were accompanied was calculated to excite gaols for the numbers of pious persons who the deepest horror. At the dead hour of are continually apprehended."

midnight, the prisoner was taken from bis cell, and put into a gondola or Venetian boat, attended only, beside the sailors, by a single priest, to act as confessor. He was rowed out into the sea beyond the Two Castles, where another boat was in waiting A plank was then laid across the two gondolas, upon which the prisoner, having his body chained, and a beavy stone affixed to his feet, was placed; and, on a signal given, the gondolas retiring from one another, he was precipitated into the deep."

"The conversion of John Frick, parish priest of Mayenfeld, was brought about in a singular manner. Being a zealous cathohad warmly resisted the new opinions when lic and of great note among his brethren, he they first made their appearance. Filled with chagrin and alarm at the progress which he saw them making in his immediate neighbourhood, he repaired to Rome to implore the assistance of his holiness, and to consult on the best method of preventing his native country from being overrun with heresy. But he was so struck The following description of the state with the irreligion which he observed in the of matters in the year 1568 is from the pen court of Rome, and the ignorance and vice of one who was residing at that time on prevailing in Italy, that, returning home, the borders of Italy. At Rome some he joined the party which he had opposed, are every day burnt, hanged, or beheaded; and became the reformer of Mayenfeld. In all the prisons and places of confinement his old age he used to say to his friends are filled; and they are obliged to build pleasantly, that he learned the gospel at new ones. That large city cannot furnish Rome."

"

INTELLIGENCE.

DOMESTIC.

BAPTIST HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

their general information, and attachment to religious forms, is their ignorance of the Gospel, and their enmity against its author. If the messengers who are sent to preach the Gospel to such persons be not possessed of prudence and talent above mediocrity, they will injure the cause they were employed to promote; hence, of all other ministers of religion, the Home Missionary should be

THE Annual Meeting of this Society was held at the City of London Tavern, June 19 John Foster, Esq. of Biggleswade, in the Chair. Our limits will only admit of the insertion of a short extract from the conclu-one whose character and attainments should sion of the Report. raise him alike above suspicion and contempt.

"Thus have your Committee endeavoured to trace out the field which your agents have been cultivating during the last year. There are others who have received assistance from your hands, of whose successful exertions we cannot now speak particularly.

"To the generous proposition and exam

"With regard to the finances of the Society, your Committee have great pleasure in stating that the income has exceeded that of the previous year; but as that excess does not arise from any permanent resource, "In compliance with the suggestions and they trust their regular contributors will not desires of many of their constituents, your consider this a signal to abate their zeal or Committee, instead of multiplying the num-liberality. ber of Missionaries, have been more anxious to be select in their choice, and to afford ple of A warm Friend to Home Missions," them adequate support. Could they hope the Society is indebted for 100 guineas! It that a friendly hint would be received with will be recollected by some, that this worthy candour by the churches with which they friend, at our last Annual Meeting, was so are connected, the Committee would, in the affected by hearing of our embarrassment at language of entreaty, beseech them to be- that time, that he proposed raising the above ware how they encourage persons of slender sum by donations of twenty guineas each; abilities to devote themselves entirely to the and it was hoped that the amount would work of the ministry, from an idea that have been raised before we left the room. piety and zeal are the only requisites in the It was not, however, till after several months character of a Home Missionary. On the had elapsed, that a sufficient number was contrary, it is often found in retired villages, obtained to lay claim to this liberal conand amongst our peasantry, in proportion to

tribution.

to those well-known and long-tried friends of all our Missionary Societies, in times of difficulty, Thomas Key, Esq. of Fulford, near York, and John Broadley Wilson, Esq. of Clapham; with their usual generosity, they each presented an extra donation of 501. "During the last year, also, Mrs. Lamport, an aged female residing near Battlebridge, St. Pancras, London, having attended the Annual Meeting of an Auxiliary Missionary Society, in connexion with one of your Secretaries in that neighbourhood, felt such an interest in the Home Department of the Missionary field, that she left by will to this Society, the sum of 2001.

"Urgent applications having been made | family, who did not desist from their persecution until they had brought her to a state of daugerous, and as it ultimately proved, of fatal illness. On her death-bed she entreated one of her persecuting brothers who came to see her die, once to attend the itinerant preacher in the village; and as a dying request is seldom disobeyed by the most callous, he came to listen to a discourse with the bitterest feelings, both against the preacher and his subject. But mark the result: He, whose ways are not as our ways,' touched his beart-turned him from his wickedness-diverted the current of bis malignant feelings from the friends to the opponents of religion; and became a complete convert to Christianity. He was now (be believed), a faithful itinerant labourer in the field of his former enmity. He (the Rev, doctor) could bring many examples of a similar description examples which ought to encourage the Society, when it would lack in zeal from weariness of effort, More agents, more money, and, withal, more prayers were still required; for if they failed in procuring the former, a fervent application to Heaven would, he was confident, not be offered in vain to Him who had ears to hear, and an omnipotent arm to aid their cause. He concluded by exhorting them to assist with their means and their influence, in the wider diffusion of the Gospel throughout their favoured land."

"Your Committee, regarding the hand of a Divine Providence in these seasonable supplies instead of retaining them against any future exigency, conceived they would best fulfil the gracious design of Him who sent them, by immediately applying them to the promotion of his cause.

"Before this Report is concluded, your Committee deem it proper to inform those gentlemen who may be elected to succeed them in office, that they are pledged to twenty-five Missionaries a sum not far short of 10007., whilst the amount of subscriptions to the Society does not exceed 5007. that for the moiety here deficient, the expenses of journies in collecting for the Society, and the usual aid afforded to about forty village preachers, this Institution depends entirely upon donations and collections, of which it is earnestly hoped the contributions of this evening will present an encouraging example for the ensuing year."

R. H. Marten, Esq. T. Thompson, Esq. J. Buckland, and the Rev. Messrs. Ivimey, Kinghorn, Nicholson, O. Clarke, E. Clarke, Tyso, C. Birt, and J. Hinton, severally addressed the Meeting.

pre

Dr. Cox, in acknowledging the vote of thanks to the Secretaries, said, "that be felt happy that his official situation cluded him from going into any lengthened statement on that occasion; and would, therefore, neither advocate the Society, as that had already been done by those who had preceded him, nor proclaim its success, that having been universally acknowledged. He was convinced that they were now in that state of holy excitement which was favourable to a kindly and benevolent spirit. He could not help, however, relating an anecdote which had only lately come to his knowledge. A few years ago, in a humble village, a female of guilty notoriety having read a religious tract, wns induced to turn from her evil ways, and, through the instruction of one of their Missionaries, to acknowledge her guilt and reform. For that act of repentance she brought down the malignant enmity of her friends, even of her own

CONTINENTAL SOCIETY.

Annual Meeting at Freemason's Hall,
May 16, Hon. J. J. Strutt in the Chair.
Aftet the Report had been read by the
Rev. Spencer Drummond, one of the
Honorary Secretaries, the following
Noblemen and Gentlemen addressed
the Meeting-the Earl of Roden,
Lord Mandeville, Rev. Dr. Gordon, Dr.
Robinson, Hon. Captain Noel, G. Phil-
lips, Esq. and the Rev. Messrs. Simons,
Irving, Burnet, Irons, and M'Neile.

Mr. Irving's speech:-
The following extract is taken from

"It is not only a distress of nations that is now pervading the continent; it is also a universal and overwhelming distress of the church of God. I am not idle; I have inquired on all bands; I have asked questions of all persons on whose auswers reliance could be placed, and I assert with as much assurance as grief, that on all sides the enemies of eternal life are many and strong. I have conversed with the excellent Von Bulow, who has travelled far and wide for the Continental Society; who has threaded the whole of the northern range of Europe,

time, against the true worshippers of the Word of God. The preachers are obliged to exercise their calling before break of day, and in the woods, in order to avoid that notice which would draw down upon them unlimited persecution. And strange to say, it was from the Protestant churches of the continent, more than any others, that the missionaries experienced opposition. Since, then, the Word of God is thus oppressed on both sides, by superstition on the one hand, and by infidelity on the other, shall not such unparalleled and lamentable distress induce us to send forth our messengers, with the comfortable hope that something may yet be done? Are not those nations as much a people under God's providence as ourselves? Surely yes; and be calls upon this Society, he commands this Society, he urges this Society on to his own good work, and it remains for us to shew that we appreciate the honour put upon us, for surely I may call that an honour which is to lead us to so glorious a result as the bringing back those that have strayed to the right path. It is not by our own feelings that we must regulate our activity, but by the exertions of those who are arrayed against us: from their bondage we must seek to give liberation, and, depend upon it, it will soon become manifest, from the character of our efforts, whether that liberation has connexon with the Son, who makes the chosen free. Look at the Pope; and we shall find that his activity has increased-it has increased ten-fold; even a hundred-fold. There has been no such activity displayed since the council of Trent. None since those days when Hildebrand first broached the audacious maxim, that under the pope's foot were all the sovereigns of the earth to lie. The Catholics are abroad, and struggling for the increased discipline of their church. They are struggling that their service may extend from one end of the globe to the other. By means of the Jesuits they seek that all education shall pass through their hands. And shall we not set the artillery of our forces against all this? Shall not we raise against them the truth of the Lord, the saving knowledge of Christ, the sword of the Spirit, which have from the beginning been mighty in overturning the kingdom of Satan, and shall so continue to be to the end?

entering into every frith, penetrating into every creek; perambulating whole tracts of wild and uncultivated land; navigating and internavigating every sea and almost every river of the north. This man have I questioned; and what was the information that I received from him? In the whole of his progress, throughout all this vast extent of country, he met with but one minister whose faith in Christ could be called pure and sincere-but one holy man in whom the truth of the Gospel seemed to be living: and in the course of the same progress, heard but of one other, of whom in like manner it could be said, his ways are the ways of righteousness. But in this tract there was no dearth of infidelity and impiety; the works of Voltaire, of Hume, and of Rousseau, were to be met with every where; they were to be found in every peasant's house, and to be seen in every poor man's possession. And why was this? Though we have been idle and neglectful till now of the interests of the Lord, Satan was not without his missionaries; they were abundant and superabundant on all sides, and never slept in the prosecution of their horrible work; whoever else might desert from his post, Satan was still there, and the field was never free from his machinations for the eternal downfal of man. When these same peasants were questioned relative to the word of God, they did not even so much as know what it meant; they had no clear idea, no picture in their own minds of what the question alluded to. Some brought out psalm books, others tracts, and asked if that was what was meant by the Word of God? And such was the state of ignorance in which thousands on thousands were living and dying! I have inquired about the Danish Church of another, and the information I have received is equally melancholy. In my inquiries about the Dutch Church, I questioned one, who certainly would not be inclined to represent its state darker than it really was, for he had lived long in the country, and had for many years been in the service of one of our Societies. Such being the case, there could be no doubt that he would wish to put the best face on the matter that he could, and yet he assured me that if there were seven ministers of the gospel who really knew its truth, and if there were three who really preached it, he had put the mark up as high as he possibly could. In the north of Germany things were just as bad; and from Saxony and Weimar we are continually hearing of banishments taking place among the Journal of Mr. Campbell, one of the true believers and preachers of the Word of Christ, because they have courage enough to dare all for his sake. In Switzerland there is no end to the persecution that is now going forward, and has been for a long

BAPTIST HIGHLAND MISSION.

The following extracts are taken from

the Itinerants employed by this important and useful Institution:

"July 2, Sabbath-day. Having, during the preceding week, intimated as extensively

tended. Had a long conversation with a blacksmith, of the name of Morrison, a native of the place. He preaches to the people of Strand, and appears to be a good man, and well acquainted with his bible. It would appear he has been very useful in this place, both by preaching and writing. He is one of the best poets in the Highlands of Scotland; his conduct exemplary; possesses excellent talents, and a sound judgment. The people told us, he can commu

extreme;

as possible, our intention to preach at Tar- | wise three times the number would have atbert on Sabbath, a great number of boats full of people assembled from all quarters, besides many people who came by land. We both preached to an attentive audience of about 350, many of whom were shedding tears. Considering that this place is but thinly inhabited, and the place of worship of difficult access, the above is considered a very large congregation. We distributed tracts, which were gratefully received by the people. It was delightful to see the young and the aged, on getting a tract, sit-nicate his ideas with facility and force. They ting down or standing up to read its con- have built a large meeting-house for him, tents, surrounded by a little group, listening where he preaches three times every Lord's to its salutary instructions. After listening day, and Wednesday evening. The people for some time to the reader, they would in the south would feel it not an easy task flock to us, calling out, O give me a tract!' to attend his three lectures on Sabbath. We Give me a book!' Upou being asked if are told, he begins at seven, and continues they could read it, some said, We can;' till ten- again at eleven, and insists till others, We cannot, but my son can,' or five-lastly, at six, and concludes the ser'my daughter can.' We always recom- vices of the day between nine and ten. mended each person to whom we gave a This is certainly going to an tract, to give it to some other person, after meanwhile it evinces the good man's zeal. reading it: they all promised to do so. It We asked him, if there were many good is to be hoped these little monitors, through people in the place; he said there were the divine blessing, will be useful in these some. Spoke to him respecting the duty remote and dreary dwellings. Some will of Christians to separate from the world: read them in preference to their bibles, on this point he is like-minded with ourthrough curiosity; and, through reading the selves, but differs with us respecting bapIt is our ardent wish and prayer, former, may be induced to read the latter tism. with more interest and advantage. The Gaelic that the Lord may bless his labours and schools have been of incalculable service in comfort his soul, and direct him in the path this quarter. By means of them, there is of duty, that he may be of singular use to scarcely a house in which there is not some the people among whom he resides. Havperson who can read the bible in their na-ing distributed some tracts, we left the istive tongue. We parted with Mr. Munro this evening: he proceeded to Stornoway, and we took an opposite direction. Had no preaching this evening, it being six o'clock before the first meeting broke up. However, the neighbours came in to family worship, to whom we spoke for some time. Went to repose, very grateful for the excellent opportunity afforded us for preaching the word of life to our fellow sinners. May the Lord add his blessing, that some souls may be saved from the wrath to come! 3d.-Travelled this day to Caolas. road was the worst imaginable: indeed there was no track or road of any sort, but rugged rocks and moss, and lakes of water. At times we did not know whither we were going. Preached to 36, who were waiting when we arrived. Crossed the sound to Geocrab, and preached to 26; after which, proceeded to Marnish, and spent the night in a very poor man's house, who was exceedingly hospitable. 4th.-Preached at Marn- "At a meeting of the committee apish to 70; in the evening at Findsbay to 17, pointed to conduct the application to parliaand travelled again to Roudel. 5th.-Preach- ment for the Repeal of the Corporation and ed at Strand to 60, some of whom followed Test Acts,' held at Brown's Hotel, in us for two days, and in the evening at Rou-Palace Yard, Westminster, on Tuesday, the del to 35. Most of the inhabitants here 22nd May, 1827. William Smith, Esq. were from home, as mentioned above, other- M.P. in the chair:

The

land. Preached, on the 6th and 7th, in the
island of Pabby, to pretty large congrega-
number of tracts
tions: distributed a
amongst the people. We cannot describe
the earnest entreaties of both old and young
for them. We regretted that we had taken
so few from home; however, we could not
have conveniently taken more, having no
way of carrying them but on our backs."

CORPORATION AND TEST ACTS.

We regret to inform our friends that it has been thought adviseable to postpone the motion for the repeal of the abovementioned acts till the next session of Parliament. The following accounts of the proceedings of the committee will explain the reasons of this

measure.

treated at the same time to state the fixed purpose of this committee, at all events, to renew the motion now postponed at the very earliest opportunity in the next session of parliament; and should it not then succeed, to persevere in it with their utmost energy, from year to year, until it is finally carried.

3. That the chairman and Mr. Waymouth be requested to communicate these resolutions to Lord John Russell and to Mr. John Smith, and to convey to them the warmest thanks of this committee, for the

This meeting was honoured with the presence of the following noblemen and gentlemen, (viz.) Lord Holland, Lord King, Lord Milton, Lord Ebrington, Lord Althorp, Lord Clifton, Lord James Stuart, Lord Nugent, Lord John Russell; George Byng, Esq. M.P. Alexander Dawson, Esq. M.P. John Wood, Esq. M. P. J. B. Monck, Esq. M.P. John Easthope, Esq. M.P. John Smith, Esq. M.P. John Maberly, Esq. M.P. W. L. Maberly, Esq. M. P. John Baring, Esq. M. P. George Phillips, Esq. M. P. W.W. Whitmore, Esq. M. P. Henry War-readiness with which they consented to proburton, Esq. M.P. William Allen, Esq. M.P. John Calcraft, Esq. M.P. Henry Brougham, Esq. M.P. Sir Robert Wilsou, M.P. Sir George Robinson, Bart. M.P. Nicholson Calvert, Esq. M.P. Charles Fysh Palmer, Esq. M.P. Maurice Fitzgerald, Esq. M.P. George R. Phillips, Esq. M.P. and W. B. Baring, Esq. M.P.

pose and second the motion now recommended to be postponed. And that they be most respectfully and earnestly entreated to continue their invaluable assistance to the cause of Religious Liberty, and of the protestant dissenters in particular, by renewing that motion in the next session of parliament.

The committee held a conference with the 4. "That the numerous members of parabove named noblemen and gentlemen, as liament who have, under all the difficulties to the expediency of requesting Lord John of their situation, given this committee the Russell to withdraw or proceed with his strongest assurances of support, be requestmotion, for the Repeal of the Corporationed to accept their most grateful acknowand Test Acts, which stands fixed for the 7th June next; and generally, as to the best means to be adopted for promoting this object.

"A lengthened discussion having taken place, and the parliamentary friends having withdrawn; it was

Resolved unanimously-"That it is the opinion of all our parliamentary friends, and of this committee, that every effort should be made to obtain as many petitions as possible during the present session of parliament, praying for the repeal of the Corporation and Test acts.

Resolved-"That the secretary do immediately write to the ministers of London and country congregations, with a copy of the last resolution, and urging their immediate attention thereto."

"At a meeting of the committee appointed to conduct the application to parliament for the repeal of the Corporation and Test acts, held at the King's Head Tavern in the Poultry, on Monday, the 28th day of May, 1827. William Smith, Esq. M. P. in the

chair.

ledgments, accompanied by a strong expression of their wishes and hopes, that they will afford their powerful support to the measure, in which the committee have thus strongly pledged themselves to persevere.

5. "That these resolutions be published in the newspapers, and the Religious Periodical Journals. "R. WINTER, Sec."

16, Bedford Row,
28th May, 1827.

WELSH BAPTIST ACADEMY AT ABLR

GAVENNY.

WE have received the following account of the proceedings of a committee meeting, duly and specially convened, held on the 30th of March, 1827, in the vestry of the Frogmore Street Meeting House, Abergavenny, to deliberate on the present circumstances of the Baptist Academy in that place, and devise ways and means for advancing its interests. Mr. W. W. Phillips, in the chair.

It was Resolved-1. "That the present After prayer, by the Rev. J. Jones, state of public affairs, the advanced period letters were read from Ebenezer Harof the session of parliament, and other cir-ris and Rev. D. Saunders, expressive of cumstances, render it advisable, in the opinion of this committee, not to press the retheir warm attachment to the institupeal of the Corporation and Test acts dur- tion, zeal for its welfare, and high coning the present session. sideration of the qualifications of its president.

2. "That Lord John Russell be therefore respectfully requested to withdraw the notice of his motion for such repeal now given, and that he be most earnestly en

Resolved-1. "That the Rev. D. Phillips, of Caerleon, be elected secretary, pro