THE TRIUMPHS OF THE CROSS. MAN being sunk into a state of moral degradation, and spiritual degeneracy, stood exposed to the wrath of an offended God, and to the miseries of a burning hell; his situation was hopeless in the extreme. As the vessel foundering on a rock with its tenants lulled to sleep by the motion of the waves, and unconscious of their danger, till aroused to an acquaintance of their perilous situation, when engulphed in the opening deep ; so generation after generation passed over the boundaries of time, with no light in their souls to illuminate their passage to the tomb. The tide of evil continued to roll on from the creation of the world, “ Darkness covered the earth, and a more fearful darkpess the minds of the people,” Isa. Is. 2. “Being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that was in them because of the blindness of their hearts,” Eph. iv. 18. “Having no hope and without God in the world,” Eph. ii. 12. Ignorance and crime had deluged the earth, wars and rumours of wars had spread their devastating influence amongst the nations of the globe. The inhabitants of the world were at a distance from their Maker, and at that distance willing to remain far off from God by wicked works. The Psalınist describes their awful condition in Psalm liii. 23. “God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back they are altogether become filthy, there is none that doeth good, no not one,” Philosophy lighted up a flame but it permitted its disciples to perish on the quicksands of doubt and uncertainty, their soaring and sublime speculations did not open up to man a view of his lost condition, or a way of escape from misery and woe ; it failed to introduce him to prospects of future and eternal happiness beyond the grave. But the glorious hour of the world's emancipation came. The promised Messiah came forth from the bosom of his Father to unshackle the mind, to dispel its ignorance, to implant new principles, and to establish a kingdom which was to have no end ; to which Daniel prophetically alludes, chap. vi. 27, “ And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom, under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.” But his stay on earth was too transient to accomplish all those grand and important purposes which were centered in his benevolent mind, hence we hear him commissioning a select number, who had tasted his soul-refreshing, hope-inspiring love, to take up and prosecute his work. To a little band of faithful followers he said, “Ye are the light of the world,” • Ye are the salt of the earth,” « Go forth into all the world." Upheld by his power, and sustained by his mighty influence, they went forth amid storms of persecution to encounter the evil passions of men, yet their success far exceeded the bounds of human calculation. The effects produced were instantaneous. The prejudice, enmity, and opposition of man fell prostrate before the benign and powerful influence of the cross. The Pentecostal day beheld three thousand wor shippers at the feet of Jesus. Learned men and great men felt its convincing truth and submitted to its controul, lived under its holy directions, and died supported by its consoling truths and glorious prospects. Like the sun continuing bis daily journey, it stayed not in its progress; it bore down all opposition however powerful and spread its vivifying influence amongst all classes of men. The ministers of the cross still perceive its power to heal and to save, and witness the fulfilment of that prophecy, “My word shall not return unto me void, but accomplish the thing wliereunto I sent it.” Isaiah lv. 11. The Church enquires, “ Who is this that cometh from Edom with dyed garments from Bozrah, this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength.” The Saviour of the world replies, - I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save,” Isa. Ixiii. 1, The silver trumpet of Zion proclaims the intelligence, “ He that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” “ The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him come and take the water of life freely.” Rev. xxii. 17. Every passing day adds to the number of the faithful followers of the cross, who shall sing its power while passing to the scene of heavenly rest, to join the ransomed of the Lord in the kingdom of glory. Our nation alone has not to boast of its triumph. Some parts of the dark and benighted heathen have seen its standard erected on their shores, have listened to its messages of mercy, enlisted under its banners, abandoned their heathen deities, and rendered their hearts to the King of kings ; myriads of immortal beings have been the trophies of the cross, and myriads more shall swell the countless throng, till the final consummation of all things, when its followers shall behold its promises fulfilled, and enjoy the full fruition of its purchased bliss for ever ; joining with Cherubim and Serapbim the song of Moses and the Lamb, through the countless ages of eternity. G. M. THE WORLD IMPROVING. He took great delight in acknowledging that the world, in its moral and religious circumstances, was improving; but he seldom expressed these views without greatly regretting the culpable insensibility of even good men to their extraordinary privileges. - It should be a constant and a general prayer,' he often said, that the Lord would be pleased to shew. us our privileges. We are all living deplorably below ihem. He thought that Christianity, as experimentally exhibited, had lost in depth what it had gained in length and breadth ; that the finer and more elevated characteristics of Christian faith were sacrificed to the love of bustle, exciteinent, combination, and activity ; that there was a want, not so much of sincere and conscientious piety, as of high spirituality of mind. • The number of small Christians,' he used to observe, • is wonderfully increased: but there is a lack, I suspect, of tall Christians. There are more Marthas than Marys. • Christians,' he would also remark,' are too much in haste now-a-days. It is a great acquirement to be a waiting Christian. This sentiment he frequently reiterated. Life of the Rev. R. Housman. JULY, 1842. 20 ORIGIN OF THE OXFORD TRACTS. SIR,_Having seen in the • Midland Monitor,' (a local weekly newspaper,) some account of Puseyism, I send you the following extract, which appears to me an important account of the heresy ; should you not have met with it. You can make any or what use of it you think proper. I conceive it to be the duty of every real Protestant, to lift up his voice against this, Popery, for I can call it nothing else. On reading the account, it occurs at once to my mind, is this the Gospel-is this anything like the divine commission, Mark xvi. 15, 16. These are not times to listen to men without reference to the law and to the testimonies, &c. If they would refer us to the Fathers, I say with one, who justly observed, Let us go to the account of their great grandfathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,' and then we shall not err. I am, Sir, your’s, &c. &c. • Its founders were, Mr. Newman, Mr. Keble, Mr. Froude, Mr. Rose, Mr. Percival, and one other whose name is not mentioned. Many letters passed, and many discussions were held, and at length the following matured account of the principles to be recognised, was drawn up by Mr. Keble, and dated Oxford, Sept. 6, 1833. '1. The ONLY way of salvation is the partaking of the body and blood of our crucified Redeemer. •2. The mean, EXPRESSLY AUTHORISED BY HIM for that purpose, is the holy sacrament of his Supper. 3. The security, BY HIM NO LESS EXPRESSLY AUTHORISED, for the continuance and due application of that sacrament, is the apos. tolic commission of the Bishops, and under them, the Presbyters of the Church. *4. Under the present circumstances of the Church of England, there is peculiar danger of these matters being slightly and practically disavowed, and of numbers of Christians being left, or tempted to precarious and unauthorised ways of communion which must terminate often in virtual apostacy. After this comes a mutual pledge, in terms following: *1. To be on the watch for all opportunities of inculcating on all committed to our charge, a due sense of the inestimable privilege of communion with our Lord through the successors of the Apostles and of leading them to the resolution to transmit it, by his blessing, unimpaired to their children. 12. To provide and circulate books and tracts which may tend to familiarize the imaginations of men to the idea of an apostolical commission, to represent to them the feelings and principles resulting from that doctrine in the purest and earliest churches, and especially to point out its fruits, as exemplified in the practice of the primitive Christians, their communion with each other, however, widely separated, and their resolute sufferings for the truth's sake.' Intelligence. CHURCH PASTORAL-AID SOCIETY. The Annual Meeting of this Society was held on Tuesday the 10th of May, the Right Hon. Lord Ashley, M.P. in the chair. The meeting was numerous and highly respectable, and, we are happy to say, the interest taken in this most valuable Society is in no degree abated. We give the following extract from the Report, in addition to which we are obliged to limit ourselves to the Bishop of Landaff's testimony in behalf of the Society : ' With respect to the operations of the Society during the past year, the Committee have much pleasure in stating, that notwithstanding the straitened condition of the Society's finances, twenty-four fresh grants for curates, and four for lay assistants, andone for the completion of a school room to be licensed for the performance of divine service, have been made during that period. Of the incumbents thus aided, one has a population of 24,000 souls ; another of 23,000; another of 19,000; another of 15,000; another of 14,000; another of 13,000; another of 12,000; another of 10,000; and three others of 8,000 and upwards. The Committee would just mention that the average population of the incumbents aided during the past year is 8,272 souls, and the average income 1761. At the same time they would beg to observe, that though the amount of population is a plain criterion by which the urgency of a particular case may be determined, there are other circumstances, such as cases of extensive parishes, widely-scattered population, and numerous detached hamlets, which call almost as imperatively for aid as those of larger populations. The grants of this Society have led to the erection of sixty-seven churches or chapels, and to the building, or fitting-up, and licensing for Divine service of 104 school-rooms. In addition to these, fifty-five new churches are reported as newly projected or in course of erection, and twenty-five rooms to be licensed as above stated. The present grants of the Society provide for 356 additional full services on the Lord's-day, 1'36 full ser vices on week-days, and 209 cottage lectures. The total number of grants for which this Society is at present responsible is 280; being 246 for stipends for clergymen, and thirty-four for lay assistants. The incumbents, to whom the grants have been made, have an aggregate population of upwards of 1,810,000, or each an average . population of 7,460 with an average income of 1661., and 126 of these have no parsonage-house. The annual charge to the Society for the maintenance of the above grants, when all are in operation, is 21,8001. At the present time 203 clergymen and thirty-three lay assistants are supported in their labours at a charge of 18,0501. The incumbents aided provide from personaland local resources 3,6077. to meet the grants of the Society, which is thus instrumental in bringing to the service of the Church the sum of 25,4071. per annum. It will be seen, on comparing the liabilities of the Society in the preceding year, (28,2151.,) with those of the year just ended, that the Committee have effected a reduction of nearly 4,0001. in this respect, thus removing somewhat of the disproportion which existed between the income of the Society and its expenditure. The income of the preceding year was 19,665l.; the total liabilities, 28,215l.; income of year just ended, 18,9001. the total liabilities, 24,3001. This reduction, however, it must be remembered, could not be made without curtailing the operations of the Society. In the course of the past year seventy-seven grants have ceased; some having accomplished the object for which they were made ; some of a less urgent nature having been necessarily withdrawn; some having been voluntarily vacated; some having been placed in abeyance, as not having been occupied within twelve months. But in place of the seventyseven grants which have thus ceased, the Committee have deemed it expedient not to make more than twentynine new grants, which will account for the very considerable reduction in the liabilities of the Society. The Committee earnestly entreat the friends of the Society to come forward during the present year, and by their liberal contributions render it unnecessary for them to make any further curtailment of the operations and benefits of the Society.' The Bishop of LLandAFF.-I undertook the office to which I have been invited this day, not with any hope of serving the cause by creating in your minds a sense of religious obligation, which we, as members of the Church, must alí feel ourselves under to promote the object of this Institution. I am not qualified to kindle that feeling by any powers of eloquence, and there is the less necessity for this, because you will all agree that that duty was never better performed than by those who have preceded me. But I hope I may add some weight to their addresses by bearing testimony that in my diocese the beneficial results of your Society have been felt, and I believe that last year was never outdone · there in the promotion of those objects which were announced in the Report, that is, the providing of some means of instruction in the doctrines of the Gospel, and retaining in the pale and discipline of the Church, the increased millions of the popula. tion of this country. How great that increase is, has been clearly stated. If the increase had been equally diffused over the whole kingdom, perhaps the remedy might have been provided many years ago, the merit of which is most certainly due to that Noble individual who has addressed you, however he may disclaim it.* But it is notorious, that this increase of population is not equably diffused; the people being gathered in dense masses here and only thinly scattered there, and some places are even inhabited that used not to be so, of which I have proofs in my own dio cese. The only proper remedy is that which is provided by this Society, namely, shepherds for the sheep which have none, or assistants for those shepherds who are wearying themselves out by excess of labour, and yet are unable to feed their whole flock. Before this was provided, the ordinary course—and that was better than none-was, for a sectarian preacher of any denomination to settle himself down and collect around him a congregation, exciting a religious feeling amongst them, and making known the name of the Redeemer. But with this there was a mixture of alloy which I never witnessed in my diocese without pain, namely, frequently there were false or perverted doctrines mixed with the truth, but more generally speaking, a weakening of that sense of Church union, which, from the first foundation of the Church, was enjoined upon all its members as one of their most sacred duties. The attempt to meet the evil then was accompanied by another, and, not unfrequently, did the evil itself become so prominent, that it almost made one regret this partial attempt to supply the people with religious instruction. I am aware that some years ago I made use of an expression which, coming from a bishop, seemed rather to surprise some persons. When asked if Dissent did not pervade the mining districts of Wales, I said, happily there are many Dissenting preachers there, for if there were not, the people would have none at all, and, in some instances, they could not hear the name of Christ proposed to them. However, I never went so far as some of the sentiments attributed to me would imply. The efforts made by this Society have now furnished more complete means of meeting that unfortunate state of things. The populatlon is in dense masses in certain parts, but it ebbs and flows so, that even if a fixed endowment were provided for the parish now, in the lapse of a few years it might become almost useless, and we should regret that an income had been appropriated for ever to a spot, the exigences of which would not always require it, while new claims would rise upon other quarters where there were no meåns of satisfying them. I would introduce the Resolution, which is expressive of gratitude to God for the labours of this Society, by premising my own sense of gratitude for the great services it has rendered in that part of the Lord's vineyard wherein I have laboured, and, as far as my feeble efforts go, I will vindicate this Institution against certain prejudices which prevailed many years ago to a greater extent than now, but which I had flattered myself had been put down by the force of truth. It seems, however, that they still exist in the minds of some who are sincere and |
