Chapel, Judea, Asylum, St. Jerome, Mount Sinai, Dismission, Antwerp, Belgrave, Brunswick, we are persuaded they will not repent of their bargain. We may be premature in our remarks; but we have been long looking for such a work, and have been disappointed; now, however, we have a strong hope that this will prove just what our choirs and churches want.

THE EDITOR'S TABLE.

ELEMENTS of Mental and Moral Science. By George Payne, LL.D. Third Edition, enlarged. 8vo. pp. 456. London: Gladding.

The British Quarterly Review, No. IV. November, 1845. London: Jackson and Walford.

The Reformation and Anti-Reformation in Bohemia. From the German. In Two Volumes. 8vo. pp. 444, 442. London: Houlston and Stoneman.

The North British Review, No. VII., for November, 1845. London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co.

Life of Lorenzo de Medici, called the Magnificent. By William Roscoe. With a Memoir of the Author, and a Portrait. Post 8vo. pp. 504. London: David

Bogue.

The Philosophy of Human Life; or, The Argument of the Book of Ecclesiastes. By Mrs. Henderson. 12mo. London: Hamilton, Adams, and Co.

The Church of Christ in the Middle Ages. An Historical Sketch, compiled from various authors. By the Author of "Essays on the Church." 12mo. pp. 496. London Seeley, Burnside, and Seeley.

Temperance and Teetotalism; being a Candid Inquiry into the Lawfulness or Unlawfulness of using Distilled and Fermented Liquors, on the grounds of Scripture, Philosophy, and Expediency. By John H. Barrow, Independent Minister, MarketDrayton. 12mo. pp. 80. London: J. Snow.

Cyclopædia of Biblical Literature. By John Kitto, D.D., F.S.A., Parts XXIII. and XXIV. [which complete this very valuable work.] 8vo. London: Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.

The Doctrines and Practices of the Church of Rome truly Represented: in Answer to a Book entitled "A Papist Misrepresented and Represented." By Edward Stillingfleet, D.D. With a Preface and Notes by William Cunningham, D.D. Edinburgh. 12mo. pp. 382. London: R. Groombridge and Sons.

An Introduction to Geography and Astronomy, with the Use of the Globes. By E. and I. Bruce. Tenth Edition. Post 8vo. pp. 356. London: Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.

Anti-Christ in Prophecy, and Anti-Christ in Fact. By John Parry. 8vo. pp. 84. Hamilton, Adams, and Co.

The Two Shoals of the True Passage. By J. H. Merle D'Aubigné, D.D. 18mo. pp. 36. London: R. Groombridge and Co.

The Congregational Calendar and Family Almanac for 1846. Published for the Congregational Union. London: Jackson and Walford.

A Plan for the Abolition of Capital Punishments. By Rev. Thos. Payne, M.A. 18mo. pp. 60. London: C. Gilpin.

CHRONICLE OF BRITISH MISSIONS.

HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

Suffering of the Poor from the Potatoe Disease.

THE pressing and earnest calls for help from some of the rural stations of the Society, in consequence of this wide-spreading calamity, seem to justify the Directors in giving it their first attention in the usual monthly statement. In towns the evil is less felt, as the potatoe is neither cultivated by the poor, nor is it, as in some villages, the chief article of food; the consequences are therefore confined in towns to the bad quality of the root, or the increased price paid for it.

There can be no doubt, that amidst much exaggeration in the public prints respecting the extensive failure of the crops, the prospect is exceedingly gloomy in many parts of England, as it regards multitudes of industrious persons. The extracts which follow these remarks, from the journals of two missionaries, one of them labouring in Dorset and the other in Devon, will give the reader some idea of the evils anticipated. The information which has been received from the missionaries from many of the English counties shows different degrees of loss in this article of food, and the impossibility of ascertaining the real state of things for some time to come. One thing, however, is certain, that if famine may not be the lot of any, scarcity and severe suffering will be the lot of multitudes. Among these are to be found many of God's people, in secluded parts of the country, who are poor as to the world's goods, deprived, by their steady adherence to the principles of the Gospel and of religious liberty, of much pecuniary assistance from parish funds and from benevolent individuals. They have endured many privations in ordinary circumstances, when the winter was cold, and the persecution was hot. Twice since 1840 have the Congregational churches in London been specially appealed to for contributions to aid the afflicted members of Home Missionary churches. The help was promptly and liberally afforded, so that upwards of £800 was distributed, and hundreds of individuals shared in the kind sympathies of sister churches; many being preserved from much sickness, and probably death itself, by this timely aid. The gratitude felt by these humble Christians no tongue can express. The tears they shed when such liberal and unexpected relief came to them from a distance, feebly indicated the emotions of their minds. There were many thanksgivings offered to God for his providential goodness.

The Directors had no intention of referring to this subject a month or two ago. They think there is unmixed evil in encouraging a spirit of dependence on fellowcreatures, either for temporal or spiritual good. Hence the great object kept in view by their agents is, to encourage a spirit of independence-to draw out all the energies the people possess-physically, intellectually, and morally-and to get them, as soon as possible, by their own exertions, to support their families and to sustain the ministry of the Gospel among themselves. They are encouraged to aim at this, however small the result may be at first, in the conviction that this is the healthiest and safest state of things among individuals and among churches of Christ. The present case, however, forms an evident exception. The affliction is not from man, but from God; and surely if Christians can aid their fellow-creatures who suffer more severely from the dispensation than themselves, it is their privilege to do so, and especially those who are of the household of faith. It may be added, that the duty becomes unquestionably more imperative when it is known that spiritual good communicated through our instrumentality has been the very means of exciting that sectarian spirit which may aggravate the evil of temporal suffering.

It is hoped that all that would be really necessary for helping the greatest sufferers might be obtained, if an addition was made to the sacramental collection on the first Sabbath in January. There is not the smallest wish to interfere with the prior claims of poor members: but as there are churches in London with very few such persons needing the aid of the church, it is hoped that a sufficient sum might be obtained, in town and country, by means of this appropriate collection, to meet the wants of the members of the churches. The matter is named now, that the pastors and deacons may consider the propriety of examining the subject before the close of this month.

Great loss to the poor in the potatoe crop—Liberality notwithstanding.

"I am happy to be able to state that in the strength of the Lord I am still enabled to prosecute the objects of the Home Missionary Society in this station. These efforts, in many instances, have been accompanied with the demonstration of the Spirit' in turning sinners from 'darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God.' In the midst of poverty, error, and opposition, our people, I trust, are growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.' The Directors, in reading the reports of the disease in the potatoe crop, have no doubt thought of and prayed for the poor villagers who come more immediately under their observation in the various districts embraced by the Society. In this locality the prospect is most gloomy, as two-thirds of the store potatoes are not fit to be used, and the one-third that is not yet affected cannot be depended on, until it is required for food. This is most distressing, and what the people will do I cannot tell, as the chief, and in numerous families, the only living is nothing but potatoes. In the midst of this state of things, I, although with a degree of reluctance, appealed to the congregation at C- M- — on behalf of the funds of the Home Missionary Society, stating that the Directors must not be expected to support the Gospel among those who did not do all they could themselves. On this occasion a general desire appeared to be excited to see if more could not be done. The attempt was successful, as some commenced subscribers, others increased, and several doubled their former contributions. Although the whole amount will be but a small sum, yet it proves the estimation in which the Gospel is held, and the gratitude of the people to the Society for its long-continued and valuable favours. In order to cherish this spirit, we held a public meeting in the chapel, which was well attended, notwithstanding the evening was very wet. Numbers had left their work in the fields with their clothes drenched, and there was scarcely a family in the place where the children were not suffering most distressingly in the measles. These things were not anticipated when the time of the meeting was fixed. We were favoured with addresses by the Rev. B. Kent, of Barnstaple, and the Rev. R. Thompson. J. Jones, Esq., of Ilfracombe, came to assist us on this interesting occasion. The collection was very good, and indicated the willingness of the people to do all they can at this their time of inevitable deficiency. The friends who addressed the meeting left, expressing themselves highly gratified at what they had witnessed, while your agent and the people of his charge were enabled to thank God and take courage."

Potatoe Disease and Anticipated Suffering.

"At present much gloom rests upon the minds of our poor on account of the great failure of the potatoe crop. How the poor are to be fed we cannot divine. Field after field is ploughed up not fit for the pigs to eat, and of those which are dug many are rotten; the few that are good very small. We hope a gracious Providence will interpose; but with us many will cry for bread, and behold the Lord hath sent 'cleanness of teeth.' When the potatoe crop is at the best, my flock, in numberless

instances, are never but on the verge of want. May the Lord rebuke us not in anger, but in love! For a minister to dwell in the midst of such naked poverty, who is from desire the pastor, as well as the missionary, is to draw upon his feelings most painfully, and leads him to heave many a sigh and shed many a tear over sufferings he cannot relieve, and privations he can but alleviate in a small degree."

The following extracts from the journals of missionaries furnish a variety of facts, some discouraging, and many that are encouraging. It is considered best to show that all the stations are not alike prosperous and progressive, but at the same time to give evidence that the agents are actively engaged in their proper work, and in the midst of difficulties looking to God for his special blessing. Every reader will see the necessity that exists for the extension of this kind of agency, in every destitute part of England.

Labour and earnest Desire for Success.

"The Congregational Board of Education have promised £10, and we have obtained a master. I now regard the experiment as a successful one. The school is established. The chapel continues to be filled on Sunday nights.

"P. The state of this part of my station remains as in times past. Everything is stereotyped here. Attendance, members, collections, subscriptions, &c., are so much alike, that the report of one month would need little altering to fit the same month in any year. Oh, for the fire from heaven to descend and melt the ill-set plate, and the Spirit's disposing power to re-cast the whole in a form of heavenly mould!

"S▬▬▬▬▬▬▬, M—————, K——————, and E- manifest symptoms of increasing desire to hear the word, more especially E. Here I have been expecting to be compelled to give up the field to water regeneration and strong drink, through the death of the man in whose house I preached. I had been warned off his estate by one landowner, and expected the influence of the court would keep close every cottage. I have now a more convenient house offered me, in which I preached on the 19th, when, as this report will show, we had, for E-, an extraordinary congregation.

"Wand W- appear in this report, having, by late arrangements, become parts of my station; they are my extreme points, and are nearly thirteen miles asunder. These are taken up to fill the vacancy formed by abandoning Upper Hand D; each place will be supplied with a Lord's-day service, an arrangement I wish to make, had I instruments, for each of the eight places of which my station is at the present time composed.

“W—— I have more than once returned, as a place within eight miles, destitute of the Gospel. It is as large a place as P. Though nowise prepossessing in its present appearance, it is, in many respects, the superior place of the two. Its ruined castle, once the abode of the line of York, is a fit emblem to set forth the moral and spiritual state of its inhabitants. The nettles that cover the ruins of the castle, and spread and luxuriate on the site of the banqueting-hall of the Mortimers, are not more rank than the Puseyism of the parish church."

Advantages, Direct and Indirect, of the Home Missionary Society.

"I do not know that I can better secure the object of the Directors in receiving a monthly journal from their missionaries, than by giving a few of those remarks I was led to make at our association meeting last week, which I now do very briefly. "It is a painful thought that hundreds of thousands of our fellow-countrymen do not hear the Gospel, especially in such districts as those chosen by the Home Missionary Society for moral and spiritual cultivation. It requires little to show that the people need the Gospel in such places. They need it to open their eyes, renovate their hearts, and furnish them with those consolations they so much need in their

sorrows, privations, and poverty. On the stations which I occupy many there are who seldom attend a place of worship, and many others who do and yet never hear the Gospel. Instead of it they hear of morality, ritual religion, and much of baptismal regeneration, whilst conversion is scoffed at as impossible to those who have been regenerated by baptism. It is a solemn thought that multitudes are thus led in the dark, and are in the highway to death. When I think of these facts, I am more than ever impressed with the importance of the labours of the Home Missionary Society, and of the solemn position which its missionaries occupy. Every one sent out to publish the everlasting Gospel, and keep the great doctrines of justification by faith and sanctification by the Spirit of God before the minds of the people, is a light in the surrounding darkness-a breakwater to keep back the tide of error-a soldier of the cross, to fight the good fight of faith. The result of their labours, even indirectly, must be beyond the power of calculation. Were it not for such men, many a district would not only be left in darkness, but in a state of inactivity, perhaps something like a stagnant lake, over whose surface no wind blows to moderate its pestilential atmosphere. Missionary labours stimulate others to activity. On my station we have had two churches rebuilt, and one is in process of repair. Also one school has been built, and two others are building. I feel confident that much of the movement which this represents has originated in what has been done by the friends here for education, &c., during the last five years.

"I may mention an incident in connexion with the repairs of the church referred to, which will show what is done indirectly. Some nine months ago I sent a book on the voluntary principle to a wealthy gentleman in this neighbourhood, for which he thanked me, and said though he did not exactly see as the writer, he had derived considerable profit from its perusal. Now this very gentleman has subscribed his voluntary £300 for the repair of the church, which will prevent a rate being forced upon the parish! I think it is fair to infer that the work alluded to had some connexion with what he has done.

"But I take a still higher view of the labours of the Home Missionary Society in the direct results of missionary efforts. Not the least, I conceive, is in preparing the surplus population of the rural districts for entering the larger towns. Numbers have already gone, and numbers more must go. Shall they go steeped in ignorance and vice, or impregnated with error? or shall they go with their eyes opened, and their hearts renovated by the Spirit of God? This must depend, in many instances, upon the labours of the Home Missionary Society. I can look upon many who were once in our congregations, or in fellowship with us, who are now united with churches, to the cast and the west, to the north and to the south, some of them diligently and usefully occupied in labours of love, whilst one is studying with a view to the Christian ministry in a distant part of the country. Among many things to discourage me, these have served to cheer me after seven years' toils; but one of my most pleasant reflections is to think of the fruit which has been gathered to eternal life. Whilst many a large church has had to deplore, amidst its numerous hearers, how few have been added to its fellowship when compared with what might be expected, the Home Missionary churches have not lacked the dews of the Divine blessing, though the congregations have been sometimes small and persecuted. This has been our case. God has set his seal to his own word in additions to the church; and in those instances in which he has called some away from us by death, we have had to rejoice in seeing the grace of God eminently displayed in them, and how those truths they have received have cheered them in the hour of death. May those that remain follow them who through faith and patience now inherit the promises!'"

Great Wickedness in the midst of Christian Activity.

"It is a prevailing opinion that this place is greatly improved from what it was,