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NEW CHAPELS.-Chapels opened during the month :

Ellastone (Uttoxeter Circuit), May 1.
Seat 130; half of the sittings free. Cost
£300. £177 subscribed.
Fellbeck (Pateley Bridge

May 3.

Robert Town (Cleckheaton May 8. Cost £600.

Circuit),

Circuit),

MISCELLANEOUS.
BAPTIST CHAPEL.-A new Baptist
Chapel was opened on 30th April, at
East Stour, near Shaftesbury.

propability of any court now holding otherwise.

THE CHURCH AND DISSENT. THE

following remarks of the Bishop of Norwich, at the Annual Meeting of the British and Foreign School Society, do not seem to have met general approbation; some good-tempered observations by Mr. Burnet in reply, however, upon the possibility of repairing the keystone without destroying the arch, met universal applause.

"My friends among the Dissenters, I will speak a word to you, which, I think will not be palatable-(Laughter)—but, nevertheless, I will speak openly and fearlessly, and you must take it as you please. (Hear, hear.) The Church of England, as long as its clergy do their duty, will stand in spite of every effort to overthrow antiquity or by prejudice no matter, is it. The Church of England, whether by

linked and entwined, and has taken root in the hearts of Englishmen. It is like the oak-tree, its roots penetrate deep into the ground, and, gentlemen Dissenters, it will blunt the edge of the sharpest axe which you can bring against it. I am willing to believe that every conscientious Dissenter is, after all, not the enemy of the Church that I belong to. (Hear, hear.) I will conclude with a simile drawn from if he is to speak, I know he will envy me a Dissenter's lips. He is present, and, the pleasure of repeating an anecdote so creditable to him, and so applicable to what I have to say on the subject. That Dissenter, at a public meeting at which I was present, said that he was once stand ing at his father's door, in the picturesque scenery of the lakes, and he saw before him the village spire rising, and at a short distance right and left an Independent chapel and a Methodist meeting. While BURIAL OF THE UNBAPTISED.-Legal he looked a dark cloud arose-it was the opinions have been obtained by some darkness of falling rain, but there was Dissenters in the West of England, on the sun behind it; and, while he looked, the right of a clergyman to refuse to the bow of the covenant-the rainbowread the burial service over a person, rose and spread its ample arms, embrac who has been baptised, but not by a ing the church and the chapels on either clergyman of the Episcopal Church; the side. (Loud applause.) I, too, will gentlemen consulted were the Attorney I will conclude. take my simile; and with that simile The Church of En

CHURCH EXTENSION.-The proportion of the petitions to parliament pro and con, has greatly altered, since our list up to April 3. On the 19th of May the numbers stood thus:For 2075. Signatures 162,144 Against 944 128,190

General (Sir J Campbell), Dr. Addams, gland is the key-stone of one wide Dr. Nicholl, Mr. Starkie, and Mr. Mat- arch, under which every denomination thews. They concur in opinion, that as may bask or form a part. Remove that the law now stands, baptism in the name key-stone, and the arch will fall; and of the Trinity by a layman entitles to great will be the ruin it would cause." Christian burial with the forms prescribed (General cries of "No, no," throughout in the Prayer Book, and that there is no the hall, mingled with slight applause.)

MISSIONARY WILLIAMS.

The following is a letter addressed to the London Missionary Society's Foreign Secretary :

"DEAR SIR,-I have to communicate to you the painful intelligence of the death of your beloved brother and faithful missionary, the Rev. John Williams, who was massacred at the Island of Erromanga, one of the New Hebrides, on the 20th of November, 1839; and of Mr. James Harris, a gentleman who was on his way to England, with the view of becoming a missionary to the Marquesas. The event happened the day after we left the island of Tana. There the natives received us most kindly, and Mr. Williams remarked, he had never been received more kindly by any natives among whom he had been; his spirits were elated to find such a door of entrance opened. In the afternoon we left there three teachers and a son of one of them..

"We proceeded to Erromanga, and hove-to on the south side all night. At day-light we ran down the south side in hope of landing more teachers. The island appeared thinly inhabited; we saw now and then a native or two at a distance. On reaching Dillon's bay, we saw a canoe paddling along shore with three men in her, and by Mr. William's desire we lowered down the whale-boat, and took in Mr. Williams, Mr. Harris, Mr. Cunningham, myself, and four hands; we spoke to the men in the canoe, and found them to be a far different race of people to those at Tana, their complexion darker, and their stature shorter; they were wild in their appearance, and extremely shy. They spoke a different language from that of the Windward Islands, so that Mr. Williams could not understand a word they said. He made them some presents, and tried to persuade them to come into our boat. He did not succeed, so we left them, hoping, as Mr. Williams remarked, with favourable impressions towards us We pulled up the Bay, and some of the natives on shore ran along the rocks after the boat. On reach. ing the head of the Bay, we saw several natives standing at a distance; we made signs to them to come towards us, but they made signs for us to go away. We threw them some beads on shore, which they eagerly picked up, and came a little closer, and received from us some fishhooks and beads, and a small looking-glass. On coming to a beautiful valley between the mountains, having a small run of water, we wished to ascertain if it was fresh and we gave the chief a boat-bucket to fetch us some, and in about half an hour he returned running with the water, which I think gave Mr. Williams and myself more confidence in the natives.

They

Tan and brought us some cocoa-nuts, but were still extremely shy. Mr. Williams drank of the water the native brought, and I held his hat to screen him from the sun. He seemed pleased with the natives, and attributed their shyness to the ill-treatment they must have received from foreigners visiting the island on some former occasion. Mr. Cunningham asked him if he thought of going on shore. I think he said he should not have the slightest fear, and then remarked to me, Captain, you know we like to take possession of the land, and if we can only leave good impressions on the minds of the natives,

we can come again and leave teachers; we must be content to do a little; you know Babel was not built in a day.' He did not intend to leave a teacher this time. Mr. Harris asked him if he might go on shore, or if he had any objection; he said, 'No, not any." Mr. Harris then waded on shore, as soon as he landed the natives ran from him, but Mr. Williams told him to sit down; he did so, and the natives came close to him and brought him some.cocoa-nuts and opened them for him to drink.

"Mr. Williams remarked, he saw a number of native boys playing, and thought it a good sign, as implying that the natives had no bad intentions; I said, I thought so too, but I would rather see some women also; because when the natives resolve on mischief they send the women out of the way; there were no women on the beach. At last he got up and went forward in the boat, and landed. He presented his hand to the natives, which they were unwilling to take; he then called to me to hand some cloth out of the boat, and he sat down and divided it among them, endeavouring to win their confidence. All three walked up the beach, Mr. Harris first, Mr. Williams and Mr. Cunningham followed. After they had walked about a hundred yards,they turned to the right alongside of the bush, and I lost sight of them. Mr. Harris was the farthest off. I then went on shore, supposing we had found favour in the eyes of the people. I stopped to see the boat anchored safely, and then walked up the beach towards the spot where the others had proceeded; but before I had gone a hundred yards, the boat'screw called out to me to run to the boat. I looked round, and saw Mr. Williams and Mr. Cunningham running; Mr. Cunningham, towards the boat and Mr. Williams straight for the sea, with one native close behind him. I got into the boat, and by this time two natives were close behind me, though I did not see them at the moment. By this time Mr. Williams had got to the water, but the beach being stony and steep, he fell backward, and the native struck him with a club, and often repeated the blow; a short time after another native came up and struck him, and very soon another came up and pierced several arrows into his body.

"My heart was deeply wounded. As soon as I got into the boat, I headed the boat towards Mr. Williams, in hopes of rendering him some assistance, but the natives shot an arrow at us, which went under the arm of one of our seamen, through the lining of the boat into the timber, and there stuck fast. They also hove stones at the same time. The boat's crew called out to me to lay the boat off; I did so, and we got clear of the arrows. I thought I might be able to. get the body, for it lay on the beach a long time...At last. I pulled alongside the brig, and made all sail, perceiving with the glass that the natives, had left the body on the beach. I also ordered a gun to be fired loaded with powder only, thinking to frighten the natives, so that 1 might get the body; the natives, however, made their appearance, and dragged the body out of sight. Yours, &c. ROBERT G. MORGAN."

The following Table supplies a general view of the present circumstances of the Societies, whose Anniversary Meetings have just been held, and enables the reader to compare therewith their condition in the year preceding the last. We furnished a similar table in our June number last year. The present table shows a very large increase in the income of the Church Missionary Society, owing to unusual exertions to relieve it from debt; and the same observation will apply to the increase in the funds of the Colonial Missionary Society. The London Missionary Society has also been making great efforts this year to raise its income, and it was hoped it would have reached £100,000. Perhaps the most steadily rising Society in the List is the Church Pastoral-Aid Society. As compared with the preceeding year, there is a considerable deficiency in the receipts of the London City Mission; but the fact is, that the funds for that year were extraordinarily increased, owing to the apprehension that the Bishop of London intended to endeavour to prevent his clergy from co-operating with it. This he has not done; and though he declares his disapprobation of it, yet as he is unquestionably a man devoted to the spiritual welfare of his diocese, he may possibly be led by its great usefulness to alter his views.

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THE PRINCIPLES, PRACTICE, AND ENJOYMENTS OF BELIEVERS.

"Am I then a penitent-a believer-a Christian? Am I converted, and shall I be saved? Whose image and superscription is stamped upon my character? My relation to time is comparatively nothing; what is my relation to eternity?"-F. A. Cox, D.D., L.L.D.

"The people of God."-The apostle PETER.

We live in a world distinguished by change, death, and dissolution. Mournful is this fact, and distressing is its influence. Our friends-our companions-are onward proceeding with steady pace to an eternal world; and so are we. Every moment we enjoy, brings us nearer to our journey's end. This is too marked and too prominent, to be overlooked or undiscovered. We are too much acquainted with deaths and lamentation, to be ignorant of our mortality. But we are too thoughtless, too careless, and too prayerless, to live seriously, soberly, and devotionally as a race. This is lamentable. Yet we must not overlook the fact that God has a people in this world, whose views extend to eternity, whose hopes grasp the joys of heaven, whose expectations are glory and honour and immortality.

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This people are distinguished in the Scriptures by various names or titles. We meet with My chosen," "My called," "My redeemed," "Believers," "Disciples,' My jewels,' "Sons of God," "Heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ," and many other expressive epithets. They are described as passing on to endless felicity in the presence of God-as the objects of everlasting love, the subjects of redeeming grace, and regenerated by the Holy Spirit. There are many who hope, but cannot fully realize, that they are in the fold of which Christ is the Shepherd the body of which Christ is the head-the army of which Christ is the Captain-the people of which Christ is the Sovereign-the Church of which Christ is the Saviour. To assist such in forming a correct estimate of their character in relation to God, these lines are penned. The question is, How are we to know whether we have passed from death unto life-whether we are translated from the kingdom of Satan into that of God's dear Son-or whether we are still in a state of nature? As we cannot now scale the heights of the celestial state, and enter the heavenly world to see if our names are recorded in the Lamb's book of life as we are not now saluted with a voice from heaven, nor visited by angels charged with a message from the excellent glory, to remove our anxiety, we must make use of means to ascertain our relation to God. The Bible must be 2 M

VOL. XII.

searched the marks of saintship must be collected from, and the features of the sons of God must be discerned in the sacred Volume. Then we must examine ourselves and see whether we bear these marks, or present such features to the view of the Almighty; whether we are governed by the principles and distinguished by the practice of the people of God. "By their fruits shall ye know them." The principles, the practice, and the privileges of this body will now be briefly enumerated, for the purpose of strengthening the confidence and removing the doubts of the disciples of Christ.

I. The principles by which the children of God are actuated.

"Prove

1. Among the elements of the Christian character we notice faith. Faith is a principle, by which the man of God is distinguished from the man of the world. "The just shall live by faith." Hence, the whole world may be divided into believers and unbelievers. Doubtless there are various shades of character in either class. Some among the unregenerate are more strongly marked by vicious propensities, and degraded by their development, than others; and some more distinguished by Christian graces among believers, than others. But however diversified we may appear—we either are believers or unbelievers; and it is important for us to know whether we are living by faith or not. We are com⚫ manded to ascertain this by the Author of our holy religion. Speaking by His servant, He says, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith :" your own selves." This implies that it is possible to be mistaken on this point. Are we then found amongst such as believe the Bible as truth, and the events therein recorded as true? or amongst those, who in addition to this, are relying upon Christ? Many believe the advent of Christ; that He lived, bled, and died, for sinners; that He rose again, and is now in glory; but they do not rely upon Him for salvation. They have not felt their exposure to Divine wrath, the burden of their guilt, and the degrading influence of sin. They trust still in themselves that they are righteous. Such is not descriptive of the true believer; he relies upon Christ for pardon, justification, and acceptance with God. The former class receive the things recorded in Scripture as matters of fact; the latter not only as matters of fact, but as the media of spiritual good. The one believes Christ lived and died as a Saviour; the other looks to and relies upon Him for salvation. Saving faith is reliance on Christ; and he who relies on Christ, is effectually convinced by the Holy Spirit, through the instrumentality of the Gospel, that he is a lost and perishing sinner. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved"—is to him a cheering declaration.

2. Repentance toward God is another principle, which actuates the Christian. Sorrow for sin is manifested by humility of soul, confession of guilt, and departure from evil in heart, lip, and life. It leads a man as a penitent to the throne of grace, and enables him to plead for pardon. It is called repentance unto life, and is always connected with faith. That state of mind which causes a man believing the Gospel of Christ to confess his sins, forsake them, and seek for forgiveness, may be viewed as the source, spring, or principle of obedience to God. Hence we are charged to " bring forth fruits meet for repentance." It is the donation of Christ, who is "exalted a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance unto Israel and remission of sins," and arises from a perception of the evil of sin, the demoralising and destructive tendency of sin-a view of Jesus dying to put away sin. The recipient of the Holy Spirit lifts his eye to Christ as crucified—the love of Jesus affects his heart-he mourns over, confesses and renounces all his evil ways. Not so the man who grieves and mourns before God on account of sin, because it is the prelude to punishment; he does not hate sin, but the consequences of sin, and therefore he does not live a godly life.

3. Fear. The fear of God is another principle which regulates and influences the true Christian. He differs from such as have not the fear of God before their eyes or cherish dreadful apprehensions of the wrath of God. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, and He will show them His covenant”—(Psa. xxv. 14). This fear is not a slavish dread, but a childlike fear-it is such a disposition as may be found in the breast of a loving and affectionate child, in relation to a tender parent. The Christian does not like to grieve his heavenly Father; he

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