had to endure previously to the death | long before China was opened to Mis

sionaries, and not unfrequently prayed for God to convert the Emperor of China, and open a wide and effectual door for the entrance of the gospel into that populous empire.

of Mary, he traces very minutely the persecuting spirit which prevailed during the long reign of Elizabeth, the hardships endured by many conscientious men, from the tyrannical spirit of the times, the operation of the Courts of His health began seriously to fail High Commission and the Star about 1830, doubtless from his intense Chamber, urged on by the haughty application to his historical researches, spirit of the monarch, and by many of and from almost constant confinement the bishops. It is a production greatly to a small room, taking but little exeradapted to make us thankful that we cise in the open air. He then resigned live in happier times, distinguished by his charge, under an impression that the advancement of the great principles he was no longer able to fulfil its duties, of civil and religious liberty, and to and retired to the vicinity of Birmingteach us the estimation in which we ham, where he spent the remainder of should hold the courageous men who en- his days enjoying the society of his dured the heat of the conflict, and con- friends, occasionally preaching, and tributed to obtain for future ages the in- taking an active part in the Town Misvaluable privileges which we now enjoy. sion, to which he liberally contributed; The preparation of these important but he still steadily pursued his favourworks did not absorb all his time and ite study. It was here he prepared the attention. He was a very zealous pro- Memoirs of Mr. Cartwright, and had moter of Home and Foreign Missions, completed the history of several emiand took a deep interest in the Stafford-nent Puritans, who emigrated to Ameshire Congregational Union, the chief | rica, where they laid the foundation of object of which is to promote the spreading of the gospel in the less favoured parts of the county. He was for some years secretary to that Institution. At that period he was anxious to promote a Theological Seminary in the county, but was obliged to abandon the object for want of adequate funds, little expecting to see the munificent provision made by his intimate friends, the founders of Spring Hill College, Birmingham, in which he took a lively interest, particularly shown by regular attendance at the meetings of the Board of Education, and its various committees. His advocacy of the London Missionary Society was most ardent and very successful, in which he was cordially supported by some liberal friends at Tutbury, who aided the cause by handsome subscriptions during their lives; and he had several opportunities of paying their large bequests to that and several other kindred institutions. He had sanguine hopes of a Chinese Mission,

many excellent institutions, and hoped to enjoy that liberty which was denied to them in their native land.

Amidst these labours, pursued whenever he was able, his health continued to decline, and for some months he suffered severely from an internal complaint, which medicine could neither cure nor much alleviate the intense pain it frequently produced, but from which, by the rupture of an important vessel, he was suddenly relieved, January 5, 1848, in his 73rd year, without the opportunity of bidding farewell to his friends, or even giving a parting blessing to his afflicted wife, long confined by paralysis in an adjoining room. Though he left no dying testimony in the ears of surrounding friends listening with breathless attention, yet we have the powerful evidence of a long life ardently devoted to the cause of God, and supported by a practical exhibition of the sanctifying effects of Divine grace.

In the year 1844 he suffered a severe loss by the death of his only surviving child, a pious daughter, at the age of 34. She was possessed of good natural parts, was amiable and zealous, very dutiful to her parents, and exemplary in her whole spirit and deportment. He bore this bereavement with great submission to the Divine will, but the trial must have been severe, as she appeared likely to be the chief solace of his declining years, his invaluable partner having been long confined by paralysis; but she yet survives, waiting for a dismission from this vale of tears, with the good hope, through grace, of soon joining her husband and daughter among the spirits of the just made perfect.

The retired life of a village pastor is not likely to exhibit many of those interesting circumstances which give so much pleasure in the perusal of the memoirs of men of more public stations; but the limited sphere of his operations is favourable to the cultivation of habits of reading and mental improvement to men of studious minds. It was of great importance, both to himself and society, that Mr. Brook had an object to engage his attention and stimulate him to persevering efforts. He profited by this,

and laid the foundation of that superstructure on which his name will be perpetuated to future ages. He was not formed to be a popular preacher ; his style and manner of address partook much of a by-gone age; nor had he studied the graces of oratory. There was always a good degree of evangelical doctrine in his sermons, combined with great plainness and simplicity of language. They were also delivered with considerable energy. His good sense and sterling integrity were, however, intermingled with some measure of harshness of expression and sternness of manner, which lessened his acceptance in some circles, while his extensive knowledge of books, and his familiar acquaintaince with the history of our puritanical ancestors, made him a valuable member of the Dissenting body, which is deeply indebted to him for his faithful record of their severe sufferings and firm adherence to principle, at any cost. "Others have laboured, and we are entered into their labours." May this and succeeding generations prove a race worthy of representing the principles of such a noble band, and be, like them, " valiant for the truth upon the earth.”

WHAT ARE OUR FRIENDS DOING FOR THE CIRCULATION
OF THE EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE?

AT the close of another year, we venture to remind the Pastors and Churches of the claims which the EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE has upon their continued and vigorous support. In reviewing the labours of the last twelve months, we are not afraid to say :-" Look honestly at what we have done, and deal with us as we deserve." We court nothing more than an enlightened and candid examination of the material we have supplied, and the spirit in which we have performed our arduous and responsible service. With a good conscience, we can truly affirm that we

have done our best to serve the Congregational cause, and to promote the general interests of truth and godliness, both at home and abroad.

We are not aware, indeed, that any great question of the day has been overlooked by us;-though we are free to confess that we have put forth our strength against the two monster-evils of our times,-Popery and Infidelity, believing that their present menacing position requires that all sincere Protestants, and settled Believers in the Plenary Inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, should do battle against these

PROSPECTS OF THE PAPACY.

BY THE REV. J. A. WYLIE.

pieces. The sorceress of the Seven Hills,
like the hag of Pandemonium, is now
"With terrors and with demons compass'd
round

Of mine own brood, that on my bowels feed."

Herein lies the grand difficulty of governments, and especially of the popedom,-that the superstition which, while it was a principle of belief, enabled them to govern the masses as they would, is a principle of belief no longer. With superstition their power has departed. The element which endowed the Papacy, as the governing power of Europe, with a sort of omnipotence, is extinct. Both governments and the popedom have, meanwhile, replaced the spiritual element by the merely physical. Everywhere a paternal despotism has given way to a military tyranny. But how long can this last? When the habit of blind unreasoning obedience has been destroyed, it cannot last long; so at least it appears to us. Were any great change to occur, of a nature fitted to bring about a mental enthralment throughout Europe, the Papacy might become as strong as before, and might govern Europe for centuries to come; but so long as it continues

SOCIETIES, not less than individuals, reap as they have sowed; and in the convulsions and revolutions of our times, Rome is reaping the fruit of ages of superstition and despotism. The Papacy at this moment is fighting its third great battle. Its first was with the empire, in that it was victorious. Its second was with Christianity, in the persons of its Albigensian and Waldensian confessors; and in that, too, it was victorious. Its third war is that which is now waging with an ATHEISTIC COMMUNISM, which has risen contemporaneously, and with extraordinary intensity and power, in all the Catholic countries of Europe. Whence has come this new and destructive principle? It is the natural issue of the bondage in which the human mind has so long been retained, of the violence done to reason and faith; for superstition is the parent of atheism. The national mind in France long struggled to find vent through means of Christianity. | This was denied it. It next sought liberty in scepticism, which speedily terminated in atheism. With French infidelity came French democracy. We have already said that the democratic element entered the world with Christianity, and revived again in the Re-to lean upon the sword, and to be hated formation of John Calvin. There is this difference, however, that whereas the doctrine of Calvin would have given true liberty, constitutional government, -to Europe, the doctrine of Voltaire gave it an anarchy which baptized itself in blood. Scepticism, engendered thus from superstition, has overspread Europe, and set free the masses from all Divine control, and by necessary consequence, from all earthly authority. The brood of revolutions, which now torments Europe, is the progeny of Rome. From her own loins has sprung the hydra that threatens to tear her in

by the masses as at once an impostor and an oppressor, the chances are not great that it will regain its power. The alliance of the priesthood with an expiring and worn-out despotism will not tend to the strengthening of the popedom. The popular vengeance was directed full against the priesthood in the first French Revolution, because the priesthood had been thoroughly identified with the government. In 1830, the priests were again the object of attack, because the elder Bourbons had made them political auxiliaries. In 1848, they escaped because they had not meddled

previously with politics. Their present | pedists carry consecrated tapers, and

identification with the governing powers all over the Continent is sure to render them again the objects of popular vengeance.

kiss the hand of the priest, in the hope that he may lead the impassioned masses from the political arena into the silent halls of penitence. The device is As a drought upon the waters, so has seen through and contemned. The infidelity wasted and dried up the vi- lower orders, instead of being concilitalities of Roman Catholicism. Social- ated, are becoming every day more hosism is the evil angel which God has sent tile, and are likely to continue so, so forth to smite the host of his enemies. It long as the government and the priestis a moral simoom. The Reformation hood pursue their reactionary and cowas a messenger of good tidings,-a ercive course. In all the Catholic preacher of repentance; but men re- countries north of the Alps, we see the pented not, and the messenger returned same indications of the decline of Cato Him who had sent him. Commun- tholicism which, according to Gibbon, ism comes next: it sounds the doom of signalized the decline of Paganism: the papal world, and announces that the cathedrals are in a great measure the hour of judgment is come. Where- deserted, and the few who do frequent ever infidelity is strong, Popery is them are mostly women and elderly weak. Pantheism is spread over all gentlemen. Enter Nôtre Dame in the northern Germany, and it is difficult to forenoon of a Sabbath, and in an edifice say whether it has been more fatal to that would accommodate from ten thouProtestantism or to Romanism. Along sand to twenty thousand, you find a the Rhine, if one may believe the pub- congregation of some three or four hunlished reports, there are millions of dreds, and these mostly ladies and atheists. Still rationalism has lost gentlemen who were born under the ground among the upper classes. The old régime. The modern Parisians go universities begin to be leavened with to the clubs or to the Boulevards. In an evangelical and believing spirit, and Lyons, the ecclesiastical capital of some of the more influential of the France, matters are in much the same clergy have experienced a religious re- state. In its numerous and magnifivival. The "Inner Mission" of Ger- cent cathedrals the priests sing mass in many is working vigorously, printing presence of a few hundreds, while the tracts and old devotional works, form- thousands of the city outside are intent ing Bible Societies, and instituting on their labours or on their amusements. Christian circulating libraries. These As a mission-field there are few more efforts, which extend into Saxony and inviting than France. We find Dr. Protestant Bavaria, and part of West- Merle D'Aubigné bearing his testimony phalia, if not impeded by the reaction to this fact at a recent meeting of the ary tendencies of the government, must Foreign Aid Society in London:-""The speedily work a change on Germany, Lord has breathed on this country,' which has retrograded far behind the writes an evangelist in the east of shadow of the Reformation. Switzer- France; the way is open everywhere, land closely resembles Germany, as re- and I do not know which way to turn.' gards the spread of infidelity; only It is impossible not to have meetings,' there the evil exists in a mitigated form. says another, 'for no sooner does one France is more than ever overspread by enter a house than all the neighbours the disciples of Voltaire. The late re- come in also.' You know that we have volution has produced a reaction among churches in Burgundy, full of spiritual the upper classes in favour of the life, who missionize, and are composed Church. The children of the Encyclo- | entirely of converted Romanists. Has