around us, which directly or indirectly spring from their want of a Church government like ours, by which order and freedom are alike secured. But, while we firmly hold and boldly defend our distinctive views, let us not be drawn aside to put Presbytery in the place of the Gospel. Let us not even seem to be more desirous of spreading Presbytery than of winning souls. We may hope to influence others, not by saying, so much as by showing how good a government ours is. Faithful, earnest, spiritual preaching, dealing plainly with the conscience, as well as addressing itself to the understanding, will tell far more on those around us than statements, however true and however called for, of the advantages of Presbytery. Presbytery is useful, because it affords, beyond any other system, facilities for securing faithful service to the Lord Jesus in one generation after another of his Church. II. We are in danger of overvaluing external progress. We are a small body. Large bodies of Evangelical Dissenters surround us on every side. The powerful mass of the Anglican Establishment seems gigantic by the side of our tiny body. It is lawful to desire, to pray for, to strive for the extension of our Church. It is pleasing to see Presbyterian congregations springing up where no one previously existed, and reviving to new energy where the cause seemed dying away. But let us not forget that the Lord is most likely to bless us with outward extension, if our ministers and people are diligently and earnestly set upon inward revival. If an extensive revival of God's cause took place in our eighty congregations, or even in a goodly number of them, we would have every reason to ason to believe that the Lord our God had great things in store for us, in extending his kingdom by our means in the varied provinces and counties of England. III. We are in danger of becoming political in spirit. This is an age of political energy and political progress. Newspapers swarm in every town and in many a village. Many have it as their great desire for 1849, that it may be a year noted for those changes which fill newspapers and give a feverish zest to the worldling's earthly life. Neither office-bearers nor private Christians are forbidden to take an interest in the changes of this world; but it must be a measured and subordinate interest. They should be chiefly concerned about "a kingdom which cannot be moved." It must be true of them that their "citizenship is in heaven." Wherever a minister becomes a politician, even under the pretext of thereby seeking to give a religious aspect to politics, he weakens his real influence, and the Spirit of God is grieved and vexed away. His preaching becomes tame, and his walk becomes distant towards God. So of private Christians: a worldling will be little impressed by the religious professions of those whom he sees as eager as himself about passing changes and the political parties of this world. Let us look around, and let us hear the voice of our God calling us, if we would seek to have the Spirit largely among us, that we cease from the feverish politics of man. IV. We are in danger of being led away by what is called the spirit of the age. This age is not only one of political, but also of intellectual movement. Knowledge is widely diffused books are read by a much larger proportion of the community than they were fifty years ago. It is right that ignorance should give place to knowledge; and our Presbyterian forefathers have ever shown themselves-not by words only, but by deeds to be the real friends of popular enlightenment. But let us seek to keep literature and science in their own place. Either is a good servant, but both are bad masters. The reading both of Christian ministers and of private believers ought mainly to be of a kind that bears directly upon preparation for eternity. There may be great dishonour done to God, and great unfaithfulness produced towards precious souls, by ministers seeking over-anxiously to get a name among worldly people, by showing acquaintance with the world's literature or the world's science. Such ministers may be tempted to forget the practice of the apostles in "giving themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." Even the worldling is more likely to respect the minister to whom theology-his own special calling, is an object of greater interest and attraction than any other walk of learning or province of thought. We have cause to be thankful that our ministers, in point of theological education, will bear comparison with those either of the Establishment or of Dissenters. A high standard of theology I will do far more for God's cause, than a high standard of either literature or science. How little has the literary or the scientific class, in the Anglican | Establishment, done for her real influence among the people for good! In his work on "The Protector," D'Aubigné has borne his weighty testimony to the "good spirit" by which our Synod is animated. Let us pray and let us watch, that such a spirit may be more and more prevalent among us. Let it be an earnest desire that, as a Church, we may have much of the presence of God in the midst of us. Then shall we prosper within, then shall we increase without. FRENCH CANADIAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. THE French Canadian Missionary Society was established in 1839, under the direction of a Committee, composed of members belonging to different religious denominations in Montreal, for evangelizing the French Canadians, who number above half a million, and are to a fearful extent destitute of the means of Scriptural instruction. Although naturally intelligent, the mass of the French Canadian peasantry are deplorably ignorant. Hence this Society, in connexion with the direct preaching of the Gospel and the circulation of the Scriptures in the French language, seeks the advancement of education upon a Scriptural basis among them. In furtherance of the latter object, an Institute, to which a farm of 100 acres is attached, has been erected at Pointe aux Trembles, near Montreal, where more than 100 youths may be educated, and at the same time trained in the knowledge of the improved modes of agriculture, in which the French Canadians are miserably deficient. The number recently in attendance was sixty, but the house could soon be filled did funds allow. From among these youths, it is hoped, will be raised up colporteurs, schoolmasters, and other missionary labourers. Already the plan has been attended with encouraging success. The Society has also a female seminary, where the pupils are trained in Scriptural knowledge and in useful acquirements. From this Institution, also, it is to be hoped that suitably qualified teachers will be sent forth. There are at present twenty-three young women in this seminary. Most of the pupils of both Institutions will require for some time to be maintained at the expense of the Society. The Society has six permanent stations, besides other places where meetings are held. The missionaries, most of whom have been approved of by a Committee in Geneva, (composed of Dr. Malan, Dr. Merle D'Aubigné, Professor La Harpe, and others,) consist of three ordained ministers, one teacher, and five colporteurs; making, with their wives, who also labour in the work, fourteen persons. Many hundred copies of the Bible have been sold, and thousands of religious tracts have been circulated among the French Canadians, whose prejudices against the missionaries are much diminished, so that a wide door is opening for the colporteurs, and for the preaching of the Gospel. Besides these fruits among the French Canadians, the labours of the missionaries have been of much benefit to the British population scattered throughout the French Canadian settlement, without any opportunity of public worship. The Church of Rome is now redoubling her efforts to control and direct the education of the people, which she cannot altogether prevent; and to uphold her unscriptural system,-which teaches the doctrines of men for the truths of God, leads the people to put their trust in medals, relics, and lying wonders; and, in short, substitutes the mediatorship of Mary and the saints for that of the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. To maintain her sway she has called to her aid the Jesuits, whose order was publicly established at Montreal in 1843. The French Canadians are our fellow-subjects; and the London Committee, a number of whom are personally well acquainted with the state of the people, would submit that the long criminal neglect of their highest interests, with which the Protestants of this country are chargeable, and the deplorable ignorance of Divine truth which prevails there, constitute a powerful claim upon our efforts; while the eminently amiable and moral character of the French habitans, and the warm interest with which they inspire all who have visited them, justify the Committee in representing this as one of the most promising fields for missionary enterprise to be found within the widelyscattered colonies subject to the British Crown. Under these circumstances, the Committee, commending the Redeemer's cause among the French Canadians to the prayers of their fellow-Christians, feel constrained to call upon them for immediate and liberal pecuniary assistance. Contributions may be paid in London · to Alexander Gillespie, Esq., America- | be baptized, I asked him for how long a square; Messrs. Williams, Deacon, and period he had thought of becoming a Co., 20, Birchin-lane; Messrs. Partridge Christian. For years,' was his reply, and Oakey, 34, Paternoster-row; Messrs.but the fear of man, and especially of J. Nisbet and Co., 21, Berners-street. my parents, kept me silent.' But now,' In the London Committee are the Rev. I said, 'your parents will be angry with James Hamilton, the Hon. and Rev. you.' With much emotion he answered, Baptist Noel, Sir Culling E. Eard-I know that; but I have thought much ley, Colonel Anderson, and others well and long about it, and I now wished to be known to our readers, so that we can baptized. It is better that my parents guarantee the good employment of any should be angry with me, than that God thing given in this channel to the cause of should cast me off.' Christ. HONG-KONG. Nor being able this month to present our readers with any intelligence from our own faithful missionary, we think that they will peruse with interest extracts from the correspondence of the London Missionary Society. The first is from Dr. Legge, giving an account of the baptism of four converts at Hong-Kong; the second is from Mr. Cleland, giving his impressions regarding the native teachers there. And even making some allowance for the fervent hopefulness with which a missionary will regard such converts, it is cheering to think that China has already produced from her own population agents so exemplary and useful. "On the Lord's-day, the 12th Nov., it was our privilege to receive four Chinese into our fellowship by the ordinance of baptism. Two months ago I informed you, that so many as fifteen Chinese had signified their wish to make a profession of faith in Christ. We have had many interviews with them; and, in the beginning of this month, all the members of the Mission, with our Chinese brethren, met to consider their several cases. Of some we were compelled to stand in doubt; of others we thought very hopefully, but, in regard to these four, we saw it our duty to interpose no further delay to their public recognition as Christian disciples. "Out of these four candidates, one is an old man, but the others are young, having been pupils in the school. They are nearly of one age, eighteen or nineteen. The letter addressed to me by the second affords strong proof, that the writer is a brother in Christ. It shews that his present proceeding has arisen from no hasty determination. On the morning that he first signified his wish to "It is gratifying to state, that his father unexpectedly consented to the baptism. We advised him and his companions, immediately after their application, to write to their parents, informing them of their intention, and entering fully into the reasons of their conduct. The letter of A-Cheong was a remarkable production-long, lucid, and deeply pathetic. I forwarded it, and that of A-King, with a letter from myself, to each of their fathers. A-King's father has not yet replied to me, and to his son he sent merely a brief note, telling him to defer his purpose; but the father of A-Cheong replied at length, both to his son and to myself, giving his full sanction to the baptism. "The third, A-Ch'heong, had not the same difficulty to contend with, being nephew to our excellent colporteur A-Sun, on whose recommendation he was received into the school, and who previously stipulated with the parents, that if their son, during the course of his education, should wish to profess Christianity, they would interpose no obstacle. A-King, as well as A-Cheong, had long been convinced of sin, and of his duty to declare himself on the Lord's side. He referred to a conversation which he had with myself in 1844, from which he dated his full conviction of the folly and sinfulness of idolatry, and of the necessity of faith in Christ. The question was put to him, 'Have you ever worshipped idols since then? There was a pause before he gave his reply: 'When I went home I was overcome with fear, and yielded to the will of my father, and worshipped my ancestors; but I can never do so again.' The confession evidently relieved his mind. He is a lamb of the flock, and we confide him to the care of the great and good Shepherd. "The first Christian impressions of A-Ch'heong date also several years back. They were awakened before he entered our school at all, by the family worship observed morning and evening in A-Sun's house. "The four were baptized in Union Chapel in the presence of a large assembly, consisting both of Chinese and of our own countrymen; nor do I think it will be long before we have another similar service. Three more youths in the school are applicants for baptism, besides ten other persons; and, throughout the town generally, there is no small stir about this new way. May God enlarge His blessing upon us! At this season both we and our Chinese brethren require a double portion of the spirit of prayer and of wisdom. "The decision of so many of our scholars is peculiarly encouraging. It seems as if God were about to give us the desire of our hearts, and to make this a Theological Seminary in the highest sense-a true school of the Prophets.' about, instrumentally, by the natives themselves. These men were faithful disciples: I know none more so-no, not even in England; none to whom I could more cordially give the right hand of fellowship; none whom I could more love as Christian brethren-faithful followers of the Lord Jesus. Here was the little leaven, the grain of mustard-seed, the salt of the earth! We had thus somewhat to begin with, which was denied to the other stations in China. God has blessed this instrumentality, fitted as it is both by nature and grace, to begin and carry on the work-by nature, because the language and country of China are their own; by grace, because the love of Christ has been shed abroad in their hearts. "The first I would introduce to you is Chin-Seen, the pastor of the little church. He is the same who was ordained in Union Chapel about eighteen months since. "I have now (writes Mr. Cleland) been He is a man about thirty-two years of upwards of five years in the southern part age, and is a capital English scholar, for of China, all of which time-except- which he is greatly indebted to Dr. ing the last month-I have been labouring Legge. Although he has not lost his in Hong-Kong. At first sight, one would individuality as a Chinese, yet I think his naturally suppose that this place was not manner of thought is more nearly allied the most favourable for carrying on the to the English. He is a most indefatigable work of Missions. A small island, with student, and often from the windows of a comparatively scanty population, and his room, at an hour far advanced into that, it is said, consisting of the very the night, may be seen issuing streams of scum of Chinese society-thieves, pirates, light from the lamp by which he reads. and infamous characters of every de- It would be interesting to inquire what he scription, who dare not show themselves is reading. Go into his study, and you within the jurisdiction of the Chinese will find lying on his table two or three authorities; together with English and heavy-looking volumes, before one of other residents, uncontrolled by the which, opened, he is sitting. If you ask decent conventionalities which exercise a the name of the book, he will tell you it wholesome restriction at home, openly is a volume of Matthew Henry's Comgiving the lie to that Christian profession mentary.' At another time he will delight which they no less openly make;-all these, one would say, make Hong-Kong the last to be desired of all the other posts of missionary labour in China. in one of Abbot's works, or accompany the Pilgrim'in his 'Progress;' and so all our evangelical literature is open to his study, and, above all, the Word of God, both in his own and the English languages. "And yet, by the abundant blessing of God, more fruit has been produced to the "Thus, during the intervals of preachglory of His name in that place of moral ing, Chin-Seen stores his mind with the degradation than in any other part of richest truths in the most attractive forms, China, or in all of them together. The and is enabled to go forth thoroughly cause of this is the Great First Cause; furnished unto every good word and and the instrumentality, that which he has work.' When the hour comes that he been pleased to employ. This instru- should make known the unsearchable mentality at Hong-Kong has been some- riches of Christ' to his poor benighted what peculiar. From the commencement countrymen-to those who are perishwe have had the assistance of Chinese Christians, who came up from Malacca when China was so far opened to the Gospel. I do, of a truth, believe that the Evangelization of China must be brought ing for lack of knowledge'-then he goes forth with a clear head and a warm heart, animated and earnest, to reason, to exhort, and to entreat them, in Christ's stead to be reconciled unto God. "There is another disciple whose name is Asun. He has been a professor of Christianity for more than fourteen years, and his conduct is worthy of emulation. He has great simplicity of character, a child-like faith, and that love and veneration for the truth which cause him to live soberly, righteously, and godly, adorning the doctrine of God his Saviour in all things. He has been the means, by his exemplary 'walk and conversation,' of winning souls to Christ. One man who came within his influence is now a consistent member of the Church. “This man, a rice-merchant, formerly lived opposite Asun's house, and thus became a witness of many of his actions. His attention was attracted by seeing Asun, time after time, attentively reading some book. His curiosity was aroused, wondering what it was that could interest one of his countrymen so much. He became acquainted with Asun, and learnt that the book was the Scriptures. Many conversations arose between them respecting the contents, and their result was, that he owned the power of truth on his heart. So faithfully had he been instructed, that, at his examination previous to baptism, we were completely astonished at the amount of knowledge he possessed. In this case, indeed, Asun so let his light shine before men, that they, seeing his good works, glorified his Father who is in heaven. May such characters be abundantly multiplied in the Church is the prayer of those who rejoice in the prosperity of Zion! "Were I to speak of the other members of the Church, time would fail. We have no reason to doubt the sincerity of any of them they are stedfast as the disciples of Christ, knowing the truth and the truth making them free." MONUMENT TO WILLIAM COWPER. NEARLY half a century has elapsed since Cowper died. His fame has every year increased, and, perhaps, next to Shakespeare and Milton, more editions of his works have been published than of any poet in this country. His hymns are Christian classics. His "Task" is the poem of our English homes -helping to reproduce scenes which it describes so sweetly. And his Letters will long sustain the pre-eminence which Robert Hall and Robert Southey have agreed to give them, "as the finest specimen of the epistolary style in the English language." But when his gentle spirit passed away, Britain was busy with invasions and campaigns, and scarcely noticed the decease of this "sweet singer." But now,-originating, we believe, with one who to distinguished scientific attainments adds a fervid admiration of Cowper's genius,― the proposal is made in good earnest to enshrine his effigy amongst the other worthies whom our nation delights to honour. As one of the earliest friends of Africa, he might claim a statue alongside of Clarkson, or Wilberforce, or Buxton; but it is thought more fitting to act on the permission of the Dean and Chapter, and place his bust and name in Poet's Corner. Already a subscription has been opened, and a few small sums are in the hands of the Treasurer, John Jalland, Esq., 8, Whitehall. One of the first contributors was the venerable Poet Laureate, who accompanied his subscription with a kind letter, worthy of William Wordsworth. And in the next exhibition of the Royal Academy, our metropolitan readers will see a most ingenious and elegant design for the projected monument. Should not every reader who loves the Bard of Olney, add a mite to this memorial? Our Sabbath scholars repeat his hymns; our young men in their Societies are ever quoting his noble words on Truth and Freedom; our family circles find no fitter or more charming book for social reading than some one of his numerous Biographies. Let every one who owes a happy hour to his pleasant teaching, send their penny,- -as much more as they will, and Mr. Marshall's beautiful design will soon be transferred to marble.* |