Scriptural Conversations between Charles and his Mother. By LADY CHARLES FITZROY. Royal 18mo, pp. 218. Longmans.

A USEFUL book for purposes of family instruction.

The Necessity of Reforming the Church, presented to the Imperial Diet at Spires, A D. 1544. 18mo, pp. 291. Translated by H. BEVERIDGE, Esq., Advocate. Dalton.

LEARNED men need not be told that this is one of the most celebrated productions of Calvin's pen. Whoso would see a wonderful exhibition of the union of rhetoric with logic in assailing the empire of the Man of Sin, let him read this volume.

The Young Tradesman. 18mo, pp. 258. Tract Society.

TWENTY-SEVEN most valuable letters, setting forth a large body of sound principles and golden precepts on all the chief points of human life in relation to trade and commerce.

CHRONICLE OF THE CONGREGATIONAL UNION OF ENGLAND AND WALES: OF THE THREE SOCIETIES FOR BRITISH MISSIONS: AND OF THE BOARD FOR GENERAL EDUCATION, IN CONNECTION WITH THE UNION.

NINTH AUTUMNAL MEETING OF THE UNION. AGAIN, with much earnestness, we invite attention to the ensuing Autumnal Meeting of the Union at York, which will be then close at hand when our present Number meets the public eye. Pastors, and deacons, and other members of our churches, who, with enlightened thought and prayer, long for the spread and power of our principles in these eventful times, for your help and sympathy on this occasion appeal is now made!

1. The hope of Dr. Wardlaw's presence and services is disappointed. Strict medical charge forbids our honoured brother from engaging in any efforts, public or private, likely to produce excitement, for some considerable period of time. To Dr. Wardlaw, full of kind regards to his English brethren, and of deep interest in their position and movements, this disappointment is as afflictive as to those who had anticipated peculiar pleasure and benefit from his visit.

2. Being thus unavoidably deprived of Dr. Wardlaw's promised services, the Committee rejoices to announce its success in an application to the Rev. Dr. W. L. Alexander, of Edinburgh, to attend at York as preacher, and representative of the Scottish Union, instead of Dr. Wardlaw.

The value and kindness of Dr. Alexander's prompt consent to this proposal must be felt as, under the circumstances, very great. The doctor will preach the annual sermon before the Union, on Tuesday evening, the 12th of October, in Salem Chapel, the Rev. James Parsons'.

3. The morning sessions require every effort to sustain their interest, and increase their beneficial effects. The Rev. Dr. R. W. Hamilton, of Leeds, will preside. In them information should be gathered, brotherly love promoted, wise counsel taken, a devout spirit cultivated, and vigorous action prepared for. Every speaker should study to promote those great designs by brevity, perti

nency, kind and manly candour, respect for his own opinions and for those of others.

4. The morning session of the Tuesday it is proposed to devote entirely to fraternal conference on our state and duties as a body of Christian churches; thus securing for this important purpose the beginning of our time, and the freshness of our spirits. In addition to the subject for consideration already notified-namely, an attempt to exert some favourable influence on the manner and spirit in which the first approaches to the ministry among us are made by our young brethren-various topics of deep interest may be easily suggested. For instance: How can a more devout and spiritual character be imparted to our Union meetings? Is it practicable to adopt any plan for raising the incomes given to their pastors by our feebler churches, that might operate generally and effectually? How can we give more breadth to our hold and action as a body of preachers and churches on the popular mind in this country at a time so peculiar and important as this? How can the spirit of the Denomination be raised in pastors and people to higher devotement in labour, liberality, courage, and self-denial?

5. BRITISH MISSIONS.-British missions ask the whole of the Wednesday morning. A patient hearing, and a thorough sifting of the whole case of the British missions are implored, besought. Give them up, or do them justice. Let brethren inquire into the facts. Let them declare their sentiments. Take the Colonies first. Here would be no controversy, no difficulty. An hour would suffice. Proceed to Home, an equally undisputed case, but needing somewhat more of explanation, reasoning, and detail. Give to this department an hour and a half. Then Ireland. Two hours and a half will remain. Give every minute of it to Ireland, till our position is thoroughly ascertained-our resolve taken our work commenced.

6. EDUCATION.-Education claims the whole of the Thursday morning. First, Sunday-school education-how this can be extended and improved. On this important subject a paper will be presented. Then general education-what position and course for the future shall be taken by the Union in reference to this interest of such vast consequence, and immediate urgency?

How can we best serve our country; how best maintain our principles on this vital question? Surely we accomplish the former when we secure the latter, or we have studied reason, Scripture, and history under mistake, and must CHANGE

OUR PRINCIPLES!

7. Then there are the four evening services. 1. On Monday evening public prayer, invoking blessings on all that is to follow. 2. On Tuesday evening the sermon by Dr. AlexanderGod's Word spoken in the ordinance of preaching, for testimony, instruction, and edification 8. On Wednesday evening a public meeting for British missions-to bring out the wisdom, the soul, and the purpose of the morning conference, and to impregnate therewith the public mind. 4. On Thursday evening the public meeting for the Union proper itself to explain its principles, and to promote its objects-to show how its labour is to maintain the sentiments and to promote the interests of the Independent churches of England and Wales; and to ask assistance in this great and good work.

Such are the proceedings anticipated with desire, hope, and prayer. With God's blessing thereon, they cannot but subserve the sacred cause of truth, liberty, and piety.

8. At some convenient period of the morning sessions, progress must be reported in the ascertained adhesion of churches and brethren to the Union under its revised constitution; and further approvals and contributions must be sought from brethren present who may not have previously notified their decisions. This revision of the Union, so far as hitherto ascertained, meets with entire approbation, and promises to place our association on a safe, strong, and permanent basis.

BRITISH MISSIONS.

THE Directors are anticipating the simultaneous collections to be made by the churches for "Home, Ireland, and the Colonies," at the close of the present month, with extreme anxiety. The opening prospects of usefulness which present themselves in the several departments of the empire where the operations of the Societies are conducted, and the earnest appeals for additional labourers which are constantly addressed to the Committees, are as painful, when the Directors are compelled to refuse the aid which is solicited, as they would be delightful could they respond to the appeal, and "send forth more labourers to the harvest." But the fact must be known. The financial position of each of the three British Mission Societies is a most perilous one. Either a greatly augmented permanent increase must be secured, or, not only must the Directors refrain from any extended operations, but they will be under the distressing necessity of reducing the number of their agents, and withdrawing men from spheres of labour in which God is eminently crowning the efforts made with his blessing. This statement is not made for the mere purpose of effect, but is the simple announcement of the fact of the case. Either larger contributions must be made, or our British Missions will cease to be effective; their labours will be confined within the comparatively narrow sphere at present occupied, or one greatly more contracted. If there was ground to believe all has been done that the British churches could effect-that the amount of

contribution was as great as could be reasonably expected, the Directors, endeavouring wisely to appropriate the funds with which they are intrusted, would patiently wait, and fervently pray for a more auspicious state of things. But this is not the case. That there is wealth enough in our churches to meet the necessities of the present crisis, for a crisis in the history of the Missions it unquestionably is, cannot be doubted. The present emergency could be met, the income of the three Societies could be augmented, if our churches, with their pastors, would seriously, prayerfully consider the perishing condition of myriads of their "brethren, their kinsmen according to the flesh," for whose eternal salvation the Societies exist. To the pastors of our churches the Directors would especially appeal. On you, beloved brethren, it will devolve, on the 31st of the present month, to plead with your people on behalf of British Missions. Read the Reports of the three Societies which have been forwarded to you. Acquaint yourselves with the facts connected with each. State them to your people as impressively as you can. Tell them of the towns and villages of our own land which the faithful missionary could visit; of the readiness to receive evangelical instruction evinced by the multitudes saved from starvation by their bounty in the sister country; and of the cities and extensive regions in our colonies, where ministers would be welcomed as angels of light. Urge upon them the claims of these Institutions by all the arguments to be derived from the commands of their Divine Lord, and from their own participation in the blessings of salvation. If you thus plead the cause of our British Missions, the Directors cannot doubt the result of your effort; the present year will witness such an increase in the amount of contribution as will unspeakably encourage them in their anxious discharge of the duties you have devolved upon them, when you confided to them the conduct of your Missions.

HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY. HOWEVER much the state of the Society's funds may depress the Committee, they are greatly encouraged by some of the journals of the missionaries recently received. Not only is the attendance on the preaching of the gospel maintained without any diminution, but the truth dispensed is in many cases blessed to the saving conversion of the hearers. The following instance may be cited as an illustration of this remark:

"About three months ago, while I was conducting the afternoon service at S-," writes a missionary near the metropolis, "a young woman entered the chapel. Her appearance indicated that disease was preying on her frame. The subject of the discourse was the character of Manasseh. I was led to speak of his sins and of his repentance, as well as the methods God often employs to bring sinners to himself. I also enlarged on the freeness and fulness of Divine mercy as displayed towards the vilest of sinners. She heard the word with fixed attention, and, like Lydia, her heart was opened. In a few days she sent for me. I immediately went; and as soon as I entered the room she burst into tears, and said, 'Oh, sir, you told me concerning my past life so plainly, that I

thought some one had been telling you all about me.' She stated she felt that she was a sinner, and needed mercy. I told her of the willingness of God to show mercy, and of the efficacy of the Saviour's blood to cleanse from all sin. I visited her several times, and she appeared to be truly penitent. It was thought necessary that she should be removed to the place where her friends resided; after which she grew worse, till death terminated her sufferings. Her sister informed me that, a little time before her death, she spoke with thankfulness of having been induced to come to hear me; for the sermon she then heard had been the means of causing her to consider her past life. She expressed at the same time her reliance on the merits of her Saviour for salvation. I have every reason to believe she died in the faith of the Son of God. Poor young woman! I have since heard that her sins, like those of Manasseh, were of an aggravated character. She had when young attended a sabbath-school; had gone out into the world, and lived a life of careless indifference, causing her aged parents much sorrow of heart on her account. May we not say, 'Is not this a brand plucked from the burning?"

From a Grantee in a Northern County.

"It is nearly six months since I came to this place, and during that time, by my repeated visits to the four villages where I preach, I have seen more of the effects of ignorance and heathenism, than ever I expected to witness in this highly favoured country. A land of Bibles! and yet in some of these villages where I have called upon every family, I have found sixty out of every hundred, has had neither Bible nor Testament, and very many could not read them if they had them. I persuaded some to purchase Bibles, and some kind friends have engaged to teach them to read. I relate a pleasing instance of good effected by tract distribution. I went into a house at S. Hwith a tract, intending also to invite the people to attend the meeting. What a scene presented itself to me when I entered! The house bare of all furniture, the children in rags, the father (unworthy of the name) was lying in a corner in a state of intoxication-his wife, poor creature, was crying. I tried to comfort her in her misery. She told me they had no Bible, her husband had destroyed it because he believed it was all lies. She said he was worse than ever since he had done that -she had been obliged to sell all her furniture to buy food for herself and children-for although her husband could earn 4s. 6d. a day, he spent it all in drink! I left her a tract, and promised to call again. When I did so, I found her husband had seen the tract. She told him who had left it, and that I promised to call again. The tract was, "What do you get by gindrinking?" He told me he had read the tract, and that he was convinced drinking was wrong, but he was sure there was no truth in religion. I reasoned with him upon the subject-induced him and his wife to attend the meeting, and gave him another tract, Believe and be saved.' The mists of infidelity have by these means been cleared away. He has bought a Bible, and regularly attends our meetings on the sabbath, and, as often as his work will permit, in the week. Such an instance as this, is an ample remuneration for all our toils and difficulties. I am glad to say the meetings at the different stations are

well attended. Many have been brought to hear the gospel who never heard it before, while I trust some have been made partakers of that peace which passes understanding. I have received a supply of tracts from the Tract Society for which I am truly thankful."

From a Missionary in an Eastern County.

"In resuming the labours of another month I regret that I am unable to speak of any instances in which the gospel has become the power of God in the salvation of souls. The present month is one of unusual activity in collecting the fruits of the earth. The husbandman is now reaping the reward of previous toil, and when I see the Author of all good thus blessing physical effort, I pant for the day when the entire body of his faithful servants who now go forth bearing precious seed, shall return again rejoicing bringing their sheaves with them. The Lord of the harvest has promised that they who sow in tears shall reap in joy. I often labour under distress of mind, because I cannot see the word of God like a two-edged sword, piercing the consciences of men, and constraining them to bow to the authority of Christ. But amid all discouragements my soul is cheered by listening to the earnest cries of my Christian friends for the exertion of that arm whose power is sufficient to break the hardest heart, and to bow the most stubborn spirit. While I thus write, I cheerfully admit that it would be ingratitude in me not to say that God has graciously given me the opportunity of mingling joy with sorrow. The following statistics will justify the above assertion:-When I was sent to this station, in October, 1839, I found one chapel, and two rooms occupied as preaching-places. Now, there are two chapels and four rooms. In 1839, no school, now two schools, containing upwards of 100 children. No church was then in existence, now two churches containing twenty-seven members, to which should be added five who have recently left this locality, and have become connected with other churches. At that time no religious periodical was in regular circulation, now upwards of 1,200 are annually disposed of. According to the station's account-book, I cannot find that £20 were sent to the Society directly from this station in six years. I am thankful that a gracious God has enabled me to send you in rather more than seven years upwards of £170 from the people. This sum does not include the heavy expenses which have been defrayed out of the collections. The increase on my congregation 150. This success, which by individuals unacquainted with local circumstances may be deemed small, is sufficient to assure me that Ichabod is not written upon our walls, that the glory of the Lord is not departed. O that the Divine Spirit may be poured out upon us from on high, that the little one may become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation."

IRISH EVANGELICAL SOCIETY. THE Committee continue to receive gratifying intelligence of the progress of the cause at many of the stations occupied by the agents both in the cities or towns, and in the rural districts. The distribution of the fund so generously raised by British churches for the relief of the starving

multitudes in that country, has awakened a strong feeling of gratitude, and produced a readiness to receive evangelical instruction to a degree never before witnessed. In many places the people crowd the rooms or other buildings in which service is conducted, and listen with deep attention to the preaching of the gospel. This is the case in some parts of the country hitherto the most ignorant and bigoted. The Committee would gladly enter the open door that is presented, but for the state of their funds. Had they the pecuniary means they could send forth twice or three times the number of agents, who, as missionaries or Scripture readers, would find immediate access to the people, to make known to them the truths of the gospel of salvation. Should the opportunity which the providence of God and British benevolence have presented be suffered to pass away unimproved, it is impossible to say when we may again be able to enter on such a field. Will British Christians, who enjoy so great an abundance of spiritual privileges, and who exult in all the blessings and joys of salvation; and, moreover, who are intrusted with so large a portion of the riches of this world; will they hear the cry from their sister country, "Come over and help us!" and refuse to respond to the appeal? It is not for a distant portion of the world the Committee are concerned; the people whom they are anxious to serve dwell not at our antipodes, neither are they estranged from us by laws which forbid our approach to them; but they are our fellow-subjects, living almost at our very doors, easy of access, ready to listen to "the glad tidings" which the messengers of mercy pro-claim. Will not, then, our churches come forward with an energy equal to the emergency of the case? The Committee thankfully received between £9,000 and £10,000 for the relief of the temporal necessities of the starving, dying sons of Erin; and multitudes, by the distribution of this bounty, have been saved alive, and wwere now waiting to listen to the sound of salvation by the cross of Christ. Will not the churches who thus evinced their ability to contribute to the temporal wants of the people, show at least the same willingness to save their souls from death? Is there an individual to be found who contributed to that fund, who could not give the same amount to advance the cause which the Society exists to promote? Let the effort be made; let our pastors plead the cause with their people, and the Committee cannot but cherish the hope it would be easily accomplished.

The Committee feel pleasure in announcing that arrangements are under consideration, in connection with the Connaught mission, which, with the blessing of God, will be of lasting benefit to that benighted province. The amount remitted to their own agents and others in that part of the country, for the mitigation of the sufferings of the people during the existence of the famine, was considerable. This has paved the way for other efforts which are now contemplated. The Rev. M. A. Garvey has visited Castlebar, Ballinasloe, and other places, with the view of ascertaining, by personal observation, the plans most likely to prove effective. The Committee cannot speak too highly of the value of his services. Much information has been gained which will be of unspeakable advantage to the future operations of the Society

in that province. The Committee are prepared to carry on with the greatest energy that important branch of their mission; and, if duly sustained by their friends, they indulge the anticipation of the most gratifying result.

The following extract from a communication just received from one of the agents connected with that mission, will confirm and illustrate these remarks: "The Roman Catholic portion of the poor are indescribably wretched. The public funds of relief having been closed up, there is nothing to release them but death; and I bear testimony to their docility, subdued spirit, and readiness to hear the salvation of God. I have been astonished at their readiness, and encouraged by their reception of the truth of God; and do solemnly believe, that if proper Christian exertions had been heretofore made, or could yet be made amongst them, that Divine seed could never fall on better ground. I deplore their situations; I grieve for their longneglected state; and would entreat for some aid, were it to extend no farther than to wet the parched lips of my expiring countrymen."

COLONIAL MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

St. John's, New Brunswick,
June 12th, 1847.

MY DEAR FRIEND,-Many weeks have passed away since I wrote my last letter to you. I commence this so near the departure of the mail, that I fully expect to be unable to finish it in time, and hence another fortnight may be added to the present interval. When I last addressed you my health was giving way rapidly. Still I kept on in my ordinary duties, and intended so to do for several weeks longer.

But

I was soon compelled to alter my arrangement, and to leave home abruptly. Mrs. G- and I, leaving our remaining little one in the care of a kind friend, took our departure from St. John's on the 13th of April. We were accompanied by Brother Tomkins, who was on his way to England. We reached Portland, in the state of Maine, by a steamer on the following day. This town, you are aware, was once the scene of the labours of that eminently holy man, Dr. Payson, whose pulpit is now occupied by Dr. Caruthers, late of Montreal. One of the sons of Dr. Dwight is settled as pastor of another Congregational church in Portland. It is one of the most interesting towns in New England. The next day brought us to Boston, where we remained a short time. This old Puritan city is now spread out to a noble size, containing a population of 120,000. It is the centre of immense commercial transactions, and bids fair to rival, if not outstrip, New York. Boston has quite the air of an English town. It is a city of substance, rather than of show; and conducts all its operations on a steady principle, and on real capital. The Bostonians look before they leap. When they put their hand to any thing, they do it well, and seem to have no idea of a retreat. The battle of Bunker's Hill, the monument of whose victory meets one's eye in every direction, is a worthy emblem of the true Boston character. You are quite aware that Unitarianism has gained an immense influence in this scene of the labours of the increase of Cotton Mather; the primary cause of which is, probably, to be found in the Puritan mistakes of rendering eli

gibility to civil office dependent on the religious circumstance of external church connection, and of sustaining the orthodox ministry by general taxation. It is cheering, however, to find, that in the abandonment of these blunders, and in the general progress of education and religious freedom, the cause of evangelical truth is rapidly advancing. The orthodox Congregationalists number, I believe, as many churches as the Unitarian; while the Baptists and Methodists have added their share to the common interest of evangelicity. So far as I could learn, the Unitarians themselves are approximating more and more, in spirit as well as in phraseology, to evangelical standards. There may be, too, a hazardous approximation of the orthodox in another respect towards the Unitarians. I refer to their ordinary mode of preaching. From the specimens I heard, I did not think the sermons of the orthodox Congregationalists richly imbued with evangelical sentiment. A rigid attention to the critical examination of the text, the process of which was rather unsparingly exhibited; and a very ample share assigned to the controversial portion of the subject, with limited appeals to the affections; seemed to me characteristic of the orthodox preaching in New England. Some Americans despise English preaching, because of the small amount of intellectual effort, which, they say, it indicates. I must pronounce American preaching in this respect above contempt; and if a display of thought is the only end and use of the pulpit, I will admit that they arrive nearer perfection than the general run of preachers in the old country. But admitting that the main use of preaching is persuasion rather than bare instruction, knowing the drowsy and unalarmed condition of most of our hearers on the sabbath, and remembering the uncertainty of human life, I must pronounce the American plan of slavishly reading a theological discussion, however learned and talented the effort, a failure in respect to the highest end of this Divine institution. I have my fears as to the result of this unnatural use of the pulpit. Certain it is, that ministers of other denominations, of far less intellectual calibre, but of much more popular attractions, are rapidly occupying the ground which was once in the possession of the "original denomination;" and there is some reason to fear, that cold orthodoxy may degenerate into bare formalism; if not, something worse. From all that I could learn on this subject during my brief stay in the metropolis of New England, I am persuaded that the present hold of the orthodox pulpit on the public mind, is owing more to the force of endeared historical associations than to its own inherent adaptation to stir the conscience and engage the affections. Inferior as may be the intellectual vigour of the English pulpit; too well-merited as may be the sarcasm of Dr. Bushwell, that there is "a sort of goodishness about it;" still I am not the only one who believe that the abandonment of the reading system, and a very large infusion of that energy, pathos, and ease, which are somewhat characteristic of the British pulpit, are just the ingredients which American preaching needs to make it a mighty instrument of usefulness.

From Boston I passed on to New York-a city that bears some striking resemblance to Liverpool; and which, in some of its thoroughfares, forcibly reminded me of the home of my

So

boyhood, London. It contains a population of more than 400,000, and is rapidly extending. Its locality at the mouth of the noble Hudson, and near the centre of the Atlantic sea-board, will secure to it an immense population and an immense trade as long as the United States shall be a nation. New York is the centre of a considerable Episcopalian influence, which arises not so much from the Torified character of the place prior to the Revolution, as from an immense amount of property which has since fallen into the hands of that denomination. Lands, which were open fields when bequeathed to that community, are now included within the limits of the city, and yield, in consequence, an enormous rental. The Episcopal Church there, as in old England, is deemed the most fashionable denomination, unless, indeed, the Roman Catholic is beginning to take the precedence in this respect. As New York is a very gay city, and the favourite resort of Europeans from the Continent, I am inclined to think that those who study fashion in religion as they do in dress, will gradually attach themselves to the Romish rather than (as it is called) the English Church. But the difference between the two communions is not more marked in that land of Puritanism and freedom than in Britain. Puseyism has its warm advocates in America. in wrought is the spirit of ascendancy in the nature of Episcopacy, that in that favoured land, where the curse of an establishment is unknown, where no man gains the slightest civil advantage over his neighbour on account of his religious creed, you may hear Episcopalians speaking of "Dissenters;" and will never hear of an exchange of pulpits between them and the clergymen of other denominations. Presbyterianism, both in its old and new school adherents, has a strong hold in New York. I heard some rumours of a re-union of these two branches of the great Presbyterian body. So far as I had an opportunity of judging, I think such a result very far distant. That the clergy of the two denominations may desire such a consolidation is not at all improbable; but in this, as in other respects, there is a clear difference between the ministers and the people of America. The new school movement had its origin in the infusion of a strong popular element into the Presbyterian system. It was, in fact, the inroads of Congregationalism, aided by the ardent attachment of Americans to all self-government, upon the old embankments of the church of John Knox. The clerical leaders of the movement were impelled by an impulse from beneath. Some of them may begin to think they have yielded too much. The recent attempt to hold an annual meeting of the General Assembly of the new school, in the place of a triennial meeting, is an indication of the feeling to which I refer. But that scheme is evidently unpopular, and will, probably, not be attempted again. The impression is gaining ground among the members of the new school, that as other denominations get on very well without synods and general assemblies, so might they; and that, to say the least, the less they have of this external, mechanical, and comparatively irresponsible management, the better. Congregationalism is certainly making very marked progress in the city of New York. Within a very few years seven churches of this order have been formed there. The famous Tabernacle in Broadway, the most