son said, he had come to the meeting to testify his respect and esteein for the pastor of that church; he carried away with him not only the confidence and Christian affection of his own church, but the confidence and affection of his brethren in the ministry. He would have not only their prayers, but those of many Christians in other denominations. The Rev. D. E. Ford, while regretting such charges, prayed that the blessings of God might attend Mr. Pearce in his new sphere of labour.

PECKHAM RYE. The Rev. J. Hiles Hitchens, of the Western College, Plymouth, has accepted a very cordial and urgent invitation from the congregation assembling for worship in the new Congregational Chapel, Peckham Rye, London, to become its minister, and proposes entering on his labours, the first Sunday in February.

BETHANIA AND SARON.-On Christmas day, 1857, the Rev. D. Lloyd Jones, of Bala Academy, was solemnly ordained and set apart to the work of the Gospel ministry over the Congregational churches meeting at Bethania and Saron, in the parish of Festiniog, and county of Merioneth. The Rev. W. Roberts, of Penybont, commenced by reading appropriate portions of Scripture and prayer. The Rev. John Thomas, of Liverpool, delivered the introductory discourse. The Rev. Edward Davies, of Trawsfynydd, asked the usual questions, and received the confession of faith, which was very_comprehensive and satisfactory. The Rev. J. Jones, of Green Denbigh (father of the young minister), offered the ordination prayer. The

Rev. M. D. Jones, of Bala, gave the charge, and the Rev. Richard Parry, of Conway, preached to the church and congregation; and the service was closed by the Rev. M. D. Jones, of Bala. The hymns were read by the Rev. E. Davies, of Trawsfynydd.

COLONIAL RECORD.

THE CONGREGATIONAL MINISTERS SENT TO AUSTRALIA.-From those who volunteered to go out, fourteen have been selected. Seven of these have gone to Victoria, four to South Australia, two to New South Wales, and one to Tasmania. The amount contributed at home and in the colonies has been found sufficient to defray the whole expenditure. That expenditure was diminished by the liberality of several shipowners, who took out ministers entirely free, or at greatly reduced charges. It appears from the list of contributions that £164 19s. 10d. were raised in Yorkshire, and that of this sum £26 were subscribed in Leeds. The committee state that two other ministers, and probably a third, will soon follow. For the future they expect that the colonies will defray all expenses, so that if any application should be made at home, it will only be for suitable men.

EMIGRATION FROM LIVERPOOL IN 1857.The total number of emigrants, who sailed from Liverpool for the American, Canadian, and Australian ports (including New Zealand) during the past year just ended was upwards of 154,000, the total number of ships employed being 400, of an aggregate tonnage of more than 500,000 tons. Of these between 230 and 240 ships have sailed during the year for the United States, carrying in all 97,594 passengers; 150 ships have taken their departure for the Australian ports, with 51,243 passengers (including 400 to New Zealand); and sixteen ships have sailed during the year for the Canadian ports, with about 6,000 passengers on board. In the latter part of the year there has not only been a considerable falling off in the emigration to the United States, but many of the old emigrants have returned.

THE LABOUR MARKET IN AUSTRALIA.— The arrivals, up to the 9th of October, amounted to 48,691 people of all ages, the departures during the same period to 15,116, making the nett increase 33,575. A com. petent authority estimates the average capacity of the country to absorb population as equal to about 36,000 to 40,000 souls per annum-that is, provided they are fit for the colony. Many, however, continued to come out for whose labour there was no demand. All of this class cannot be too strongly cautioned to abandon such a course, which can only result in ruin and destitution to themselves and vast injury to the colony. The Government system of remittances, by which persons in this colony could procure the immigration of their friends and work people into the colony, on condition of the payment of part of the passage-money, has worked very well, and must necessarily bear direct relation to the requirements of the colony. A return of its working since the establishment of the remittances regulations on the 1st of August, 1856, shows that assisted immigra tion for the five months from August to December that year, had the following result: From England, 1,066 statute adults; amount paid, £6,066 1s. From Ireland, 1,916 persons; amount paid, £6,1501 8s. From Scotland, 363 persons; amount paid, £2,042 8s. In the six months from January to June, 1857, the numbers were-from England, 1,681 persons; amount paid, £9,482 10s.; from Ireland, 1,845; amount paid, £8,797 16s. 8d.; from Scotland, 545; amount paid, £3,074 10s. 6d.

ORDINATION AT DURBAN, NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA. In the morning, after an able discourse on the constitution of Christian churches by the Rev. L. Grout, of the American Mission, the Rev. J. Tyler, of the same mission, asked the questions usual on such occasions in Congregational churches. In reply to those questions, A. W. Evans, Esq., the Mayor of the Borough, and one

of the deacons, briefly narrated the circum stances under which Mr. Jeffreys had been invited to the pastoral office in this place, and publicly, on behalf of the church, recognised and ratified the relation formed. The Rev. Mr. Jeffreys detailed, on his part, the personal experiences and the course of events by which he had been led to take on him the office of the Christian ministry, and to accept the call to execute that office in Natal. The Rev. Daniel Lindley afterwards delivered the charge to the minister, and his address was replete with the wisdom and fidelity of a father in Christ. The Revs. S. Pixley, W. Mellin, J. Allison, and H. A. Wilder, took part in the devotional exercises of the day. The service lasted three hours and a half.

In the evening, the Rev. C. Spensley, Wesleyan, preached a sermon to the church and congregation, distinguished by great earnestness, fidelity, and power.

On Monday evening a tea meeting took place in the chapel, which was attended by about two hundred persons. After tea, the Rev. Mr. Jeffreys, as minister of the place, took the chair, and opened the proceedings in an appropriate address; after which excellent addresses, founded on sentiments or topics arranged beforehand, and suitable to the occasion, were delivered by the Revs. Messrs. Wilder, Tyler, Spensley, L. Grout, Allison, and Lindley, and by Mr. Harwin and Mr. Lennox.

The above services afforded a favourable opportunity to many persons to become, for the first time, acquainted with the theology and church government of the Congregational body; and especially its mode of inducting a new pastor. The presence and assistance of ministers of other churches constituted also a gratifying exhibition of brotherly fellowship and Christian union;-a union of spirit and substance, in the midst of minor differences on points of doctrine, discipline, and form. And surely this kind of union is more rational and philosophical, independently of higher considerations--more consonant with the free exercise of the God-inplanted faculties of the human mind-than dead and forced uniformity.

THE REV. JACOB JONES, a Congregational minister, who had accepted an invitation in connexion with the New South Wales Home Missionary Society, was lost in the wreck of the Catherine Adamson, off the head of Sydney. He was formerly pastor of the Independent Church at Melksham, near "Bath, and for six years was a student at Spring-hill College, Birmingham.

GENERAL RECORD.

CHRISTIAN BISHOPS IN TURKEY. Constantinople journals say that the high dignitaries of the Greek Church continue to cause much annoyance to the Porte by their insub

ordination and their exigencies. Most of the archbishops and bishops, while calling loudly for the due execution of the Hatti-Humayoum, refuse to submit to such of its clauses as more immediately concern themselves. They seek to add to the advantages which that document confers on them all the prerogatives and immunities which they enjoyed before its publication. They will not admit of any modification, either as regards their temporal power or their emoluments, which they persist in 'drawing direct from their co-religionists. Different councils have been held at the Porte to examine into the question, but hitherto no satisfactory result has been obtained. We also learn that an incident has just arisen in Servia on the occasion of the consecration of the Bishop of Belgrade. The Servian Government, which has never recognised the nomination of this prelate, although regularly made by the Pope, now consents to do so, but on condition that the consecration shall be made by priests of its own selection. This is a pretension which the bishop refuses to admit, and the result is a difference which the Porte will probably have to arrange diplomatically with the Holy See.

THE OPENING OF ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL. -We (the Union) are enabled to announce that the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's are making preparations to open their cathedral very shortly. An application has already been made to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for £10,000 to defray the expenses of fitting up and lighting the nave, to which an answer has been received by the Chapter, from the Archbishop of Canterbury, stating that the sum of £1,000 is at their disposal for this admirable object.

THE RELIGIOUS WORSHIP ACT AMEND

MENT BILL. Lord Shaftesbury's Bill to amend the law by which the Exeter-hall services were lately prevented will not, it is said, be opposed. But probably, on behalf of the party whom the Bishops of Oxford and St. David's may be considered to represent, an amendment will be proposed to the effect that the mere absence of a prohibition by the incumbent and the bishop shall not suffice to authorize the kind of services in view; but that the clergy who officiate in them, not having the cure of souls in the parish wherein they take place, must have the written authority of the bishop to do so.

AN HEIRESS TAKING THE VEIL.. Miss Hales, the owner of the Hales estate, Canterbury, took the veil at Paris, as a novitiate of the order of Carmelite Nuns, on the 6th of January. Her mother was deeply affected whilst witnessing the ceremony which took from her the only child of her widowhood. Miss Hales intends making over the whole of her estates-roughly valued at £150,000-to the Church of Rome, only excepting a small annuity in favour of her mother,

Oh, hear ye now that tolling bell,
Sadly chanting a funeral knell

O'er the grave of the young, the loved and gay,
As the breeze bears its notes from earth away,
Joining winds and waves, as they wildly swell
Their requiem of death with that funeral knell!
Oh, say what thoughts their bosoms swelled,
As each one looked a sad farewell!
Farewell to earth, with its gay, smiling scenes,
Itshopes of joy,and those long cherished dreams
Of bliss below, too quickly fled,
For soon they mingle with the dead.
But hark! amid the wild wind's moan,
A voice ascends to heaven's throne,
For the man of God is resigning there
Himself and his friends to his Father's care.

His work is done, his trials o'er,
His spirit soon to heaven will soar.
Again a cry has pierced the air,
The orphan wails in deep despair:
Why did ye save me from the raging wave?
Let me find with my loved a watery grave.
The winds will join that tolling bell,
To chant a solemn funeral knell.

The wild and raging waves are hushed,
But not the hearts thus rudely crushed;
The dead will sleep beneath the dark blue
wave,

But their spirits have gone to Him who gave.
His balm can heal the wounded heart,
His love assuage the cruel smart.

THE subject of India not only continues to absorb the minds of all classes, but daily grows in painful interest. Public writers, and the public itself, are also incapable of seriously dealing with anything besides. Even the marriage of a Princess, or the attempt to assassinate an Emperor are but exciting episodes; for the moment they compel attention, but the thoughts of the nation speedily return to their former channel. The hopes of thoughtful men have been considerably modified within the last few days; it had been believed that the Revolt was crushed, and that nothing remained but to stamp out its last embers. Now, however, it appears that we are not so near that happy consummation as was expected. The strength of the rebels is great, and their courage undaunted. Nothing has occurred largely to lessen their numbers. They have fought no great battles, ending in the slaughter of tens of thousands. The entire of their loss in conflict cannot exceed a few thousands, scarcely missed amid such multitudes. They will not stay to fight it out; after the first shock, feeling their inferiority to the British troops, they turn and flee, to appear again at a future day. A portion of the mutineers carried their arms with them to Delhi; those that were disarmed and disbanded were rendered harmless only for the moment. The military stores which have since been seized supplied them with muskets and ammunition in abundance.

The great lesson, then, to be drawn from all this is, that while the work of the civil powers requires to be carried on with increased energy, the Church of God is to

S. C. G.

keep to its watch-tower, abounding more and more in compassionate and patriotic supplication. Her intercessions ought to be unceasing on behalf of India, her rulers, her missionaries, and her mission churches. They are now in the furnace, which burns with an intensity that in many cases threatens destruction. The following from an American Missionary presents a painful picture, and shows the extent to which these servants of the Most High God both desire and need the prayers of the Church:

"You will be sorry to hear that most of our native Christians have lamentably failed under the present trial. I have had the painful duty of excluding Paramanund, one of my preachers, who has assumed the garb of a Byragee, or a holy Hindoo, and has denied Christ! I intended giving you more particulars about the mutinies, the cause, effect, &c.; but, if spared, I shall do so again. I fear this will never reach you, as the roads are by no means safe. You will not forget to pray for us in our trials and tribulations. There is reason to fear that Paramanund, the native preacher referred to above, has since lost his life. His adoption of his ancient garb did not save him from betrayal, and it is said that he fell slaughtered by the hand of the cruel Moslem. Others, too, of the Chitoura Christians have proved unfaithful in this day of trial, of sifting, and reproach. How far this defection may have gone cannot yet be fully ascertained, as the people have been scattered in all directions by bands of marauders, and by the plundering of the village. A few have remained steadfast. We believe the native pastor, Bernard, is now safely housed in the fort

at Agra. He did not leave the village till its destruction was complete. Again, we urge on our friends the remembrance of the native brethren in their prayers. The calamities which have overtaken them are a sore trial of their faith. The blast of tribulation has swept over them."

In Upper India the pecuniary loss sustained by the English missionaries is calculated at nearly £40,000; and that of the American Mission about £30,000.

Of the missions destroyed are those of the American Presbyterians at Allahabad, with a loss of 45,000 dollars; at Futtehpore, loss 4,000 dollars; at Banda, loss 1,000 dollars; at Futteghur, loss 25,000 dollars; at Mynpoorie, loss 2,000 dollars; at Agra, loss 6,000 dollars; at Loodianah, loss 25,000 dollars; at Jullundur, loss 1,500 dollars. These are all missions of the American Presbyterians. The losses consist of buildings, including chapels, school and dwelling-houses, books, printing-presses, type, paper, &c. The American Episcopal Methodists sustain a loss in their mission at Bareilly of 2,500 dollars. The total number of missions destroyed is set down at twenty-six.

These few facts imply an amount of destruction far beyond what they express. It will obviously require much effort, and a long time, to build up the waste places of Indian Missions. The resources of the churches, however, are quite equal to that, and ten times more, if duly developed, and of this there can be little doubt. Would that there were the same guarantees for moral that there is for economical effort! Money is doubtless a highly important element; accessions to the missionary body still more so; but there is somewhat infinitely more important still, since on that the success of every agency depends. The prayers of the faithful are the paramount necessity of that great and important country, as well as of the church at home.

Amid trials, great and various, it behoves the British people to remember their mercies. The awful cloud which rested on the nation at the close of the year is now passing away without leaving behind it half the calamity which it at first portended. The mildness of the season-thanks to the Almighty Ruler-has done much to mitigate the distress which has prevailed in the manufacturing districts. A rigorous winter would have reduced countless multitudes to great straits, and have subjected the wealthy to heavy contributions. The spirit of peaceful patience, too, which has rested on the distressed operatives reflects on them the highest credit, and ought to lead the wealthy, their neighbours and supporters, to abound in liberality till the calamity be overpast. The bankruptcies of the hour have

amounted to the unparalleled sum of between fifty and sixty millions sterling! The whole commercial system of our country, and the United States, has been thrown into the furnace and tried as by fire! By these means disease, weakness, and rottenness have been discovered where they were least expected. But how painful soever the process may have been, the results cannot fail to be salutary. Such hurricanes are not less necessary in the commercial than in the natural world; nor are their benefits less real and lasting.

The

The great social event among us is the Marriage of the Princess Royal, which, notwithstanding the extent to which it may be gratifying, from its uniting the two great Protestant kingdoms of Europe, is attended with a serious drawback. Protestantism of Prussia and that of England are very different things: in England there is much of the power, although more of the form, but in Prussia there is very little of either the form or the power. According to the arrangements made for the journey of the newly wedded pair, they will reach Berlin on the Saturday evening, and the following is to be their mode of spending the first Sabbath :

"The Prince and Princess will attend Divine service in the Garnison Kirche ; they will drive through all the numerous Royal parks and gardens there; they will dine in state; and in the evening attend a gala performance at the theatre."

This arrangement is awakening sorrow and shame throughout the ranks of Chris. tian Englishmen, who deem it a bad beginning. They feel shocked at the contrast presented by such a style of things to the spirit and the usages of their native land. It is, nevertheless, merely a matter of course in Prussia, where the Sabbath of God is but a holiday, wherein the theatre of folly and the house of prayer are recognised as parts and parcels of the popular occupation. This shows us the insufficiency of mere Protestantism to guarantee evangelical piety and the scriptural observance of the holy ordinances. The most serious view of the affair is this: the marriage just celebrated will of course lead to a system of constant intercourse between the Royal Houses of the two countries, which cannot be other than most disastrous to the spiritual interests of the Court of England. Already, since the peace which followed the overthrow of Napoleon, the intercourse which has obtained between us and the Continent has been attended by the most grievous consequences to individuals and families, and to the nation at large. The younger people, more especially, after a lengthened sojourn on the Continent, have generally returned with minds and morals most lamentably deteriorated.

L

some time past.

It was not a thing of chance. They did not accidentally meet in the Chapel Royal, and join hands without previous concert. It has been the talk of the nations for the last year or two; and when first mooted it is impossible for us to say. So with the spiritual marriage. The union of thy soul to Christ, O believer, was not a thing of chance. You did not accidentally come together. It was the result of providential arrangement, and in accordance with a fixed and settled purpose. It was not an affair of yesterday, for thou wast chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. The precise period is hidden in the eternal ages of the past. If thou canst measure this, then mayest thou know when heaven's King first had thoughts of love towards thee. If not, then be content with the declaration that comes from the throne: "I have loved thee with an everlasting love, and with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."

The marriage settlement has been agreed upon by the contracting parties.

The young Prince has a fixed annual allowance from the revenues of Prussia; the Princess has received from us £40,000 as her wedding portion, and £8,000 annually besides. The legal document has been drawn up, signed, and sealed, and placed among the national records. So in the spiritual union, there has been a marriage settlement between the contracting parties. Hark! the words even now seem to fall upon the ear: "I have made a covenant with my Chosen." The Father, on his part, agreed to give the whole of his elect people to Christ, an immense portion to begin with.

How many? says one. More, probably, than thou hast ever imagined. Go forth, and see if thou canst number the stars of the firmament; so numerous shall the spiritual seed be. He further agreed to give eternal life to as many as were thus given to Christ; and to crown all, he agreed to give his only begotten Son that this eternal life might be secured. The Son, on his part, and on our behalf, agreed to give

VOL. XV.

himself as a sacrifice to God for human guilt, undertook to become man, and in our nature to honour the Divine perfections, satisfy justice, magnify the law, and bring an immense revenue of glory to God. He pledged himself also that all whom he redeemed should love, honour, and worship their Maker, and render to him cheerful, hearty, and constant obedience. And further, there was an agreement on the part of both Father and Son to give the Holy Spirit to redeem the church from all iniquity, so that she might be presented as a chaste virgin to Christ, and stand before his throne at last without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. Such was the marriage settlement, the everlasting covenant, well ordered in all things and sure. There it is now, among the records of heaven, and is being faithfully carried out to the very letter. "Heaven and earth may pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

Great preparations were made for the royal wedding.

Hundreds of busy and skilful hands have been employed in making the dresses, preparing the ornaments, and fitting up the palaces. Arrangements were made respecting the procession, and who should take a part in it; who should be the bridesmaids, and what they should wear; who should perform the ceremony, and who should witness it. So with the spiritual wedding. There has been much preparation, believer, or thou wouldst not now be joined to Christ, thy Divine Husband. For four thousand years preparation had been making for the advent of the heavenly Bridegroom. At length the fulness of time came, and he appeared. The world was wrapped in universal peace; the mysterious star directed the magi; angels sang over the plains of Bethlehem ; the spirit of prophecy revived; and he was declared to be set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel. grew up as the tender plant; appeared as the Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Then came the betrayal, the trial, the crucifixion, the burial, the resurrection, the ascension, the Pentecostal

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