It is through the heart, as well as the understanding, that the Spirit of God works his wonders among the sons of men. For illustrations among the dead, we might point to such men as the late William Roby, of Manchester, and John Griffin, of Portsea; and among the living, to William Jay and Thomas Lewis. Be these, and such as these, the patterns of the rising ministers of England! The sovereignty of the dead was, and that of the living is founded, not in rhetoric, but in virtue, and hence its constant increase. Mr. Lewis unconsciously lays down the true state of the case in his excellent work on "Christian Duties," in the following words; exhorting churches to a tender regard to a pastor's good name, he says, "By a 'good name' here I do not mean that noisy popularity which, so far from being a good, is often the greatest snare into which a minister of the gospel can fall. The adulatory breath of a superficial and capricious multitude is rather to be deprecated than desired. is a species of fame that may be gained without any real worth, and lost without any real fault. By some preachers, I confess, it has been courted; but when gained, what have been the results? With not a few it has been followed with total shipwreck of faith and a good conscience; in the case of others we have witnessed a lamentable decay of personal piety, and a culpable conformity with a vain and giddy world. No! the 'good name' which is desirable for every Christian, and especially for every Christian minister, is that which stands on an enlightened esteem for his moral and religious consistency," page 251.

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"It affords me, my dear Sir, most unfeigned pleasure in being honoured by the friends who now surround me as the medium of conveying to you the sentiments which we consider it suitable to associate with the presentation to you of a gift which we presume to think you will be gratified to receive; not so much on account of its intrinsic worth as of the language of truth and sincerity which you will find engraven upon its base. The inscription is this:

"Presented to the Rev. Thomas Lewis, of Union Chapel, Islington, by a numerous and attached people, to mark their grateful sense of his long and useful services, and to record the exemplary piety, affection, zeal, and judgment, which, for more than thirty years, have characterized both his private and public life, as a faithful minister of Jesus Christ.'

"We are sensible that whilst you experience a delightful and serene satisfaction in listening to the expression of this deserved eulogy, you at the same time cherish the consciousness to which the apostle has given utterance when he says, 'By the grace of God I am what I am;' and we assure you, that in meeting you upon this occasion we disclaim, as equally repugnant to religion and good taste, the address of that flattery which could only embody the violation of truth on our part, and inspire the sentiment of offended delicacy on yours.

"We, however, feel happy in rendering 'honour to whom honour is due ;' and especially so in showing this feeling towards you, Sir, with so many friends, and in seeing the testimony of our united respect, esteem, and love, assume this permanent form, which, reaching farther than the present, will teach the value of ministerial devotedness to succeeding generations.

"We may, Sir, observe, that an occasion so interesting forms a pleasing exception to that uniformity which ordinarily exists through a series of years in the reciprocated friendship of the pious minister and his flock. Such silent and implied mutuality of regard is commendable; but we contemplate the present period as marked by circumstances which render this expression of Christian affection from your people towards yourself peculiarly appropriate and delightful. May we each of us date from hence the commencement in our bosoms of a new, and holy, and combined energy; and whilst we rejoice in the event which has convened us, may it receive the Divine blessing, as a means of animating and strengthening our attachment towards each other, and of manifesting to the church and the world how lovely and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.""

It is not easy to say on which of the parties, the shepherd or the flock, this

transaction reflects the greater credit. How beautiful, how honourable, how glorious such a display of Christian love and veneration, after a connection of thirty-four years! The grand secret is contained in a very few words. Let us recite them. Mr. Lewis, in the course of his reply, said:

"My beloved friends, I can appeal to you, I believe, without fear, in the language of the apostle, 'I have coveted no man's silver or gold:' and though I cannot add with him that these hands have ministered to my necessities,' I can say that these hands, and these feet, and this tongue, and this head, and this heart, have been devoted to your service; and it has been my anxious concern to spend and be spent' in promoting your spiritual and eternal welfare and the glory of my Lord."

Let the youthful pastor ponder this declaration, and imitate this example! We cannot close the " Retrospect" without a glance at Mr. Lewis as an author. His chief productions are "Christian Characteristics," "Christian Duties," "Conversations," &c.," Pastoral Letters,"

So.

Religious Discretion," and "The Christian Graces; or, The Fruits of the Spirit." These books are an accurate index to the man and his ministration. The marks of a single eye and a holy ambition to benefit souls are stamped on every page. All are excellent; the "Christian Graces" and the "Christian Duties" particularly These works, indeed, deserve more attention than they have yet obtained. In the case of books, as of men, popularity is very much a matter of accident; but however an acclaim may be raised, truth and worth alone can sustain it. The circle of Mr. Lewis's readers may never be large; but in that circle he will be read much and read long, and always read with reverence for the teacher and profit from the lesson.

N.B. As this species of Essay is always popular, and greatly adapted to be useful, we are disposed to cultivate it, and shall be happy to receive occasionally materials for articles, or well-drawn papers, referring to the chief chapels of our connexion.

A WORD ON BEHALF OF YOUNG MEN, WILLING TO DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO MISSIONARY LABOUR.

To the Editor of the Christian Witness. SIR,-I was much pleased to find in the CHRIS. TIAN WITNESS for this month, such an earnest appeal to young men on behalf of India and China, pressing them to consider the vast fields of missionary labour now open, while there are

so few labourers, and entreating them to wave every difficulty, and come forward "to the help of the Lord against the mighty." But your correspondent seems to think there is an unwillingness, on the part of young men, to be engaged in this arduous work. This is an error, which, I am convinced, prevails to too great an extent, for they are willing, but kept back by force of circumstances. I believe there is a great number of young men not only willing, but longing to be engaged in the important work of preaching the gospel to the heathen, at home and abroad; in many cases, perhaps, their education has been very limited, and in their situations in life have had no opportunity for mental cultivation, not being allowed to be engaged otherwise than in getting wealth to fill the pockets of their employers, while their minds are left to decay and ruin. This is a condition little less than slavery; yet they have no alternative. We might suppose an instance of a young man, a disciple of Jesus. His bowels yearn over the state of the heathen, and he longs to be engaged in the vineyard of the Lord, that so he might be instrumental in turning sinners from darkness to light; but he cannot even hope to be thus engaged, for this reason, his knowledge is circumscribed, and were he to offer himself as a candidate, he is certain of being rejected, as he could not pass a rigorous examination; nor is this all, he has no means wholly, or in part, to support himself while pursuing his studies, or to contribute toward the expense of his education: these formidable obstacles immediately present themselves, and in despair he considers his case hopeless, and gives up the cherished idea of entering the missionary field.

I believe there are very many instances like this, and the hearts of many young men so situated burn with ardour to publish abroad the glad tidings of salvation, and who would, if taken by the hand and encouraged to pursue their studies free of expense to themselves, their minds being free from the cares of the world, would apply themselves heart and soul to their work, feeling their time to be precious, not their own,

but the Lord's, and that they must work while it is day, for the night approaches when their labours must cease. They would become the brightest ornaments in the missionary field, they would be powerful, wielding the sword of the word with such energy, as, with the blessing of God, would make Satan tremble, and his kingdom shake to its foundation. It is true that many are willing, but not altogether qualified; but in my opinion willingness is one of the greatest qualifications, (if it may be called a qualification,) because being willing, they would be devoted; and I cannot see how a man can be qualified strictly speaking, if he is not willing. Never persuade a man to go into the field against his will, for he never will be active, and only stand in the way of one devoted to the cause. Then why not take some of those who are willing, but at present unqualified, improve their intellect, teach them so to study the sacred Scriptures as to be at once edifying and instructive, first to themselves, then to others; place them in the way of obtaining a good fund of knowledge generally, and, being men of God, it would soon be seen how they would bend all their energies, bringing them to bear on the one grand object in view, the glory of God, and the VOL. III.

good of immortal souls? Men that will work are the men that are wanted; and these are they who would go forth fearlessly and unitedly in making a grand attack on the enemy of souls, encouraged by the word of the Lord, saying, "Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace; for I am with thee;" and they would speak, and to the terror of Satan, proclaim to him, "God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it.”

It is much to be lamented that a greater earnestness is not manifested on the part of those who possess wealth, to provide for the wants of Missions. They seem to give as if it were to a fellow-creature, and deem it almost as a favour to give; but let them bear in mind that the cause is God's, and that at last they will have to render an account of their stewardship; and how would they reply to the question, "What have you done for the heathen in sending to them the gospel, and ministers to preach that gospel?" How many would be able to make answer, "Lord, we have done what we could." Is it because they deem it to be of little importance to bring the heathen to a knowledge of the Saviour, that they do not give of their substance to a greater extent? Is it not of as much importance to provide for the spiritual wants of four or five hundred millions of our fellow-creatures as to provide for the better obtaining that which will supply the temporal wants of those of our own country? The heart of every true Christian must reply in the affirmative; then why not be as zealous in making the provision? Mr. Cobden has acted nobly on behalf of our country, success has crowned his untiring efforts, and it is proposed to raise one hundred thousand pounds to be presented to him. Men of property are coming forward with their thousands, and hundreds, and probably there are some professing Christians who will give their hundreds to the fundwho never in their lives gave fifty, perhaps not twenty pounds, to the cause of God. If they would but take these matters to heart, and give as God has enabled them, China would soon be converted to Christianity, India would soon stretch forth her hands unto heaven, Christ would be preached, the trumpet of the gospel would be sounded from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth, Christ would be acknowledged as the true Messiah, "and all nations would call him blessed." Suppose one hundred thousand pounds were to be raised for the express purpose of preparing such young men as have not the means to provide for their own education, previous to sending them abroad into the missionary field, what might we not expect? It would be a noble effort to make, and who knows but God might crown the effort with success; and while Mr. Cobden was reaping the reward of his valuable labours, Christians would reap theirs in witnessing the fall of Satan's empire, in a great ingathering of souls to Christ. How glorious will be the time when the heathen shall be given to Christ for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the world for his possession; when nation shall not rise against nation, nor kingdom against kingdom, But, in the sabbath of his love, God shall amidst his labours rest, And, bending from his throne above, Again pronounce his creatures blest! Hoping these few observations will not be altogether lost sight of, but that some provision will 2 E

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THE "RISING" MINISTRY. SIR, A great deal has been lately said and written about the "rising" ministry. Good and wise men have given free utterance to their solicitude respecting the training and qualifications of those who, hereafter, are to occupy their pulpits. If, in doing so, they have taken views which are too gloomy, or reasoned on data too limited, or unwittingly said things calculated to cause churches to "despise the youth" of their pastor, or to make his position irksome-if they have poured their fears into the ear of the public, instead of endeavouring to reach churches and ministers through channels more legitimate than a NEWSPAPER,-nevertheless, I am willing to impute all to their genuine desire and real anxiety that the churches should be established in the faith, and that their young brethren should be able and successful ministers of the New Testament.

Taking then all that has been said and written in good faith, and believing that the churches are really alive to the importance of having a well-educated and right-hearted ministry, I would, if possible, my dear sir, enlist your influence and pen in calling the attention of the churches to a few facts connected with the "rising" ministry, which demand the serious consideration of all interested in the spread of New Testament principles, and especially of those eminent persons whose names are so justly associated with so many laborious, self-denying, and, I may say, illustrious efforts to place ministerial education upon a broader, firmer, and more efficient basis, than twenty years ago the most sanguine could have possibly imagined.

Fact the 1st-In London or Lancashire, a church decides on sending one of its members to college. The young man is pious, well read it may be, at all events he possesses qualifications which justify the conduct of the church. The young man follows what he conceives to be the leading of Providence. At a very considerable sacrifice he relinquishes his employment or profession. At length he is fully accepted by the Committee of the college. Four or five. years pass away. His examination papers testify of his attention to the duties, and of his assiduous cultivation of the advantages of the institution. His preaching is "acceptable," and has been the means of turning many from darkness to light. So far, so good. But he is to leave college at Midsummer or Christmas. Up to this time, he has felt that he is a member of a great religious body-that the eyes of the Christian public are upon him-that much is expected from him-that many pray for him. Moreover, the charges addressed to ministers, and the speeches made at college re-union, tell him, that as one of the "rising" ministry, he is, both by pastors and churches, regarded with affection and solicitude. In a word, he feels that HE BELONGS TO SOMEBODY!

Let us look, however, at

Fact the 2nd-He nears the close of his college course. No applications for candidates have come to the tutors; perhaps he may have

supplied one or two places without having received a "call." To-morrow his course terminates. Imagine that young man's feelings. The morning comes-he is no longer a student, and he is not a pastor. Those who have a few years more to stay in the house, depart for home, but he, with a heavy heart, crosses the threshold and goes, he knows not whither. HE

BELONGS TO NOBODY!

The above is no fancy sketch, but a reality. Ought there not to be some provision made for such cases? They occur repeatedly, and cases of greater hardship no man could be acquainted with. If we call young men to give up their prospects, to enter the ministry; if in a spirit of self-sacrifice they comply with the call, if they abandon their occupations and enter on engagements which after several years positively unfit them for returning to those occupations, and if we expend several hundreds of pounds in the education, ought we to leave them at the end of their course to the sorry contingency of some church sending to the college for a candidate? I trow not!

What is a young man to do? Like many of our young brethren, he may have no friends, no home to turn to. The church that was ready to send him forth, is not so ready to welcome him back. His not having received a "call" is looked upon as a proof of incapability. Hundreds of churches at this very juncture may require ministers. Many of them would be glad to obtain the services of such a man. But they are unacquainted with him, he with them. He has no "leading" men to introduce him to churches. What is he to do? NOBODY CARES!

I can write no more without intruding too much upon your time. I commend the matter to your attention, and, as a Christian pastor, I implore you to use the power that God has given you to bring it beneath the notice of the brotherhood, being satisfied that your pen could not be employed in a holier cause, nor your pages occupied with a subject more worthy of the devout consideration of all who are interested in the rising ministry. I have the pleasure of subscribing myself, yours,

Π. Π.

DEAN SWIFT ON PULPIT STYLE.

I SHOULD have been glad if you had applied yourself a little more to the study of the English language than I fear you have done; the neglect whereof is one of the most general defects amongst the scholars of this kingdom, who seem not to have the least conception of a style, but run on in a flat kind of phraseology, often mingled with barbarous terms and expressions peculiar to the nation; neither do I perceive that any person either finds or acknowledges his wants upon this head, or in the least desires to have them supplied. Proper words in proper places make the true definition of a style. But this would require too ample a disquisition to be now dwelt on; however, I shall venture to name one or two faults which are easy to be remedied with a very small portion of abilities.

The first is the frequent use of obscure terms, which by the better sort of the vulgar are called fine language; than which I do not know a more universal, inexcusable, and unnecessary mistake, among the clergy of all distinctions,

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