the atonement of his beloved Saviour,-trembled lest after all, his religious experience should prove a delusion,-felt that the world often got too much hold upon him,-deplored the instability of his religious affections, and mourned over the depravity of his nature. His was an inward piety, disliking all show, and shrinking from all ostentation,-a thing which, in religious matters particularly, as indeed in all other matters, was utterly abhorrent to his nature; he could not endure it. The truth is, he carried this feeling to the other extreme. His dislike of all sham and pretension often disqualified him to exercise his sound judgment discriminatingly, and to guide his tongue discreetly. His apparent roughness in language and manners, was often nothing but the result of misapprehended rightness. He sometimes mistook decency for show. This was his defect. Hence, from sheer aversion to ostentation, he almost uniformly exhibited the worst side of himself. Hundreds of times has he been mistakenregarded as an enemy, or as a careless, when he was a real and true, friend. Whenever his manner was regarded as representative of his character, he was sure to be misapprehended. Almost all his errors had their origin in this source. It was, and is to be lamented; but he seemed as if he could not help it. How often has he concealed the tenderest heart under an unpropitiating manner. If the real kindness of his feeling could have been seen, when his rather harsh mode of speaking was beheld, how different would have been the impression left! At heart he was always a Christian, a kind man, and an honest, but faithful-sometimes too faithful-friend. Educated among strict and conscientious Dissenters-among a people, indeed, who prided themselves on the antiquity of their Nonconformity, and the church of which openly boasted itself as being the mother church of the district, perhaps of the West Riding, and in a place in which a Dissenting College had been successfully conducted for many years, we need not be surprised if he drank deeply into the spirit of Dissent. Always an independent thinkerindependent in spirit, and self-reliant by nature -he sympathised entirely with that body of professing Christians in their dislike of all Church and State connection, which he deemed at once unscriptural, wrong, and mischievous; and in their utter repugnance to all formularies of worship and rites of consecration. He was a Dissenter, not only from the prejudices of his education, but from conscientious and wellunderstood principles. In doctrinal sentiments he was a moderate Calvinist, equally avoiding the extremes of Arminianism on the one hand, and of Antinomianism on the other. He loved to hear the Gospel proclaimed in all its amplitude, benevolence, and freedom, while he certainly was decidedly averse to that latitudinarianism of preaching which bereaves God of his purposes and the Christian man of all certainty in his hopes. He loved the Gospel which at once invests God with his rightful prerogatives, and gives to man his just freedom; but he could not endure a gospel which, carried out to its legitimate limits, must destroy both. Hence, on the one side he gave to God all the glory of his salvation, and on the other, deemed himself placed under the strongest obligation-the obligation of love-to render a cheerful obedience to the Divine law, and to yield a willing submission to the Divine pleasure. His practices corresponded with his principles. He strictly sanctified the Sabbath, and, as far as possible, made his family do so. He insisted upon his children, from their very infancy, attending the house of God, taking them himself, or directing some one else to do it. He was equally strict with his servants, over whom he could exercise legitimate control. Hence the whole family, and nearly all who have been trained under his eye, are regular chapel-goers, attached to the house of God, and fearing to violate the sacred day. Going himself to the prayer meeting on the Sabbath evening, he took his family with him, and advised his servants to attend. To him the holy day was a day of devotion, of improvement, and of praise. Family prayer, morning and evening, was never omitted, any day in the week, if he was at home, and able to perform the duty. A true priest in his own household, he reverently read the Scriptures and prayed, surrounded by his children and domestics. Oh! how fervently has he prayed for them, as well as with them. With what earnestness has he agonized with God on their behalf, for many years. May all his prayers be answered, and all his children, grandchildren, and domestics be saved! Nor was he less conscientious in his private devotions. But he took good care generally that they were pri vate. He could not endure PUBLIC private devotions. At the family altar he never forgot, or coldly referred to, his pastor, the church, the afflicted, or the sinner. And doubtless he was equally earnest in private, in his prayers on their behalf. He always felt, too, a most lively interest in the affairs of the church of which he was a member, identifying himself with its interests, and perseveringly seeking its advantage. And although he might not always see as others saw, (what independent thinker does?) yet he uniformly sought "its good." He took a most active part in obtaining the present pastor-the Rev. H. Bean, being one of the three appointed by the church to wait upon Mr. Vint, late Theolo gical Tutor of Idle Academy, to confer about his settlement. And while, perhaps, he has not always taken the same view of things, to which ever varying circumstances have given rise, during almost thirty years, yet he has been his real friend, often benefited by his ministrations, and was always grateful for his kind attentions. A steady supporter of his own church interests, he was ready with his purse and advice, in connection with all useful public and religious affairs. Never niggardly, he was anxious to promote the general good of Christ's kingdom in all the ways he could. He has gone to his reward. He was a most affectionate father, very tender husband, good master, kind neighbour, successful tradesman, and active townsman. His last illness, though for seventy years a man of generally robust health, was long and trying. Although he often groaned under it, I am not aware that he ever murmured at it. He died, as he lived, trusting in God. He did not fear death. Looking at it on every side, in the endurance of its pains, and the consequences of the last conflict, he calmly committed his soul to his Divine Saviour, in whose cross he alone gloried, and expired on the 11th of September, 1851. In his last moments, being asked by one of his daughters if he found Christ precious and sufficient for him, he exclaimed, "Oh! yes; he has never failed me." And thus he left the world, in which many conflicts had been his lot, in the confident hope of entering upon a life where the "wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest." Church Affairs. ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN. THE Minister of Selby, Yorkshire, has just issued a curious Address to his Parishioners, a copy of which has been kindly forwarded to us. The Reverend Clergyman stands out stoutly for Baptismal Regeneration; he is also strong for godfathers and godmothers. He does not, however, condescend to offer any evidence on its behalf, either from the Scriptures or from reason; neither does he explain the mystery of the distinction of having two godfathers for boys and only one godmother, and two godmothers for girls and only one godfather. He leaves this strange problem to be solved by his readers as they best can. The reverend gentleman is so zealous, that he baptizes every Sunday afternoon, and so liberal, that he charges nothing for baptism, either at church or at home. Considering that this act, according to him, makes the children "members of Christ, children of God, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven," his course is surpassingly liberal. In this he is thoroughly Apostolic; freely he has received, and freely he gives. He is very earnest with the rich, whose conduct seems to trouble him not a little. He beseeches them not to look upon it as one of the advantages of their position, that their little ones should not be made "members of Christ." It is further implied that the spectacle of a half-dozen uproarious infants in long clothes is "a sight" that "edifies them." This is a new view of the subject. For our own part, we never thought of this before, and we think that the discovery is an invaluable one, and entitles the Incumbent of Selby to public acknowledgments. The economics of the Pastor of Selby are curious. While he does the great thing-that is, makes Christians of the children-for nothing, yet he takes care that their mothers shall pay tolerably well for what he calls their " churching. His "usual fees are two shillings;" but in the case of very poor persons, he "will exact only the clerk's sixpence." In this matter the worthy Parson is very considerate. If mothers cannot bear the length of the service, they need not come in till after the "Second Lesson," nor be VOL. VIII. in the church more than ten minutes; moreover, the thing may be done "either in the churchwarden's pew or in their own." We should like to know some thing about this "churching " affair. We have never yet understood it thoroughly. Clearly it has no foundation in the Word of God, nor do we see any in reason, although, as a piece of ecclesiastical economy, it is adapted to tell, since, in populous parishes, it is a source of considerable revenue, going a great way to pay a curate, and, at times, to leave something over. In Scotland the thing is wholly unknown, whether in the Established Church or out of it. It is not so much as even heard of there, and when Scotchmen cross the Border, they are confounded to know what is meant by the deed, till they are informed that it means taxing mothers for the benefit of the Church. We The Parson of Selby here again finds some trouble with the higher class, whom he entreats not "to wish for distinction from their poorer brethren, at the cost of losing a portion of their Church privileges, and infringing upon a portion of their Church obedience." What are the privileges? We see none, except in the paying! As a piece of "Church obedience, the thing is intelligible. The Pastor of the parish of Selby has also his own method of managing funerals. He declines to accompany them from the house, and that, among other reasons, because it "marks unsuitably the distinction between rich and poor." like this; it speaks well for the spirit of the man, and were he as anxious to promote the salvation of his people through the knowledge of the truth, as through the medium of the Sacraments, he would deserve and obtain the praise of all rightminded men. There is much in his spirit that is laudable, while we cannot but lament to see so much zeal with so little knowledge. A display of so much solicitude, however, although blind, can hardly fail to work advantageously for Ecclesiastical purposes on the minds of the simple portion of his parishioners. On better principles, his example deserves imitation. 2 L Ecclesiastical Affairs. PRINCESS-STREET CHAPEL, DEVONPORT. We have reached a period when a very unusual number of churches have attained their Jubilee of these, within the last year or two, several have been celebrated. One of the last is that of Princess-street, Devonport, under the pastoral care of the Rev. W. Spencer. The published account of the manner in which it has been gone about we have perused with not a little satisfaction. It is all the more gratifying from the large place which is, in justice, assigned in it to the immortal Whitfield. That wonderful man, on his first appearance in Devonport, actually stood and sounded the trumpet of the Gospel on the very spot on which Princessstreet Chapel was subsequently reared, little thinking, at the moment, that a well of salvation was there to be so soon opened, which would flow in spiritual purity, in future ages, to the salvation of a multitude. We must pass over the earlier chapters, that we may do the more justice to the last, because of its practical bearing on the work of salvation. The last portion of the narrative comprises from 1841 to 1851, the period of the labours of the present excellent pastor. We shall, therefore, give that portion entire, which runs thus: We have now reached our own times, and to my own connection with the church and congregation assembling within these walls. I first occupied this pulpit, as one of your supplies, on Lord's day, September 8th, 1839. On coming amongst you I was not then aware of your desire to obtain a settled ministry, but many persons spoke to me upon the subject during this visit, and I was requested to allow my name to be put in nomination. My position, however, at that time was such that, although then struggling with repeated attacks of severe indisposition, I had no intention of vacating the interesting sphere where I was then happily and usefully labouring at Holloway, in the northern suburbs of London. I accepted an invitation for a second visit in June, 1841, and, at that time, such was the impaired state of my health, that, in the opinion of medical gentlemen, removal to a more salubrious climate had become absolutely necessary. My ministrations were acceptable, and I therefore received and complied with an invitation, dated August 20th, 1841, to take the pastoral oversight of you in the Lord. I commenced my stated labours amongst you within four months from my second visit. The record of this event is thus entered in your church-book by my much esteemed friend, and one of our deacons, Mr. Crealock: "On Friday, the 29th of October, 1841, the Rev. William Spencer arrived at Devonport, to commence, on the following Sabbath, his ministerial labours as the pastor of this church. Ac cording to pre-appointment, on Lord's day, the 31st of October, a public prayer-meeting was held in the chapel, at half-past six o'clock in the morning, which was very numerously attended, to supplicate the Divine blessing on this important event. At half-past ten, the usual morning service commenced, when our pastor was met in the vestry by the deacons, and conducted to the sacred desk; the whole congregation standing, and singing an appropriate hymn composed for the occasion. He opened his commission for his Divine Master by delivering an impressive and energetic discourse from Psa. lxxi. 16: 'I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.' In the evening he preached from Rom. i. 12: That is, that I may be comforted together with you, by the mutual faith both of you and me.' The ordinance of the Lord's Supper was administered to the members of the church, as the closing service of this eventful day." On the 22nd of the following February, being the eleventh anniversary of my ordination at Holloway, a public recognition service was held in the chapel. The brethren taking part in this solemnity were the Revs. W. Sherman, T. Horton, J. Pyer, T. C. Hine, W. Rooker, W. Moore, S. Nicholson, W. S. Keall, G. Smith, and J. Spencer. It was a day long to be remembered, and especially to one young person present, who then received her first saving impressions of the truth, and after a brief but consistent career of usefulness, died triumphantly in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. On the 26th of the following April, a similar service to the above took place within these walls, in the ordination, to the work of an evangelist, of Mr. John Guyse Kinsman, a grandson of your first pastor. The Revs. T Willcocks, G. Smith, T. C. Hine, J. Pyer, and your present pastor, took part in this engagement. Mr. K. was an eminently holy and useful man. But his course was suddenly terminated on July 13th, 1843. A brief struggle with "the last enemy," and his happy spirit passed to the realms of glory. Of my own ministrations, conducted amongst you for nearly ten years, I can thankfully say, "Having, therefore, obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles." I have conducted in your midst nearly one thousand eight hundred services in the name of our adored Lord, and I record it, with devout and humble gratitude, that these engage ments have not been in vain. The roll of church members presented to me, at the commencement of my pastorate, contained one hundred and eighty names. Several of these, however, were found, upon inquiry, to be no longer connected with you; some had been removed by death, and others from various causes. It has been my privilege to give the right hand of fellowship to two hundred and eighty-eight individuals, inclusive of those who have been dismissed to us from other churches. The present number of full communicants upon our church books is three hundred and eight, and of these all but eighty-two have been admitted by myself. Seventyone have been removed from us by the hand of death. Concerning the majority of those who have joined the church since October 31st, 1841, I can say, "For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel." Of those who have thus been admitted since the above date, between seventy and eighty, at least, have been connected with our Sunday-school, and not a few received the first elements of their religious education in that useful Institution. "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake." In the operations of Christian effort we have our Home and Foreign Missionary Auxiliaries; our Christian Instruction, Benevolent, and Dorcas Societies, and an efficient Sunday-school, well supplied with teachers. We have also, as a congregation, taken an active part in the Ragged-school Association, which originated with us, and in the Bethel Union, several of our members being actively engaged in the schools of that valuable Institution. That important Society, the Young Men's Christian Association, has some of its members from ourselves, and one of its Secretaries belongs to our church. We write not these things boastingly, but simply as matters of fact, which ought to find a place in a record of this character. So far from being satisfied with what is doing, we feel that all the Societies connected with us might be much more efficient, and we trust that one influence resulting from these Jubilee services will be to stimulate us all to increased diligence in the work of the Lord. In the history of the church some have gone out from us into the work of the ministry at home, and one of our number is now pursuing his studies at the New College, London. Another, who was in our Sunday-school, is now labouring as a Missionary at Nagercoil, in India, to whose station, in aid of schools, established by his devoted partner, we have for many years sent an annual contribution. In this review of a century and more of time which has now passed before us, if there are many things to excite our sorrow, there are others to provoke our joy. "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." Especially have we, who are now united as pastor and people, abundant reason to take up this note of praise. Since I have been amongst you, no less than EIGHT additional places of worship have been opened around us, and yet our spacious edifice is well attended. I record it with adoring gratitude, that the church books give evidence that during the entire history of this Christian community there has never existed a period of greater SPIRITUAL prosperity than during the past nine years. There have been times when those who worshipped here possessed a larger degree of temporal good than now falls to their lot; but in the number of additions to holy fellowship, in the general prevalence of peace and devotedness, there never has been greater cause for thankfulness than during the present pastorate. All has not been, neither is it now, as it might be, nor as it should be, either with pastor or people. Yet are we bound this day to erect our altar of "Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." "But this I say, brethren, the time is short," and the course of life with all of us will very soon have reached its termination. God has done much for all of us; let us all resolve to do much for God. We are placed in very different circumstances to those of our fathers and the prophets who first met for worship upon the site of this building, or of those who first united for prayer and praise within these walls. Our opportunities for usefulness are more numerous than theirs; our difficulties in the way of pious effort are far less than those which they had to encounter. Let each one propose the inquiry, in all prayerfulness and resoluteness, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Let us determine to be more of a WORKING CHURCH. Let not one say, "I pray thee have me excused." The town is yet open before us, the world is lying before us. Let us all seek that this Jubilee season may be a time of holy resolve, which shall issue in renewed and energetic efforts "to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty." Then shall our Zion prosper, and whatever "we have heard with our ears, or our fathers have told us," or whatever we ourselves have witnessed, we shall see far greater things than these. "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." This is a very gratifying state of things. Would that it were only an average sample of what exists throughout the nation! We shall now set before our readers some poetic compositions prepared for the occasion, since they may be of use to other churches when called upon to celebrate their Jubilees, without having the same amount of the poetic vein running through their fellowship which appears to characterize the pastor and some of the friends of Princess-street. AT THE TEA MEETING. I. The Lord be with us when we meet II. R. L. A. Now fifty years have roll'd away, Are present in this temple now! The fathers, where are they?" And holy men who, from this spot, The faithful warning gave, Have ceas'd to warn, and moulder now Within the silent grave. They gladly spent their strength for God, Their glorious reward. 'T was here, within these sacred walls, And though that sound has met our ear Yet still, alas! how many here Have heard that sound in vain. The preacher then will preach no more, Jehovah's summons soon may come, Then let us fall before his throne, And seek his mercy now. III. F. B. I think when I see a youth walking in love, When they die, they shall be with him then. The Scriptures declare that the Lord takes delight In a young man that cleanses his way, And who takes God's own Word as his lamp and his light, To direct him by night and by day. May our churches around with young converts abound, Such as David and Samuel, of old; And young Sarahs, and Hannahs, and Marys be found, All safely secured in the fold. Oh! how pleasant to see dear young brethren agree, To promote the increase of the Word; And who, like their dear Master, are seeking to be All faithful and zealous for God. Whilst their work they pursue, they have heaven in view, And are waiting th' eternal reward; "Well done, good and true, there is glory for you, Enter ye to the joy of your Lord." CHRISTIAN CONTRIBUTION FOR PURPOSES OF RELIGION. NOTHING can be more clear than that money is absolutely indispensable to the furtherance of Christianity. The Scriptures are positive on this point; the language of that noble psalm, the 72nd, concerning the kingdom and glory of the Messiah, is unusually copious on this matter. The kings of Tarshish and of the Isles are to bring presents. The kings of Sheba and Seba are to offer gifts, and to him is to be given the gold of Sheba; and Isaiah, looking forward to the coming era of truth, and love, and rest, and felicity, foretells that the "forces of the Gentiles," and all their wealth shall be placed at his disposal. At this moment, the work of the world's evangelization is most seriously crippled by the want of money both at home and abroad, and if it is to spread, there must be a vast increase of liberality among all classes of Christians. If the Papists go to the one extreme, the Protestants have gone to the other; the former perverted the doctrine of works, by placing it in the room of the righteousness of faith; the latter have not made enough of it, as the fruits of that faith, the token of a change of heart, and the expression of fervent charity. We are glad to find that the subject is being taken up in the North of Ireland, where it seems, above all places, to be necessary to put an end to that gore evil, the Regium Donum. We like the notion exceedingly, and greatly admire all projects for promoting system in this, as in everything that appertains to the Church of Christ. There are two prizes of £50 and £20 respectively, offered for the best Essay on the subject of Christian liberality. Particulars may be learned from the Prospectus which has appeared in the usual channels. The friends of the project have very properly referred to the example and the practice of some of our Protestant ancients, and they might have carried their references much farther. |