not the easy matter that it has now comparatively become: there was then much of the reproach of the Cross. These consolations were a powerful stay to the soul under that reproach. But besides, in the providence of God, our friend was a prosperous man. The general effect of prosperity is too well known: How hardly,' says our Saviour (Matt. x. 21), shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!' In these joys and consolations, he possessed an antidote to the deceits of the world, and knew that he had a better and an enduring substance.'

"In this respect there was a striking contrast between his former and his latter days. From a variety of causes, a degree of depression had latterly pervaded his mind, which to some may appear an extraordinary circumstance. But should it not be remembered, that the God of consolation doeth, in this matter, as seemeth best to His own infinite wisdom and goodness? and that he may be glorified as much in the suffering Christian, struggling against the power of unbelief and our great spiritul adversary, as in a rejoicing Christian? When consolations such as were once enjoyed by him, are experienced, a person may be said to walk by sight; when they are withdrawn, to walk by faith. It rarely happens that young Christians are exercised with such temptations as our friend experienced, and which tended to produce the depression alluded to. In fact, for the last four or five years, as I have gathered from several deeply-interesting conversations with him, his views of the infinite majesty, power, and holiness of the Divine Being have been becoming deeper and deeper; while, in consequence, like Peter at the miraculous draught of fishes, he was more and more penetrated with a sense of his own thorough unworthiness and debasement. At such times to enjoy support, requires that God should speak peace to the soul it is not reason, argument, or persuasion that can calm the surges of the mind. But, while it is a glorious sight to see the soul thus supported, it is the next in glory to behold the soul, when, to use the bold language of David (Ps. xlii. 7, 11), deep calleth unto deep at the noise of Thy waterspouts: all Thy waves and Thy billows are gone over me:' saying also with David, Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise Ilim, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.'

Such a sight, others, as well as myself, have been privileged to see. Few are aware of the extent of his inward conflicts: indeed, he has told me that he was afraid to speak of them, lest they might operate as a stumbling-block to those unacquainted with similar trials.

"But these fears and distresses were only for a time. Not long prior to his death, he observed, All my doubts and fears are removed. I have no doubts now: Satan is not permitted to harass my mind. To myself he said, the last time I saw him, The sun is beginning to shine out from beneath the cloud: I do enjoy the peace of God-I do feel the support of the peace of God.' The day previous to his death, being fully convinced that his departure was drawing nigh, all that he entreated was, that prayer should be made for his support; expressing at the same time, in a very emphatic manner, that he was supported, and that he should be supported to the end. On various encouraging texts of Scripture being recited to him, it was evident that his mind was stayed on the truths contained in them. Thus, when that verse was mentioned, Fear thou not, for I am with thee--be not dismayed,' he quickly caught the sentiment, and with animation observed, Dismayed! no; I am not dismayed; I have nothing to fear; all is well-all is well.' Such was his delightful language to the end: and though the bodily conflict was severe, his soul was evidently in peace.

"Mr. Lea died on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 6, 1828, in the eightysecond year of his age; and was buried on Monday, Dec. 15. A numerous company of affectionate relatives and friends attended; and had it been possible, many more would most gladly have joined in paying this last tribute of respect to his memory." pp. 17-28.

We have quoted thus largely from Mr. Brandram's narrative, as exhibiting an edifying example of a faithful servant of Christ, amidst the busy scenes and many temptations of commercial life; and, in one respect, as peculiarly instructive, from the alternations of joy and depression which marked his religious career; thus leading the reflecting reader not to depend upon

mere sensations as the tests of his religious character; but to look more deeply to the presence and efficacy of a spiritual principle in his soul, to repentance towards God, and faith in Christ, and the fruits of love and holy obedience of heart and life.

Mr. Brandram remarks of the subject of his narrative, that "it that religious impressions were was at the early age of eighteen, made upon his mind." This may indeed be called " early," in com

parison with a life of more than three-score years and ten; yet let not our younger readers deceive themselves with the epithet,-for what was early to Mr. Lea, would have been late, fatally and for ever late, to the amiable and pious youth, whose memorial we have introduced to their notice. Mr. Pritchett's little narrative furnishes a very useful memento both to parents and children; but we need not quote largely from it, as it is now pub. lished, and may be procured for a trifling charge. It is not an extraordinary narrative; it does not abound with remarkable incidents, or highly-wrought descriptions; and the bereaved parent expressly states, that this was one of the very reasons that induced him to make it public. Most judiciously and piously does he remark:

"It has occurred to him-whether, justly or not, others must determinethat many narratives of this general description carry on them such an impress of something extraordinary, that some Christian parents can scarcely find courage to hope that their children, if called to an early death, may be partakers of the same peculiar blessings. In presenting this case to the notice of others, his desire is to persuade them that, though all is to be attributed to the most free and distinguishing grace of God, nothing has been here laid before them, which the parent who sincerely devotes his children to God through Christ, who steadily sets before them the good and perfect way, and who obtains mercy to be faithful to this great object in diligence and prayer, may not hope through the loving-kindness of God our Saviour to realize, if called to endure a similar trial. If, however, the things here detailed should appear to any persons to be common in another sense, viz. such as every day occur, and such as are therefore entitled to but little notice : let them rest assured, that they have nothing common in them when realized in the day of trouble. They then possess a freshness, a novelty, and a power which cannot be expressed They seem to stamp a new character and aspect upon the very trials with which they are connected; the work and person of the Saviour are unspeakably endeared; and much of the anguish of affliction lost, in the exceeding grace of Him who has thus condescended to become the comforter of

his mourners.

"In looking back upon the brief history of his beloved child, the parent who

thus records it with a view to usefulness, is constrained to exclaim, What hath cession of circumstances, reaching through God wrought!' He now reviews a sucthe term of seventeen years, and perceives 'how wonderful the Lord is in his doings toward the children of men.' It of the God of mercy so to order events, in seems as if it had been the good pleasure reference to this dear child, that a more than ordinary vigilance should, almost of necessity, be exercised in watching over his course. The tender solicitude, with respect to his spiritual welfare, expressed by one of his parents, during an illness which removed her from him, when he had not yet arrived at the age of eleven months, seemed to place the only parent who survived under peculiar obligations to take good heed to his charge. An incidental conversation, when the child was between six and seven years old, in the presence of the writer, at that time in a very weak state of health, seemed to produce an impression which frequently recurred to his mind, and to exercise a salutary influence, through a course of several years. A lady, who spoke of her daughter as in dying circumstances, and as rejoicing in the hope of a glorious immortality, said, that she was blessing God for the advantages of a guarded education.' Little indeed did the writer think that he should be spared to watch by the dying bed of his son, who was very healthy, and continued to be so till his last illness. But he was led to resolve most earnestly, in the strength of God, that, if it were possible, this child, whenever he might be called to die, should have reason to bless God for guarded education." pp. 20-23.

"Among the consolations of the parent in this case, are the recollections, that his dear son did not seem, in the days of sickness, to be driven by terror to a Saviour, whom he never before regarded. He appeared to be drawn by love to one whom he had long been taught to contemplate. He knew these things before he saw the excellence of them; his mind approved of them, and reverenced them; and now at least he felt the value of them. His understanding was informed before; and now at least, if not sooner, his heart seemed to be touched and won.' p. 28.

The promised blessing of God was not withheld to these truly Christian and well-judged endeavours. The writer, called early to resign his beloved child, did not sorrow as without hope; but had the satisfaction to see the beloved object of his cares early prepared for eternity, "meekly sleeping" in the arms of his Saviour, and rescued for ever from the snares and

1829.

THE appointment of this muchrespected clergyman to the official situation which connects him with the diocese of Winchester, reflects equal honour upon the Right Reverend patron and upon the subject of his wise and disinterested choice. We know not in what quarter a prelate anxious to discover a man qualified for the office, instead of subordinating the office to the man, could have selected a clergyman better fitted to discharge the important duties of vicar-general of such a diocese as Winchester, than in the person of the Reverend author of the excellent discourse now before us. It has fallen to the lot of Mr. Dealtry, in the varied functions of an academical professor, a bishop's examining chaplain, and an active and exemplary parish priest, to have become largely acquainted with the duties and the habits both of the clergy and the laity; and his earnest and scriptural piety, his calm discretion, his cordial attachment to the doctrine and discipline of our revered church, and, not least, his abstinence from controversy and party spirit, could not fail to render the experience thus acquired of inestimable value in furthering the interests of true religion within her pale. The office of chancellor of a diocese -and indeed that of episcopacy itself may not, in the present day, be capable of wielding all the practical power which it exerted in ages of greater subordination and simplicity, when visitation, institution, and, as the old canonists express it, CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 326.

"correction of manners, and a general inspection of men and things, for the preservation of good government in the church," were very far from being merely official forms. But, happily, all is not lost, even in the way of direct authority; while in that of personal example, salu. tary influence, faithful exhortation, and pious zeal, the official regula tors of our church may still, by the Divine blessing, effect much, very much, to promote the glory of God and the best welfare of mankind. Next to the sound principles, the personal character, the affectionate spirit, and the active services of a bishop himself-in all which points the diocese of Winchester is preeminently happy-we would estimate as of vital importance the character of the several officers who exercise his delegated agency; and we fear we must add, that to the too generally prevailing habit of considering such appointments as sources of private patronage, rather than as matters of official responsibility, may be attributed much of that laxity of ecclesiastical doctrine and discipline, which has been so greatly lamented by the best and wisest of our prelates, and by every sincere friend of the Established Church. If the prime minister of the day, in appointing to a bishopric, consults only private friendship or political expediency, to the oblivion of those higher claims which alone can qualify a clergyman for that momentous office in the church of Christ; and if the bishop thus appointed views his official patronage in the same secular light, to be disposed of for the gratification of his patron or the emolument of non-qualified friends, it is obvious that the same debasing and servile system will descend to the very outskirts of the diocese ; till clergy and laity will alike learn to view the Church as a mere political machine, to be worked, not for the spiritual welfare of mankind, but for the convenience of those who direct its movements.

R

The name of Mr. Dealtry has often graced our Review department: we have seen him as the champion of the unfettered circulation of the Scriptures, the zealous advocate for Christian missions, at a time when the duty of such exertions was little estimated in the church of Christ, and when every attempt to promote them was assailed by the scorn and obloquy of the world; but in no capacity are his writings so valuable as in that of a faithful Christian teacher, unfolding the doctrines of the word of God, and impressing its duties, for correction, edification, and instruction in righteousness. The discourse now before us incidentally exhibits the writer in the two-fold aspect above alluded to. In the former part, descriptive of the character of the Gospel message, we trace the faithful and affectionate parochial instructor declaring his hallowed announcements with such amplitude of range, such fidelity of delineation, yet at the same time with such edifying sim

plicity, that we have taken the liberty of trespassing on the forgiveness of our valued friend, by extracting the whole of his argument as a Family Sermon; adding only a few lines at the end, in order to apply to the private reader what the . character of Mr. Dealtry's auditory led him, in the second part of his discourse, to apply most powerfully, and at considerable length, to the case of the Christian minister. We will, however, in return for our licence of quotation from the first part, refrain wholly from any extracts from the second; referring our readers to the discourse itself, for such a truly scriptural and affectionate appeal to the hearts, the understandings, and the consciences of the clergy, as we cannot doubt must have been deeply felt, and will be long remembered, by those who heard it; and will now, we trust, by the blessing of God, become, by means of its publication, highly interesting and serviceable to many who had not that privilege.

GREAT BRITAIN. PREPARING for publication, and in the press-A critical Examination of some of the fundamental Principles of Mr. Faber's Calendar of Prophecy; by W. Cuninghame ;-He is Risen; an Easter Offering;-Popular Lectures on Biblical Criticism and Interpretation; by W. Carpenter; - A Christian Biographical Dictionary; by W. Jones;-Sketches of Irish Character; by Mrs. S. C. Hall.

Two remarkable tusks of a Mammoth have been brought home by Capt. Beechey. The largest must have measured twelve feet; and the mammoth to which it belonged must have been fifteen or sixteen feet high. They were found on the west coast of America, near Behring's Straits, in a mountain of ice a hundred feet in height above the sea. This mass of ice is covered with earth and grass, and has embedded in it a vast number of the tusks, teeth, and bones of the mammoth.

Specimens of organic remains, it is

stated, have lately been found in Clashbennie quarry, on the left bank of the Tay, in the old red sand-stone, in which few organic remains have hitherto been found, and from which is dated the existence of the vertebral animals.

The interior of York Minster, one of the most valuable and magnificent of our national architectural treasures, has been desolated by fire. The damage includes the destruction of the splendid roof of the choir, the stalls, canopies, and other woodwork on the sides, the matchless organ,the communion plate, and the delapidation of many of the monuments. The elaborately carved screen, the splendid east window,the records, the wills, and some valuable articles of antiquity or curiosity, have been preserved. The destruction is traced to the hand of a lunatic. The minster has several times suffered by fire; the last occurrence of which kind was nearly seven hundred years ago.

Professor Leslie states that the largest

The Water Companies which supply the metropolis, are the New River, East London, West Middlesex, Chelsea, Grand Junction, Lambeth, Vauxhall, and Southwark. The daily supply amounts to nearly thirty million gallons; which, estimating the population of the metropolis at 1,500,000, is nearly twenty gallons a day for every individual.

A plan is under discussion for forming a General Clerical Provident Society; to give an opportunity to the clergy, by means of mutual assurance, to secure a provision for themselves and their families in sickness, old age, at death, and whilst bringing up a family. The plan is not fully matured; but the object is highly important. As an illustration of the nature of the plan, it is calculated that if a clergyman, upon entering into orders at 23, will engage to pay the sum of 4. 16s. 10d. per annum until he dies, or attains the age of seventy years, he will, in such be entitled to 21. weekly in sickness, until he is seventy years of age; 17. weekly in sickness, after he is seventy years of age; and 521. per annum, in health or sickness, after he is seventy years of age. At thirty, the same benefits may be obtained for 6. 1s. 2d. per annum; at thirty-five, for 7. 10s.; and at forty, for 91. 15s. 4d. We shall recur to the subject.

case,

FRANCE.

The whole of the highways of France are made and repaired at the expense of the Government, and the whole amount set down for this purpose is only about 800,000. The highways extend the length of 8,584 leagues, the league being about two English miles and a half; and, separately from annual repairs, it is calculated that nearly 8,000,000l. sterling would be A commis. necessary to complete them.

sion has been appointed to consider the subject.

Our fellow Protestants in France are adopting the plan of sales of ladies' work for assisting benevolent and religious objects. At a recent sale at Paris, on behalf of the "Evangelical Missionary Society,"

almost as many English ladies as French were found among the contributors and purchasers.

ITALY.

In a house lately excavated at Pompeii were found the skeletons of two persons, apparently overtaken by destruction in the moment of flight. The one, it is conjectured, is that of the proprietor of the mansion, holding in one hand a key and in the other some gold coins and decorations; the other, that of a slave, carrying behind his master two vases. What an affecting illustration of the condition of all ages and ranks at the approach of that great leveller of all human distinctions-Death!

A medal has been struck at Strasburg to the memory of the Pastor Oberlin. The likeness is said to be very faithfully executed.

UNITED STATES.

The custom of "bowing at the name of Jesus" in the Creed, has been generally continued among our American Episcopa.. lian brethren; but there being no canon with them as with us to enforce it, some of them, we understand, wish to abolish it, as unnecessary in itself, and offensive to many Dissenters. The majority, however, consider it at the least so innocent, and in intention so reverent a practice, that they determine to retain it.

Lines of stage-coaches are beginning to be established in different places, upon the principle of not travelling on the Sunday.

Joseph Lancaster is in New York, suffering under poverty, and has appealed to the public for relief.

Far the larger part of the produce of the immense apple-orchards in some parts of the United States is made into cider, for the purpose of being distilled into brandy; which thus becomes so injuriously cheap as to be a constant source of temptation to the labouring classes.

It is reported that a considerable number of manuscript volumes, containing the Journal of the British House of Commons during the Protectorship of Cromwell, has been discovered among a mass of books belonging to a literary society in New York, which for many years had remained undisturbed. The manuscripts, it is said, were taken to America by the re