secution through which he has passed, and is still called to endure. If there be any insurmountable legal difficulty, however, in the way of his availing himself of the Insolvent Debtors' Act, then the sooner the necessary funds are raised so much the better. There is no time to lose. Our Christian Brother must not be suffered to lie in prison. HERBERT'S GREAT PICTURE OF THE WESTMINSTER ASSEMBLY OF DIVINES. THIS magnificent work of art, the memorial of a great event in our national history, is now in the hands of the public. It will more than realise the expectations of the most sanguine. The immediate design of the painting, from which the rich line engraving before us has been taken, is to represent The Independents asserting Liberty of Conscience, in the Westminster Assembly of Divines. The men who took upon them to do this were such a noble band that they are deserving of everlasting renown. They advocated principles which the light and experience of more than two hundred years have only tended to confirm. Such champions as Jeremiah Burroughs, Philip Nye, Dr. Goodwin, William Greenhill, Sir Henry Vane, Vane the younger, Oliver Cromwell, and John Milton, can never be forgotten while religious liberty and Nonconformity have any sincere advocates in our country. Never was finer theme selected for the pencil of an artist of genius; and never was any conception of a master-mind spread out on the living canvas with greater effect than the painting of Herbert. He has shown himself equal to his subject. He has embodied the great lessons of history, so as to make them impressive, in all time coming, on the youth of our country, especially our Nonconforming youth. The moment seized on by the artist, for what we may term the soul of his picture, is that at which Philip Nye uttered the golden sentence: "That by God's command, the magistrate is discharged to put the least discourtesy on any man, Turk, Jew, Socinian, or whatever, for his religion." They were for union in things necessary, for liberty in things unnecessary, and for charity in all. We cannot but express a fervent hope, that every Dissenter who can afford to purchase this telling memorial of our ecclesiastical ancestors will make a point of duty and conscience of doing so. It will be a silent but effectual instructor wherever it finds a place. THE REV. W. LEASK'S FORTHCOMING WORK ON THE SYSTEM OF REDEMPTION. WE have read the syllabus of this work, just issued, with much satisfaction, and angur great things from the author's mode of handling his subject. There is much sound philosophy in his plan; while it presents a correct outline of the system of Redemption as it appears in the Book of God. Under the heads-IntroductoryAntiquity Sovereignty-CompletenessAdaptation-Freeness - Efficacy-and Design, the whole subject is laid out in a very masterly way. As the author intends publishing by subscription, we cannot but express a hope that he will meet with the encouragement he deserves. We shall have and readers. The work will occupy one pleasure in receiving names from our friends thick octavo volume, and will cost subscribers only ten shillings. SITTING DURING PUBLIC PRAYER. To the Editor of the Evangelical Magazine. SIR,- Will you kindly give me permission to draw the attention of the readers of your excellent Magazine to one irreverent habit so common in many of our churches, of sitting when prayer is being offered to the Divine Being? It has often given me pain to observe this, and I have lately been particularly struck to witness at least four-fifths of a large congregation seated during prayer. This practice may probably arise from the want of proper accommodation for kneeling, and no doubt the absence of such accommodation is frequently felt and lamented. Still, Sir, I think people might stand for a few minutes when addressing the throne of the heavenly grace. It would surely be more devout than sitting. We never presume to sit either at private or family prayer. How, therefore, the pracreconciled with conscience I am at a loss tice of sitting at public devotion can be to divine. It would be deemed highly disloyal and indecorous, on presenting a petition to an earthly sovereign to sit down while performing the important ceremony; but how incomparably more disloyal and irreverent must it be to do so in the sacred presence of the King of kings in the sanctuary? Many congregations stand to sing; but the moment the time arrives for prayer-a more solemn exercise-they are at once in their seats. I think, Sir, this ought not to be: it is incompatible with true devotion. I have ventured to intrude these few remarks upon your notice, in the hope that some one more able than myself to deal with the subject may be disposed to take it up. Should you think this brief note worthy of a corner in your admirable periodical, it may lead to the speedy dis continuance of the practice of which I and congregation took tea together in the complain. With Christian regards, honourable labour. The Rev. Jas. Stratten commenced the solemn and interesting services by reading the Scriptures and prayer; the Rev. John Leifchild, D.D., delivered the introductory discourse, on the nature and constitution of a Christian church, in which the principles of Nonconformity were stated with great clearness and force; the Rev. John Morison, D.D., LL.D., asked the usual questions; the Rev. E. Mannering offered the ordination prayer; after which the Rev. John Watson, Resident Tutor of Hackney College, delivered a most judicious and affectionate charge to the newly-ordained minister, founded on 2 Tim. i. 6, Stir up the gift of God which is in thee." After the morning service, about one hundred ministers and friends partook of a cold collation; when appropriate addresses were delivered by the Rev. Drs. Leifchild and Morison; and the Revs. C. Harrison, Richards, and Howell. At five o'clock, upwards of two hundred friends took tea in the school-room; after which they retired to the chapel, when a most appropriate discourse was addressed to the church and congregation by the Rev. S. Martin, of Westminster, (Mr. Howell's pastor,) from Phil. ii. 29, "Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation." At the close of the service Mr. Martin presented Mr. Howell with a beautiful copy of Bagster's Comprehensive Pulpit Bible, as expressive of his own and his people's sincere affection and real sympathy towards him. The Revs. C. Harrison, Seaborne, Galloway, Davies, and Richards engaged in the other parts of the service. The day throughout was one of hallowed pleasure; and it is hoped the pledge and the earnest of great prosperity and happiness both to pastor and people. TESTIMONIAL TO THE REV. T. TIMPSON. ON Thursday, January the 11th, a large company, the deacons, church-members, school-room of Union Chapel, Lewisham. After this entertainment, a public meeting was held in the chapel, at which the Rev. G. Verrall, of Bromley, presided, and, in the name of the deacons and other friends, presented the Rev. Thomas Timpson with a most elegant purse, wrought with extraordinary ingenuity by some young ladies of the congregation, and containing seventy sovereigns. This handsome present was a testimonial of affectionate attachment to Mr. Timpson on having completed the twenty-fifth year of his pastorate as a faithful minister of Christ. Mr. Timpson acknowledged this valuable offering as the expression of confidence and love; and ministry, of his settlement at Lewisham, gave a pleasing history of his call to the and of the progress of the cause of Christ under his pastorate, expressing his gratitude to the God of all grace for the numerous conversions of souls, and for unbroken har mony and peace continued in the church and congregation during this entire period being free from debt was also a subject of of a quarter of a century. The chapel thanksgiving. The Rev. Dr. Carlisle, Rev. J. Pulling, and Rev. Mr. Maysey addressed the meeting, congratulating the minister in a truly fraternal spirit on his receiving such a pleasing testimonial of respect and attachment from his people, thus manifesting the fruit of the Spirit of God. Letters expressing fraternal regard and regret at absence were received from the Rev. H. B. Jeula, Rev. J. Russell, and Rev. S. A. Ray. It is believed that many will remember that meeting as a lovely manifestation of the grace of God among his people. RODBOROUGH TABERNACLE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE. THE recognition services in connection with the settlement of the Rev. Samuel Thodey, late of Cambridge, over the church and congregation assembling at Rodborough, commenced on sabbath, 28th January, 1849; when two sermons were preached at the Tabernacle to the church and congregation, on their mutual privileges and duties, by the Rev. Andrew Morton Brown, A.M., of Cheltenham. large number of ministers and friends from On the evening of Tuesday the 30th, a the adjacent congregations in the county assembled at a public tea-meeting, to welcome the new pastor to his very interesting and important sphere of labour; after which the Rev. Mr. Maud, of Stonehouse, opened the religious services of the occasion by reading the Scriptures and prayer. A deeply affecting address was then given to the minister and people, by the Rev. Joseph Hyatt, of Gloucester, characterized by much pathos and spirituality. The Rev. William Wheeler, of Stroud, in the name of the ministers of the county, expressed the most fervent desires for the prosperity of the church, and congratulated them on their speedy choice of a minister so well known and so highly esteemed. Mr. Thodey then signified his acceptance of the call which had been given to him, and took occasion to state his views upon the leading doctrines of the gospel, his adherence to the great principles of our Protestant Nonconformity, and his desire to co-operate with his brethren of every Christian communion in the furtherance of the gospel at home and abroad. The Rev. Thomas Nicholas, of Stroud, commended the pastor and people to God in solemn prayer. Addresses were then delivered by Nathaniel Marling, Esq., of Stanley House, who declared the cordial unanimity of the church and congregation in their choice of Mr. Thodey; by Wm. Marling, Esq., of Upper Gannicox; by Mr. White, of White's Hill, one of the oldest members of the church; and by Mr. Francis Holmes, of Fir-tree House, a member of the Wesleyan communion. The entire services were then concluded with prayer and benediction by the Rev. Mr. Yeats, Baptist minister, of Stroud. We trust that this union so auspiciously commenced, and which has already been attended by many encouraging signs of progress, may yet more abundantly exhibit the proofs of the Divine presence and sanction. The congregations on both occasions were large and deeply interested in the services. WINDSOR. ON Sunday, February the 18th, 1849, two powerfully impressive sermons were preached in William-street Chapel, Windsor, by the Rev. John Stoughton, of Kensing ton. In the morning the subject was the comprehensiveness, harmony, and love displayed by Divine Providence in elucidation of the text, "All things work together for good to them that love God," &c. The sermon in the evening was delivered from the words, "Abstain from all appearance of evil" when some striking ideas were developed as to the various phases of evil in regard to thought as well as action. The attendance was exceedingly numerous. On the Monday evening following, a tea-meeting was held in the school-rooms beneath the chapel, for the purpose of presenting two elegant time pieces, by Thompson of London, to Messrs. Wooldridge and Harris, as tokens of esteem for their unwearied exertions in maintaining the cause of God amid much trial, for three years and a half, in the Old Chapel in the High-street. Resolutions were proposed by the Rev. Messrs. Hall of Poyle, Tester of Datchet, Messrs. Baker and Atkins of Windsor, and other gentlemen, and carried unanimously. The beautifully appropriate remarks of the Rev. John Stoughton, who presided on the occasion, added to the harmonious feeling which pervaded the assembly, and left an impression not to be easily effaced. A TRUE PICTURE OF IRISH MISERY. THE following most distressing statement has lately been received by the Rev. Charles G. Townley, LL.D., residing at 3, St. John's-terrace, Stockwell Park-road, London: "G****, County Limerick. My Dear Dr. Townley.-You, no doubt, will be much surprised to hear from us, who by this, we are sure, are almost forgotten by you: but the direst distress has compelled us to do so. Words could never express to you the poverty and distress we have endured for the last two years. Our father is not receiving one penny out of any land he has, between the tenants not paying and the country so highly taxed. On Christmaseve, everything we possessed was sold for the rent of our little cottage, and on the following happy morning we had to face a cold empty dwelling, without either food or fire. But we are sure, dear Doctor, our merciful God is chastening us for our profit; for he does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.' We are thankful to tell you, our dear father, though bowed down with sorrow and want, is walking with his God; a murmur never leaves his lips; he is, under all his trials, resigned to the will of his Heavenly Father. Believe me, when I tell you there have been days, during the inclemency of the winter, that we had neither a spark of any kind of fire in any room of our house, or one morsel of any kind of provision, or one farthing of money. We get up in the morning, not knowing where to turn for a meal of the coarsest flour, and when we can procure that we are quite contented. Every little small article, including some of our clothes, is sold and pledged. What grieves us more than all is, our dear father had to pawn his only covering, a warm cloak, for a meal of the coarsest bread. We are a large family, ten in number, to provide for. We are all unmarried, except my eldest sister, who is in America, struggling with a young family. Two of my sisters are governesses, one for £10 a year, and the other £5-they gave us their all; but it appears now as if every source is dried up on us. My youngest brother has been laid on the flat of his back since the month of August last, and would be up long since, but for want of a little nourishment. His chief support lately was a bit of bread and a turnip, which we begged for him. When the Lord raises him up, he and my other brother will endeavour to get into the police as common policemen, as interest is out of the question these hard times. Now, dear Dr. Townley, knowing your Christian and benevolent character, we make this appeal to you; and if you could send us a little relief, you would have our sincere though unworthy prayers. Perhaps it was the Lord who put it in our hearts to write to you. We hear the English are charitable; perhaps you might be able to make a collection in our behalf-the smallest donation would be a help to us in our present circumstances. There are several decrees out against the person of my dear papa. He was robbed of the two past years' rent by his tenants, who fled to America, taking with them our chief support. We can get no person to take up the land; and as to tilling it ourselves, my papa has not been a possessor of one halfpenny for the last year, but trying to exist. As we before mentioned to you, we failed in getting a situation as governess; this country is overstocked with them, and many families who were well off had to part with them, finding it enough to provide for their own families. Now, dear Dr. Townley, we humbly beg your forgiveness for troubling you with all our wants and sorrows; but, remembering the many families you relieved in Limerick, induced us to do so. We never can forget the many happy hours we spent under your ministry at Bedfordrow Chapel, both in the Sunday schools and at your private meetings; but those days are no more. We often are tempted to think hard thoughts of the Lord, and, perhaps, the next minute, we see His hand of love coming in to us with some relief; and, if we had not Him to pour out our hearts unto, we would be truly wretched. Do something for us, or we will perish from hunger, cold, and want. T*** is within three miles of us, and, if you could send us any assistance, you could do so by an order on that post-office. Again, forgive this long, tedious epistle, dear Doctor, and believe us to remain, your very sincere friends, "The Misses J Will any kind friend respond to this appeal?-The smallest donation will be thankfully received, and appropriated to the object. Subscriptions for this very afflicted and large family may be left at Ward's, 24, Paternoster-row, or Rev. T. James, 4, Bloomfield-street; or, if over £1, to Dr. C. G. Townley's Account, at the Bank of England. Dear Christian Friends,-Remember the poor, especially those of the household of faith; bear in mind the verdict of eternity "I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat."-Matt. xxv. CHARLES G. TOWNLEY, LL.D., March 9, 1849. 3. St. John's Terrace, Stockwell Park-road, London. Post-office Orders on Clapham, or Kennington-cross, payable to the Rev. Charles G. Townley, LL.D., would be a saving of time, and esteemed a favour. General Chronicle. IMPORTANT PROPOSAL IN REFERENCE TO POPERY AND TRACTARIANISM. To the Editor of the Evangelical Magazine. SIR,-The articles which have lately appeared in your Magazine relative to the insidious attempts that are being made in so many quarters to unprotestantize the population of our beloved country, cannot, I think, but have awakened in the breast of every thinking man who has read and considered them, a sense of the obligation under which he lies to do what he can in order to counteract so pernicious an influence. I have felt myself strongly impelled to address you with reference to a suggestion, to me at least as it appears, of much im portance for this purpose; but the disinclination which, I doubt not, prevails with many others, to obtrude unnecessary matter on your notice, has kept me back from so doing. The strange disclosures, however, which are daily taking place in confirmation of what has been stated in your pages; the revival of obsolete laws of a bygone age for the violation of religious liberty; and, above all, the odious system of Jesuitical artifice and deceit, which is manifestly being brought to bear upon many of our countrymen; constrain me to waive all further scruple. I have always thought that an appeal might be most safely made to the sound common sense and plain honesty which distinguish the English character, and that if the truth were but fairly and dispassionately laid before Englishmen, there would be no fear as to the result; but if we quietly suffer men's minds to be prepossessed with specious error, and their principles undermined by Jesuitical sophistry, we shall soon have, I think, a far worse danger to deal with than at present, and lose even very much of the advantage of the points of character referred to. Suffer me, then, in a few words, to offer my suggestion; it is intended only and in entire subordination to the grand duty of diffusing the Holy Scriptures, and of educating the rising generation in the principles of the same ;-objects these of paramount importance, and which, I trust, will receive a tenfold greater degree of attention than heretofore. My idea is, that there might be written by suitable persons, subject perhaps to revision by a Committee, a few tracts of the SMALLEST SIZE (say of not more than three or four pages), each on some main, distinctive, and admitted point of Popish or Tractarian doctrine, in which, in plain Saxon English, and with pithy point of language,-free, however, from all taint of party, personality, exaggeration, or angry invective, the Truth concerning these doctrines, especially their inevitable tendencies, might be, as it were, turned out and exposed to the view of every thinking, ordinary-minded man. If such were but prepared, I feel assured there would not be wanting those who, like myself, would gladly join to raise a sufficient fund, in order to the distribution of the same throughout the length and breadth of our land. The following are some of the subjects which may indicate my ideas more fully: The withholding of the right of private judgment on matters of religion. The allowing of a right to visit with temporal pains and penalties supposed errors of faith and conscience. The denial of the free use of the entire Bible. The system of auricular confession; and, last but not least, The odious and abominable doctrine which holds that the end justifies the means. I cannot help thinking that if such a course were AT ONCE adopted, under the guidance and blessing of God's Spirit, a most effectual check would be given to the progress of Satan's kingdom. I am Sir, Your humble servant, PROGRESS OF MISSIONS. THE Sandwich Islands have, within the last twenty-eight years, taken respectable rank among civilized Christian nations, and have now a well-organized civil government, numerous schools and seminaries, in which three hundred young men, training for stations of influence, and twenty churches, which have received towards twenty thousand regular communicants. And it is stated that there are among them now solemnized more than a thousand Christian marriages. With such an example before the eye of Christendom, no people surely need ever again be despaired of, however perverted by superstition, or degraded by ignorance or vice.- Halifax Guardian. SERENITY IN DANGER. IN rounding Cape Horn, a few months ago, a vessel, whose passengers and crew into circumstances of extreme peril. An amounted to fifty persons, were brought irresistible gale, which had been blowing for some days, was driving them towards the shore, and at eight o'clock in the evening the captain's computations assuring him that about three in the morning the ship would strike, and all aboard descend into the watery grave, he thought it right_to inform the passengers of their danger. His own heart was heavy too: he had beloved friends in England, of whom he thought with emotion, while all on board was silence, and the wind continued to blow with unabated fury. "Never shall I forget the scene," he writes, "when at night Mrs. A one of the cabin-passengers, kissed her children before they were put to bed, then turning to me, with tears in her eyes, said, 'Captain, shall I ever kiss those dear children again? He had no words of encouragement to offer; the prospect of speedy death to all on board seemed certain, but the language of the psalmist occurred valley of the shadow of death, I will fear to his mind," Though I walk through the no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Entering his cabin, he sat down and wrote as follows: "Shall I fear when I am dying? Shall I shrink from death's cold tide? Hark! an angel voice replying, Jesus Christ is at thy side; Evil from thy path shall flee; He is here to comfort thee. "In my heart his love I'll cherish, |