Heaven upon Earth; or, Jesus the best Friend | of Man. By JAMES JANEWAY, Author of "A Token for Children," &c. With History of the Janeway Family. By the Rev. F. A. Cox, D.D., LL.D., Hackney. London: Nelson. 12mo. pp. 314. Of this work, Dr. Cox says, in the valuable introductory essay which he has prefixed to it, "It is not free from the defects which characterize the writings of that age; but though somewhat quaint, immethodical, and prolix, it is replete with sterling sense and powerful appeal. Few pious persons can read it without benefit, and could the irreligious be persuaded to peruse its pages, we should anticipate a happy result. He who could have written thus must have been an excellent Christian and a sound divine." The Pilgrimage: How God was found of him that sought him not; or Rationalism in the Bud, the Blade, and the Ear. A Tale for our Times. Translated from the German of C. A. WILDENHAHN, by Mrs. Stanley Carr. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd. Post 8vo. PP. 404. We have been betrayed unwittingly into the perusal of a romance. It was not till we had proceeded through many pages that we saw clearly that this tale was a fiction, and then we determined to finish it that we might report upon it to our friends. The principal personage exhibited to view is a young man who at the close of his college studies retains just so much respect for "the Sage of Nazareth" as is due to him for having removed the fear entertained of death as a state of dull repose, by substituting the doctrine of the continued activity of the immortal spirit. This young man is bereaved of his mother, passes through a variety of strange exciting scenes in which three ladies of extraordinary attractions, but very different characters, bear prominent parts, falls in with an aged Swiss pastor full of wisdom and disinterestedness, believes from the heart on Christ as his Saviour, Redeemer, and Guide to a happy eternity, and determines to marry an admirable young maiden who had been his playmate in boyhood, and though neglected by him for several years is every way fitted to make him an excellent wife. All this is, however, merely the invention of an imaginative author: but if the reader is one of those who think such inventions profitable, he may avail himself of the information which our adventure enables us to furnish. A Voice from Heaven concerning the Dead who die in the Lord: with some Account of the late Mrs. John Sands, who departed this life 25th January, 1847. By PHILIP CATER, Minister of Alfred Place Chapel, Brompton. Glasgow: Macklehose. London: Jackson and Walford. 24mo. pp. viii. 89. The specimens of her correspondence and the description of her character, given by Mr. Cater, exhibit Mrs. Sands as a Christian of more than average excellence; and persons who had not the pleasure of her acquaintance, as well as those who had, may read this small volume with advantage. The Life and Writings of the Rev. Dr. Chalmers. By the Rev. HENRY DAVIS, M.A. London: 24mo. pp. 108. Price 1s. A cheap publication in proportion to its size, and one that contains as full an account of the eminent man to whom it relates as is necessary for general purposes to English readers. The views of the writer on ecclesiastical questions are those of a candid minister of the episcopal establishment. The Oxford Blue. Published for the Baptist Tract Society. Price One Penny. It vexed Solomon to think of the use that might be made of his labour after his death, when another man should have the rule over it; and "who knoweth," said he, "whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured." Inferior men to Solomon have in our days to endure the same thing even from their contemporaries. This "leaf from the military history of the year seventeen hundred and seventy-five" was written by the editor of the Baptist Magazine,-published in that work in February, 1846,-stolen by somebody or other and mutilated-placed first on the celebrated Attican's short bed to be lopped, and then on the long one to be stretched-and, finally, sent out into the world to condemn the subject of the narrative for his deviations from some views advocated by "The Baptist Tract Society." It is true-perfectly true-that "a desire to gratify the wishes of good men, is apt to influence our judgment as to what is right, when the only question should be," What has God authorized?" But no one who knew the man ever thought that an illustration of this truth nineteenth century in the career of Richard would be discovered by any wiseacre of the Morris. Whether he were right or wrong in his belief and practice, his biographer, Dr. Godwin, justly remarks, that "what he conceived the bible taught he received, and paid no attention to any other authority;"-"he derived his religious principles from the scriptures of truth, and was resolved, in religion to call no man master on the earth," "_" when, after a careful examination, he was fully persuaded of the truth of any sentiment, it would have affected him but very little, if the whole world had pronounced it heresy." Such a man must, however, living or dead, take the consequences of his determination. For conscience' sake, Richard Morris was sentenced by his officers to be picketed; for conscience' sake he submitted to be "cold burnt" by his comrades; and for concience' sake he would undoubtedly have reafter his death as one who sought to please men signed himself to be exhibited thirty years when the only question should have been, this tract-mender, on our personal knowledge, "What has God authorized?" We can assure that Mr. Morris was an extraordinary man; and there was one trait in his character mentioned by his biographer on which this modern Procrustes might advantageously meditate; incredible, nay, incomprehensible, as it may seem to this gentleman, Dr. Godwin testifies that Mr. Morris was "perfectly willing that others should think and act for themselves, and never thought it a sin in any to differ from him!" Memoir of the Rev. Thomas S. M'Kean, M.A., | Missionary at Tahiti, who was killed by a musket-shot during an engagement between the French and the Natives, on the 30th of June, 1844. By the Rev. JOSEPH A. MILLER, of New Court Chapel, Lincoln's Inn Fields. With an Introduction by the Rev. A. Tidman, Foreign Secretary of the London Missionary Society. London: Snow. 16mo. Pp. xxiv. 208. Mr. McKean was born in the year 1807. At the age of twenty-seven he entered the Glasgow Theological Academy, and in 1838 he was settled as pastor of the independent church at Kirkwall, in the Orkneys. Having laboured there zealously and successfully for three years, he offered himself as a missionary to the directors of the London Missionary Society. He landed in Tahiti in the beginning of 1842, and having acquired the native language, he had entered on his active missionary work, when in consequence of well-known atrocities committed by the French authorities, he was accidentally killed in his own house by a musket shot during a skirmish between the French and the native troops. The narrative presents us with the portraiture of a minister and missionary distinguished for decision and energy of character, eminent and active piety, and a strong feeling of the individual responsibility of the Christian. Interspersed with it are important remarks on the ministerial office and the Tahitian mission, and the book cannot be read without interest by any who delight in tracing the features of the Christian character or the progress of the Christian cause. The profits arising from its sale will be placed in the hands of the treasurer of the London Missionary Society, for the benefit of the widow and orphans. Letters to a Romish Bishop on the Character, Tendency, and Influence of the Papacy, By KIRWAN. With an Introduction, and an affectionate Address to Roman Catholics. By Octavius Winslow, M.A. Edinburgh: Kennedy. 16mo. pp. 66. An admirable little book, which may be placed advantageously in the hands of any person who is beginning to think favourably of Romanism. The Millennium in its Three Hundredth Century. Written in the Year 1847 of the Satanic State of the Fallen World. By OMICRON, Author of "Elements of Truth," "Paulus," "Pride and Prejudice," &c. &c. London: Houghton, 8vo. pp. xv. 51. If the author's poetry were as much superior to what it is as the poetry of the millennium will be superior to that of the year 1847, it would yet be intolerable if printed in the same style as the poetry and prose of the present volume. In the fifteen lines which constitute the first paragragh of the preface, there are eight words in capitals, eighteen in small capitals, and five in italics; and this proportion is pretty equally preserved throughout the book. Misery and Mercy, exemplified in the History of several Unfortunate Females. Nelson's Large Type Comprehensive Edition of Matthew Henry's Commentary, (Unabridged). With illustrative Engravings. The following new and important features in this Work, distinguishing it above all existing editions, will render it at once a Complete Cyclopædia of Bible Comment, Reference, Historical Knowledge, and Scripture Illustration. 1. A valuable and copious collection of Scripture References. 2. Various Readings from the Translations of the Scriptures by Wickliffe, Tyndale, Coverdale, &c. 3. Notes on the Manners and Customs of the East, &c. 4. Notes on the Natural History of the Bible, &c. &c. Part VI. London: folio. pp. 63. Price 18. INTELLIGENCE. AMERICA. AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSIONARY UNION. The twelfth Triennial Meeting of the supporters of this institution was held in the middle of May at Cincinnati. The finances of the union are reported to be in better condition than they have been for several years. The amount of receipts from donations, legacies, and magazine, for the year closing 1st of April, 1847, is 85,487 dollars, 24 cents :-of expenditure, 84,339 dollars, 71 cents. The total debt 34,835 dollars, 90 cents, April 1st, 1846. The same, April 1st, 1847, 33,687 dollars, 56 cents. Stock of the permanent fund, 20,000 dollars; Bank and other stocks, 2,600 dollars. The number of missionaries and assistants in the employ of the Union, is 101, of whom thirty-six are ministers of the gospel engaged in preaching; 12 are preachers and teachers; five printers, typesetters, &c., and forty-eight female assistants. There are sixteen missions; fifty mission stations; ninety-three out-stations; 108 churches; 10,000 church members; 1,783 baptized within the year; three theological and forty-five common schools. The gross receipts for the year, including appropriations from the American and Foreign Bible Society, American Tract Society, and the United States government, amount to 95,487 dollars, 34 cents. The gross expenditure during the same period, 94,339 dollars, 71 cents. The debt has been diminished, 1,147 dollars, 53 cents. The receipts exceed those of every other year, than one, by at least 14,000 dollars. The report presented in bright colours the encouraging circumstances of the present day as relating to the operations of this organization among the heathen. In the early history of the enterprise, for eight long years the waiting missionary toiled, and his Christian brethren encouraged him, before the first Burman convert stood before brother Judson. "It seems almost too much to believe," he exclaimed, "that God has begun to manifest his grace to the Burmans; but this day I could not resist the delightful conviction that this is really the case. Praise and glory be to his name for evermore." With this was delightfully contrasted the subsequent history of several of the missions, especially the Shawanoe, the German, the Assamese, the Burman, and the Karen. The annual additions to the Karen churches for several years last past, made a conspicuous part of the picture. The present number of their members is more than 3000. AMERICAN BAPTIST HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The number of agents and missionaries who have acted under the commission of the Society during the past year, is 140; being thirty-four more than the previous year, and eighteen more than were ever appointed in one year. The whole number of states and territories occupied, was twenty-one, including the province of Canada. The missionaries have statedly occupied 505 stations and out-stations, and the aggre gate amount of time bestowed by them is equal to that of one man for more than eighty-three years. They report the baptism of 490 persons, the organization of twenty-nine churches and the ordination of twenty-five ministers. Ten houses of worship have been completed, and twenty-six commenced by the churches under their care; and four churches, heretofore aided by the society, have undertaken to support their ministers without that aid. The churches assisted have contributed to various objects of benevolence 1,515 dollars, 13 cents, or 600 dollars more than were reported last year, besides 10,903 dollars, 13 cents, for the support of the gospel at home, and not less than 20,000 dollars for the building of houses of worship. A comparison of the donations, labours, and results of the year, with those of the previous one, shows the following differences: thirty-four missionaries employed, thirty-three stations supplied, twelve years of labour, ten ordinations, and 2,678 dollars, 50 cents, in donations more than in 1846. 502 baptisms, four churches organized, and four churches rendered able to support the gospel less than that year. EUROPE. Our brethren in this city have had some pleasant meetings occasioned by the opening of a new and commodious place of worship for their use, the first services in which were held on Lord's day, the 11th July. A friend from England, who was present, has furnished us with details which we lay before our church, but in tacit compliance with German readers in his own words : "It is remarkable, that in the very same street in which it stands-the BöhmkenStrasse-and within twenty doors, is the house in which the church held its meetings for about four years, from 1836 to 1840, when they were expelled by the police, and brother Oncken thrown into prison. So wonderfully has the Disposer of all events interfered on their behalf, that within sight of that house whence, seven years ago, they were driven out, amid the hootings of the rabble, are our dear brethren now permitted to have a house of their own, beautifully placed in the midst of a garden, retired from the street by a long and wide passage, at the further end of which are gates, by the closing of which all intrusion may be effectually shut out. The following inscription, most appropriate to the experience of our brethren, is carved over the front gates, next the street, with grotesques on each extremity : ANNO. BIS. HIEHER. HAT MICH. DER. HERR. GEHOLFEN. 1727. "Thus far hath the Lord helped me.' "The building, now so happily appropriated to the worship of God, stands on the western side of the entire property, having a garden in front, eastward, upon which three large and lofty windows look out. It is very substantial, having been recently built for an iron warehouse. It is light, lofty, and airy; seventy-three feet long, twenty-one wide, and twenty-two high. At the south end, nearest the street, are the vestries, occupying about twelve feet northward, and opening by two doors into the meeting-house, about twelve feet of which, next the vestries, forms a platform, elevated two feet and a half, on which stands the pulpit, between the vestry doors. In front of it is the chair for the reader, the communion table, and, on either hand, three benches fronting each other, principally appropriated to the singers. Under this platform is the baptistery, and from the centre of it, three steps descend into the aisle, which passes along the centre of the place, between benches which abut upon either wall, and extends nearly to the north end, under the gallery. There are two entrances; the first leading to the foot of the platform, the other to within about the same distance of the opposite end, and containing the gallery staircase. The benches have all back rails, and are, like the rest of the wood-work, painted light wain scot. "The first thing which struck us, on entering the place, was to find the congregation arranged like the Friends in England,―men on one side, women on the other, and this, I find, not under any regulation of the usage. I was happy to meet the hearty greeting of our brother Lehmann, whom I had known in England. He had arrived late on the preceding evening from Berlin, with his two sons, to be present on this joyful occasion. I was seated next to brother Steinhoff, who had walked a great part of the way from Eimbeck, above two hundred miles off, and had been up two nights, in order to arrive in time. The place was thoroughly filled, and the singing was, in point of simplicity, power, and harmony, most effective, -the whole congregation uniting, as the voice and heart of one man. "At nine o'clock, brother Oncken opened the meeting with the apostolic greeting, 'Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.' The service consisted of a number of short hymns, alternating with brief passages from scripture, which were all read by brother Schauffler, one of the co-pastors. The first prayer was by brother Oncken, who also first addressed the meeting, and was followed by brother Köbner, a co-pastor, and brother Lehmann, from Berlin. After these addresses, of which, through the kindness of the three brethren, we shall be able to give brief abstracts, brother Schauffler prayed. A few more lines were then sung, and brother Oncken closed the service with the usual benediction. "At five o'clock there was an evening service, conducted by brother Köbner, who preached from 2 Samuel vii. 20—29. Brother Oncken's Address. "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." In such effusions of the heart does the gratitude of the redeemed frequently break forth, and it is a striking feature in the character of the people of God-of all those who in truth belong to the redeemed--that they possess and cultivate these grateful feelings. What ardent love and gratitude must fill our hearts, dear brethren and sisters, and especially mine, when I look back to the past, and remember how, nearly a quarter of a century ago, I gave my first testimony of Christ and his grace, in a little assembly of seven people in this town, and how I soon after was obliged to flee from one place to another, to escape the persecution; when I remember how many powerful voices were raised against the gospel, and especially against us, and how every effort was made by hell beneath, and by the enemies of God on earth, to stay the progress of the gospel; but how, in spite of all, many hundred thousands far and near, have heard the gospel, and how, from amongst them, in this place alone, between six to seven hundred precious souls have been converted to Christ and saved to all eternity! and above all, that through the gracious leadings of God, a church has been formed here, which is not seeking its existence in the restitution of antiquated human forms, but in taking fast hold, by faith, on the Lord Jesus Christ; a church from which the word of life has been proclaimed in all directions by a living, verbal testimony, and by which about fifty sister churches have been called into being; and when I then cast a look at this temple of stone with which our gracious Lord presents us to-day, and in which we hope to "build up one another in our most holy faith," from one Lord's day to another, in undisturbed peace, "under our own vine, and our own fig-tree, none daring to make us afraid," until faith be changed to vision; oh, then, must a review of the feeble commencement of the glorious progress, and of what stands to-day before our eyes-this living house of God, and this earthly temple, which we receive to-day as a present from the hand of our God-tune our hearts with the most unbounded gratitude towards our good and gracious Lord; and in such a frame, I should have preferred to sit to-day in holy admiration at the feet of my God and my Saviour, and weep over the sin and weakness which has been connected with my share of labour; but still more to praise from the bottom of my heart the riches of grace and the wonders of mercy, which our eyes have seen and our hearts experienced. But as you expect an address, I must give up my own wish, though my feelings are such that I dare not trust myself to make any lengthened address. Let me, then, beloved brethren, direct your attention to Matt. xxviii. 18-20; from which I would remind you, through whom, and by what human instrumentality, all these glorious results have been accomplished in the past, and upon whom our success must dedepend for the future. Our Lord says, "All power is given unto me in heaven and on earth." Not some power, nor much power, but all power. His power is not confined to earth, he has all power in heaven, all power over the treasures of grace, over everything we need from the hand of our heavenly Father; all power to give us the strength we need, the wisdom we need, the faith we need, and the love we need; all power to enable us to overcome our spiritual enemies. He has also all power on earth, all power over the hearts of men, and over everything that transpires in the world. This power has been constantly in operation for us; has defended us, and overruled all things for the furtherance of his cause, and to this we owe all our success. Secondly. Let me remind you of the sweet and incomparable promise which stands in connexion with this declaration. "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Wherever the power of Christ is exercised for his people, it brings them into close union and communion with him. The great secret of vital godliness is Christ in us, the hope of glory. By this personal presence of Christ with us, that we have been preserved amidst trial and persecution, and enabled to go on in spite of all the efforts of our enemies to crush us, and so stay the progress of the gospel of Christ. This is also the mainspring of all vital exertions for the spread of the gospel. And let me remind you, thirdly, of the only human instrumentality employed in the achievement of the victories which we have witnessed. It is the gospel preached by saved sinners. God has decreed that sinners are to be saved through sinners. No human wisdom, learning, influence, or power has been employed, but simply the gospel. And God has proved this to be ef ficient, having made it the power of God to the salvation of sinners. Our future prosperity must proceed from the same source the sovereign power and presence of Christ; and by the same instrumentality-the preaching of the gospel. Here, in this new temple, may the gospel still be faithfully preached, the whole counsel of God be declared, sinners be shown their lost condition and pointed to Christ, and believers be taught to "walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." Then we shall see glorious things, Christ will be exalted, and many, many sinners brought to him. This is not an uncertainty. We know that if we thus faithfully preach the gospel of the Son of God, he to whom "all power in heaven and on earth" belongs, will be with us "alway, even unto the end of the world." Amen. Brother Köbner's Address. Every gift of God is consecrated by the word of God and prayer, and that which you have this day received, oh, church of the Lord, has been thus consecrated. The sound of holy truth has already filled this room, and the breathings of devout believing hearts have already risen from it to heaven. We are far from calling these walls of brick and mortar a sanctuary, or a house of God; for we know no other house of God upon earth than that living house of living stones-the church. Nevertheless, this house is a precious gift of God, and calls for the warmest thankfulness, especially when we consider how large a sum has been paid for this resting-place for saved sinners. "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." That we might have a place, he must go without; that we might obtain rest, he must be without rest upon the earth. Our abundance today is obtained by the poverty of the Son of God. Now he hath entered into the glory which he had before the world was; now he has gone to the place where he can lay his head on the bosom of the Father, and has re |