aware, nothing more than a digested compilation, perhaps a very shameless repetition, of what other men have written! The people hear it, and are not ignorant of the fact:-but the system is nearly universal, so there is no escape! "In one word, the error of the Papist was a blind submission to authority; the error of the Protestant is a blind admiration of authority. The effects of our system on the human soul are nearly similar to those of the other; and will soon be more awful. Spiritual ignorance and lethargy, as I have already shown, are prevalent to an incredible extent; and spiritual profligacy, perhaps open infidelity, will by and by overspread the land. No perception but the Eternal's can foresee the end!" Pp. 14-16.

The Character, History, Death, and Resurrection of the Two Witnesses. By the late Rev. A. M'LEOD, D.D., New York. Edinburgh: Kennedy. 1843. A Dark Night at hand, or a plain and practical exposition of the Two Witnesses in the Apocalypse. By the Rev. R. MACDONALD, Blairgowrie. Dundee Middleton. 1843. Second thousand.

We first of all thank the editor of Dr M'Leod's sermon for the republication of that valuable work, as well as for his own introduction and notes. The whole of these twenty-four pages are full of matter claiming the serious attention of every Christian, or rather, we should add, still more, of every inhabitant of this earth, for it is upon an ungodly world that the judgment is descending. The people of God are safe in his "chambers," whatever may befal.

Secondly, we thank our friend, Mr Macdonald of Blairgowrie, for his "Plain and Practical Exposition of the Two Witnesses in the Apocalypse." It furnishes a solemn word of warning to a careless world, as well as to a slumbering Church. It is a loud and faithful summons of the watchman's trumpet, or rather of the midnight cry, "Behold the bridegroom cometh." Questions might be raised on several of the interpretations given; but as a whole we doubt not but that the work will be duly prized and relished by every believer that is looking for his Lord's appearing, or by any inquirer, who is asking, "Watchman, what of the night."

The Law of the Land, regarding the independent jurisdiction of the Church of Scotland, as expounded in the opinions of the minority of the Scottish Judges in the Stewarton case. Edinburgh: Kennedy. 1843. The Bible Argument for a Free Church, &c. By the Rev. J. Macbeth, minister of Laurieston, Glasgow. Edinburgh: Johnston. 1843.

Messiah, Governor of the Nations of the Earth, a Discourse first published in 1803. By the late Rev. A. MACLEOD. With a Sketch of the Author's Life. Edinburgh: Kennedy. 1843.

The Duty and the Liberty of a Christian Church asserted against Popery, Puseyism, and Erastianism. By the Rev. ANDREW GRAY, A.M., Perth. Edinburgh: Johnstone. 1843.

Our limits prevent us dwelling upon any of these pamphlets at length, else we should gladly have noticed them all. Indeed, we can do no more than merely act as advertisers of the title pages, commending the works to our readers, and leaving them as the sole judges of their excellence. The last of the four, by Mr Gray of Perth, is most admirable;-clear, concise, vigorous, and able.

Thirza, or the Attractire Power of the Cross. Translated from the German. With a Recommendatory Notice by Rev. R. S. CANDLISH, D.D. Edinburgh: Kennedy. 1843.

We do not wonder that 12,000 copies of the first German edition of this book have been sold, and 6000 of a second printed. It is most touchingly beautiful, and most intensely interesting. It is likely to have a wide circulation in this country. We are sure it merits it.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

UNION FOR PRAYER.-Our readers will rejoice to observe that the General Assembly of our Church has taken up this matter, and renewed the proposals of former years. The season has been altered from October to December, but the thing itself remains in other respects the same. The ten days elapsing from Saturday the 2d to Monday the 11th of December, inclusive, are to be set apart for united prayer, more especially for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Each individual is of course at liberty to take what method of apportioning and employing this time may seem best to himself; and each minister will have to fix his public prayer-meetings according to the circumstances of his people, and his own judgment of what may be for edifying. But it is desirable that, as on previous occasions, a special hour should be agreed upon. And we suppose that the hour between eight and nine o'clock morning and evening should be considered as that which is most suitable, at least for the exercises of the closet. All Christian denominations are invited to join; and we trust that the call will meet with a universal response from every Church of Christ, and every member of His body throughout the earth. We attach no superstitious veneration to particular days, or hours, or seasons, yet we affect no sympathy with those who reject the proposal on the plea that we ought to continue instant in prayer at all times. Union for prayer is designed to stimulate our prayerfulness, and to make us more "instant" in the duty, while at the same time it realizes the condition implied in the Saviour's promise, "If two of you shall agree," &c. We do not say but there are other methods of agreement, but certainly this is one; and it will be time enough to discard it when we find that it is actually engendering superstition, or degenerating into self-righteous formality, or tending to cool down the people of God by making them overlook the duty of being instant in prayer.

BI-CENTENARY OF THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY.-We merely call the attention of our readers to this subject, reminding them of former plans for this great commemoration, and of the resolutions of the Free Assembly on this point, which they will find in our report. We have only further to recommend earnestly to their perusal Mr Hetherington's full and able history of that Assembly, lately published, and to which we hope to be able to direct their attention more at length.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S FIVE SCHEMES.-We cannot close this section of our periodical without calling attention to these Schemes, which are to be carried on as before. Our first Free Assembly has acted in the true large-hearted spirit of the gospel, when, with so many things to distract and encumber her first movements, she yet keeps her eye steadfastly on the field of missions, and resolves that through grace she will maintain all her former ground, and go forth to do battle for God in all the high places of the field, and against all the strongholds of Satan.-" The God of heaven, he will prosper us."

THE ZILLERTHAL PROTESTANTS.-Extract of a letter from the Rev. Dr Pinkerton to the British and Foreign Bible Society.

Breslau, July 2, 1842. "From Leignitz I changed my route, from the east, southwards, towards the Riesengebirge (Giant's Mountains). On passing through the town of Hirschberg, I called at the printing-office of Mr Krahn, where I saw the printing of the Hirschberg Bible going forward. It is the undertaking of the Countess Von Reden, and consists of Luther's text, with short annotations and comments of a truly evangelical character. The edition consists of 9000 copies in large octavo, in one volume. The King of Prussia has subscribed for 6000 copies, with the view of placing a copy in every school in Silesia and Pomerania. It is nine years since I suggested this undertaking to the pious Countess. Many obstacles came in the way to its execution; repeatedly has it been undertaken and abandoned; but her perseverance has triumphed at last, and the edition is now three times the number of copies originally intended. The object at first was, and still is, to exclude from the common schools the Neologian Commentary of Dinter, which is said to be in the hands of almost every schoolmaster in the country. We, as a Society, can of course take no part in it; yet we cannot but wish success to it, and admire the zeal of his Prussian Majesty for the advancement of the cause of truth, another proof of which it has drawn forth. Singular to say, when the Rev. Mr Sibthorp travelled with me as your deputation, in 1827, to the Continental Bible Societies, he offered L.100 out of his own pocket to induce a bookseller at Leipsic to undertake it, but no one accepted his offer.

On the 23d, in the evening, I reached Buchwald, where I met with a most cordial welcome from the Countess Von Reden, and other pious nobles on a visit to her. Here I remained till the morning of the 27th, and was highly gratified with a review of the operations of the Buchwald Bible Society, and the other pious and benevolent works carrying on by this excellent lady. She paid to me thirty-two dollars for copies disposed of from our depôt under her charge; and begged for a fresh supply of fifty Bibles and 100 Lutheran Testaments, the half with Psalms, and 100 Testaments of Gossner's version. They are now preparing to celebrate their anniversary, and have a good report to make; but it is one of the principles of their Society never to print any report of their transactions. They have observed this principle rigidly since their formation in 1815, in which period their issues have exceeded 60,000 copies of the word of God.

"During the last few years the Countess has been much occupied with the settlement of the sixty-three families of Zillerthal peasantry, who, from reading the Scriptures and writings of Protestants, became convinced of the errors of Popery, and in the year 1837 were compelled either to return to the Catholic Church, or leave their native valleys in the Tyrol. The latter painful alternative they chose; and when the late king of Prussia was made acquainted with their sufferings and destitution by one of their number whom they had sent to him for that purpose, he generously allowed them to settle upon part of his own estate at Erdmannsdorff, at the foot of the Giant's Mountains. Their huts are now studding the place, built in the style of their Tyrol habitations, and to each there is attached a small farm, which they cultivate for their support. The king intrusted the settlement of these exiles, on account of their religion, to the Countess, who has executed her commission with great success, after having had many difficulties to overcome; and the gratitude of the poor people from Zillerthal is marked on every occasion when they meet her; her name among them is changed from Countess Von Reden to Our Mother.' I visited several of their Swiss cottages, and found them well supplied with the Scriptures. I was much gratified in conversation with them to find them really well read in the Bible, and able to quote with ease in support of their own principles."

THE CONTINENT.-The different societies in our own country, in connection with continental missious, still continue to act vigorously and with much manifest success. We most fervently recommend them to the support of our readers. The field itself is intensely interesting-the old field of the Reformation and the scenes enacting in our own day remind us so much of former times, that we feel a double interest in all the operations now carrying on in the different spheres of continental labour. We add the following extracts, regretting only that our limits preclude us from giving more.

same.

Saone et Loire.-In this department there are at present one pastor, one minister, five evangelists, of whom three are teachers, twelve regular places of worship, some irregular ones, while the gospel is preached to about 800 souls. In this ancient field of the Society's labours, several hundreds of converts have given testimony to the faith, in the midst of surrounding unbelief. Three houses of prayer have been erected, and are prospering under the blessing of God. The chapels in this station have prospered during the past year. The oldest is that of Tournus, of which Mr Thierry is evangelist and teacher. Forty-two children attend his school, which has received the approbation of the inspectors of the district. Regular preaching is maintained in the adjoining communes, with the help of some of the brethren. "At Brancions," says the evangelist," there are two brethren who zealously spread the gospel in the surrounding villages. At Uchisy and Ozenay two of our friends do the One of them gives a room gratuitously for meetings. The curate of Uchisy began to teach his scholars the Testament, making use of the books which the colporteurs had sold in the village, and to overturn the idols of his church. Already had the churchwarden burned several by his orders, when the bigots raised an outcry, and sent petitions to the bishop, who ordered the curate to leave the place." Branges and Sorney are also among the first stations established by the society. Two evangelists have been placed here, —Mr Vigier, minister, and Mr Charpiot, teacher, both of whom labour with great assiduity. The school is attended by fifty-eight children, several of whom are Roman Catholics. After giving an interesting account of his various labours, the evangelist of Branges thus proceeds :-"I feel assured that the Lord is working in the midst of us. I feel more and more convinced, that many Roman Catholics are impressed by the truths of the gospel. The fear of the world will not suffer them to avow it. I had hoped, that before the winter had passed away, some of them would have ranged themselves on the side of the gospel. One father of a family only has done so. He came to our meetings occasionally for more than a year; such, however, was his timidity, that he was accustomed to take a long circuit when he came to church, and, when he thought he was observed, he returned home. It is not for my own sake that I am afraid,' said he, it is for my son, who is a teacher. If the priest knew that I frequented these meetings, he would dismiss him from his situation.' The last time I saw him, he said, I can no longer hide myself; I feel that in doing so, I am not taking on me the yoke of Christ. I am sinning against light. The Lord has called me in too evident a manner to allow me always to be ashamed of his gospel.'" The interesting congregation consigned to the charge of this labourer, composed entirely of those gathered from the Romish Church, consists of about 140 members.

6

MADEIRA.—A most blessed work of God seems proceeding in this island. There have been several conversions to the truth from Popery. This has roused the anger of the priests, and persecution of the most fierce and unscrupulous kind has commenced. Threats, denunciations, calumnies, violence, are all resorted to in the hope of smothering the truth. All in vain. The work advances. The tide is flowing. God is working. Let not God's faithful ones in Funchal faint or despond. Much hangs on their steadfastness and courage.

FOREIGN MISSIONS.-The details of the manifold operations on this wide field we must forego. God is still gathering in His own, and filling up the number of his elect, both among Jew and Gentile, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord in the great day of his coming. We can merely afford room for the following earnest appeal as to the protection of Polynesia from the aggression of Popish tyranny and darkness.

Protection of Polynesia.-Mr Editor,-Tahiti and the neighbouring isles, commonly called the South Sea Islands, are spots rendered interesting and even dear to the Christian, the philanthropist, and the Briton. In these islands, Christianity has gained a pure and noble triumph, one of the very greatest or most admirable of all her triumphs from the apostolic age to our own. Among these islanders, lately sunk in universal ignorance, grovelling idolatry, savage cruelty, disgusting sensuality, and deep misery,-there civilization and the arts of peace, following in the path of Christianity, have taken root, have grown up, and have borne fruit that has gladdened the very heart of philanthropy. The great moral and mental change upon these islanders has been wrought through the instrumentality of British Protestant missionaries, men who, leaving the comforts of home, went to strange isles and barbarous tribes, to promote the eternal and temporal good of the islanders, having the book of God for their guide, the grace of God for their support, and love to God and man for their prompting principle. Christian, philanthropist, Briton,-pray, and speak, and act for Polynesia! Of the glorious example there given of Christian influence and missionary utility, Dr Chalmers declared, "If philosophy had ever achieved such a triumph, it would have been an event blown by the trumpet of fame throughout the world, and of which we should never have heard the last."

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Alas! A cloud and a storm appear now to hover over these interesting and improving islands. I allude to what I am sorry to be compelled to term the unchristian, illiberal, and cruel conduct of the French naval force at Tahiti and elsewhere. According to the accounts, the French carried their point at Tahiti through fraud and force, accompanied by sensuality. The French admiral complained to the Tahitian queen of injuries that he could not prove! demanded damages that she could not pay!! and formally declared that if she did not either pay the damages, or sign away the real sovereignty to France within twenty-four hours, (she then hourly expecting her confinement,) he would open his fire, and destroy the whole place!!! How the affair reminds one of the fable of the wolf and the lamb!

We have to remember, however, that France was not alone in this act of wilful aggression on a powerless state, but was probably incited by the wily, sectarian, and bigotedly proselytizing spirit of Rome. The proceeding was Romish as well as French; Rome being the head, and France the hand; Rome designing, and France effecting; Rome being the prime mover, and France the willing agent. The lamentable condition of Tahiti exemplifies the hatred of Popery to pure Protestantism. There has been, not fair and generous rivalry, but a dishonourable effort to promote the dominion of the "Man of Sin," an effort made with fraud and force, and tending to persecution.

If Great Britain did really undertake the protectorate of the isles, (as many affirm, and as I incline to think,) she is clearly bound by national honour, and international law, to interfere to protect their political independence, their commercial freedom, and their religious liberty, and to hinder Rome and France from domineering and tyrannizing over them.

But even if Great Britain did not undertake (either formally or virtually) to be their protector, and therefore even if she were not bound by national faith and international justice to protect and defend them, she still ought to remonstrate with or appeal to France, on the ground of international equity, and as acting on behalf of Christianity, civilization, and political good; or for