He

christian ought to feel as if the conversion of the world depended upon him, upon his faith, upon his prayers, and upon his liberality. And so it does in a measure. is not to ask what his neighbour can or should do, but what he can and should do. He is to measure his doings not by his neighbour's but by his own obligation. He is to consult his means, his opportunities, his conscience. Everything about him is individual. He is an individual, a complete personality; he is called and redeemed as an individual, and as an individual will be judged. As an individual he must exert himself. He must not say, Yes, it is the duty of the church, I own it; but he must say, 'It is my duty.' He must not lose his individuality in this ab. straction, the church."

Thus far Mr. James. Now, if the members of our churches would thus reason with themselves, and act up to their responsibilities, what a different aspect should we bear; we should not, as at present, have to notice, with the highest admiration, instances of noble liberality like that which appeared at our late Annual Meeting, of an individual drawing on his banker eighteen hundred pounds to relieve the Missionary Society of debt, which refreshes as an oasis in the desert,-but should have to congratulate each other on an extensive spontaneous liberality sufficient to meet all demands.

I am, my dear Sirs,
Yours truly,

Lymington, May 10th, 1853.

J. MILLARD.

ARE BAPTISTS RIGHT IN BEING MARRIED AT CHURCH?

To the Editors of" The Church.??

Sirs,

A young man, a member of a Baptist church, is thinking of "taking unto himself a wife." The place of worship where he attend's being rather humble, and as it is probable that some quizzical persons, and some members of the Church of England, will

be present, he thought of being married at Church instead of Chapel; but on mentioning it to a friend, was told it would be decidedly wrong; at the same time the reasons adduced were thought scarcely to prove such to be the case. Knowing no one so capable of giving an opinion worth having on the subject as the Editors of "The Church," he would feel greatly obliged if you would be so kind as to favour him with it.

Allow me, Sirs, to thank you for the "Dialogues between a Town Missionary and a Freethinker," in "The Appeal." I am, Sirs, Yours truly,

M. K.

[Our correspondent is aware that, according to the law as it has now stood for several years, persons can be married either in Dissenting chapels, if properly licensed for the purpose, or by simple contract in a registrar's office. Our own preference would be decidedly for the latter course; the religious service, which on such an occasion no christian would wish to omit, being at tended to, as it manifestly could much better be, at home and in private. If a public service, however, be preferred, we decidedly vote against the employment of the Church functionary. This was only justifiable, and to many minds it even then was a painful necessity, when the clergyman was the only State officer authorized to legalize the cere mony; but now this justification is entirely removed; and we hold it for a shame and a disgrace, that so many Dissenters, either because it is "respectable," or from a false and ignorant superstition, act so inconsistently with their principles as still to be "married at church." It is such conduct on the part of those who ought to know better which helps not a little to support a system which we profess to believe opposed both to our religion and our liberty.]

In

"There is nothing new under the sun." In 1853, Mr. Holyoake writes and lectures on the topic, "Why do the Clergy avoid Discussion?" In 1833, the walls of Bradford were covered with placards, in which the ministers of religion were scornfully dared to come forward and give a reason for their faith. This challenge stirred the zeal of our friend, Dr. Godwin, who (not a Doctor then) was discharging the twofold duties of tutor at Horton College, and pastor of one of the Bradford churches. due time Lectures were delivered by him on the principles of Atheism, and, both as spoken and published, excited great attention, an edition being issued also in America. The work has for many years been out of print; and, meanwhile, another generation has arisen to listen to the self-same fallacies and misrepresentations that the Lectures so conclusively refuted. A number of the inhabitants of Bradford, therefore, earnestly requested Dr. Godwin to take up the subject a second time, in the same way. On his compliance, the greatest interest was excited. The theatre where he lectured, on Sunday afternoons, was far too small for the numbers who thronged to listen. At the request of successive audiences the Lectures are now published; and we have the pleasure of confidently and strongly recommending them to general circulation. The work is no mere reprint. Great part of it is quite new; and the Doctor has shewn at once the judgment of age and the energy of youth, by the thoroughness with which he has adapted it to our own times. We know of few, if any, Atheistic sophisms, which meet not here a reference and refutation.

The argument from design is nobly vindicated from cavil, both ancient and modern; and in regard especially to the human frame, is beautifully as well as copiously illustrated. The Lectures un-. doubtedly require from their reader patient thought; but, at the same time, the perfect clearness and manly vigour of their style, kindling often into true eloquence, will materially assist him in the task of thinking. The book is adapted at once to the man of education and to the classes to whom it is specially addressed-the working people of our land. We heartily congratulate our venerable friend on this achievement of his old age, and trust that his life may yet long be spared to the church and to the world.

RIVAL CLAIMS; OR, THE TEACHINGS OF TRUTH ON COMMON SUBJECTS. BY THE REV. J. P. HEWLETT. Pp. 188. London: Benjamin L. Green.

In noticing the first number of this. work, on its appearance a year or two since, we had occasion to hint some very slight critical suggestions upon one or two phrases -evidently incidental ones-it contained. We are glad to be able, therefore, after the completion of the volume, to express, though somewhat late, our approval of it as a whole. It will well repay our more intelligent young readers especially, for a thoughtful and candid perusal. The spirit of the whole may be seen from the concluding paragraph :-" Reader, review these pages. Choose between the rival candidates for your affection and faith; take the religion of the Bible for your guide; yield your heart to God, through the atoning sacrifice of his dear Son, and by the grace of his Holy Spirit. Thus shall all heaven be yours. And do not forget that in order rightly and successfully to carry out those processes by which the blessed hope of eternal life may be embraced and held fast, you will have need of earnest, daily prayer to Him who is the Father of lights, and without whom nothing is wise, nothing is holy. A prayerless youth will, almost infallibly, surrender himself to some of the temptations of the world, and perish in its snares. But he who prays to God for light and grace, will receive both as he daily needs them; will be guided by the Divine counsel, and, afterwards, taken to the glory. of his eternal kingdom."

MEMOIR OF THE REV. JOHN CHIN, LATE PASTOR OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH, SIONSTREET, WALWORTH. BY HIS Daughter MRS. OLIVER. Pp. 24. Baptist Track Society.

The Baptist Tract Society have done well in publishing this brief and accessible memorial of a good and useful man. At the age of thirty-four, Mr. Chin relinquished a lucrative business to become pastor of a newly-formed and struggling church. His ministry, for seven-and-twenty years, was earnest and successful, when failure in health compelled him to retire in great measure from active duty, and the Rev. Samuel Green became his co-pastor. Five years afterwards, in 1839, he "fell asleep.""" A memoir was published soon after his death by the Rev. G. Pritchard; but we believe its circulation was only limited.

Mrs. Oliver has performed her task, not only with flial affection, but with much taste and appropriateness. The tract will be extensively circulated, and will revive the memory of one who, if his deep devotedness and native mental power had but been seconded by a culture worthy of them, might have produced as powerful an impression upon the age in which he lived, as he did make upon his own circle of associates, and on the people of his pastoral charge.

BY

SEED TIME AND HARVEST: A DISCOURSE TO SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS. CHARLES STANFORD, Devizes. Published by request. Pp. 32. London: Nissen and Parker.

This is a Sermon to Sunday School Teachers, founded on Ecclesiastes xi. 1. We do not wonder at Mr. Stanford having been requested to publish it. It is one of the most beautiful and impressive, and at the same time instructive, Discourses to Sunday School Teachers we have ever read; the topics being simply and appropriately,1. The Charge,-2. The Promise, and 3. The Effect which this charge and promise should have on our faith and practice. We commend it to our friends who are engaged

in the honourable work of Sunday School instruction, with great confidence that it will both give them pleasure and do them good. SEVEN LECTURES ON THE SABBATH, DELIVERED IN THE TOWN HALL, WOOLWICH, IN THE MONTHS Of March and APRIL, 1852. Pp. 150. London: Nisbet and Co.

These Lectures were prepared and delivered in the Town Hall of Woolwich, at the request of the Association for Promoting the Better Observance of the Sabbath in that town and neighbourhood. They are very various in their style, and they differ somewhat in the power exhibited by the respective Lecturers; of course, as popular appeals, they are far less critical than the work of Hengstenberg's noticed last month; and it would be unwise to say that we could, by any means, endorse all the statements and opinions in the volume. However,

we are glad to know that "the Divine blessing rested upon the efforts made in defence of the Holy Sabbath. Public opinion was awakened, and the Hall was crowded by an intelligent audience on all the successive evenings on which the Lectures were delivered." The Lectures are all highly practical, and calculated to be impressive and useful.

་་

THE MONSTER.

I am going to speak of a real monster, which has been roaming about the world for almost six thousand years; the most frightfal of all creatures, and by far the most dangerous. Woe to the man, woman, or child who gets into the clutches of this monster!

Instead of having only one or two heads or tails, he has a thousand; ay, and ten thousand stings, sharp-pointed, forked at the end, and dipped in poison.

What makes this ugly monster still more dangerous is, that he possesses the power of changing his shape, so that he can look lovely to all eyes, until he has fast hold of his victim, and then he directly turns into his own ugly shape again, with all his ugly heads, and tails, and pointed stings.

He has the power, too, of making himself invisible, and is often close upon us when we think ourselves free from danger; and he can imitate all sounds, from the roaring

thunder, to others as sweet as the warbling of the nightingale. He has overcome millions of people; and though armed men with helmets, and breast-plates, and swords, and shields, "able to stand in the evil day," are ever on the watch for him, he continues to roam about from one end of the world to the other.

I have known many who have fought with this monster; and, to tell you the truth, I have had many a hard battle with him myself. Whenever you meet with him,' you will find him to be a terrible enemy. If you give way to him, he will be sure to overcome you. It would be in vain for me to attempt to tell you one half of the mischief this monster has done in the world; for not an hour has passed since Adam and Eve came out of Paradise, in which he has not been at his evil work. More blood has been shed, and more people destroyed by this monster than by all the enemies of mankind put together. Plague, pestilence,

and famine, though they have brought many low, have not subdued a hundredth part so many as this monster.

He knows very well that a time is coming when he shall be destroyed, and loses, therefore, no opportunity of doing mischief while he can. At one time, he nearly destroyed the whole world, for he was the cause of a terrible flood which covered the earth, and drowned all but one single family.

The monster is ever on the watch for evil, and frequents every place, the city and the country village, the palace and the cottage. He attends all places of pleasure; he is found in all families; he even visits every Sunday-school, and often intrudes himself on the Sabbath into the house of God.

Oh, he is a fearful creature! Could you once discern him in his real shape, you would say that he is the most frightful thing that has ever been seen on the earth. He loves to meet with one who is proud and haughty; for "pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." He loves to find one who depends on his own strength, for he knows that "whoso trusteth his own heart is a fool," and he is sure to overcome him. He loves to fall in with one who thinks he is very wise and very good; for if one "is wise in his own conceit, there is more hope of a fool than of him." All who are wise in their own eyes are sure to be subdued by the monster.

But as I have told you a few of the things which he loves, 1 must tell you of a few things that he cannot bear. He cannot bear any who are humble, and is afraid to attack them, for "the Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." He cannot abide any who love the bible, and treasure up its truths in their hearts; for he knows to his cost that "the Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword." He is sadly annoyed when he observes any one at prayer.

The ugly monster of which I have been speaking is SIN!

The youngest child is as liable to be attacked by him as the oldest man; and my intention in writing this account of him is, that you may be on your guard against him, and know how to act when in danger. Take, then, my advice; and though the monster were, if possible, more fearful than he is now, you would be secure. your

I have before told you that the monster can take any shape; that he can imitate all sounds, and become invisible at his pleasure. Sometimes he may try to frighten you into his den by his roaring; at others to draw you to him by an agreeable form and pleasant voice. It is necessary, then, that you should have a rule to go by, that you may know when the monster is about to attack you.

The monster knows that evil deeds spring from evil thoughts, and therefore he gener ally begins his mischief by putting some evil thought in the mind, or some evil desire in the heart.

Now, whenever you have a thought or desire which your conscience tells you is wrong, or which is contrary to the Word of God, you may be quite certain that it comes from the monster. The thought or the desire may be very pleasing to you, and not appear likely to do you much mischief; but, depend upon it, you will have to pay dear for it, if you do not cast it from you.

The way to do this is to go to the Strong for strength, and to the Wise for wisdom. In other words, it is going to the Lord Jesus Christ, who by his death subdued this monster, and took away "the sting of death, which is sin."

It was this cruel monster that first brought Death into the world, and gave him that dart with which he has laid so many low; but "the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly." Trust, then, in Christ as your Saviour from sin and woe; for neither Death, nor his dart, nor the monster Sin himself, "nor any other creature, is able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

THE SUNSHINE AND THE

SHADOW.

I saw a little child, so gentle and so bright, he was like a star upon the earth, and wheresoever he went light followed him. And the light rested upon all things that he touched and it was a wondrous light. I saw him beside a pebbly brook, and the waters gleamed in a new beauty; he dipped in his little dimpled hand, and the drops that he splashed from his rosy fingers glittered with such a sparkle, that he laughed with a glad laugh. "Oh! the beautiful waters; he was very merry with them. And the light fell upon the stones under the water, and they shone like

diamonds and rubies; and the little child gathered many of them, and felt very rich; and he seated himself upon the green earth, and played a long time with his beautiful pebbles. Presently a butterfly came along, and the light from the child fell on the gay butterfly. And, oh, such beauty! The child thought he never had seen anything half so beautiful; he watched it with a wondrous love; he would not move; but his large, loving eyes rested on it, full of hope and desire, for he saw it fly from flower to flower, sipping the honey-dew, And a large buttercup bloomed very near to him, and his light shone full upon it; and be hoped that the bright butterfly would come and drink out of that yellow cup, and then he would better see those beautiful wings. And the butterfly felt the light that was around the little boy, and so it feared not, but came and rested in the pleasant flower so long, that the boy's desire was satisfied.

And now he heard a hird sing, and such a song! It seemed as if the light from the little boy fell upon the bird's song, for it was the merriest and sweetest that a child ever heard. And now the child's mother came; and he sprang to her with such a loving joy,-clasped his arms around her,rested his little sleepy face on her bosom,and the angel thoughts passed over his face in dream-smiles. And the light of the child rested on the good mother, and she,

too, was beautiful, because she had a good child.

But I saw another one, and Mooked in vain for the light. There was none; but wheresoever he went a dark shadow followed him. All tried to please him,-to make him happy, but the shadow fell upon the costly toys they gave him, and they became broken, useless fragments; and on the cakes and candies, and changed them to hurtful poisons, which, when he had eaten them, made the shadow much more black. And then he, too, was taken out into the beautiful country, but the pebbly brook, with its pretty waters, became a mere muddy stream, with earthy stones, under that dark shadow. The happy butterfly was chased from every flower upon which it lighted, till at last its weary wings gave out, and it was snatched by a rude hand, and became a loathsome mass. Oh, it was hideous in that black shadow! The birds flew trembling away, they could not sing, or if they did, the shadow would not let the boy hear the sweet sounds. Even the flowers did not look at all beautiful; so he whipped off their delicate heads with a switch.

And now the mother came for this tired boy, too, but he struggled and cried, and the shadow fell upon the mother, and made her so unbeautiful that I could look no longer. Little children,-the sunshine was LOYE, and the shadow was HATRED.

PERSONAL INFLUENCE. Professors of religion often say that they would be glad to work in the vineyard of the Lord, if they thought they had any influence. I am so humble, says one; so timid, says another; so afraid of not doing just the right thing, says a third; and so christians excuse themselves, and their unconverted friends press their way down to death and the grave, unwarned, and uncared for. Lately, the pastor of a church appointed an enquirymeeting for the following evening, and requested every christian, every man and woman present, to bring their unconverted friends. Said the pastor, "Take this truth which I have presented to you, and go, each and all of you, and preach it over again, and urge your impenitent friends to come to that enquiry-meeting." A female present, a member of another church, said to herself," Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" She resolved to do what she could, and through her instrumentality, eleven persons were induced to be present. Reader,

when your pastor again asks your help, will you not give it? When God calls, will you not obey? Do you think you have no influence? Are you afraid to work for Him who has promised to be with you always?

HUMILITY. The true secret of living at peace with all the world is, to have an humble opinion of ourselves. True goodness is invariably accompanied by gentleness and humble-mindedness. Humility is the first lesson which our Divine Legisla tor has given to man. It is with that he opens the code of salvation. "Blessed are the poor in spirit,"-such is the base proposed by Jesus Christ to the palace of the sublime philosophy he was about to introduce upon earth; he gives humility for its foundation, well-knowing that when once that virtue is thoroughly seated in the heart, all the others will come and range themselves around her.-Chrysostom.

NOT AFRAID TO BE POOR.-After Dr. Gill had written against a gentleman whose publications he considered erroneous, he