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alone ought to be enough to rouse the indignation of every Bible-loving Christian against a system so unholy. But this is not all its impieties. The Romish Church asserts that her priests can change the elements of bread and wine into the very body, soul, and divinity of the Redeemer. This is a masterpiece of Satan—a clever and successful juggle by which the Bishop of Rome usurps temporal authority over princes, and compels his subjects to pour their treasures of silver and gold into the coffers of the priesthood.

Now there are some advocates of Romish errors, who will tell you that all this is the old religion. No fallacy can be greater than this. They would make you believe, if they could, that they only possess the treasures of spiritual wisdom deposited with the Apostles, and that we have declined from the good old way. We must refute this objection in our next "hint;" meanwhile we must conclude this by urging you to seek for the old paths, and ask for the old way, with a wellconsidered certainty that the oldest way is the best way. Let the prayer which is constantly put up in your Village Church be yours-that you may inwardly mark, learn, and digest all holy Scripture to your soul's salvation. York.

T. M.

THE VILLAGE CHURCHMAN'S SABBATH
MEDITATIONS.-No. I.

(For The Village Churchman.)

"God is provoked every day."_Ps. 7. 12. Prayer Book version.

WE may well "blush, and be ashamed to lift up our heads," when we consider what a contrast is offered by the conduct of an earthly master, to that of the sovereign ruler of the universe. When we take a servant into our family, we most probably explain the rules established for the regulation of our domestic establishment, the service we require, and the way in which we wish it performed: "An austere master," then considers he has fulfilled all required of him, and that for the sustenance he gives, and the wages he promises, implicit obedience is due on the part of the servant. An indulgent master will perhaps do more; having compassion on the ignorance or forgetfulness of his fellow mortal, he will forgive some errors, or notice them only by a gentle repri

mand: he will offer advice or assistance where he sees it requisite, and kindly desire his domestic to seek instruction from himself, whenever an unforeseen difficulty arises. If, after every direction has been given, and every assistance provided to render duty easy and service light, we should find the gentle and indulgent master "provoked every day," by wilful disobedience to his laws, and neglect of his commands, we should think he was only just to himself, in discarding the unfaithful domestic from his service, and leaving him to feel, by bitter experience, the difference between his gentle rule, and the treatment his conduct will receive from others.

Yet the behaviour of the most careless servant is but a feeble emblem of our own, to our Heavenly Master. We have bound ourselves to his service by the most solemn obligations: the wages he offers are far beyond our utmost deserts; he has promised to provide all things needful for us while in his service; his "yoke is easy and his burden light" laws simple yet sufficient are given for our guidance; and if we "lack wisdom" we are encouraged to apply to One, whose ear is never closed; while strength is promised to the feeble, and rest offered to the weary. Yet that service which is "perfect freedom," is by many rejected as hard bondage, and the God who is a righteous judge, "strong and patient," is, even by his professed servants, "provoked every day."

If we considered the might and majesty of Him whom we so heedlessly offend, we should surely tremble at exciting the wrath of One, who though "patient" to bear with our repeated transgressions, is also "strong" to punish them. His mercy waits to be gracious, but his justice cannot be tampered with; and "if a man will not turn, he will whet his sword;" against the impenitent he hath beut his bow, and made it ready." But who can endure the arrow of God's vengeance?-it can reach the inmost soul, and inflict a pang to endure throughout eternity.

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Scripture affords many instances, in which God has borne long with the provocations of his rebellious servants, but has at last visited them with the punishment they deserved. The mercy of God waited a hundred years after the decree had gone forth to overwhelm a guilty world, with a flood of vengeance, to see if the idolators would receive the warning, and repent: it was in vain, and they were swept away in the aging waters. The Egyptians had repeated proofs of God's

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power, yet of his willingness to reprieve: and many were the efforts made to recal His chosen people to their duty, before judgment, "God's strange work," was executed upon them.

We are thus left without any excuse for disobedience; while every incentive is given which can act upon the various emotions of our nature, and keep us in the path of duty, hope is taught to look forward to an infinite reward-fear, to dread that vengeance which can reach the immortal spirit-while gratitude incites us to yield what return we are able to Him in whom we live and move and have our being.

Surely such considerations as these, should lead us to repentance for our past transgressions, and more earnest endeavours to serve God truly for the time to come. A new year is opening upon us may it be to us the commencement of a new career, actuated by new motives, and incited by new hopes: and if, before this year expires, our Heavenly Master should call us from this state of probation in his more immediate service, may the reader and the writer hear from Him this cheering salutation: "well done thou_good and faithful servant," enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." META RILEY.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND SOCIETIES.-No. I.

THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN FOREIGN

PARTS.

WE propose to give in the present and in some succeeding Numbers of The Village Churchman, a short account of the Societies established and supported by pious and benevolent members of the Church of England, that the poorer and younger classes of Churchmen may be able to learn how much we owe to the piety and zeal of our forefathers. Our readers in general will see that Churchmen are not behind, but far before other denominations of Christians, in philanthropic exertions to "do good unto all men, especially the household of faith."-Gal. vi. 10.

We may reckon the venerable" Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," as the first in point of time as well as usefulness, and its birth may be traced back to the year 1647. Mosheim says that "in proportion to the increase of its members, influence, resources, and prerogatives, it has renewed and augmented its efforts." The execution of its plans was suspended during the civil war; but its zealous members at length succeeded in obtaining a charter for its

incorporation in 1701. Thus it was enabled to extend its operations to the British Plantations. Its Missionaries were ordained ministers of the Lutheran Church; and it numbers among those it has employed the apostolical Swartz and Gericke, by whose labours, and those of their brethren, many thousands were brought to the profession of the Christian faith, and to the practice of the duties of our holy religion. Before the troubles broke out which ended in the independence of the United States, the Society employed nearly one hundred Missionaries, besides Catechists, and Schoolmasters, and expended from 4,000l. to 5,000l. per annum. Its exertions were then chiefly confined to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Canada.

But, vast and new fields of labour were opened for its enterprize, from time to time, in the East and West Indies, as well as in other parts of the world, which the Society gladly cultivated as far as its means enabled it. An Anniversary Sermon is preached before it in the parish Church of St. Maryle-bone, London, by one of the Bishops, which is printed with the Report. Some very valuable extracts were published a few years ago from those Sermons, by one of the members of the Society, in a volume, and called "Propaganda," well worthy of the perusal of every Churchman.

The Society has lately called forth the energies of th Church, and there are now various auxiliaries formed for the purpose of aiding its designs. It is, therefore, most devoutly to be wished that this very imperfect notice of it may lead our readers to a better acquaintance with it, and to a zealous co-operation with it. The Clergy in every parish and chapelry will be glad to encourage such auxiliaries. "God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and show us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us: that thy way may be known upon earth: thy saving health among all nations.". Psalm lxvii. 1, 2.

The

The Archbishop of Canterbury is the President. services rendered by this Society to our fellow countrymen, members of the Church in the Colonies, are very extensive, and important beyond all calculation. The income has for many years been inadequate to meet the necessary expenditure.

It is stated in the Society's Report that there are in England 1,600,000 families in communion with the Church, and that if each family gave on an average 2s. 6d. a year, (which is rather less than one half-penny a week,) the amount contributed would be 200,000l. a year for missionary purposes.

The amount of the collection recently made in behalf o this Society under the Queen's letter, June 18, 1838, is as follows:

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Ir is astonishing what wilful misrepresentations are constantly put in circulation respecting the Church established in these kingdoms. It will be the endeavour of The Village Churchman, from time to time, to correct such mistatements, so that its readers may be able to render a reason to every

man.

It is said that the wealth of the Church is enormous, about fifteen millions a year, and that she ought to provide better than she does for the wants of the people. The income of the clergy, on the contrary, put altogether, is not so much as three millions and a half; which, if it were divided, would give about three hundred a year to each clergyman; and in the whole is about equal to the amount spent by the people of England in tobacco and snuff, and something more than one-fourth of what is consumed in spirits.

The Revenues of the Church are as follows:→→
Income of Bishops

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£160,114

Cathedrals and Collegiate Churches 271,970
10,701 Benefices or Livings

3,058,248

Total Church Property. £3,490,332

Compare with this the National expenditure in other departments. In the year 1827, the duties received upon spirits amounted to 7,043,244/. 11s. 2d.: this was the duty only, the cost would not be less than ten or twelve millions. The duty on tobacco has often exceeded three millions in the year. So that it would seem that we thrust up our nostrils in the shape of snuff, or consume in smoke from the ridiculous cigar, considerably more than is required to furnish a

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