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this course. His thoughts, as far as we have noticed in a rapid perusal, are evangelical in sentiment and expressed in a perspicuous and easy style.

THE SUFFERING SAVIOUR: or, Meditations on the Last Days of Christ. By FRed. W. KRUMMACHER, D.D.; translated by Samuel Jackson. Boston: Gould & Lincoln; New York: Sheldon, Blakeman & Co., 1856.

Having noticed the English edition of this valuable work in the February number of this magazine, we only refer to it again to say that Messrs. Gould and Lincoln have issued a very handsome edition, and at a moderate price. Krummacher's Theology, which is that of the Reformation, is distasteful to modern "progressives." Let it therefore be well pondered and widely circulated.

THOUGHTS AND APOPHTHEGMS FROM THE WRITINGS OF ARCHBISHOP WHATELEY. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1856.

This elegant volume brings before the public, in an accessible form, the condensed sayings of a great man. Whateley's greatness has not dulness. His miscellaneous thoughts sparkle, and their light is not to dazzle, but to instruct. Few men have wielded greater influence in their generation than the Archbishop. It has been a good influence. His "apophthegms" are arranged under a few striking divisions, but the mass are miscellaneous. The book will be highly valued by intelligent persons.

SCRIPTURE VIEW OF INABILITY. A discourse delivered, 1843, in the Chapel of the Theological Institute of Connecticut, by J. COGSWELL, D.D., one of its Professors. New Brunswick, N. J.: J. Terhune, 1856.

The late theological variations which have brought some discredit upon the Theological Institute in which Dr. Cogswell was formerly a professor have induced him, partly in self-defence, to publish a discourse on Inability, which he delivered some years ago in the chapel of the institution. Dr. Cogswell is one of those old-fashioned theologians who believe that it is better to adhere to Scripture than to resort to vain philosophy. In this discourse he first explains the doctrine of inability, which is common to all mankind in their natural state, and then shows, in the second place, the influence of the doctrine when fairly exhibited according to the Scriptures. Having satisfactorily elucidated these positions, Dr. C. makes a few concluding observations:-1. The true doctrine of inability is less perfectly understood in New England than it was fifty years ago. 2. The charge of encouraging sinners to wait God's time is unfounded. 3. The unrenewed may be lawfully directed to use the means of grace. 4. The glory of our salvation belongs to God alone. 5. The sinner is without excuse for neglecting known duty. This discourse, like the author's other works, shows him to be a sound divine, jealous of the truth and bold in maintaining it.

THE INQUIRER DIRECTED TO THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. By the Rev. OCTAVIUS WINSLOW, D.D. Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1856.

The personality and offices of the Holy Spirit are perspicuously and scripturally unfolded in this volume, whose very title wins. The author has done laborious and faithful service in the cause of Christ by his various publications. This is the fourth edition-a good sign in the religious world. The work of the Spirit rightly claims a prominent con sideration from all who receive the Scriptures as of divine origin.

Che Religious World.

PRESBYTERY OF ALBANY.

Ar the annual meeting of the Presbytery of Albany, held in the city of Albany, January 8, 1856, the following resolutions were passed in the case of the Rev. George H. Thatcher, a member of this Presbytery:

Whereas, It has become evident to this Presbytery that Mr. G. H. Thatcher has relinquished the duties of the ministry, and devoted himself to secular pursuits; and that in his own opinion, if not in the opinion of all, he was mistaken in supposing himself called to the sacred office; and whereas the unsuitableness of his office with his pursuits seems to endanger the honour of religion in many minds, therefore

Resolved, That Mr. Thatcher be permitted to demit the office of the gospel ministry; and that, by the judgment of this Presbytery, he is no longer authorized to exercise its functions.

Resolved, That Mr. Thatcher be and he is a member of the Third Presbyterian Church in Albany, under the pastorate of Dr. Halley.

Resolved, That this minute be published in one or more of the Albany city papers, and in the Presbyterian, as an evidence to the public that Mr. Thatcher is not a minister of the gospel, and that this action is not intended to impugn his character as a professed Christian.

A true copy of the minute.

CHARLES H. TAYLOR, Stated Clerk.

METHODIST MISSIONS TO SLAVES.

THE Methodists in the South have done a great deal for the spiritual good of our slave population. They deserve credit for their faith and good works. The following paragraphs are taken from an able report of the Missionary Board of the Louisiana Conference, and will be read with deep interest by the true friend of the coloured man:

"It is stated upon good authority that the number of coloured members in the church South exceeds that of the entire membership of all the Protestant Missions in the world. What an enterprise is this committed to our care! The position the Methodist church South have taken for the African, has, to a great extent, cut us off from the sympathy of the Christian church throughout the world; and it behooves us to make good this position in the sight of God, of angels, of men, of churches, and to our own consciences, by presenting before the throne of His glory multitudes of the souls of these benighted ones abandoned to our care, as seals of our ministry. Already Louisiana promises to be one vast plantation. Let us we must-gird ourselves for this heavenborn enterprise of supplying the pure gospel to the slaves. The great question is, how can the greatest number be preached to?

"The building of roadside-chapels is as yet the best solution of it. In some cases planters build so as to accommodate adjoining plantations, and by

this means the preacher addresses three hundred or more slaves instead of one hundred or less. Economy of this kind is absolutely essential where the labour of the missionary is so much needed and demanded.

"On the Lafourcade and Bayou Black Mission-work several chapels are in process of erection, upon a plan which enables the slave, as his master, to make an offering toward building a house of God. Instead of money, the 'hands' subscribe labour. Timber is plenty; many of the servants are carpenters; upon many of the plantations are saw-mills. Here is much material; what hindereth that we should build a church on every tenth plantation? Let us maintain our policy steadily. Time and diligence are required to effect substantial good, especially in this department of labour. Let us continue to ask for buildings adapted to the worship of God, and set apart; to urge, when practicable, the preaching to blacks in the presence of their masters, their overseers, and the neighbours generally.". Southern Advocate.

GOVERNMENT PATRONAGE IN IRELAND.

THE Irish Presbyterians have issued an address complaining that in the distribution of government patronage they are unfairly neglected. They say: "There are twenty-two Episcopalian assistant barristers and one Presbyterian. There are about two thousand Episcopalian magistrates and sixteen Presbyterian. There are sixty thousand children of the Presbyterian church attending the schools of the National Board of Education, and 24,000 of the Church of England; but the latter have six commissioners on the board, and the former only two. In the Queen's colleges, Presbyterian students greatly outnumber those of the Established church, and in the Senate there are ten of the one to two of the other. On the Board of Charitable Bequests there are seven Episcopalians and one Presbyterian, and on all the other boards of a national character the Episcopalians have a number of members and the Presbyterians none."

IMPORTANT CHURCH DECISION.

THE Rochester Union says:-"In the Circuit Court, before Judge Smith, a suit was tried and decided which excited considerable interest, inasmuch as it involved the question whether a man can repudiate a subscription to a church-fund on the ground that a change was made in the ecclesiastical government of the church after he had subscribed. The, parties were The Trustees of the Lower Falls Presbyterian Church vs. Aristarchus Champion.' The defendant, with others, subscribed $300 to a fund for the erection of a church in School-district No. 7, near the Lower Falls. He disputed his liability to pay the sum subscribed on theological grounds, alleging that his subscription was to be operative on condition that the ecclesiastical form of government of the church should be 'new school.' The church connected itself with the 'old school' organization, and demanded of defendant the amount of his subscription. He declined to pay; hence the suit. The court ruled out the defence, and the jury found a verdict for plaintiff of $329.75."

RELIGIOUS MATTERS IN SPAIN.

IN the Madrid Chambers, on the 23d Feb., Mr. Batles, one of the deputies, demanded why the government, upon the request of the ecclesiastical vicar, had prohibited the circulation of a Bible recently printed at Madrid, the text of which conformed to the approved text? M. Batles prefaced his query by a profession of Catholic faith:-"I was born a Catholic," he said, "and I hope to die in that belief; but, if Protestantism consists in protesting energetically against the numerous vices, the unparalleled excesses, the culpable egotism, the scandalous frauds, the notorious bad faith, the audacious resistance to the laws, the deadly influences of the court of Rome upon Christianity, the abuse of power, the unjust and illegal intrusion of that court in the rights and privileges of nations and monarchs,-if Protestantism consists in denouncing the shameless and criminal disobedience to the constituted authorities, preached without ceasing, and to-day with more scandal than ever, by a great number of ecclesiastics, I declare boldly that I am a Protestant, and I am certain that my opinion is shared by all good Catholics who desire the triumph of the cross and the propagation of the doctrine of Christ throughout the nations of the earth."

The Minister of the Interior having admitted the fact denounced by M. Batles, and having attempted to justify it by an unrepealed law of. 1820, expressed himself in these terms:-"There was no need for M. Batles, in making his interpellation, to deliver such a speech. There was no necessity to accumulate grave charges against all the ministers of the church, and against the Roman pontiff, visible head of the church of Jesus Christ, and temporal sovereign.-(Violent murmurs of dissent.)— These murmurs will not prevent me from expressing my opinions. These interruptions come not from the Spanish nation, eminently Catholic. A minister of Isabella II., Catholic Queen of Spain, cannot allow any one to insult, without a pretext, the chief of the religion which the Spanish people profess. How can he do otherwise, when without provocation, without authority, and so inopportunely, a deputy allows himself to outrage, in the midst of parliament, the chief of the Catholic church? What! representatives of the Constituent Assembly, have you forgotten so soon your vote declaring the religious unity of the Spanish nation? Do you wish to give your enemies the pretext of saying, as it already has been said, that your constitution does not ratify this unity? Even if you had voted the toleration of other religious worship, it would be none the less improper to censure the chief of a religion which has civilized Europe." These remarks of the minister gave little satisfaction, especially as they were supposed to indicate an approaching resumption of the former intimate relations between Spain and the court of Rome.

MISSIONARY LABOURS IN THE PACIFIC.

On the islands of the Pacific, comprising the Sandwich, the Fejee, and Friendly Islands, New Zealand, and the various groups occupied by the London Missionary Society, there are connected with the London, the Church, the Wesleyan, and the American Missionary Societies, 119 missionaries, 45,929 communicants, 239,900 professed Protestants, and

54,708 scholars. Connected with the Protestant missions in India there are 443 missionaries, 18,410 communicants, and 112,191 professed Protestants; showing that to each missionary in India there is an average of 253 professed Protestants and 41 communicants, while in the Pacific each missionary has an average of more than 2000 professed Protestants and 385 communicants.

THE SULTAN'S VISIT TO LORD STRATFORD'S BALL.

As the Sultan proceeded to the Embassy, the priests howled, shrieked, and wrung their hands in despair at the disgrace which had befallen the successor of their prophet. At length, unable to restrain their frantic rage, the priesthood, en masse, went to Scutari, and burned down the quarters of the 13th regiment.-Morning Advertiser.

PRAYERS TO NOAH!

THE following article appeared some months ago in the Semaine Religieuse, (religious weekly,) a French journal, under the heading of "Prayers to Noah :"

Tuscany, like all lands of the vineyard, has experienced for several years much calamity from the odium, or vine disease. To combat this pest, the Archbishop of Florence has composed a collection of eighty-five prayers. In view of the special object of these prayers, they are not addressed to God, but to Noah.

"Most holy patriarch Noah,' says one of them, among others, 'you who were employed, during the course of your long life, in planting the vine, and in gratifying humanity by the precious liquor which quenches our thirst, nourishes and renders cheerful all, cast your eyes upon our vines, which, after your example, we have up to this time cultivated, and, seeing them languish and wretched by the effect of the devastating pest, which, before their ripening, destroys the fruits, in severe punishment for so many blasphemies and other enormous sins which we have committed; be moved by compassion towards us, and prostrated before the high throne of God, who has promised his sons the fecundity of the earth and the abundance of corn and the vine, pray to him in our favour, promise to him in our name that, with the assistance of his grace, we shall quit the road of vice and sin, and that we shall scrupulously respect the holy law, and that of our holy mother, the Catholic church.'

"The ninth prayer is directed to the Virgin :

"Address yourself, O Mary! to your well-beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in repeating to him, as at the marriage of Cana:-They have no more wine;' and may He who, at your demand, worked the wonderful prodigy of changing water into wine, renew this miracle in curing our grapes of the malady which consumes them,' etc.

"The prayer-book is ornamented with a vignette which represents Noah presiding at the operations of the vintage, and contains the archbishop's counsel, allowing forty days of indulgence to those who shall devoutly recite the prayers in question."

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