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delivered an impressive and eloquent charge to the newly-ordained Minister, founded on that passage in Paul's address to Timothy, "Make full proof of thy Ministry;" which was succeeded by a beautiful and lucid address to the people, by the Rev. Dr. M'All, of Manchester, powerfully describing their duties towards their pastor. The Rev. Mr. Morris, of Warrington; the Rev. Thomas Atkin, of Wigan; and the Rev. James Porter, of Tockholes, were engaged in the subordinate parts of the service.

The chapel was crowded by a very attentive congregation, who appeared much pleased and edified by the services of the day.

The Rev. Jonah Reeve, late of Highbury College, has accepted the unanimous call of the church at Wigton, Cumberland, to become their pastor, and entered on his interesting sphere of labour on the 15th of September last.

MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

PERSECUTIONS OF THE DISSENTERS IN HOLLAND.

Through the tardiness of transmission, we did not receive the number of the Archives du Christianisme, containing the following article, till it was too late for insertion in the Congregational Magazine for October.

Appeal of the persecuted Christians in Holland to the Disciples of Christ at large.

"The ministers and elders of the Reformed Church in Holland, suffering under the cross, have invited their respective congregations solemnly to set apart the 20th of September, as a day of thanksgiving, fasting, and prayer; and thus publicly, though despised of the world, to profess their reliance upon their Lord, and King, and Saviour. During the last two years this persecuted church has enjoyed the consoling experience, that the Lord has heard the prayers of his elect. Our earthly king, by his edict of July 5, 1836, made us to know his displeasure; yet these persecuted disciples have the approbation of their eternal King, upon their work of faith, and hope, and love.

"In all the distresses of their earthly pilgrimage, their only resource is in their prayers to the Lord of hosts. The Christians of all countries, who with us acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, are entreated to join their prayers with ours, on the day above mentioned, in humiliation before the throne of God, earnestly imploring the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit upon the struggling and conflicting church, that all its members may be more and more one in their Supreme Head. We believe and confess that the church of Jesus Christ, however scattered through the world, is united, and is one in heart and desire, in the same Spirit by the bonds of faith.

"The sufferings of the members of this church in Holland cannot but be felt through all the body. We therefore request, as proofs of Christian sympathy, an interest in the prayers of our brethren, united with us in our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

"H. P. SCHOLTEN,

"Minister of Christ, in the name of the suffering church in Holland."

This specified day was observed with great solemnity in the Taitbout Chapel, Paris, and in many other places. Though it is now past, the duty and the blessing are not superseded, of British Christians thus interceding for their

afflicted brethren.

In the Archives of September 23, are details of further injuries upon these peaceful servants of Christ; imprisonments, exorbitant fines, and injuries from

mobs and soldiers, without protection or redress. Forty Dissenting churches, in France, Switzerland, and Piedmont, (we believe in and around the canton of Vaud, and in the vallies of the Waldenses,) have addressed a letter of sympathy and consolation to these sufferers, dated Nyon, July 3, 1837. It has been published in a Dutch journal, entitled The Reformation, (we have reason to think, the only Dutch periodical that ventures to notice the shameful proceedings of the Government,) with suitable reflections by Mr. Scholten.

PERSECUTION OF PROTESTANTS IN THE KINGDOM OF SARDINIA.

It is with sincere regret that we learn from the public journals and other sources, that the spirit of intolerance, which, ages ago, disgraced the old dukedom of Savoy, and roused the indignant remonstrances of Milton, in defence of his brother Protestants, has again appeared, under the government of the present King of Sardinia, who was once a liberal!

We have only room to invite the attention of our readers to the following extract, and to express our hope that before another month elapses, some measures of sympathy if not of effectual relief, will be attempted on behalf of our persecuted brethern in Holland, Prussia, and Sardinia.

Turin, Oct. 2.—“Whoever considers the sincere efforts of our present King, to improve the state of the country by the establishment of manufactories, the extension of commerce, the erection of public buildings, making new roads, &c.; and also remembers his humane and intrepid conduct at Genoa during the prevalence of the cholera, cannot comprehend how it was possible for his Government lately to issue a circular, which prohibits all notaries from drawing up deeds in favour of Protestants, even deeds of purchase and sale in which Protestants are parties. Nay, more, henceforth Protestants are not to be called as witnesses in the kingdom of Sardinia. This spirit of intolerance, which would throw the people back to the beginning of the seventeenth century, when our country was one of the least enlightened, is in perfect unison with the latelypublished scheme of a new civil code, on which the most eminent lawyers of the country and the University have been engaged for these seven years, and from which much was expected, especially as our civil legislation is still so much behind-hand, and recalls to mind times that are long past. In this project the Protestants are treated in civil contracts worse than the Jews. At all events, this is not the way to make the inhabitants of Piedmont and Savoy forget the code of Napoleon."-Allgemeine Zeitung.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS, &c.

Favours have been received from the Rev. Drs. Henderson-J. P. SmithA. Reed.-Rev. Messrs. Thos. Keyworth-T. Gallsworthy-Wm. Jones-George Smith-Wm. Davis-Ed. Leighton-R. Ashton-H. J. Roper—J. T. Cumming-Algernon Wells - A. Tidman-W. M. O'Hanlon-E. Miller.

Also from J. R. Bennett, M. D.-Messrs. J. Todman-T. H. Justice-John Shepherd-гápμa-Viator-Mrs. Henderson.

We regret that the Letter from Rome arrived too late for the present number: it will appear in our next.

The Correspondence respecting the Congregational Union will appear in our December Magazine and Supplement. The length of several papers in the present number, has compelled us also to omit some important articles of Intelligence.

THE CONGREGATIONAL MAGAZINE.

DECEMBER, 1837.

PAUL AT CORINTH.

Ir would not, we are persuaded, be too much to say, that the " Acts of the Apostles," in connexion with other kindred notices scattered through the Epistles, constitute one of the most precious and inspiring pieces of history in the world. As a narrative, the very fact of its pregnant brevity is in some respects an addition to its interest and value. Concise and rapid as are its relations, they might have been still more so; and many of those refreshing gleams of light which they shed over the budding fortunes of the Christian church might have been withheld from us. The thought has often arisen in our minds, that on the subject of the visit of the Apostle Paul to Corinth itself, it might have been written merely that he went thither. With respect to the manner in which he was received, the length of time he remained there, the way in which that time was passed, the place where he preached, who were his auditors, and what feelings were awakened in their hearts on listening to him, whether his prayerful efforts produced any or how much good,-on all these points there might have rested a veil of impenetrable obscurity, and the most we could do might have been to form some dim conjectures concerning them. But such happily is not the case. We have only to turn to that part of the inspired volume to which reference has been made, and in the 18th chapter there is presented to us a very distinct though condensed narrative of these several matters. In reflecting on the first 19 verses of this chapter we are at once enabled to form a clear conception of Paul's employments at this resplendent city, and to enter into the diversified circumstances amidst which his stay was prolonged. What may be the feelings of others in regard to those places which were the scenes of apostolic preaching, we do not pretend to say; but to ourselves every event and peculiar circumstance of their history is interesting. ardently wish to know all about them, and grateful to us is the page which pictures them to our minds, whether that page be found in the earlier books of holy writ, or in the rescued volumes of classical antiquity. Take, for instance, the short but charming relation of Philip, going down to Samaria, and proclaiming Christ to its people. What followed this proceeding? There was great joy in that city. On reading this last statement, who can help desiring to VOL. 1. N. S.-VOL. XX.

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know all that can be ascertained about the place? It has often excited us to recur with tenfold interest to the Samaria of the Old Testament, to contemplate it in every aspect under which it is there exhibited to us, in the luxuriance and sterility, the rain and drought, the plenty and famine, the wailing and rejoicing, by which it was successively distinguished; and to compare it in these different lights with the Samaria of the New Testament, when pervaded by that sweet exultation which had been created in the minds of its inhabitants on hearing of the wonders of redeeming love. Just so, when standing in imagination by the side of Paul at Corinth, we want to obtain the fullest acquaintance with the past history of the city, whether it may have been remarkable for prosperity or suffer ing, surrounded with shame or glory, the cherisher of knowledge and liberty, or of ignorance and slavery, whether brightened by lofty deeds and virtues, or darkened by polluting follies and crimes. Nor need this desire continue ungratified. It is true, there is no mention of the place in the Old Testament. But in the great writers of Greece and Rome, there are the amplest and most impressive memorials of its earliest foundation and government, of its conflicts by land and sea for freedom, for power, and for aggrandizement, of its commercial wealth and eminence; whilst in general it has been immortalized in the picturesque and splendid lays of Pindar. To bring forward all this information would not be possible within our limits, nor is it requisite for the attainment of our purpose. We shall strive to select and weave into a connected form, as many of the most characteristic notices as will serve to give a fair represen tation of the place.

We may begin with a passing glance at the topography of the city. All agree, that it was eminently "beautiful for situation." Let the reader unroll a map of ancient Greece, and fix his eve on that narrow strip of land, which unites together its northern and southern portions. There he will find a small extent of territory marked out to which the name of Corinthia was given, containing an area of not more than 248 square English miles, and, in its most flourishing period, maintaining a population of not less than 100,000 persons. Of the physical character of this district, Strabo tells us, that "Its land was not very fertile, but uneven and rugged." In a conspicuous part bearing towards the south-west corner of the Isthmus, stood Corinth, in all its pride and magnificence, in addition to which, there were several villages around of more or less importance, and which are for ever renowned in the annals of classic story. A little to the north was the port of Lachæum; to the east, that of Cinchrea; the former about four, the latter about seven miles from the city. Immediately southward the Acropolis reared its majestic heights, crowned with sparkling fountains, from the summit of which you might command one of the loveliest and sublimest prospects in the world. Taking your stand on that elevated point, at your feet would spread out the city with its gorgeous palaces, its elegant and splendid fanes, its capacious theatres, its glittering habitations; on each side would be the sea ever rolling onward its deep blue waves; around would extend the

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flowery meadows, with here and there a little village; in the northeast horizon, at the distance of nearly 50 miles, there would appear the Acropolis of Athens adorned with its superb temple; and all blended into one picture, presenting a scene which could not fail to rivet the eye and expand the mind. What susceptible reader would not delight to have gazed upon it on a fine summer eve, when covered with the soft and mellowing light of the setting sun? The position of the city and of its two ports, secured almost unrivalled mercantile advantages, and rendered the place very early the great emporium of trade, both in the east and west. Hence arose the wealth in which it abounded, its strong naval and military force; and hence too sprang that voluptuousness by which its well-being was endangered, and that gross immorality for which it became justly infamous. On these points the light of clear historical testimony is abundantly shed. Even in the remote age of the Trojan war, it had reached to no mean fame, and is termed by Homer, ἀφνειόν τε Κόρινθον, “ rich Corinth :” and by Pindar, ολβίαν Κό purov, "happy Corinth." Thucydides, in his noble work, Lib. I. cap. 13. states that "the Corinthians inhabiting a city on the Isthmus, always had of old an extensive mart, and became possessed of great opulence:" Strabo adds that "Corinth is said to be rich on account of its emporium, lying upon the Isthmus, and being mistress of two ports, of which one is situated towards Asia, the other towards Italy." These descriptions may be regarded as referring to its earlier prosperity and glory. Of its general state and appearance at a later age, there is a most graphic and interesting delineation in Livy, Lib. 45. cap. 28. Paulus Emilius, who was not only a valiant and successful warrior, but also a man of refined taste and feeling, made a tour of Greece mainly with a view to intellectual gratification, in the progress of which he visited Athens, and thence, according to the narrative, "Sacrificio Minervæ præsidi arcis in urbe facto profectus, Corinthum altero die pervenit: urbs erat tunc præclara ante excidium: arx quoque et Isthmus præbuere spectaculum: arx inter omnia in inmanem altitudinem edita, scatens fontibus: Isthmus duo maria, ab occasu et ortu solis finitima, artis faucibus dirimens." Twenty-one years after this period, Lucius Mummius finished the Achæan war, vanquishing Diæus at the Isthmus. This event sealed the doom of Corinth. In Livy, Epit. 52., we find this statement, "Diæus, Achaici motus primus auctor, ab Achæis dux creatus, ad Isthmon a L. Mummio consule victus est: qui, omni Achaia in deditionem accepta, Corinthon ex senatus consulto diruit, quia ibi legati Romani violati erant." Pausanius, Lib 7. 16. writes, "On the third day after the battle, he took Corinth by force and burnt it." Thus perished in the flames this glorious and resplendent city! Very little was spared from the devouring element. The conqueror, to grace his triumph, took only " Signa ærea, marmoreaque, et tabulas pictas." About 102 years subsequent to its destruction, A. C. 44, it was rebuilt by Julius Cæsar, and a Roman colony planted there. Quickly did it regain something of its primitive size, wealth, and magnificence. From the time of its restoration to that of St. Paul's

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