the Greek Church of the Russians and the Mahommedanism of the Turks. The Sultan is, however, far more tolerant than the Emperor. It is safer to be an evangelical christian in Turkey than in Russia. Some months back we adverted to the The obmysterious rebellion in China. scurity hanging over it is by no means entirely dispelled, still much has been pretty well ascertained. The rebellion took its rise in the south-western provinces of this immense empire, reputed to contain three hundred millions of inhabitants, or double the population of all India. It may be said to have been in progress for three years; but by the end of 1852 it had subjugated all the southern half of the empire, as far as a vast river, the Yang-tse, which divides China into two nearly equal parts. Nankin, situated upon it, and one of the most important cities in China, has fallen into the hands of the revolutionists, and they are now, by recent accounts, fairly on their way to Pekin, the capital, and the seat of Government, but nearly in the northern extremity of the empire. Everywhere they have easily overpowered their Tartar oppressors, whose yoke, after enduring it for three hundred years, the Chinese seem to be on the verge of casting off. Five generals command the insurgents, acting in perfect harmony, and avowing their intention, when successful, to divide the empire amongst them. The rebels describe their cause as that of the Chinese against their stupid and injurious oppressors the Tartars, and that of It is this true religion against idolatry. last phase of the question which has excited so much interest. The first vague rumours of their christianity have resulted in the discovery that they have certainly some knowledge of God, of Christ, and of biblical personages, and lay great stress upon the ten commandments. Their forms of expression are evidently not popish; yet there is so much superstition, and apparently blasphemy, in some of their avowed documents, as to shew that they have not the clear light of Scripture. It appears, however, now most probable that the religious zeal is unfeigned. A tract by LeangAfa, a convert of Dr. Morrison's, fell into the hands of one of the leaders, a tract of a very elementary kind, however; and it appears that this man subsequently resided some time with Mr. Roberts, an American missionary at Canton, and that after having long lost sight of him, Mr. Roberts has recently received from him a letter, bearing all reasonable evidence of authenticity, and inviting Mr. Roberts to come to Nankin (since its capture) and give the people the instruc tion of which they stand greatly in need. Mr. Roberts purposes to comply with this request. Probably, in a few months at longest, we shall, therefore, have more definite accounts. It is impossible to refrain in thought from speculating on the probable opening of this vast empire to the preaching of christianity. A merciful Providence appears to be hastening that event, one for which every christian can but earnestly pray. One duty our Government owes to China-to abolish the wicked opium trade carried on by the Indian Government. The insurgents are utterly opposed to it. The worthless India Bill of Sir Charles Wood, of course, left this iniquity in full bloom. RISH WORTH, NEAR HALIFAX. On Wednesday, August 24th, Mr. Eli Dyson was publicly ordained pastor over the Baptist church, Rish worth. The Rev. E. Franklin, of Golcar, read the Scriptures and prayed; the Rev. T. Vasey, of Wainsgate, gave out the hymns; the Rev. P. Scott, of Brearley, delivered the discourse on the Nature and Constitution of a Christian church; the Rev. H. W. Holmes, of Pole Moor, asked the usual questions, and offered up the ordination prayer; and the Rev. Amos Dyson, of Rotherham, gave a faithful and impressive charge to his brother, founded on 1 Tim. iv. 16. In the evening, the Rev. J. Barker, of Lockwood, Mr. Dyson's former pastor, preached to the church and congregation from Ephesians iv. 32. The services were well attended. HONITON, DEVON. On the 14th of June the new Baptist chapel in this town was opened for divine worship by the Rev. William Brock, of Bloomsbury chapel, London, who preached two very eloquent sermons to crowded congregations. The greater interest was excited on the occasion, from the fact that Honiton is the birth-place of Mr. Brock. After each service collections were made towards defraying the expenses incurred in the erection of this chapel, amounting to £36. The building is in the early English style, built of stone throughout, all the dressings being of Bath stone. The expense of the erection may be stated at about £900, to meet which, about £450 have been raised. It is intended shortly to hold a bazaar in aid of the funds. EAGLE-STREET CHAPEL, LONDON. The Rev. Francis Wills, of Cavendish Chapel, Ramsgate, having accepted a cordial and unanimous invitation from the church in Eagle Street, London, to become their pastor, intends (D: V.) to commence his stated labours there the first Lord's-day in October. The Chapel is being repaired, painted, and cleaned. NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE. The Rev Isaac Davies, of Cupar, Fife, having accepted the unanimous invitation to the pastoral office of the church at Newcourt, Newcastle-on-Tyne, commenced his labours there on the 21st of last month. WEEKLY TRACT SOCIETY. We are requested to state that Mr. Rowland Elliot, who, for upwards of nine years past, has held an appointment in the corresponding department of the National Provincial Bank of England, has recently accepted the office of corresponding secretary to the above Institution. Mr. Elliot has sustained the office of honorary editor of the Society's publications for more than five years past. THE CHURCH. "Built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone."-Eph.ii.20. NOVEMBER, 1853. HOLDING OUR PEACE. BY THE REV. W. WALTERS. "And Aaron held his peace."-Lev. x. 3. The conduct of Aaron furnishes a field of profitable meditation. I. To "HOLD OUR PEACE" UNDER MANY OF THE DISPENSATIONS OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. Men are naturally prone to murmur at God's arrangements. When the course of our life is comparatively smooth we are apt to think that if the ordering of our affairs had been entrusted to ourselves, we should be freer from perplexity and care. But if our course be ruffled by some storm of disappointment, if any unusual sorrows fall upon us, the disquietude which heretofore was confined beneath the surface, like the subterranean rumblings of a volcano, is too often cast forth in strong expressions of complaint against the will and ways of Jehovah. Though we know that all is for the best, we feel it hard to be silent under the stroke. Some dispensations are exceedingly painful. Through some unforeseen event you are deprived of your worldly possessions. By one blast they are swept away: or by a succession of misfortunes, one following hard upon the heels of another, you are at length dependant on the charity of your friends. Affliction enters your family. Your wife is laid aside from the discharge of domestic duties. Your children are weak and subject to all the ailments of childhood. Infirmities in complicated forms distress yourself. Death breaks your circle. The desire of your eyes is removed by a stroke. Your little ones, in whom you had hoped to live over again your youth, fall like grass before the scythe of the mower. Your friends fail you. The quarters whence kind words came once, now send forth reproaches. The face that beamed with smiles has grown dark as a thunder-cloud. Altogether your burden seems heavier than you can bear. Nature unsustained could not endure it. Grace alone can strengthen you to "hold your peace." Some dispensations are so unexpected that you can with difficulty be silent. They come upon you ere you are aware, and when you least anticipate them. Had you foreseen them in the distance, you might, by the exercise of calm judgment and patient waiting upon God, have been prepared for their approach. With the strength of a rock you might have breasted every wave, and bid defiance to every storm. But in a moment when you reckoned not on it your calamity overtook you. As in the dead hour of midnight the whole land of Egypt was aroused by the death of the firstborn, so you were suddenly awoke from your security. Like Job you had VOL. VII. M said, "I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand;" but like him your calculations only proved your ignorance of the future, and of God's ways towards man. This unexpected distress often startles us into complaint. There is scarcely time for recollection of the promises. Unbelief is beforehand with faith. Words of murmuring escape our lips before we are aware. We have, in reflection, to chide ourselves for what we have said in haste. With Asaph we confess, "This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High." Some dispensations are so prolonged, that although at first we may be able to bear them patiently, at length we grow weary and complain. Many circumstances may conspire to render the burden bearable at first; but as the newness of the matter passes away,-as natural fortitude fails,-as friends whose sympathies were moved fall off,-as changing seasons bring no relief, fretfulness ensues. Perpetual dropping of water will wear away the hardest stone; so perpetual sorrow will wear out the most resolute will. See a man always battling against misfortunes, ever striving to keep poverty out of his house; see him always afflicted in his family, or ever and anon withdrawn from his engagements by his own infirmities; see his friends gone like brooks dried up in summer, his purposes thwarted, his whole course intricate as a labyrinth, uneven as the heaving ocean: and can you wonder he should find it hard to bear his lot in patient silence? Mightier is he than the man who puts to flight an army on the battle field, or captures a city, if, having subdued his own spirit, he is able to "hold his peace." Once more, many of the Divine dispensations are capable of so false a construction, that it is no easy matter to endure them in the spirit of Aaron. The dispensations themselves are visible to all. Not so clear, however, are their reasons and design. What God does, all may know. Why he does it, is often concealed. In every age men have been disposed to form incorrect opinions concerning God's providence. Afflictions have been regarded as marks of his displeasure; prosperity has been looked at in the light of approval and reward. In this matter Job's acquaintances erred. From these false constructions put by the ignorance and presumption of men on the Divine ways, godly persons have frequently to suffer under disadvantages. They endure not only the chastisements of God, but also the slanders of men. It is true they know that presently he will make all plain,-that he will cause their righteousness to appear, and wipe their reproach away,—that he will shine forth from behind the clouds which for a season have hid his glory. Still, even with a knowledge so large and comforting as this, we know how difficult it is to be speechless. We are so prone to look to the present,—so faithless in reference to the future,-so careful about what the world thinks,-so slow to trust our reputation in God's hands, that it becomes one of the hardest lessons we have to learn-just to "hold our peace." II. To "HOLD OUR PEACE" UNDER ALL THE DISPENSATIONS OF PROVIDENCE IS HIGHLY PROPER. There are many exercises extremely difficult, and yet right. All gracious exercises are of this kind. Many reasons might be assigned for the propriety of the course before us. We can only indicate a few. The most painful trials are not equal to our deserts. Daybreak as sumes a brighter aspect if we contrast it with midnight, than when we contrast it with noon. So our sorrows ought to be viewed; not in the light of the greater blessings others enjoy, but in the light of the punishment we have merited. And who is there that does not at once feel how merciful is his lot? Who that has been taught the evil of sin, the purity of the Divine character, the just wages of iniquity, does not rejoice, that, though a child of sorrow, he is not cast into hell? Do we not know that if God had marked the most holy day of our lives, and dealt with us according to its transgressions, he would at once have smitten us down in his wrath? If, then, he has been so merciful as to spare us,-if he has been so gracious as to save us,-if we are alive and enjoying the adoption of sons, in spite of our oft-repeated and aggravated crimes, shall we complain because a few trials fall to our lot? No, brethren, no. When your way is hedged in, bless God you are not imprisoned in despair. When darkness gathers over your path, bless God that it is not outer darkness. When men reproach you, bless God that you are not reproached by an accusing conscience. When God hides his face for a season, bless him that it is not hid for ever. Daily establish the contrast between what you endure and what you have deserved, and you will soon learn to 'hold your peace." 66 Remember that the Supreme Disposer of all events is infinite in wisdom and righteousness. His ways may be mysterious,-they cannot be foolish or wrong. Clouds and darkness may be round about him, but justice and judgment are the habitation of his throne. We may not discern the immediate causes of what happens; but we know the principles on which it occurs. Prior to the discovery of the planet Neptune, astronomers, in pointing their telescopes to that part of the heavens, had discerned certain irregularities in the stars already visible. They knew the great astronomical laws in which these irregularities originated, but it was not till the new planet was discovered, that they ascertained the immediate cause. Precisely so is it with ourselves and the Divine arrangements. The immediate why and wherefore of our troubles may not yet appear, but the great principles on which God is acting are perfectly known. He is ordering all in wisdom and righteousness. Innumerable mistakes would be made were we left to ourselves. Our life would be "a chapter of accidents" and blunders. As it is, we are in the safest hands. However we may feel disposed to complain of the conduct of men, we feel that in their divine aspect all our trials are ordered well; and so we maintain silence toward God. Seek to apprehend this consideration. Say to yourselves when sorrows gather, and your way grows perplexing, "Blessed be God, for wisdom is his. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right ?" And having said this, with Aaron "hold your peace." Consider that all which befalls you is designed to promote your good. The sick man will not complain much of the nauseousness of the draught if he be certain it will work his cure, or the sharpness of the lancet if it be clear that soundness of flesh will be the result. And shall we complain when we know that all things work together for good? All God's dealings but illustrate his love. "Every cloud that spreads above The All the perfections of the Divine Nature, all the covenant engagements of redemption, all the assurances of Scripture, are to this effect. experience of all saints echoes back the sentiment. We might summon Job from his tent in Uz, Jacob from the home prepared for him in Goshen, David from his throne in Jerusalem, Paul from his prison-cell in Rome, and tens of thousands besides, who would all unite in tracing their trials to Infinite Love. Have you not often realised the truth and blessedness of this consideration? As the storm raged, you could scarcely understand its design; but when the calm came, and the clouds vanished, and the sun again smiled from a clear sky, you found the air was purified, and vegetation appeared more healthy and luxuriant. It was trying to pass through the furnace; but the separation of so much dross from the precious ore was a great result. You wondered why your streams should be dried up, till you found yourself drinking at the fountain itself. With Jonah you were angry at the removal of your gourd, till you experienced serene repose beneath the shadow of the Divine wing. Embrace, then, with a firmer hold, the precious truth before us. Live on it. Study thy life, with all its shifting scenes, in the light of it. Bring to it loss of property, friends, comforts, health, everything you have and esteem dear, and you will be yet able to "hold your peace." As a last consideration, remember that in all these dispensations God's will is done. The Divine will is the highest rule of action. The very perfection of grace is to be thoroughly acquiescent in it,-to be ready to say, "Father, not my will, but thine be done." It is an easy work to utter these words with the lip; to feel them is the most difficult task in the world. If God is to be glorified by our trials, we should willingly endure them. This it was which pre-eminently weighed with Aaron when he was silent in the presence of the destruction of his sons. Moses said, "This is that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace." Say to yourself, "It is of the highest importance to me as an individual, and to the universe at large, that the will of God be done. That will is wise, right, good. It must illustrate his own glory, which is the end of all things created. It is a privilege to be in any way, even though it be by suffering, an instrument to declare his mind and work out his purposes. He ennobles me above all the dignities of earth, when he uses me to set forth his honour. I will be dumb, and open not my mouth before him.” We have seen the practical power of these considerations. We have seen a man cast down from a high eminence,-compelled to leave his mansion, where he had dwelt in luxury and splendour, for the humble cottage of a friend, and submit without a murmur. We have seen a frail woman made, in a short time, a widow and childless, and bend as the willow before the blast, till it had swept past, and then stand erect again. We have seen the father stand over the dying bed of his son, sinking in early life into a premature grave, and gaze on his wasting form and lustreless eye without a single complaint. On the other hand, we have seen the weakness of man, and heard his loud murmurings when distress has overtaken him out of God. We have seen him driven about like an anchorless ship on a stormy sea. And at last he has resorted to the razor, the river, or the rope, as his best friend. Do you wish, reader, to be able to maintain silence under the ills of life? Acquaint thyself with God. Be often in communion with him. Frequent his throne in all circumstances. Wait on the Lord, and the strength of your patience will be daily renewed. In one prayer may we all unite. O Jesus, thou man of sorrows! thou didst meekly bear all the burden that was laid upon thee. May we receive daily of thy spirit and sustaining grace, so that when storms gather and burst upon us in their bitterest fury, we may be able with Aaron to "hold our peace!" Halifax. HANNAH; OR, THE POWER OF PRAYER. BY THE REV. JAMES SMITH. "For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him."-1 Sam. i. 27. Prayer is of divine appointment. and encourages it in a variety of ways. God needs it not, but he loves it, Faith is thes oul of prayer, and |