possible for God to lie; that he can justify falsehood, or any other sin, by an interruption of his moral law; or that he can take away sin by any method whatever, otherwise than by the satisfaction to Divine Justice, through the meritorious death of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, we protest against the notion that sin can become sinless under any circumstances; or that Rahab's falsehoods were the best part of her conduct; or that in commending her faith the apostle commended her falsehoods; or that her falsehoods sprung from her faith in God, and not from her fear in man; or that there are "analagous" circumstances to those of Rahab, under which men may be justified in lying, or in sin of any kind. Finally, we believe the universal justice or rectitude of God to be essential to the perfection of his existence, and necessary to it; that punitive justice, on account of sin, is a necessary branch of immutable justice; that divine moral law being founded on the essential rights of God's eternal justice, must necessarily be the just expression of those rights, and the ground and rule of God's authority over accountable beings; that such law can no more be suspended, altered, or abrogated, than the perfections of his nature, or the throne of his majesty; that a God without holiness, justice, or rectitude, is not an object of joyous worship, affection, or trust; and that the sentiment we protest against is a reproach to God's character, a slur upon his government, and inimical to the moral and social interests of mankind. Under the influence of these convictions, respect for ourselves as ministers of Christ, and a concern for Christian Churches, especially those of Strict Communion Principles, both in town and country, we heartily unite in subscribing to this protest. PHILIP DICKERSON, Chairman. GEORGE WYARD. WILLIAM ALDERSON. JAMES WOODARD. Signs of better days for Baptist Churches. WIT ITH unmingled pleasure the editor of "The Sword and Trowel," took part in the general assembly of the Baptist Churches at Bradford. A holy, heavenly spirit was poured out upon the brethren; there seemed to be one undivided vehement longing for more manifest unity, and each man appeared to be closing in towards his fellow. This has been the daily prayer of some among us, and the answer is now at our doors. Our body, shattered and divided, rent with differences, and torn with jealousies, is now, through God's grace, likely to be united, happy, and consequently powerful. The days of solemn meeting held among our generous Yorkshire brethren will be the date from which to mark the commencement of a blessed era if we all remained true to the spirit which ruled the hour. Suspicions and mistrust are now given to the winds, and we look each other in the face with mutual confidence. Our own heart was brimming with love to all the brethren, we took the most public opportunity of expressing it, and we feel constrained again to say that if we have in any measure been an impediment to the forming of our Churches into a compact phalanx, it has not been our intention, and it shall not be the case in the future. Without pledging ourselves to any line of action, without laying aside any peculiarity or point of difference, nay, even testifying that there is much to be amended and something to be destroyed, we do most cordially cast in our soul and strength into the movement for heartier union, believing it to be the work of the Lord, for the good not only of our Churches, but for the common cause, and for the world's best interests. In these times of Popish aggression and Puseyite progress, the sturdy lover of the good old way must make a closer league with all who are like-minded, for now is not the time to quarrel and divide upon unimportant matters. Our dear friends, W. Brock and W. Landels, have cheerfully joined with us in the formation of an Association of our Churches in London; a meeting will speedily be called, and progress will be reported in our next number. November 10th is the day selected for the meeting to discuss the matter. The pastors will meet in the morning for conversation, and having dined together, will then meet the deacons and elders for prayer, and after tea a great united prayer-meeting will be held. The Metropolitan Tabernacle as the largest of our buildings, will be the place of meeting. Tickets for the prayer-meeting may be had if early application be made. O for the dew of Hermon to rest upon the brethren dwelling together in unity. There may the Lord command the blessing, even life for evermore. Specimen of Church of England Worship. HE following is from the Church Times, and as a dear friend of ours went to the service on purpose to watch the proceedings, we can bear witness that the gentlemen have not overdrawn their own likeness. And this occurred in Clapham! In Clapham, once the stronghold of Evangelicals! Thus the better and less honest part of the Anglican body is supplanted by the infamous but more honest section. Can we be too severe when such things are occurring all around us? We have here a flower-show, a pantomime, and a nursery combined: and these "fantastic tricks before high heaven are to be the substitute for the gospel of the blessed God! CHRIST CHURCH, CLAPHAM.-The harvest festival at this Church has been kept this year with even greater heartiness than usual; and either in the decoration of the fabric, or in the beauty and devotion of the services, there are few Churches in England which surpassed or will excel it. At the west end was suspended an inscription of the triple Alleluia, bordered with laurel leaves, and here hung a banner of the Agnus Dei, over a beautiful festoon of evergreens, corn, and dahlias. The font, which is always exquisitely adorned, was this time decked with, beside wheat and flowers, ears of Indian corn, pine-apples, green and purple grapes, apples, and pears, all of English growth, as was everything in the Church. Round the aisle windows ran a label of ivy leaves, and between the windows were small crosses of dahlias. Over the pillars of the nave were targes bearing corn, and the pillars themselves were alternately wreathed in a short single, and a long double spiral with ivy leaves. The pulpit was most effective, the panels being filled with moss, sprinkled with small flowers, while larger flowers were disposed at various points. The rood-screen was wreathed as usual, but on the rood-beam was a novel feature. Three miniature sheaves of corn stood on each side of the rood, which was a mass of white, with a circle of red dahlias, and between the sheaves were, on either side the rood, two groups of three long wax candles each, these candles being lit at evensong, and producing a superb effect. The choir stalls were very elegantly decked, and from the front of each, three little moss baskets of flowers were suspended. On the wall of the chancel, as well as in the side chapel, hung silken banners of various colours, and on the east wall were targes of corn, while several garlands of moss and flowers aided in filling up certain blank spaces, and in enhancing the general effect. We were glad to note that the plan of filling up the floor of the sanctuary with large pots of flowers has been abandoned; for though the effect on some past festivals has been very good, it is more than doubtful whether a better use cannot be made of the beautifully-tiled sanctuary than turning it into a conservatory. The altar was vested in the white frontal, and on the re-table were, beside the candlesticks and the brazen cross, six vases of choice red and white flowers, while the remainder of the super-altar was loaded with apples, pears, large bunches of grapes, and other fruit, which will probably be presented to some hospital for the use of the patients. The first celebration on Thursday week was at quarter past seven, matins being said at eight o'clock. At eleven, when the high celebration commenced, nearly every seat in the Church was occupied, there being from sixty to seventy priests among the congregation. The choir entered, chanting "Come, ye thankful people,' the thurifers in scarlet cassocks swinging incense, and the celebrant, the Rev. B. Abbot, with the deacon, the Rev. Hesketh Fleetwood, and the sub-deacon, the Rev. W. H. Hyde, properly vested in the white chasuble, dalmatic, and tunicle, which were so much admired at Norwich. Before the acolytes walked several priests, among them being the preacher of the day, the Rev. Dr. Neale. The music was chiefly from the Missa de Angelis, and the gospel was intoned by the deacon. Dr. Neale took for his text, Ruth i. 22, "And they came to Bethlehem, in the beginning of barley harvest." It is needless to say that the sermon was both eloquent and mystical, the text being applied with happy ingenuity to much of which ordinary minds would never have dreamed. Words would fail to describe the solemn and impressive grandeur of the remainder of the great function, which was brought to a conclusion about half-past 12. At 8 p.m., every seat in the Church being filled, and from three to four hundred persons having to content themselves with standing room, the choir and clergy again appeared, singing a harvest hymn, the fine processional cross as in the morning being borne on high, and the thurifers again swinging the smoking censer. At the Magnificat, which was preceded by its proper antiphon, the clergy went up to the altar, which was incensed, and during all the psalms and canticles, the great voice of the mighty congregation completely drowned the choir. The sermon, which was eloquent, and also extempore, was preached by the Rev. George Nugee, of Wymering, who held the crowd in rapt attention for nearly half an hour. A solemn Te Deum concluded this service, as well as the high celebration in the morning. During the octave, the festival has been kept up, the services on Sunday last being an almost exact repetition of those of Thursday. The preacher in the morning was the Rev. W. H. Hyde, and in the evening the Rev. D. Cleaver, late of St. Barnabas. The offertories during the octave have been very good, and will be devoted to the further and permanent decoration of the sanctuary and chancel. They amounted to £45. Gleanings from Nature. DUST. HOW ubiquitous is dust! does it not in nature we must be content to endure find its way not only into our houses on most unseasonable occasions, but into our cupboards and drawers, defacing and soiling our domestic treasures? Although it may be true that a bushel of dust in the month of March is worth to the farmer a king's ransom, whatever that may be, we are of opinion that the tidy housewife would not desire to deprive him of a single particle, but would gladly, if she could, present him with the whole. Nor is dust any more favorably regarded by the pedestrian, who pursuing his way struggling against the rude attacks of Boreas, has ever and anon to meet flying clouds of fragments of granite or other rock, the sharp angles of which grind against his skin, or entering his eyes, excite the fountains there provided to pour out their streams to wash away the intruder. In this as in so many other instances some of the minor inconveniences if we would enjoy the greater benefits. If it is beneficial that winds should blow, clearing away the mists and scattering the vapours which would become pestilential, it must needs be that sweeping over the ground they should lift up, carry along, and disperse minute fragments ground off by the passage of many vehicles or the tramp of innumerable feet. If the world is benefited by the unceasing motion of the great “world of waters" ever ebbing or flowing, now breaking in gently murmuring ripples on the beach, or dashing with a force that undermines and rends away large masses of its rocky barriers; the action must necessarily be accompanied by a breaking and grinding of the fragments that will result in vast quantities of sand, either to be thrown upon some portion of the existing coast, or carried by marine currents far away, to be deposited in some ocean bed, there to rest "the dust of continents yet to be." It is not of common dust however that we design to write a few sentences, nor of that dust which, however noble when animated with life, becomes sufficiently base when that has departed. "Imperial Cæsar dead, and turn'd to clay, Might stop a hole to keep the wind away :" but to direct attention to the beautiful forms and great masses of organized dust, the result of animal or vegetable growth, with which "the invisible world" is adorned. Take a small quantity of mud, no very difficult task, from the bed of the River Thames, let it dry, and amongst the dust will be found organized particles wholly undistinguishable by the unaided sight but yet possessing forms of the most exquisite beauty. When the bed of the Atlantic Ocean was surveyed, previous to the route being determined along which should be laid that cable which we believe, notwithstanding repeated failures, will yet be a medium of communication between the great continents of the eastern and western halves of the globe, the sounding lead brought from a depth of upwards of two miles soft mud; this on being dried was found to be dust, the component parts of which consisted almost entirely of organized atoms, the skeletons of minute plants and animals that had flourished within the range of the warm waters of the gulf stream in the solitudes of that vast depth. Although one might suppose the broom of the housemaid would not be required at sea, yet mariners have not unfrequently found dust upon the cordage and sails of their ship as well as upon the deck and on their own persons, which upon being subjected to microscopical examination, has proved to be in great part extremely small flinty shells, the coverings of vegetable cells belonging to the family of Algae, and known as Diatomacea. As these are veritably invisible plants they might have formed part of our last paper, but as that had grown to an inordinate length, and as the species now under notice possess a distinctive character, it was thought better then to exclude them. Unlike the slimy worts described last month, which when dead soon perish, ; the Diatomacea are furnished with an external coat of flint, which in ordinary circumstances is indestructible. The individual cells (termed frustules) consist of two portions usually of the same form, and generally, but not always, similar to each other; these two parts which cover the inner portion in the same fashion as two shells cover an oyster or muscle, are not however united by a hinge as are the oyster shells, but are connected by a band of flint of brilliant transparency, small enough and sufficiently beautiful to become the bridal ring of Titania or any other fairy queen, if these canny ones be united in such mundane bonds. The forms of the cells are extremely various, being circular, resembling pieces of money; oblong, like a bag drawn to a point at each end; or simply linear; others are like a saddle many elegant species are boat-shaped; some are triangular, others are nearly square; some like little pill boxes, while many can only be compared to bales of wool or bags of hops with each corner tied up; some are round, others oval, shaped like a wedge, or curved, and some twisted like the figure 8; there are species possessing stalks by which they are attached to other bodies, and some of these subdividing spread themselves in the most elegant fan-like manner, while another form is composed of a large number of cells united together as a chain. It is not only in their curious forms that the microscopic observer finds matter for interesting observation, but also in the delicate sculpturing, chasing, or markings which adorn their surface with dots or punctures, and with bands and lines, either circular, and parallel to the circumference, or radiating from the centre outwards or crossing each other after the manner of the engine-turned lines on the back of watches. Here is a wellknown form, Arachnoidiscus, the name of which, spider's-web disc, indicates the nature of its marking; but although the web of the spider is a beautiful and indeed marvellous object, that of the most delicate spinner would in comparison with his web be utterly eclipsed. The two shells are equally beautiful, they are round, very slightly curved, like a watch glass, and have at their junction a perfectly round ring of flint of extreme thinness. That triangular object with a clear, well would require an hour to accomplish its arduous journey of a similar length. defined margin, a large circular mark at these bodies, which are of a pale brown each angle, and a beautiful net work colour, travelling without any visible formed by depressions in the shell, is a means. They seem to move with toleraspecimen taken from the mud of the ble rapidity; but this is apparent only, Thames, proving that foul receptacles depending upon the fact that from the may contain beauties worth seeking. high magnifying power which it is necesNow we have one with a central spot sary to use, in consequence of their clear of markings, while the remainder extreme minuteness, the field of vision of the surface is covered with spots and is limited. It has been calculated that the disc divided into ten portions by an the most rapid traveller amongst them equal number of flutings in the shell. would occupy about three minutes in There is another form, the centre of which passing over a road no more than one is a five-rayed star, the rays being pro-inch in length, while the slowest of them jected out to the margin, while the spaces between are sculptured or chased in a manner as marvellous as it is beautiful; but as it is folly to attempt to describe beauties which must be seen to be appreciated, it needs only to be added that this tribe of vegetable beings offers for observation a rich and unfailing field: for here the Creator has been graciously pleased to be lavish in the display of the beautiful works of his hand, the glories of which must for ever have been hid from human observation had it not been for the aid the eye receives from the invention of the microscope. We have not hesitated to classify these atoms with the vegetable kingdom, notwithstanding many observers still consider them to be, as they were once almost universally regarded, members of the animal world; because we believe the balance of argument is in favor of their vegetable connection. They, like the plants previously referred to, have the property of locomotion, although not to a very great extent. When seen in the field of the microscope they may be observed to make movements in a short and slow jerky manner; if their progress is barred they do not attempt to move round the obstacle, but stay a short while against it, and then return to their original place, again after a while to move forward as before. There would seem to be no act analogous to volition in their proceedings, but rather a mechanical, almost rhythmical motion, the cause of which is involved in great obscurity, as no organs of locomotion have yet been seen. Professor W. Smith observes, that among the hundreds of species he has examined with glasses, whose excellency has not been surpassed, he has never been able to detect any resemblance of a motile organ. It is a strange spectacle to see These organisms multiply by division as well as by conjugation in a manner similar to the "invisible plants" described last month. The act of division seems to be that by which the numbers are most frequently increased, and would appear to be carried on for a lengthened period. No sooner is one cell separate from its parent than it proceeds in its turn to perform the same function, thus producing an almost indefinite number of separate beings. Professor Smith calculates that, presuming the act of division occupies in any single instance twenty-four hours, the progeny of but one frustule or single cell would in the space of a month amount to the enormous number of one thousand millions of cells. Now if it be borne in mind that the coverings or skeletons of these cells are flint and almost indestructible, and that the species flourish to an enormous extent under favorable circumstances, as in the beds of lakes and the depths of the sea, it will not appear surprising that large tracts of country should be found in various quarters of the world composed entirely of their remains, as at Richmond in Virginia, United States of America, where they form a bed of vast extent, and from twenty to twenty-five feet in thickness. The polishing powder so well known as Tripoli, imported, among other places, from Bilin in Bohemia, where a single stratum, extending over a wide area, and no less than fourteen feet thick, is composed entirely of the flinty covering of these plants, so minute, that forty thousand million individuals occupy only a cubic inch of space, and so light, that one hundred and eighty millions weigh no more than a single grain. |