meet together, it would surely indicate a more healthful state of soul than what now seems to exist among them.

Mr. Rolfe being a great reader, he explored such mines of theological literature as are to be found in the works of the Reformers, and the Puritans, and particularly such Puritans as Owen and Thomas Goodwin; but being strongly opposed to duty-faith, of which there is too much in their works, he would sift the wheat from the chaff, take the pure grain, or faithful expositions of the Word, and let the chaff and husks of dutyfaith go for what they are worth. This, through God's mercy, is what we have always been enabled to do ever since we first became acquainted with the works of those great divines; and having been enabled to adopt this method, it has kept our mind the more unprejudiced in making use of them, and getting what good we have been helped to obtain in reading the same. Neither will any man, we trust, ever make us afraid to either mention the word Puritan, or quote their sayings, lest we should be thought a duty-faith man for so doing.

"Mr. Rolfe frequently told an anecdote of a person who went to a minister who had been offering salvation' to all who chose to accept it, and said to him, 'Sir, last night you offered me salvation; can you give it to me?' 'No.' "Then why did you offer it?' 'Preach the gospel of the grace of God boldly as you ought to do, without seeking to please men, and then the Holy Ghost will apply the truth of God to the hearts of those whom the Lord shall call.' It is not in the natural power of any unregenerate man to accept Christ, or come unto him; for he himself expressly says, 'No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him.' 'The preparation of the heart is from the Lord,' and it is only in the day of God's power that men are made willing to receive Christ. They must be first made to feel their need of a Saviour before they desire him, for the carnal mind is enmity against God. and is not subject to the law of God, neither can be. At the same time, the faintest desire after God is a sign of spiritual life, and the invitations of the gospel are to all the weary and heavy laden."

This has always been our view of the matter; neither do we feel, after 30 years' labour in the gospel, the least turning of mind in an opposite direction. Having all along repudiated the dutyfaith system, we deprecate it now as much as ever, and yet we love some of the good old Puritan writers for all that.

Again. Mr. Rolfe was as thoroughly practical in his religion as he was sound in doctrine. "Utter unworldliness," we are told, was 66 one of his chief characteristics."

"No one could ever visit Shadoxhurst rectory without being impressed with the reality of true godliness; and those who were able to enjoy a heavenly spiritual-mindedness felt it good to be there.

"The day was begun, continued, and ended with a perceptible evidence of godliness in the tone of mind-I should say spirit-and conversation.

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Every morning he repeated the 51st psalm while dressing, and he was constantly applying Scripture to any remark made at mealtimes. "He allowed nothing to set aside family worship, and constantly exhorted the members of his family to be present at it.

"One of them once said to him, 'Father, we shall never have cause to blame you. We are sure you will go to heaven, and you have shown us the way.'

"Would that this could be said to all parents professing godliness. "The rest of the day was spent in reading, meditation, prayer, pastoral visitation, and walking; his asthma making constant out-door exercise necessary to him."

But what a trial it must have been to so spiritually-minded a man to have lived all the days of his Christian pilgrimage upon earth, with no more vital godliness around him than what it appears was to be found in the parish where he laboured. If asked about the state of his parish, we are informed what answer he would give. He would say, "I cannot say that I see much vital godliness. There is a profession, but I cannot say there is a possession. Such a one is a kind man, a good man of business; but I cannot say that he is an enlightened, spiritually-minded man. I would hope the best; but I cannot discern any sign of real life." With the exception of one here, and another there, he considered his people, says our author, "neither better nor worse than the rest of the world." To have remained for 39 years in such a parish, and under such disheartening circumstances, must, we should think, have been crushing to the good man's spirit; and profoundly mysterious, too, to our mind, when we consider the character of Mr. Rolfe, was the purpose of God in permitting him to abide there so long. We can only hope, with Mr. Wilkinson, that the truth of God, "which he exemplified in his life and death," may bring forth its fruit in after days.

Though we as conscientiously dissent from the Established Church as it is possible for a man to do, believing most sincerely that, as a system, it is without an atom of divine authority for its origin and existence in the world, yet we are always glad when we hear of any who minister within its walls, that they "know the grace of God in truth," and are faithful preachers of discriminating grace. If we hear of any coming out, and seceding from it, on such conscientious grounds as those which brought out the late esteemed editor of this periodical, we are glad for such separation. But when any really good and gracious men of God cannot see their way clear to break away from the national Establishment, and yet, through being divinely taught, can see their way clear to preach, in whatever pulpits of that Establishment they may be called upon to stand up, nothing but the pure gospel, we can, we are sure, rejoice in this. It is not, in fact, so much with the position they choose to assume, that we wish to interfere; it is a matter we prefer leaving between God and their own consciences. But when they venture to publish broadcast over the land such a statement as we meet with on the 112th page of the work we are noticingviz., that the Established Church of England is "the purest Church, because the most Scriptural and apostolic, in the world," we feel equally at liberty to turn our eyes directly away from the Anglican Church, to look for a pure and Scriptural and apostolic

one.

If, as our late esteemed editor said of the Puritans, when reviewing "Nichol's Series" of their works, that "they were men who were heartily and conscientiously opposed to the errors of the prayer-book, and to the corruptions of the Establishment," we wonder what those godly men, so mighty, as Mr. Philpot says, in the things of God, would say of the Established Church in the present day, were they alive to witness its horrible corruptions, its impure, unscriptural, and unapostolic practices. Again, when Mr. Wilkinson himself confesses on another page of his book, that "the unimpeded progress of Popery has So weakened the hold of it (that is, the Church) on the affections of the nation, that an M.P., who had always been a supporter of the Church, lately said that there was scarcely one of his colleagues who would now hold up his finger in its defence," we can only say that were we among the honourable member's colleagues, we should certainly not be the one to raise so much as a finger for either its defence, or continuance, another day. When and how it will come to its end, we are very willing to leave with the Lord; but that its downfall will be brought about, if not before, yet towards "the time of the end," and that all godly eyes will be made to see that, as a system, it was always human, and not divine, always corrupt, and not pure and apostolic, we have no more doubt than we have of the downfall of Popery itself. Were we to look about us in a day like the present to find a thoroughly pure, Scriptural, and apostolic church, perhaps we should have to look far and wide to find such. But were we to seek for a church as near that model and pattern as could be found, then we should take such Nonconformist churches as are made up of professed believers in Christ, and who have been baptized by immersion on a profession of their faith in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and who continue "steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." And that either Mr. Wilkinson or Mr. Rolfe should not have thought such churches more apostolic than the Established Church of England, it is difficult to understand; and the more so, after reading such remarks as the following in reference to good old Mr. Rolfe:

"He rejoiced to hear of all men of truth in the church, and his heart's affections were instantly drawn towards them. Yet, though he was thus a loyal member of the Church of England, he was still more united to the 'holy Catholic Church' than to any national one. This church is composed of all the living members of Christ's body, redeemed from among men, out of every kindred, nation, and tongue, and sanctified and regenerated by the Holy Ghost. These are the

elect people of God, and are confined to no particular churches, whether national or congregational. Bishop Ridley says, 'When I speak of the Church of England, I mean God's elect people of England,'that is, when he intended the real living Church of England.'

We will now make a brief reference to Mr. Rolfe's last days, his death, and triumph of faith in the swellings of Jordan. An extract or two, without further remarks of our own, will be suffiient:

"The faith of Mr. Rolfe never wavered for a single moment, and in the full assurance of hope he looked forward to his departure with joy. He knew whom he had believed, and he was confident that he would keep that which he had committed to him. His conversation was in heaven, and earthly things were completely lost sight of, and he was longing to depart and be with Christ. He had never borne any hatred or malice, but on the contrary was full of love and charity, and consequently at peace both with God and man.”

His son gave the following particulars to Mr. Wilkinson :"He continued in the same joyous and ecstatic state as that in which I left him, and the nurse said he raised himself up and was preaching with a loud voice the whole of the time. It was delightful,' said she, 'to be with him. I have never witnessed but one such death before, and that was 20 years ago. Oh, sir, you must write an account of it. It was beautiful! There was no fear of death. The sting was completely removed.'

"During the day he said, 'Give my love to the people,' meaning his own charge. He had loved and prayed for their souls in life, and he loved and prayed for them to the end. Blessings on my sons!' I am thankful to have been made a blessing to Mr. Wilkinson, and he says also to Mr. Hale.' 'To God be all the praise !' 'God deliver this nation from Popery!""

Again; at the very last, he said,

"God bless my dearest wife, and recompense her and every one for all their kindnesses!' 'A thousand pardons for every hasty word!' 'The doctor says I must not talk, but I must talk of Jesus!" These were the last words of the dying man of God. Christ had been All in all to him in life, and the sum and substance of all his discourse and ministry, and now in death his last words were, 'I must talk of Jesus.' "Thus passed into glory Charles Rolfe, 39 years rector of Shadoxhurst and Orlestone, Kent, on the 19th of August, 1877, in the 76th year of his age, leaving behind him a character for godly simplicity, spirituality, heavenly-mindedness, and decision for the truth as it is in Jesus, and in the faith of God's elect, that may be equalled, but never surpassed."

As we have before stated, this work contains numerous "Incidental Reflections," by the author, and which form the largest part of the volume. But these "Reflections," with the "Memorials" of Mr. Rolfe, his original hymns, of which there are a few, and also a few of his Letters, and some "Notes of Sermons," make the work, as a whole, an interesting book to read. For some of our poorer friends and readers, it may be too expensive, especially in these bad times, for them to purchase; but as there are always some who can better afford to invest a few shillings in the purchase of any book that is really worth the buying for the spiritually profitable reading which it contains, we can commend the "Memorials" of Mr. Rolfe as being one of that class.

LET us praise the Lord Jesus that before he died he made his will, and remembered us in it. By his death the will was valid. (Heb. ix. 16.) And he is now risen, and is the executor of his own will; so that it is not possible that we can be defrauded of what he hath bequeathed us. The chief articles are tribulation, peace, and a kingdom.—Newton.

A LOVING MEMORIAL.

Dear Mr. Editor,-The enclosed letter I received from our dear friend, Mr. Warburton; and as many have expressed a wish to see something in the "Gospel Standard" respecting our late dear pastor, Mr. Vinden, if you think it suitable, we should like it inserted. If not, please to return it; and you will oblige yours,

Myrtle House, Boar's Isle, Ashford, Dec. 3rd, 1879.

W. BENNETT.

We have very great pleasure in complying with the wishes of the friends, as expressed in the above letter, and in inserting the account of the late Mr. Vinden. We have wondered how it was that no memoir of so gracious a man and minister had ever reached us, and felt it was an omission. We gladly, then, insert the letter of Mr. Warburton. Perhaps at some future time even fuller particulars may be sent for insertion. In the meantime, we wish to thank the friend who sent us this letter, and the attached friends of the late Mr. Vinden, the Miss Johnsons, for an acceptable packet of his letters, which we hope to insert from time to time.

My dear Friend,-As a church and people you have experienced a great loss in the removing by death of your much loved and profitable, because made so by the grace of God, pastor, Mr. Vinden. I may say no minister was favoured with a more affectionate people. Your affections as a people were riveted to him, not from natural causes, but because the Lord had from time to time abundantly blessed his ministry to the comforting, establishing, and refreshing the souls of his weary ones. God did put his seal of approbation upon his testimony, not only among you, the people of his charge, but in a great many churches of truth in this land. He was thus well known, loved, and respected by many, and his name is embalmed in the minds of the Lord's people.

All he was as a believer in the Lord Jesus, and as a savoury and powerful minister, he owed unto the grace of God, which was with him, the seasoning both of his heart and sermons. It was this that made him acceptable unto the poor and afflicted in Zion. His grand theme was Jesus Christ, and him crucified, as the Way, the Life, the Light, the Hope, the Righteousness, and Strength of the whole Israel of God. Jesus he knew in the power of his Spirit. By faith he had seen his glory; and having tasted that he was merciful and gracious, it was the ambition of his soul to set him forth as the All and the in all; and great was his success therein.

In experience he was by no means shallow. He knew the awful wickedness and deceitfulness of the carnal heart. Often did he sigh and groan under its powerful workings. The temptations of Satan he was no stranger unto. That powerful accuser, when permitted, set upon him like a ravening and roaring lion, just