Testament of ministers without cure of souls, in one form or other: they are a non-descript, concerning whom no rules seem given; a kind of amphibious being, belonging to neither element exclusively. But, if the apostles would not leave the word of God to serve tables, I am persuaded they would not have left it to become soldiers: and, even if the war had been pro aris, they would have said, We will give ourselves to the word of God and prayer. Yet, possibly, exceptions might be made. One thing however I will add, I will never fight myself if I can help it.-So much after dinner on a Tuesday"-that is, before visiting the hospital.

With this may be connected a portion of another letter written in 1803.

66 Aston, July 31, 1803.

"My opinion of the present crisis is, that it may be illustrated by the case of an avowed intention of a set of vile banditti, to rob the house and murder the family of some opulent individual. What should we in this case think of the master, who should leave the women and children defenceless to screen themselves, probably in vain? What should we say of servants, who should urge, Let my master and mistress take care of themselves, it is not my concern? What if they should plead conscience for such dereliction? Self-defence would be my duty, if assaulted on the high road, and my life endangered: and defence of my wife and children, who look to me for protection, requires me to stand firm, if an assassin threatens the house.

"The present law, recognizing the king's just prerogative of calling out every effective man, in case of actual invasion and real necessity, meets my most cordial approbation; and, as modified by the proposal to accept voluntary enrolling, &c., is no more than an offer to teach every man, in case of necessity, the best way of uniting with others in defending the community in each district: and I think every man who has no just exemption, or more important employment, ought to concur; not so much to become a soldier and to fight, as to prevent the necessity. For, should ten well armed men be habitually ready in the house, which three or four banditti meant to assail, and were this known, it would probably prevent the attack.

"But the sabbath!-Now here I say, it is not to be expected that our rulers en masse, or en pluralité, should be godly men, and see with our eyes; nor must we suffer all that are dear to us to be destroyed because they are not. They have exceeded my expectation, in granting relief to tender consciences, by excusing them on moderate terms, from being exercised on the Sunday. I exhort those, whom I can influence, to show a readiness to learn the exercise with others; but unless in case of imperious overpowering necessity, which supersedes every thing, to refuse exercising on the Lord's day; and to show that a man may learn to unite in defending our families, without entering into the military spirit, or at least into the profane and riotous part of it. I should have been embarrassed, had not the concession alluded to been made: but, though I highly regard Mr. Robinson's judgment, and account him a

higher government man than myself, I think the present case is not one in which the protest should be entered against the measures of our rulers. Another time or manner may be taken of protesting against legalized infringements of the sabbath. If the house were on fire, we should any of us think ourselves authorized to play the engine on the sabbath. The case does not exactly coincide : but even some of our friends will hardly see the difference, and our enemies will be sure not to see it. The clamour is, that dissenters, methodists, and evangelical churchmen are all secretly jacobins every opposition to the present measure will render the clamour more plausible. Even quietly availing ourselves of the allowed exemption will be noticed: and I think nothing further should be added to it. But, if any man's conscience is otherwise set, I must leave it."

The following extract will show his sentiments on some important points relating to Christian missions generally, and on the proceedings of a society for which, though he declined connecting himself with it, and could not approve all its measures, he yet felt at all times the most cordial good will, and a few years afterwards publicly testified his good will by preaching for it.1

presume the sentiments here expressed pretty nearly coincide with those now entertained by many of its firmest supporters: and the publication of them cannot, I trust, be considered as bearing in any degree an unfriendly aspect towards the so

ciety. It refers to the capture of the Missionary ship, the Duff; the expulsion of many of the missionaries from what has since been the scene of their most extraordinary success, the Islands of Otaheite; and the spoliation of such as were suffered to remain.

"Chapel Street, September 28, 1799.

"I Do not think any of the things which have happened to the London Missionary Society will eventually injure the cause of missions. I really foretold, at least foreboded, and privately uttered my forebodings, that such would be the event of their over-sanguine and hasty, though well-meant proceedings. The apostles had no missionary ship, worth so many thousands as to tempt depredators. Armed and rich missionaries, as those at Otaheite were, might expect to be plundered and overpowered, as much as a man in London, unprotected by law, who was loaded with gold and jewels. It must be so without miracles. I said they were too rich to be safe, or to have any prospect of safety; and their fire-arms and military exercise were like a declaration of war. The seven that are left behind are exactly in the condition I should have wished them to have been in at first landing; nothing to trust to for protection and provision but the Lord, and under him the favour he may give them with the people. But of almost all places these islands are the last I should have selected.-You may depend upon it

that our new society is not needlessly losing time. We cast anchor for a while, to avoid running on rocks; but we mean soon to go on: and we would wish not to make more haste than good speed. We mean to begin on a small scale, and afterwards to enlarge it if we can; and we have no fear of not getting money, if the Lord will but form us missionaries. One thing we have done: as soon as we heard that the Duff was taken, we, as individuals of the Committee, sent the Missionary Society a hundred guineas, as a token of regard and condolence; which has tended greatly to conciliate them, and to convince them that we are coadjutors and not rivals. The world is under obligations to that society; but their love and zeal have not been directed by proportionable wisdom. They will profit by their losses, and we shall profit by their mistakes; and I doubt not that the whole will tend to the furtherance of the gospel. Money will be soon found to make up those losses; and wisdom gained by experience is of inestimable value."

Of the contribution towards repairing the Society's loss I shall beg leave to subjoin a somewhat fuller account, from a memorandum made by a friend shortly after it took place.

"When the London Missionary Society lost the ship Duff, though he had never approved of their having such a vessel, yet, filled with Christian sympathy, and struck with the opportunity of testifying good will to a society with which he

The Church Missionary Society.