EDITORIAL NOTICE. discussed during the past month. There Since Mr. James's pamphlet was written, is, we think, a very general impression that, England has made a treaty with another as a State document, it goes considerably great Oriental nation; and not China only, beyond all former similar documents in the but Japan as well, is now open to British Christian tone pervading it, and in the Christianity. What we should now like to distinct recognition of Christianity as the see would be the wide-spread circulation of faith of the Sovereign and the British the Word of God through these countries, nation. It certainly surpasses all those and missionaries traversing them from one expectations which had been founded on extremity to the other; not sitting down the celebrated declaration of some of our long in one place, waiting to build up a leading statesmen, that they would main- church in this city, and becoming pastors tain in India a religious neutrality. There in others, but marching on from place to is, however, one passage which has created place and scattering the seed broadcast much uneasiness in many minds, and espe-through the land. If our expectations are cially in those who, having held official scripturally founded, in which we are lookstations in that country, know how such ing for the “Spirit to be poured on all language would have been interpreted in flesh," must not the seed be sown first, or times past. It is that in which all persons else there is nothing to germinate and in authority are strictly enjoined to “ab- fructify when the gracious rains descend ? stain from all interference with the religious belief or worship" of the natives,

*** Several friends, at the beginning of " on pain of our highest displeasure.". A last year, sent us contributions by which clear distinction, however, exists in fact,

we were enabled to forward Evangelical and we believe would be recognised by Christendom to the Turkish missionaries and British law, between what a man does other devoted servants of Christ in heathen officially and what he may do in his private lands. We ask them kindly to repeat their capacity. To subscribe to a missionary gifts

, and we solicit other friends to help us society, to give away a Bible, or to speak in the same way. The following extracts to a Hindoo or Mohammedan of Jesus from letters lately received from missionChrist, cannot be such an interference as aries will show how thankful they are for the Proclamation prohibits on the part of the kindness, and how much they prize the official persons; or if it be, that prohibition journal. One of them says: ""I feel I is such an interference with liberty, both should be doing very wrong not to take personal and religious, as never would be tole- this opportunity of thanking you, in my rated either by the common sense of English

own name and that of my companions, for men, or by the common law of the land.

your kindness in having sent us your valuOur venerable friend, the Rev. J. A. able periodical. We have often been much James, has sent out a pamphlet entitled interested in its articles; and we trust our "God's Voice from China to the British perusal of it, month by month, will not Churches, both Established and Unesta- have been without its effects in increasing blished.” It is one of the most earnest our sympathy with our brethren in Christ and heart-stirring appeals that has ever Jesus of every name, and of stirring up our been addressed to the Churches of Christ, prayers in their behalf.” Another writes : whether in ancient or modern times, in " I take this opportunity to express my this or in any other land. May that Holy sincere thanks for the copies I have had the Spirit who stirred up the heart of the favour to receive; the perusal of which gave writer to send it forth, carry its arguments me so much Christian pleasure and edificaand persuasions to the hearts of its readers ! tion as well as instruction. I am sure the Mr. James asks for 100 missionaries, and exertions of the Evangelical Alliance for for a fund to be raised to send them forth. the spread of Evangelical Christianity and With a charity as comprehensive as it is brotherly harmony will be attended by the fervent, he honours all the Churches which Lord's blessing.' Postal facilities enable have manifested any missionary zeal; and us to send the journal into almost all parts in the concluding pages addresses them all of the world, and we wish our friends separately, calling them to this new work, would put us in possession of a fund adeand urging them all to take part in it. We quate to supply every missionary with it in wish his little, but most striking and thril- the four quarters of the globe. ling book may be read and pondered by And we add a word to Christian brethren thousands of Christian people, and by who receive it gratuitously both on the Christian ministers in all parts of the land. Continent of Europe and in other parts.

a

BRIEF NOTICES OF BOOKS.

With great labour and expense we collect | the countries where you dwell. In this and publish what you are gratified to read way, while you are instructed and edified every month. You will not think we are yourselves, you will edify and instruct your asking too much if, in return, we request brethren. Let us by love serve one another. you to send us occasionally a letter of The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with intelligence respecting Christ's kingdom in you all!

Brief Notices of Books.

Memorial Sketch of the late Edward Bird, B.A., |
Rector of Wyton, Hunts.
The Revival in America. By an ENGLISH EYE-
WITNESS. London: Nisbet and Co. Pp. 44.
THESE little tracts are both of them reprinted
from the Christian Times; and they are both
written by the same elegant and accomplished
pen.

The former of the two gives a brief indeed, too brief-a sketch of one who was emphatically "a good minister of Jesus Christ." That late excellent man, whom we were privileged to know and love, was fitted by natural disposition, and still more by Divine grace, to attract to himself the affections of all who love Christ; and he was, therefore, almost as a matter of Christian necessity, one of the earliest members of the Evangelical Alliance. His labours were abundant and his end was eminently blessed. The other tract is an able and discriminating account of one of the greatest spiritual phenomena of our times, as far as it came under the writer's notice. We wish them both a wide circulation. Power in Weakness: Memorials of the Rev. William Rhodes, of Damerham. By CHARLES STANFORD. London: Jackson and Walford. Pp. 207.

"A BOOK written by an unknown scribe about
an unknown worthy "-in such modest, not to
say depreciating terms, the author speaks of
himself and of the subject of his memoir. As to
the former, we will only say that now we have
made his acquaintance, the more he will let us
know of him by the productions of his mind,
so cultivated, as well as so richly endowed,
the more will he make us his debtors. We
have seldom perused a book of equal size and on
a similar subject with which we have been so
charmed. The material of the volume, moreover,
consisting for the most part of the papers and
letters of the departed, are rich in spiritual in-
struction and of permanent worth. His was one of
those minds of extraordinary power and meekness
-intellectual power and Christian meekness-
which are perhaps destined in the Divine
economy to shine and sparkle all the more
brilliantly in another world, as they are com-
paratively hidden in this. We ought not to pass
over the circumstance unnoticed, mentioned in
the course of the memoir, that the funeral sermon
of this Baptist Minister was preached by the Rev.
R. Allnutt, Vicar of Damerham, who declared "he
esteemed it a privilege, if he could say anything
to enhance and perpetuate the respect enter-
tained for this excellent servant of God, by every
parishioner."
"This sermon," it is added by
Mr. Stanford, was printed, and is not only an
interesting memorial of departed worth, but of
living catholicity." May such catholicity on both
sides daily increase among us. O si sic omnes.

66

The Christian Harp. Designed as a Companion
to the "Foreign Sacred Lyre." By JOHN SHEP-
PARD, Author of "Thoughts on Devotion,"
&c., &c. Jackson and Walford. Pp. 275.
THIS is a collection of pieces consisting of
sketches in verse, of objects and scenes viewed
in travelling; of poetical thoughts on devotional
and miscellaneous subjects; and of hymns, the
latter being principally translations from the
German. The "Christian Harp" is just what
would be expected from the esteemed writer, by
those who have long been edified by his works;
and to many it will be welcome as the visit of an
old friend. He makes no claim to the vocation of
"poet or prophet." There is no "fine frenzy" in his
emotion; no "dusky magnificence" in his language.
He never aims at daring grace or dashing speed;
his lines are never characterised by the "long
resounding march and majesty divine." There
is simply the metrical expression of thoughts
which are drawn from the more ordinary and quiet
stores of good sense, taste, and feeling. Christian
sentiments, kindly affections, and the impres-
Sions produced by some of the more beautiful or
interesting aspects of nature, on a highly cul-
tivated mind, are set forth in carefully se-
lected epithets, and in a diction which, though
sometimes timid, is always clear, calm, and
elegant.

Christology of the Old Testament, and a Commen-
tary on the Messianic Predictions. By E. W.
HENGSTENBERG, D.D. Translated from the
German by Rev. THEOD. MEYER, and JAMES
MARTIN, B.A. Vols. I., II., III., and IV. 8vo.
Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark.

THIS work is among the most valuable in the
series of translations from the German which has
been issued by the enterprising publishers. Not
that we always agree in his criticisms or in his
commentaries with the author, but that the
volumes contain a storehouse of biblical learning,
and that the theology is of a far healthier tone,
and more Evangelical character, than much that
comes from professors in the German univer-
sities. We noticed the work at the time the first
volume was published, and now that it is com-
pleted we repeat our recommendation of it to the
study of Christian ministers in all sections of the
Church, and of all who are led, whether by duty
or inclination, to the critical investigation of the
Word of God. They will find in it the elucida-
tions of a ripe scholar, and the expositions of a
profound and Evangelical theologian. It is espe-
cially by such works as this that Dr. Hengsten-
berg has made the Christian Church his debtor,
and now that the ecclesiastico-political party to
which he is attached is no longer in power, it will
be a happy circumstance if he should betake him-
self to the preparation of more of a similar kind.

Evangelical Alliance.

THE VOICE OF WITNESSES GONE TO THEIR REST.

no

a

BISHOP JEWEL. The Church of God is in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ: it is the company of the faithful, whom God hath gathered together in Christ by His Word and by the Holy Ghost, to honour Him, as He himself hath appointed : this Church heareth the voice of the Shepherd. It will not follow a stranger, but flieth from him ; for it knoweth not the voice of strangers. Of this Church St. Hierome saith : Ecclesia ... Christi, ... in toto orbe ecclesias possidens, Spiritus unitate conjuncta est, et habet urbes legis, prophetarum, evangelii, et apostolorum. Non est egressa de finibus suis, id est, de Scripturis : “The Church of Christ, which containeth the Churches through all the world, is joined together in the unity of the Spirit, and hath the cities of the law, of the prophets, of the Gospel, and of the apostles. This Church gveth not forth, or beyond her bounds, that is, the Holy Scriptures." It is the pillar of the truth; the body, the fulness, and the spouse of Christ; it is the vine, the house, the city, and the kingdom of God. They which dwell in it "arc more strangers and foreigners, but citizens with the saints and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the head corner stone; in whom all the building coupled together groweth into an holy temple of the Lord." This Church “Christ loved and gave himself for it; that He might sanctify it and cleanse it by the washing of water through the Word, that He might make it unto himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blame.” Such a Church was the Church of God at Thessalonica; such a Church are they, whosoever in any place of the world fear the Lord, and call upon His name. Their names are written in the Book of Life; they have received the Spirit of adoption, by which they cry, “Abba, Father :" they grow from grace to grace, and abound more and more in knowledge and in judgment: they cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light: they are made absolute and perfect unto all good works : they are evermore comforted in the mercies of God, both by the Holy Scriptures, wherein God declareth His gracious goodness towards them, and by the sacraments, which are left unto the Church to be witnesses and assured pledges for performance of the promise of God's good-will and favour towards them.--Exposition of 1 Thessalonians i. 1. Works, p. 819. Parker Soc. Edition.

BISHOP JEWEL. This is the unity of the Church, that the whole flock may hear the voice of that one Shepherd and follow Him. And that one Shepherd is Christ, the Son of God, and not the Pope. Therefore St. Augustine saith : Per hanc ... potestatem, quam solum sibi Christus retinuit . . . stat unitas ecclesiæ, ... de qua

dictum est, una est columba mea : “By this power, which Christ (he saith not hath given over to the Pope, but) hath reserved only to himself, standeth the unity of the Church, of which unity it is said, My dove is one.”—Defence of the Apology. Works Vol. IV., page 751. Parker Soc. Ed.

BISHOP RIDLEY. The holy Catholic or universal Church, which is the communion of saints, the house of God, the city of God, the spouse of Christ, the body of Christ, the pillar and stay of the truth ; this Church I believe according to the creed ; this Church I

VOL. XIII.-FEBRUARY.

EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE. do reverence and honour in the Lord. But the rule of this Church is the Word of God, according to which rule we go forward unto life. “And as many as walk according to this rule," I say with St. Paul, “ peace be upon them and upon Israel, which pertaineth unto God.” The guide of this Church is the Holy Ghost. The marks whereby this Church is known unto me in this dark world, and in the midst of this crooked and froward generation, are these—the sincere preaching of God's Word, the due administration of the sacraments, charity, and faithful observing of ecclesiastical discipline according to the Word of God. And that Church or congregation which is garnished with these marks, is in very deed that heavenly Jerusalem which consisteth of those that be born from above.— Conferences between Ridley and Latimer. Ridley's Works, p. 122. Parker Soc. Edition.

MEETINGS AND TRANSACTIONS. BATA.-DEATH OF Rev. J. OWEN.—At MEETINGS IN PROSPECT.-Arrangements a meeting of the Committee of the Bath are made for holding public meetings in Subdivison, held January 4, 1859, the follow Brighton, Bristol, and other important ing resolution (in reference to the depar- places for the purpose of increasing the ture of the Rev. John Owen); moved by interest of Christians in the cause of Mr. R. Carpenter, and seconded by Mr. J. Evangelical union, and extending the orW. Little, and resolved unanimously, ganisation of the Alliance. The new secre

“That the committee desire to record taries are receiving much encouragement its heartfelt regret at the decease of the Rev. in commencing their important work, and John Owen, who, realising the character of are making arrangements for their proa brother in Christ Jesus in an unpretend- mised visitation of the several divisions ing form of loveliness not frequently seen, throughout England and Scotland, to sustain has left a savour behind him both sweet and enlarge the operations of the Alliance, and graceful. This committee cannot fail and give information of its progress and to miss most truly one who has from the usefulness. Never was the mission of all commencement of this Alliance been an sections of the Christian Church more disalmost unfailing attendant at its meetings, tinct and emphatic than at present to exand whose presence habitually tended to press their cordial union in the grand and promote that Christian union which is the essential verities of the Saviour's Gospel, avowed characteristic of this Alliance. The and forbearance in matters of lesser imCommittee desire to assure the mourning portance. The cause of oppressed Chriswidow of its lamented friend and member, abroad, and the aid of Evangelical of its affectionate sympathy, and its earnest Churches in Germany, struggling to preserve prayer that the God of all consolation will the light where the candle of the Reforenable her to look to Him with unshaken mation once so brilliantly shone, present faith and humble resignation.”

a powerful claim on our prayers, and show Colonel WYNCH, Chairman. that there is a great work for Christians

WILLIAM GIBBS, Secretary. unitedly to accomplish, which no section NEW-YEAR'S MEETING UNITED of the Christian Church in its individuality PRAYER.—The year commenced with a could be able to effect. devotional service on the evening of the GALASHIELS.--A conference of the district 3rd inst., at Freemasons' Hall, which was subdivision was held here on Tuesday, largely attended by members of the Alli- | Dec. 21, 1858. The committee met ance and friends of Christian union. The privately for the transaction of business Rev. W. Cadman, Rector of St. George in the forenoon : and at four P.M. a conthe Martyr, Southwark, presided, and ad- versazione took place in the large room of dressed the meeting. The Rev. Dr. Graham, the Abbotsford Hotel, at which were preof Bonn, gave an account of the progress sent upwards of sixty ladies and gentleof Evangelical truth in the Rhenish pro- men. The chair was occupied by Mr. vinces. Prayers were offered by the Rev. Elliot, of Wolflee. Among those present J. S. Jenkinson, of Battersea, Rev. Dr. were the Revs. Mr. Murray, Melrose; Steane, Rev. W. Hargreaves, and the Chair- Campbell, Melrose; Robertson, Stow;

The occasion was felt by all to be Allardyce, Bowden; Lawson, Selkirk, &c. hallowed and profitable.

The Chairman, together with the Rev.

FOR

man.

EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE. Messrs. Allardyce and Lawson, delivered union really existing among true Christians interesting and earnest addresses. The meet- That the Alliance had done much good, none ing was in every respect a most satisfactory acquainted with the history or proceedings and pleasant one, and well calculated to ad- of the society would gainsay. Naturally vance the cause of the society. In the course there was much good done at the very outof some remarks made by a Mr. T. J. Dunn, set, when such a union was inaugurated. of Melrose, he read the doctrinal basis. It was no small matter for ministers of all

In the evening a public meeting was Christian denominations to meet together on held in Ladhope Church. Notwithstanding a common platform, and to agree to a the continued inclemency and boisterous, standard basis of the essential doctrines of ness of the afternoon and evening, a very salvation. Many more have since declared respectable audience gathered together, their adherence to these principles at home, among whom were the Chief Magistrate, as well as on the Continent, where, at the Wm. Brunton, of Ladhope, Esq., and other Berlin and preceding similar meetings, was leading men of the town and vicinity, witnessed a spectacle the like of which had besides a large assemblage of ladies. probably never been witnessed before. They

The chair was taken by Major BAILLIE, not only joined in friendly and sacred conwho was accompanied by the Revs. Murray, verse, but sat down at the same commuof the Established Church, Melrose; Camp- nion table together. These surely were no bell, Free Church, Melrose; Allardyce, slight or insignificant objects to have acBowden ; Robertson, U. P., Stow; and Mr. complished. Major Baillie then proceeded Elliot, Allerley; Mr. Elliot, of Wolflee; to urge upon his audience the great necesMr. T. J. Dunn, Melrose, &c.

sity of union in prayer, and spoke of the After engaging in psalmody,

sublimity and the efficacy which might attend The CHAIRMAN rose and said he had re- a great general prayer union, the prayers ceived a number of letters of apology from from all quarters of Christendom ascending gentlemen in the district whose hearts were at one and the same moment to the throne truly with them and with the objects of on high for the extension and union of the their meeting, though unable from various kingdom of Christ on earth. We ought to necessary causes to be present among them. raise no barrier where Christ had raised Among them were letters from Mr.J. Elliot, none, and make no division where He had of Boundary Bank, expressing strong at- made none; but by all means we ought to tachment to the Alliance; from Mr. Nixon, strive to promote that unity on earth which of Lynwood, who testified to the benefit of is in heaven, and the blessedness of which the meeting last year at Hawick; from Mr. we the more approach the nearer we attain Dudgeon, Špyland, who recommended the to complete union here. circulation of Erangelical Christendom as the The meeting was then addressed by the organ of the body; Rev. Mr. Johnston, Rev. Mr. ROBERTSON, of Stow; T.J. Dunn, Wolflee ; Rev. Mr. Young, Teviothead; Esq., the Secretary, the Rev. Mr. CAMPBELL, Rev. Mr. Robson, Lauder; Rev. Mr. of Melrose, and Mr. Elliot. We regret M'Leod, Lauder; Rev. Mr. Lumgair, that want of room compels us to omit their Newtown. He (Major Baillie) had also excellent speeches. They were admirable to deplore the absence of Mr. Malcolm, expositions of the principles and of the of Burnfoot, detained by severe indis- practical working of the Alliance, and position. He then proceeded to explain the thoroughly imbued with its spirit. But we nature and objects of the Evangelical cannot conclude this notice without conAlliance. It was generally admitted and gratulating our friends of this sub-division lamented on all sides that there was a want on the efficient manner in which they conof Christian fellowship and sympathy in the duct their business and promote the great Church. One aim, then, of the Evangelical objects of the institution. May they reap a Alliance was, to promote a better-a more thousand-fold blessing themselves while they scriptural state of things : to manifest the thus bless others !

MEMORIAL OF PROTESTANTS IN HOLLAND ON THE PERSECUTIONS IN

SWEDEN. TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE MINISTER OF HIS The undersigned Protestants of Holland,

MAJESTY THE KING OF SWEDEN AT THE taking a deep interest in the religious conCOURT OF HIS MAJESTY TIE KING OF THE dition of other countries, especially of ProNETULRLANDS.

testar t countries, feel themselves constrained