earlier and better labours, where, as colleague with that eminent servant of Christ, Dr. Chalmers, he ministered the word of life to listening thousands, previous to his settling in London. Many have been the reflections drawn from this event by cotemporary writers; and whilst some have regarded it as a merciful dispensation to the church--opening prospects of her deliverance from the dangerous principles which, if he was not the means of introducing into the Christian community, he was most certainly a powerful auxiliary in keep ing afloat before the public-others have looked upon it as an evidence of the watchful care of a gracious God towards his tried and deluded children; though permitting them to have their minds obscured in some points, yet keeping them in their own persons from the complete working of the delusion embraced. The celebrated Wesley was the advocate of Christian perfection. But, whilst he believed what others told him of the claims which some of his followers possessed to the attainment, he himself never professed to have arrived at this elevated experience. So whilst Irving, in his anxiety to disencumber himself from organized systems of theological truth, and follow the guidance of what he conceived to be the instructions of the Holy Spirit, received with the simplicity of a mind incapable of deceiving others, what men of dubious character ventured to submit to his reception, as really as experienced by themselves -yet was not permitted to be led away by the enemy of souls, to imagine himself to be the subject of those miraculous gifts which he too readily yielded to others. We do not feel ourselves called upon to decide upon the propriety of either of these results of the announcement of this event. But we do most heartily rejoice in his individual experience, as recorded by that ably conducted and patriotic paper, the Standard. His departing words were, 66 In life or in death I am the Lord's." Previous to this, he sung the 23d Psalm, in Hebrew, accompanied by his wife's father, the Rev. John Martin. The cause of the disease of which he died was the excessive bodily and mental fatigue which he underwent for some years past, in preaching, visiting the poor, and itinerating, which gradually undermined a naturally powerful constitution, and at length brought on a very rapid decline, which has thus cut off, in early life, one of the most remarkable men of the day. Whatever judgment some persons may form of a few of his opinions, there is probably no one who knew him at all, and assuredly none who knew him intimately, who will not acknowledge that he was a man of eminent talents and commanding eloquence, combined with a simplicity of manner, a singleness of heart, a warmth of affection, a holiness of life, a love to God and man, and a devotion to the service of his Lord and Master, which are very rarely met, and which may well put to the blush many who, in their heat to oppose some of his peculiar views as to some peculiar truths of religion, which they conceived erroneous, too often overlooked, undervalued, depreciated, or even misrepresented, a character which had a dignity and inherent nobleness in it that are seldom surpassed, and which are not often so remarkably combined (along with powerful intellects and a cultivated mind) with the fruits of the Spirit-love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.-Evening Mail. WILBERFORCE SETTLEMENT. We learn from that ably conducted paper the Scottish Guardian, that the Rev. Nathaniel Paul is at present in Scotland, preaching in behalf of a seminary, in the above settlement, for the instruction of the coloured population. Mr. Paul is himself a gentleman of colour, and pastor of a Baptist church in that settlement. Excluded from all the colleges of the United States, and having no colleges of their own, the coloured population, whether enslaved or free, are doomed to hopeless ignorance and degradation; and no wonder, when thus neglected, they should too often justify the censures of those who leave them uneducated. The Wilberforce settlement in Canada is composed entirely of free coloured emigrants from the United States, where they are permitted to feel that they are really freemen. All that is wanted to complete the settlement is a seminary for the education of the coloured youth. To such an object as Mr. Paul's, there can be but one feeling; and it is not to be confounded with the Siberia scheme of Elliott Cresson, for carrying off the whole free coloured population to Africa a scheme about as wise as attempting to bottle up the Atlantic. CHURCH PREFERMENT.-The Right Hon. Lord Dundas has presented the Rev. Peter Balfour, minister of Tealing, to the church and parish of Clackmannen, vacant by the translation of the Rev. Dr. Fleming to the Professorship of Natural Philosophy in King's College Aberdeen. THE CONTINENT. A Correspondent of the Christian Observer for December, says, "A rapid tour in France enables me to present you with a few remarks, which will, I trust, have a useful tendency. "The degraded state of religion in that country, or rather the absence of all religion whatever, almost exceeds belief. Not only is it a fact generally acknowledged, that the churches are almost entirely forsaken by the male part of the population, but sentiments are boldlyexpressed in conversation, which, though the natural effects of infidelity, appear too atrocious for an age of civilization. I met, sometime ago, with a gentleman, who calmly maintained that when calamity had reached a certain pitch it was a most wise and justifiable measure to take poison; and, more recently, with another, who argued at considerable length for the policy of destroying by law a large portion of infants, in order to avoid the evil of an overgrown population. The death-blow has been given, almost, to the semblance of a Christian Sabbath, by the custom of devoting the golden hours of the Sunday morning to the review of the National Guard. The evening, alas! has long been given up to the theatre, and other profane amuse ments. But, gross as is the present darkness, the dawn of day appears to brighten the horizon. Now, first, in the history of France, is entire freedom of religion conceded to the inhabitants. A minister of the Gospel, of whatever denomination, has now only to inform the public authorities of the place which he visits, of his intention to establish a religious service, and he is immediately placed under their protection. Hence elforts have been undertaken for the good of France, trifling indeed in their apparent importance, but blessed already with remarkable success, and the harbingers, we may humbly trust, of more In a small town, extensive labours. which had been visited by the itinerant colporteurs, who sold Bibles and tracts, and conversed on religion with those who would hear them, so active a spirit of curiosity was awakened in regard to the doctrines professed by Protestants, that immediately on the arrival of a Protestant minister a considerable number of persons resorted to hear him; and now, though eighteen months have scarcely elapsed, upwards of thirty individuals have been converted from Romanism; and give evidence, by their spirit and conduct, of a conversion to true Christianity. I have myself visited this infant church, and can bear testimony to the unfeigned piety which appears to pervade it. Nor has the divine favour been limited merely to one place. In two adjacent towns, much more considerable for population, Protestant services have been opened for the first time since the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and each of these services is attended by upwards of two hundred persons, of whom not more probably than twenty are Protestants. In one of these new temples I had myself an opportunity of preaching; and the impression produced on my mind by the whole conduct and conversation of those with whom I came in contact, was this, that had the temple been capable of containing three thousand, instead of three hundred persons, it would have been as full in the one case as in the other. Indeed, if God would give grace to some individual or individuals to make a grand effort for calling the attention of the whole town to the great doctrines of Christianity, perhaps the whole town might be brought over to the side of truth. I cannot describe the painful admixture of joy and anxiety which have been agitating my mind by exhibitions of the present description. It was greatly joyful to see hundreds of Roman Catholics lending ear to the preaching of Christ crucified; but it was deeply afflicting to think that this valuable opportunity might be lost, either by the total neglect or the injudicious conduct of Protestants. Oh for a new Farel to appear at this crisis! Where is such a being, amongst all the Protestant churches, to be found? There can be little question that in the ordinary course of God's providence, a man of Farel's spirit would soon meet with a Farel's how is it that our dissenting brethren lose sight of this object? If, with all the ministers of all the religious denominations in England, there is still a large portion of our population without any religious instruction whatsoever, how much wider is the range for Christian effort in France! Here is scope too wide, alas! for all the zeal and activity which all the Protestant communities of England and America could bring into exercise. And yet I find no Protestants of our country, except the Wesleyan Methodists, who have sent a single English evangelist to preach to the French nation "the unsearchable riches of Christ. How abundant are the opportunities for ministerial effort in France may be inferred from this circumstance, that during six days which I passed at Nismes, I had no less than two occasions for preaching in the temples, and four in more private assemblies, besides two others which I lost from the note of invitation arriving too late. Ail these means of usefulness were afforded me by the assistance and sanction of one of the established clergymen. The plan of exertion to be recommended for France, is not to fix on the same place as the Protestant ministers. Occasional visits to such stations are very desirable, and might prove greatly encouraging and beneficial to the Protestant churches; but the method of finding access to the Roman Catholics is to fix on one of the many towns in which there is not a Protestant minister; and, finding out the few Protestants who reside there, to invite them to the performance of divine worship. There are probably few towns where such a simple effort would not soon be followed by a concourse of persons, Roman Catholics more than Protestants, who would fill any place, however large, in which divine service might be celebrated. The great thing, after all, which is requisite for the advancement of true religion in France, is a spirit of selfrenunciation. Men are wanted who, for the love of Christ, can surrender the love of ease, and emolument, and applause, and, "enduring hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ," can delight in their work, and say, "None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I may finish my course with joy." For my own part, I look with more sincere respect and admiration on a Christian minister who is "spending and being spent" in the obscurity of a remote village in France, than on one who is commanding vast assemblies of our countrymen by the splendour of his eloquence, or is ever so useful, where there is so much of human reward connected with his labours. We ought to admire every Christian minister who is faithful to his Divine Master; but most, the man whose earthly solace is little else than the warm affection of the converts given him from infidelity or superstition, and whose simplicity and sincerity of purpose will not, perhaps, be known or appreciated till the moment when the language shall be addressed to him, “ Well done, good and faithful servant! enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. Thou hast been faithful in a few things, be thou ruler over many things. ANGLICANUS. In addition to this, we extract the following notice of places of worship, conducted hy Protestants in the city of Paris, from the Wesleyan Magazine, as conveying information to our countrymen who might visit that city either for business or pleasure. 1. The chapel of the British embassy is a small, but very elegant Gothic structure, recently opened for divine service, previous to which time it had been conducted in the dining-room of the embassy, by Bishop Luscombe, who is the ambassador's chaplain, and who officiates, assisted by several curate, at the new church. This place will, it is supposed, hold about from six hundred to seven hundred, and is generally crowded on Sunday mornings by the more fashionable of the English residents and visitors. There is an afternoon service, which is thinly attended, but no service on the week days. 2. One of the bishop's curates also preaches at a large English school on the Boulevard de Mont Parnasse, the church being at a great distance, in the Rue d'Agussean St. Honoré, 3. There is also, recently opened, a room for episcopal service, on Sunday mornings only, by the Rev. Mr. Sayers, in Rue Neuve St. Augustine, No. 30. This room is not a large one. 4. The place of next importance as to size and numbers, is the episcopal chapel in Rue Challiott Champs Elysées, called Marbœuf chapel; an evangelical minister, the Rev. Robert Lovett, preaches here, with great zeal and acceptance. This cha pel, which is formed out of a large saloon and adjoining rooms, will hold alout 400 persons, and is generally well attended. The service is in the morning and evening. A week-day service is held for the more serious of those who attend here, at which from twenty to thirty are present to join in prayer, and singing, and the reading and discussion of the word of God. This place was originally fitted up by Mr. Lewis Way, and is at present kept open by funds derived from some pious noblemen in Ireland. 5. Connected with the French Protestant church, yet not actually of it and directed principally by the Rev. Mark Wilks, is a large and elegant salle, or circular room, formerly used as a concert-room (and latterly by the St. Simonians), situated in the Rue Tacthaut; the principal service is held here on the Sunday mornings, in French, by several eloquent ministers, and is generally very well attended. Mr. Wilks, when he is Paris, preaches occasionally in English, in a small room adjoining the chapel. This place will probably seat from three to four hundred persons, and is principally attended by highly respectable French families, resident in the neighbour. hood; and also by many strangers, who understand French. 6. In Rue St. Orme there is also a French place of worship, holding perhaps about two hundred people, the services of which are conducted by the Rev. Mr. Pugh, of the Continental Society, on the French Evangelical Society; to this place a Christian society is attached. 7. The Wesleyan Methodist chapel, situated near the Palais Royal, is formed of two small rooms, on a ground-floor, and will accommodate about one hundred persons. The regular services are held here three times a-week, and are now very respectably attended. On Sunday evenings, when there is no other Protestant English service, the chapel is inconveniently filled with deeply attentive hearers, and an adjoining room used on such occasions will seat about twenty persons. The class meets at the preacher's houre. 8. The chapel in the Rue du Faubourg St. Denis, has been for some years occupied by French Wesleyan preachers, formed of two rooms also. Its congregation varies from thirty or forty to seventy or eighty, and the service here is also conducted three times a-week, besides society meetings. BERLIN. THE BIBLE. A medal has just been struck, in Berlin, in commemoration of the translation of the Bible by Luther. On one side is the effigy of Luther, with the legend, 66 Interpreter of the Divine Word;" on the other, he is represented delivering to Germany, who is inclined before him, an open Bible. Above this group are these words, "The Holy Scriptures in thine own tongue;" and below it, "Commenced at the Warlburgh, in 1522: finished at Wittemburgh, in 1543.-Jubilee of 1834-(French Paper)-Extract from Standard. INDIA. (From the Calcutta Inquirer of 14th June.) We have this morning to announce the death of the Rev. Dr. Carey, of Serampore, which happened on Monday last. The venerable Doctor had for a long time been ill and expected to expire, but he was spared to breathe in this world until last Monday. He was the first person to enter into the missionary field in India, and no man in these times has undergone more personal labour than he in preaching the Gospel to the heathen. He la boured equally with his pen and his tongue, and published useful works, and preached to the people with indefatigable zeal. The Bible and the Tract Societies are indebted to him for the best of their versions of the Bible and Tracts, and the Bengalee literature, poor as it is, owes its present state of improvement to his exertions. The oldest native converts looked to him as the instrument of their conversion; and Serampore, and the neighbouring villages, will palpably feel his loss. Many were the missionaries that, through the oppressive climate of Bengal either terminated their earthly career, or were obliged to return to their native country. Few had the privilege of labouring long in this land of darkness and heathenism; but the Rev. Dr. Carey was highly honoured in this respect. He was allowed to spend the greatest part of his life in the missionary work here, and lived too, to see much of the fruits of his labour. In addition to the above we may remark, that we have seen a copy of the Doctor's will, from which we find, that as he lived, so he died, manifesting the genuine spirit of a liberal and disinterested missionary of the cross. Disclaiming all right or title to the Mission premises at Serampore, he bequeathed to the College at Serampore, the whole of his valuable museum; leaving little else to his children than the proceeds arising from the sale of his library, and the benefit of his great and good example. "The seed of the righteous shall be blessed, and the memory of the just shall be had in everlasting remembrance." |