36,000, it would have yielded to the author 30,000 sixpences, or £750. A still further profit might be realized by the handsome bindings for the aristocracy, &c. Will not this bear out my previous remark, "that good authors deserve to be well paid?"

2. A desire to do good. One remark upon that will suffice. If these works are calculated to do good, as I think they are, to the comparatively few who read them at 12s., how much more good will they do by being read by the "million ?"

3. To give to the church and the world a lasting memorial of missionary operations. A missionary comes home from a heathen country, tells his tale to crowded meetings, who rejoice to hear of what great things the Lord is doing through their instrumentality; it stirs up in us for a time a lively interest in themselves and their undertakings, which would soon evaporate were it not for the publication of their Enterprises," "Scenes and Labours," and " Lives," thereby giving us a more detailed account of their operations, giving us facts and data upon which we can recommend the missionary cause to those who had not the opportunity of hearing them speak, and refer them to their works as a crowning proof that the Lord is with them, and making our missionaries the instruments of bringing in that day "when all shall know him, from the least to the greatest," and "when men shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks" If this is one of their objects, the more they are circulated the better. Is it not most probable that the circulation of the works of Williams and Moffatt have been the means of increasing the missionary funds?

These remarks will apply equally to the Publications of the Congregational Union. Is it too much to affirm, that previous to the issue of the WITNESS More was known of William and Robert Chambers, of Edinburgh, than of the Congregational Union of England and Wales, though the latter has its ministerial members situated in all parts of the kingdom?

I must apologise for having trespassed so much upon your valuable time, but my remarks have been in a measure prompted by yours, in pages 136 and 232 of the WITNESS for the present year. The CHRISTIAN'S PENNY MAGAZINE enjoys a circulation of 120 to 150 monthly in the Sunday-school to which I belong, and I hope it will soon reach a minimum of a quarter of a million.

I remain, sir, yours most respectfully, June 9, 1846. W. P. R. From the date it will be seen that this ingenious letter has been twelve months in our possession. By delay, however, its facts have lost nothing of their value, nor its arguments of their force. It contains matter highly deserving of consideration.

BOOKS FOR MINISTERS.

SIR,-How much has been said about furnishing books to ministers, who have but moderate salaries, and yet what has been done? Nothing appears to me to be more easily accomplished, if we had but one or two spirited men in our VOL. IV.

several congregations. Surely in the poorest congregation, there might be found twenty persons who would give one shilling each, and forty who would give sixpence each, thus making two pounds, and they would cheerfully renew this offering every New Year's Day, if it were asked of them; and these two pounds annually would purchase many useful books; but I have taken the lowest scale. I believe twice that sum, or even five pounds, might be raised every year-which would soon replenish the libraries of ministers; and while their hearts would be cheered by the kindness of their flocks, their flocks would have the advantage in the expanded knowledge of their ministers, which would be sure to be seen in their sermons. Let but men of spirit take up the hint, and act upon it, and the present year would be one of much improvement in our churches, at least in this respect.-I am, &c.,

A FRIEND TO MINISTERS.

CONGREGATIONAL READING

SOCIETIES.

SIR, I believe that many congregations have such societies upon a large scale; but small and poor congregations, in many instances, are not so blessed. Permit me to mention a plan pursued by my flock for some years past, with much pleasure, and, I think, I may add with profit too. The society consists of twelve families, each family subscribes 2s. 6d. per annum; with the sum so raised twelve books are purchased, consisting of pious, useful, and instructive volumes; each family choose their own book, and with that book commence the year, and pass it onward on the 1st of the month, according to a list pasted in the book, so that each family keep the book one month, and have twelve useful books to peruse during the year; these are all gathered up at the close of the year, and at a friendly tea-meeting are sold amongst those present, and the proceeds are carried to account, by which means, after the first two years books of greater value may be procured. I beg to recommend this plan, having watched the working of the thing some years, and been secretary to the society.-I am, &c.,

A COUNTRY MINISTER.

CHRISTIAN MUTUAL PROVIDENT
SOCIETY.

WE are gratified at perceiving that this most important Institution steadily advances, and that the opinions expressed by our ministerial brethren upon the advantages of this Society in connection with congregations are so sound, enlightened, practical, and philanthropic. The alliance of such places as Liverpool, Bristol, Leeds, and Southampton, with the general Society, are important steps in its march towards nationality, and present an example which we earnestly commend to other districts. To us, indeed, it scems that Congregational Provident Societies are the nucleus of influences even more important than mitigating the calamities incident to sickness, old age, or death. They will aid in forming character and habits. They will destroy the servility inseparable from dependence upon others, and enable the mind to act upon 2 c

as well as from its own judgment. By connecting the pastor with the society, members will learn to value Christian associations, and by degrees to embrace the higher privileges of Christian ordinances. Hitherto Benefit Societies have proved too much a barrier to religious influences. May we not hope that this Society will induce an opposite result? The opportunity afforded by the Society for the removal of members from one branch to another, without loss of benefit or increase of payment, is a highly-important feature. We think, indeed, that such an arrangement is indispensable to a properlyconstituted society; for nothing can be more unjust than to involve members in the sacrifice of their pecuniary rights by their unavoidable removal to other localities. An instance bear

ing upon this advantage has already occurred, and speaks volumes. The London Society relieved, and, as it is believed, saved, the life of a poor member of the Liverpool branch, who was compelled to walk all the way to London in quest of work, and had contracted upon the road a very dangerous illness. Had not the branch system prevailed, the poor man must have gone to the workhouse. We cannot give the Society too strong a recommendation; and we earnestly hope that every pastor will take up the subject, assured that he will derive great satisfaction in so doing. We would also remind our readers that they may join the Society as individual members, though they may reside in the country, and not near any place having a branch.

AN UNGODLY MINISTER.

AH! how awful is the thought!—a man sent to show to others the way to heaven, while he himself all the while is walking in the way to hell!-An ambassador of Christ, in whose heart Satan is enthroned! -A watchman, in unholy alliance with the enemy!-A man, in point of privilege and office, exalted to heaven, yet brought down to hell! Fathers and brethren, who bear the sacred office of the ministry, suffer the word of exhortation. A worldly, wicked, ungodly minister, is a moral monster,-the church's curse; the living image of Satan when he transforms himself into an angel of light; and if joy could be felt in hell, it would be felt when such a man intrudes upon the high vocation. And the divinely-attested fact, that such a man once held it, should lead all who hold it to the closest self-scrutiny. Think of a minister, with all his opportunities of knowledge and of usefulness,-with all his seasons of devotion ;-a man whose very business is connected with religion, and whose hourly pursuits are, or ought to be, such as others can only occasionally enjoy ;-think of such a man testifying what he knows not, and speaking of what he has never realised or enjoyed, -an Achan in the camp,-a Judas among the twelve! Trace him to his deathbed; he looks back, all is comfortless! forward all is despair! He cannot say, "This is our rejoicing, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom,

but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world." The words, joyful to others, ring as the sentence of damnation in his ears,-" Give an account of thy stewardship;" and this will form one of the bitterest ingredients in his exhaustless cup of misery, that he held the torch to illuminate the pathway of others, and never felt its genial warmth, or was illumined by its cheering ray. Let us, my dear fathers and brethren, imitate another apostle, who said, "I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air; but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

Our readers may better conceive than we can express our feelings, on receiving the above extract from a Sermon, it seems, on the Death of Judas, preached twenty-four years ago, in Dublin, by a Presbyterian minister then respectable and popular, but now-utterly undone by strong drink! Little does our correspondent seem to have dreamed that the author of the awful picture he has sent us, has himself supplied, in his own person, an awful illustration! We were as ignorant of the passage as our correspondent seems to have been of the author; but the providence of God has, by him and us, brought them thus together. May he in mercy render the dread fact a useful beacon to all his servants!-EDITOR.

THE SPIRIT OF THE ESTABLISHED

CHURCH ILLUSTRATED.

66

BEFORE us lies an octavo volume, comprising thirteen chapters, all devoted to prove and illustrate the moderation of the Church of England. Chapter XIII. discourses "of the general moderation of our church towards all who differ from her and are in error," in which it is contended that "our domestic Dissenters, of all men, have the least ground for complaint.” Dissenters are reminded that their case is now exceedingly different from the condition of the church when she was forced to assemble together in low and poor conventicles, and caves under ground, for fear of persecution. But," it is added, "because these things are so, and too often for no other reason, a wild humour influences numbers to run into dangerous and fanatical conventicles, where it is scandalously insinuated that our church and kingdom rather persecute than encourage Christianity." Such is the theory: we will now record a few small facts out of many which have recently come to our hand. A respectable minister of the gospel thus writes:

As soon as I became settled in W, three years ago, I immediately commenced operations in the village of T-, a short distance from the town, for the purpose of preaching the gospel to the poor people residing there, regularly on sabbath afternoons. I was sufficiently fortunate to obtain a convenient house for my object; and having succeeded so far, set to work immediately with encouraging prospects. News of this soon reached the ears of the Vicar, who is uncle to a Baronet, and of his Puseyite Curate; the latter of whom, therefore, quickly showed his high displeasure at the innovation, and riding up one day to T-, went from house to house to defeat, if possible, my plans, and put a direct stop to my preaching;-by fair words he tempted some, and threatened others with the consequences, if they should dare to attend my teaching, speaking, of course, the most contemptuous things possible of my claim to the sacred office. "The church, and the church alone," he said, "was the way to heaven; and if they would not go to hell, they must positively come to church, it was the only gate of salvation." "Beware," said he, "of this newly-come Dissenting teacher. I warn you against at all listening to his preachments, and hope you will all regularly attend at the Parish Church."

In one house he discovered on a table a tract I had left, and taking it up, he angrily demanded how it came there. The poor woman told him Mr. B. had given it her; on which he flung it with violence to the other end of the room, and bid her never more to receive anything of the like from my hands. Some of the poor creatures were terrified by his threat; but others nobly

resisted, and treated his orders with the contempt of which they were worthy.

The insolence, however, of this arrogant successor of the Apostles, and some further unwise and intolerant carriage towards respectable individuals in the parish, caused disgust; and some who, up to this time, had attended church, informed the vicar of the offence, and declared their purpose of never more entering within the doors. Accordingly some of them immediately left, who attached themselves to my place, and still follow my ministry at WSeeing that no reconciliation could be effected, and that his curate, by a want of judgment, was likely to incur further loss in the attendance at church, he was necessitated at last to dismiss him, and endeavour to obtain one, though of high church principles, yet of milder

manners.

But I have to notice one or two traits in the character of this clergyman himself, which discover what are the sentiments he entertains generally toward Dissenters.

Last winter the vicar gave an order for the poor to come to the parsonage for soup and meat, which he intended for a few weeks to distribute among them. It was found, however, that his charity was circumscribed within certain bounds, as only the church-going poor would be the recipients of this bounty.

There was one poor woman, whom I shall call Betsy G-, residing in one of the Pauper houses, and who regularly attended my ministry. She had been, in former days, in good circumstances, and was then, as it goes with the world, respected even by this clergyman. But unfortunate occurrences took place, which led her to the most abject poverty, compelled her to seek relief from the parish; and at last she was necessitated to become an inmate of the poor-houses: Betsy being very ill, and being informed of the vicar's gifts, entertained a hope, on the promises of former services, which in her prosperity she had rendered the vicar, he would now also afford her the help of a little of the provision he was granting to the poor. She therefore went, or sent up, respectfully requesting a little of the food, at the same time giving him to understand how ill she had been. Her request was met with a prompt and decisive refusal, she had discontinued to come to church! The provision was only for those who dutifully attended, and she should have nothing. However, after a long and urgent pleading, a few bones were thrown out to her, which poor Betsy gathered up, with tears in her eyes, to see if she could herself stew down to make a little broth. ought to have added that her child was also at this time in delicate health. During the present winter she has again been exceedingly ill; in fact, so much so that serious fears were entertained for her recovery. The season being very inclement, and she almost destitute except from what a few kind friends gave her, Betsy suffered very much. But the Bible was her companion. In reading and prayer she sought and found comfort, so that she could yet express herself, "I find God very near, and very good to me; in him is all my hope and comfort." Another poor woman, young in years, a widow

I

with an afflicted infant, and she herself in the last stage of decline, was placed with Betsy, who was to yield her all the attendance she could, for which the overseers were to pay her a shilling a week. Betsy was still very weak, and the apartment in which she lived, on the ground floor, damp, cold, and cheerless; and saving what friends did for her, she could obtain little fire, and but little food. At this time the clergyman gave notice that the poor parishioners should have coals on application. As the young woman of whom I have spoken had been, while well, in the habit of sometimes going to church, a bushel was sent for her use. Betsy was also

anxious to try if the clergyman would relent in her favour, and bestow on her too the like indulgence; and as she was unable herself to go, one of her neighbours went, as well on her own account. The tale of distress was feelingly narrated, and the answer quickly returned. "I shall give neither you nor her any coals, neither of you ever come to church. You are both going to hell-begone!" The above tells a sad truth relative to that church which professes to be sanctioned by heaven, and her ministers in the only true succession ! What is succession but an empty worthless name, where the spirit of the true apostolic church cannot be traced? Where is "the mind that was in Christ Jesus ?" Where the universal love and charity that flowed in the Apostles? The mark is, indeed, wanting. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one toward another." " By their fruits ye shall know them." I have no sympathy toward a church which, whilst it exclaims, "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we," the spirit of Christ, the purity, the holiness, and the charity of the Saviour are not there.

The following is the substance of a conversation which lately took place between a certain lady and a poor woman at Beaminster, Dorset:

Woman." Please Ma'am, I called to know if you would be so kind as to give me a ticket for the charity; we have so many children," &c.

Lady." At what place of worship do you and your husband attend, and where do you send your children?"

Woman.-" My husband sometimes goes to Church, and I go to the Independent Chapel, and I send the children to the Methodist Sunday-school."

Lady.-"Do you not know that we pray against these Dissenters every Sunday in our Litany? and it is very wicked indeed to send your children to such places, and then for your husband to go and pray against them. I will give in your name, but I do not think there will be anything for you."

AND THERE WAS NOTHING FOR HER.

The Rules for Allotment Gardens at Beckley, held under the Rev. G. L. Cooke, place the Dissenter in the same category with the "drunkard," and the meeting-house with the public-house :

Any tenant detected in any act of dishonesty, or being an habitual drunkard, or a frequenter of public-houses, or a profaner of the sabbath, or an attendant at Meeting, OR OTHERWISE OF IMMORAL CHARACTER, Who shall, after due warning, persist in the same, shall be deprived of his land.

Every tenant will be expected to attend Church regularly, and to send his children (if he has any) to both the Day and Sunday-schools.

N.B. All children of tenants, who are old enough, must regularly attend the Sunday-school till they have either been confirmed or go out to service. No boys must leave the day-school before the age of ten years at the soonest; nor girls before twelve. Boys above ten, if not at the dayschool, will be expected to attend a night-school during the winter.

The following is the testimony of an excellent Home Missionary-a class of invaluable men, and most veritable witnesses as to the real spirit of the Church of England:

The success with which God has crowned our labours must be our encouragement for the past six months; we have had in our Day, Sunday, and Evening School, 476 individuals under instruction from week to week. Although bribes of every kind have been offered, up to the 3rd of April, we had only lost two children. Since then, tea, cake, and shoes, have been offered, and four of our shoeless children have got shod, and, of course, have bid farewell to the schools, which were denominated by the new order of Lights here, as "nurseries for hell;" "better all had been heathens than the peace of the church should have been thus broken." I am astonished at the firmness of our people. Although private judgment is run down, men, women, and children will think and judge for themselves. Our day and evening schools flourish greatly.

The meekness and moderation of the following case will be determined by our readers :

In the village of W- in the parish of D-, in the county of W- is a chapel belonging to the Independent Body of the town of B, where devoted pious laymen from several places in the neighbourhood go to preach and labour every sabbath, imitating their Great Master, who went about doing good. Their object is to teach and instruct the ignorant in those things pertaining to their everlasting welfare, and to win souls to the Saviour. In opposition to this work of charity, however, the clergy of the Established Church have erected, by the assistance of their friends, what they call a Chapel of Ease, and are endeavouring, as their usual custom is, to prejudice the minds of the inhabitants against the Dissenters. On sabbath day, the 28th of February last, a lordly prelate, vicar of the parish of Spreached in the said chapel of ease at the village of W, and endeavoured to prove in his discourse that the Dissenting PreachersMethodists, as he pleased to designate them— were not sent by God,-that they had no authority from Scripture to preach, and that it was a crime to listen to such fellows. I think, Sir, if this meek prelate would look into his Bible, search the Scriptures, which he professes to teach, and well investigate the lives and characters of the Apostles he pretends to be one of the successors of, and consider the matter over as in the sight of God, he would be led to see how fearfully he is mistaken, and that instead of promoting the Saviour's kingdom he is fighting against God, building the kingdom of darkness, and prejudicing the minds of the poor ignorant villagers against the gospel.

The next illustration is from a man well entitled to be heard on this matter, alike from his character and his experience:

We are not to return railing for railing; but, Sir, is it not our duty, a duty we owe to God, to our people, and to our own consciences, in the spirit of our Divine Master and Lord, to expose, in language clear and plain, the awful abominations of the State Church and of the State Clergy? I know, from painful experience, that it is the uniform conduct of several evangelical clergymen in these parts to do all in their power to draw away our hearers, and to poison their minds both against our persons and our preaching. Much of this bitter cup I have tasted for the last twenty years; and I write deliberately and solemnly, that I know not one evangelical clergyman throughout our entire county that would acknowledge the writer as anything short of an awful profaner of God's temple, by his preaching the gospel of Christ to his fellow-men. Many of the evangelical clergy are deeply tainted with Puseyism; in proof, I give you the following facts: The question was put to one of them, Suppose a Christian Churchman had his lot cast where the gospel could not be heard in the Church, would he do wrong in going to a Wesleyan chapel to hear the gospel ?" Mark the reply. "I would advise," said the clergyman, "that he go to hear the gospel at the chapel, but by no means partake of the sacrament of the Lord's supper with Dissenters." Your readers know what is meant by such a reply; and a lay brother of another evangelical clergyman called upon a regular hearer of one of our village chapels, and said, "You have not been to church." "No," said the woman; "I go to chapel." "You ought not to go to chapel; it is wrong to go there; stay at home, and read your Bible in your family." I am happy to say the woman is deeply attached to the chapel, and to the gospel preached there; for it has been made the power of God to her salvation. Another

case I give you is that of an eminently-gifted and popular minister of the Establishment, who sighs over the death of Dissenters' children, and groans that, through their parents being Dissenters, their offspring are deprived of the rites of the church-baptism (of course baptismal regeneration), confirmation, and the Lord's supper! What will your numerous readers say to these facts? for facts they are. I for one say, Keep before us continually two things-our own principles, and that of the rottenness of the Establishment, both in its principles and practices. The following is a case of special hardship, of aggravated cruelty, which lately occurred in Nottinghamshire:

I hope you will excuse the liberty I take in making known to you the following facts:Last May a man and his wife, natives of Scotland, came to this village, with the best of recommendations, to take charge of a new National Schools for boys and girls. They succeeded in filling their schools with children and the children are deeply attached to them. As there is not service at our parish church in the evening of the sabbath, the schoolmaster and his wife were wishful to worship God and to hear the gospel preached in any place; hence, at such times as there was no service at the church, they went to different dissenting meet

ing-houses. When this was noised abroad, they were called to an account by the committee of their school, who advised them not to go any more to any chapel; but they still persisted in going. The committee then convened another meeting, when they asked the offenders to promise to resign their school at the end of four months. But as they refused to do this without time for consideration, the managers forthwith sent them a notice by the hands of the common policeman to quit at the end of three months! The written notice, after being sent, was shown me. It expresses no reason for dismissing them. As it was reported that they were thus treated for having come to our chapel, that I might know the truth of the matter I asked one of the members of the committee, and who had signed the ejectment, the real reason of it. He gave me to understand that he himself had signed the paper on no other ground than that they had gone to different dissenting meetinghouses. When asked, he admitted that they had violated no engagement-that they were truly Christian people-that they had never been away from the church, to his knowledge, when its doors were opened-and that he could highly recommend them to a dissenting-school. From my conversation with these injured parties, I cherish the highest opinion of their prudence and piety. They have resolved to cut connection with the Established Church, and to seek a school amongst Dissenters.

We hope these passages will meet the eyes of all to whom they severally refer, and that the perusal may excite in their breasts feelings akin to those which they cannot fail to produce among all honourable men. We cannot allow this chalice of bitterness to go forth without at least one contrary ingredient in a very interesting piece of intelligence which has just been transmitted to us :

A large majority of the inhabitants of Hundon, Suffolk, have, on Scriptural grounds, come out from the Established Church, and erected a chapel to contain 450 persons, on a piece of ground given by a Churchman for that purpose; room sufficient also remains for the erection of school-rooms and a burial ground. The people themselves raised £292, out of £460-the cost of erection; and, aided by neighbouring churches, who have taken a deep interest in the movement, the debt remaining is about £130. Large numbers crowd the sanctuary sabbath after sabbath, where they can now hear the gospel. The Rev. James Smith has acceded to the unanimous request of the people, and become their stated pastor.

We congratulate these worthy people on their escape from a bondage worse than Egyptian! There is a measure of light, and of love of liberty, and of reverence for the Divine authority, which is wholly incompatible with a continuance in a State Church. As these increase, secessions will multiply, and hasten on the glorious day when the cry of the righteous shall resound throughout Christendom-THE BRITISH BABYLON IS FALLEN -IS FALLEN!