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the wild extravagance of unauthorised opinion, and the tame subjection of compulsory belief. Though the great mass of Christendom, and even though the vast majority of our own national Church were to depart from the purity of Christian faith and practice, yet, no well-taught member of that Church needs hesitate or tremble. His path is plain. It is not, merely, his own judgment; it is not by any means, the dictatorial mandate of an ecclesiastical director, which is to silence his scruples, and dissolve his doubts. His resort is, that concurrent, universal, and undeviating sense of pious antiquity, which he has been instructed, and should be encouraged, to embrace, to follow, and revere.--Bishop Jebb.

A SUNDAY AT Moscow. To one who had for a long time been a stranger to the sound of a church-going bell, few things could be more interesting than a Sunday at Moscow. Any one who has rambled along the Maritime Alps, and has heard from some lofty eminence the convent bell ringing for matins, vespers, and midnight prayers, will long remember the not unpleasing sound. To me there is always something touching in the sound of the church-bell; in itself pleasing by its effect upon the sense, but far more so in its association; but these feelings were exceedingly fresh when I awoke on Sunday in the holy city of Moscow. In Greece and Turkey there are no bells; in Russia they are almost innumerable, but this was the first time I happened to pass the Sabbath in the city. I lay and listened, almost fearing to move lest I should lose the sounds; thoughts of home came over me; of the day of rest, of the gathering for church, and the greeting of friends at the church-door. But he who has never heard the ringing of the bells at Moscow does not know its music. Imagine a city containing more than 600 churches and innumerable convents, with bells, and these all sounding together, from the sharp, quick hammer-note, to the loudest, deepest peals that ever broke and lingered on the ear, struck at long intervals, and swelling on the air as if unwilling to die away. I arose and threw open my window, dressed myself, and after breakfast, joined the throng called to their respective churches by their well-known bells; I went to what is called the English chapel, where, for the first time in many months, I joined in a regular church service, and listened to an orthodox sermon, I was surprised to see so large a congregation, though I remarked among them many English governesses with children, the English language being at that moment the rage among the Russians, and multitudes of cast-off chambermaids being employed to teach the rising Russian nobility the beauties of the English tongue.-Incidents of Travel in the Russian and Turkish Empires.

THE CHRISTIAN'S DANGER IN AN ENLIGHTENED AGE. Let us not suppose, with the superficial theorists of the age, that these latter times are times of marvellous improvement in the knowlege of religious truth; or that they are less pregnant with danger and mischief than those which are past. Our best exertions, our most zealous and unceasing efforts, are become more and more requisite, to resist the torrent of iniquity and impiety, of error and delusion, which is every day pouring in upon us and miserably shall we be deceived, if, trusting to the supposed advancement of the human mind towards a state of perfection, or to any imagined abatement of rage and malice on the part of the adversary, we relax our efforts, or relinquish our salutary suspicions. There is perhaps more than common need for these admonitions at the present moment; since there never was a period, when the enemy with more inveterate malignity sought the ruin of the Church, or laboured to compass it with more consummate artifice and deceit.-Bishop Van Mildert.

EFFECTS OF DESPISING CREEDS.-One thing in the history of Arianism is worthy notice, that its partisans within less than forty years after they had rejected the Nicene doctrine, drew up seventeen different confessions of faith, and when they had done, would abide by none of them. With what propriety men of this cast are wont to exclaim against creed-makers, or how well qualified they are to have the modelling of articles and liturgies, you will determine; and may God Almighty enable us, upon this, and every other occasion, as far as lieth in us, to maintain truth and preserve unity, to reject error and avoid confusion. Bishop Horne

CHURCH EXTENSION. The Annual Report of the Bath and Wells Diocesan Church Building Association states that it has expended, since its formation, in 1836, the sum of 39007, in the following grants :

For Building

7 Churches......
5 Chapels of Ease......

.£1835

530

Rebuilding
Enlarging
Repewing and
and

5 Churches...

5 Churches.....

745

480

In addition to the grants thus voted towards providing an increase of church room in the diocese to the extent of 9,546 sittings, the sum of 1,3561. 1s. 6d. has been given towards the Incorporated Society in London.

EARL FITZWILLIAM has given 300l. towards the erection of a parsonage house at Dore; and the Duke of Devonshie, in addition to the ground for the site of house and garden, has given 75l. for the same purpose. Sheffield Iris.

DIOCESE OF HEREFORD.-The ecclesiastical jurisdiction of this diocese extends over 364 parishes, (comprising nearly the whole of the county of Hereford, and part of Worcestershire, Shropshire, Radnorshire, Monmouthshire, and Montgomeryshire,) a population of 200,000 souls. There are 360 churches and chapels in the diocese, connected with the Established Church, and 326 benefices, the patronage of 26 of which is vested in the Crown; 36 in the bishop; 26 in the dean and chapter; 54 in ecclesiastical corporations; 11 in the Universities and colleges; and 173 in private persons. The aggregate amount of the net income of the incumbents only 2741. each, being about 30%. under the average for England and Wales.

Sir Offley Wakeman, Baronet, has contributed 1007. and a site for a new chapel of ease at Shrewsbury.

The Bishop of Durham has given 301. the Marquis of Bute 30%, and Sir Thomas Clavering 301, for building a new church at Sanchester.

The Earl of Bradford has given the benefice of Blymhill, in Staffordshire, vacant by the death of the Rev. Thomas Pigot, to the Rev. H. Dickenson, who has been Curate of the parish more than 20 years.

The amount of subscription in aid of erecting a monument to the memory of the late Bishop of Lichfield already exceeds £750.

The congregation of Moseley Chapel are, we understand, about to present to the Rev. W. M. Lawson, the Perpetual Curate, a very handsome silver tea and coffee service, on the occasion of his marriage. Mr. Kelly, of Birmingham, has been intrusted with the execution of this mark of esteem.

The Rev. F. Paget, rector of Elford, and chaplain to the Lord Bishop of Oxford, has been appointed by the Bishop of Lichfield rural dean of the deanery of Tamworth.

The Rev. Dr. Warren, formerly a distinguished preacher in the Wesleyan connexion, lately received episcopal ordination at the Cathedral of Chester by the Lord Bishop of the diocese. It is stated that the Rev. Gentleman will receive the appointment to the church now in course of erection at Manchester, the foundation stone of which was laid in October last by Sir Oswald Moseley, Bart.

There are only three Roman Catholics (Sir Thomas Esmonde of Wexford; Mr. Balfe, of Roscommon; and Mr. Lalor, of Killarney), amongst the list of Sheriffs for the 32 Irish counties. This circumstance is not by any means to be ascribed to political or religious causes; but merely to the fact, that the number of persons professing that creed, and holding station or possessing property qualifying them for the office, is so few in comparison with that of the Protestant gentry.-Dublin Evening Mail.

AWFUL SUDDEN DEATH.-A Chartist, named James Blake, lately went into the George and Dragon, Greek-street, Soho-square, London, and partook of a beefsteak, which he complained of as being exceedingly tough. He however ate about three-quarters of a pound, which he swallowed in lumps, without attempting to masticate them. After dinner he entered into conversation with others in the room upon the subject of Chartism; during the course of which he became dreadfully excited, and after having bestowed the most horrible imprecations on the aristocracy, he said he would forfeit his life that instant if he thought it would promote the interest of Chartism. He proceeded in a similar strain until he became very faint and sick, when he went into the open air. He soon returned into the room, apparently revived, but shortly afterwards suddenly expired. Mr. P. Marshall, surgeon, was called in, who was of opinion that intense mental excitement immediately after a very hearty and imperfectly masticated meal, had produced apoplexy. A coroner's inquest was held, and a verdict returned of-Died by the visitation of God.

ENGLAND'S AID TO HER ALLIES.-Within twelve months from the commencement of the war, England sent over to the Spanish armies (besides 2,000,000l.) 150 pieces of field artillery, 42,000 rounds of ammunition, 200,000 muskets, 61,000 swords, 79,000 pikes, 23,000,000 ball cartridges, 6,000,000 leaden balls, 15,000 barrels of gunpowder, 92,000 suits of clothing, 356,000 sets of accoutrements and pouches, 310,000 pair of shoes, 40 tents, 250,000 yards of cloth, 10,000 sets of camp equipage, 118,300 yards of linen, 50,000 great coats, 50,000 canteens, 50,000 havre sacks, with a variety of stores far too numerous to be recapitulated.—Maxwell's Life of Wellington.

MAXIMS OF BISHOP MIDDLETON.-Persevere against discouragements. Keep your temper. Employ leisure in study, and always have some work in hand, Be punctual and methodistical in business, and never procrastinate. Never be in a hurry. Preserve self-possession, and do not be talked out of a conviction. Rise early, and be an economist of time. Maintain dignity, without the appearance of pride; manner is something with everybody, and everything with some. Be guarded in discourse; attentive, and slow to speak. Never acquiesce in immoral or pernicious opinions. Be not forward to assign reasons to those who have no right to ask. Think nothing in conduct unimportant and indifferent. Rather set than follow examples. Practise strict temperance; and in all your transactions, remember the final account.

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A public meeting (says an American paper) has been held lately in Woonsacket (Mass.) and the following preamble and resolution adopted :"Whereas, it is currently reported that in one of our neighbouring villages, a man made during the last year 1,530 dollars by minding his own business, and 500 by letting other people's alone'—therefore, resolved, that we recommend to some of the good people in our village to try the experiment, not only as a source of emolument to themselves, but of satisfaction to their neighbours.

INCORPORATED SOCIETY.-The general collection for the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, under the authority of the Queen's letter of last year, amounted to 40,000l. a large portion of which, it is understood, will be applied to the provinces of British America.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The Author of two Sermons on Luke xxiii. 42, and Mark ix. 49, has our thanks, but we are compelled to decline printing sermons.

The Author of an article on the Voluntary System will find it at our publishers. "J. C. W. R." we cannot admit reviews of books not forwarded to us for that purpose; we shall however be happy to hear from this correspondent again. Correspondents will much oblige us by adopting some signature. We cannot, moreover, undertake to return very small articles, particularly verses; it will be wise for the authors to keep copies.

WILLIAM EDWARD PAINTER, STRAND, LONDON, PRINTER.

DETRACTION OF MINISTERS.

THE Church of God is a holy temple; and her Ministers are a class of holy men, set apart from the rest of mankind to preach, expound, and practically observe the words of the Most High; any attempt, therefore, to stigmatize the one, must, in some measure, be reflected on the other; and when we speak lightly or disdainfully of Gospel Ministers, as the manner of some is, we are by no means guiltless of the crime of rising up against the Church of God. The office with which they are invested is sacred, proceeding from the Almighty himself, and that is more than a sufficient reason why they should be respected: but the degeneracy of the world at the present day, hath rendered this non-effective, and in many cases forgotten. One of the greatest evils, therefore, arising from the detraction of Gospel Ministers, is, that it affords the children of Baal cause to scorn and deride the Most High; yea, even the infidel, he whose boast is against Omnipotence-who closes his ears on the Word of Life and laughs at eternity-who views the dissolution of the body, its temporary separation from the soul, as one dark incomprehensible annihilation--who questions the authority, denies the power, and ridicules the omniscience of the Creator: even he can add unto the store of his objections against an approved faith this remarkable and important test: "If these professors of a godly tabernacle would extend the sphere of their doctrine and fellowship, how come they practically to belie what they so incessantly labour to instil? And if their ministers are actually ministers of the God they profess to worship-if they profess to live in obedience to his commands to "love their enemies," " to live in charity with all men, "and to account of ministers as stewards of the Most High," how can any person reconcile such conduct with the disrespect, and oft times actual dislike hourly manifested towards the spiritual pastcr

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under whom they sit to hear the Word of Life? And these are questions not raised by Infidelity alone, but which are present to the eye of every one, be he Churchman or Dissenter, Socinian or Papist, Deist or Socialist: and how shall these be answered? Not in the words of palliation, but sorrow and regret: not in the spirit of conscious integrity, but profound humiliation. Truth and necessity oblige us to assert, that the professed enemies of God possess one tangible plea against his professed servants; not that such a confession is without remedy, or that it is one by which Infidelity is rendered excusable in the slightest degree-God forbid. There is nothing in all the Creator's works, neither in the earth nor in heaven, neither in time nor eternity, neither in the foolishness and wanderings of man's corrupt heart, can ever throw the slightest probability upon the satanic creed of Infidelity. If the stability of God's word, the truth of his revelation, or the glory of his Church, were solely dependent, or in any manner dependent upon the works of his children, how could his word be true or his revelation perfect? For to suppose that individual conduct possessed such power, were to render the Creator subservient to the creature, which is absurd. To proceed. If the servants of God were more anxious to "fulfil his will in all things," to observe his commands and to do them; if they spent half the time and talents which they bestow upon criticism and conjecture, relative to the merits or demerits of God's appointed ministers, in self-examination and prayer, it would present to the world a practical evidence-an evidence more powerful than all that has ever been either written or conceived of the truth of Christianity; it would produce in our minds that "blessed peace which passeth all understanding," and would tend to silence for ever the ungodly misapprehensions and gross perversions of enemies from without. Then the uncircumcised Philistine would not laugh us to scorn," nor the child of Satan reprove the servant of Christ. But this blessed state of things will never come to pass until the children of God are more humble in their devotions, and more charitable in their sentiments; view them now, they appear as an enlightened people-a people peculiar in their works, and exemplary for their piety; whilst, in truth, they fail in fulfilment of the command "Live in charity." They appear confident in their own security, and look upon each venerable pile dedicated to the service of God as a grand testimony of the strength and power of the Creator, as exemplified in the glory and extension of his Church; whilst in secret their hearts fester with the poison of haughtiness and self-sufficiency-they look down upon their neighbour with secular scorn-if he is wandering from the path of rectitude they know no leniency, and if he is particular in the observance of the several prayers and ordinances of the Church, he is stamped and ridiculed as one who does all this for the purpose of promoting his own worldly interest, or for procuring the applause of the world. And though we wonder, whilst we lament that such a spirit should find dwelling in the heart of any belonging to our Church, yet we cannot wonder at the effects produced by it, and how can they be otherwise than evil?

"Can a