It has been urged, I know, in regard to the domestic mode of teaching or lecturing, that it lessens the dignity of the Church, and approximates us to the habits of Dissenters. If this be so, it only proves that they have been quicker than ourselves to discover what is needed by the wants of the people, and what is suited to their habits: and we are surely more prudent in wielding their weapons, than in leaving them in their hands, to be employed against ourselves. And further, the real dignity of the Church is to be the instrument of salvation; and he who "made himself servant unto all,” that he "might gain the more," has shown us how we may best maintain consistency. His words seem written for our purpose. "Unto the Jews became I as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law: to them that are without law, as without law, that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means SAVE some*." Was the apostle blamed for this? We know that he was. account concede? We know the contrary. by his divine Master? I trow not. Did he on that It has been further supposed, that as some trouble and self-denial are connected with attendance at church, many will not submit to the inconvenience if they can obtain instruction elsewhere. But the greatest obstacle to attendance at church, is spiritual lethargy; and if that lethargy be awakened, the greatest obstacle will be overcome. If the hunger and thirst be once excited, pains will be taken, and means be sought to satisfy it. The clergy, therefore, who have tried such plans, all unite in the same remark. They find their instruction doubly useful: not less effectual in rousing those unwilling to attend church, than in comforting those who are unable. Thus fresh hearers are continually added to the congregation. I can myself supply a proof which will hardly be disputed. I examined the returns furnished me from ten parishes, (alphabetically taken,) in which these measures had een in operation. I find that in these ten parishes the average congregations have increased since the preceding returns in 1832, from an aggregate of 3,220, to 3,750, i. e., by 1 Cor. ix. 20-22. more than one-seventh. The communicants, during the same period, by more than a third: from an average of 419 to 572. Is this injury to the Church? A similar result is furnished from the different churches of one large parish, throughout the whole of which these exertions have been made with more than usual unanimity. In the fifteen churches connected with this parish, the average congregations have increased during the last three years, from 10,360 to 11,650; and the number of communicants, from 841 to 1,266. Again, we may ask, is this injury to the Church? On the contrary, what strength would be added to the establishment, even if we look no further, by such general augmentation of the numbers attached to her, and attached to her by the closest ties? There is no reason whatever to believe that these efforts are partial, or might not become universal, if the like means were universally employed. [Extract from the Bishop of Chester's Charge, 1835.] THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST IN NEVER DELAYING AN ACT OF MERCY, It deserves remark, that Christ never delayed an act of mercy. There is not a single instance recorded of his sending away applicants for relief, because they troubled him. In the case of the dropsical man who was brought to him while he was entertained in the house of one of the Pharisees, many reasons seemed to concur to induce him to defer the miracle. A plan had been systematically arranged for entrapping him, in which his host had probably joined with others of his sect: and while he sat at meat, "they watched him;" a point to which St. Luke calls attention in a particular manner. It was the Sabbath, and umbrage had been taken shortly before at a cure which our Lord had performed in the synagogue on that day. A delay of a few hours, till those persons had withdrawn, whose presence was dangerous, or till the season of holy rest, for which they professed so much jealousy, had passed, would apparently have been of little consequence to the object of our Lord's compassion, whose disorder was probably of long standing, and who would have thankfully accepted any hope of relief, which he might have been encouraged to expect on a future and not distant day. But Christ was not to be deterred from his purpose of mercy by a mode of reasoning which would have been of sufficient weight to have prevailed with one who was less intent on going about to do good. Regardless of the consequences to himself, where the life or comfort of another was concerned, he took him, and healed, and let him go. [From the Bishop of Winchester on the Ministerial Character of Christ.] SHORT MEMOIR OF MR. EMBDEN HOE, THE late Mr. Hoe was warmly attached to the Established Church; under its ministry he received his first religious convictions, and towards it, its pious ministers and members, he always cherished a most ardent affection; cultivating, at the same time, a truly catholic regard to persons of every denomination, whose lives evinced that they had "passed from death unto life." He was one of the foremost to cooperate in all plans of piety and benevolence, and always appeared most happy when in the society of those Christians, who, for the accomplishment of holy purposes, would cordially unite their energies in doing good; this feature in his character was particularly manifested in his active exertions in promoting the erection of the "Christian Union Almshouses." As a member of the committee, he was one of the most regular and punctual in his attendance; and as a District Visitor, he was most indefatigable; and even when labouring under great physical debility, his almost unbounded labours were not intermitted. In the Portman-square Society, Mr. Hoe had a section, containing about 120 families, the whole of which it was impossible for him to visit regularly; but he had about eighty families on whom he bestowed regular and unceasing labour, and it is proper to state, that his section, which was Horacestreet, (more generally known as the famous Cato-street,) was not the most encouraging, being chiefly inhabited by Irish families of the poorest class, some of whom were of the most abandoned character; besides which, he was ever ready to afford his prompt, friendly assistance to other destitute families not immediately under his care. Although his kindness was sometimes requited with base ingratitude, yet he zealously persevered, and often succeeded, not only in gaining the attention of the most reckless, but their warmest affection. Instances are not wanting in which he was the honoured instrument of turning sinners "from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God," and many, whose last hours were cheered by his pious counsels and fervent prayers, left this world in the possession of a good hope through grace, praising Almighty God, for directing such a friend to their miserable habitations. In the Upper Harley-street Society, Mr. Hoe had also a section, containing about thirty families, whom he most diligently and successfully visited; considering the delicate state of his health, and the distance he lived from his sections (about three miles), it is most gratifying to record the frequency and regularity of his visits, devoting generally three, and sometimes four days in each week to his two sections, besides being often occupied whole days under peculiarly afflicting circumstances, in promoting the interest and welfare of a family or an individual. The following testimony to his zeal and labours is given by a clergyman connected with one of the above societies. "Mr. E. Hoe was, from nearly the commencement of this society, one of its most active and efficient visitors. During this period, he devoted a large portion of his time to the wants of this neighbourhood, going fearlessly among the depraved, and seeking out the sons and daughters of affliction, that he might deal out to them, as occasion needed, the warnings and consolations of that precious Gospel under whose influence he lived and died. The poor, in whose dwellings his presence was familiar, can bear testimony to his unwearied zeal in their service, and they who witnessed his triumphant departure, can tell how much of the hope and joy of the believer he exhibited in the closing scene. 'He being dead yet speaketh,' and he bids us 'follow him as he followed Christ."" An interesting account of his last illness and death has been published by a clerical friend, who accounted it a privilege to visit The chamber where the good man met his fate; from which the following particulars are extracted :— I never witnessed greater tenderness of conscience in any man; and I may here mention, that it was particularly observable in his manner of referring to those who had injured him, his perfect forgiveness of them, and his intercessions in their behalf, that God would forgive them, and change their hearts." "Bodily strength was now failing, life ebbing apace, weariness, exhaustion, and difficulty of breath increasing; but the mind was still in healthful vigour, and he remarked, with astonishing strength of voice, and joy of soul, Well, the Lord is finishing the work, as I told you he would.' We engaged in prayer, and with all his wonted animation, he added, 'The Lord hear us and bless us, and lift up the light of his countenance upon us, and sustain us in our last trial, when we change time for eternity. O Lord, bless those I leave behind; thou knowest what is best for each of them; but above all bestow on them thy Holy Spirit, for Jesus Christ's sake.' Being evidently much exhausted, his attention was recalled to the Saviour's sorrows, 'Jesus trod this weary road before you,' and the word brought back to his mind the following beautiful hymn, written by a lady, which he repeated with great distinctness and feeling : Jesu, we come to bathe our weary souls Where mercy's stream her sacred water rolls: The last verse he repeated twice. After he was placed in bed, from which, for the sake of a little temporary relief, he had been removed, he said, 'Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord for this, and every instance of his mercy. Sometimes I think,' he afterwards remarked, it is this night He means to summon me; I am anxiously waiting His summons.' His sensitive conscience was for a short time disturbed with the recollection of a reply he had made, as he thought, in a hasty manner. It is the best way,' he remarked, 'always to |