網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

resting in the grave. The happiness of the believer cannot be complete, while his body, redeemed and ransomed by the blood of Christ, is far away, a prey to corruption and the worm: the glory of the church cannot be full and final, while some of her members are yet unknown to her, and others known only to be pitied and lamented, as strangers in a vale of tears. But above all, the glory of Christ is not yet displayed, in the recovery of the world from the usurpation of Satan, and the establishment of the throne of judgment among the nations: and till this is done, nether the child nor the church of God can deem the hope of their calling

in Christ Jesus realised.

[ocr errors]

We must not prolong our extract. Mr. Hall proceeds to show, that when Christ appears, He will find the world "farther than ever departed from truth and holiness, obdurate in iniquity and ripe for judgment." And having explained what the hope of the church is not, he proceeds to state what it is.

Mr. Hall is well known to the Christian public as an author; and this little volume is equal to the honourable repute he enjoys in that capacity.

FACTS AND EVIDENCE RELATING TO THE
OPIUM TRADE WITH CHINA. By
WILLIAM STORRS FRY. pp 64.

Thirdly, moreover, the prospect of the church is NOT the amelioration of the world, Pelham Richardson, 23, Cornhill. under the present order and constitution of THIS is a business-like pamphlet, providence. This is a great and grievous coming from a man of business. The fault, to suppose that, as things now are, several questions, which are in dispute the world is growing, or ever will grow, in this matter among politicians and better; that the present dispensation will philanthropists, are plainly stated; and be closed by a period of millennial holiness, the facts and evidence on each, collected preparatory to the coming of the Son of in a very intelligible form, to enable the Man. They who entertain such an expec-reader to form his judgment. Any one tation as this, are utterly misinterpreting desirous to know how the case stands, the character of their hope, and will dis- and to have a brief digest of those facts cover, sooner or later, that the shame of and that evidence, can resort to no better ignorance, and the grief of disappointment are by no means the worst consequences of their mistake.

source.

THE UNION HARMONIST; A Selection of Sacred music. Parts 2 and 3. Price 1s. each.

Sunday School Union, 60, Paternoster Row.

It is very true, that there are times of righteousness and peace foretold in Scripture, to bless the globe which we inhabit; times when, "in the last days," (the dispensation not yet manifested, as in Hosea iii. 5., in Joel ii. 28., with Acts ii. 17., in John vi. 39., xi. 24., and xii. 48., in James v. 3., and in 1 Peter i. 5.) "it shall come to pass that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it ;" (Micah iv. 1.) times when "the earth shall be fuli of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the NATIONAL CHURCH ESTABLISHMENTS EX

sea;" (Is. xi. 9.) times, when there shall be great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever. (Rev. xi. 15.) And it is equally true, that these are the very times, with which the hope of the church stands connected and identified, in the prospect of future blessedness. But these are times, my dearly beloved, which belong not to the present dispensation. The present is the dispensation of the Spirit, commencing with the departure, and terminating with the return, of Christ. Then will follow the dispensation of the Son of Man, and the days of prosperity of which the prophets speak."

THIS publication is proceeding well.
To the lovers of sacred music it will be
welcome and valuable. In Part 2 we
have-Messiah's Reign, Poland, Zion,
Greenwich, Forgive Blest Shade, and
Star of Bethlehem. In Part 3-Star of
Bethlehem (continued),
Sanctus II, Eve's Hymn, and Trumpet.
Hail Judea,

AMINED. A Course of Lectures, delivered in London. By Ralph Wardlaw, D.D.

Ward and Co., Paternoster Row. THESE Lectures on Church Establishments, grew out of those delivered on the same subject by Dr. Chalmers. The Committee of Deputies from the Three Denominations of Protestant Dissenters (Presbyterian, Independent, and Baptist), invited Dr. Wardlaw to reply to the "Lectures on the Establishment and Extension of National Churches," delivered by Dr. Chalmers, at the Hanover Square Rooms, in 1838. Accordingly, Dr. Wardlaw delivered it

It

Those who heard, or have read Dr. Chalmers's Lectures will feel peculiar interest in perusing these.

THE MYTHOLOGY OF THE ANCIENTS; a

Lecture delivered at the Camden Literary and Scientific Institutution. BY NATHANIEL ROGERS, M.D.; Member, and formerly President, of the Hunterian Society of Edinburgh; Corresponding Member of the Medico-Chirurgical Society of Dublin.

course of Eight Lectures, at Freemasons' of Christian charity, and all the courtesy Hall, in April and May, 1839; and of of gentlemanly candour." these Lectures, which have already been published in a more expensive form, the second edition (calculated for more extensive circulation) is now before us. is printed in double columns, in a large octavo size; and there are a hundred pages for a shilling; but cheapness has not been put in the place of every other attraction; for the paper is good, the type clear, and the whole appearance handsome. The following analysis of its contents, will give our readers a view of the ground gone over by the author:- THE Camden Institution was one, "Lecture I. 1. General Positions. and not the least excellent, of those ad2. Definition and Illustration of Terms. mirable Literary Societies, the number 3. Ecclesiastical Establishments. 4. and diversity of which, form so pleasing Voluntary Principle. Lecture II. 1. a feature of the age in which we live. Legitimate Sources of Argument, and It was chiefly indebted for its origin and Grounds of Decision. 2. Opening of support, to a gentleman of distinguished Scripture Argument. 3. Preliminary attainments in science; joint inheritor Remarks. 4. New Testament. Lecture with his no less distinguished brothers, III. 1. Scripture Argument continued. of his father's name and talents. Around 2. Old Testament. 3. Jewish Consti- him he collected a little knot of kindred tution. 4. Brief Notices of other Points. spirits, breathing the congenial atmos5. Answers to Objections. Lecture IV. phere of knowledge, and catering to Legitimate Province of the Civil Magis- the intellectual wants of the neighbourtrate, in regard to Religion. Lecture hood. As in the case of religion, howV. Objects of the Voluntaries, and ever, so in the case of science—the apMeans by which they seek their Attain- petite for instruction, is by no means ment. Lecture VI. 1. Efficiency of the proportioned to the want of it; and after Voluntary Principle. 2. Vindication of the novelty (which has great charms) it against Misrepresentations and Objec- had subsided, the good ignorant people, tions. Lecture VII. 1. Independence for whose benefit the society was instiof Principles on Statistics. 2. True tuted, left it to languish and die. Value and Proper use of the latter. the latter stage of its existence, indeed, 3. Dr. Chalmers's Territorial System. a good attendance could be secured only 4. Evils of Establishments. 5. Corrup- when the intellectual banquet was gartions of the Church. Lecture VIII. nished with the savoury additions of 1. Evils of Establishments Continued. cake and coffee, in the form of a 2. Confounding of Civil and Ecclesiasti-"soireé."

*

In

cal Powers, Offences, and Penalties. 3. At this institution the lecture before Destruction of the Church's Independ- us was delivered, and was noticed in our ence, as to Creed. 4. Nomination of pages at that time, We are now happy Ministers. 5. Power of Judicatories. to be able to present our readers with 6. Persecution. 7. Sources of Mutual a few extracts, in an authentic form. Jealousies and Alienations among fel- The first is the general introduction; low-Christians. 8. Prospects. 9. Con- which we select for the sake of the general reader

clusion."

At page 53, is the following well expressed and well merited tribute to the Hon. & Rev. Baptist Noel :

[ocr errors]

"It is refreshing to turn to the language of a man, who to the faithfulness of a devoted minister of Christ, and the elegance of a classically accomplished and richly furnished mind, unites all the loveliness

which we are to be engaged this evening, "I cannot enter on the subject with without congratulating the members of this excellent Institution, on the number and variety of the subjects which have successively engaged their attention. You have ranged at large, over the whole domain of literature and science; and very few are the quarters which have been left unvisited.

* See the "Evangelical Register" for July and August, 1838, volume 10, pages 292 and 333.

You have been led to the very dawn of knowledge-to the very spring and source of science, in the remotest ages of antiquity, You viewed it in its origin-a feeble, diminutive, noiseless rivulet, scarcely able to contend with the obstacles, which ignorance opposed to its course. You watched it in its progress swelled by confluent tributary streams-gradually deepening its bed and extending its banks; till, at length, it has flowed down to our times a broad and noble river; bearing on its ample bosom the accumulated riches of successive ages.

dered sacred to the professional student; and has yet been seldom trodden by the popular lecturer. There is no valid reason, however, for this exclusiveness; and for opening the way to its general cultivation the public are eminently indebted to your respected President, Dr. Birkbeck; who, ten years ago, delivered a course of lectures at the London Mechanics' Institution, on the structure and functions of the human body. In no other department of science, can we gather proofs so abundant of crea tive skill; for, as it has been well observed, "From the steep and rugged paths of the little globe of the eye is more pregnant science, you have been led to the flowery with proofs of a Divinity, than all the orbs glades of literature; and instead of being and cycles of the firmament. The laws of disciples of Thales, and Pythagoras, and Astronomy, though sublime, are simple; Archimedes, you were conducted to the al- but in Anatomy, the number of separate tar of the sacred nine,' to pay homage to and distinct parts which are brought toge the shades of Milton, and Shakspere, and ther; the complex and crowded combination Pope. Music, too, has lent its fascina- of elements, and the diversity of laws tions. In the examination by Mr. Baker, which must harmoniously meet and blend of the nature and varieties of the concord-all this gives us a still deeper and warmer of sweet sounds,' you have been introduced to an acquaintance with that heavenly art, which oft, as by a magic spell, lays the troubled spirit to rest; and says to the heaving bosom-Be still! and immediately there is a great calm!

[ocr errors]

Not a few of the mechanical arts, especially those in which, as members of a Literary Society, we are most interested, (the arts of paper-making, and printing, and type-founding, for instance,) have been clearly elucidated in the admirable practical lectures of Mr. Cowper; while the ladies have been specially regaled with a lecture on bobbin-net.

"6

'It would be vain to attempt the whole list; to dwell on the rach and racy discourses of your Vice-President, Basil Montague; or the eloquent eulogium on Burke, by Mr. Fry; or the condensation of carbonic acid (one of the greatest triumphs, of modern chemistry) by Mr. Cheverton; or the brilliant optical investigations of Mr. Towerly, who has demonstrated to us properties in the prismatic spectrum, at which Newton himself did not arrive; or the attractive chemical experiments of Mr. Morton; whose serious personal injury, sustained in the course of them, excited (I am sure) our warmest sympathy, and entitles him to an honourable place on the list of those, who, to a greater or less extent, have become martyrs to science.

[ocr errors]

Your attention, on various occasions, has been drawn (by Dr. Truman) to the noblest of the Creator's works-the human frame. The structure of some of its most interesting organs-those of the voice, for instance has been clearly set before you as have also some of its principal functions. This is a field, rich and luxuriant as it is, which has been hitherto generally consi

impression of the exquisite skilfulness of that Great Artificer, who without an effort built a universe

'Whose word leaps forth at once to its effect; Who calls the things that are not-and they come !'

"In the steps of Dr. Birkbeck, Dr. Trufessor Wilson) worthily trod ; and in accomman (ably seconded by Mr. Part and Propanying them in their investigations, you must have gathered the most valuable suggestions for the preservation of healthwhich all other enjoyments are tasteless; that greatest earthly enjoyment; without nor could you fail to observe the admirable arrangement to be traced in every part of the animal economy; or to admit the proofs displayed in the formation of that miracle of consummate wisdom and unrivalled skill,

-man."

-half dust, half Deity !" passes, by an easy transition, to the speFrom this general matter, Dr. Rogers cific object of his Lecture:

"In our investigation of this wondrous combination of mind and matter-man, we are this evening to proceed a step farther. We are to consider the operations of the human mind in reference to a sub

ject the most important that could engage its attention. And a lamentable history it is! In every age and country, men have had some knowledge of a Supreme Being; but the worship paid to Him bas been degraded by ignorance, debased by superstition, defiled by impurity, and but too many passages of its history are traced in characters of blood."

The Lecturer then proceeds to consider in detail, the religious systems adopted by the ancient heathen world. The following is the order pursued:-1. Antedilu vians. 2. Postdiluvians. 3. Babylo

[ocr errors]

Book of Wisdom' says) which govern the

[ocr errors]

nians. 4. Persians. 5. Arabians. 6. apocryphal world.' Egyptians. 7. Phænicians. 8. Philis-the gods tines. 9. Canaanites. 10. Medes. 11. They threw down the statue of truth from Carthaginians. One of these divisions, the altar of religion, and bowed down to comprising the Mythology of the Ca- the creations of their own depraved imagination. They extinguished the sun, and naanites, was inserted in the "Evange- held up their glimmering tapers in His lical Register," No. 119, Volume 11, room. They changed the glory of the Page 344, September 1839; and a incorruptible God, into an image made synopsis of the whole will be found at like to corruptible man, and to birds, and Page 414 of Volume 11 (September four-footed beasts, and creeping things.' 1839). The Lecture concludes with Professing themselves to be wise, they bethe following reflections suggested by came fools." the various details brought under review :

:

and an

"How plainly have our researches proved to us, that it was a 'vain philosophy,' 'affectation of science falsely so called,' which led men into error! They acquired some knowledge of the heavenly bodies; and being proud of their attainments, thought themselves at liberty to speculate and conjecture. Instead of adhering to what tradition taught them, that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,' they took the lights of heaven to be themselves (as the

[ocr errors]

Melancholy, indeed, is the picture which our retrospect presents! The history of the mind's operations in this department, Forsaking is but a history of its errors. the pure light of revelation, it gave heed to fictions of its own creation; and tinuing to recede farther and farther from the truth, involved itself in an inextricable maze of folly and absurdity. How forcibly does our investigation confirm the truth hath of the sacred declaration- God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.'

Religious Entelligence.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

CHURCH OF ENGLAND. PROVOST OF ETON.-The Ven. Archdeacon Hodson has been appointed by the Crown to this important office. Mr. Hodson was an intimate friend of the late Rev. Charles Simeon, and preached one of the three funeral sermons at Trinity Church, Cambridge, on occasion of his death.

NEW CHURCHES.-Gransmoor, Burton Agnes (York Diocese).

Menioth, near Crewkerne (Bath and Wells Diocese), Feb. 20.

St. John's, Brighton (Chichester Diocese).

Marshwood, Dorset. March 25. Holme Bridge (Ripon Diocese), March 28,

Farnley Tyas, near Huddersfield (Ripon Diocese). March 28. Erected and endowed by the Earl of Dartmouth.

Brinscomb, near Minchinhampton (Gloucester Diocese). April 14. Holds 500; free sittings 100. Patron, David Ricardo Esq., of Gatcomb Park.

Handsworth (Litchfield Diocese).
April 22.

Stone (Litchfield Diocese). April 23.
CHURCH EXTENSION. Petitions to
Parliament, this year, up to April 3 :-
For......1232- -Signatures 80,505.
Against ....36-
Ditto....3,655.

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

£266 more collected at opening. Holds The following are the particulars :— 1,000.

Alton, Mar. 30. £118 subscribed towards the Cost.

Staincliffe, near Bristall. April 2. Seats 160.

SAMUEL WARREN D.C.L.-This gentleman, formerly an eminent Wesleyan minister, was on the 23rd of February ordained a deacon of the Church of England by the Bishop of Chester.

"On the 19th of November we had communication," says our informant, "with the natives of Tanna, one of the New Hebrides. Finding them favourable to receive instruction from our teachers, we proceeded to the island of Arro manga. The whole of the island is, without one exception, a complete iron-bound coast, without the least appearance of culture. The natives are a barbarous race, quite different from those of other islands. LADY HUNTINGDON' CONNEXION "Wednesday Morning, Nov. 20.ROCHDALE.-The Rev. E. C. Lewis, We sent the ship's boat ashore, containlate of Cheshunt College, was oring Mr. Williams (Missionary), Mr. dained to the work of the ministry Cunningham (Vice Consul for the South in the late Countess of Huntingdon's Sea Islands), Captain Morgan, and Mr. Connexion on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 1839, Harris. Mr. Harris joined the Camden in St. Stephen's, Rochdale, Lancashire. at Otaheite, for the purpose of proceedThe Rev. Caleb Bird, of Warrington, ing to this port to take his passage to commenced the solemn service with England, with the view of arranging his reading and prayer; the Rev. John Har-affairs there previously to returning to ris, of Ashbourne, delivered the intro- the Marquesas as a missionary. ductory discourse, and proposed the usual questions; the Rev. James Bridgman, of Chester, presented the ordination prayer, accompanied with imposition of hands; the Rev. John Williams. of Chester, delivered the charge and concluded with prayer. On the following morning a public prayer meeting was held at seven o'clock; and in the evening the service re-commenced at six o'clock. The Rev. J. Langridge, from Tildsley, read and prayed, and the Rev. John Jones, of Birmingham, addressed the congregation. The Rev. W. G. Fells, from Middleton, and other ministers,read the hymns. The services were throughout well attended, and a good effect seemed to be produced.

MISCELLANEOUS.
NEW CHAPEL. A new Independent
Chapel was opened at Coxley, near
Wells, on the 17th of April.

CHURCH Rates:-Contested cases:
North Bradley
.Rate postpoued twelve

months.

Minchinhampton ..........Ditto.
Ilkeston
Rate refused.
St: Neots, Hunts..........Rate carried.
Lynn
....Ditto:

"On the boat approaching the beach, we could distinctly see the natives were averse to holding any communication with us. Mr. Williams attempted to make them presents of cloth, trinkets,&c., for the purpose of gaining their esteem, but without effect. He now proposed giving up the idea of having any intercourse with the island, and Mr. Harris asked permission to leave the boat for the purpose of making another attempt. He was followed at a short distance by Captain Morgan, Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Williams. When Mr. Cunningham reached the summit of the beach, he perceived Mr. Harris running towards the boat, followed by a large party of natives, armed with spears, clubs, bows and arrows, and he fell the first victim. As soon as one knocked him down, the remainder of the party speared him through.

"When Mr. Cunningham came running to Mr. Williams, the latter turned and made for the boat, but unfortunately stopped to look a moment for Mr. Harris. He then made for the boat, and reached the water, but in the hurry stumbled and fell; when one of the natives immediately took advantage of the circumstance, and MELANCHOLY DEATH OF THE REV. J. struck him four blows on the head with WILLIAMS. From The Australian (Syd- a club. By this time Captain Morgan and ney Paper), Dec. 3.-The missionary Mr. Cunningham had gained the boat brig Camden arrived on Saturday from and pushed off. After Mr. Williams had the island of Arromanga (South Seas). fallen, another party of nat?ves, numberBy her, we regret to learn the melancholy ing between fifteen and twenty, speared death, by violence, of the Rev. J. Wil-him through, although our informant iams, and Mr. Harris. thinks that he was dead when they ar

« 上一頁繼續 »