pleasure and encouragement. The Lord Bishop of Bangor remarks; "I cannot but observe both the piety and exercise of sound discretion, which evidently characterize this publication. The effect, I trust, will be, by God's blessing, of great spiritual advantage to the natives of the principality. I shall earnestly endeavour to make known and recommend this very useful and frugal edition, as far as my influence may extend." Some other persons of influence also have promoted this desirable ob. ject. Upon the subject of the Chinese Prayer-book, the Report states, that so long since as December 1819, 2000 copies of the Morning and Evening Services of the Church and of the Psalter, were in the course of preparation at Malacca; and no doubt have for some time been in circulation. We are glad to find that the Society have reason to think they perceive strong symptoms of an increasing wish for our Liturgy in foreign parts. The Rev. Marmaduke Thompson states, not only that the heathen when converted to Christianity greatly need and much wish for a form of prayer, but that as soon as they begin to inquire seriously with respect to our religion, one of their leading questions almost invariably is, "How do you worship?” The same remark applies to Roman Catholics, when they begin to suspect the soundness of their own creed. The Syrian Christians of Travancore, so far as they have been made acquainted with our devotional forms, highly approve of them; and will probably be inclined to receive important hints from them in purifying their own. The Committee had received an order from a friend at Leghorn, to send him 100 Latin Prayer-books. He remarked, that a Latin copy of our Liturgy having fallen into the hands of some Roman Catholic clergymen, they much admired and highly approved of it. The Ordination Services have been printed in various types, so as to be capable of being bound up with Prayer books of different sizes; and no English Prayer-book will in future be sold at the depository, in which these forms are not inserted. The Committee have received some gratifying communications respecting the acceptableness and utility of the Homilies, both in English, and as translated by the Society into different lan guages. The Rev. Marmaduke Thompson states, that the Homily-tracts distributed by him in India, had been gladly received by the Europeans, especially the soldiery; and also by the country-born descendants of European parents, and he had reason to hope they had been particularly useful. "Your Homilies," writes a correspondent in the Scilly Isles," are read in several of our congregations every Sabbath. No sermons, that I have been able to procure, are more acceptable to the islanders. With constant use, the six volumes you formerly sent us are now unfit for service. They have been read by almost every family in the Off Islands. Often, indeed, has my heart been delighted, after returning on a winter's night from a distant island, to find a person, who six years since did not know A from Z, surrounded by ten or twelve of his neighbours, all listening with great seriousness, while he read the Bible or the publications of your Society. NJ, a most zealous teacher for four years in one of our Sunday-schools, lately died a most happy death. Your Homilies were made greatly instrumental,by the Divine blessing, in turning her attention to those things which concerned her everlasting peace." The Committee had been informed of an instance, in which the circulation of Homily No. 15, "On repairing and keeping clean of Churches," appeared to have been of considerable service in stirring up the inhabitants of a particular parish to follow its salutary exhortations. The following is an extract from a letter received by the Committee from an English gentleman, giving an account of some interviews with one of our countrymen, whom he had met with at Paris in a dying state. "Before I left my lodgings," he says, "I had put into my pocket the Homily on Salvation: this I gave to the sick man, recommending it to his serious attention. After I had left him on this occasion, having purchased a Bible for his perusal (for dis own he had left in England), I for warded it to him with some tracts, among which was the Homily against the Fear of Death. When I called again, he expressed much gratitude for the books. He had just been reading the last mentioned Homily, the contents of which appeared to have impressed his mind."-Having related various other 1 circumstances, concluding with the death of this gentleman, the writer adds, "I thought it would be satisfactory to you thus to hear, that, in all probability, your tracts have been very useful to the late Mr. The translation of the first three Homilies into the Manks language, and the publication of a considerable edition of them, was mentioned in the Society's last annual Report. The Committee state, that these tracts have been very actively distributed byseveral clergymen in the Isle of Man, and are very eagerly received by their parishioners. The gentlemen engaged in circulating them have almost invariably preferred selling them, for a penny each, to giving them away. The Secretary of a Society at Hamburgh, for the distribution of religious tracts in Lower Saxony, writes; "In compliance with your request, the Book of Homilies has been circulated among the members of our Committee for their perusal and opinion. They have given their sentiments with regard to the Se cond and Third Homilies (the first having been already translated into German), that, convinced of the sound divinity which they contain, they doubt not that, if rendered into as pure German as the first, they will prove equally useful and acceptable." "You ask my advice," writes a French Protestant divine, "respecting the translation and publication of those excellent discourses which you distribute. Ianswer with the greatest sincerity, that, besides No. 1. which you have already translated, I believe many others contain matter of general and fundamental utility; and that the translation of them into French, and their publication on the continent, might there tend to the advancement of the kingdom of God." Another correspondent writes from Calais; "I have distributed nearly the whole of your tracts (namely, copies of the First Homily translated into French), in this country. The gift has, as I believe, been very beneficial to several persons, particularly in Amiens; and they have every where been received with apparent thankfulness." "From Calais to this city, nearly the whole length of France," writes another of our countrymen, from Toulouse," I have had opportunities of distributing, occasionally, Homilies both in French and English; which, I rejoice to say, have always been well received, though given to strangers." "Printing," he remarks in another part of his letter, "is very cheap here; and I lately put to press your First Homily in French, and struck off 3000 copies, which have now for some time been in circulation both here and elsewhere. A friend also, by my advice, is printing your translation of the First Homily in Spanish; and we both expect to drop some of them over the Pyrenees. I have, besides, a copy of your Spanish translation of Homily No. 25; this I will also endeavour to reprint, and get across the same great barrier." We regret to learn, that owing to the defective state of their funds the Committee have found themselves unable to enter upon any of the important, though by no means expensive, undertakings proposed by this correspondent; and much less to embark on some other plans of a more extensive nature, which they are very desirous of embracing; particularly the translation of our scriptural Liturgy and some of the Homilies into foreign languages. The translation of the Liturgy is an object of very great moment, and well deserves the serious consideration of every friend of religion in the Established Church. Even those benevolent persons who from having facilities for procuring their Prayer-books and Homilies for home distribution from other sources have not adequately considered the utility of this Society in reference to its domestic plans, would do well to weigh the importance of its foreign objects. We are glad to observe in the list of contribu tions for the present year, a specifie donation from two of the Society's right reverend Vice-Presidents for the express purpose of aiding the translation of our formularies. Congregational collectious have also been made for the same object at Bentinck chapel and St. Catherine-cree church. We strongly recommend these precedents to our readers. The receipts for the last year, with the issues of books, &c. have already appeared in our Number for last June. LONDON SOCIETY FOR PROMOT. In our Number for September, we abridged the larger part of the last Report of this Society: we shall now lay before our readers the principal facts in the remaining portion of that document. Associations similar to that at Frank fort have been formed at Elberfeld, in the duchy of Berg, and at Basle. The object of the latter is to open a correspondence in Switzerland, Baden, Wirtemberg, and Alsace, with such Jews as are favourable to the Christian religion, and to communicate to them Hebrew and Jewish German tracts; to circulate every mouth, a paper under the title of “Religious Jewish Correspondence," and to found a Christian Institution for the education of Jewish children. In several places, Jewish parents are found who do not venture to make a public profession of Christianity, but do not object to their children being in stracted as Christians. The Committee of the London So. ciety state, that "many instances have been mentioned to them from abroad of individual Jews being brought to inquire earnestly into Christiauity; and these men of good education, who have been brought up in the study of the Talmud, which is one of the most advanced sta of erudition among the Jews, or who ges have been employed as schoolmasters." And they add," May we not hope that such persons, if it shall please God to bring them to embrace the faith of the Gospel, will be eminently serviceable in leading others to the same faith!" In addition to the communications from the continent of Europe, the Society has received encouraging letters from other parts of the world. Thus the Rev. William Cowper, Assistant Chaplain to the Colony of New South Wales, writes from Sydney;—“ A number of Jews now reside in this town; about thirty of whom have lately agreed to meet together once or twice every week, to have their own prayers and the Scriptures read to them. Their only acknowledged Levite, Joseph Marcus, whom I have known for some years, is an intelligent, peaceable, and well-disposed man. He has devoted much time to the study of the Scriptures in Hebrew, and in English, and is favourable I think to the Christian doctrines. half a dozen copies of the New Testament in Hebrew, and two or three Hebrew Old Testaments might be of service to them."-From India the Committee had learnt, that Mr. Michael Sargon, a Cochin Jew, after careful instruction from Mr.Jarratt, of Madras, had been baptized by the chaplain, Mr. Keating. Mr. Jarrett mentions having distributed a large supply of Hebrew Testaments, &c. sent him by the Committee for the use of the Jews in those parts, and states that Mr. Sargon had expressed an earnest desire to be employed, in a few years, as a missionary to his brethren. From the details in the Report the Committee derive the following inferences:-1. That there is at this time amongst Christians, of various ranks and denominations, and in ́various parts of the globe, an active and increasing spirit of compassion towards the Jews, and of benevolent exertion for their spiritual improvement. 2. That there exists, on the part of the Jews themselves, in varions places, a growing disposition to inquire into the truth of Christianity and to receive Christian instruction, orally and by books, both by tracts and by the New Testament. 3. That several well authenticated instances, in places wholly unconnected with each other, have occurred, of Jews actually embracing Christianity; many in secret, being restrained from a public profession by the fear of consequences, but not a few also publicly, and that under circumstances peculiarly free (so far as men can judge) from suspicion, and who are likely to prove, through the blessing of God, eminently instrumental in leading others to examine and adopt the great truths of the Gospel. 4. That there is a prevalent opinion among the Jews that their national conversion to Christianity is not far distant.” On these grounds the Committee call upon the members of the Society to * thank God and to take courage:" while they further entreat their earnest prayers for the effusion of God's Holy Spirit upon this institution, and all engaged in its counsels and operations, "In proportion," they add, “as a spirit of prayer for the fulfilment of the Divine promises relative to the last great outpouring of the Spirit, shall prevail in the church,will the day of promised and predicted blessings toJews and Gentiles, be accelerated in its approach.” THE WALDENSES. An interesting pamphlet has recently been published, entitled "Brief Observations on the Present State of the Waldenses, and upon their actual sufferings, made in the Summer of 1820, by Gorges Lowther, Esq.;" the object of which is to stimulate the British public to assist in supplying the religious necessities of this long persecuted and depressed portion of their fellow-Christians The early sufferings of the Waldenses are well known from the page of his tory, and excited especial attention among many persons in this country six or seven years ago from the statements then laid before the public, with a view to raise a subscription for their relief; though, from the political circumstances of the continent at that period, that benevolent plan could not be then fully carried into effect. Our readers may find some interesting but afflicting particulars of their history by referring back to our volume for 1815, p. 62 and p. 301 The publication of Mr. Lowther furnishes some circumstances of a more recent date, and exhibits in particular the painful situation in which this remarkable people at present stand. We trust that the extracts which we are about to present from his publication, may assist the benevolent object for which it is written. "The Waldenses," remarks Mr. Lowther, it is well known, are a people inhabiting the valleys of Piedmont, and professing the Protestant faith: they were indeed Protestants against the Roman Catholic religion, long before Protestantism, in the sense it is now commonly used, existed. That they were as a religious people of very high antiquity, is allowed on all hands. So early as the 12th century they were remarked for the purity of their religious doctrines and practice, and called contemptuous. ly by their enemies the Cathari; that is, the pure. "In the 13th century, the Waldenses and Albigenses had spread and prevailed very widely, and were prevailing still further; so that the pope thought it necessary to exert his utmost efforts to suppress them. For this purpose, the first crusade was proclaimed by Christians against Christians, and the office of inquisition was first instituted; the one to subdue their bodies, the other to enslave their souls. It is enough to make the blood run cold to read of the dreadful murders and devastations of this time. It is computed that in France alone, there were slain a million; and what were the consequences of these shocking barbarities? No writer can better inform us than the wise and moderate historian Thuanus. Against the Waldenses,' saith he, when exquisite punishments availed little, and the evil was exasperated by the remedy which had been unseasonably applied, and their number increased daily, at length complete armies were raised, and a war of no less weight than what our people had before waged against the Saracens was decreed against them; the event of which was, that they were rather slain, put to flight, spoiled every where of their goods and dignities, and dispersed bere and there, than that, CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 240. convinced of their error, they repented So that they, who at first had defended themselves by arms, at last overcome by arms, fled into Provence, and the neighbouring Alps of the French territory, and found a shelter for their life and doctrine in those places. Part withdrew into Calabria, and continued there a long while, even to the Pontificate of Pins IV.; part passed into Germany, and fixed their abode among the Bohemians, and in Poland and Livonia: others, turning to the West, obtained refuge in Britain.'" Mr. Lowther asserts, from his own recent observation, that to this day they may be seen worshipping the God of their fathers in all the primitive simplicity of their ancestors, He remarks: "How illustrative of this simplicity, and delightful was the sight which presented itself to me at La Tour; to behold at least 500 of these simple and interesting people,with animated voices, singing in full chorus the 91st Psalm, under one of their immense mountains in the high. Alps; those very mountains, in the bowels of which are still to be seen the caverns and strong holds to which their ancestors fled for shelter and protection against the pitiless fury of their persecutors! Mr. Lowther next relates, what is less generally known, their history during the last twenty years. "Piedmont being subjected to France in 1800, the Waldenses were placed by the French Government on a footing with their fellow-subjects, and by this wise and humane law they were rescued from the state of slavery under which they had groaned for so many centuries. This was the dawn of their happiness; and the Government further relieved them, by abolishing the Catholic livings, which were useless owing to the very small number of Catholics, if any, in the communes; the funds arising from which were further appropriated to provide for the pastors.' "Since the fall of Buonaparte, the Waldenses, foreseeing the destiny that awaited them, deputed M. P. Appia, juge de paix, and M. Frederic Peyran, pastor, to wait on his excellency Lord William Bentinck, at Genoa, in May 1814, in order to beseech him to take them under his protection, and to implore him to recommend them to the king on his return from Sardinia, supplicating his majesty that he would be pleased to allow them to continue to enjoy the same privileges as the rest of his subjects. The king arrived at Genoa while the deputies from the Waldenses were there, and Lord W. Bentinck humanely spoke to his majesty in their favour; but notwithstanding this request, made by the British Ambassador, M-5 four days afterwards Victor Emanuel signed a manifesto, by which he restored to full vigour all the edicts which had been published by his predecessors. The inhabitants of St. Jean, profiting by the liberty they had enjoyed under the French Government, had built a church in the centre of the commune; but by letters patent of December the 30th, 1814, the government ordered the in. tendant of the province to have it shut up, because it was built beyond those limits prescribed in former times. « If the Waldenses have not been so openly persecuted as in past centuries, nothing has been left undone recently which might injure them privately; and a sort of tacit consent is afforded towards upholding, and even putting in force all the edicts that formerly op pressed them. During the French Government several mixed marriages were contracted; but the vice judge and the vicar of the parish of La Tour have now received permission to disturb these contracts. A Catholic who married a Protestant and embraced her religion, and another Catholic who has brought up his children in the religion of their mother, who is a Waldense, have had the peace of their respective families greatly disturbed by the priests, and they are now threatened with the ri. gours of the law on this account. In the beginning of May, 1794, the French having made themselves masters of the fort of Mirabouc, situated at the extremity of the valley of Luzerne, on the confines of France, the Waldenses were accused of having allowed them to gain possession of it, although there was not a single individual of them in the fort at the time. However, the Piedmontese fanatics took occasion, from the report of this circumstance, to plot a second Bartholomew deed, in order to be revenged on them; and a massacre was planned, which was to take place in the communes of St. Jean La Tour and Vil. lars, on the night of the 14th or 15th of May, 1794, precisely at a time when they knew all the Waldenses, who were capable of bearing arms, were in the mountains, defending the entrance against the French troops.” . « The venerable Cure of Luzerne, Don Brianza (to his praise be it spoken) was the first to give notice of this execrable and cowardly plot; and a Mr. Odetti, captain in the militia, a Catholic, and a man of fortune in the environs of Cavour, on hearing of it, came to the house of old Mr. Jean Vertu, and said to him, I am come to defend you to the last drop of my blood.' Towards the evening of the 14th of May, 1794, the house of the Cure of La Tour, the convent of the Recollêts, and some Catholic houses were filled with the assassins to the amount of 809. The fatal moment drew nigh; for in vain were seventeen expresses sent off to the Swiss General Godin, who commanded in the valley, and whose head quarters were about three leagues further up than La Tour, to inform bim what was going on; the general could not be persuaded to credit such a dread. ful, and what he believed so improbable, an account. At last, people of the highest note went to him, and, throwing themselves at his feet, implored him to dispatch some companies of militia, composed of the Waldenses to La Tour, to save their families from being murdered in cold blood. The general, who could no longer doubt the fact, thought it more prudent to march himself to defend them, and he arrived at La Tour with his troops at the beginning of night. Most providentially the rain, which fell in torrents, obliged these wretches to delay their bloody purpose; and this gave time to the troops to ar tive; when the cut-throats filed in the utmost consternation, and escaped by means of the curé's garden, the dark. ness of the night favouring their escape. A list, however, of the principal conspi rators was found in the church, which was delivered to the duke of Aoste, the present king; but not one of them was punished, or even inquired after. The brave General Godin, who saved the lives and property of so many innocent people, was soon after disgraced for this act of humanity, without receiving any recompense for his past services; and ho retired to Nyon in Switzerland, where he died soon after. The king was no sooner reinstated upon his throne, and patio fell possession of his ancient dominions, than the Waidenses were stripped of all their places and offices, civil and military.”— The Waldeuses owned that they fa voured the principles of liberty of conscience, which enabled them to burst the chains which had for so many ages held them down: but they appealed to the whole world to judge of their conduct; and they asked whether it was a crime in the eyes of God, or even in those of men, to favour those who considered them as their fellow-men, and who as sisted them to break their chains. Be it remembered also, that while they were of use to their liberators, they also rendered the most eminent services to humanity; the commune of Bobi alone having, at the call of their worthy pas tor, furnished volunteers who crossed the Alps with three hundred sick and wounded soldiers on their shoulders. This noble act of humanity, truly Chris tian-like, emanated not so much from any partiality to the French, as from that pure religion which taught them, that even, a cup of cold water' given to an enemy, was in accordance with that Gospel which they professed; and the very Austrians themselves could not |