a king and a priest to God;' alluding to scripture language respecting the honours and privileges of believers, in Rev. i. 6. His pain being excessive, from an almost expiring respiration, continued without intermission, night and day, he said, Pray that the Lord would cut short his work ; pray with me for that.' That prayer was answered, and he soon resigued himself into the hands of his Redeemer. He has now entered into peace, he rests from his labours, - he has clean escaped the perils of the way and we thank the Lord for all his mercy and goodness to him, and for all the services which he graciously enabled him to render to a guilty world, to his family and friends, and to the church, which Christ has purchased with his own blood. If any might be permitted to deplore his departure, I should put in my claim; for we had taken sweet counsel together, and were never divided by sentiment, or any other cause whatever, except latterly by the ten miles' distance to which he removed, which was a grief to me. There seemed to me something gloomy hanging over his departure from London, notwithstanding that appearances to others were more bright. I said to him, I do not like the name of that place, Mortlake.' "Ah!" said he, it signifies Death Lake." What ever were our contemplations afterwards, neither of us seemed disposed to utter another word in continuation of the subject. 'Let us pray the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest, that every breach may be made up and every want supplied, throughout the extensive region of the earth, until it shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.' SLAYING OF THE WITNESSES. Mr. Editor, You know it is an opinion which has much prevailed, and in a measure prevails still among Protestants, that, before the latter-dayglory of the church, there must come a time of extreme suffering, wherein Antichrist shall obtain a great victory over her, and she be brought lower than ever *. This opinion, Sir, as far as it prevails, must damp the zeal of Christians in their pious exertions, for the advancement of the kingdom of the Messiah. The opinion seems to be founded entirely on what is said in Rev.xi. respecting the slaying of the witnesses; but is there not reason to hope, that the calamity intended by the slaying of the witnesses is already past? I think it must be * Some Divines are of opinion, that the death and resurrection of the witnesses are events yet to come; and the has lately published two volumes of exRev. Dr. Romeyne, of New York, who cellent sermons, in a note appended to his discourses on the Millennium, assigns his reasons for believing that the witnesses are not yet slain; for, 1. No calamity has yet befallen the true church by the hands of The Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition, which answers, in a satisfactory manner, to the symbolical representation of slaying the two witnesses. 2. The witnesses still prophecy in sackcloth; that is, the true church is still in a suffering depressed state. 3. The witnesses, it is expressly said, will be slain, not when they shall have finished their testimony, but when they shall draw near the close of it. As they commenced their testimony with the it in time (1260 days); and will be grand apostacy, so they run parallel to brought to a violent end, three prophetic days and a half before its termination. 4. I add the opinion of the great Archbishop Usher, and other eminent and godly men of an early' day, who, on many occasions, displayed a spirit not unlike that of prophecy. confessed, that the time wherein the witnesses lie dead in the streets of the great city, must signify the time in which the true church is lowest of all, most prevailed against by her Antichristian enemies, and nearest to utter destruction. Before this, she prophesied in sackcloth; but now she is dead; before this, she was very low indeed; yet she possessed life, and she had power to bring plagues on her enemies, so as to vex and torment them; but now she seems to be dead, completely overcome, and vanquished; therefore, her enemies rejoice and make merry, send gifts of congratulation to each other, as having a general and public triumph. Can any one, who is acquainted with the present state of mankind, suppose it probable, or indeed scarcely possible, that, before the commencement of the latter-dayglory (which all agree cannot be at a very great distance) the true church of God should be brought so low as it was just before the Reformation? Have we not reason to hope, and indeed to be very confident, that the glorious light, which is now bursting forth on the world by the wonderful circulation of the word of God, the preaching of the everlasting gospel, &c. shall never be extinguished, but increase more and more, till the earth be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.' fulfilled at the Reformation,' says the great President Edwards, well answers the representation made concerning the witnesses. A little before the Reformation, the state of the church of God and true religion was lowest of all, and nearest to utter extinction. Antichrist had, after great and long struggles, prevailed against the Waldenses, Albi-genses, and Bohemians. The war with the Albigenses seems especially to be intended by the war of the • What was It was beast with the witnesses, spoken of in Rev. xi. 7. These witnesses to the truth, were the most numerous and considerable; and were those that most tormented the church of Rome; and the war that was maintained against them, was by far the greatest that ever Antichrist had against any of the professors of the truth before the Reformation; and was properly the war of the beast. It was the Pope that proclaimed the war, that raised the soldiers by his emissaries, priests, &c. the Pope who paid the soldiers with pardons, indulgences, and such like trumpery. When Antichrist had gradually prevailed against these witnesses, the church of God, in the time of Luther and other reformers, revives on a sudden, in a wonderful manner, when such an event was least expected, to the surprize and amazement of their Antichristian enemies; and appears in such strength, that the Reformed are able to stand on their feet, and to withstand all the power and rage of the church of Rome. Presently after this revival, the people of God are set on high, having the civil magistrate, in many countries, on their side, and henceforward have the power of many potent princes engaged for their protection; and this, in the sight of their enemies, and greatly to their grief and vexation, who, tho' from time to time they exert their utmost, never are able to prevail against them any more, as they had done in former wars * If more light were cast on the subject (which the present times loudly call for) by some of your learned Correspondents, many of your readers would be much gratified, and especially Llanbrynmair. J. R. * See President Edwards's Works, by the Rev. Messrs. Williams and Parsons, vol. ii. p. 505. Sir, in UNIVERSAL EDUCATION OF THE POOR RECOMMENDED. To the Editor. WHEN you can spare a corner your valuable Magazine, I trust it may be usefully devoted to the cause of education; and in that presumption venture to address to you a few lines. The exertions of the present day are such as do honour to the age in which we live, and to our country in particular. The Christian beholds, in every measure tending to the instruction of mankind, a means whereby the kingdom of Christ may be advanced, and the salvation of souls promoted; yet the exertions made, while they appear to us of great magnitude, are only as a drop in the ocean, when compared with the moral condition of the world. Had the invention of the art of printing been duly appreciated, probably the first object of general aim would have been to secure its advantages, by instructing all to read the Scriptures. It would have been perceived what a vast opening was thereby afforded to meliorate the condition of mankind, and lay a foundation for the reception of the other means of religious improvement. To enumerate the objections or obstacles which have stood in the way, would be tedious, and extend to a greater length than might be convenient for your insertion. If in this country, which has enjoyed the art of printing and the freedom of the press in their fullest extent, after a lapse of 300 years, one half of the population cannot read at all; and of the remainder, a great proportion may be said to spell, rather than read, what a melancholy picture is presented by the world at large! With the exception of Scotland, Holland, and some parts of Germany, where instruction is better provided for than in England, the inhabitants of this globe are in a state of comparative ignorance, varying in degree from some approach to our advantages to the lowest state of savage barbarism. Do we enquire into the causes of criminal delinquency, which have involved so many in ruin, that probably 5000 boys are brought up to depend on dishonest means, and a much greater number more advanced in life, we shall find ignor ance the most prominent source! Mendicity is in a great degree traced to the same cause. Of 6000 cases of non-parochial beggars, which were investigated, 5300 were Irish, a few Scots, and the remainder foreigners. The moral advantages of Scotland are so often referred to, and so generally admitted, that it seems difficult to account for the neglect of such exertions as would place this country on an equal footing. Are we not gulity, concerning our brethren, to leave them in darkness while the light shines around them? It is true, much has been done by means of the existing schools. There are charity-schools for daily instruction in great numbers; yet so limited by their funds, and so great a proportion laid out in clothing, that they do not provide for more than one-tenth of the population. In many places not so much. The Sunday-Schools do not provide for fully half the children; and great indeed would be their success in forming the youthful mind, were their religious instruction facilitated by daily education. The benefits to the rising generation, by thus initiating them in habits of economy, virtue, and piety, with the aid of saving banks, might reasonably be expected to produce the greatest improvement in the condition of the industrious and poor classes of society. It appears to me, that the most effectual and expeditious way of evangelizing the world, is by in- vide for the education of 100,000 struction. It prepares the mind for children. In the neighbourhood of the reception of truth, and is a Spitalfields, another Auxiliary Somost powerful auxiliary to every ciety is about to be formed; and in other institution, whose object is that house, where inmense numthe advancement of religion and bers, who were in want of common morality. food, have been nourished with good and wholesome soup, the plan is forming to provide them with that instruction which may lead them to the due estimation of the bread of life. The facility which is afford ed by the new system of education, both as it regards time and expence, is so great, that it is evidently in the power of the benevolent, by a moderate and general These schools will receive the chil exertion, to provide the means of dren of every religious denomination, education for all. A child may be without distinction; yet duly ap→ taught to read, write, and cypher preciating the value of religious infor one penny per week, which struction, and the importance of every labouring man, while in em- worshipping the Almighty Creator ploy, could pay without missing; and Benefactor of all, the children and those parents who are too poor will be expected to attend such to pay such a small sum, cannot place of religious worship as their fail, when the matter is understood, parents or guardians may choose; to find benevolent friends to sub- thus guarding against the two exscribe for them. At the same time, tremes of undue influence in mat it is of the greatest importance that ters of conscience, and indifference the parents should be made sensible or neglect of religious duties. of their duty and interest being connected, with every exertion they can make to avoid a state of dependance on charity. It is also intended to confirm and strengthen the aid of religious instruction, as carried on in SundaySchools. When the parents perceive (as they certainly will in a short time). how great are the advantages of such a cheap and efficient plan, there can be no doubt of their support, The poor, when visited with kindness and feeling, have exceed ed the expectations formed by the Committees of Bible Associations; they have done much; and it ought to be acknowledged with commen- according to their circumstances; dation, that they at this present time pay more than the affluent or the rich; and there is not the smallest doubt, if due pains be taken to enable them to understand the matter clearly, that they will make a still stronger exertion for their childrens' instruction. and a very moderate exertion on the part of the benevolent, will secure the accomplishment of this great object. Thus, in a very few years, this country will reap the fruits of the greatest blessing man has it in his power to communicate to his neighbour. Southwark, when the British By occasionally devoting a page system commenced its operations, or two to this cause, you will circuhas led the way, by the formation late intelligence of its progress, and of an Auxiliary Society, whose ob- others may be excited to similar enject is, by the establishment of As- deavours, in the various parts of the sociation Schools, to carry into ef- united kingdom, within the extenfect a general and extensive plan, sive range of your Miscellany; while which comprises the whole of the you, with the other Conductors of metropolis; and, if duly supported, the Magazine, will feel the high will, at a very small expence, pro- gratification of promoting both the temporal and eternal welfare of pleasure in tyranny over those who thousands. Sir, CONTEMPLATING the subject of Bible Associations, I permitted my thoughts to realize the pictures of two families: One, in its ignorance, through want of instruction, and under the influence of that depravity which pervades the fallen race of Adam ; the other, blessed with the advantages of information derived from acquaintance with the Scriptures. depended upon him. He returned home late, and the worse for liquor; and found every thing but comfort in his dwelling. The Sabbaths were always profaned. Knowing nothing himself, he could not impart instruction; and himself hated it.The wife, ignorant and violent in her passions,-vexed with the children, crying through want, which she could not supply, was prepared with loud reproaches, whieh she vented with acrimony whenever she could get her husband within the reach of her tongue. The children, under such examples, gave scope to the depravity to which their natures were subject. Ragged, sick, and hungry, rage, strife, misery, and dirt, were fast destroying their life, and laying up stores for deep repentance, even if the course did not end in death eternal. The second family appeared alike as to numbers and earnings, and had once been alike in misery of every kind; but, in God's good providence, the active members of a Bible Association had called upon the wife, and had conversed with her. In answer to the fervent prayers, that God would be pleased to Methought I saw the first, con- bless the object of their undertaksisting of a labouring man, his wife, ing, he had been pleased to incline and four or five children. The her heart to listen, while they aswages of the husband barely enough sured her that they sought the good to supply the family wants, even of her family, its peace, and eterwith the steadiest industry and the nal welfare. She consented to give utmost economy; but these were wanting. The husband murmured at having such constant calls on his wages, thought himself a slave; and at length, determining that he had a right to live for himself, and knowing no higher enjoyment than to get away from his home, to associate with others like himself, he passed his evenings at the publichouse; spent there what should have gone to his family; became, by reason of conscience, discontented with himself, and vented his dis the penny a week, not from what had been the supply of the children, but from that which had hitherto gone in what had injured herself and them. From the very moment when she gave her first penny towards obtaining the word of God, she felt a new impulse of affection to her family. Hope arose, which stimulated to action; and as a subscriber to a possession of God's revelation, she found that she could not do as she had done. Although her conduct no longer evinced the |