Pardon me, Reverend Sir, if I say, that if we can but shiver those miserable delusions, those dangerous impositions, which it is the object of this letter to oppose, Mr. Jones's basis is subverted, his superstructure falls, and many of the men, whose claims are so large, are reduced at once to mortals of very ordinary dimensions; and indeed appear much smaller than not a few even of the teachers whom they pronounce unauthorized, whom they so unsparingly revile, and upon whose devoted heads they pour out such fearful vials of wrath. But we would remind them, that every man must bear his own burden in the last great day; and I cannot refer to that day, when you and I must appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, to give an account of our stewardship, without adverting to the awful responsibility of those who profess to show unto men the way of salvation. What man's opinion of us may be, is comparatively of little importance, but the estimation which God will form of our state, and doctrines, and services then, will result in eternal consequences. An inspired minister could appeal solemnly to those among whom he had laboured, and say, "Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God."

It is not my province to judge any man, but is there not cause to fear that there are many professed ministers of religion who have themselves never been converted to God, who were put into the office which they sustain by relatives, for worldly advantage, who possess not even one

of the qualifications of a minister whom God sends, which are described by the apostle in his Epistles to Timothy and Titus ? Hence the grievous errors into which they fall, which induce them to look more to the shadow than to the substance, and the sad result is, that the blind lead the blind, and both fall into the ditch.

Mistake not, Reverend Sir, my motives and feelings in making such remarks. I wish from the bottom of my heart that it were otherwise. I would, if I could, place a faithful man of God, who sought not his own things, but the things which are Christ's, in every pulpit of the Establishment, and would wish him great prosperity and success, in the name of the Lord. Nonconformist ministers are greatly misrepresented by gentlemen of your views. We do not agree with the mode of church government, but we have no hatred to the Episcopal church, and think that as a section of the church of Christ, though we might not be inclined to join it, it would form a most efficient body, if it were deprived of its State encumbrances, and relieved of those professed ministers who may be scholars, and perhaps would make the best of tutors or politicians, and might prove the wisest of statesmen, but whom God has not been pleased to make suitable in any respect for the work of the sanctuary, which not a few of them daily and painfully feel. Allow

myself

me,

Rev. Sir, to subscribe

Your obedient Servant,

JOHN MORELAND,

Pastor of Congregational Church, Faringdon.

"

THE

Revolution which has taken place in the Italian States has paved the way for the overthrow of Popery, and the spread of the Gospel. The following communication is from an English gentleman, who has very recently returned from a tour in Italy. The views on the points adverted to, of so experienced a Christian minister, and one so well acquainted with the Italian mind, are deserving of attention:

"I wish that I could enable your friends to realise the interesting character of the spiritual work carrying on at Genoa. I visited the evening meetings of the Christian brethren day after day. They meet five evenings in the week, exclusive of the Lord's day. The room in which they meet has been cleaned and improved since last year; indeed, the character of the meetings seemed to me also improved. I thought that I observed a progress in the people who attended. The proud inscription over the port declares that the Virgin Mary, to whom the city is consecrated, had kept out heretics from her favoured town; but lo! these heretics now spread and multiply.

"On one occasion this year I saw a goodly number of females present. The obtaining of female converts is a sign of decided progress, inasmuch as the females in Italy are so much under priestly influence that they are far less easily brought to take the Scriptures for their guide than

are the men. The work cannot, however, proceed healthfully or stand firmly when confined almost entirely to one sex; we rejoice, therefore, to find a visible increase in the number of female converts.

"Mazzarella, who is their guide and teacher more than any man else, is very clever in finding out the talents of these people, and in setting them to work. This talent of his has been of very great service to this body of brethren, under the circumstances which they were called to pass through. When they joined themselves to the Bible Christians, they lost, in many cases, their employment. Mazzarella has been able to ascertain their qualifications, and to set them to work as colporteurs, or in other ways for the extension of the knowledge of Christ.

"In this way, the effort of the great adversary against the profession of the truth was ultimately turned to an extension of the knowledge of that truth. A little more than a year ago, Mazzarella had, a design of enlisting a considerable number of these persons into a service of modified colportage; they were to be furnished with a licence as sellers of books and other things, and to go into a town or village, to stay there it might be two, three, or more weeks, as openings for usefulness offered; they were to ascertain the state of mind of the people, and inquire carefully who were willing to read the Scriptures, and who

would receive them. It was thought that by their fixing themselves for a short time in a place they would the better canvass the district; they would find some persons, perhaps, half persuaded; others with difficulties, which might be removed; and that a more thorough work of Bible distribution would be carried on, at the same time that these brethren assisted in forming little societies for reading and examining the Scriptures. The war broke out, and for the present that scheme was by necessity dropped, as the brethren were employed in other occupations. That earnest and active man is not, however, one to miss an opportunity of seeing what may be done, or of doing it. May God bless his labours and his efforts abundantly, and bless him richly also in his own soul!

"For the carrying on of any Christian work, confidence, esteem, and love, felt in and towards those who direct, are essential. It is easy

to see

that Mazzarella deserves these, and possesses them largely from the people. A good deal of real vigour and liveliness is at once discernible among the people; and I must think that the visits of really loving English Christians' to these meetings are very beneficial. Certainly, love and true Christian prin

GILPIN'S FALL.-When this zealous minister was on his way to London, to be tried before the popish party, he broke his leg by a fall, which put a stop for some time to his journey. The person in whose custody he was, took occasion from this circumstance to retort upon him an observation he used frequently to make, "That nothing happens to the people of God but what is

ciple make a man's face to shine,' and we know that 'the countenance of a man does (invigorate) his friend.' I hoped to have found more prayer, and more earnest prayer in some instances, in the meetings of these interesting Christians. I do feel the need of supplicating for them more of the influence of the Holy Spirit, and where that influence is given it commences and continues very much in a spirit of prayer and supplication. May showers of this Divine influence come down on these rising Italian churches! If they be vivified from above, their influence will very much increase on the surrounding masses; and God seems waiting only for the united prayers of His united church, to pour down this blessing more largely at home and abroad. I trust that your little publication does stir up one heart and another to pray for this great gift. What are all our ministrations, what are all our Bibles sent abroad, without the Holy Ghost's influence? Will not He who has begun a work carry it on? Will not He who has begun to bless give blessing upon blessing?

"There is growth, there is increase, in these churches; I think there can be no doubt about it; there is vitality; what encouragement to pray!"

intended for their good;" asking him whether he thought his broken leg was so. He answered meekly, "I make no question it is." And so it proved; for, before he was able to travel, Queen Mary died. Being thus providentially preserved from probable death, he returned to Houghton through crowds of people, who expressed the utmost joy, and blessed God for his deliverance.

CHRISTIAN principle extends to everything. No matter is so small as to lie beyond its province. It penetrates the whole of our domestic economy. Food, drink, and apparel lie fairly within its scope. It were well if this were more generally remembered.

We

The following paragraph reminds us of a little work, entitled "Three Experiments of Living," illustrating Living within the Means, Living up to the Means, and Living beyond the Means :-"There is an ambition abroad for being 'genteel.' We keep up appearances too often at the expense of honesty; and though we may not be rich, yet we must seem to be so. We must be 'respectable,' though only in the meanest sensein mere vulgar, outward show. have not the courage to go patiently on ward in the condition of life in which it has pleased God to call us, but must needs live in some fashionable state to which we ridiculously please to call ourselves; and all to gratify the vanity of that unsubstantial genteel world of which we form a part. There is a constant struggle and pressure for front seats in the social amphitheatre, in the midst of which all self-denying resolve is trodden down, and many fine natures inevitably crushed to death. What waste, what misery, what bankruptcy come from all this ambition to dazzle others with the glare of apparent worldly success, we need not describe. The mis

chievous results show themselves in a thousand ways, in the rank frauds committed by men who do not dare to seem poor, and in the desperate dashes at fortune, in which the pity is not so much for those who fail as for the hundreds of innocent families who are so often involved in their ruin.

MATERNAL PRAYER. MANY of the readers of this Magazine will remember the visit to this country of the celebrated Dr. S. H. Cox, of New York, some dozen years back. The following incidents in his life are new to us, and will doubtless beso to most of our readers. They are communicated by Dr. Marselus, who vouches for their perfect accuracy:

"A pious mother in Israel, of the Presbyterian church, had a beloved daughter, who had been carefully and prayerfully instructed in the truths of the Gospel, but who, contrary to the wishes and expectations of her parent, was married to a man belonging to the Society of Friends. The first child of this marriage was supposed, by the attending physician, and others who were present, to be still-born, as no symptom of life could be discovered. But the mother, or rather the grandmother of the child, thought she discovered some tokens of vitality, and made known her discoveries to the physician, who ridiculed the idea, and persisted in the opinion he had already expressed. Still, however, the

grandmother persevered in her attention to the new-born infant, until all doubt was removed. The child lived. With rapture she exclaimed, 'This child shall yet live to be a Presbyterian minister.' She resolved that no efforts on her part should be wanting to bring about this desirable end. Accordingly, she took upon herself the pleasing task of instructing him in those truths which she held dear, and from which she gathered the richest consolation. With parental anxiety she watched the developments of his mind in early youth, and often, often wrestled with God in fervent prayer for His blessing upon her efforts that she might enjoy the privilege of witnessing his saving conversion, and his consecration to the service of the Saviour in the work of the ministry. Her prayers were heard. Her anticipations were realised. She

lived to see him brought as a penitent sinner to the foot of the cross, rejoicing in the hope of forgiven sin, and enter upon his preparatory studies for the ministry of reconciliation; and then, in a good old age, with faith and hope in lively exercise, she could exclaim, with pious Simeon, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.' In process of time, this child of many prayers and of tender solicitude be- : came an ambassador of the Prince of Peace, has for many years laboured with signal success in this city, and still continues to preach 'Christ Jesus, and Him crucified,' in the city of Brooklyn, with increasing usefulness; and many, very many, will no doubt appear at the great day of judgment, as the seals of his ministry, and as crowns of his rejoicing."

THERE are few names more fre

quently quoted among English

Christians than that of John Newton. He is held in equal esteem by Churchmen and Dissenters. All read his letters, sing his hymns, and quote his sayings, with equal reverence and pleasure. As a letterwriter he has never had an equal, unless in his illustrious friend Cowper the poet. It is highly important that Christians generally should, from one generation to another, keep up an acquaintance with the facts of his extraordinary history. They are mainly the fol

lowing. Perhaps no sketch of his life could give at once a more just and vivid idea of it than his epitaph, written by himself, to be inscribed on a plain marble tablet, and besides which he earnestly desired "that no other monument and no inscription but to this purport" should be attempted for him :

JOHN NEWTON, Clerk, Once an Infidel and a Libertine, A Servant of Slaves in Africa, Was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith