ly conduce to the appearance of comfort. The mention of fires leads us to observe, that in the building of every chapel arrangements should be made for a warming apparatus of some kind. The mind cannot so abstract itself as to attend with interest to devotional exercises, while the poor body is freezing and shivering with cold; and if it did possess that happy art, the weakly constitution of many would not allow them to practice it.

From what has been advanced it is clear that we ought not to go head. long to work, as if the laying of a certain number of bricks were sure to produce a chapel ; but our serious attention should be devoted to the object of rendering it in every way suited to the purpose for which it is intended. Nor should we be above seeking advice of others who are experienced in such matters. Since experience keeps a dear school, we apprehend it will be found more economical and satisfactory in the end to secure the assistance of some professional man, who, for a comparatively small consideration, will freely contribute the stores of his dear-bought wisdom. It would have sounded strange indeed a few years back in our connexion to talk of an architect for so simple a thing as building a chapel, but we imagine that those Churches who have tried the plan have not regretted it. If selections were not invidious we would say that we have our eye now upon two chapels recently erected, very different in size, and structure, and plan, which answer in almost every particular to our idea of what a chapel should be, viz, those at Derby and Long Sutton. The latter makes no pretensions to the splendour and beauty of the former, but it is an exceedingly neat, chaste, and commodious building; in fact we have heard it styled “the gem of Lincolnshire." It was built very cheaply too. Both were erected by the same architect, J. Fenton, Esq., of Chelmsford.

Still, after all, it must be confessed that the building of a chapel is an easier matter than paying for it. We proceed, therefore, to offer a few remarks on that ominous subject, Chapel Debts. Some persons think that chapel debts are good things. Whether they are quite disinterested in this opinion is not for us to say; but judging from the beautiful harmony of their actions with their words, we shrewdly suspect the contrary. Others think they have done a sufficiently meritorious thing in the erection of a chapel, and in the sacrifice of the few pounds which they have contributed towards the object, and that in all conscience their children ought to pay the remainder. Could we find terms, we would express our indignant abhorrence of the mean, the sordid, the covetous, the antichristian spirit, breathed in the utterance of such sentiments; but as our vocabulary fails, we will not attempt it. What! are you parents, and shall you grudge to bequeath to your children, free from encumbrance, the house in which they shall be trained up for immortality? If this be it, we blush for the name of parent! Are you christians, and shall you be weary in well doing, or even think you have done enough for Christ while able to do more? Alas for your christianity! Oh shame, where are thy blushes! "Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph!"

With us it is an axiom that no chapel ought to continue in debt longer than absolutely necessary; others may not see it so, and may require proof. for the proposition. While a chapel is in debt our energies are crippled, and we are prevented from engaging in fresh enterprizes for the honour of our Redeemer. In the estimation of some this would not seem to be so

very undesirable, for we have heard of persons saying, "We will help you this once if you will promise not to get into debt again." Or, "We shall do what we can to get off the present debt, and then no more. If any thing further wants doing, our children must do it." Christianity really shudders at the idea, and it makes the very flesh of the christian seem to creep upon his bones when he hears the professed followers of Jesus indulge in such remarks. Why should we wish one burden removed, but that unfettered we may go forth to fresh and mightier undertakings, never halting nor wearying so long as strength, and property, and energy, and life remain? Is this, or is it not the spirit of religion, and after the example of Christ and his apostles? Let the lukewarmest professor decide, and judge from it whether, while priding himself in his spiritual affluence, he is not literally poor, and blind, and naked. Suppose a case. The house in which you worship is convenient and respectable; it has moreover cost much through successive alterations and enlargements, and it is still burdened with debt; but again it has become too small; applications for sittings have compelled you to encroach upon those set apart for the poor, and there are scarcely any free sittings left; you cannot with comfort invite strangers to come and join you, because you know not where to place them; and you are unable even to satisfy many friends that do attend with such sittings as they desire. Now, what is the duty of a people in such circumstances? Ought they not strenuously and unitedly to labour for the removal of the existing debt, and that not for the purpose of dwelling at ease in Zion when they shall have effected it, but that they may at once provide the needful accommodation for the poor, and for others who would be disposed to worship with them? Till then there is no room for extension. Some having attended a few times, and been removed from the pews they entered on the plea that they were let, will desert the place; others, hearing that the sittings are all let, will refrain from applying. The tide of prosperity, unable to flow, will gradually ebb. While penning the above we noticed some remarks by a recent writer which so exactly express what we mean, that rather than incur the suspicion of plagiarism we quote them. "A chapel, when all its sittings are let, is not at a stand, but like a limb which is not allowed room for its growth, it begins to have in it premature weakness and decay. And if in a chapel there be not numerous and comfortable sittings for the poor, such a thing shows, whether it arise from bad arrangement, or the place being too small, that some alteration is needed. The poor ought not to be put in the aisles, in pews where nobody else will sit, on backless forms, where their wearied limbs are to be made more weary still after the labours of the week, but in good seats with backs to them, in which they shall feel at home, and which shall only differ so far from the rest as that the poor may see that they are free, and may enter them without the feeling that they are intruding into places which are designed for others. There are other places besides the sanctuary open on the Lords-day, which, in the comfort and convenience of their internal arrangements, are far superior to it, to which there is a strong disposition in the mass of the people to go, and from which it is less easy to repel them by uncomfortableness than from the house of prayer."

Further, to leave a chapel in debt in order that posterity may have something to do is absolute cruelty and injustice. "The children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children." If our children

are so wise as to walk in the fear of the Lord, they will find plenty to engage their attention, and to tax their energies, as the dawn of the millenial day shines brighter and brighter upon the earth, without needing to be taxed with our encumbrances.

Let it not be thought that these observations are beside the mark, as though our friends generally had the will, but not the power to remove the debt from their respective places of worship. We do not believe it. In the greater number of instances it is just the reverse, and the will is wanted more than the power. Wherever there is the settled conviction that the debt ought to be removed as soon as possible, the steady, united, determined, and persevering efforts of the friends will soon effectually reduce, and in time completely remove the heaviest burden. The plans for the liquidation of chapel debts are innumerable. Where the interest of a debt is considerable, and the current expences are inadequate to meet it, let the friends by a weekly subscription of one penny each endeavour to raise the required amount, and thus preserve the whole of the anniversary collections sacred towards reducing the principal. In many cases the female friends might materially assist by forming themselves into "a Working Society," to meet one evening in a month at each others houses, for the manufacture and sale of useful articles, We have heard of one place where, in a few years, by this simple means they have raised £100 towards the removal of the debt, and of another where £30 was raised in one year for the same object.

Where Churches are not in debt, but are intending to build, our advice is, collect as much as possible beforehand, urge your friends to keep laying by according as God prospers them, for the purpose. Count well the cost, and consider whether you are likely by your own efforts to be able in a reasonable time to meet the expenditure. The calls upon christian benevolence in the present day are so numerous, and the burdens of each Church are generally so great that you cannot reasonably calculate upon much from foreign aid. We fear that Churches sometimes involve themselves in difficulties through neglect of this prudent forethought. Were we to give a rule, it should be, Do not begin to build till half or at least one third of the estimated expenditure is contributed.

A plan for the mutual relief of chapel debts, such as is suggested by brother Burns, in the April number, would be very desirable if it could be carried out; but we are compelled in sorrow to say that we have no faith in its being done on a sufficiently extensive scale. Some of our readers will remember that a very similar plan, and in some respects, we think, a superior one, was discussed in our pages about fifteen years back. It was brought before one association after another incessantly. At length it was found that much injury was caused by the state of suspense in which the matter was kept. The very evils the proposed plan was designed to alleviate daily increased, for the parsimonious were furnished with an apology for saving their money, and even the generous knew not in what way to impart the assistance they were willing to give. The association at Derby, in 1827, seriously reconsidered the matter. They discussed and settled the principles of the proposed plan with much cordiality and very few dissenting voices, and earnestly solicited the Churches to commence immediate operations, The next association was held at Wisbech, when it was found that "only sixteen of the Churches had taken any active measures in support of

1

the Building Fund which had been so long under consideration, and it was therefore resolved to abandon the plan." The recollection of these events discourages us from making any fresh attempts, as unless a plan of the kind were generally adopted it would do more harm than good. Still we wish something could be done on a more methodical system, and on a more extensive scale, and in the mean time earnestly plead in behalf of our burdened brethren the admonition of the apostle, " Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."

Finally, in whatever way we exert ourselves for the glory of God let us keep in view the temple above. There all the inconveniences and troubles connected with these earthly sanctuaries will be unknown. That will never be burdened with debt, for God himself is its builder! The happy worshiper there will never be cramped for want of room, for its mansions are many! They will never be chilled with the winter's cold, nor overpowered with the summer's heat, for God himself will dwell among them as their light and glory! The corroding hand of time will never mar the beauty, nor decay the strength of that heavenly building; it is a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens! May we and all our readers, when the worship of time shall end, find in that house of the Lord an everlasting home. RIDLEY.

CONSOLATION UNDER BEREAVEMENT.

A Letter sent to the late Mrs. Fox, on the death of her Husband,
by the late Rev. J. Goadby, of Ashby.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

Ashby-de-la-Zouch October 31st, 1827.

We are taught to rejoice with them that rejoice, and to weep with them that weep; and it is certainly the christian's duty to do so.

The loss of your pious and affectionate partner, I well know, must be very severely felt. You have lost the greatest earthly comfort you posessed -a kind and affectionate husband, and your children a tender and indulgent parent. That your late worthy partner justly claimed these characters none will dispute. But his loss will be felt beyond the domestic circle in which he moved. The neighbourhood mourns his loss, and an affecting chasm is made in the christian Church. His christian brethren bore testimony to the ardour of his piety, the simplicity of his manners, the generosity of his life, and the sincerity of his heart. "But why," you will say, "do you now tell me of these things, because they tend only to increase my calamity ?" Surely not, my friend. It is far, very far from the intention of the writer to increase your sorrow, or to heighten your distress. He has thought much concerning you since the death of dear Mr. Fox, and has often thought of writing a letter of condolence. He feels displeased with himself that he has not written to you sooner.

We live in a world where every thing is uncertain-husbands and wives, children and parents, relations and friends! "Here we have no continuing city-we seek one to come." It is one of the great designs of the Gospel to teach us this lesson, and it is one of the great duties of the christian life to learn this humbling truth. But O, how slow we are to learn it! Yea our reluctance is such, that we never truly learn it till the great teacher Death" comes home to us, and instructs us at once, in the most effectual,

and humbling manner! You, my friend, have lately been taught this lesson by "breach upon breach." Thus the Lord in his providence deals with us, and thus we are taught most effectually the uncertainty and vanity of temporal things!

What a blessing to be prepared for the important change! However painful the struggle, as poor brother Fox's was, yet when it was once over it was over for ever-it will be felt no more. "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their works do follow them." Oh what a blessing to be prepared for this great and glorious change.

Amidst all your grief you do not grieve that your husband was taken away unprepared. No: he was ripe for glory; and the Lord hath called him to himself, hath gathered him as wheat into his garner, hath raised him to a mansion of glory. The Lord help you, and me also, to keep this glorious end in view, that whenever the call of Providence may summon us away we also may be ready and prepared for his coming.

I have sorrowed much at brother Fox's death myself, till I have sometimes chided myself by saying, we ought rather to be thankful that he was spared with us so long, that he was so useful, so humble, so pious, so fit to die; and I have not been without a good hope that his death may providentially be made a great blessing to your family, in leading your children (amiable and dutiful as I acknowlekge they are) to become still more so by espousing the Lord Jesus as their only Saviour, and in giving up themselves to him and his people, according to the will of God; denying themselves, and taking up the cross to follow the Lamb in the regeneration. The Lord in mercy grant that it may be so.

I am, my dear Friend, with the sincerest affection,
Yours in our common Lord,

JOSEPH GOADBY.

SECOND LETTER TO MRS. FOX, OF BARLESTONE.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Dec. 4th, 1827.

Having understood that my former letter administered to your afflicted mind some degree of consolation, I venture to address you again with the same christian feelings.

It is a fact that no humble christian will dispute, that we see but in part, and know but in part." While the Scripture assures us "that all things happen alike to all, that there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not; to him that sweareth and to him that feareth an oath," it assures us also that there is an overruling Providence, that the Lord worketh all things after the counsel of his own will, and that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose." And this, my friend, is a proof that we "see but in part, and know but in part." Our poor feeble mind can hardly comprehend or reconcile these different truthis. We must not expect the ordinary course of divine providence to be interrupted on our account. Trials, and sorrows, and tribulations, and distresses, and afflictions, and bereavements, will take place. They happened to the people of God in ages past, and do so still. How grievous were the sorrows of good old Jacob, of Joseph, of Israel, in Egypt.