Liturgy should not involve exclusion from the list of Congregational Churches, nor from the Congregational Board, nor from the Congregational School. I with deference submit these observations to your consideration, and shall be happy if they produce discussion, conducted in the spirit of Christian "charity, which is the bond of perfectness." LIBERTAS.

individual, I have had occasion frequently to thank you for its help. It has afforded me information, which I could not have obtained from other sources, and, altogether, I would not be without it for twenty times the value of the number which contains it. As a public document, interesting to the denomination at large, it is the most valuable in print, and will, I have no doubt, prove useful on innumerable occasions, of which

MENT OF THE LIST OF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.

(To the Editors.)

GENTLEMEN,- -I was not a little surprised to find, from your last notice to correspondents, that some of your friends had complained of the inaccuracy of your List of Congregational Churches. Such complaints, though not unfounded in point of fact, surely cannot be intended as a censure upon the individuals who prepared the list. Every qualified judge must pronounce it a work of great labour and difficulty, and now it is accomplished, an article both of great public interest and of high utility. When the relative state of Independent Churches is duly considered their total isolation from each other-the absence of every principle of combination-in many instances, their reprehensible disregard even of the principle of self-preservation-the completion of such a list of such a body, so widely extended, yet united in nothing but a general identity of principle and practice-must appear almost an impossibility. It is confessed to be inaccurate; but it is something like an estimate of the Congregational Body, and it possesses alike minuteness and detail, requisite to render it generally useful, and to secure by degrees perfect accuracy. To ministers and public institutions, it is already of essential service. As an

The

to suggest the following plan for its amendment. Let the Secretaries of our County Associations take a copy of the Supplement in their pockets, when they attend their usual meetings in the ensuing spring, and make it a part of the business of the day to read over the list for their county, in the presence of all the brethren. They may then, in a few minutes, make all the requisite corrections on the margin, and transmit them to you at the end of the year-say, in the month of October. plan I have myself pursued, being in a county where no association exists, is to keep a copy of your Supplement on my study table, and from brethren who visit me from different places, I have obtained several important corrections, which are noted in the margin. I recommend this plan to my brethren generally. Let them take the trouble, (surely it is not much,) of calling over your list to such ministerial friends as may visit them, and be able to supply information, and by this means the article will soon be completed. If all will conspire, your next Supplement will present it in a greatly amended state; but I hope those who have contributed nothing to its compilation, will at least abstain from censuring your disinterested and valuable labours. I remain, Gentlemen, Your's, &c.

G. R.

་་་་་

A Memoir of the Rev. Stephen Morell, late of Norwich. By T. Binney. London: Hamilton and Adams. 12mo. 6s. Memoirs and Remains of Joseph Brown Jefferson, late Student of Homerton College, and Minister at Attercliffe, near Sheffield. By John Whitridge. 12mo. 5s. SINCE the death of the amiable and interesting Spencer, and the valuable memoir of him by Dr. Raffles, we have had a considerable number of lives of young Dissenting Ministers. This we do not regret. Believing with Dr. Johnson, that" all excellence has a right to be recorded," and having a strong view of the importance of the ministry, when duly discharged by properly qualified persons, we are always pleased with a well written memoir of a holy and useful servant of Christ. It is calculated to do good to his congregation, to be useful to his brethren, and to encourage and stimulate those who are preparing for the ministry.

The writers of such lives, however, charge themselves with a high responsibility. They of course evince their approbation of the character and talents of their friend, and their opinion that he is worthy of being exhibited for an example to others. But they also, in the sentiments which they either ascribe to him, or utter themselves, implicate, at least to a certain extent, the body to which they respectively belong. We are aware this will be disclaimed; but still we are satisfied, that both the subjects and the writers of such biographies will be considered as specimens of a class. And, although we, as well as they, may protest against the body being implicated in all that belongs to individuals-the body will, notN. S. No. 28.

withstanding, be identified with its ministers and its writers.

The life of a young minister, written by a young minister, is a trial of rather a serious nature, and which ought to be very fully considered before it is undertaken. If the deceased had experience to acquire, and his biographer be also in the same predicament, the danger is, that the performance, however well intended and well written, will record many things crude, impertinent, and trifling; and which a more matured experience would have corrected in both parties. There is a risk of injuring the fair reputation of the departed, by the very attempt to embalm his virtues; and to injure the estimation of his brethren, by exhibiting too prominently one who had scarcely passed through his noviciate.

We venture to suggest these remarks for the consideration of our friends in general, rather than from a desire that they should be applied injuriously to the volumes now on our table. Of Morell and Jefferson we entertain a very high opinion. They were both estimable characters as Christians, and as men devoted to the work of their Divine Master; and in point of talents, would admit of a fair comparison with their brethren of the same age, and of any denomination. For their biographists we cherish the most sincere respect. The writer of Morell's life is unquestionably a man of talents and of genius; distinguished at once for the originality of his thoughts, and the simplicity with which he expresses them. Mr. Whitridge is evidently a pains-taking and intelligent man, who would spare no exertion to accomplish the object of his wishes. Both volumes have cost considerable labour, and

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both, with certain exceptions, contain much that is calculated to be useful.

Mr. Morell's history Mr. Binney introduces as follows:

"Stephen Morell was born at Little Baddow, in Essex, on the 23d of December, 1800 --He entered the Academy at Homerton, in October, 1818 :--He was ordained at Norwich, on the 17th of June, 1824 --and, on the 21st day of October, in the same year, at Little Baddow, he

died."

The honesty and good sense of the following passage is worthy of commendation.

"The Rev. Stephen Morell was a minister of the Independent denomination; a young man of unquestionable talent; distinguished equally by his exalted character, and the circumstances of his early, affecting death. It is readily admitted, that this biographical sketch will be chiefly valued, as a memento of personal friendship, by those who knew and admired him; but something may possibly be recorded of more extended interest and use. The attention of the reader is certainly not requested with the hope of producing any thing like surprise. The writer is not employed to describe a prodigy, or to pronounce a panegyric; to forget the advantage of the living in useless eulogy of the dead. His highest ambition will be attained, and that also, he is persuaded, of the immediate relatives of the deceased, if this little production can be rendered an instrument of good. It is doubtless expected to possess some interest, as the account of a youth of decided mental superiority. Although we may by no means pretend to claim for him the reputation either of extraordinary attainments, or splendid genius, yet, it may not perhaps be presumptuous to hope, that a degree of improvement and pleasure may be derived, by some minds, from a general notice of his intellectual advance

ment.

The several gradations, however, by which this was successively distinguished, it will not be attempted to detect by very minute investigation. The present work cannot be undertaken in the spirit of a mere philosophical observer. In pursuing the transitory and touching history of the departed, I shall be rather solicitous to exhibit his character as a Christian, so far as it could be formed and developed; so far as the circumstances of his life were adapted to ascertain its features, and those of his triumphant death to exhibit its foundation. Happily for the church, the Christian character, at least, is of no party; it may be recognized

in all; and wherever it is seen, if our minds are properly disposed, it may pre

sent

many particulars for profitable thought. In the portraiture of a disciple, however obscure, we may usually discover some lineaments to copy. An hour devoted to the contemplation of Christian excellence,--of active virtue and dying hope, will neither be mis-spent nor regretted, if we learn such lessons as may tend to teach us how to live and die the present narrative should be the means of impression or improvement to any mind; should it, in however humble a degree, advance the interests of religion, or promote the sanctification of the church,

If

I shall not have written, nor will my inestimable friend have died in vain."--pp. 3–5.

We have then an account of Mr. Morell's early years and academic history, containing various "descants wild," but not uninteresting, and always evincing the powerful, though somewhat peculiar mind of the writer. The autobiographical account which it contains is very interesting, and written in a very pleasing manner. Then follows the ministerial history of the deceased, embracing episodes of various kinds, on the love of truth-a man of partyand a party man, &c. &c. have then a digression of two hundred pages, on the general causes of disorder in Independent churches. The ministerial history is then resumed, and concluded in

We

about forty pages. Mr. Morell removed from Exeter to Norwich, in which latter place, he was ordained minister of an Independent church, on the 17th of June, 1824, and died the 25th of November following. Some affectingly interesting circumstances are connected with his death, for which we must find room.

"Before I can proceed to the conclu sion of this narrative, it is necessary to state what cannot be entirely omitted; delicacy, indeed, to the feelings of an accomplished and amiable woman would suggest such omission, were it not that the circumstance is inseparably blended with, and will infuse a touching interest into, the remaining details of this brief history. An attachment subsisted between Mr. M. and one, of whom it is but justice to say, that none would be more acutely

pained by expressions of praise, though none more entirely command, that homage which is due to virtue. Mr. M., having made every preparation for entering upon domestic life, left Norwich on the 2d of August, with the intention of being accompanied, on his return, by the friend of his affections. He had been ordained about six weeks, he had around him an attached people, and before him, in appearance, a career of honourable action and tranquil enjoyment; alas! he knew not, as the city faded from his sight, that he had for ever closed his eyes upon this scene of his brightest anticipations!"--pp.341,342.

"The subject of the memoir left Essex, for the purpose of returning thither with his friend, previous to a certain day for which their union was fixed. Circum

stances, however, prevented this; and it was not till the morning of that very day that they commenced their journey. On the evening, as they entered London, he was suddenly attacked by hemorrhage; alighting, and, agitated probably by so alarming a symptom, he staggered into a shop, and fell insensible on the floor; his friend, observing his indisposition, but not aware of its apparent extent, followed, and found him as described, bleeding profusely, and, to her first apprehensions, gone;--obtaining, however, medical assistance, with a maguanimity and promptitude, which, at such a moment, and on such a journey, might have fled from a less decided character, Mr. M. was soon recovered, and the effusion stopped; they were encouraged to believe it was not from the lungs, nor of an alarming nature, but, appalling rather in appearance than in fact.

was

"The next day he seemed quite restored; they proceeded into Essex; on their arrival, indeed, his appearance again excited parental apprehension, but this speedily dissipated by his constant accessions of strength, and his cheerful flashes of vivacity. Being anxious to return as soon as possible to his charge, and seeming to all apparently recovered from his late attack, another day was fixed for the purpose already intimated. The short intervening period passed in innocent happiness, incalculably increased by his continued convalescence; the eve of the day arrived, and all was well; nothing to excite alarm, nothing to repress anticipation; it did not seem within the compass of probability for any thing to frustrate their object, to damp their hopes, or to dissipate their dreams of the morrow. The evening was one of unusual cheerfulness, such as the virtuous alone enjoy, irradiated by piety and approved of heaven :→ but--on that very evening, the same symptom of debility returned, and to greater extent than before ;--the day that fol

lowed was the first of a very different futurity from that, of which it was expected to be the pledge ;--it was the first of my esteemed friend's positive confinement;-the first of the physician's regular attendance; -- and the first of that affliction, which gradually increased, with slow but certain advances, until, in the course of about two months, the place of his anticipated union became the receptacle of his ashes."--pp. 344-346.

"In the course of his illness, he often alluded to his charge at Norwich; expressed his strong affection for the people; his fervent desire for their prosperity; the kindness he had personally received from them; and his sense of their sympathy in his sorrows. What a privilege,' said he,

I

will it be, if I am ever permitted again to address them! how shall I enjoy.my pulpit! I hope my preaching will be more spiritual than ever; I am learning experience in this school.' Alas! this desire was never to be gratified, God having reserved some better thing for him; yet, it was not till within a week of his peaceful and happy end, that his and our hope was entirely relinquished. I think,' said he, on the Saturday before his death, I think, sometimes, I shall never see Norwich again, and that I shall lay my bones in your grounds. Without absolutely falling in with the suggestion, I replied, it is well to think of both sides of the question;' 'yes,' said he,' and I do; I believe that my case is dangerous; but I have trusted, and do trust in God. have sincerely committed my soul into the hands of Christ, and he, I believe, has accepted the surrender; I am prepared ; nature recoils at the thought of death; it is awful; it is solemn; there are things to make me cling to earth; how can I part from - that's the pang it seems hard, at such a moment, to have such ties thus broken; but do not feel afraid to die; and, I know, I believe, that this is not presumption! At another time he remarked, I have no strong earthly affections; nothing, now, to detain me here; nothing that I would wish to live for,--nothing but I know what suffering there will be there,--and that I feel,--but, for myself, I have relinquished all,--committed, given up God. This world is nothing to me, I believe I am prepared, and if there be a preference, it is rather that I should die; I would rather die than live,--that seems strong language, but it is truth ;--I should prefer it.' He was often on the same day heard whispering to himself, as if dwelling on each word with deep interest,' Jesusthe Mediator--of the New Corenant.' pp. 348--350.

to

The last paragraph of the work, which we subjoin, sanctifies the