PRESBYTERIAN .. BANNER .44i..' ADVOCATE p r ..byterian Banner, Vol. V, XO. 17. Presbyterian Advocate. Vol. XIXI No. 12. DAVID MeKINNEY, Editor and Proprietor. TERMS.-IN ADVANCE. Original ,getrg, Lines to a Lady in Prospect of Death. BY W. P. TWITSWORTH. My soul is grieved to hear you mourn, Though sickness does oppress you; Your pains are not what once were borne By Him who does distress y,u• 'T is for your good this grief is sent, ' T is for your comfort given ; Oh ! why dci you so much lament, Your home is high in heaven. Ilavo you rich treasures here on earth, Among the helpless living, You value more in point of worth Than all the wealth of heaven ? 'T is needful, then, you stand in awe, For fear you're not forgiven ; • For none who cling to mammon's law Are fit to enter heaven. There is a dread o'erhangs the grave, The living don't deny it ; An awful gluom on Jordan's wave, But Christians firm defy it. Though in the floods you seem to sink, By storm and tempest driven; 'T is but a sign you're at the brink, The very gate of heaven. Though young, you may be called away, Awhile in earth to slumber; 'T is but to wake from night to day, Where cares will not encumber. Your loss on earth is heavenly gain, The Bible does assure you; Of every sin and mortal pain, Its balm alone can cure you. Oh why then dread to cross the stream, O'er which, you 're free from danger; The fear of which is all,a dream, To bliss you're yet a stranger. Ten thousand harps will hail you there, And grept you home in glory ; Your father, too, your joys will share, And hear your happy story. Your sisters, too, among that throng, Arrayed in robes of splendor, Will meet you there with harps of song Attuned to accents tender. Cease, then, to fear the hollow tomb, 'T is but as sleep in even ; Lie down to empty dreams of gloom, And wake to bliss in heaven For the Presbyterian Balmer and Advocate. OR, LETTERS TO A - PRIEND,ON TICE DOCTRINES AND DUTIES OP THE BIBLE. Letter IL—God and lis Law. For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our law giver.—lsa, xxxiii: 22. My DEAR FRIEND :—lt is very gratifying to me to know, as you have informed me, that you have "always been in the habit of secret prayer ;" and that now for some time you have been "praying with increased earnestness." This is well; it is both a duty and a privilege ; but do not depend on your prayers; depend only upon Christ. That 1 may lead you to do so, I will devote two or three letters to the consideration of God and his law. I shall speak very plain ly, but I hope tenderly ; and if I wound, it will only be that you may go to Christ for healing. He is the Great Physician.—Jer. viii: 20-22. Come now, and let us reason together.— Isa. i : 18. He that cometh to God must believe that he is.—Heb. xi : 6. Of course you believe that God is, or you would not pray to him. You have no doubt of his ex istence. You never questioned the exist ence of God. You believe, you feel, you know there is a God. It is one of the deepest, and most settled, and fixed convic tions of your soul, that Gon Is. You would, I know, as soon question your own existence, question the existence of God. You see he evidence of his existence every where around you. It is written on every blade,of grass, and on every flower of the field; it shines in the rays of the sun; it sparkles in the stars; it speaks in your own frame, so fearfully and wonderfully made; it is written and inwrought into the very constitution of your nature. Yes, God is : from everlast ing to everlasting; and he is our Maker an.l Preserver; he is the Lord, our judge, and our lawgiver; he is our King.—lsa. xxxiii : 22. , And the GOd in whom you believe, and t) whom you pray, is a personal and inde pendent being; God, the Lord, Jehovah, the great 1 AN j not nature, nor a principle pervading all things, and inseparable from the visible creation ; but Mind, a self-exist ing Intelligence, having intellect and will, the Creator' and Governor of all things; a personal God, who can say, I am, I exist; who is independent of his works, who rules atl reigns over his works, and who order's and dirtets all events; and in whom'you live, and move, and have your being.—Acts xvil : 28. Were there no worlds, no exter nal creation, he still would be God. And bow absurd to speak of creation as a devel cPment of God, or the growth of a hidden principle in nature I No ; creation is not God; but it is God's work. In the begin ning., when there was nothing, God created the heaven and the earth.—Gen. i : 1. He called the worlds into existence by his word; he willed, and they were ; he spake, and it was done I " The work of creation is God's making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good."—Sh. Cat., (;),„,. 9. He was before all things, and hence is indepen dent of all things; he made all things, and hence is superior to all things; and he con trols all things, the lawgiver, and the judge. The laws of nature are God's laws; he gov erns the material, as well as the intellig en t and moral universe. He is the universal lawgiver ' and the universal judge : not a sparrow falls on the ground without him.— Matt. x : 29. And how delightful to think, that the universe is not controlled by blind principles; but by a God of intelligence and love, whose will controls the stars in their courses, and the atoms that float in the air; who rules over all, and does all his pleasure.! The Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver.—lsa. xxxiii : 22. The Lord reign eth ; let the earth rejoice —Ps. lxlvii : 1. Ilere is an argument for submission; here 1 , 8 encouragement for prayer. There would t 'Q l 7lO virtue in submitting to a principle, unless there is virtue in necessity. And you "ONE THING IS NEEDFUL:" "ONE THING HAVE I. DESIRED OF THE LORD:" "THIS ONE THING I DO." would not pray to a principle—to a law—to electricity, for instance ; but you address your prayers to a personal God, to a God who is, to a Being who exists in and of himself, who has power, intelligence, and will ; and who is the Hearer and Answerer of prayer, because he is sovereign and independent, God over all, Supreme and alone, doing his pleasure in heaven and on earth; the judge, the lawgiver, the king; the infinite Mind, a personal being, the eternal and unchange able God. Such is the God in whom you believe, and to whom you pray ; the God of the Bible ; your Maker, your ruler, and your judge; Father Son, and Holy Ghost, three persons, one rather, " the same in substance, equal in power and glory."—Sh. Cat., Qum 4-6. Dr. A. Alexander says, " God is a person, distinct from the universe. Every being who professes intellect and will, is a person. The execution of any work of design, in which there is an adaptation of means to ends, and a harmonious operation of parts to produce a desirable effect, necessarily in volves the existence, both of intellect and will. The idea that the universe is God, or that God is the soul of the world, but not a person distinct from it, is nothing more than a disguised system of atheism. God is dis tinct from, and independent of all creatures." —Bible Truth, published by Presbyterian Board, p. 11. And his perfections are infinite. Thus your Catechism teaches, "God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth."—Sh. Cat., Ques. 4. Infinity cannot be comprehended by our finite minds. We may know something of God; but 0 how little ! Who, by search ing, can find out God ? Who can find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is high as heaven ; what most thou do ? deeper than hell; what mist thou know ? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.—Job xi : 7-9. Hell is naked before him, and' destruction hath no covering. He streteheth out the North over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.—Job xxvi : 6, 7. He is, as he proclaimeth himself to Moses, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gra cious, long suffering, and abundant in good ness and truth, keepinc , mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty ; for he is just, as well as merciful and kind; a God of truth, and without iniquity, just.and right is he.—Ex. xxxiv : 6,7; Deut. xxxii : 4. And while all his perfections are infinite, and all his attributes are equally dear to him, his holiness is :his glory: His charac ter is spotless purity. His holiness is abso lute. It is his crowning perfection. God is light I His very nature is holiness itself. Whatever is impure is infinitely odious to him;.sin is an abominatinn to him; he hates it with perfect hatred.'' - tier'. the heavens are not clean in his sight, and his angels he charged with folly.—Job iv: 18, and xv: 15. How vile, and hateful, then, must we appear ! Well may we cry, unclean; God be merciful to us sinners, when we know that the angels veil their faces before him, and cry, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty I—Luke xviii: 13 ; Isa. vi: 3; Rev. iv: 8. Holy, thrice holy; infinitely pure, yea, purity itself ;• infinitely holy, yea, holiness itself ! Alas, how inadequate are our conceptions of the infinite God, who is holiness itself Infinite holiness ! Who can gaze upon the sun as he shines in his splendor ? Who can look upon God—who can even think of him, unawed. No mortal can look upon bim and live. Should he re veal hmself to us in all his glory, we should fall at his feet as dead; yea, overcome by the exceeding brightness, we should at once expire " The Lord Jehovah reigns, His throne is built on high; The garments he assumes, Are light and majesty. His glories shine with beams so bright, No mortal eye can bear the sight." It is only in the face of Jesus Christ that we can look upon this exceeding brightness undazzled ; it is only through Jesus Christ that we can approach God and live. Look to Jesus, and God will be your friend. Read Ps, xxxix, and John, xiv chapter. Yours, truly. For the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate BETHEL Rooms, Cleveland, December, 1856. Mn. Erwros. :—I have read, with much interest, the following letter, from our excel lent chaplain among the river men of Pitts burgh; and I am confident it will be re ceived with pleasure by your numerous readers. The rich blessing of heaven is every where attending our efforts among'Suilors and Boatmen. This letter of brother Dallas is only a specimen from my portfolio, re ceived from every lake and river in the West. Very truly you*, R. H. LEONARD, Cor. Sec. W. S. F. Society. BROTHER LEONARD:—Another year has closed of Bethel labor among our eight thousand boatmen, properly belonging to the active commerce of Pittsburgh. FrequentlY, with the prophet, have I said, 46 Who hath believed our report ? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed ?" And then again have I been chastened for my repining, when I remember the infancy of our effort, and the sparseness Of laborers, in this populous, and long-neglected field. I mark with pleasure the improving con dition of morals on our waters. An intem perate and profane man is no lOnger esteemed worthy of trust among our boatmen ; and, consequently, must seek employment else where, or consent to be governed by the im proved police of the boat. Thousands of boatmen would rejoice, if our marine laws were so amended, as to bring our internal commerce under the control of sabbatical laws, regulating other worldly business. Some of our boats are running on Sabbath keeping principles. But those excellent men, who make this strike for right and .God, suffer many times great perplexity and annoyance, both from the water and the land. From the water, by those less con scientious, preceding them into port, and engrossing the business; and from the land, Per3bance, by complaining etookholders, business houses, or travelers. This bar to the sanctification of our commerce will exist until a higher moral sentiment, pleading - for God :nd'hwanity, shall move controlling PUBLICATION OFFICE, GAZETTE ; 1 I : ' ;I ' ; ;I ' , ' 11 '• DING SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1857. capitalists to give back to the boatmen God's holy Sabbath. • Twenty•six days, in the calendar of the landsman, constitute the laborer's month; while thirty-one are exacted from the water• man—allowing him no time for intellectual and moral improvement. But few casualties have occurred during. the past year on our rivers. I will give you one painful incident, of peculiar interest. The new steamer Metropolis, on her first trip, exploded her boiler. Her commander, Capt. E. C. Hazlett, of this port, was fatally scalded, by inhaling steam. For a time, he seemed indifferent to his own injuries, in his ooncern for others He stood at his ,post until the boat was landed and made fast, and then sank from exhaustion., He . was then borne.to a house near at hand, ,and ,by his physician informed that he.sould •survive but a short time. Six weeks prior to this catastrophe, he sought. God in the pardon of sin, and united with the Church. With the voyage of life now suddenly closing, he through an, attendant, addressed his dying message to his eldest son : "Tell• Hiram that lam going to Jesus." Thus died a most worthy officer, long connected with our commerce, in the possession of God's favor, worth more to him now than the wealth of nations. I hope I may, without appearing egotis tical, cite a few instances of the good re sults of Bethel labor. On my .regular rounds. of duty I meet with many interest ing items. On one , occasion, on offering a y,oung,tnan a tract, he remarked, ".It is no use for me to take it, for it will do me no good." Be foie I had time to reason with him on the matter, a:religious boatman, overhearing his remarks, stepped forward and said, "Yes it will; for it was by reading a tract given, me at this port that I first resolved to be a good man." On another occasion, meeting a boatman on the wharf, I inquired where be was going. He said, lam looking for a berth, by the time the ice breaks ,up." I exhorted him to seek first the salvation of his soul, and then, as a Christian, take his place on the river, and live for God, while making a living for his family. He seemed deeply impressed with a sense of duty. The same day I called at his house, and urged the importance of both husband and wife consecrating themselves and children to God. With deep emotion they both re solved to do so. One week hence the hus- band rejoiced in the love of God, and both united with the church. About the same time, I was greatly cheered by the intelligence ,of the conver sion of some young men with whom I had been laboring, on the Beaver and Erie Canal. Another case of unusual interest trans pired, in the very triumphant death of a young lady,,a member of our Bible Class, who was brought t 5 Christ through the instrumental ity of our Sabbath School. I might swell this report to 'an undue length, by a number of Additional circum stances analogous to the above, but forbear. Onr river men exhibit a growing appre ciation of our Bethel, by an increasing at tendance upon the nieans of grace. But a suspension of steamboat navigation for the last three months'has diminished our con gregations; 'for whatever affects navigation, produces a corresponding result upon our Bethel. But a rise in the river will restore our numbers. I regularly visit our boats, distributing the Word of God, tracts and periodicals among the crews. I find work enough to engross my time, engage my head, and en list my heart. Our Sabbath School, though small, is doing a good work. And now I look. to God, and the future, for greater blessings to be developed through the instrumentality of our Bethel. J. DALLAS. Pittsburgh, Pa., Oct. 1, 1856. For, the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate Sitting in Church in Time of Prayer. We fear that this habit, which we can not but regard as irreverent, is on the in crease, and that it prevails to a great extent already. We are not now aboutto discuss the propriety or ;impropriety of the cus tom, but to remark that not long since, the writer was present at a meeting of minis ters, at which it sermon was preached spe cially to them, arid at the time of the first prayer, only six besides myself rose. Now, this was. in New England, where we had ex pected better things. And on examining au old volume, published at' Boston, 1725, containing, among other matters, the action of the Synod of Cambridge, 1679, to which two questions were proposed; 1. What are the evils that have provoked the Lord to bring his judgments on New England? 2. What is to be done so that those evils may be. reformed In answer to the first; under the fourth head, they say; There is great' 1110FANENESS in respeet.of irreverent behav ior in the solemn worship of God: It is a frequent thing for men, though not necessi tated thereto by, any infirmity, to sit in prayer-time and some with their heads al most covered, or to give way to their own sloth and sleepines,s when they should be serving God with attention, and intention, under the solemn dispensation of his 'ordi nances. We read of but one man in the Scripture that slept at a sermon, and that sin had like to eoit him his life : Acts ix : 9." Have these important prinCiples changed since 1679, or have men improved, or de generated, since the < < days of their fathers.? LAY LABons.—The Puritan Recorder says:""We have an illustration of the an tagonism between Lay Preaching and de pressing errors in the`customs that prevailed in, our. Congregational churches in this vi cinity, at the time when 'Unitarianism had come into possession of all the churches in Boston but one. At the date of 1804, a few members of the Old Cburch—those that afterwards formed the nucleus of Park Street Church—desired to unite in sustain ing a prayer-meeting ; but they found a difficulty, in that none of them had ever ventured to lead in social prayer. When, therefore, they could not have a prayer-meet ing, they formed. a " Society for Religious Improvement," at the meetings of which they read the Scriptures, and engaged in religious conversation. Mit after about a month they were able to pray. Thus had the sweep of blighting error in Boston so repressed the evangelical'efforts•of laymen,- that there were none in all our chfirches to be, found even to conduct a: piayer•mecting." From our London Corrfspondeut. [The following letter wasrdue some weeks ago, but the steamer on which was sent was disabled, and forced toreturn. Still, though late in appearing, it:tis well worthy a perusal. It is needful to full notice of passing events .—Ed.] A Visit to Brighton—lts invalitVC/imate, Recre at/one—As Rise and Progress—The Prince Re sent, and the Pavilion—Relidion there—lts Foes and Friends—lrish Schools", l 4ind the &idlers' Visit—lrish and English Unitakaniem—The _Free Church S'ustentation Fund—ftaining of Students —London Charities—The Idi:Wand Orphan Asy • lusq—An _Election Scene-T' tench and Eng lish Press--Louis Napoieo ,nZ z ' New ,Bizhop—The ='- Dean of CarlislePersia . --Ilyik Pak, • Confer- ence,-.lfing of Naples. LONDON, 1 have recently paid .6 TON, ntoWn on the coast with peculiai interest In one respect, Br miles distant from the described as the West instead of semi-rural solitude, unbroken say , surging tides, Brig} Auium - n and 'Winter. and highways, filled ionables To Brighton come from every part of but also , from India, ti parts of the world. have seen, hobbling on pale atrd'shattered, on many an officer, who, mann, had suffered• ft of the Russians. N, peered ; but there are in Bath chairs, living under the oomparlaf November day, whose spinal disease, or other fatal maladies. The London season Parliament meets, (n( . ;)and so escaping London fog athing a stimu lating, bracing atmosi , ..haying althe appliances of luxury • it tok clubs, circu lating libraries, news-r , Joquertai as well as in carriages and be _Afulriding horses, (their own property, thired,) here are found—passing as goodakApleailant a Winter as our moist cliniateii' radniit---lordeand ladies of high degree gether; with' our go patrician-looking, retir*effip,ess, andlEng lish gentlemen with their families • qas .J. . ~,...., This Brighton is Simko t a French town, , in its aspect. It has ri."#ii%p,' (if it be beau tiful, as in a measure it 4.14) like `Aphrodite, from the sea. And t c ',Ma:repent affair. , True that Brighton ha ' Ratne- , before the hi e days of George, the'PliAti, Regent, (after- wards George 1V.,) - wlr,.' paying his first visit to it in 1782, afte , ds 'ehose it as a place to be petted an: *mired; and ;built therein a Royal Pavili - „Olvtewliat , likethe ' 4 . drawings one sees Of. 4,Kreinlin at Mos- - cow, with domes andtaires, with a long " Chinese gallery," and gaudY apartments within. Hither that.'" finest gentlernan in Europe," as some - called - him, but rather that libertine Prince; ; lnVed to. come';- and here he held his revels. Not far off is the house where Mrs. Fitzherbert, (his wife, if the ceremony of marriage reatiy, performed could make her se,) lived,'"and to Which it was said there was a Passage Under ground! " Gorgius," (as Thackeray; in his fine satire against fashidnable vice, calls George 1V.,) so patronized Brighton, that the great world flocked• after him; and although ho and ‘his memory are now alike the prey of corruption, yet the easy distance from Len non, (the flight by railway of an hour and a half,) the breezy downs, the- sheltered vale, the literary leisure,' the' favorable Winter climate, all • continue to keap Brighton„with its bow-windowed streets and squares, its baths, its riding schools,. its ehain pier jut ting far out into the sea, its' churches and chapels, fashionable still. , Religion there has 'its' frienes and foes. Among the latter .; is the coveteousness Of, greedy tradesmen, innlreepen, bath.prbpri eters, lodging-house , keepers, et hoc genus omne, who make the most of "the season." Brighton is thus a costly place, either for an invalid, Or a pleasure-seeker. Besides this vulgar foe to godliness, there are refined, and subtle ,errors abroad, such as Socinianism, and semi-Rationalism„not for getting the, teaching Mr. —, our former minister, who, after his deposition by his Presbytery, has continued, to a 'diminishing band, to put- forth *those doctrines which have recently -been, described as. °" The Neg ative Theology." Here others * have taught and held that doctrinh 'as well as he—one especially, a clergyman' of the' Church of_ England, who excited-much notice in his short career, for;he is in an early grave, and who was reported to have publicly said, that, the popular , the ",Evangelical" doctrine of the Atonement 'and Sedate: , ocChryt, l -was derived''" froth. the Shafiihaniblee Of heathenism I" ' - •‘ . Tractarianism, also, has made its lodgment in Brighton,; and some of its clergy hissed and interrupted Lord Shaftsbury, a couple , - of years ago , , when, at a public meeting on behalf of the Protestant Allianie, he de nounced ' their errors: Roraanism, also, is trying to make progressq, while -Unitarian ism, numbering its little •" eclectic" band, when I was there the Other day, was adver tising sermons on the ,Lord's day, by Chan fling, of Boston, United States. On the other hand, Eiangelical Episco pacy is strong in, Brighton, , and has a firm hold on a large body of devout worshippers and hearers of the higher and middle ranks. The 'children who come -to boarding schools at this favorite place, have thus the advan taLe Of excellent 'teaching on the Sabbath. Congregationalists and Baptists have built fine chapels, and are filling them; while our own English Presbyterian' Church,' though much injured by the defection to the error of a former minister, - has a little band• of faithfni adherents, and, I trust, by the bless:. ing of our King, a noble mission before it. Onits behalf I went to Brighton, and hence the reminiscences' and impressions 'of the place, which 1 now place before you. I ought to add, that in this town, the Bible Society, and most of our best Institutions, have important auxiliaries, and that a Protestant Association, by lectures and pub lic meetings,' is 'vigorously exposing both Tractarianism and Popery: In a word—and I hope it - will justify the length of my sketch—Brighton may be regarded as a microcism of the fashion, the architecture, the literature, the recreations , and the reli gion (or otherwise) of England, and es pecially of mighty London. Passing now over the Channel, to the state of religion in, Ireland, THE PRESBY TERIAN' MISSION SCHOOLS IN THE WEST are still maintaining their position; and in connexion' with industrial training, are proving a blessing' to many young persons, especially to, girls. A pleasing soend pre sented itself a ; little, time ago, in Ballinaglen, County Galway. Philip CeElaherty, whose name is familiar to many of, your readers as 'a convert from Popery, and ifterwards ap interpreter in the British army in the Crimea, is a native of Ballinaglen. Accom panied,,by, another. Galway man, who had been a Soldier-comrade throughout the war, he recently paid a visit to his birth-place; and as Sergeant O'Flaherty, with his medal and clasps,. and in „fttil uniform, he . wap_rr eo. 2, 1856 Ind hear an 'address from him. In ills` Pres Cliurrsh Collede at tilinbuigh, be has cont mencedia course of - Theologioal study, with the view of going out to Turkey as a mis sionary., Thet Ap4OIVS;TRANT SYNOD OP ULSTER, L ktlrish. Unitarians,) had a meeting recently, to revise their code of discipline. On this occasion 'it came ont that there are two par ticle. 'ainengst that' small body, alth6ugh' all agree in denying the doctrine Of then - inky. Irish Unitarianism goes farther than English, or possibly New England .Socinianism,would do, in asking frorua candidate for license • or ordination, a declaration of belief ill the in ' spiratimi of the' Holy Doetor Montgomeri, , who - used to be called "The .of Arianism," ::and confessedly its Coryphaizs at this hour,- wished to have .a clause inserted, whichrecognized'the per sonality, and the ,influences of the Holy Spirit. The Creed of In Arian would thus imake ; "Christ a creature, and the Spirit the creation of a creature," as some one, has eF.- pressed it. • But at all events, it was some thing to have from Dr. M. the recognition' of a distinct Agent,' and to hear him speak !Of .His " sanctifYine :influences. , To his proposal, however,- opposition was made. One minister said,he believed in the, holy spirit ofGod, to hepire but it was just as he believed in the holy spirit of an angel, or a goed - inin. 'The discussion was first• adjoitrned; and then, in consequence of tidings from India, of the death of Doctor, M.'s son, (in the military service of the'Conipany,) the Synod broke up without a deeision on the point mooted. Would that the Divine Spirit— sanctifying 'this remarkable man's bitter be reavements, and teaching, him savingly :7--might, yet cause, declining years to be consecrated to ,the ,bitilding up of the Faith which so long 'he has sought to destrakl' Irish Arianism is Eng ~ is ocinian ism ; and this arises, I believe, from its local proximity to, Presbyterian orthodoxy,,lead ing to a kind of half-way compromise be tween truth and error. Socinianisru here, makes Christ only a man; Arianism yonder, ascribes.to him a pre-existent glory, only, inferior to that of the Father, The .one , utterly ignores the Atonement; the other ascribes something, at least, to ihe Mediation of the Saviour, and attributes to his death some undefined, mys terious virtue. But practically, in ; their re sults, both, make havoc of the souls of men. They freeze, and congeal and ever will do so. Religious earnestness, and intelligent Scriptural piety, can only be found with a living Evangeligo, pervaded by a teaching which glorifies the special office of each of .the persons of • the blessed Trinity, in the great, work of redemption. With regard to Scotland, THE SUSTEN'TA PION FUND OF THE FREE CHURCH contin ues to prosper. For the first six months of the' financial year, (May to November,) the amount is £49,191, an increase on the cot.- responding period of 'last year, of upwards of MN.' This increase is owing, however, to donations; and at the recent meeting of the Assembly's Commission Dr. Buolianan urged the danger of congregations, conch& ing from last year's' increase and Success, that the maximum, was secure. By a•vig orous effort, much more will be accomplished before next Assembly. The TRAINING OF STUDENTS also°cm pie4 attention at the meeting of Commission, specially with regard to the study of the Scriptures, not only in the originals, but in the English version. Theology - is still to be the subject of systematic study, but it is henceforth, to be taught by , " training stu-, dents more in the Bible—teaching them, the• - ology no longer downward to' the Bible, but upward to the Bible."• - Is this not a mighty improvement jitere - not ,here much that issuggestive to all:. Presbyterian collages ?, • Several of our Pifirro C.HA.ltrrrEs have their half-yearly election of, candidates 'at this season. In:two of these lam specially interested. The first is the Idiot Asylum providing a rehige and a home ,for the un-. happy class which gives it' its peculiar title..." . The' founder of this 'admirable Institution; (and its indefatigable supporter tip to this hour,) was -Dr. Andrew Reed, an Jade- pendent minister, whose " Visit to the, American Churches," with Dr. Roby, a Baptist Published about twenty-frie' years ago, was much read in this country, especially in its bearings on the voluntary . question. The Idiot. Asylum has 'a ,family , in its charge of, I . believe, between three• and four hundred. In many eases,' gleams of intelligence, innocent" gladness, and often habits of industry, are looked into life trom the apparently:hopeless soil on which cul tureand care are bestowed. It is sad to see oft-timei a list of one hundred and 'sixty candidates, only thirty of whom can be ad mitted in the 'course of twelve month& The expenses of such' establishments :are necessarily large, but relief thus secured to the distressed and poor parents • is beyond cal culation. A new and beautiful Asylum has been recently erected near Reegate in Surrey; and a special appeal has just been issued, for £5,000, in order to fit it with the necessary furniture for its large and helpless family. The semnd of these charities is " The Infant Orphan Ai3j , lum at Haserstock Hill," (near Hampstead,) founded One hun dred years ago, but within the last ten or twenty years , expanded, very greatly. The Queen is its patron, and by a large donation is entitled to present one orphan every year. The main'supporters of this Institution art the. Evangelical Dissenters. Congregational collections entitle the ministers to annual votes. was present last Friday, for a short time, at the half-yearly election, being interested in the success of the SOD of a poor widow in my own congregation, whose father had been a zealousvisitor of the sick and dyingpoor,and the Secretary of our "Benevolent Society." The election is held in one of the, large pub lic rooms of the * London Tavern. ' As I went up, the staircases were placarded .with the names and claims of orphans appealing to,the eye, while little boys and girls,, and grown persons too, appeal to the ear and heart for votes. The very bannisterg Of the - ottani have cards (tied upon thern,) "from bottrim to top. Going up the stairs, I entered bY mistake a yor in which fol teetim ioldertniv'ct.Thiiike PRP turned away, there islnore ..troney in , these gentlemen's purses tharvwould secure, the election of all. the erphan, candidates up stairs ! Bat they t' keep never minding;" they are busy with their land and gold'speett- Litions ; their hearts areat• the antipodes, not at Haverstook;hill I Upstairs, the large 'room ,(in, which the great London Charity Dinners are held,) filled with a crowd of ladies and gentlemen, around different tables,' on Which' are' dis; played = the • names 'of candidates, with widowed ; mothers, or—where,,both {parents are dead—near ;relatives are reckoning. up the votes ; some hopefully,, others trying to b 017021, Votes, others' despairing of success until next year. It makes one's heart' sad to find only fifteen candidates elected taday, out of nearly two hundred r and to think of the anxiety, exertions, sacrifices, wearisome walks throuo and around .this vast pc tropolis, whiCh are' involved in the election of one 'citild. Once elected, howeverisay •at six .years old, - the. bop'or girl reniains in a, happy Christian ,home till the• age of: four teen,. with the best, Secular, industrial, and religious training, and is then apprenticed' and sent away, with a sum" ofWorley, and with two suita of chithes. Paginianil Infidelity ! where are - your Asylums - F. - %AM strangers, enemies,,, to Christianity; ,yaur "" tender mercies"' are " cruel There have been 113framit between,tha London and,Paris news papers, which are calculated to 40,inj.schief. The Times thierighinitrhas ;seek - a' nOble part as the 'champion dr free' thought and' speech, and is no doubt 'tle` true r exponent of national feeling. The ;Constitutional is supposed to be under the inspiration of some of Louis Napoleon's Cabinet,- but not of the : Emperor himself. He has, hoiever, - it seems; no objection - `to "Spar,": especially aw;our papet tell" the French . editors -to theirteethaint6theytare slaves, and can only write under censorship,- Next comes the Assentblee National, the organ of . the Legitimist and Orleans; factions, 'both Russian in sympathy, and bitterly anti- English. This paper, the other day; grave ly advised the Government to lookafter, the Colony of Algiers, to secure its coast de fences, as - covetous desires were directed toward it by England; Who Would be too glad to make it another Gibraltar; or Mahal As to the Emperor, • nobody believes he would,preserve the, English Alliancea mo ment longer than it suited him. There is good reason to believe that he fostered:the 'quarrel' at Constantinople, (by a ``dispute about the holy places,) which led to the last -war; and that he sought employment. for his soldiers, and that glory won in war which dazzles and keeps quiet a nation so' vain and Tiblatile as the French. Hie 'per am/at-character was always bad. Re is--if apparently- well-founded- rumor spike Arily ---not the nephew of the Great Napoleon, but the offspring of, a Dutch General, and, of Hortenso, the faithless wife of one of Na poleon's brothers. Certainly hi' has 'riot aught of the classic' beauty and contour of face *hi& marked the elder Bonaparteiand all his, family.. He rules, however; .with, a firmer hand than any other Continental monarch;' and Providence has employed, and may use him still, to'accoriplisk mighty changes in the aspect of human affairs; and to hasten onn crisis in Europe which, can not be far away. ANOTHER EVANGELICAL BISHOP • has been selected by Lord Palmerston., The Rev. Robert Bickersteth, (nephew of, the late excellent Rev. Edward I,3ieliersteth, of Wotton,Y Rector of St. Giles:in-the-Fields,‘ London, has just been appointed Bishop of Ripon, in room of Doctor Longley, removed to the • See .of Durhain c The j`ractarian and High Church party have recentlyreceive4 many " a heavy blow and Sore 'discourage 'nient" from Ler& PaltheritOn... The infin.. •eriee - of 'Lord Shaftsbtry oVertitaltbelievel4 bneonsiderable. Mr. Bickerstethcis =a man of fine talents, glowing eloqnence, : . earnest zeal, much refinement of, manner, will boldly resist error in his dioeese, as well as stimulate the clergy to work. ,The following is, a pen 7 and-portrait of the late perpetual CuRATE of Thirteen years ago I eemeltrie eontait With him, and was witness. to his mightt-infhi enee for good : , • - Tun NEW DEAN ,or CARLISLE'S PNRSONNNL.-A correspondent of the qartisie Journal 'says: In person Mr. Cloee is about feet' in height, of stalwartproportions,nud handsorae . countenance; he hap of late years become quite_gray, and at prose Tat his eilteararicainthe pulpit venerable beyond his years. 1 liut' , there is no . indication of old age in his face, yoice,,,cr manner of delivaryi and it is to be hoped he will live y'dt:fiii aniimber of years to enjoy his. *ell earned preferment 'in the Church smite be theimeans of, usefulness to society. Of course, it must be interesting those'smongst whom the Dean will have tolaber, to understand-something as to, hie style of ,pulpit oratory, and it may be described in a few words, as highly attractive and pleasing. Nothing will so forcibly. influence the'hearer of his . discourses, as the exceeding plainness of speech with which he illustrated:hie argument, the entirenbsende of that which maybe termed the thesis-theological, and the sound Scriptural basis laid down for every Position 'advanced. No fine-drawn dietinctions; no, oratorical flourish,. and.no,abstrtise or .obsoure statements for him. The lack of ornament, which some persons admire, is fully` nempeiniitted for by his earnestness iof manner, , hhi, clear! musical voice, the variety exhildte,d in ettph,sermoikand his evident disregard ii ' kind— his' only - purpose palpable-L-to bring conviction home to the hearts of his hearers, : Thetßritish , EXPXDIVION AGAINST,.P.Fat sTA sailed, for-the ,Persian .Gulf, and Only lead to ,various complications: Russia will. not fike the o l on - upitisinof Herht a -Which =1 Philadelphia, 7,7: South Tenth Street, below.diestnt By Mail , or at the Otani, 11:50 •pét.ll4r, i 4 a'. l ' Delivered in the City, ' 1.75 a 4$ sn PROSPECTUS IBM WHOLE ' 5125 the Titms of to-day says ek,tha,idkuaate ob ject. , A SXCiritiV" gdwrEitiN•idi 190ii,;it ie , now said,. wijlmeet t to Aettli,ilie:que4loi of Bolgrad, and the. Isle Hof Serpents. ,far, Russia seems:to = prevail' over Lord. Pahrrer. t3tou; but neither England norTiltzlely nor yet . A ustria ,: will: ;Alin Bolgre'd, and this iniminand theDaifiloc. France hail played a fast and loose pohcy on this question.. There Are, E. l .4nTs) t.( . 4aY otNi. ) ./111 3 7- - Eze:rx.ow sipix.r,, which is soon to Abe put down in lifood: hi; now that, thrOugh the entreaties of the Russian ezai, - 'tlie King of Naples-1;a-- yield, and grant a large amnesty_ ere long. J.-_ W. ..tg,C,„, 'ft qftrri, . "Do nothing (said Lady Elizab eth Brooke) f„', .Iport. wlueli ,yon_ 47,3 not ask God'a blessing." ' ' HENRY used to, say s ," When,tl3 mind and the coiiiiitioirmeet"tier tent ; i 4 e id . ,y , , • , C 94.. liinazoiSbionn.—Wearing titbi t : shoes and"corttiisteiciiiiigs t au` - diin i p - nighisilitid. in cool, rainy weather. Wearing insUfficitnt clothing, and-especially upon the limbs and extremities., - era`[ 7 SABBATH • ,011.DINATIOArz--The Aar SU thorities .of ,Cotambus, ; Miss., ; , have ; - paled .an, ordinance, prohibiting boats .from dis charging or receiving freightkit that place the 'Sabbath day, ' iheiovins On"the ToMbighee; betnten A.bdrdeen and Mobile, hale-passed a Similar Tons:Minows::-=-Evils thelourney of life Arei like the ,hills ;whieh•alarm the tzavel- ers upon, a. their, . road;; hoth„ • sppear great at distance, but when we approaeh them,. we find thattliFy Are far lees insur mOrintahle than` we shad' imagi n ed:'; • - 4 .1.4- • ' " A LAWY'EWS Durres:--Judge `y said, "The'ftist *drityj a'laWYcli is 40 4 - his god ; and his religion ; secondly,' ~to his country and the Jaw ; thirdly, c ,t9; himself ; l and:,astlT,to client . Never , mistake ,the law. ,Lie for noinah, deceive nc:min. true to the opuit; - this to Your ' Duralirir Mtrsih:, AT last soft' andeolbn3n-breatlaing sound, Rose like a strewn ofilidirdistilladpaiftinies, And stole upon-theeirrthat-even silence Was tookiere,she-,was 1 N,41 1 3)1, 3 /4 iwiPhed she wiht. beny her nature, and be never more, t Still to be so' displaCed.' all' ear, And.teok 'streams'that might create' a soul , : • " t• Under the. ribs of death ADmirittoriON AND.AI3FIFIATION.—rit la a .gf . x4thing good. thing admire. By , continually,. looking upwards our Minds "will themselves 'gib* upwards, and as a man; bYindrilgulg in habits . 1g acorn and contempt for.othem, is sire to deseendlo the level of what he despises;,; so the , oppo site habits of admiration:and enthusiastic rev erence for excellence impart to. ourselves a 109rtie%e,f qualities the 4. 4 14- — Here, as ineverything elie,.hrunilitY is the: ..surest path' 6 - WATCHERS Felt TIIE`SIOK.-=thEi ,0 m of haiing night' watchers 'fir the siek,. says an observant - writer; us- usually 'managed,' is -very injurioase.. r,Sick persons eee41,4114 most perfect, quict,nnd, hence, ftbsence„, disturbing and, irritating cans* The senen of stran gers in 'the sick 'cliamalier 'is "alWayi unfatoisialile torthei reposfi'of' tient, and the' burning of lighti renders any thing like-natural .erinli01 1 e90 10 1) 08- sible. Next to the abiludity,of .ilcsiegk sick person with sank , nauseous 'dru. , every two or three heirs, is that of preven ting his rest by- *etchers •-; and-when Ilvalkirsona swatch together in. a-sick tom; : their, convolution el:, whispering often; worse for. ,the„ patient thin the disease itself. BENEFF2OF , THE SPRINOtI.-A lady brought 4 child,4 , a'physiciaa, to t cpusult , lum about its precious halicidg` other 'things she inquired" if he did'uof 'think -the springs would ba"useftil 2r . • • - ItCertainly, xnadam,” replied the doctor, as he, eyed the child, took a large pinch ,of Ong., "1 hay ult . the leliSt hesita ' tation recommending iiprinand the - sooner you apply the remedy , Vie bet ter." "You really-think-it-would be good for the dear little thieg,, , denit you'?" " Upon my ~yror4, the,. best r remedy I know 'of:" What springs ythi ridominond doctor ?" lac guy t will do•madami whero yet, can get plelFl . niy,of soazotid ;water." : AN'Al ui F ( l l . 2l) . 14 14 1 4.9. 1 # , .... 7?- t I RA O 7 I -9k l ; 4q0P171,:.-7Pr. Xtut otites That a feir years 'ago', 'a cOmpani j of hay ing lighted their sticks of dried coWidung where ; veinkof coal ~ w ero. . outn e ropping,; the black, stone eanght fire, ,aprhieh,they wore greatly astonished , Andcirenlated the report of a new xiiiraele; `tvhie i iiitug the special manifestation oftheit'g6d of fire, who` had ciused'the verY i stones:to kilt. a Multitudes &eked- to the; spotp a new shrine was erect ed,, and worship = paid ; tq;tlict god : of : fire. Some Europeans hearing wont to the itlicee, L and'soon asoditainedi the real nature • of thninirl'iele, , YAdfili they turned` to piiifit able, Account,l'by digging :ink:working' a mine, that rhap:;since-sopplied. the Ganges steamers in npper Indialyith CREECH iSTATIETIOIi:TEQH THE QESEHO. Methodist Advocate gives the 'follow ing: 'The 'Congregational chiral was or ganizell'irVl62o; arid in 236 *; irgiun' standing . in - AihelielC At - the taking of the census in 11850; it 167,4ntiraiel edifices, valued .at .$7,97,66.2,, and. aocemedating 795 1.77 hearers. The Baptist Church was orgaqiiedin 163 9 , arid , is now 217 years old 'in' the United 'Statriii.' It liail - 8,791 $10,981,882; andi:ae cornmedating 3;lBo;B76l2earers. .TheiPtes bytteriant.Phurell,was organized in 1706,5nd is 150 year's old in .guieric4, has 4,585 ohlirel(WiitiBek'v4iii'd a $14,e0,88% Etkobinitioatitiiit 2,040,084 r 'The .Methodist-Mhurch was •niganiied. in -Bald wipreipeoember, 25th, 1784 4 and is !ply, of 72 years'; standing ia i .ktn_ !Inca.lt has ig,- 467 church edifices, valtieti at $14;62,6,97 , ,t1 4 "racominodating: , oo9',Ba hearers. lEEE 21111 ME Milton. MI II 2