to a state of religious recollection, by the very laudable exertions of the Evangelical Clergy, and the Dissenting Methodists, that, but for their labour of love, might have continued in a state of sin and impenitency to the close of their mortal existence."*

Evangelical Ministers, though scattered among many religious denominations, are a large and rapidly increasing body of men. In the Church of England they form a very considerable and a highly respectable body. Many of them are distinguished for literary talents, as well as for active and laborious piety. By the blessing of God on their ministrations, a new portion of life and vigour has been infused into that Church; and genuine Christianity has struck its roots deeply into the hearts of men. Though no such extensive and eminent revival of piety has taken place in the Church of Scotland, there are still in that Church a considerable number of men, respectable for their abilities, and venerable for their godliness, whose exertions have been the means of cherishing the remains of devotion, and preserving the languishing flame from being extinguished. The Relief Church has had, and continues to have in her communion, many men of distinguished excellence and piety. The two bodies of the Secession, in Scotland, with those who have separated from them by the name of Old Light, have universally been the depositories of Evangelical religion, and have been faithful to the sacred trust. They possess men distinguished for learning, exemplary for their piety, and who are justly entitled to rank highly as men of talent and genius, and who are well skilled in the art of

Ingram on the Increase of Methodism, and on Evangelical Preaching.

composition. Of the Antiburghers we needonly mention Dr. Jamieson, Dr. M'Crie, and Mr. Ferrier; of the Burghers, Dr. Lawson, and Mr. Dick. Whatever opinion men may form of the peculiarities of these parties, there is one peculiarity on which the Evangelical world should place a high value, that their ministers all teach the great doctrines of Christianity. Among the English Dissenters, may be found men celebrated for their intellectual powers, and genuine worth, who would be an honour and a blessing to any church. As the number of Dissenters has greatly increased within these last twenty years, the increase has been principally among those who are Evangelical. Where the great doctrines of Christianity are not preached, even the appearance of religion is soon extinguished. The power of Godliness not being felt, its form quickly disappears. Of men of Evangelical principles all missionary societies, and all missionaries consist. The disciples of Pelagianism, and those who approach that system, are seldom roused to any vigorous measures, for promoting the tenets they have adopted, unless when they are in flamed with resentment against those, who are the advocates of a religion, that warms and melts the heart. The great purposes for which the Son of God came down from Heaven, assumed our nature, suffered and died,-the glory of God, and the salvation of men, appear little to interest persons of their sentiments. The spirit and temper, the active piety and the universal philanthropy of the Apostles, are found associated only with the Gospel which they disseminated and taught.

Many of the numerous Independent Churches are adorned with pastors, learned, able, and eloquent ; and whose talents are dignified and consecrated by the

genuine spirit of devotion. The names of Dr. Collyer, Mr. Styles, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Bogue, Mr. Bennet, and Mr. Jay, are well known in the religious world. Mr. Clayton, a respectable Minister in London, has the happiness of being the father of three young men in the same ministry, all of them worthy of such a father :-Among the Baptists, besides the missionaries in India, whose literary efforts have obtained the high meed of Dr. Marsh's praise, and who are entitled to the grateful and affectionate remembrance of every pious man, there are names never to be mentioned but with the highest respect. Mr. Hall possesses a mind of a powerful and vast grasp, and his elocution, as well as the elegance of his style, is calculated to do justice to the penetration of his mind, and to the elevation of his sentiments. Mr. Foster has shown the literary world that he is in possession of a mind richly furnished with general knowledge, as well as with that professional information which is necessary to a minister of Christianity. Mr. Fuller, in various works, has exhibited ratiocinative powers, which though calm and dispassionate, are highly correct and vigorous, and accompanied with an eloquence that is firm and manly. Mr. Hughes is so well known as an eloquent advocate of the Bible Society, that every reader of its reports, and of its Auxiliary Meetings, must know that his talents are respectable, and his oratorial powers interesting and persuasive.

The two bodies of Methodists, the Arminian and Calvinistic, bring a large accession of strength to the cause of Evangelical religion. Among them we behold much fervent piety, active zeal, and indefatigable exertion, for the glory of God and the good of men. They also possess men of learning and talent, qualified to shine in the

literary world, as well as in preaching the doctrines of the Cross of Christ. The many accomplishments of Dr. Coke have been justly appreciated by the best judges.* The profound and various learning of Dr. Clarke; the luminous and well informed mind, and the strong energies and powers of Mr. Benson, are known and respected by many who are in no connexion with the society of the Methodists. Of the other party, the distinguished abilities and impressive eloquence of Dr. Drapier, are generally acknowledged, and no doubt there are many other excellent and valuable men in both these connexions, of whom we have not the happiness of having any knowledge. The Moravian Church, though not very considerable in numbers, is nobly eminent for Evangelical doctrine and animated zeal. In carrying the Gospel to the most barbarous and inhospitable shores, they have with a Divine heroism, encountered the greatest dangers, and patiently submitted with fortitude to the greatest privations, and perseveringly continued in their labours of love, amidst the greatest discouragements; till they have reaped the fruits of their continuance in well doing.

The Episcopal Church in Scotland has been long known to possess many Ministers of highly cultivated talents, and most respectable characters. It would appear from Mr. Adams's account of that Church, of which he himself is a member, that its ministers are generally men of Evangelical sentiments. As they subscribe the thirty nine Articles of the Church of England, they cannot consistently be otherwise. Mr. Adams's own sentiments

• This amiable and excellent man is now in a better world.

are correctly Evangelical. The same thing is to be hoped of the Episcopal Church in America.

The old and new Independent Churches in Scotland are supposed to be universally of Evangelical sentiments, and among the latter there are several ministers of strong natural, and highly cultivated powers: of these Mr. Ewing, and the two Mr. Haldens, are among the most distinguished.-In America, the same Evangelical doctrines are said to have been widely diffused in the Presbyterian, as well as among the Independent Churches, and also among the Methodists.-In Ireland, which has long been sunk into a state of ignorance and supineness, great exertions have been made, both by the pious Clergy of the Church, and by Evangelical Dissenters, to rouse men from their general apathy, and to awaken in their minds a sense of the importance of the truths of the Gospel. In these labours none have been more indefatigable, or more successful, than the Methodists.-The Reformed and Lutheran Churches on the Continent have in many instances, shaken off the slumbers of more than a century, and felt the resuscitating and warming rays of Evangelical piety quickening them to the most vigorous exertions in the cause of religion.

To every pious mind it must communicate sensations of the strongest and most refined pleasure to know, that in the very midst of India, and though surrounded with the gloom of the most abject superstition and the polluted rites of pagan idolatry, there is a Christian Church that has, probably ever since the Apostolic age, preserved the purity of the Christian faith and worship, and still continues to have that holy fire burning on her altars. Such is the Syrian Church, with its venerable Bishop Mar Dionesius, at its head. This aggregate body comprehends