Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

greatly shocked. Here was a youth whom I had recently left, in the vigour and beauty of rising manhood, adorned with various excellence, and anxiously desirous of going forth to "preach among the heathen the unsearchable riches of Christ," suddenly and awfully snatched away in the grasp of the great Destroyer,-the "labourer thrust forth," not "into the harvest," but into the gloomy sepulchre. And yet he is not there: he has passed, we trust, into the presence of God and the Lamb. The same stream which gave us a lifeless body yielded an immortal spirit to other and happier shores: so, while the seed decays in the earth, its living representative, above the dark soil, breathes forth sweet odours, and flourishes in bloom.

I improved the death of Percy, on Lord's day, the 26th of June, in a discourse, chiefly addressed to the young, from the words of Job, so lamentably applicable to himself:-"He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down."

Sundry of his letters are now lying before me, and from some of which I had purposed to make a few extracts; but the length to which this sketch has reached, and my wish to add a few words of admonition and counsel to my youthful readers, prevent me from doing so. Suffice it to say, that his letters are imbued with the spirit of devotion and devotedness. They contain remarks on the frailty and precariousness of human life, which, viewed in connexion with his sudden end, become strikingly coincident.

Our dear young friends, more especially, I would remind of

1. The uncertainty of earthly hopes. Seldom have the prospects of a youth been brighter than were those of the subject of this memoir. In high health, liberally educated, accomplished and prepossessing, endued with a fair amount of native talent, and well-connected, it appeared that he had the means of attaining, and would long occupy, some post of eminence and usefulness; but "the flower is cut down." And how forcibly does the stroke urge the question, "For what is your life?" nothing

[ocr errors]

substantial; but only a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." And who shall dare to hang his hopes on that?

2. The importance of preparedness for a dying hour.

There is good reason to believe that Percy possessed it. Ah, if he had entered that fatal stream unpardoned, unsanctified! But if you should die in that state, what then? Let Scripture and conscience tell the issue. Alas, do not dream of delay; for with how broad a mark of folly do such solemn events as this brand it. Heed the almost prophetic monition of our departed friend. A day or two before his death, some one remarked to him "that it was a happy thing to have time to prepare for another world at the approach of death." "We should be prepared to go at a minute's notice," was his prompt and emphatic reply.

3. The claims of missions to the heathen.

Our deceased friend fully purposed to offer himself for missionary work. He "did well that it was in his heart" thus to surrender himself. At a time when India, with her one hundred and fifty millions, invites our aid; when China, with her three hundred millions, is becoming growingly accessible; and when the Committee of the Baptist Missionary Society are anxiously looking out for some right-hearted men to send to the former region, are there no gifted youths, whose souls glow with love to the Saviour and compassion for perishing myriads, beneath whose eyes these lines may fall, who are inclined to take up the design which death compelled Percy to lay down; to be "baptized for the dead;" and to exclaim, "Thine are we, send us"? Let pious youths, of the class just pointed out, know that the day is rapidly hastening on when to have been faithful missionaries in a fallen world will be of infinitely higher account to them, and to all besides, than to have swayed the sceptre of a mighty empire, or to have made the most brilliant discoveries in the sublimest sciences.

Miscellaneous.

DIVINE GRACE TRUE COMFORT.-Whatever affords us pleasure, has power to give

us pain. Possessions are precarious. Friends die. When his gourds wither, what becomes

of the wretch who has no other shade? "But to the upright there ariseth light in darkness:" though divine grace does not ensure their exemption from calamity, it turns the curse into a blessing,-it enters

the house of mourning, and soothes the troubled mind,-it prepares us for all, sustains us in all, sanctifies us by all, and delivers us from all.-Jay.

THE MONTH.

Entelligence.

The Braintree Church Rate Case is settled at last. It is now law that "a majority is a majority." Impudent vicars and churchwardens, with two or three incurable bigots at their elbows, are no longer to call themselves the majority, as we have seen them do against thousands of ratepayers. Common sense and law are again reconciled in this case, and we begin to feel that England is England again, a thing we could hardly do while the silly suggestion of the High Church and Tory Judge Tyndal was converted into a law, and a contemptible parson-made minority was able to overrule a whole parish assembled deliberately in vestry meeting. This suggestion was, that though the churchwardens alone could not make a rate, possibly they could lay one with the minority of the parishioners. Braintree bigotry jumped at the chance; and the vicar of Bradford and other vicars of the Laud and Shylock temper did the same, frequently, as in the Bradford case, incurring themselves many times over the cost of the rate in defending it. The Braintree case alone was tried, however, before the higher courts. It went first to the Consistory Court, where Dr. Lushington pronounced it invalid; then to the Court of Arches, where Sir Herbert Jenner Fust pronounced it valid; next to the Court of Queen's Bench, where a writ of protection was refused; next to the Exchequer Chamber, where four judges were against and five for its legality; then to the House of Lords, who took the opinions of the Common Law Judges, which were six to five in favour of its legality; who, however, investigated and acted independently; and after a very able judgment had been delivered by Lord Truro against the validity of the rate, the other law lords concurring, the judgment of the Court of Exchequer was reversed. We congratu

late our readers on the result. When the judgment of that old friend of liberty, Lord Denman, could be blinded on a question like this, we may well be thankful that the spirit of the age has opened the eyes of the law lords in the House of Peers. We have no doubt that the rampancy of ecclesiastics of late years, and the return of thirty or forty Nonconformists to the House of Commons, have done much to clarify the mental vision of their lordships. Without imputing conscious want of integrity to the judges whose decisions are now reversed, we may be allowed to suppose that in arguing for a constructive majority against a real majority, they were

biased by a desire to uphold the Church. It is but a few of their fellow-subjects over whom Dissenters now triumph. Chiefly a small bigoted clique in each parish, headed by the stolid "successor of the apostles." The vast majority of Churchmen will rejoice in this judgment as much as Dissenters themselves. Englishmen, if they cannot beat one another in a stand-up fight, do not generally like to conquer by a low trick. Well, Church Rates cannot last long. Lord John Russell is their only prop. His pert audacity alone prevented the carrying of Mr. Phillimore's measure, supported as it was by Lord Stanley. Dissenters will be grievously wanting to themselves if they do not now fight the battle in every parish,-they have nothing to do but vote against any rate proposed,-there is now no law capable of enforcement to compel them to do otherwise,—and where they are in a majority, the mean bigots, who delight in trampling on them, are literally powerless. We hope they will also now unanimously demand the abolition of Church Rates. Meantime Church Rate battles will be the most effective memorials and petitions.

We may also congratulate the country on the Charitable Trusts Bill which has just passed. A most effective Court is now constituted to rectify the abuses of Charitable Trusts by an inexpensive process. Of these Trusts there are 29,000 in England and Wales, with an income of £1,209,395, and possessing 442,000 acres of freehold land. Not less than 13,000 of these are under five pounds, and hence, however perverted, could not repay the cost of legal investigation. They can now be dealt with summarily and easily, the smaller ones by County Courts, and the larger by Chancery. Every one ought to aid in throwing light upon the abuses connected with the administration of these trusts. In many instances they are simply an agency for clerical bribery.

The Wesleyan Conference, which met at Bradford during the past month, has pursued, hardly abated, its arrogant and Romeward course. It has not relinquished one jot of its exclusive priestcraft. It still retains more power over its subjects than the Vatican over Catholics. It still elects its own members, makes all the laws, and administers them too. There is not even in the persons of the European despots such a concentration of all power in the same individuals, as in the Wesleyan Conference. They, like all oligarchical tyrannies, are far worse than absolute monarchs;

for oligarchs, civil or ecclesiastical, keep one another in countenance; and hence the Wesleyan Conference ventures on antichristian proceedings which the Pope (allowing for the diff rence of latitude) dares not attempt. There is not an ecclesiastical body in existence (we say nothing of the men individually) a greater disgrace to christianity, a greater foe to freedom, and a greater injury to religion in England, than the Wesleyan Conference. Not Rome itself has so completely stifled all free discussion. Two notable instances occurred at these meetings. In one, the secession of Mr. Collier, at Leeds, was commented on as "reading a lesson to the younger brethrenhow necessary it was not to cultivate too intimate an acquaintance with ministers of other persuasions! and of the danger of entering into conversation in families animadverting on Wesleyan discipline, and suggesting unnecessary alterations, as, Would not this and the other improve it ?" Conference Methodism, like Popery, cannot live but by exclusion of light. In the other case, the Rev. G. Steward, at Glasgow, resigned. In his letter he stated, that he did not think church rights were fully met; that the foundation was not broad enough, deep enough, strong enough to support; and added, there was no artifice, no policy in his course, but a loyal regard to his honest convictions. Mr. Steward is no ordinary man among them. A telegraphic message was sent Would Mr. Steward allow his name to be retained on the minutes while he reconsidered his determination ?" He answered, "Yes, if I may be allowed to publish my opinions on the points of dif ference between the Conference and the Wesleyan Reformers." But this could not be tolerated. We are at a loss for language to characterise such cowardice and tyranny combined. Methodism is now broadly published to be the land of darkness, into which no light of christian liberty shall ever gleam. The very Donjon-keep of ignorant bigotry. Such facts, coupled with the loss of ten thousand more members, in addition to the vast loss of last year, shew that, in a free country like England, Conference Methodism must gradually come to an end. Converts it cannot make Education and freedom will overthrow it as they will the Establishment, on whose skirts it has long fawned so meanly. It will be remembered amongst other acts, that Mr. Walton has been almost compelled to renounce association with John Angell James and Isaac Taylor in deciding on the merits of a prize essay on the pastoral office: it is contact with christians of other denominations!

We are happy to mention that the Bishops have been baulked unceremoniously by the House of Commons in attempting to pass two bills concocted by their Order.

Russia has completely beaten France and England. They have not only left her mistress of the Turkish Danubian provinces for an indefinite time, not only exacted no compensation for the invasion and the cost to which the barbarians of the

North put the unfortunate Turks, but they have virtually compelled the Sultan to send a submissive note to Nicholas, not saying a word about his unprincipled demands and military occupation of the provinces. We feel abased as Englishmen that we should have kept Turkey quiet, and now suffer her to be spoiled and degraded. Lord Palmerston would not have done this. Had his counsels prevailed, Hungary, Turkey, and Italy would now have been free, and the brutalized serfs of Russia would have kept north of the Pruth. However, the matter is by no means settled. The prevailing opinion is that the dispute is only deferred. How soon it may be raised again, it is impossible to determine.

HORTON COLLEGE, BRADFORD.

The Session commenced on August 3rd, with the customary services. At the general meeting of Subscribers, the Rev. Dr. Acworth in the chair, the Annual Report was presented aud adopted, and the Committee appointed for the ensuing year. Five students had left the College last session, and five others had now been received, the whole number on the list remaining twentyseven. The Institution was still free from debt. Additional help was needed in the teaching department; and an urgent appeal was also made for assistance to the Library, which is still very destitute of the best modern theological, critical, and general literature. It was announced that Dr. Acworth had generously presented more than a hundred volumes of valuable works, including the splendid edition of the translated writings of Calvin, recently published. The best thanks of the Society were unanimously voted to the Doctor, as well as to other Benefactors of the Library during the year. After the passing of the routine resolutions, which were submitted by several ministers and gentlemen from different parts of the country, the Rev. H. Dowson, Secretary of the Institution, gave formal notice, in the name of the Committee, as required by the Trust-deed, that at the next Annual Meeting a proposition would be submitted to the Society for the sale of the premises now occupied, and the removal of the College to a more suitable locality. Every one who has visited Horton College will feel that such a step is imperatively demanded; and we are happy to believe that an effort will at once be made to render the Institution every way worthy of our Denomination, and suited to the character and wants of the age. A large and influential Sub-Committee has already been appointed to prepare all needful plans and suggestions. In the evening the Rev. Joseph Davis preached to the students and a deeply interested congregation from the words: "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified." Much satisfaction and gratitude were expressed throughout the day at the improving health of the laborious and honoured President of the College, who has been suffering from protracted and severe indisposition.

THE CHURCH.

"Built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone."-Eph.ii.20.

OCTOBER, 1853.

FAITH WORKETH BY LOVE.

BY DR. F. A. G. THOLUCK.*

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love."—Galatians v. 6.

Is faith a power? How could it ever be questioned! Every day, every hour, convinces me that what a man believes, alike with what he does not believe, is the lever, as it is the limit, of his actions. If I believe what the pallid cheek and faltering voice of the messenger announces, that the sentence of death has been pronounced upon me, and the next morning will shine upon my scaffold,-if I believe what the skilful builder assures me, that the beams of my room shall in a few hours give way,—if I believe the smooth-tongued speech which tells me my friend is a knave and my wife unfaithful,-can any one of these be otherwise than a lever, a motive power, such as the blast is to the flapping sail, the spur to the sluggish horse, a hot-spiced drink to the languid pulse? Yea, were faith a mere imagination,-call it nothing but the power of depicting possibilities and beautiful phantoms before the inward vision,-yet, truly, his teeth may chatter whose drunken fancy paints an Etna or a Vesuvius before him. But faith is not fancy, nor a picture of the imagination-it is a part of my own self; for, by some mysterious, inscrutable process, whatever I believe enters into the deepest depths of my very being. And it cannot otherwise be. As a man believes, so he lives. Believe in no other verity than in this perishable, fleeting fabric, woven by the four elements, and your life will be nought but an elemental phantom; believe in a breath of another world enshrouded here below in gross matter, and that breath will be the soul, aspiration the principle, of thy life.

Yes, I can declare before the world that gospel faith is a motive power, arousing in the man who possesses it the might of love. Oh, everlasting Love! adoring I would own that when thy gospel penetrates from day to day the heart of man, verily it is as when well-digested food, assimilating with his flesh and blood, renews from day to day his mortal frame. A new ardour impels the stagnant blood, new impulses arise, the whole man is new. Whether other men have hearts like mine I do not know; but this I know, on probing deep into my own consciousness, I found a heart so wholly pleased with self, so in love with self, that it was with difficulty I could love another, except in so far as he enlarged and intensified my own felicity; and perhaps I could have allowed all other men to pursue their own course, well or ill, provided I were only satisfied with

*From "Stunden Christlicher Andacht."

VOL. VII.

L

my own.

Yet all the while I imagined I was loving other men, though loving only self. But thou, O holy Love, has taught me how to love,thou who lookedst not upon thine own things, but, although so rich, for our poverty became poor, that we through thy poverty might become rich. This is the love which faith inculcates; and from that moment not a day passes over me, but thou, O crucified Love, dost scatter, like the good sower, some little seeds of love into this selfish heart of mine.

Every species of human love, apart from that which springs from the love of Jesus, is essentially defective and unsound. Our reason for calling the latter healthy and complete is this: in the act of loving, this love forgets self. Oh, there is a something far removed from the common in that manner of doing good spoken of by the Lord, in which the left hand knows not what the right hand doeth, and whose only witness is that eye which seeth in secret. There are few perhaps among us so full of self-love as to display their own good deeds, like gold brocades glittering at every window, in order to collect, as small change, the praises of the crowd; but are there many who would not wish to have one witness at least of their good deeds-one's own self? Where shall we find those noble souls who, rising day by day in their sphere, like the sun which ascends every morning in the heavens, and scatters its gold to the right hand and to the left, upon the heights and down into the valleys, are yet unconscious of it all the while? noble souls who, as of inward necessity, must be here new-creating, there beautifying, and blessing wherever they appear, like the sun which cannot help diffusing light? There is only One in whom we hehold, in all its purity, the image of such an exalted love. And it is only by faith in him that the same self-oblivious love can be produced in us.

There is, however, a natural love whose labours are pursued in happy forgetfulness of self-we mean the love of the mother for her child. Hers is a love which can forget self in the object on which it centres. But it is not, therefore, pure. For just because it is natural, it often happens that she becomes not merely all-forgetful of self, but likewise of her Maker; and thus, instead of making God the object of her love, too often she makes the object of her love her god. Luther, on the contrary, remarks, that "in the things of God a father ought to forget even that his child is his own flesh and blood." The love, however, that springs from faith is a wise love; it does not and will not love the creature more than the Creator. It loves in man not merely that which blooms to-day, and to-morrow is torn away by the storms of time; it loves that which eternity cannot destroy the inward jewel, the royal signature, the image of divinity by God himself imprinted on the human soul.

The love which comes from faith leads back again to faith; it knows no higher good for self,-it knows no higher gift to present to others. There are many tender hearts who gladly would extend a helping hand to their fellow-men, and who look around on every hand to see what good they can perform. There are souls that cannot behold in the stranger's eye the tears of sorrow without the tears of sympathy glistening in their own; who, just as we by an instinctive impulse stretch forth our hands for support when about to fall under our load, are just so prompt to stretch forth a hand to help when they see others breaking down under their burdens. Ye tender-hearted souls, oh, that ye knew what is the heaviest burden for humanity to bear, and apart from which all other burdens were light as feathers! Oh, that ye knew the destitution of the soul that is poor in faith! All the cares and pains of these benevolent hearts to raise their sinking fellow-men, is much the same in result as if we were to spare no toil in reefing the sails and stopping the leaks of

« ElőzőTovább »