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had not prepared us for its ignoble shifts and its gratuitous wrong-doings. What concerns us now, is our honour! In all our conduct, throughout this strife, this has come forth unstained. It must have been respected from the first, for none tampered with us. We doubt not that it is allowed in high places, however our opposition be deplored. A nobler passage scarcely does our history inscribe. It will tell our children that we, the foremost friends of education, would not make an idol of that charmed word; that, the warmest champions of justice and impartiality, we could not be deceived by their pretexts; that we held out where many trusted to see us in the van; that we saw, cowled in that scheme, a ghostly power ready to seize the universal mind; and that all acknowledge, that, while we felt defeat, we sunk not under it; that we at no moment, not in the last reverse, despaired of our principles; that we left the conflict, and that only for a time, bating nothing of heart and hope; warped by no negotiation; corrupted by no bribe; soiled by no intrigue; disgraced by no coalition :-not having bartered our Protestantism; not having cashiered our Bible; not having strengthened the impugners of the glory and the atonement of our Divine Lord; -unconscious of the shame of abandoning our friends, casting off our confederates, or crouching to our enemies.

"But the trial has not past. There glitters still the bait. We may after all recant. Retreat is still open.

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Can such things be supposed? Shall there go forth from us, after our disclaimers, a stooping mendicant? Having said, before the great, lavish with their gifts, As the Lord liveth, before whom we stand, we will receive none'—is there a Gehazi who will regret that we have 'spared' them in not 'receiving at their hands that which' they 'brought,'-is there a Gehazi who will 'run after' them and take somewhat' of them ?"

INDEPENDENT CHAPEL, WORKINGTON, CUMBERLAND.

On Thursday, April 15, 1847, the Rev. H. H. Harris, late of Airdale College, was ordained to the pastorate of the church and congregation assembling in the above chapel. The Rev. J. Macfarlane, of Whitehaven, commenced the services, by reading the Scriptures and prayer. The Rev. W. Brewis, of Penrith, delivered the introductory discourse. The Rev. A. Jack, of North Shields, asked the usual questions, and received the pastor's confession of faith. The Rev. R. Fletcher, of Manchester, (Mr. Harris's former pastor,) offered

up the ordination prayer, and delivered the charge; both were peculiarly suitable and deeply impressive. The Rev. W. Knight, of Aspatria, concluded with prayer.

In the evening, the Rev. A. Jack preached to the church and congregation. Immedi. ately after which, the Lord's supper was administered to the members of the church. Mr. Jack presiding.

During the interval of the services, a considerable number of Christian friends, with the ministers present, dined together, and spent the afternoon happily and profitably, in listening to the addresses which were delivered by several ministers of various denominations, who were animated by one spirit, and made all around them feel how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.

The Rev. D. Black, of Maryport, the Rev. J. Wilks, of Manchester, the Rev. Messrs. Haigh and M'Cullah, Wesleyans, with other ministers, were present, and took part in the services.

Mr. Harris entered on his stated labours here, on sabbath-day, Aug. 23rd, 1846.

ORDINATIONS.

The Rev. J. F. Poulter was ordained to the pastorate of the ancient Congregational church assembling for worship in Chese-lane, Wellingborough, on Thursday, 17th Dec., 1846. Rev. J. Watson, Tutor of Newport Pagnell Institution, delivered as the introductory discourse, a masterly dissertation on the principles of congregational nonconformity. Rev. T. Toller, of Kettering, proposed the questions; Rev. E. T. Prust, of Northampton, offered the ordination prayer; Rev. W. Forster, of Kentish Town, gave a designation applied by Paul to Timothy, highly impressive charge founded on the Ephes. vi. 11.

In consequence of the absence of Rev. iliness from fulfilling his engagement, Rev. Caleb Morris, who was prevented by severe W. Forster kindly consented to preach in the evening to the church and congregation. Several of the neighbouring pastors were present. After the morning service, the ministers and friends dined together in the Town Hall.

The Rev. J. Smith has just entered on an important sphere of labour at Hundon, Suffolk.

The New Union Chapel, in this extensive village, has been erected at a cost of 4607.; 2921. were raised by the villagers, and by local efforts; and 51. from S. M. Peto, Esq.; and 27. from Sir C. E. Eardley, Bart.; the debt is reduced to 1251. Will our benevolent friends assist in removing this log to

future usefulness? Mr. Smith will receive and acknowledge donations.

A school-room is necessary for 141 youthe who have applied for instruction, but thers

are no means.

The chapel is remarkably well attended, and great good, under God, it is hoped will result. The case is strongly recommended by all the neighbouring ministers, and brother Smith possesses their entire confidence.

NEWPORT PAGNELL COLLEGE.

The thirty-fifth anniversary of this insti

tution is intended to be held in the Independent chapel, Newport Pagnell. On Thursday, the 10th day of June, 1847, the Rev. George Smith, of Poplar, near London, will preach at eleven o'clock in the morning. The public meeting for transacting the business of the institution will be held at three o'clock in the afternoon of the same day. A prayer meeting will be held at seven o'clock on the Wednesday evening preceding, at which addresses will be given. Tea will be provided as usual. A collection will be made after each service for the benefit of the institution.

FRANCE.

General Chronicle.

PARIS ANNIVERSARIES.

London, May 13.

From some extraordinary and unexplained cause, we did not receive till to-day the number of the Archives du Christianisme for the 8th instant. It contains gratifying accounts of the anniversaries of the religious societies held at Paris, April 18th to the 26th. We cite a few words, "Through more than a quarter of a century that we have attended these meetings, we do not remember ever to have experienced so much of the life of religion, and such inestimable blessings as this year. Others, equally with ourselves, felt this impression. We impute it, not only to a more deeply engaging and powerful presence of the Lord in the midst of us, but also as presenting such a remarkable contrast between what, in the weakness of our faith, we had ventured to expect, and that which we have actually received. After our melancholy shakings"-(perhaps alluding to internal controversies, and to the shameful annoyances of the priest-party, and the aid perfidiously given by the government to jesuitry and persecution,)—" after a year marked by the dreadful innundations of the Loire, and the high price of corn, it was natural to apprehend both a painful effect of those agitations upon our assem. blies, and a falling off of the receipts of our societies in consequence of the universal dearness of the necessaries of life. The Lord has rebuked our unbelief, and has been better to us than our fears. The year has been distinguished by important improvement in the larger number of the societies; and throughout the whole week, which has been occupied with eleven general meetings, and four pastoral conferences of three hours each, we have not heard, and we believe there has not been

uttered, a single word that could give pain to any person whatever. On the contrary, we have been brought to know things which have most deeply affected and delighted our hearts words of peace and spiritual progress, which more than ever give us the persuasion that the kingdom of God is advancing among us, attended by the unaffected spirit of brotherly love. The Lord was in the midst of us, of a truth.' [1 Cor. xiv. 25.]"

In the same number we find also the following paragraph. It is an addition to the trials which the cause of Christianity has to endure.

"At the moment of going to press, we learn that a bright luminary is extinguished, a noble heart has ceased to beat. ALEXAN

DER VINET is no more among us. On Tuesday morning, May 4, in the vigour of his age and the fulness of his great talents, he was taken away from his family, from his numerous friends, from his useful and solid labours, from the universal church of Christ. It is an immense loss; a loss, in human view irreparable. Men, endowed as he was, with faith, feeling and intellectual stores, are rarely given to this earth. We can only bow down in adoring silence, before the mysterious ways of HIM whose thoughts are not our thoughts. His will be done! To our friend and brother, to live was Christ; and certainly to die was for him also gain."

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tracts, the following brief statement is submitted solely for the purpose of supplying a few facts and suggestions, of which you may make what use you please in preparing a notice for your publication.

In introducing to the notice of our readers the series of tracts, announced below, it may be proper to state, that for six months past, the question of sabbath passenger trains on railways has been agitated in Scotland with an earnestness heretofore unexampled. The course of events which gave rise to the discussion is itself interesting; but we do not detain our readers with a history of it. The question itself is obviously a momentous one-which affects not only the whole kingdom, but the whole civilised world. If sabbath passenger trains are not opposed to the word of God, and do not necessarily involve any danger to the general and proper observance of the Lord's-day, it would be matter of regret that Christians should assume the position of hostility to them. Their duty would consist in endeavouring, by wise and well-concerted measures, to limit and restrain them within legitimate bounds. But if the running of such trains is inconsistent with the letter or the spirit of the word of God-that supreme law by which public opinion and human legislation must be judged and controlled-if it tends to wear out the sabbath, and the ordinances of religion, which are so intimately connected with it-in that case, there is evidently a loud call to exertion. The danger to religion is so imminent and appalling, that the wisdom and energy of the Christian world will be required to ward it off.

From several causes, Glasgow has been the principal centre of sabbath controversy in Scotland. And hence has originated the proposal to publish there a series of short original essays, embracing a lucid and scriptural, although concise view of the whole question of the sabbath, by ministers well known in their several denominations, both in England and in Scotland. As it is of the first importance, that the public mind be leavened with sound scriptural views on this subject, the intention is, in the first instance, to publish them in the form of tracts, at a very low price, so that they may be extensively circulated over the whole country; and that, afterwards, they may be combined into one moderate-sized volume.

The method and unity of a treatise cannot in such a case be expected; but the loss may be fully compensated by this attractive variety of authorship; and the combined testimony to the sabbath, from representatives of so large a portion of the Christianity of the land, is of the highest importance.

The first of them, now before us, from the pen of Dr. Wardlaw, is every way wor

thy of the high reputation of the distinguished author. And the list of names subjoined, of ministers who have agreed to furnish contributions to this undertaking, will be sufficient to awaken a lively desire for the speedy appearance of the remaining numbers in their order.

Certain it is, that vast numbers of people throughout the kingdom require to be enlightened and warned on this subject-to be instructed concerning the sabbath as a Divine institution of permanent obligation -in regard to the spirit and manner in which it should be observed-in regard to the manifold blessings it brings along with it, wherever it is duly appreciated and improved-in regard to the deplorable consequences that have followed, and must ever follow, where it is lightly regarded or gene. rally profaned-and in regard to the results that have flowed from the general running of sabbath passenger trains on railways, as illustrated on the Continent, and in our own land; and these are the subjects which the several writers have undertaken to handle in the tracts we have announced. And, anticipating that the succeeding numbers will correspond with that already received, we can most cordially recommend them as a very important and seasonable addition to the didactic theology of the present day.

We would earnestly advise every friend of the sabbath to read the tracts, as they are published, and to judge for himself, whether he might not do good service to the cause of religion and humanity, by purchasing a quantity, and circulating them in his own locality.

I. The Divine Authority and Permanent Obligation of the Sabbath. By RALPH WARDLAW, D.D., Glasgow.

II. Traces and Indications of the Primitive Sabbath in many of the Institutions and Observances of the Ancient World. By Rev. JOHN JORDAN, Enstone.

III. The Spirit and Manner in which the Sabbath ought to be observed. By Rev. E. BICKERSTETH, Watton-Herts.

IV. The Sabbath not a mere Judaical Appointment, with examination of the more prevalent fallacies by which it has been attempted to show that the Sabbath-Law has been abolished or relaxed. By Rev. ANDREW THOMSON, B.A., Edinburgh.

V. The Adaptation of the Sabbath to the Temporal Well-being of Men, and more especially of the Working Classes. By THOMAS CHALMERS, D.D., Edinburgh.

VI. The Adaptation of the Sabbath to Man's Intellectual and Moral Nature. By Rev. JAMES HAMILTON, B.A., London.

VII. Historical Notices on the subject of Sabbath Observance, showing its Influence on the Prosperity of Churches.

VIII. Biographical Notices on the sub

ject of Sabbath Observance, showing its Influence on the Piety of Individuals. By Dr. HANNAH, Manchester.

IX. Indirect Influence of the Sabbath upon the Intelligence, Liberties, Commerce, Trade, Social Order, and General Prosperity of Kingdoms.

X. On Sabbath Railway Travelling, as it affects the Working Classes. By DAVID KING, LL.D., Glasgow.

XI. On Sunday Mails. By ANDREW SYMINGTON, D.D., Paisley.

XII. Other Prevalent Forms of Sabbath Desecration. By Rev. PETER MACOWAN, London.

XIII. The Blessing Promised on the Sabbath Sanctified, and the Penalty Annexed to the Sabbath Profaned-stated and illustrated from Experience and the Word of God. By STEWART BATES, D.D., Glasgow.

XIV. The First Sabbath after the Creation-after the giving of the Law-after the Resurrection of our Lord. A Sabbath at Sea-a Sabbath in the Sick-chamber. The Heavenly Sabbath. By R. W. HAMILTON, D.D., LL.D., Leeds.

XV. Concluding Practical Address. By Rev. J. A. JAMES, Birmingham.

EJACULATORY PRAYER

Is a sudden, short breathing of the soul towards heaven upon instant and surprising emergencies. In holy persons it is quick and lively, rising from a vehement ardour of spirit, swifter than the flight of eagles, and keeps pace with a flash of lightning. It flies upon the wings of a holy thought into the third heaven in the twinkling of an eye, and fetches auxiliary forces in times of straits.

There are many precedents recorded in the sacred page upon great and notable occasions, with strange success. When good magistrates are busy in the work of reformation, let them imitate Nehemiah, when redressing the profanation of the sabbath : "Remember me, O my God, concerning this," &c., Neh. xiii. 14, 22.

When gene

rals and captains go forth to war, observe Israel's application to God rather than acclamations to men: "The Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses," Josh. i. 17. In time of battle or pursuit of the enemy, valiant Joshua darts up such a prayer as this, "O that the Lord would lengthen this triumphant day !" and the Lord heard his voice, Josh. x. 12. The tribes beyond Jordan cried unto the Lord in a battle with the Hagarites, 1 Chron. v. 20; Jehoshaphat, in a sore strait at Ramoth-gilead, 2 Chron. xviii. 31; Samson, ready to perish

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at Lehi with thirst, and, when blind, exposed to contempt in the temple of Dagon, Judg. xv. 18; xvi. 28; David, near stoning at Ziklag, and when flying from Absalom in "the ascent of Mount Olivet," 1 Sam. Xxx. 6; 2 Sam. xv. 31; Elisha, at Dothan, compassed with a Syrian host, "Lord, open the young man's eyes," 2 Kings vi. 17. In the midst of lawful and laborious callings, Boaz to the reapers, "The Lord be with you," Ruth ii. 4; Psa. cxxix. 8. We may pray "that our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets," Psa. cxliv. 14. It sanctifies the plough, as Jerome said of the fields of Bethlehem: "The tillers of the field, and the dressers of vineyards, sang David's psalms." It keeps the shop, and inclines the hearts of customers; it bars the door; it quenches fire; it blesseth thy children within thee;" it preserves thy "going out and coming in," Psa. cxlvii. 13; cxxi. 8. Jacob found it to rest upon his children going a journey to Egypt, Gen. xliii. 14. It closes the eyes with sweet sleep, it "gives songs in the night," and wakens the soul in the arms of mercy, Job xxxv. 10; Psa. iii. 5, iv. 8, cxxxix. 18. It sits at the helm when a storm rises at sea; it gives strength to anchors in roads, and prosperous gales to the venturous merchant, Psa. cvii. 28; Jonah i. 6. When, in the palace at dinner, Nehemiah presents the cup to his prince, he presents also a michtam, a "golden prayer," to the King of heaven, Neh. ii. 4. At the reading of the law, Josiah was heard as to some secret cries to Heaven, 2 Chron. xxxiv. 27. At a holy conference in a journey the disciples occasionally pray, “Lord, increase our faith," Luke xvii. 5. Jacob, on his dying pillow, predicting future events to his children, falls into a holy rapture: "I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord," Gen. xlix. 18. At sacred death in martyrdom, Zechariah cries out, "The Lord look upon it and require it," 2 Chron. xxiv. 22; and Stephen, under a shower of stones, melts in prayer for the stony hearts that flung them: "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge," Acts vii. 60; and our blessed Saviour, in his greatest agonies, makes a tender-hearted prayer: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do," Luke xxiii. 34. And, lastly, in the distresses of others, Eli puts up a sudden petition for Hannah: The God of Israel grant thee thy petition," 1 Sam. i. 17.

In these, and many like cases, the holy word stores us with patterns for ejaculation in all extremities, which I cannot now digest and improve. Only in a few words let us take a view of the usefulness of such a sudden flight of the soul to heaven :

1. It helps us to a speedy preparative for

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3. It suffers not Divine mercies to slip by unobserved in a wakeful Christian, and proves a fruitful mother of gratitude and praise.

4. It sanctifies all our worldly employments, 1 Tim. iv. 4, 5; it fastens the stakes in the hedge of Divine protection, and turns everything to a blessing.

5. It is a saint's buckler against sudden accidents, a present antidote against frights and evil tidings. It is good at all occasions, and consecrates to us, not only our meals, but every gasp of air, &c.

6. It is a sweet companion, that the severest enemies cannot abridge us of. Outward ordinances and closet duties they may cut off; the little "nail in the holy place" they may pluck out, Ezra ix. 8; but no labyrinth, no prison, not the worst of company, can hinder this; in the very face of adversaries "we may lift our souls to God." -Lee.

THE POWER OF KINDNESS.

Years ago we were in habits of familiar intercourse with a family, consisting of the parents and their two sons. These parents were both professing Christians, and enjoyed in a high degree the confidence and esteem of all who knew them. Their piety was much above the common standard. There was a sincerity, a solidity, and a circumspection about it, which every where commanded respect. On this account, we remember often to have felt surprised that their two sons, who had been brought up almost to manhood under their immediate care, and had never been for any length of time absent from home, should yet be, not only destitute of religion, but active leaders in all wickedness, bold ringleaders in all iniquity in their neighbourhood, and fearless scoffers at religious things. The father died soon after, but no visible effect was produced by this event upon their minds. Not long since we met the widowed mother, and from her learned, for the first time, and with unspeakable pleasure and surprise, that both of her sons had, for many months, given evidence of a change of heart, and, from being ringleaders in all wickedness, had become meek, gentle, and gracious disciples of the Saviour.

We could not refrain from expressing surprise, and some curiosity, to know what means had been owned of God to effect their conversion. The mother frankly re

plied, that by some means she had been led to think that her anxiety for her sons in their unregenerate state had frequently imparted a warmth to her manner in reproving them, which she now believed savoured more of soured fretfulness than of love, and she clearly saw that the effect upon them was wholly injurious and repulsive. She pondered this thought in her heart, and, retiring to her closet, bowed in prayer for the assistance of Divine grace to enable her wholly to change her spirit and manner towards her children. She rose, baptized with the spirit of tenderness and love. She approached her sons with a heart overflowing with pitying tenderness, and in due time observed a corresponding change in them, and ultimately their hearts yielded to the new spirit of the mother.

We

Such, very briefly, was the mother's account of the means that proved successful with her almost hopeless sons; and we suspect many a parent and many a minister might derive from it a useful lesson. risk nothing in saying that harshness and bitterness of speech and manner have caused many a heart to recoil in disgust from the subject of religion, which might by wiser means have been drawn to reflection and repentance.

We are reminded here of a circumstance related by the naturalist Audubon, as occurring within his knowledge a few years ago, of a certain individual who for many years had led the life of a pirate. On one occasion, while cruizing along the coast of Florida, he landed, and was lying in the shade on the bank of a creek, when his attention was arrested by the soft and mournful note of a Zenaida dove. As he listened, each repetition of the melancholy sound seemed to him a voice of pity. It seemed to him like a voice from the past-a message from childhood's innocent and sunny hours; then it appeared like a voice of deep, sad sorrow for him, the far-off wanderer, the selfruined, guilty prodigal; and so thoroughly did it rouse him from his long sleep of sin, that there, on that lonely spot, where no minister of mercy had ever stood, he resolved within himself to renounce his guilty life, return to virtuous society, and seek the mercy of God; a resolution which he subsequently fulfilled, as we are assured by the narrator.

There is that in the human heart which responds to the voice of gentle, pitying love, when all other agencies have lost their power; when all the thunder and lightning of Sinai itself might roll and glitter in vain. Would that there were more, among those disposed to do good, who would make full proof of the omnipotence of the spirit of kindness, pity, and love! The spirit of Jesus must be the model of our benevolence.

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