persecution. Europe has had seven years of advance in the cultivation of all the arts and advantages of peace, and has received no small accession of spiritual knowledge. The British churches have had the same period, not of declension, but of considerable progress, although slower than was to be desired. THE WORLD has for another seven years enjoyed the benefit of but slightly interrupted peace, and wide-spread Missionary enterprise. And after a temporary and but very partial reverse in Spain, is not a retreat of seven years long enough for our fears to be allayed, or our confidence to revive? In so awfully important a warfare, should we not take up arms again, after being so long in quarters ? It would be well, indeed, if the same church, pledged as it is, to more recent, but also very urgent, claimants, could re-occupy the field. Here, however, is a great cause, which commends itself to all who are now bringing new resources to bear on the restoration of Christendom to Christ, and who long to witness yet fuller practical development of the force of evangelical unity. Not that the Evangelical Alliance could be expected to become a Missionary Society; but might possibly encourage, where it could not adopt, and foster sympathies, where it could not directly act. To the reader, however, a few suggestions may be presented in a concluding paper on Spain; these facts having been related in the hope that, at some time, and in some way, under the direction of the Divine Head of the church, remembrance of them may aid in practical advantage to that important section of southern Europe. We shall see that many facilities are, even at this time, made ready to our hand for promoting the spread of the Gospel among the long chastened and too long neglected Spanish people.-Evangelical Christendom. ATHEISM III. SWITZERLAND. BERNE. UNIVERSITY IN THE CONSIDERABLE excitement has been produced in Berne, by the nomination of Dr. Zeller, of Tubingen, to the chair of New Testament exegesis in the University of that canton. A correspondent of the Courrier Suisse gives the following particulars respecting the Doctor's opi nions, and of the circumstances attending his appointment:— "Dr. Zeller, supernumerary Professor of Divinity in the University of Tubingen, is, like Strauss, one of the immediate and most distinguished disciples of Dr. Baur, Professor of Divinity in the same University, and celebrated for some years past for his works of historical criticism on the origin of the church, and on the writings of St. John. It is known at what results Strauss arrived by applying the processes of the critical school (of which Baur may, perhaps, be considered as the leader) to the Gospels. These same processes, applied by Zeller to the Epistles and the Apocalypse, have conducted him to analogous conclusions. In the domain of theological science Zeller continues, then, the work of Strauss, with this difference, that he saves from the ruins a greater number of A elements of the Christian idea, but only to re-produce them in his theology under a new aspect; that is to say, in the light of Hegelian philosophy. As a philosopher, indeed, Zeller is a pantheist: his system denies the existence of a God having personality and volition, which involves the denial of Christianity, as the church, from its origin down to the present day, has always understood it. number of the Pastors of Berne, therefore, while doing justice to the talents, and even to the character, of the young Professor, have expressed their concern at seeing this important branch of the education of the future Pastors of the Church intrusted to an Hegelian Doctor. Archdeacon Baggesen, President of the Synod, has addressed a letter to the Director of the Department of Public Instruction, in which he declares, that he thereby solemnly disclaims all responsibility in the affair, and protests, in his capacity as one of the guardians of the Church, against an appointment which threatens it with consequences which none can calculate. Several of his colleagues in the ministry have expressed their approval of his conduct, by the presentation of addresses." Several pamphlets have been issued on the subject, in one of which, emanating from the National Orthodox party, the people are advised to petition the Grand Council to annul the act of the Executive Council, from whom Zeller received his appointment. The discussion was also proceeding in the journals. It appears that Dr. Zeller's presence at Berne is regarded with apprehension, in a social as well as a religious aspect. The writer already quoted says:"It is known that the Hegelian school of Tubingen has avowed the intention of spreading its doctrines among the people, and of endeavouring to realize them, not in the Church only, but also in the State. According to its announcement, it is to modify the whole of social life." As the Government of Berne appears to consider its own dignity involved in the question, Dr. Zeller will probably remain undisturbed in his new office. To the foregoing, we add the following information, received by us in a private letter at the moment we are going to press:- "Two Ministers have just been suspended; in fact, deposed. The affair is strictly this: The Government of Berne has recently appointed Dr. Zeller, of Tubingen, the present head, with Professor. Vischer, of the party of Strauss, and one of the most ultra-Rationalists in Germany, to be Professor of Theology in Berne. The Rev. Mr. Fellenberg, of Berne, has been suspended for circulating a pamphlet against him; and the Rev. Mr. König, of Stettlin, near Berne, for the same offence, and also for preaching on the subject. Other Ministers are now under close examination by the Magistrates, on account of their circulating the pamphlet; and some private persons also, particularly the members of the Committee of the Evangelical Society of Berne."-Evangelical Christendom. VARIETIES. A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF LONDON. -The extent of modern London is astounding. Towards the east flow out streets scarcely known to the denizens of the west, seemingly interminable, although the wealth and power of the metropolis are marching westward, as they have always done, and are raising masses of new palatial edifices far away from the point on which we are now standing. A few centuries ago, the Tower of London was a royal residence, and our Nobles were clustered about it. Then the river banks, naturally called the Strand, became a fashionable site; but these shortly after gave place to localities farther and farther west, and soon the only Lord to be found in the city was the Lord Mayor. Contrast the London of to-day with London as it appeared in Queen Elizabeth's time, represented in a well-known old map; and if the difference be not sufficiently striking, endeavour to realize London in the time of the Romans, when (even at the close of their long and prosperous settlement here) it extended only from Blackfriars to the Tower in length, and from the Thames to Moorfields in width. It is curious to trace its progress, still more so to watch the changes in the habits and manners of its occupants which have succeeded one another. Roman London lies below us; in places, many feet; its boundaries defined; the state of the arts therein tolerably well understood; the coins, dresses, and ornaments used by the people known; and all owing to the exertions of a once illunderstood and much laughed-at class of men, the "musty" antiquaries. If you know where to look for it, you may still trace the outline of the city as it was when under Roman dominion: you may see some of the walls they raised, the pavements they formed, and people its streets with the men and women of that day. This was long ago, and yet not long enough to destroy the characteristic of a simple tuft of moss, placed in a Roman vase, as a cover probably to bones and ashes, and found in Lothbury only a few years since! The incident seems to us a pretty one, and worth a thought.Builder. A DINNER-PARTY IN TAHITI.— When the United States Exploring Expedition were in the harbour of Papieti, the principal port of Tahiti, Mr. Wilkes, the Commander, and author of the "Narrative," invited the leading Chiefs to dinner. The following is his description of the entertainment :-"The ship was dressed for the occasion with flags, and they were received with every mark of respect. Luncheon was prepared for them; and when they were all seated at it, it struck me that I had never seen such a collection of corpulent persons. Previous to eating, one of the oldest Chiefs said grace. Their appetites were good; none of the food appeared to come amiss. They seemed heartily to enjoy themselves, and conducted themselves with a propriety that surprised us all. They were cautious in partaking of the wine which was set before them, and seemed evidently upon their good behaviour. This was the case with the high Chiefs, who, to the number of about fifteen, had been invited; but, besides these, about an equal number of others contrived to get on board without invitation : the latter thrust themselves forward with eagerness to occupy places at the table, but were compelled to give place to those of higher rank. A second table was, however, prepared for them, at which they took their seats, and did ample justice to what was set before them. The variety of costume which was exhibited at this banquet was amusing. The Princesses were dressed in white frocks, shoes and stockings, and chip bonnets, but looked awkwardly in them, and appeared more like boys in girl's clothes than women. Some of the men wore full suits, coats, vests, and pantaloons,-of a variety of colours; others had sailor's round jackets; others, again, had only shirts and pantaloons, all too small both in breadth and length. Some had black felt hats, of all possible fashions, and others wore them of straw; some had shoes on their feet, others had none. Paofai's son attracted attention by his ridiculous appearance: he wore a red check shirt, light white pantaloons, that reached only half-way down his legs, coarse shoes without stockings, and a short-skirted drummer's coat of blue, plentifully faced with scarlet. The latter was so small for him, that no force would make it button upon him. To finish all, he had a high-crowned conical felt hat stuck upon the top of his head." WESLEYAN MISSIONS: OR, INTELLIGENCE ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE OPERATIONS OF THE WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY, AND ALSO OF THE STATE AND PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD UNDER THEIR DIRECTION: EXTRACTED CHIEFLY FROM THE 66 MISSIONARY NOTICES," AND FROM OTHER SOURCES PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARIES. * SOUTHERN EUROPE. IT will be seen, by the following communication, that our Mission at Gibraltar, notwithstanding the opposing influences with which it has to contend, is increasing in importance and usefulness. The handful of seed sown upon the Rock is producing, under the influence of the Lord the Spirit, gracious and abiding fruits. The Committee and officers of the Society have long regarded with feelings of the deepest interest, the religious movements and changes which have for some time been in progress on the Continent of Europe; and have deeply regretted that the financial state of the Society has prevented them from extending its operations there. Encouraged, however, by the continued and increasing liberality of the friends of Missions, it is in * Our readers are earnestly requested to avail themselves of the opportunity to procure the entire copy of the "Wesleyan Missionary Notices," published by the Secretaries of the Society, and sold at the Centenary-Hall, Bishopsgate-street, and at 66, Paternoster-row, London. Our selections from this invaluable record of the progress of the Gospel in heathen lands must, of necessity, be brief: we are therefore very desirous that the "Notices" should receive an extensive circulation among all classes of the religious public. tended to adopt measures for rendering the Mission at Gibraltar more efficient, especially with respect to the Spanish department of the work, and with a view to the spread of scriptural truth in Spain itself. The Rev. Dr. Baird, of New-York, who returned very recently from another extensive tour on the Continent, at a Meeting of several friends of evangelical truth, convened at Exeter Hall, for the express purpose of receiving a communication from that gentleman, and afterwards to a smaller company, which met him at the Centenary Hall, bore a most willing and gratifying testimony to the importance and usefulness of our European Missions generally, and especially to the present prospects of our Mission at Gibraltar. "Never," testified our honoured and beloved friend and brother, Dr. Baird, "had I my heart so touched in my life, as when, staying at Gibraltar, I attended a service of one hundred and forty boys and youths connected with the Wesleyan School, to whom a young man was preaching in Spanish." This school was established in 1833, but still exerts considerable influence. The only conditions required of the pupils are, that they should attend a Bible-class every Sunday morning, and this service in the evening; the week-days being devoted to general instruction. The Priests have tried hard to prevent the people sending their children to it; but they have not succeeded. The parents reply, "Let them make our children Protestants, if they can. We see enough of the effects of the school upon them to believe it is for their good.” GIBRALTAR.-) I FORWARD, at as early a period as practicable, the annual financial statement and the nominal list for the Missionary Report of 1846-47. I trust these will prove satisfactory to you. This year has been one of much depression in the mercantile community of Gibraltar, and provisions generally have advanced in price; so that, under all the circumstances, our friends have done well, and in some cases to their uttermost, for the maintenance of our institutions. In reference to our spiritual interests, I have not much to say that is highly gratifying. We have not enjoyed those rich effusions of God's Holy Spirit upon our community we had desired at the commencement of the year, and for which we continue still to plead, and yet our population never more needed such gracious visitations: the spirit of slumber still holds thousands in false security; profligacy and infidelity drive their thousands in the broad road that leadeth to destruction; while a revived and mistaken zeal for established interests has busily employed every influence to withdraw souls from evangelical influences, and to build up the partitionwalls which divide the sections of the Christian church so high, that there may be as little mutual sympathy and VOL. III.-FOURTH SERIES. fellowship of effort in "the common salvation" as is possible. Thus men's hearts have been hardened by "the deceitfulness of sin," and their attention drawn off from the demonstrations of the Spirit, to the externals of ecclesiasticism, which, under the thin veil of religion, reconciles its victims to an unregenerate heart and worldliness of spirit. When we contemplate the prospects of the present generation of twenty thousand souls on our little Rock, in the light of God's truth, and form our judgment as extensively charitable as is consistent with the smallest regard to its purity and requirements, we sometimes shrink from the conclusion to which we are driven. How long, Lord? When or how shall the face, the heart, of this society be changed? When shall the renewing Spirit descend on this chaos, or breathe on these dry bones? Arise, O Lord, and work, in pity to souls! Blessed be God, he has not left us without some instances of the unabated efficacy of the Gospel to enlighten the ignorant, to bring peace to the guilty, and to sanctify the unholy. We have had given to us a few such living epistles during the year, who are our crown and our rejoicing. From the influence of some of the circumstances already alluded to, and the 2 N fluctuation arising from change of regiments, our averaged congregational attendance has not been as uniformly numerous this year as in the previous one. We do not, however, feel discouraged; on the contrary, when we take into account the purely spiritual objects for which a Christian church and ministry are perpetuated, and that their value will be estimated in the last day, and in the grateful records of saved souls, not by the numbers brought together by subordinate prepossessions and worldly social influences, but by the number and genuineness of conversions from sin to holiness and the amount of spiritual influence brought to bear upon the public conscience, we feel assured that our little church in Gibraltar has much cause for gratitude, and none whatever for faint-heartedness and weariness in the work of the Lord. The attendance on our schools in the Spanish department has improved during the year: fortyeight have been added to them, making a total of three hundred and thirty-one. In addition to the attendance on the Sabbath-evening religious services, which is required of the adult scholars, amounting to eighty-nine above fourteen years of age, (which is the most juvenile admissible to the week-evening school,) seven or eight young persons have voluntarily met on Friday evenings for the purpose of reading the Scriptures, and receiving instruction on any point of inquiry as it regards Christian doctrine and practice. Tracts and the Scriptures continue to be circulated among the Spaniards as opportunities are found; and in various ways the bread-seed is cast on the waters, and we wait the intenser rays of the Sun of Righteousness for the remunerating harvest. send now prosperity! Amen. Lord, We held a society tea-meeting on New-Year's evening. Seventy persons were assembled, and nine ladies gratuitously furnished the tables; the spacious and well-adapted room at the South was tastefully decorated with flowers and evergreens by our Sunday and dayschool Teachers; the Union and Bethel flags ornamented each end of the room; while Wesley's portrait, encircled in orange leaves, blossoms, and roses, was suspended over the presidential chair. The spirit of Christian unity and cheerfulness was pleasingly exemplified on the occasion, and the whole subordinated to the end never to be lost sight of,-our personal instruction in righteousness, and the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom on the earth. Our friend Mr. Allen interested those present by the appropriate address which he delivered: and our good old friend Mr. Caulfield reminded us of the favourable circumstances under which we met, as contrasted with former times; and he sought especially to quicken the gratitude of the few military friends present, by telling them of the days of yore, when, in 1803, before the arrival of the first Missionary at the Rock, an order was issued from the highest local authority to prohibit the attendance of all soldiers on Methodist meetings; and when their social worship was sometimes disturbed by persons sent to ascertain the fact whether any had ventured to obey God rather than man. But now military and civilian can worship God under their own vine and fig-tree, none daring to disturb; and this the old disciple urged on them as a reason for increased exertion on behalf of their comrades. In the concluding address of the evening, reference was made to Wesley's portrait, which afforded an opportunity of introducing a summary of Wesleyan doctrine on the subjects of, 1. Infallibility; 2. Justification by faith; 3. Regeneration by the Holy Spirit; and, 4. The supreme authority of the word of God, and the unqualified deference which these scriptural and apostolic views required from us. At the same time, Wesleyans now felt, as they had been taught in the dying words of their human founder, that "the best of all is, God is with us;" and of this truth illustrations were furnished in the history of the Mission cause for which we were met, and by the contrast which the extent and efficiency of the Missions now present to those of the period of Wesley's decease. This being the first tea-meeting held in immediate connexion with the Mission cause, our friends were greatly delighted, and joined heartily, as well as vocally, in the words of the concluding hymn of the evening's devotional exercises: "Father, thy mercies past we own, Thine, wholly thine shall be, It was intended to have held the teameeting of our juvenile Collectors on the following evening in the same room; but the very unfavourable state of the weather obliged us to postpone it until Monday, January 4th. On that even |