THE EDITOR'S TABLE. The Life and Times of the Rev. George Whitefield, M.A. By Robert Philip. 8vo. London: Virtue. Christian Missions. Including an Account of the Introduction of the Gospel into the British Isles: the means employed by God and man for the general diffusion of the Knowledge of Christ: Questions for Missionaries: a brief History of the Zetland Islands: Correspondence, &c. By Adam Clarke, LL.D. &c. Being the Thirteenth and concluding Volume of his Miscellaneous Works. London, 12mo. Tegg and Son. Hora Lyrica: Poems sacred to Devotion and Piety, to Virtue, Honour, and Friendship, and to the Memory of the Dead. By Isaac Watts, D. D. With a Memoir of the Author, by Robert Southey, Esq. Poet Laureate. A new edition. Post 18mo. London: Rickerby. Eastern Memoirs, illustrative of the New Testament History, as contained in the Gospels. By the Rev. R. Jamieson, 12mo. Edinburgh: Hamilton, Adams, and Co. London. Scripture Lessons, Part VIII. By Mrs. Henderson, 18mo. Hamilton, Adams, and Co. London. The Book of the Cartoons. By the Rev. R. Cattermole, B. D. The Engravings by Warner, 8vo. London: Rickerby. A Memoir of the Life and Writings of John Albert Bengel, Prelate of Würtemberg, compiled principally from original manuscripts never before published. By the Rev. John Christine Frederic Bark, A.M. D.P. Translated from the German, by Robert Francis Walker, M.A. 8vo. With a Portrait. London: William Ball. A Memoir of Mrs. Harriet W. Winslow, combining a Sketch of the Ceylon Mission. By Mirom Winslow, one of the Missionaries, with an introductory Essay, by J. H. Evans, Minister of John Street Chapel. With a Portrait, 12mo. London: J. F. Shaw. The Pilgrim's Progress from this World to that which is to Come. Delivered under the similitude of a dream. By John Bunyan. With a Memoir of the Author, by J. A. St. John, Esq. And a key to the principal matter, spiritual and otherwise, by Henry Wood, Esq. 12mo. London: Rickerby. A Glimpse of the Kingdom of Grace: Eight Sermons. By Dr. F. W. Krummacher, author of "Elijah the Tishbite." Translated from the German, by the Rev. R. T. Walker, M.A. 12mo. London: Tract Society. Journals and Letters of the Rev. Henry Martyn, B.D. Late Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, and Chaplain to the Honourable East India Company. Edited by the Rev. S. Wilberforce, M.A. In 2 vols. 8vo. London: Seeley and Burnside. The Doctrines of Election, and its connection with the general tenor of Christianity; illustrated from many parts of Scripture, and especially from the Epistle to the Romans. By Thomas Erskine, Esq., Advocate. 12mo. London: James Duncan. Hebrew Lyrics, Select Poems on Old Testament Subjects. 32mo. Tract Society. Memoir of the late Hannah Kilham, chiefly compiled from her journal, and edited by her daughter-in-law, Sarah Billor, of St. Petersburgh. 12mo. London: Darton and Harvey. Sacred Philosophy of the Seasons; illustrating the perfections of God in the phenomena of the year. Autumn. By the Rev. Henry Duncan, D. D. 12mo. Edinburgh: Hamilton and Co. London. The Christian Almanack for the Year 1838. 12mo. Tract Society. Selection of Poems, designed chiefly for Schools and Young Persons. By Joseph Cottle. Fourth Edition, 12mo. London: Hamilton and Co. TRANSACTIONS OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES, AT HOME AND ABROAD. COLONIAL MISSION.-THE CANADAS. The Committee of the Colonial Missionary Society announce, with great pleasure, the safe arrival in Toronto of the Rev. J. Roaf, late of Wolverhampton. Mr. Roaf reached the important scene of his future labours on Friday, the 6th of October, and on the next Lord's-day opened his public ministry by preaching twice, and administering the Lord's Supper. He met with an affectionate and cordial welcome from the christian people, who had been long anxiously desiring bis arrival Mr. Roaf's entrance on his interesting station and labours is not unattended with the difficulties that must be anticipated under the circumstances and position of the field he has gone to cultivate; but he has great encouragements and pleasing hopes; and by the Divine blessing on his efforts, conducted with the wisdom and zeal which will be imparted from above, there is every reason to expect that all difficulties will be surmounted, and that our beloved brother's course will be one of eminent efficiency and success. Even in his earliest communication from the scene of his agency, our brother addresses the Committee in the language of earnest application for their most energetic support. He says, "From the representations made to me by Mr. Wilkes, it appears that you are likely to have enough to do with all the suitable men you can procure and support. Pray, now you have got us here, do not cripple us; and remember that all parties here say, that if you intend ever to do anything for the Canadas, you should take the present tide. The ministers that have supplied the congregation here, have left most moving tales as to the rcligious destitution, and suppliant invitations of settlers in their neighbourhoods. But you need as much caution as zeal in procuring men. Sound views, perseverance, self-denial, power of endurance, zeal, discreteness, and good temper seem to be essential in our ministers here." The following extracts from a letter of a Correspondent in Canada, will illustrate the position and labours, character and success, of our beloved brethren, who are bearing the burden and heat of the day in that arduous field of enterprise. on Friday morning, and found Mr. and his "I arrived in family well. He had recently removed into a small house, which has been attached to the chapel for the residence of the minister. It has a small garden and outhouses. But you will be surprised when I inform you, that this excellent man has not only laboured with diligence and zeal in the ministry of the word, but with his own hands has done much work in the fittings of the house; has with incredible exertion sunk posts in the earth, and fenced in the lot of ground; has levelled and drained the marshy, uneven soil, and formed a pretty garden, which he has cultivated himself; has built his own stable, shed, &c.; ornamented the front of the chapel; and has, in fact, according to the common saying in done more manual labour than any labouring man in the place during the same period. He is regarded with admiration by all parties. And observe, all this is for the cause: the house, the land, the establishment, as a whole, belong to the church. Most of the help he has obtained was furnished out of regard for him; and would have been cheerfully afforded, had he been building a house for himself, and creating property for his family; but he has disinterestedly given up the advantage for the good of the body." "The Sabbath School, chiefly managed by Mrs. seems to have been blessed. Several of the teachers are in a very hopeful state of mind. One boy, a scholar, went home from the school to his mother and said, that Mrs. had told the class that parents ought to pray with their children. His mother replied, Yes, they ought.'-' Then,' said the boy, will you not pray with me, mother? The answer was, I cannot, I never pray, ask your father.' The boy awaited the arrival of his father, and asked him to pray with him, but he, in some confusion, declined. Well,' said the boy, I will pray, if you will allow me;' and on their acquiescence, he knelt down with them, and offered a short and simple prayer. The effect has been striking and salutary on the careless parents. They both now attend the house of God regularly, and appear to be inquiring after the way of salvation." "One case struck me as peculiarly interesting. A family in the neighbourhood were the pests of the place, as they had been of a small village in England, from which they came. Drunkenness, profanity, and debauchery characterized them. The children were allured to the Sabbath school; the parents to the house of God; and such has been the blessing of God on our brother's ministry in this instance, that they have abandoned their vices; they regularly attend the place of worship, seem much impressed, and the subjects of a work of grace. It is interesting to behold them in clean attire, bringing their children well clad to the dwelling-place of Zion; and on collection days giving each child a small sum to deposit in the treasury. Altogether it appears that through Divine grace these poor spiritual demoniacs are dispossessed, clothed, and in their right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus. There are several other instances of hopeful conversion in the congregation. At one of the out-stations, an infidel gives evidence of a work of grace having been commenced in his heart." "I have already informed you, that this dear brother in the ministry of our Lord, has suffered many privations for want of adequate support. His family is large, and they have often been compelled to live in the most meagre manner, quite destitute of the comforts of life. His journies and preaching tours involve him in expense, besides wear and tear of clothing, and for these he receives no remuneration. His children are kept clean and neat by his indefatigable and truly excellent wife; but it is obvious they need new clothing. I am astonished at the good man's self-denial and disinterestedness. He had only to cross the lake into the United States to obtain a station, where he would be well supported-some one hundred and fifty pounds a year-but he has persisted through untold difficulties to labour in Canada." How full of interest is this account of this excellent minister; and of his character, labours, and privations! And how strong is the claim on British Christians of such men, and of the fields which, were they to abandon them, would be a moral wilderness! And how could the Committee for a moment hesitate to grant the sum of fifty pounds applied for to carry their honoured brother through another year of arduous and self-denying service? DURHAM AND NORTHUMBERLAND ASSOCIATION. The half-yearly meeting of this Association took place at Sunderland, on Tuesday, the 10th of October. A considerable number of ministers and delegates from the various associated churches assembled on the occasion. After the usual business had been transacted, the Rev. Dr. Matheson, of Durham, who has been Secretary to the Association ever since it was formed, in the year 1822, intimated that he is about to remove to Wolverhampton, and can, therefore, no longer discharge the duties which have so long devolved upon him in connexion with the Association. The following resolution was then unanimously adopted as expressive, in some measure, of the feelings of all present, and, it is believed, of all the brethren in the two counties. "That we have heard with regret that the Rev. James Matheson, D.D. of Durham, is about to leave his present sphere of labour, which will deprive this Association of his valuable services as its secretary; that we, therefore, record the high esteem in which we hold him, both as a Christian and as a christian minister; the grateful sense we have of the benefit derived to the two counties of Durham and Northumberland, from his indefatigable exertions as the first and the only secretary of this Association, an office which he has held for a period of fifteen years, and our earnest united prayer that the Divine presence may go with him, and that the Divine blessing may crown his labours with growing success.' The Rev. A. Reid, of Newcastle, consented, at the unanimous request of the brethren, to become secretary pro tempore, the final appointment being deferred till the annual meeting, which will be held in the Easter week, 1838. In the evening, a public meeting was held in Bethel Chapel, Bishop-Wearmouth. Andrew White, Esq. M.P. presided. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. Dr. Matheson, the Rev. Messrs. Jack, Harper, Reid, Merrefield, Caldwell, and Richardson. The chairman expressed his warm interest in missionary operations, both at home and abroad, and his anxiety to give them all the countenance and support in his power. NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHAPELS FOR MANCHESTER AND ITS VICINITY. The Congregational churches of Manchester have won for themselves the esteem of their brethren throughout the empire, on account of the zeal and liberality they have for many years displayed on behalf of foreign missions. It gives us now sincere pleasure to present to our readers evidences that they care also for their neglected countrymen, and are making some vigorous efforts to overtake the moral wants of the uninstructed myriads of their own important town. These efforts commenced, we believe, with the present year, and the following important letter upon this subject was issued by the associated pastors of the Independent denomination in Manchester and its vicinity. To the Members of Churches and Congregations of the Independent "DEAR CHRISTIAN FRIENDS, "We are desirous of engaging your attention to a subject, which we believe to be of high importance, and which we fear has been too long culpably disregarded. "The moral and religious destitution of a vast proportion of the surrounding population, and their claims upon our sympathy and aid, have not, with sufficient frequency and force, attracted the notice, and been impressed upon the minds of those who are privileged with the enjoyment of Christian ordinances. "You need not to be informed of the rapidity with which the population of this town and neighbourhood has been extending; the ignorance, irreligion, and depravity by which the vast majority are characterized; or the lamentable disproportion between their numbers and necessities, and the provision hitherto made for their moral elevation, and religious improvement, Nor have we occasion now to instruct you in those principles of Christianity, which render its disciples conscious debtors to all mankind, and constrain them to live not unto themselves, but unto him who died for them and rose again.' With these facts and principles we believe you to be well acquainted; but we entreat you to give to them, at the present time, much serious consideration, and to surrender your judgments and feelings to the influence which they cannot fail to exert. "You justly regard with complacency and gratitude the spiritual privileges which a merciful God has permitted you to enjoy, and the numerous circumstances in your immediate circles which are favourable to the interests of piety and virtue; but we ask you to contrast with these the degraded and destitute condition of hundreds of thousands around you, amongst whom all that might conduce to truth and righteousness, is incessantly and mightily counteracted by an overwhelming tide of corruption. Remember that here the temptations both of wealth and poverty concentrate their force, while ignorance and licentiousness pour forth their desolating torrents. Reflect on the moral power which congregated masses of human beings always exert, and on the injurious consequences to the present and future interests of society, when, as in this instance, those masses are irreligious and profligate. To these considerations add, especially, that all these degraded wretched beings are rational, accountable, and immortal; that while we employ them in our various manufactures, deal with them in our public markets, and mingle with them in our crowded streets, they are rapidly completing the probation of life, going to appear before the Judge of all, and entering on a state unchangeable for ever. And then we cannot doubt that the Gospel, which, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, never fails to subdue the hardness of our hearts, and the selfishness of our nature, will cause you to yearn with inexpressible pity over those who are sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, without God, and therefore without hope; and will constrain you to inquire, is there no remedy for these evils? Are there no means of ameliorating the condition and destiny of those men? Is it not in our power to bring within their knowledge and attainment the inestimable privileges of those who are turned from darkness to light, and who rejoice in the possession of a good hope through grace?' "To such enquiries it is not difficult to furnish a satisfactory reply. The condition of our neighbourhood is indeed deplorable. Evils are to be encountered of gigantic force, for the subjugation of which all means of human devising must prove, as they have at all times proved, insufficient. But, Divine mercy has provided, in the Gospel of salvation, a remedy for these evils, suitable and adequate, and has entrusted to the Christian Church the requisite means for diffusing the knowledge of this remedy. "The renovation which society requires is of a spiritual kind, for the effecting of which the Gospel is the only instrument. It is the appointment of its Divine Author that this Gospel is to be orally communicated by man to man. The foolishness of preaching' is the divinely ordained means of diffusing the light of truth, improving the condition of society, and rescuing immortal souls from perdition; and the efficacy of this means is attested by the fact, that the highest degree of social order and prosperity, of intellectual and moral refinement which are found in the most favoured communities, have resulted, not so much from the combined force of all other causes, as from the beneficial, sanctifying influence of Divine truth, imparted through the faithful preaching of the Gospel. If, then Christians arouse their moral energy, and in faith and prayer consecrate their piety and property to the extensive and vigorous employment of this means, we may confidently anticipate that God will condescend to bless their labours. "This is not merely recommended by considerations of propriety and expediency, but it is enforced as the matter of solemn obligation. We have to remind you, brethren, not only that Divine knowledge is indispensable to the salvation of the human race, but, also, that it is the duty of Christians to diffuse that knowledge to the utmost of their power; that they are put in possession of the Gospel, with its inestimable privileges and blessings, not for their own benefit only, but in trust for the benefit of others. How vast, then, and urgent is the responsibility which presses upon us. In our hands is the bread of life, which is to be dispensed to famishing millions. The work of reclaiming a lost world is committed to the church, in subserviency to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit and the Bride say, come.' It is the duty of the church to address the truth to the understandings and consciences of sinners, while it is the office of the Spirit to make that truth effectual to their salvation. "The association of Christians appears to be especially intended and adapted for the accomplishment of this design. The institution of Christian churches has an object ulterior to the edification and comfort of their own members. They exist, in no case, for their own sakes alone, but for the benefit of mankind. The saints are in the world, as lights to relieve its darkness, as salt to redeem it from corruption. All the highest purposes of the Divine mind are to be realized by sanctified human agency, and such agency is found exclusively in the church. On you, then, fellow Christians, it is incumbent to endeavour to lessen the accumulating sum of evil around you, to carry the light of life into the dark haunts of ignorance and depravity, to infuse into the mass of the population the leaven of holy, christian principles, to provide means for imparting to neglected thousands the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make them wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus,' to deliver immortal souls from a course of eternal sinning, and eternal suffering, and to prepare a multitude which no man can number, for shining in all the beauty of holiness, and celebrating the riches of grace through everlasting ages. Often has it been the object of your prayers that the mind which was in Christ Jesus may be also in you. Now the mind which was in him resolves itself into these two principles, compassion for sinners, and zeal for the glory of God. Yield yourselves, then, to the hallowing and blessed influence of these Divine principles; and thus approve yourselves the disciples of Him, who came from heaven to earth to unfold the love of God to man, whose course here below was one of pure and disinterested benevolence, who 'pleased not himself,' who 'went about doing good,' who gave VOL. I. N. S. 5 M |