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having to get a card signed by a gentleman, I went to his house, and his wife told me he was not at home, but would shortly return, and invited me to take a seat. I did so, and said to her, You don't seem to have good health.' 'No,' said she, 'I have too much sorrow, anxiety, and labour to be well.' I embraced this opportunity of speaking to her affectionately on the necessity of possessing true religion, and inquired if she attended a place of worship. She told me she did not, but her daughter had a sitting in a Methodist chapel, where she had attended four years, but that no person had ever spoken to her, or taken the least notice of her. I felt this to be a great reproach, and determined to see the daughter. In a few days I waited upon her, and the Lord so blessed that interview that she at once united herself with God's people, and in a short time was made happy in the love of Christ. On the evening of a fast day,' as I was going to a prayer meeting, I met a female coming away from the door of the vestry in which it was to be held, and said to her, 'Won't you go in?' I thought,' said she, there had been preaching.' 'No,' said I, 'there is to be a prayer-meeting; and if you will go in, I will see that you have a comfortable seat.' She consented; and whilst in the meeting it was powerfully impressed upon my mind not to allow the stranger to depart without having some more conversation with her; and accordingly when we came out I walked along the street with her, and found that her mind was solemnly impressed. I simplified the way of salvation by faith, and invited her to a class-meeting. She accepted the invitation, took a sitting in the chapel, soon found peace with God, and then felt emboldened to conduct family worship with her children and servant in the presence of an infidel husband and brother, who frequently walked about the room, whilst she was thus employed. I might detail other cases, but perhaps these will suffice as specimens of my humble attempts to serve my generation by the will of God, and as illustrations of that truth which states that God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, that no flesh should glory in his presence.' With the view of obtaining access to certain individuals, and of extending my influence, which I delight to use for God's glory, I employ several tradesmen, not confining my custom to one green-grocer, one butcher, &c., but distributing it amongst many, and by the blessing of the Lord I have prevailed with all of them to close their shops on the Sabbath, and many of them to attend a place of worship.' The most of the parties to whose conversion this letter refers are fully known to the author, and of their piety he entertains not the slightest doubt."

The useful tendency of this admirable little volume has induced us to give very copious extracts, from which our readers may form an opinion of the intrinsic merits of the work. We have read it with pleasure, and we hope also with profit. We wish it to obtain extensive circulation, because we are assured, if extensively read and acted upon, it must be productive of truly beneficial results. Large volumes on the subject on which it treats are not likely to be productive of equal good with short treatises like the one before us. In concluding, we just remark, that we hope and believe that the statement of there being 80,000 prostitutes in the metropolis is erroneous. Mr. Young has taken the calculation as given by others. This number would, we believe, amount to about one in every fifty of the females, who are not either mere children or upwards of from forty to fifty years of age; and we believe that very few of those unhappy creatures survive the age of forty. We do not pretend to know, nor do we suppose that the number of prostitutes in London has ever been accurately ascertained; we do however not believe the number to be as great as is given in the

statement to which we have referred. We also doubt the statement that, "one out of every three of the daughters of persons in the humble walks of life, is found to associate with those outcasts of society, before she has attained the age of twenty years." From what we know of persons in the station in society to which reference is made, we believe that they are not so depraved as this would make them appear. The number of persons of bad character is however alarmingly great; and London yet stands in need of a more than ten-fold Christian agency and effort to reclaim its many hundreds of thousands, who are seeking death in the error of their ways. We conclude by commending the important work which has led to the preceding remarks, to the attention of our readers; assured that the suggestions it contains, are well calculated to hasten the period when the whole world shall become acquainted with the salvation of God.

THE LIFE AND LABOURS OF ADAM CLARKE, L.L.D. Second Edition, 8vo. pp. 416. LONGMAN AND CO.

THE history of men who have filled important stations in society, and who have been eminent for literature, piety, industry and usefulness, must be well calculated to impart lessons from which most valuable instruction may be obtained.

There are few men whose histories are more instructive than that of the late Dr. Adam Clarke. A name deservedly honoured and revered wherever it is known, by all the virtuous, wise, and good.

Dr. Clarke wrote a considerable portion of his own history, which was completed by members of his family and published in three octavo volumes. This work was too expensive to be procured by many who desired to possess a memorial of Dr. Clarke. This circumstance, we suppose, led to the publication of another work less extensive and of less expense, containing a condensed history of the life and labours of this great man. The name of the author is not affixed to the publication; for what reason it is not given we are not informed. It is this latter work that now appears in a second edition. In the preface to this edition it is stated that "A vast deal of fresh matter has been introduced, derived principally from letters and other documents published since the appearance of the first edition." We have read the volume with pleasure—it is a very interesting and instructive biography; recording the eventful history of a man, who, by persevering industry attained to great eminence, as a man of varied and extensive acquirementsas a biblical critic and commentator, and as a laborious, popular, and successful minister of Jesus Christ. To all the other excellencies, which were united in Dr. Clarke, was added that of comprehensive benevolence. Young ministers will do well to read the biography of the early Methodist preachers and of Dr. Adam Clarke, that they may imitate their excellencies, and seek to follow them even as they followed Christ.

By

SKELETONS; OR A COURSE OF THEOLOGICAL LECTures. the Rev. C. G. FINNEY. Royal 18mo. pp. 287. JOHNSON, Liverpool.

THE author of this work is generally known by his celebrated lectures "On Revival of Religion." He is professor of Theology in the Oberlin Collegiate Institute, and delivered the lectures, of which he has now published the outlines, to the students under his tuition.

The first, second, and third lectures are introductory and explanatory of the nature of systematic theology; of the qualifications required for its study-the advantages it confers; and on the laws of evidence:the fourth and fifth lectures are on the existence of God:-the sixth and two following, on the authority of the Bible:-seven lectures are on the attributes of God:-five lectures upon the unity of the Godhead, and upon the doctrine of the Trinity, and upon the nature and personality of Christ, and of the Holy Spirit:-the doctrine of divine providence, of moral government, moral obligation, and the requirements and sanctions of the moral law, constitute the subjects of fourteen lectures-the doctrine of the atonement is the subject of six lectures and the nature of human governments is considered in the two concluding lectures.

The value of these lectures would have been enhanced if they had been accompanied with suitable illustrative references to the works of our best theologians, now in general use, in a similar way to those given by Dr. Doddridge in his theological lectures. The work to which he referred are many of them now very scarce, and some of them superseded by others of a superior kind, subsequently published. However, the thanks of theological students are due to the publisher for this reprint; in which they will find germs of thought which they may cultivate to great advantage. It is both a good and a cheap book.

CANADIAN SCENERY, Illustrated from Drawings by W. H. BARTLETT. The Literary department by N. P. WILLIS, Esq. Part XXIV. Royal Quarto.

G. VIRTUE.

The illustrations are "The Town of St. John from the Signal; Lake Massa Whippy; St. John and Portland, (New Brunswick;) and Davis' Clearing, (Eastern Township)." To these beautiful engravings are added eight pages of descriptive letter-press.

THE SCENERY AND ANTIQUITIES OF IRELAND. Illustrated from Drawings made expressly for the Work, by W. H. BARTLETT. The Literary Department by N. P. WILLIS, Esq. Part XIII. Royal Quarto. G. Virtue.

The Four beautiful engravings contained in this Part represent "The Meeting of the Waters, (Vale of Ovoca); St. Canice, Kilkenny; Old Weir Bridge, Killarney; and Interior of Cashel Abbey." We have also twelve pages of historical and descriptive informatiou. This Work must be valued by all who feel interested in what relates to Ireland. It is got up in a very superior manner.

Fox's BOOK OF MARTYRS. Edited by the Rev. J. CUMMING, M.A. Part VII. Royal 8vo. pp. 99. G. VIRTUE,

A most beautiful and illustrated Edition, of a work of sterling value, which every person ought to possess.

THE LOCAL PREACHERS' JOURNAL; 8vo. pp. 16. No. I. to IV. J. Ward & Co.

This is a useful Monthly publication, from which not only local preachers, but other ministers also may derive valuable assistance.

FINANCES OF THE CONNEXION.

Ar a meeting of the Connexional Committee, held at Leeds, April 20th, 1842, the Committee went into an examination of the state of the Connexional Funds, and found that there was owing to the general Treasurer upwards of £800. The subject of the best means of paying off this debt was very carefully considered, and it was,

Resolved," That a circular letter be directed to the officers and members of the Societies of our Connexion, most earnestly requesting that an immediate general effort be made to augment the amount of our Missionary Fund, and that they be informed, that unless the Missionary contributions are considerably increased it is feared that the next Annual Assembly will be under the painful necessity of withdrawing several of the Preachers from the stations where they are now labouring; an event which would be most deeply to be deplored."

A Circular Letter on the subject of the finances of the Connexion has also been directed to be prepared and forwarded to the respective Circuits.

UNION OF CHRISTIAN MINISTERS.

"What can be done towards a closer union of our Preachers with each other ?

1. Let them be deeply convinced of the absolute necessity of it. 2. Let them pray for an earnest desire of union.

3. Let them speak freely to each other.

4. When they meet, let them never part without prayer.

5. Let them beware how they despise each others gifts.

6. Let them never speak slightingly of each other, in any kind.

7. Let them defend one another's character, in everything, to the utmost of their power, and

8. Let them labour in honour to prefer each other before himself.

JOHN WESLEY."

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. Psalm cxxxiii.

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204

BOARDING SCHOOLS.

TO THE EDITOR,-SIR,

Those who are interested in the welfare of the cause of God, "Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark well her bulwarks, and consider her palaces." From such a survey of our Zion, we see she is gaining consistency and strength, and settling down on a broad and permanent foundation. The loose and shifting materials of which every new society is more or less composed, have passed away, nor shall we again be subjected to the fluctuations consequent upon the state of transition through which we have now happily passed.

Believing that our own society is better adapted than any other, in its doctrines and discipline to give full developement to the great principles of the Gospel, and to promote a vigorous and manly piety, we should be anxious to avail ourselves of every legitimate means, that our sons and daughters may be trained up in attachment to and admiration of the same principles.

Among those means are Day and Boarding Schools conducted by talented individuals, firm in their attachment to the principles of the Association; this would necessarily imply that the Boarders should be taken to our chapels, and sit under our ministers on the Sabbath day. As the case now stands, in many parts, our friends are compelled to send their children to Boarding Schools conducted by persons of other denominations; they attend their chapels, hear their ministers, who give them pastoral visits-which often result in their permanent union with those churches. We have persons amongst us with the requisite qualifications for such an undertaking. Let our friends, to whom they are known, bring them forward and give them their patronage and support; reference should also be given to well-known preachers and friends in the connexion, and advertisements inserted on the cover of our Magazine; thus they would be brought prominently before the Society, and, I have no doubt, would receive its support. A very important collateral advantage would arise from the establishment of such Schools; young preachers whose piety and talents pointed them out as designed for a larger field of usefulness, than their own locality, would have an opportunity of improving their minds in those branches of knowledge more immediately bearing on revealed truth, and of being made like Apollos mighty in the Scriptures.

Leeds, April 11, 1842.

WM. RINDER.

ON GIVING PUBLICITY TO THE PRINCIPLES OF THE ASSOCIATION.

TO THE EDITOR,-Dear Sir,

In contemplating, of late, the important position taken by the Wesleyan Methodist Association in the midst of the Protestant Churches of Christendom,-I perceive the ground on which it rests is so far satisfactory, as to beget much of congratulation; and also of thanksgiving to the Father of mercies. The Association having broken the chains and fetters by which its members had been held, that is, of anti-christian laws and usages, the "traditions and commandments of men," and that too, after a most severe struggle for their Christian freedom; and having thus attained a position professedly based on popular freedom and the independent practices of the primitive churches, together with a connexional union, which recognizes and holdsas the only and sufficient rule of faith and practice, and also of church government, the holy Scriptures, especially those of the New Testament; regarding as matters indifferent, so far as membership with a Christian church is concerned, whatever is not manifestly enjoined in those infallible records. Thus it stands forth as a land mark to other bodies of Christians, and to other gene

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