severe, and her removal at last was ra- MR. JOSEPH TIMMS. DIED, on Monday evening, Oct. 8th 1827. Mr. Joseph Timms, formerly of Kettering in Northamptonshire, but resident in London for the last fifteen years. He was a member of the Baptist church at Kettering, at the time of his death, and had been for nearly half a century. When he resided there, (which was during the greater part of the ministry of the late Mr. Fuller,) he was one of its most active deacons, succeeding his father in that sacred office, in the same Christian society. For some time past, his physical energies had been visibly declining, and for the last few months, especially, his appearance indicated to his friends, that the great Head of the Church was about to remove him to the upper Temple. He was confined to his bed only five days, previous to his death; it is believed suffered but little bodily pain, and appeared to be sensible, composed, and happy. To those friends who called to see him, during his last illness, some of whom evinced considerable emotion on witnessing the change which time had wrought in his appearance, his observation generally was, "Ah, you find me a poor shattered bark!" To the question, what was the state of his mind? he replied, "I have no extacy, but I have a good hope through grace. know in whom I have believed." I It was suggested to him that there was a goodly company waiting to welcome his arrival to the world of spirits, whenever it should be the will of his Heavenly Father to remove him thither. The names of many long endeared to him were mentioned, to which he replied, "Yes, that will be delightful indeed"-adding, "and there also I shall meet my Saviour and Redeemer." He repeated with considerable pathos the whole of that beautiful verse of Dr. Watts' "O for an overcoming faith To cheer my dying hour, And on the Sabbath morning, the day previous to his death, as if he had been meditating on the subject, he broke forth with those lines: "This is the day the Lord hath made; He calls the hours his own; In the course of the same morning he commented with considerable energy, and at some length, on the 1st verse, 2nd hymn, 3d book, particularly that line He spoke much of the magnitude of the blessing, and illustrated his ideas by a reference to the case of a criminal under the sentence of the law, not only receiving the King's free pardon, but being afterwards admitted into his presence, and even invited to become one of his guests. "Would not such condescension as this," said he, with his usual emphasis, "be truly wonderful!” The deceased, when in health, often expressed a wish, if it should be the will of Providence, that he might be permitted to gather his family and friends around his dying pillow, and deliver to them his feeble testimony to the faithfulness of his God; and his parting blessing. So gradual, however, was the exhaustion of his powers, and such at last his extreme feebleness, that his wish in this respect, was but partially gratified. There was not sufficient physical energy remaining to second such a desire, and to sustain the necessary exertion. The pious observations, however, buting his willing mite towards the £13 which at intervals dropped from him, odd which commenced its funds, so often before his energies had so far declined, alluded to on public occasions. We was a kind indulgence, nearly commen- believe there are but two individuals surate with the same object. The te- now living, of that noble and heroic nour of all he said on that affecting band. occasion, was to magnify the riches of redeeming mercy, and might be expressed in the last words which Mr. Bunyan has put into the mouth of one of his departing pilgrims, "Grace reigns, and so he left the world." MR. SAMUEL HUCKVALE, On the 16th of October, 1826, died, Mr. Samuel Huckvale, of Choicehill. Oxon. He was fifty years a member Mr. Timms was in the 77th year of his and a deacon of the Baptist church at age; and whether viewed in reference Chipping Norton. During this series of to the number of his days, or the ma- years, he was never under the censure turity of his Christian graces, he might of the church, and was much respected be said to have realized the Scriptural in the neighbourhood at large. He was promise, "Thou shalt come to thy grave exceedingly ready to serve the cause of in a full age, like as a shock of corn Christ by every means in his power, and cometh in, in his season." "See," many know how liberally he discharged said the great Addison, to a nobleman the duty of not being forgetful to enterwho had formerly been one of his pu-tain strangers. His way to the grave pils, and who came to witness his last was by a gradual descent. On the sehours,—“ see with what peace a Chris-cond Sabbath of the preceding month tian can die." So gentle and easy was he attended the public services of the Mr. Timms's dismission, that those who house of God for the last time, and were watching by the dying bed of the aged saint, could scarcely tell at what precise moment his spirit departed. "So fades a summer cloud away; So sinks the gale when storms are o'er; So gently shuts the eye of day; So dies a wave along the shore." signed his name to the call which the Mr. Timms is the last of the laymen the dispensation, in a discourse on Ps. who were present at the formation of xvii. 15. "The memory of the just is the Baptist Missionary Society, contri- blessed." GLEANINGS. ON THE PRESENT STATE OF THE ROMAN these subjects which the writer could not CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ENGLAND. The following Paper is copied from the Maidstone Christian Instructor for June. "As our Roman Catholic fellow-subjects occupy, at this moment, an unusual share of the public attention, it is probable that many persons will peruse with interest a brief account of the manner in which the English section of the Roman Church is governed, the resources from which it is maintained, and the extent of its operations. Many questions might be asked on answer; he has, however, taken some pains his readers will candidly accept statements, to procure information, and he trusts that which, though incomplete, are the best that he has been able to obtain. "The Roman Catholic church in this country is under the superintendence of the congregation De Propaganda Fide, a standing committee at Rome for the conversion of heathen nations. The clergy here are, regarded as missionaries; each of the stations they occupy is denominated a mission; and all are included in the phrase, the whole mission in England.' flock withont pastors, a circumstance that has already often occurred; and secures to the present and rising generation all the invaluable blessings of religion in life, and the comforts of the minister of Christ in the hour of death. Each person becoming a member enjoys the benefit of having the holy sacrifice offered up for him the first Sunday in every month, at Virginia-street chapel; and he also participates in the benefit of four masses that are celebrated every week in the Bishop's College, for its mem In Ireland there are bishops and priests; but in England there has not been any regular Romish hierarchy in the last two centuries. The church is governed by four superiors, denominated Vicars Apostolic, who are appointed by the Pope, and removable at his pleasure. Every Vicar Apostolic is a Bishop in rank, possessing a nominal diocese; but he does not exercise episcopal authority over any British see. Thus, Dr. Poynter, the Vicar Apostolic of the London district, is the Bishop of Halia; Dr. Col-bers and benefactors. Such are the advanlingridge, Vicar Apostolic of the western district, is the Bishop of Thespia; Dr. Smith, the Vicar Apostolic of the northern district, is the Bishop of Balina; and the new Vicar Apostolic of the midland district, whose name, we believe, is Dr. Walsh, is Bishop of Cambysopolis. Every Vicar Apostolic has bis Coadjutor, who is also a titular bishop; and several other prelates reside in England, to whom no special of fices appear to be assigned. "Though the English Romanists number among them many persons of exalted rank and of extensive possessions, the leaders of their church complain bitterly of the difficulty of maintaining their religious institutions, providing for their clergy, and erecting their chapels. It appears that in the beginning of the French Revolution, a considerable sum which belonged to the mission in this country, but which had been deposited in the French funds, with a view to its security, was confiscated in common with all other British property in France. The privation of these funds,' says Bishop Poynter, has been severely felt by all the missions in England, and most particularly by the mission in the London district. We are still deprived of them; and the consequent want of clergy is daily increasing, while the congregations are growing more numerous; and even if the whole of the property belonging to this district should be recovered on the most favourable terms, it must fall greatly short of supplying the actual necessities of this mission.' "The stations appear to be supported now, partly by the contributions of each to its pastor, and partly by the mission fund connected with the district in which it is placed. Of the manner in which the cause is pleaded, some idea may be formed from an address on behalf of the London Mission Fund, dated Sept. 1, 1826, signed by the Vicar Apostolic, which begins thus: This institution was established November 13th, 1815, with the approbation of R. R., the Vicar Apostolic of the district, for the purpose of providing funds for the education of pastors for the mission, and also to assist in the erection of chapels, or any work that might promote the interests of religion. It provides against the danger of leaving the tages, and such are the objects that are aimed at by this institution: objects that should induce every Catholic who is sincerely attached to the faith of his ancestors, to seize with gladness this opportunity of propitiating the favour of the Almighty, and laying up for himself immortal treasures in heaven.' "Yet, many of the chapels, according to the representation given in the Laity's Directory, an annual Roman Catholic publication, are oppressed with such heavy debts as render the condition of their immediate supporters not a little embarrassing. Inducements peculiar to the Romish church are presented to the attention of the wealthy, yet all seems to be unavailing. Thus we read, in one case, The Rev. B. Barber engages to offer up the masses of two Sundays every year for the benefactors of this chapel, and likewise four masses in the year for all who lie in the burying-ground belonging to it :' in another case, The benefactors have a share in the prayers offered up for them during the sacrifice of the mass:' and in a third, Annually, on the 5th of November, a solemn high mass is offered up for the repose of the souls of all those whose remains are interred in the vaults or in the burial ground; and on the Sunday within the octave of the Assumption of the B. V. Mary, for the benefactors to the chapel.' Yet, somehow-whether it be that noble earls and viscounts have no confidence in the efficacy of the Rev. B. Barber's massesor whether it be that they think that they have paid for masses enough already for all practical purposes- or whether it be that they intend to set all right by availing themselves of a privileged vault-how it is we know not, but so it is, that though these statements have been published year after year, yet the chapels remain in debt still! "As the Laity's Directory for the year contains a catalogue of the missions, interspersed with observations and appeals, we have endeavoured to ascertain the number of chapels in each county, which are regularly supplied with clergymen. In some cases a little uncertainty remains, but we believe that the following list is nearly correct; and it appears, that though a few stations are vacant, yet, as some have two Chaplains. or more ministers, the number of chap- | generally reckoned a tolerably fair estimate, lains' is, on the whole, rather larger than we shall rate the whole Catholic population the number of recorded chapels. connected with those ten chapels at 71,280 in 1822, and in 1826 at 104,970. The representation given by the Roman Catholics themselves is, that the increase is very considerable. But it appears that the increase in the number of chapels of late years has been but small, and the writer cannot divest himself of the idea, that it is rather from accessions from Ireland, than from conversions in England, that the increase arises. It appears to be greatest in that part of the country which is most exposed to visits from our western neighbours. There is no instance,' we are told, in which the rapid increase of those professing the Catholic religion can produce greater surprise and satisfaction, than in the town of Liverpool. From accurate calculation, there are now more than 33,000 Catholics resident therein. The total number of inhabitants, according to the last census, is 141,487. Total number of births, according to the bill of mortality, 1821, 4390. Total of Catholic children born in the same period, 1100.' 14 Chapels. Bedfordshire..... 1 Berkshire ... 6 Bucks .... 1 Cambridgeshire. Cheshire 7 Cornwall Cumberland 4 Derbyshire 8 Devonshire 8 6 Total 388....... 411 "This catalogue does not include the whole number of Roman Catholic clergymen resident in this country: some are incidentally mentioned in different parts of the Laity's Directory, whose names do not occur in the list of chaplains. "Whether the Roman Catholic religion is, or is not, making progress in this country, is a question very frequently agitated, but one which it is very difficult to decide. There is reason to think, that in London the number of professed Catholics has increased materially. The register of baptisms in their ten principal chapels in the metropolis, exhibits a regular progression during the last five years; in 1822, the number was 2376; the next year 2686; then 2992; then 3225; and in 1826, 3499. Now if we calculate thirty persons to a birth, which is "That the Roman Catholics are displaying unprecedented activity in the circulation of tracts and books, and in strenuous endeavours to recommend their system to the approbation of Britons, is, however, undeniable. And for this they are to be commended. Believing, as they do, that the reception of their tenets is necessary to our salvation, it is their duty to set before us in the plainest and most convincing manner, the reasons of their faith, and to endeavour by argument and persuasion to bring us into their fold. Nothing in the Church of Rome itself, corrupt as we consider it to be, is more completely antichristian, than that outery against proselytism which it is so fashionable now to raise, but which can only arise from sceptical indifference to truth and to eternal interests. We must value zeal wherever we find it. But while we witness it, we are called upon to emulate, and to shew that our better principles are not unproductive. The diffusion of scriptural knowledge is the most suitable resistance which we can make to the progress of which will slay the man of sin.' We will popery. It is the 'sword of the spirit' conclude, therefore, by borrowing a sentence or two from a contemporary journal, and saying, 'Popery can increase only through Protestant neglect. It is the aftergrowth of ignorance and formality; a moral contagion which becomes endemic, solely through a negligent husbandry producing a vitiated atmosphere.' The state of Ireland proves that the increase of papists is the crime, and shame, and punishment of Protestant secularity and indolence.'” THE SALE OF INDULGENCES. Anecdote of Tetzel. was able to lay hold of, set forth for his home richly freighted. The man of absolution followed him right speedily; overtook "One of the fittest instruments for this him on the road, plundered him of the traffic of abomination, was the notorious whole of his fraudulent gain, and, having Dominican inquisitor John Tetzel, who, true beaten him soundly at the same time over to his own trade, led so abandoned a life the shoulders, produced his patent of absoof debauchery, that he was at length con-lution, avowed that this was the sin he had demned to death by the Emperor Maximi-purchased leave to commit, and sent him lian, for the crime of adultery, accompanied back to Leipsic to tell his own story."with very atrocious circumstances; and The Book of Nature, by J. Mason Good, M.D. was saved from undergoing the punishment Vol. ii. p. 420. with great difficulty. He had the effrontery to boast, that he had saved more souls from hell by his indulgences, than ever St. Peter THE NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN LONDON had converted to Christianity by his preach- DURING THE COMMONWEALTH. It may be in some degree interesting to ing. This juggler in iniquity, however, was at put down the names of the newspapers, times himself out-juggled by others; and which were at this time published in the the following instance, of his being over-metropolis. They appear to have been reached, as gravely related by Seckendorf, twelve in number, and all of them weekly, will show that the mummery of his trading papers: on Monday, the Perfect Diurnal, was as ridiculously absurd as it was grossly and the Moderate Intelligencer; on Tuesnefarious. A man of some rauk at Leipsic, day, Several Proceedings in Parliament, a who was disgusted with his villany, and publication of authority, the Weekly Indetermined to be even with him, applied to telligencer, and the Faithful Post: on Wedhim for information, whether he could grant nesday, Mercurius Democritus, and the absolution for a sin of a particular kind, Perfect Account; on Thursday, Several intended to be perpetrated, but to be kept Proceedings in State Affairs, a publication a secret till the time. Tetzel boldly re- of some authority, and Mercurius Politi. plied, that he could readily do so, provided cus; and on Friday, the Moderate Pubthe payment were made equal to it. The lisher, the Faithful Post, by a different bargain was instantly struck, the money paid publisher from that of Tuesday, and the down, and the diploma of absolution sign- Faithful Scout. There was no newspaper ed, sealed, and delivered in due form. The on Saturday, probably because that would purchaser thus empowered, waited quietly have been considered as too nearly touching till Tetzel, having collected from Leipsic on the Lord's-day.-Godwin's Hist. of the and its neighbourhood, all the money he Commonwealth, Vol. iii. p. 537. INTELLIGENCE. DOMESTIC. BRITISH REFORMATION SOCIETY. The first number of the "Quarterly Extracts" of the above Society, contains the following information : The Committee of the British Reformation Society, in furtherance of the great object which they have in view, deem it of importance to put their subscribers and friends in possession of some of the various sentiments and facts which, from time to time, come before the Committee, in the details of correspondence, and these more especially from Ireland. To this end, the Committee have determined to publish quarterly, "Extracts from Correspondence;" as well as to notify, in these periodical sheets, the more remarkable occurrences, which may relate to the history and the proceedings of the Society. It is gratifying to the Committee to state, that four kindred Associations have already been established. These have been formed under the respective names--the City of London Auxiliary; the St. Giles's Auxiliary; the Long Acre Chapel Association; and the County of Kent Auxiliary. At the formation of the last-named Auxiliary, a public meeting was held in the Town-hall, NN |