more than twice the present number. We pass over various other particulars in the charge; such as the duty of peaceableness of conduct towards "the members of the Romish Church, and our Protestant dissenting brethren;" the import ance of catechising; and the promotion of congregational singing; to give the Right Reverend author's solemn conclusion. "I will only remind you, in conclusion, that there is something still wanting, when every care has been taken for the better ordering of the palpable and visible worship of God amongst us,-something without which it will be as a body without a soul-the form and semblance of Christianity without its power and substance. I take for granted that every provision has been or will be made for the decency of our outward religion-more frequent opportunities of assembling together in public afforded-the truth preached, as it is in Jesus-our flocks duly visited-their wants inquired into their Bibles multiplied-the sick attended without waiting for a summons-the church carried, as it were, to those who from age or distance are unable to be present at the public ministra tions. But all this and more may be done, without arriving at the mark of real devotion, or promoting the worship of God be regulated externally, but that which is in spirit and in truth. The church may within may yet remain unsanctified and impure. That God's blessing may prosper and ended in prayer. our ministry, it must be begun, continued, keep the house (and more especially his 'Except the Lord own house, the temple of the heart, wherein the Holy Ghost has promised to dwell), Of their labour is but lost that build it.' In the spirit of prayer, therefore, let us ening to his promise, he will be alway with treat of God, for our people, that, accordhis church, even to the end of the world, and that the abundant grace might, through the thanksgiving of many, redound to the glory of God.' For ourselves, that we may be enabled to render up our account with joy, and say, if possible, with the great Shepherd of souls himself: lost none.' And may those whom thou hast given me, have I everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole 'the Almighty and body of the church is governed and sanctified, receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before him for all estates of men in his holy church; that every member of the same, in his vocation and mi-. nistry, may truly and godly serve him, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."" pp. 27, 28. LITERARY AND PHILOSOPHICAL INTELLIGENCE, GREAT BRITAIN. &c. &c. In the press.-The Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and the Doctrine of Spiritual Influence; by the Rev. W. Orme;-The Life and Opinions of John De Wycliffe, D.D., illustrated principally from his unpublished Manuscripts; by the Rev. R. Vaughan;-Summary of the Laws relating to the Poor; by Sir G. A. Lewin;-Sunday Evening Discourses; by the Rev. R. Warner;-Origin and Affinity of the Languages of Asia and Europe; by Colonel Vans Kennedy;-A Tour in Italy and Sicily; by L. Simond;-The Infantile School System, as it is generally practised;-Marriage, an Essay, by the Rev. H. C O'Donnoghue. Oxford. The following clergymen are the Select Preachers at St. Mary's for the next year:-The Rev. R. Whately, D.D.; the Rev. V. Thomas; the Rev. H. Atkins; the Rev. W. James; the Rev. E. Burton. At a late meeting of the commissioners and jury appointed to examine the coinCHRIST. OBSERV. No. 312. age at the Mint, the Lord Chancellor stated, that the quantity of gold coined from July 1825, to May 1827, amounted to 10,968,6937.; a much larger quantity than bad ever before been, at one time, ready to send into the world. The silver coinage manufactured in the same period, amounted to 1,000,5997. Dr. Parr was reported in his own literary circles to be the depository of the authorship of Junius's Letters; and he has been heard with grave solemnity to say, that the secret would be known when he was no more. His bequest on the subject is the following, written on the fly leaf of Junius:-" The writer of Junius was Mr. Lloyd, secretary to George Grenville, and brother to Philip Lloyd, Dean of Norwich. This will one day or other' be generally acknowledged. S. P." ing an Association for the Encouragement A Prospectus has been issued for formand mutual Protection of Governesses and Ladies' Companions, under the patronage 5 F of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent. The institution is intended to provide preceptresses of suitable qualifications for families, and to inform qualified preceptresses of suitable situations. The arrangement also extends to ladies' companions. No profit or advantage, direct or indirect, is to be connected with the institution; but the parties who are provided with situations, are expected, according to their convenience, to contribute to its funds, and to form a benefit stock to assist those who are unemployed, or in sickness, or age. Mr. Hatchard, 187 Piccadilly, will receive and transmit communications respecting the society. Persons employed in grinding needles are usually seriously injured, and become consumptive, by inhaling the steel dust thrown off in the operation. To prevent this, a magnet is now suspended over the wheel, which attracts the particles and prevents all injurious effect. This is one among the many modern applications of science, to the purposes of humanity. UNITED STATES. The friends of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, acknowledge with much gratitude and fraternal esteem, the receipt from Mr. G. W. Marriott, of more than three hundred pounds for "the Society for the Advancement of Christianity" in South Carolina being the profits on the sale of Bishop Dehon's sermons reprinted in England. Such international communications of Christian affection are of inestimable service to the cause of our common nature and our holy faith, in binding man to man and brother to brother, in every part of the world. The whole of Mrs. H. More's works have just been reprinted at Boston, in two volumes, with a sketch of her life, by an American authoress; who, by her initials, we conclude to be Mrs. Sigourney, a lady already known to her country, by her interesting poem of "the Aborigines of North America." One of the representatives of the state of New York has recently complained in the house, that the chaplain endeavoured to influence the votes of the members by his prayers, and has urged a resolution admonishing him that he must not, as chaplain of the house, pray respecting any subject of legislative discussion. A publisher at Philadelphia advertises a new monthly Religious Journal," which is to include "the greater part of the Christian Observer, and the best articles from all the English theological pub lications of merit, without any regard to the doctrines which they may inculcate." There is an amusing naiveté in this announcement. We were not aware that our American friends were such cosmopolitan religionists. We may perhaps oblige our readers with a specimen of this composition should any of our literary purveyors import a sample of it. A valuable copy of the Complutensian Polyglot has been imported into New York for the use of the Episcopal Theological Seminary. It is stated to be the only copy in America, except one in the university of Harvard. In a late cause in the court of session at Hartford, Connecticut, after a witness had given his testimony, it was objected that he denied the existence of the Supreme Being, and the future existence of the soul. Proof having been brought to substantiate the objection, the judge informed the jury that they must lay aside the testimony of the witness in the case; for though he would not rule out the evidence of a witness for holding religious sentiments different from the mass of the communitymuch less for holding different religious sentiments from his own, he could not sit and hear a witness professing to testify under the sanction of an appeal to the Searcher of hearts, when the very exist ence of such a being was denied by him. The following is the emphatic language of the concluding section in the revision of the statutes of the state of New York, relative to the importation into that state of persons held in slavery. "Every person born within this state, whether White or Coloured, is free; every person who shall hereafter be born within this state shall be free; and every person brought into this state, as a slave, except as authorised by this title, shall be free." But turn only a little Westward, and how different the scene! An American gentleman passing through Richmond, Virginia, writes:-" Seeing an advertisement of a lot of Negroes to be sold at auction, I went to the sale. A counter stood in Market Street, before the store, and the sale commenced by a woman's being led from the store, and told to stand thereon. She walked from end to end of the counter just as the bidders wished. The auctioneer cried for a bid. Some unfeeling wretch told the trembling victim to take off her bonnet.-Another cried, How old are you?' And what can you do?" She tremblingly said, ' I reckon 1 am twenty-eight.'-Her agitated frame excited my compassion, I sincerely pitied her; for her husband was to be sold next. The barbarous slave-drivers were present with their mighty cudgels, restraining the forlorn beings. The woman was sold for 295 dollars. Her husband was struck off to the first purchaser for 375 dollars. A young man, brought more than 400 dollars. A little boy of twelve, being of a light complexion, and having straight hair, sold for 105 dollars. His whiteness took from his value. The bidders pulled his hair. Next came a woman with an infant, who were sold for 229 dollars. Is this our republicanism?" HAYTI. The friends of the American Colonization Society state, that they are authorized to convey to Hayti, free of expense, all such emancipated slaves as shall be delivered to them for that purpose; and that they will be well provided for on their arrival, until they can supply their own wants. America. The following is an additional recent fact:-The ecclesiastical governor of the archbishopric of Lima has issued an edict, abolishing a great number of the Roman Catholic holy-days, and retaining only twelve of the principal fasts and festivals, besides Sundays. The edict says, that these holydays, instead of being consecrated to the service of God, were spent in idleness, vice, and debauchery. A circular issued for the same purpose, by the governor of the bishopric of Caseo, remarks: "" 'Every day in the year ought to be a holyday to us, by avoiding wicked deeds, and by the practice of virtue." INDIA. The Horticultural Society of Calcutta have procured a piece of ground for the purpose of rearing the indigenous fruits of the country, and instituting experimental modes of treatment with a view to their amelioration; new fruits will be also introduced, and esculent vegetables. An European gardener is to be procured from England. LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. THEOLOGY. Lectures on Paul's Epistles to the Corinthians, by William Lothian, St. Andrews. 8vo. 10s. 6d. Sermons, by the Rev. S. H.'Cassan. 12s. Bretschneider's Apology for Modern German Theology, translated by the Rev. W. A. Evanson. 38. Dr. Chalmers's Sermon, preached at the Opening of the Scotch National Church in London. Exposition of the Book of Psalms, by the Rev. J. Morison. Part I. 4s. "Christ's Name precious," a Sermon, by E. Andrews, LL. D. "The Parish Priest," a Sermon, preached at the Primary Visitation of the Right Rev. Charles Richard, Lord Bishop of Llandaff, by the Rev. W. B. Knight. Is. 6d. The Church Catechism, with Scripture Proofs, by a Layman. "Memorial of Ministerial Labour," a Selection of Discourses, by the Rev. W. Mudge. 10s. 6d. "The Character of a true Catholic Church," a Sermon, by the Rev. R. W. Sibthorp. A Sermon, preached before the Lord Mayor, by the Rev. G. H. Watkins. A Course of Morning and Evening Prayers, by C. Williams. 5s. "The Right of private Judgment," a Sermon, by the Hon. and Rev. Baptist W. Noel. Wellesley, by E. Fry and J. J. Gurney, Report addressed to the Marquis of respecting their late visit to that country. View of the Character, Position, and Prospects of the Edinburgh Bible Society, by Anglicanus. The Servants' Friendly Instructor, by E. Copley (late Hewlett). 1s. A Fire-side Book, by the Author of An Elegy on the Death of Joseph Butterworth, Esq. and other Poems, by H. R. Griffiths. 1s. 6d. The Missionary Cabinet, comprising a Gazetteer of all the Places occupied by Christian Missionaries, by the Rev. C. Williams. Historical Tablets, illustrative of a System of Artificial Memory, by J. H. Todd. 11. 10s. A Tabular View of Volcanic Phenomena, by Professor Daubeney. 7s. 6d. Baynes's Catalogue of Sermons, by Divines of the Church of England, Puritans, Dissenters; French Sermons, Manuscript Sermons, and Lectures. Also, a Catalogue of Theology and General Lite rature. The Process of Historical Proof explained and exemplified, by I. Taylor. 6s. Selections from the Works of Howe, by the Rev. W. Wilson, D. D. Second volume. 3s. Greek, Latin, and English Prosodial Lexicon, by the Rev. J. Brasse, B. D. 24s. A Hebrew and English Lexicon to the Old Testament, by J. W. Gibbs. 25s. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. MEETING FOR DISCUSSION ON THE PROPHECIES. A SECOND meeting has been held of a number of gentlemen who have devoted much attention to the study of prophecy, with a view to ascertain the scriptural bearings of the subject, the light which has been shed upon it, and the duties arising out of it. We are informed, that the points which were considered by the meeting as most important for investigation were as follows; namely, What is revealed respecting the order of the events connected with the second coming of our Lord;respecting the war of the great day of God Almighty (Armageddon), and the historical events which typify it ;-the state of the church under its various dispensations; the restoration of the tribes of Judah and Israel;-the types representing our Lord, in his two states of humiliation and glory;-and the chronological arrangement of the discursive prophecies; concluding with an inquiry into the practical results that should arise from a right apprehension of these subjects. The points upon which there appeared to be a general agreement amongst the members of the meeting were the following: That, the twelve hundred and sixty prophetic years having already expired, we are now living under the effects of the sixth vial; the pouring out of which is connected with the warning, "Behold I come as a thief; blessed is he that watcheth ;" and that, in reference to the attention which is so generally given at this time by the church to the subject of prophecy, we are already arrived at that period described in the parable of the Ten Virgins, when the cry goeth forth, Behold the bridegroom cometh." We are further informed, that there was also a general consent among the members of the meeting, upon the fact of the approaching restoration of the ten and the two tribes; though it was considered that there is great difficulty in arranging, in a connected order, the various particulars stated in the different prophecies of the Old Testament upon this subject. There was a like agreement as to the fact of the personal reign of our Lord, or the existence of an universal Theocracy, during the period of the Millennium, though as to the mode in which his glory would be mani fested during that period, the general impression seemed to be, that the best sources of information are to be found in the types of the Old-Testament dispensation; such as the reign of Solomon and the Theocracy which formerly existed, and prefigured the more glorious and extended one of the latter days. Much, we are informed, was stated concerning the condition of the church, under the various dispensations, as the paradisiacal and the patriarchal, through which it had to pass during its progress to its final, glorified, or renewed, and more exalted paradisiacal state; as also concerning the seasons and annual feasts of the Jewish calendar, considered as prophetic symbols, typifying events which occur in the same order in the great calendar of time. As the mutual communication of the sentiments held by the various individuals present, was the principal object sought for, and the time was limited, much did not pass in the way of discussion. Various texts which speak of the coming of our Lord were, however, adduced by one of the members present, in order to shew that this expression is used in Scripture, in reference to three different events, or acts of Christ's coming in power to judge his enemies, of which each rises in importance upon that which precedes it, and closes a separate dispensation. It was urged, that the first act of his vengeance and righteous judgment upon his enemies which is spoken of at his coming, was the destruction of Jerusalem, when he came providentially in judgment upon the nation which had rejected and crucified him; this act terminating the Jewish dispensation. The second, it was observed, was the destruction of the nations at the. great battle of Armageddon, terminating the Gentile dispensation; when he will come, it was urged, in some outward and more visible demonstration of his glory, in judgment upon all the anti-Christian powers gathered together against him. The third, it was considered, was at the end of the world, when he will manifest himself in all his glory to judge both men and angels. This was mentioned chiefly, as shewing the necessity of ascertaining when any event is stated in Scripture to take place at the coming of our Lord, to which of these three acts of his coming in power, in contradistinction to his first coming in humility, the event is to be referred; and particularly in allusion to 1 Thess. iv. 17, from which it has been inferred, that at the coming of our Lord, at the end of the seventh vial, and battle of Armageddon, which was considered to be fast approaching, all the living members of Christ will be suddenly changed, as there described, and caught up to meet their Lord in the air; and also in reference to 2 Peter iii. 10, from whence has been inferred, that at his coming in power previously to the Millennium, the earth will be purified by material fire; opinions which, it was maintained by some members, appear to have no other basis than the insufficient one of their being mentioned in connexion with the coming of our Lord, the act there spoken of being apparently the last act of his coming in power at the end of the world. This consideration was stated to be one of great importance, as tending to remove a difficulty which, according to the more usual modern views, stands in the way of the church's receiving the alleged strong and otherwise unquestionable evidences to the coming of Christ, as taking place before the Millennium. The various questions proposed for consideration, we understand, were at the close considered in their practical bearing upon the hopes and the duties of the Christian church. We have thus laid before our readers what we are informed is an impartial outline of the discussion to which we have alluded, without however pledging ourselves to the advocacy of all the sentiments embraced in it. Our own views of the exact bearings of unfulfilled prophecy, we confess, are very obscure; and they are not likely, we fear, to be materially cleared up by any line of argument which we have yet had an opportunity of examining; but, as we have already remarked at a former page of our present Number, we are unwilling to withhold from our readers the results of any investigation which seemed to exhibit a fair opportunity for trying the merits of the various opinions which are afloat on the subject, and to elucidate the prophecies of holy writ. COURSE OF LECTURES ON POPERY. A course of weekly lectures has been commenced in London, on the points in controversy between Roman Catholics and Protestants. The object of them is explained in the introductory lecture, by the Rev. T. Webster, minister of Tavistock Chapel, where they are delivered. The clergymen who have since preached, and whose discourses are already published or are in the press, are the Hon. B. W. Noel, Mr. Jerram, Mr. Sibthorp, Mr. Owen, Mr. Bickersteth, and Mr. Mutter. We e may probably notice these discourses in our review department, in some future number: for the present we give the following cutline of the plan from Mr. Webster's lucid statement. He describes the objects of the proposed lectures as two-fold. First, we desire to enlighten more fully the public mind on the actual difference which exists between the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches. On this point considerable ignorance and misapprehension exist. Many entertain the idea that the difference is at least principally of a political kind-a mere question of ascendency-a struggle for certain temporal advantages and emolumentsbut such is not the case; we meddle not with any political question—feeling_most fully that such topics are at once of very minor consideration, and are not the subjects which should occupy our time and attention in the house of God. There are others who regard the difference as merely speculative-as unaccompanied with any important moral results--as relating chiefly to rites, and ceremonies, and names, and forms-a subject about which the polemic may wrangle, and the formalist contend, but which is unworthy of the notice of Christians in general, and too destitute of any important results to require or justify their serious attention. We deem it therefore important most distinctly to state, and shall to the best of our abilities establish, That the difference between the Roman Catholic and the Protestant is not a mere speculative or polemical difference, but that it involves questions of a moral and practical nature,-questions which affect, in a greater or less degree, almost every doctrine and every duty, which affect the present and the future happiness of many thousands and millions of our fellow-men, and which therefore claim the serious attention of every statesman and philosopher of every one, in short, who possesses either liberality of sentiment or benevolence of disposition; but which more especially demands the diligent examination of every minister and every Christian. "Our second object is to awaken the |