GENESEE EVANGELIST.—WhoIe No. 769.
. 1 1otttg.
GOING HOME.
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning
them *blob are asleep, that ye sorrow not even as others which have
no hope."--1 Timm 0,18.
Our beloved have departed,
While we tarry broken-hearted,
In the dreary, empty house;
They have ended life's brief story,
They have reached the home of glory,
Over death victorious!
Hush that sobbing, weep more lightly,
On we travel daily, nightly,
To.the rest that they . have found.
Are we not upon the flyer,
Sailing fast to Meet' for ever,
On more holy hippy ground?
Whilst with bitter tears we're mourning,
Thought to buried loves returning,
Time is basting us along,
Downward to the grave's dark dwelling,
Upward to the fountain welling
With eterp.ni,life And song!
'
S4O ye . not 64 breezes hieing?
Clouds along in hurry flying?
But we baste move swiftly on-- -
Ever changing our position,
Ever tossed in strange transition—
liars to-day, tomorrow gone!
Every boor that passes o'er us
Speaks of comfort yet before us,
Of our journey's rapid rate;
And like passing vesper-bells,
The clock of time its chiming tells,
At eternity's broad gate.
On we baste to borne invited,
There with friends to be united
Ina surer bond than here;
Meeting soon, and met fur ever!
Glorious hopel forsake us never,
Vor thy glimmering light is dear.
Ahl the way is shining clearer
As we journey ever nearer
To the everlasting home.
Friends, who there await our landing,
Comrades, round the throne now standing,
We salute you, and we come!
Par the American Presbyterian.
ROW TO ENJOY LIFE--OR PHYSICAL
AND MENTAL BYerma.*
oIiAFTER V.-LONG SPEECHES.
111' VAG Me qonlint, as. D.
These are more common than Long Prayers
They are a breach ofgood manners—Egotistic—
A Case in Point— Chairmen Responsible for
them—Detrimental to Anniversary Meetings—
The Middle Aged and the Young Clergyman—
A speech full 'of Littles-- The Irishman's
Potatoes A Long Speech Damages the
Speaker—Pope's Saving Counsel.
If possible, long speeches are more eommoll,
and deserve more reprobation, than long prayers;
for, we have an instance of the'Saviour once pray
ing night;" and there may'be, an occasion
for a long sermon, as. Paul once preached till ,
"midnight," and then took a recess only to raise
a dead, man to life; and afterwards eentinue' his
speech till daylight. lam not now writing aboat
long sermons; but long speeches. Generally, who
iltesiistt made; a:number of persona are expected
to speak. The time is, usually, meted out for
each one. He is told, ten or .fifteen minutes are
allowed him to, say what he has to say. Now, to
take twice that time is, in the first place, a breach
of good manners. In the second place, it savors
of vanity, for, it makes the speaker say, in aotions,
louder than his words, "I know I can speak bet
ter than those who are to come after me; and
therefore, you shall hear me." In the third place
it is cheating another out of his just rights; and
lastly, it always spoils the man's own speech.
I have witnessed a case directly to the point.
Some hallo dozen clergymen wore to speak the
same evening. All, save one, spake just twice as
long as they were directed to, by the society.
While one of them was speaking, a good brother
whispered to me, " How wonderfully he is endowed
with the grace of perseverance."
It is true, the chairman should be held respon
sible in such eases, and the moment the time is
out, he ought to stop the speaker. If a few chair
men were to do their duty in this matter, societies
would be more careful whom they selected for
chairmen; speakers would be more watchful how
they infringed upon the command of the apostle,
"be courteous;" and people would be much bet
ter edified and pleased.
I think there is no one thing connected with
our religious anniversaries of every kind, that
calls louder for rebuke, than this everlasting
round of long speeches. Usually, it is but repe
tition; and, consequently, of no value. Always,
it protracts the services to an undesirable length,
and the meeting to an unsuitable hour. Hence,
it calls loudly upon the doctor to administer hy
gienic rules, both for body and mind, For the
body, that it should not be compelled to breathe
a vitiated atmosphere twice as long as need be;
and for the mind, that it be not crammed with a
large amount of, ober, from which to sift out a
little wheat.
I well remember an auniversary meeting, where
two clergymen were to speak. o'oml was of middle
age, known to have ttthe grace of perseverance"
in no ordinary degree. The other, a young man,
a scion from a noble stock, himself very popular.
A large assembly had convened. It *as in the
month of May, when, it scarcely need be said,
the evenings are short. The middle-aged man
was to speak first. He was known to be a bore,
and there could not be a doubt but the large as
sembly had convened chiefly to hear the young
man. The first speaker occupied over an hour,
holding an• till past nine o'clock; and the worst
of it all was, the whole speech was but , a bombes
tie family glorification of what he and his father
had done.
When he closed, the young man arose, and
very modestly remarked that the time had arrived
when the exercises should terminate, added a few
words of exhortation and took his seat. Every
one in that large assembly felt chagrined, and
condemned and pitied the first speaker for his
vanity, self-conceit, and want of courtesy.
The above was bad enough, bat I, once know a
case still more out of taste and incongruous. A
clergyman from a neighboring 'State had been in
vited to the metropolis to give an address in be
half of one of the great benevolent objects of the
church. It was when that object was much more
popular than it is at present; for the society soon
after, in consequence of mismanagement, and,
perhaps, particularly through this, and other
kindred speeches, received "a deadly wound,"
• [Entsted arcordleg to Ant of Congress, to the yearlB6o, by Wst.
M. CORtiett, lo the Clerk's Office of the-District Court of the Iluitcd
States, fur the Eallera Dlttrict of Deney' mule.]
which has not yet been "healed," though a score
of years has since elapsed. •
The speaker was dry, monotonous, stupid. He
had but few thoughts, and these were given out,
as expressed by the prophet "precept upon pre
cept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line
upon line; here a little, and there a little."
Among these tittles, he took occasion to give
those clergymen who were out of employment a
castigation. This, of itself, might not have been
very much out of the `•way. ' Perhaps it might
have been commendable, had it been done in a
proper manner, in appropriate language, and limit
ed to those able-bodied ex-pastoraand young can
didates, recently from the mint, who hang Around
large cities, waiting for "a door to open" to thern
in some "sunny place of Zion!'
But, the attack was, in severe language; want
ing Christian courtesy; rlnd,aasa t iled allmb.amere
pot settled, yiastors. To give but a:eingle speci
men,• he, said': "Unemployed ministers reminded
him of the Irishman whom the farmer sent to
hoe potatoei. •At the middle of the forenoon,
.the
farmer went into his field, and found him sleeping
under a tree.. Rousing him, and asking, him why
he was not at work? Tat, rubbing his eyes, and
about half-a-sleep, cried out, (Shurh; well,
mister, if ye have any pratees to hoe, bring em
This speech proved • the truth of the Bard of
Mautua's declaration:
It would have been too great a descent even
for a political harangue; and was certainly unbe
coming a Christian minister ? on a solemn subject,
in the sanctuary. But the most. objectionable
feature of the whole was, the length of the ad
dress. It made the speaker ridiculous; put the
audience out of good humor; and took up time
that ought, and would have been ) better boon
pied.
ANGIE.
If Pope could have given this man advice,
he would surely, .
"Have dropped, at length, but
This saving counsel, keep your,' speech nine years."
Is there no way' in which the`. church can he
relieved from these unendurable long speechesl
They render the anniversary meetings Uninterest
ing; cause thin audiences and meager collections.
If some measure could be devised that could
bring this, class of speakers to their senses, it
would be worthy of all commendation; and-the
praise of him who' shall accomplish an end, "so
devoutly to be 'wished," will be in all the
churches.
Perhaps there would be more hope of a reform
in the matter, if it were, not too much' like the
case of Cowper's Slussnlman:
gs Each thinks his neighbor makes too free,
let, likes a slice`as well ,
It has, even been known Chatelaine have done
he mint thin& who.' • = '
NOW; as "`a ward` to' the wise is .suffinient" and
rest the Writer, by farther protracting'this chapter,
should come under the lash of Ids own whip, he
will' come, to what musicians call, "a rest," after
adding, that these long speeches greatly detract
from the "enjoyment of life." - • •
,;
For the American Presbyterian.'
THE JUSTICE OP GOD.
IN TWO ARTIOLES.—NO. Y.
Justice is one of the most glorious attributes of
the Holy One. It is the crowning glory of his
character. No one need fear it unless he fears
right. Witiout his justice, all his other attributes,
would be tarnished. Without his justice, none of
hrs moral attributes could be perfect. It gives
perfection and glory to
g all his attributes. It
makes him the Being whom we can trust. It
makes him the Being in whom all the holy of
all worlds can place implicit, unlimited, and un
wavering confidence. Without' his justice he
would be unworthy of eonfidence. We could not
—dare not trust him. If love moves, actuies, is
the motive power of the Holy One, justice directs
all his actions, and ever sits as umpire. Renee,
throughout all his vast realm, he does nothing ex
eept what is right.
The primary meaning of the word, is right—rec
titude—rightcousness. The original word, Piga: o f ,
is sometimes translated just, and sometimes right.
Indeed, they are convertible terms—they mean
the same thing. The same is true of justice and
righteousness.
To say that God is just, is to say that he al
ways does that which is perfectly right, in all
worlds, at all times, and between all individuals.
Neither time nor eternity can adduce a single in
stance in which he has done that which was not
just nor right. Time nor eternity never will be
able to adduce a single case in which Heaven will
do any thing, except that which is exactly right.
What attribute ought then to be dearer to us'than
the justice of God—what attribute can be dearer
to the holy universe? What attribute can Ile
dearer to the holy God than his Justice :There
is none. Could' God cease to he just, no greater
evil could befall "the universe.
But when we look at all the
_attributes of the,
Holy One, we see' perfection enstaraped on every
one of them; and no one of them would be perfect
without all the rest. The jack of either of them
would mar the perfection of - God. It is all his
perfect, infinitely glorious attributes blended to
gether, that constitutes the perfect God whom
we adore. Were either of them lacking, he would
not be a. perfect God., and we could not place per
fact,confidence in him.
To the justice of God, there <is frequently only
a judicial idea attached. At the very mention of
his justice, many at once think of , punishment.
They seem only to see in this attribute, that which
leads God to punish men. They can only see in
it the vindictive. To them there is no glory in
the justice of God. There is nothing in it that is
calculated to enrapture the soul, and draw out the
heart in love to the God of justice. His justice is
not to them one of his lovely attributes. It ap
pears to theist as something that is only to be
feared, and not to be loved and admired. There
is nothing in it that is calculated to call forth from
their inmost souls heart-felt Alleluias. But they
regard it as tho terrible in God—something that
is to be endured, and only endured—never loved.
It is something which, in some respects, they
know not how to reconcile with the other attri
butes of God. It truly seems to be the dark
shading in the divine character. The expression
"Foals deeensus Ayerni."
PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1861.
, . .
of these sieret • feelings is frequently to be beard
in their phyers. They also appear to feel that
God sympathizes with their feelings concerning
his justice.
It has seemed as if some theologians-have glo
ried in making the .justice •of Ggd appear as
dark as possible. 'Whether they lave thought
that his other attributes would-appear the brighter
by the contrcst, like the rainbow on the. dark
cio v .a, or the lightning's flash in -the midst of
Egyptian darkness, I will not liay. ' But it has
o
seemed to be ,'their.effrt to make God's justice
appear as, dark and 'repulsive as possible.. They
have well nigh abstradted from it the dominant
,
idea—RlGHT—ad.they have only n presented some
of the fearful consequences resulting. froth the.do
ing right. In their presenMtion of, the justice, of
God, you can see little except - God the avenger,
God. the e.xecutioner--les,. often, the- vindictive
nti ta
execution - '* . n. might,try to love such, an at
tribute in
_
` love the creel executioner who glories in, shedding
blood. 'The representation of the other attributes
may have won the heart to God, but this repelled
it. But; perhaps, like the centrifugal force,they
thought this necessary to keep us in our spiritual
orbit.
An old and celebrated theolooical lecturer,
speaking of, a certain class of Christians, says:
They deny the vindictive, justice of God, which
the 'heathen, with more sense admitted. And,
indeed, the greatest part of the law of. God, as
well as the history of Providence, contains little
else than ; display of God's vindictive justice."
the very word repels us. But
what is its meaning? Webster says: "Revenge
ful, given to revenge." Such a . character suits
the unjust judge; but not the Judge of all the
earth, who - will do 'right. Such langnage repre
sents the Holy One as possessed of the passions
of depraved humanity. We can fear a vindictive
man, especially if we are in . his power, but it is
impossible to repose confidence in him. It is im
possible for the heart to love him. Clothe such a
character with almighty power, and it is more to
be dreaded than any, being in the universe, and, is
the farthest from being the object of love.
But as has been said, Right is the primary
meaning of the word. 'Justice is that attribute of
the Hoty One, which leads,hinz invariably to do
that which is right, and nothing except 'What is
right. It is his attribute of right-doing.
If the good of the universe, and'uterey to an
individual, demands that he .should be sent to
- hell, God sends him there. He does it not be
cause he is vindictiVe, but because it is right.
He does it not with the feelings of a hardened
executioner, who feels not and cares not, but with
the feelings with which a kind, tender, affection
ate, loving father would expel from Ids house an
irreclaimable, desperate, malicious, profititate son,
who is all the time trying, to ruin]the rest of his
family He doeS 'becauSe` the good of all t,
4esrof lialaiTeirrattiii4eiatiMirginanas
All the feelings of a father's heart are called forth
is the most painfUl, heart-rending act of his
life r but right demands that it shoUld be done,
and. mercy demands it—yes, every consideration
demands it, for the son will not be reclaimed.
So it is with the eternal Father. Hence, we
hear him saying: "How shall I give thee up,
Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how
shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee
as Zeboim? Mine heart is turned within me, nay
repentings are kindled' together." How strong,
tender, affectionate, heart,broken is the language.
The language is altogether parental. His win:de
Soul is moved within him; but the good of others
demands—the good of the universe demands, and
hence right detrtands that Ephraim and Israel
should be given up. God has done for them all
that he wisely can do. He has borne „with them
as long as the good of the universe will permit
him, and hence, they are given over to destruc
tion. What was true of Ephrairn and of Israel,
is true of every lost soul; for God is no respecter
of persons, and he "is the same yesterday, and to
day, and forever." 'He who wept over Jerusa
lem, has the same feelings for every dying sinner
who will not be saved, but "who hath trodden
under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the
blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sancti
fied, an unholy thing, and bath done despite unto
the Spirit of Grace," and whose influence con
tinually goes to ruin other souls. Oh, the Goa
despising, Christ-rejecting, Spirit-grieving sinner
literally seems to compel God to banish him from
heaven. As a free agent he does it. 0, reader,
will you force the Holy; Merciful One to send you
to hell? " •
Ahl there are a great'xnanythino said _respect
ing our Father, which are not in his Word, nor
according to it. Hence, though the writers truly
love God, their writings do not honor him.' And
in-this respect, who of us can plead innocence?
Alas, we are too ignorant of our Bibles. We have
read other books On theology more than God's.
And, hence,•we - so often do' injustice to his cha
racter. The "true presentation of his charanter
represents him as glorious-every attribute glori
slorions. It presents a character which
is calculated to draw all hearts to him. Any trait
of character that is repulsive, is really not in God.
There is nothing repulsive in him, except to
the unholy. Those who love sin, hate God; and
yet, even they must admit that his character is
perfect. If they ever see any imperfections in it,
they are imperfections of man's creating.
I acknowledge that there is a great deal in the
providence of God which I do not understand.
It is too deep for me. I must enter within the
vail before I expect to understand it. But most
fully do I believe that 'could we see all the whys
and the wherefores which operate on the Divine
mind—could we look through all causes to their
ultimate effects, we would see that infinite wisdom
and mercy has done, is doing, and ever will do
everything just right—perfectly right. -
The Sesuitein. China.—The founders of the Ra
mesh Church in China were three Italian Jesuits, in
the end of the sixteenth century. The must able
and noted of these was Matthew Ricci,.of Ancona,
who, in 1603, published, at Pekin, a book "On the .
Divine Law," which became popular throughout the
empire. .Ilis book intermixes the doctrines of Chris
tianity with the morals of Confucius. The tolera
tion extended to the missionaries in Pekin was with
drawn in 1746, from which the cause of Christianity
gradually declined, till, in the beginning of the present
century, Protestant missions were commenced.
THE NEW OXEORD TEEOLOGL—Competent
observers in England regard the Tractariaa he
resy•as no longer. formidable, And as fast dying
out. The London Chriitiaft 'Observer asserts
that it nbt only gainsmd new/triumphs, but that
if is losing those alreadY gained. The new
Oxford. Theology, if theolpgy it can be called,
has come in , its place. Aliment correspondent
of the New York World thud speaks of the vo
lnnie of essays devoted to tl;e exposition of this
heresy:
"The appearance of thik.volume ' containing
such 'unblushing avowals •eltheresy, has already
led to much controversy:— it has been.ably at
tackedfin several of ,enr*ding reviews,, and
kaa ledto the pifhlicatien of .a Whe,le
_host of
P . imphleti;, regret that` as
Yet ne4daiffer 4 Mitt it'Efk:tif our univeisities,
has. buckled on the 'arinor came to thelies
cup .of the old faith. One : singular fact con
nected with its, appearance trains to
' beneticed.
No ecclesiastical action bite et been attempted
toward the authors and abittors of these pre
eminently heretical views. -1 They have -delibe
rately published opinions ignoring, in the most
unmistakable manner, the iinspiration of , the
Scriptures, the divinity spa atonement of, the
Son of God, the work afteoffice of the Holy
Spirit, and ,in fact all the distinctive verities of
the Christian faith ; and rit, , thosgh all are in
some form amenable to Episcopal control, no
bishop, on the bench has called any of them to
jadicial account. This is Very sad, and omi
nous of no good. We attach great importance
to this movement: It is far bore specious than
Tractarian theology—more' fitted to fascinate
and flatter the intellect, and l likely, therefore, to
entangle inquisitive and speculative minds in
the meshes of its deadly errors."
To this , he•adds, in a subsyquent communica
tion, that isolated instances 9f protest have oc
curred : .'
"Thus the venerable Bishop of. Winchester, a
senior brother of the Archbietkop,of Canterbury,
T
has raised his voice to v'„ 4 „imphatic tones
against this .new form of-8 Utatartism and De
ism. At "a recent ordiaatise he emphatically
declared that he would neverf knowingly ordain
any one known to hold sentiments approxi
mating to, the principles avowed by this new
school. A still more emp,batic protest was
borne at the, dune time by Archbishop Cox, in
the Cathedral of Durham. After disclosing the
peculiarities of this new heresy, and declaring
that they amount to 'another gospel,' he elo
quently exclaims: 'And the,' ; is the work which
ordained ministers of our *arch, and the in
structors of our youth, the theological lecturer,
the college tutor, the head of the popular schOol,
the parish priest,—this- is the work which such
men, have deemed compatible oevith their respon
sibilities and solemnly reiterated vows. If the
voice of one man could influence his brethren
and fellow-laborers, the i,iiipit of England
- should know no other topic.till this degrading
scandal were, removed.:?' .
. .
RronAnp Wx&yEn,.—"Wi pgard to Jim
evangelistic laborsof Rich, Weaver in the
metropolik" ffifi-zeciet-*
"'they semi to.tiV -a i ss tter class in Society
• ,
than any previt._,, - -w. r eth. His fiery
energy and earnestut N 1 4 . i:tails 'and s , as edu
cated . persons would lift,r occasionally coarse
language, his dragging forth into the light the
sins of the flesh., and denouncing them publicly
and openly,—all this, accompanied by the exhi
bition of a, crucified Redeemer, ready as well as
mighty to save, dq produce impressions very
powerful, such as have
,led to the•confession and
abandonment of sin by a number of men and
women the 'most depraved."
THE EVANGELTCAL PAR Y.--A late number of
the Daily News contained an article on church
parties, in which the Evangelicals are thus
spoken of:
"The immediate prospects of the. Church of
England would be very unsatisfactory if it was
at all likely that the Evangelical clergy were to
quit their peculiar position. of witnesses for the
doctrines which distinguish them frOm their bre
thren on , either hand. It h its ministers of
the Eva ng elical. Schooljhat the,church, with a
Liturgy thoroughly pervaded by Popery, and
an organization essentialry secular, keeps its
hold on the numerous and energetic middle
classes in our times. Theirs are the great con
gregations, the armies of earnest and willing
laymen."
THE. TER-CzNTEDIAux.--The great event of
December was the celebration of the Ter-Cen
tenary of the first General Assembly, on the
20th. The News, of the Churches speaks of
this as the National Celebration, as distinguished
from those of Nay and August.. Its corre
spondent says :
"The 20th was generally observed as a half
holiday throUghout the length and breadth of
Scotland. The magistrates, of. Edinburgh set
the example by recommending the citizens to
close their places of business, so as to to enable
themselves and their employees to attend di
vine service in their respective places of wor
ship during the day, and to join in the union
meetings in the evening. The magistrates of
Glasgow - declined to make 'a similar recommen
dation, in ponsequence, -we believe, of the in
convenience,of a suspension*business—espe
dolly bankin&basiness : —,.-on 4he very .week,
fore the Christmas and New Year holidays.,
"The programme adopted inmostplaces was
to have divine :service at 'an early hour' in the
afternoon in the various churches, when the mi
nisters of the respective congregations had
-an
opportunity of addressing -their people on the
subject, of the. Reformation, 'with special'refe
rence to their own relations.to that.great event,
and their duties in connexion with it. Then
an aggregate meeting of , all - the evangelical de-
I nominations was held in the evening.
"In Edinburgh there were two of these union
meetings in churches, and in Glasgow, one in
the City Hall, which was densely, crowded upon
the occasion. Representatives of the following
denominations took part in the meetings:—
Established Church, Free Church,lThited Pres
byterian Church, English Episc'opal :.Churcb,
Congregationalists, Wesleyan. Church, Baptists,
Reformed Presbyterian. Church, Original Se
cession Church, and the Evangelical -Union."
THE ItEvivAL MOVEMENT has powerfully
manifested itself in Motherwell, a populous vil
lage in Lanarkshire, which &Ins the centre of
a busy and 'teeming artisan and.mining popula
tion. The meetings fOr prayarhave increased,
from small' beginnings, till the largest hail in
the place, capable of receiving a congregation
of 1,500, was filled to' , .overilowing. Union
prayer-meetings continue labe.held night and
morning.
JAMES .KERR.
THE AiVIERICAN CHAPEL IN PARis,—Dr.
McClintock, the pastor, writes as follOws to the
Methodist:
"In reviewing the past year, I' have great
reason to thank God. The AmerinEin l Chapel
has had many signal marks„ofAhe,Divine bless
THE RELIGIOUS WORLD ABROAD.
RNGLAND:
SCOTLAND,
FRANCE
ing. Our congregations are large; attenthe,
and serious. Never have I found people' more
willing to listen to the gospel simply and faith
fully preached. Towards the close of the year,
we had several very gratifying and interesting
services, especially Thanksgiving Day and
Christmas. The number of attendants on these
week-day services was greater, in proportion to
the Sabbath congregation, than it is ordinarily
at home. We have had, moreover, clear indi
cations of a work of grace in the hearts of indi
vidual members of the congregation. Two, at
least, have been brought to a knowledge of the
truth.
"The financial affairs of the .chapel are in
good condition. A. floating debt of several
thousand 'francs had acciimulated Within the
last two years, and'on Sabbath week we'laid the
case before the congregation. They answered
the appeal by a. collection and cards 'put into
the, plates, of nearly six thousand, francs, ,to
which" about fifteen hundred more 'have since
been added by - priva•te' contributions. By the
way, it may, be ,proper for •me to state, that the
chapel is entirely supported by its regular pen
gregatiort, and by the contribtitiOns of travellers.
The impression has been made by certain letter
writers, that the American and Foreign Chris
tian Union pays the salary of, the pastor, in
whole or in part. It is due at once to that ex
cellent society, and to tho sOppOrters of the
American Chapel here, that this mistake should
be corrected. So far-as the past year's history
is concerned, at all events, the society in New
York has not paid a penny toward the expenses
of the American Chapel in Paris."
"TILE REFORMED CHURCH OF FRANCE," says
the same authority, in the Christian World,
"is passing through a crisis. You are aware
that the pastors of this church are divided info
two classes, the orthodox and the rationalistic.
The lines of division between them are rapidly
becoming clear and distinct. Judging from
present appearances, it will not bp long before
the two parties will be openly arrayed in hos
tile camps, and engaged in an internecine civil
war. Nothing has contributed more to bring
out clearly the vast differences between the two
schools than the publication of separate jour
nals devoted to the interests of each. The Es
peranoe, edited by Dr. Grandpierre, is the or
gan of the orthodox wing of the Reformed
Church; and Le .Lien, edited by the younger
Coquerel, is the advocate and mouth-piece of
rationalism. Within the lastfew weeks the or
thodox journal has spoken out with more deci
sion than it has been wont to employ; and there
is warmth, if not bitterness, in the tone of Le
Lien."
As this church and the Lutheran are recog
nised-and supported by the State, they have no
independence or autonomy, properly speaking.
"They cannot 'meet in General Synods. or
Assemblies to regulate matters of doctrine or
discipline. They cannot depose pastors for he
resy ; indeed, under the present ecclesiastical
organizations, there is no power competent to
decide what heresy is., The consequences of
this state of things may readily be imagined.
Vigorous, aggressive. Protestantism is out of
the question under such bonds."
Dr., McClintock's hope =of • a powerful,. pro:-
I I
gtessive'Prcitestautism is, for the +meson ' i n-the
free cburches, Methodist, Independent, an Bap
tist, Which are known as the Union des glises
.Euangeligue de. France. w , .
The light of evangelical truth is breaking out
in this land of l'orquemada and the Inquisition.
By treachery, or some accident, the clergy have
discovered the existence of a Protestant Society,
purely religious in its character,in Granada,
and have made a number of arrests, but ha . ve
retained only two prisoners; Alhama and Ma
tamoros, who are represented as remaining
A Geneva paper quoted in the News oje the
Olu says:
"The Spanish government has picked out these
two spiritual leaders of Protestantism as its vic
tims, in order to annihilate the Protestantism of
Spain with them.
"The alarnr 'which these revelations, and the
imprisonment of the tsvo brethren, has excited in
all the Spanish Protestant Associations, is inde
scribable. Six persons have already fled to Gib
raltar, in order to escape captivity. Their families
are left in great distress" and fear, and are every
Moment expecting that the disappointed priests,
by whom the persecution has been instituted, will
turn against them"
PROGRESS. BALDNESS OF GARIBALBL—Speak
ing of the moral results of the late Revolution in
Italy, a correspondent of The Metitodt:lt, says:
"The order of the Jesuits is, completely broken
up, and their magnificent monastery is now a hos
pital for the wounded patriots. The
_public de
nunciation of, the errors of the Church and the
sins of the priesthood is not only allowed but ap
plauded. In the presence of 60,000 people, on
the Largo del Palazzo Reale, Garibaldi, delivered
a speech, in which he called the Pope "the enemy
of Italy, the devil, and the anti-Christ." It re
quired the courage of an angel to say it; but he
said it, and the people cheere him with unbound
ed enthusiasm. There were many priests in the
assemblage, and being convinced of their.error, or
fearing the people, they also joined in the ap
plause. No one anticipated such a speech, and
those not present refused to credit the report till
they saw the address in the papers-the following•
morning. No, man" since -t-46 days of Luther has.
had the moral courage to utter truths so bold and
destructive in a Roman Catholic country,, and that,
too, under the shadow of the Vatican. The Dic
tator of the Two Sicilies is no orator, but speaks
straight on." 't
THE WALDENSIAN CHURCH.--God's providence
amid the changes and' convulsions of human his
tory is nowhere more clearly seen than in the pre
servation of this Church of Alpine Italy to the
present hour. Dr. Al'Olintock, writing to the
Christian World on the evangelization of Italy,
quotes a Swiss paper to the effect that the " Church"
of the Waldenses, as an Italian Church, is destined
for this work, both by right and by duty; and that
sbe would show herself unfaithful to her mission
if she did - not place herself at the head of the
movement," and then' adds:
"Let the post of honor, of.duty, and of trial be
granted to this long-suffering, persecuted, but
faithful Church of
_Christ. Instead of disputing
her right to.this post, let *us bold ,up her hands,
and give her all the moral and material support
our, power. And what we do, let us do quickly I
The time is now more favorable for Christian
effort in Italy than it has been for centuries.
. . . . . But the field is vast and the la
borers tire few. The feeble Church of Piedmont
cannot do this work alone. There is room in
Italy for the activity of every Christian Church in
.England and America; and the Waldenses, in
stead of repelling foreign aid, welcome it—even
implore it.
"Considering that it.was safer to offer Bibles
and to preach evangelical religion,in Turkey' two
years ago than in Central and Southern Italy, we
may well exclaim, in -view of the present state of.
things, ' What hath God wrought?'"
The correspondent of the News of the Churches,
says of the Scotch ministers in Italy:
"They had sufficient knowledge of the intense
prejudice entertained by Italians against everything
foreign, not to attempt setting up an Italian branch
of the Scottish Church. . . . Hence, from
their first establishment in Italy, they have felt it
their duty to aid this native church, to strengthen
its hands, and to encourage its ministers to under
take the work for.whioh God had so manifestly
preserved their church.
GERMANY
BATrit OF TUBINGEN.—This distinguished
Hegelian philosopher and theologian, who studied
the Scriptures and the history of Christianity with
a view to their overthrow, far more assidtiously
than do most of their friends, died, on Sabbath,
December 2d, of last year.. The correspondent of
the Neics of the Churches thus speaks of the man,
-his labors and , his end
4 ‘.1. haverknown him &ring 'Wit' years, and' had
much personal intercourse with him; and although
he knew. that my theological
,views were quite the
opposite of his, own, Lneve,r met any gentleman of
such an amiable character. At the same time, no
one cast so much ridicule otrall• the Christian ac
tivity of our present century--on missionary so
cieties, Kirehentag, Evangelical Alliance, etc.,—
as he did in his lectures. No one in Tilbingen
ever exercised such a strong_perSonal influence
over the students, nor took away from so many the
dearest treasures of their heart, the faith of their
childhood, the fruits of the prayers and tears of
their parents, and the tranquillity of their whole
future life. . . . Is it not an awful thing to
think how he met before the throne of God the
`souls of those who know of some) cursed him
on their death-beds for having shaken their faith,
and having taken away from them all hope for
time and eternity?"
Ix BOHEMIA there is a, remarkable movement
among the Roman Catholics in favor of Protest
antism. In the village of Spalow, sixty persons,
heads of families, most of them owners of land,
haver quitted the Romish Church .and been re
ceived into ',the Lutheran. Communion at Krisph
litz. In fact, all the inhabitants of Spalow, above
eighteen years of age, have applied to be received
intoithe. Lutheran Church, and the movement has
extended to the adjacent parishes of Bytanclior,
I3askov, Kamenik, and • other.places.
EVANGELISM OF THE 18TH CENTURY.
From an article on this topic in the January
number of the Presbyterian Qetarkrly Review, we
make the following extracts, which we think will
be found both interesting and profitable.
PECULIAR ESE OF THE WORD METHODIST.
Referring to the large significance given to this
word by Isaac Taylor in his "Wesley and Metho
dism," the writer says:—
But it must be remarked that this use of the
word Methodism is very general and comprehen
sive. It is used as inclusive, of the policy adopted
by Wesley, Whitefield, Harris, and their coadju
tors. It is singularly unfortunate that the word
has been appropriated as. simply expressive of the
distingaishing featuree of a single religious sect,
and always associated With their history. It be
keep in.mo , far asitelesizeity specialesignifieetioo,
to the whole Church of Christ as re-awakened and
summoned to a new and ever brightening mission,
from the slumbers and stupor .of two centuries.
Mr. Taylor does not regard the system now called
Methodism as holding any relation to that of the
last century. Indeed, he expressly tells us that
the Methodism of the eighteenth century has
ceased to have any extant representative among us.
None are there now, who with an entire eongeni
ality"of feeling 'can interpret to us its phases, or
can warmly anti forcibly speak of it, and plead for
it as a reality with which they themselves are con
versant." We are somewhat inclined to question
whethe'r this vigorous writer has not expressed his
opinion too strongly upon this point. To say that
Methodism ha.s undergone a very radical change
both in its form and spirit, is simply to affirm a
self-evident position to any who are at all familiar
with its history for the last half century. But
we doubt if it be true that it has "ceased to have
any extant representative among us.'"
NOT A DOCTRINAL REFORMATION.
_ The .primitive Methodists entertained not the
remotest idea of reforming the doctrines of Chris
tendom, nor of making their mark on the creed of
the Church future. <They dealt with interests far
more tangible, and more speedily realized to their
hearts—the spiritual renovation and rescue of mil
lions of souls, " dead in Adam" but " alive in
Christ," from sin and hell. And from this.
mighty work, they thought not to come down to
break lances with theological combatants, nor spend
their strength in metaphysical and scholastic dis
cussions. However much the professed successors
of the primitive. Methodistic company have set
themselves in array against the doctrines of Cal
vinism, and cried "bigotry!" in the ears of the
disciples of the champion of Geneva, they will find
but poor comfort in a reference to the true history
of primitive Wesleyan Methodism. Neither John
Wesley nor any' of his associates in that great and
glorious reign of grace;' was capable of reforming
the creed of Calvin. Fletcher, of Madely, wha is
reckoned as the conservator of Methodist theolo
gy, was very tar below the standard for one who
should take upon himielf to reform or re-construct
a system of doctrines so thoroughly compacted and
so impregnably fortified from the 'word of God.
So far as we can see, not one of: all - those heroic
souls who, commenced that,wonderful evangelistic
mireement, was mentally fitted to lay broad and
deep a'theological and philosophical basis for the
future Church When God wants men for a spe-
Ojai exigency or a particular field; he brings them
forward, amply qualified for the work , committed
to their charge. Those men, as we have said, were
not fitted eitger by nature or culture, or experience,
for doctrinal reformers. And hence we believe
that Metliodism was never commissioned for this
specific work. 'We must be pardoned for any
seeming want of, charity, in declaring our belief
that it travelled out, of its legitimate sphere, when
it undertook the work of reforming the creed of
Christendom. Vast, far-reaching, and glorious,
as have been the results of the Methodist move
ment, who shall tell us that they would not have
been-far greater and more, glorious, had there been
a strict and unwavering adherence to the doctrines
so glowingly sounded - forth by Whitefield, and
others of their most distinguished founders? Me- I
thodista ' considered as a system of doctrines, has
never taken, can never take, high rank. Its ge
niusleads not in that direction; its heavenly mis
sion,, though by no means less important, was not
distinctively doctrinal. In this opinion, we are
conscious of no prejudice, and we cannot but be
lieve that those will agree with us who carefullY
and impartially study the intellectual and religious
character of the early " Methodistic Company."
Of this company,. Mr. Taylor says: "But with
what order of men is it that we have to do? Let
\ it be confessed that 'this" company .does not in
clude One mind of that amplitude and grandeur,
the contemplation of which, as a natural object—
a sample of humanity—excites a pleasurable awe
and swells the bosom with a 'vague ambition, or
with a noble emulation.' Not one of the founders
of Methodism can claim to stand on any such high
level; nor was one of them gifted with the philo
sophical faculty, the abstractive i analytic power.
More than ene.was a shrewdand exact, logician,
but nene a master of the higher reason. Not one
was erudite in more than an ordinary degree. not
one was an accomplished scholar'. Yet'while.se:,
VOL. V.—NO. 24.—Whole No. 241.
veral were fairly learned, few were illiterate, and
none showed themselves to be imbued with fana
ticism and ignorance."
And here we are not to forget the important
part acted by the mother of John Wesley. We
cannot doubt that the system of lay preaching,
which formed so distinct and characteristic an ele
ment in the great religious undertaking of that
day, in its origin was attributable, in no consi
derable a degree, to her influence, through her il
lustrious son. When Mr. Maxfield, the first reo.u.-
n
lay preacher, commenced his career, many of
theleaders thought he had usurped the sacred of
fice. On Mr. Wesley's return to London from a
preaching tour, the case was laid before him, and
those who had been scandalized, represented the
matter as a great and grave irregularity and griev
ande, that should be immediately corrected. Wes
ley was at once indignant at their breach of order,
and being at the house of his mother, tnanifeAcd
great. displeasure in her presence, who, on Steing
it, :inquired the cause, to which he replied,
"Thomas Maxfield has, I understand, turned
preached" Looking him seriously in the face,
she said: "John, you know what my sentiments
have been, you cannot suspect me of readily fa
. vouring anything of this kind; but," she added,
"take care what you do with that young man, for
be is as surely called-of God to preach as you are.
Examine what have been the fruits of his preaching,
and learn yourself." lie heard Mr. Maxfield, and
at once expressed both his satisfaction and his
Sanction, by saying, "It is the Lord, let him do
what seemeth him good l''
ANCIENT AND MODERN CONSPIRA-
When we read the pages of Sallust and the ora
tions of Cicero, we are apt to congratulate our
selves that the world moves and that what with Chris
tianity ou the one=side, and the education of the
people on the other, such characters, or at least
such conspiracies as that of Catiline are now ren
dered impossible. And yet there is not a more
instructive page in the history of mankind for us
just now in these Tinited. States than that which
tells us of this most desperate and wonderful of
conspirators, who died half a century before the
birth of Christ. A Washington grand jury has
Proved this. Catiline himself wasa worn-out first
family man, dissipated but desperate, a bold, daring,
yet plausible senator, "always arriving," us Sal
lust says, " at the immoderate and excessive, and
things, out of probability." Yet all his worst
characteristics were so well concealed, that he ap
peared respectable enough, in public life, to be first
a Queestor, and then an Ambassador into Macedo
nia, followed by high command in the army under
Sylla,-whose unscrupulous agent he became. By
means of lists of proscribed persons, he execut
Lynch law upon numberless persons, and enriched
himself by seizing 'Rua appropriating their pro
perty..
, Such gains seldom last, and he saw no prospect
of retrieving his own affairs, but by throwing those
of the State into confusion. He, therefore, formed a
- conspiracy with a number of other young men of the
first families and political influence, but dilapidated
fortunes, to murder the Consuls and a sufficient
number of the Seuators, to leave them a working
'majority, and then seize the government. Porn
pey.-was'Sant off cm:foreign victories and afterwards
indined-to remain neutral, and the conspirators
had gained over a number. of the old soldiers of
Sylia. ia said thatthis-conspiracy failed twice,
through a niiatake in the signals of Catiline.
It is certain that Catiline ran for Consul and
that Cicero ran against him and defeated him.
The next year Catiline and his coadjutors resolved
by force or fraud, to effect their object of breaking
up the government, and were as sanguine as un
scrupulous.
Italy was kept withobt soldiers except the vete
rats of Sylla, who were ready at a signal under
Manlius. Cicero believed the conspiracy was going
on, but could not prove it, or deemed it imprudent
to do so, though be only escaped assassination him
self by private information of the whole from
the mistress of one of the conspirators. At last
Catiline, having •borrowed large sums of money,
and Cicero being well posted up, accused him pub
licly in the Senate Chamber, and got a decree
passed that " the consuls should see that the re
public received no damage." This gave Cicero
the power to put down the treason and save Rowe
from being seized and subjugated, if not fired and
plundered.
Yet, so impudent was Catiline, that he with
stood Cicero, and inveighed against him and the
government as highly - oppressive. At last, en
raged that he could-not carry the Senate, he de
fied and left them, threatening vengeance, some
what as certain Senators did on retiring the other
day. Then he formed a desperate rebellion, led
on his troops, and at .last died, when defeated,
sword in hand, his countenance in death itself,
wearing the terrible ferocity and cruelty of aspect
that made the poet Virgil picture his punishment,
in. Tartarus, as the type of the irrevocable doom
of the most vile. What Rome would have been,
but for the lofty virtue of Cicero, none can tell.
Catiline was one of a minority, it is true, but it
was just that sort of a minority that make up by
despotism, what they lack in numbers, in wisdom
or in virtue.'
When the history of the recent conspiracy of
Secretary Floyd and his associates conies to be
written ont, the parallel between it and the Cati
line conspiracy will be seen to be most remarka
ble. . There was not so much false swearing in the
ancient conspiracy, not so much specious abuse
through forms of law of lofty trusts. Altogether
there , was not the same scope of purpose or truly
Satanic subtlety of contrivance, to pit one half a•
nation against, the other. There were no stolen
arms, forts and . accoutrements for half a million.
The treasury was emptied now, the trust funds
stolen. But for that most splendid of all Cicero's
invectives, the memory of the whole affair would
have died almost out of history, like the exploded
bomb of Orsini. We have been having, if we
have not now, a far more horrible conspiracy than
that of Catiline, acting in Washington during the
last twelve months. But alas, it is not so easy to
find the Cicero to immortalize the whole by a wise,
virtuous and modest.statesmanship that shall ex
tinguish it, or the splendor of an eloquence . that
can embalm the deed and hand it down for the in
struction of all coming time.
Philadelphia Ledger.
Some editors are always accusing the North of
hard language, and, hint that Northern clergymen
ought to be put down by violence for expressing
their honest, convictions. The following is the
language which the North Carolina Presbyterian
applies to the venerable Dr. Hodge, of Princeton:
‘!When it is known that for several years past,
he. has been an ultra free•soiler—that four years
ago he voted for Frewont, : ,aud again for Lincoln
—that he'has never forgiven himself for having
on two occasions ventured to meet Dr. Thornwell
in great debate on the floor of the Assembly, and
never forgiven . Dr. Thornwell for the humiliating
defeat which he ,encountered on both occasions;
when all these things are remembered, this ex
traordinary article in the Repertory will be de
prived'of 'some of its power to injure, and will
awaken pitifor the folly of its author.
A SI4NISII 'weekly nexvspaper in,now . publi4ed
in rondon.
LAY PREACHERS. MR. MAXFIELD
SOFT WORDS.