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Lecture I. The Christian Church. Lecture II. The State of the Church during the Three First Centuries.

Lecture III. The Union of the Church with the State under Constantine.

Lecture IV. The Rise and Progress of the Papacy.

Lecture V. The Church during the Middle Ages.

Lecture VI. The Reformation.

Lecture VII. The same continued.

Lecture VIII. The Reformation impeded, and by what means.

Lecture IX. The present Position of Ecclesiastical Affairs.

Lecture X. The Prospects of Evangelical Protestantism.

*We should rejoice to hear of a course of ten or twelve such lectures, every winter, throughout the whole Nonconformist world.

SAMUEL DALE.

Biography.

SAMUEL DALE was born on the 15th of January, 1758. He was brought up by his grandfather, who was very kind to him, and took pains to instil into his mind those religious principles which had such an influence upon his character in after-life, when he was apprehended by Christ Jesus. When about twelve years of age he was apprenticed to a shoemaker in the town of Framlingham, in Suffolk. Having served his time, he wrought as a journeyman in the same town for several years, during which period he fell into bad company, frequented public-houses, and was much addicted to gambling, in which he excelled. Knowing from experience the sorrows that arise from such practices, he was ever ready to warn others of their evil nature, assuring them that the winner is always the loser. He afterwards worked at Lynn, in Norfolk; some time after at Yarmouth. Whilst at Yarmouth, being much averse to sea, and work being slack, he enlisted for a soldier for three years. During this time, being able to keep accounts, he was employed by one of his officers to keep his books; he also kept accounts for two of the sergeants. For these reasons he was seldom called to do his duty as a soldier. When the three years had expired, his colonel wished him to continue in the regiment, and to induce him to do so, promised him promotion; but he was so heartily tired of this kind of life, that he obtained his discharge, and returned to Framlingham. Here he fell in with his old companions in sin.

About this time he married a very young woman, and became involved in difficulties. From Framlingham he went to Shottsham, near Woodbridge, to conduct a shoemaking business for an old acquaintance. Here the Lord met with him, opened the eyes of his understanding, converted his soul, and showed him what great things he must suffer for his name's sake. Now he felt the pangs of the new birth, the terrors of a guilty conscience, the application of God's law to his soul. His distress was SO great, that for several months he was in a state of despair, and concluded that hell must be his portion. He was like Bunyan's pilgrim in the Slough of Despond.

While in this state of mind, the gospel not being preached in the parish church, he went to Mr. Beaumont's chapel at Woodbridge. Here a ray of light from the Sun of righteousness broke in upon his mind; his burden was in some measure removed, and he found peace in believing. This peace, however, was of short duration. Another storm arose, and the burden of sin upon his conscience was at times even greater than before, and his soul was enveloped in midnight darkness. While in this painful state he read his Bible with intense desire to know the mind of his God, which he found a lamp to his feet, and a light to his path. Here he was directed to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world. With the eye of faith he looked to the cross; his burden fell, and he found salvation in Christ.

"But when such fears no longer cloud his mind, When Love Divine looks thro' the threat'ning storm,

And to his lab'ring conscience whispers peace; His eyes on Calvary fix'd, and streaming down With sorrow for the sins that pierced his LordHis Lord, who died that he might ever live; His melting heart with grateful zeal inquires What he shall do to manifest his love

To Him who thus has loved him?-what to praise The grace that pluck'd him as a brand from hell?"

Now Samuel Dale began to warn some of his neighbours, who were very profligate, to flee from the wrath to come. He read God's word to them, prayed with them, and persuaded some to go with him to the chapel at Woodbridge, several of whom, through his instrumentality, were turned from sin to holiness, from Satan to God, and from the path of death to the path of life. Our friend had the pleasure of seeing some of the most wicked in the place drawn to Christ, the Saviour of the world, made children of God, and heirs of eternal glory. Soon after this he returned to Framlingham again; not, however, to associate with his old companions, for old things had passed away, and behold, all things had become new:

"Old things are pass'd away-all things to him
As new created seem; he sees himself
Another creature than he once appear'd;
New hopes, new fears, new sorrows, and new joys,
Expand, depress, and warm his heart by turns.
Deliver'd from the reigning power of sin,
With sin he goes to war, and hopes at length,
Though weaker than his potent enemy,

By strength derived from his Almighty Lord,
A full and final conquest to obtain.
Yet, as this foe dwells in him, oft he feels
Sharp contest in his soul, and sometimes fears
He may by sin be overcome at last."

Now

Thus it was with Samuel Dale. he attended the ministry of the late Mr. Toms; but not finding his preaching in accordance with his views of the gospel, and not suited to his wants as a sinner, he sought the bread of life elsewhere. Oh how important to hear the gospel! This reveals the only way in which the guilty can be pardoned, the unholy can be sanctified, and the lost be saved! "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." Our friend opened his mind to a pious woman, who afterwards became his wife. She persuaded him to attend Rendham Meeting. Rendham is a village in Suffolk, about four miles from Framlingham. Here, under the preaching of the Rev. Mr. Wareing, he found the words of life, and that peace which passeth all understanding. Now he found the words of the apostle true: "Yea, all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." One of these persecutors was one very near to him-the

VOL. IV.

wife of his bosom, who ought to have rejoiced in the happy change she witnessed; but those who are after the flesh will persecute those who are after the Spirit. The course our friend pursued excited the most violent opposition from some of his relatives; hence they tried, by making his home uncomfortable, to drive him from what the ungodly, blinded by the god of this world, term "mad ways," but which to him, as many living can testify, were ways of purity, pleasantness, and peace. But none of these things moved him: his soul rested on the Rock of ages: underneath him were the everlasting arms: his heart was immovably fixed upon Him who was his Saviour, guide, and portion. Jesus, in his estimation, was the pearl of great price, and not to be lost for trifles. Though others cared not for his soul, he cared for his own. The opposition he met with only quickened his pace heavenward. When his persecutors cursed he blessed; when they reviled, he reviled not again; when he suffered he threatened not, but like his Divine Master, committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. When his enemies saw his regular attendance at Rendham Meeting, his delight in going to prayer-meetings held in several of the neighbouring villages, and when they saw "his precise ways," as they called them, his whole soul being in the cause of his God, they were as thorns in his side; but he could sing with a cheerful heart,

"May but this grace my soul renew,
Let sinners gaze and hate me too;
The Word that saves me does engage
A sure defence from all their rage."

This man of God prayed most earnestly for his persecutors, especially for his partner in life; and he had reason to believe that his prayers for her conversion were answered. When laid on a bed of affliction, she confessed the sinfulness of her past conduct, and looked to the cross alone for salvation, and died, as there was every reason to hope, in Jesus. Within three months he lost his wife, wife's mother, and his eldest daughter, all of whom died under his own roof, leaving him with three small children. Soon after he married his second wife, Elizabeth Kerridge, with whom he took sweet counsel, and lived in the fear of the Lord. He continued to attend Rendham for about thirty years-no weather stopping him; for he felt that that salvation which cost his Saviour's blood was worth all his efforts to secure. "The

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kingdom of heaven," in this case, "suffered violence, and the violent took it by force."

Principally through the instrumentality of our friend, his son was induced to license his house for preaching the gospel. This ultimately led to the present Independent Chapel in Framlingham. While he attended Rendham he proposed to the friends around him that they should become subscribers to the Missionary Society. This proposal was complied with, and our zealous brother obtained a few subscribers at Framlingham. This obtained, he thought it was important that they should have a Missionary Prayermeeting in Framlingham. After this was accomplished, he suggested the importance of having some one to preach to them. Several ministers did so, and so things went on; others were added, and a permanent interest became established. "Who hath despised the day

of small things?"

The

About seven weeks before he died, the complaint which had before laid him aside returned. The last time he was at meeting on a sabbath was when a funeral sermon was preached for Mr. Vice, a fellow-member of the same church. text was, "He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not, he will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light." After our friend took to his bed, he felt, as did also his friends, that the day of his redemption drew nigh, and he often prayed, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.'

Whenever his friends called to see him, they were requested to pray. This was a law of his humble dwelling, which none was to violate. He used to say, "Such a wretch as I needs your prayers." On one occasion he exhorted some of his relatives to train up their children in the way in which they should go. One morning he said to his son, The devil has been worrying me, and telling me that I have no part nor lot in the matter; but I won't have it. I told him (that is, Satan) that I knew I loved the means of grace and the people of God, and that I loved to sing the praises of God. I won't be put out of it." Not many hours before his death his pastor said to him, "What passage of Scripture would you like for me to take for your funeral sermon?" He said, "I think you will find one in the 3rd chapter of John that will do: Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto

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pre

thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" When he had repeated it he said, "Do you think this will do?" Of course his pastor replied, "Yes; you could not have selected a subject more suitable for such an occasion." This showed what was the great subject which occupied his thoughts in his last moments. Our friend was not only desirous of entering heaven, but he was anxious to be meetened by the Spirit of God for that blissful state. There are some persons who hope to enter heaven, but hate that spiritual change which is essential to their preparation for it. The whole Christian course of Samuel Dale said to all around him, "One thing is needful," and that is, a suitable paration to meet God. And, oh! what a comfort to his friends to know that he was thus prepared, and that when his Lord came, he found his aged servant with his lamp trimmed, loins girded, and waiting for a call to enter into his rest. Who ever questioned whether the good work was begun in him? This was manifest to all. This tree of righteousness was indeed known by his fruits. But our friend was not only anxious about his own state, he felt a deep concern for the salvation of others. The subject of the new birth was chosen for the benefit of others. How often did he pray at our social prayer-meetings that sinners might not confound reformation with regeneration!

The night before he died he felt better, and it was thought he might live a few weeks longer; but about midnight there was a great change. Jesus was coming to receive his servant to himself. Our good brother said he was going to Jesus. Having called his nurse and granddaughter up to his bed-side, he shook hands with them, and bade them good by, saying he was going to Jesus. He was heard to say, "Come, Lord Jesus. There he comes-there he comes." One asked him if Jesus was precious? He replied, "Yes." After this he was distinctly heard praying for his kindred, Christian friends, and the ministers of the gospel, which he closed with a hearty Amen. This was the last word that could be heard:

"Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
The Christian's native air;
His watchword at the gates of death,
He enters heaven by prayer."

He appeared to have his senses until the last, and just as he drew his last breath he smiled, apparently in an ecstasy

of joy. Thus died Samuel Dale, full of years, full of the Holy Ghost, and full of peace. Devout men carried him to his grave, where he was committed to the house appointed for all living, in sure and certain hope of a resurrection to eternal life. What a loss was his removal! The pastor said in his funeral sermon, "Most of us can remember his manner of life

amongst us. What strict integrity!

What love to God! What zeal for the cause of Christ! Oh what liberality! what economy! what self-denial! what perseverance! what striving to enter in at the strait gate! Truly of him it may be said, 'We shall not find any occasion against this Samuel Dale, except we find it against him concerning the cause of his God.' And when he drew near his end, oh what a pleasure it was to visit him! There are Christian friends now present who watched this setting sun, and, oh! in what glory he left us! The minister, the church, his relatives, angels, the good Shepherd, can point to him, and say, Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace.

"How blest the righteous when he dies!
When sinks a weary soul to rest,
How mildly beam the closing eyes!
How gently heaves the expiring breast!
So fades a summer cloud away;

So sinks the gale when storms are o'er;
So gentle shuts the eye of day;
So dies a wave along the shore.
A holy quiet reigns around,

A calm which life nor death destroys:
Nothing disturbs that peace profound
Which his unfetter'd soul enjoys.
Farewell, conflicting hopes and fears,
Where lights and shades alternate dwell!
How bright the unchanging morn appears!
Farewell, inconstant world, farewell!
Life's labour done, as sinks the clay,
Light from its load the spirit flies;
While heaven and earth combine to say,
How blest the righteous when he dies!"

Samuel Dale was a reading Christian. Though a poor man, probably there was not a person in the town who read more than he did. He was a member of a book club, and read most of the books that passed through his hands. Many poor persons would do well to imitate our friend in this respect. They should make it a point of conscience to read as many good books as circumstances will allow. How many are unfaithful in this respect! Dear reader! are you? Think of Samuel Dale, and follow his example. time for reading good books. religion takes a deeper hold of the minds of professing Christians, there will be more reading Christians.

Make When

Samuel Dale was a benevolent Christian. Though he lived for a few years

before his death in an almshouse, the writer has been told that he gave onefifth of his very small income to the cause of Christ. Though his means were small, yet he had a large heart. He gave liberally and cheerfully.

Samuel Dale was an earnest Christian. He used to rise at four or five o'clock every morning for communion with God, and this he did for many years, at all seasons, and even after he was eighty years of age! He attended the seven o'clock prayer-meeting on a sabbath morning regularly, the three other public services on the sabbath, an adult class twice in the day, and all the week-night services. He was an earnest Christian between forty and fifty years! How shall we account for such devotedness to God? "The root of the matter was in him." His religion was the religion of love. "Christ was all in all."

He

Samuel Dale was a Bible Christian. This was his daily companion. How few read the Bible as often as he did! could say, "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"'

He was also a useful Christian. He sought in various ways to do good to others. He instructed the ignorant, urged the slothful, consoled the distressed, warned the careless, and sympathized with the suffering. "He went about doing good."

man.

He was a happy Christian. He used to sing in the ways of the Lord. Long before others were up he used to spend two or three hours in reading, singing, and prayer. He was a very early riser. This was the case when he was an old He strongly recommended the practice of early rising. He often used to say to the writer that the bed tempted him to lie longer than he should do, but he resisted flesh and blood. Had you stood at the door of his humble dwelling, even in winter, you might have heard him between five and six o'clock in the morning singing, evidently with all his heart, the praises of his God:

"There, like the nightingale, she pours
Her solitary lays;

Nor asks a witness of her song,

Nor thirsts for human praise."

Samuel Dale was a self-denying Christian. Out of an income of five or six shillings a week, he used cheerfully to lay by something for the cause of God. He had a deep sense of his obligations to the exceeding riches of divine grace. He was a persevering Christian. For

more than forty years he was scarcely ever absent from the public ordinances of the sanctuary. He was faithful unto death, and now enjoys the crown of life. When he was a letter-carrier he used to run miles in order to get home in time for the prayer-meeting or weekly lecture. This he has told the writer. This is a

true testimony, as many now living in Framlingham can bear witness. No poor man ever died more universally respected. Many will long remember good old Samuel Dale. "He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost." Reader! think of Samuel Dale, and follow him as he followed Christ.

Temperance.

ADDRESS PRESENTED TO THE MINISTERS AND DELEGATES OF THE CONGREGATIONAL UNION, ASSEMBLED AT THEIR AUTUMNAL MEETING IN YORK.

REV. AND DEAR SIRS,-The Committee of the York Temperance Society desire to embrace the favourable opportunity now afforded of drawing your earnest attention, and securing your influential support, to the contemplated movement for effecting the closing of public-houses on the Lord's day.

Sabbath Question.

From the statistics furnished by the police reports from every part of the kingdom, the lamentable fact is clearly established, that the sabbath is desecrated by a far larger amount of intemperance than is prevalent on any other day of the week. This result is not to be wondered at, when it is borne in mind, that the same laws which convict as a sabbath-breaker the provision dealer, who supplies on that day the necessaries of life, throw around a far larger number of publicans the sanction and protection of a "license" to deal out the intoxicating liquid, which is everywhere producing the most demoralizing influence upon both the seller and

consumer.

The profanity and sin which is thus caused on that hallowed day is fearful in the extreme, and such as no minister who is occupied with his pulpit labours can have any conception of. Those only who have visited the degraded districts of our cities and towns on the Sabbath evening, can tell of the moral pestilence which is then poured forth from the crowded haunts of vice. Men and women are met with in every lane and alley, whose only place of worship is the dram shop, and whose knees are never bent, but at the shrine of intemperance. The ordinary preaching of the gospel is unavailing to them. as they never come under its sound.

The speedy success of the intended agitation will greatly depend on the aid afforded by your pulpits, and this it is hoped will be cheerfully given. It is believed that many good men are unconsciously partakers in the desecration of the sabbath, in connection with our drinking customs. The employment during the malting season, of about forty thousand men every Lord's day, in the various malt-kilns of our country, occupied in the same manual labour

as on the week-day, is a startling fact. When it is borne in mind that malt cannot be made under eight successive days' operation in the kiln, the deduction is obvious, that every malt liquor drinker is virtually a sabbath-breaker.

The Committee are the more anxious to bring this prominently under your notice, in consequence of one of the most talented and pious ministers in this city having acknowledged his total ignorance of the fact, and who, there is reason to hope, has now abandoned the use of malt liquor, from conscientious motives. From this it is inferred, that a large portion of the ministers and Christian public are altogether unacquainted with this important point of sabbath labour, otherwise they could not be parties to a system which, in so many respects, is a flagrant infringement of the Divine law; inasmuch as the manufacture of intoxicating drinks cannot be pleaded as a work of necessity.

Food and Famine.

From the bold and independent position which many of your ministers assumed, in seeking the abolition of the corn laws, it is presumed that you have not overlooked, and cannot be indifferent to the connection which exists between the drinking habits of the nation, and the recent high prices of food. This question, in connexion with the ravages of famine in Ireland, claims the most serious attention of every Christian man and philanthropist. It is a reproaching reflection, that during the last twelve months, 50,000,000 bushels of good nutritious grain have been worse than wasted in the manufacture of alcoholic drinks. This immense quantity of grain would have furnished food for six millions of our starving countrymen for twelve successive months, allowing upwards of eight bushels to each person.

It cannot be right, thus, to take the staff of life, in the presence of hunger-stricken thousands, and convert it into a liquid poison, the use of which is spreading desolation and woe on every hand.

Claims of the Cause.

The Committee desire to urge the claims of the temperance cause, in its various branches, upon your calm and prayerful attention. They acknowledge with regret, that during the progress of the temperance movement, many injudicious things have both been said and done by its advocates, which, instead of winning others, have rather tended to create opponents, especially amongst ministers. Yet, at the same time, they feel assured that, although the pro

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