his father, residing in Great St. Helens, at fifteen years of age, and entered into business when he was twenty-three. Such were the integrity and correctness of his demeanour as a young tradesman, that he soon commended himself to the esteem of his circle, and was invited to devote his spare hours to various objects of parochial and commercial utility. He filled in succession several public offices, in connexion with his neighbours, the City Company of which he was a member, and other institutions of which he was a commissioner and director,-with a few of which he remained associated to the time of his decease. Nor are testimonies wanting to show the uprightness, industry, liberality, and zeal with which he discharged the duties and services of those establishments in the management of which he shared.

"Though he was accustomed from his childhood to receive religious instruction from his pious parents, and uniformly accompanied them to the house of God on the Sabbath, yet he does not appear to have assumed anything like decision till the arrival of his twentieth or twenty-first year. From some slight records which he has left, it seems that he was often much impressed with the discourses which he heard at Tottenham Court Road Chapel, and the Tabernacle, and from the Rev. W. Romaine, Mr. Cecil, Mr. Foster, and Mr. Newton, on whose ministrations he occasionally attended; but he states, that the business and cares of the week dulled and destroyed the good resolutions he made on the evening of the Lord's-day. Yet these were frequently revived by the perusal of devotional works which were put into his hands, until he determined to unite himself to some religious body. This he did in the year 1790, when his name was enrolled among the members of the church under the pastoral care of the Rev. John Reynolds, of Camomile-street. In this community he discovered such a steadiness of character, and such a readiness to every good work, that in 1801 he was elected a deacon of the church. About two years afterwards I became personally acquainted with him, and continued in unbroken friendship with him, until he exchanged earth for heaven.

"Those who have only known Mr. Hous. ton for the last ten or twelve years of his life, cannot form a due estimate of his character as a member and officer of this Christian community. For, partly from the influence of constitutional nervousness, with its alternate depressions and elevations, and partly from the effect wrought upon his mind by several family afflictions, and severe losses in business, he became subject to a vacillation of purpose, and a perturbation of manner, which occasionally embarrassed those with whom he co-operated in the practical

movements of society. He is, therefore, to be judged of from what he was during the forty years of his singularly active and useful life, and not from what he became through infirmity, as it drew to its close. I am happy, after an intimacy with him of nearly fifty years, in the opportunity of bearing my testimony to his excellence, and to the value of his services during the entire period of my pastoral relation to him, and to the flock over which it was my privilege so long to preside. By the steadiness of his attachment to the person and welfare of his minister; by the constancy of his attendance on the ordinances administered in his places of worship; by the strenuous efforts he made, in connexion with others, when embarked in the enterprise of erecting this costly edifice, and its appendages; by his regular regard to the prayer and church-meetings held in the sanctuary; by his visits to the sick and dying; by his considerate administration to the poor; by his careful examination of candidates for churchfellowship; by his remarkable and undeviating hospitality and generosity, so long as Divine Providence favoured him with adequate resources; and by his zealous consecration of time, talents, and substance, to advance the interests of public institutions, both philanthropic and religious, he acquired double honour, purchased to himself a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

There were some peculiarities in his Christian habits by which he was distinguished, and which are well worthy of notice and imitation. While on his journeys of business or recreation, he was accustomed to visit the elder members of various churches, and obtain from them historic narratives of their respective communities, which he recorded in little books, the contents of which he often read to his friends and companions at his hospitable board, and some of which were deeply interesting. He had also collected many epitaphs from numerous church-yards and cemeteries, which were of an instructive and edifying character. When conversation flagged, he would pull out his pocket-book, which was filled with pieces of poetry, and extracts from old and rare divines, and say

Well, let us not lose our time. I will read to you some beautiful pieces,' many of which were of great excellence and sanctifying tendency. He had stored his retentive memory with portions of sacred poesy, which I have heard him repeat in succession for half an hour without intermission, and some of which he printed and distributed with tracts, as he went through the streets, or dropped at the doors of cottages and houses which he passed in his travels. At one time he possessed a considerable number of the writings of the old divines, which he gave away, as

"Such was the benevolent career which he pursued until about his seventy-second year, when he suffered most painfully from the loss of his estimable wife, and of his only son. These events, though they did not impair his healthy looks, yet had a distressing effect on both body and mind, and also contributed to produce a certain restlessness, though, as he has often assured me, he changed his place, but kept his pain.' He went to reside at Upminster, at Stratford, and lastly, at Ilford, in Essex, where, after a short diarrhoeal attack of four or five days, during which he was in a constant stupor, he finished his course, and was interred in the family vault in Great St. Helen's Church, and close to the house of which he had been an inhabitant for 'three score years and ten.'

"As to his theological opinions, he was a moderate Calvinist, though he cordially embraced in the arms of his Christian affection all who held the Head-Christ,' and who loved the Saviour in sincerity. In his views and habits connected with ecclesiastical polity, he was a decided Nonconformist. For a

time, in the outset of his course, partly from the effect of education, and partly from superficial reading and intercourse with general society, he entertained narrow estimates on the subject of denominational distinctions; but as his information expanded, and his association with the excellent of the earth widened, he more clearly discerned the difference between the substantial body of religion, and the ceremonial attire which she wears during her earthly sojourn, and attained to a happy medium between an oppressive and churlish bigotry on the one hand, and a bitter, blustering sectarianism on the other. On his philanthropy, the records of Bible, Tract, Missionary, and many other humane institutions, have pronounced their eulogium. To his unfeigned piety, his habit of early rising for private devotion, his religious engagements at the family altar, his devotedness to the welfare of this congregation, and the various writings on sacred subjects which he has left behind him, bear conclusive witness :-and all combine to prove that he was a good man, full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and justly entitled to the commendatory distinctions conferred on Jehoiada of old, of whom it is written, that 'they buried him in the city of David, among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both towards God and towards his house."" J. C.

some time a Boys' Mission School existed at Walthamstow, but failed from several unavoidable causes-to a great extent from want of adequate support from the religious public. The satisfaction felt, however, at the establishment and continuance of the Girls' Mission School, by our brethren and sisters who are doing the work of the churches in that a similar institution should be again heathen lands, and the strong desire expressed provided for their boys, stimulated a few ardent friends to attempt the resuscitation of the school. In this good work they were greatly cheered and aided by our beloved departed brother, Mr. Freeman, to whose heart the interests of the Walthamstow Schools were ever dear. The Mission children have lost one of their best and kindest friends by his mysterious removal, in the midst of his years and usefulness. Would that some equally earnest and devoted spirit would come forward, to be baptized for the dead!

Your readers may probably be aware, that during the past summer a strong effort was made, by a few energetic friends, to obtain, by

of some who have both the heart and the means to aid in this good work, and who only want a direction to be given to their sympathies and liberality. It must be an act pleasing to that God who, when he sees his servants recognised and honoured, because they are his servants, assures us he esteems it as done towards himself; and it will be grateful to all good men to find that there is ever a disposition to do homage to the excellent of the earth, by readily aiding in such works as that to which this letter invites the churches, though they are never likely in this life to receive their full meed of sympathy, esteem, and love.

Believe me, my dear Sir,

Very faithfully yours,
THOMAS AVELING.

Stoke Newington, Oct. 17, 1851.

Subscriptions will be gratefully received by either of the Secretaries: Mrs. Luke, Provost-road, Haverstock-hill; Miss Peek, Kidbrook-lodge, Blackheath; Miss Reed, Cambridge-heath, Hackney; and Miss Scrutton, Alton-cottage, Wandsworth, Surrey; or by the Secretaries at the London Mission House, Blomfield-street, Finsbury, and the Baptist Mission House, Moorgate-street, London.

HOW TO DO GOOD. For Children.

Is any little girl who reads this wondering how a child can do good? I can tell you one way, which I learned from the story of one of the sweetest little girls I ever knew. A minister told me that when he was preaching to a new congregation, he was struck by the attention of a lovely child whose eye was fixed upon his lips, except now and then when she looked under her mother's bonnet with a smile, as if something pleased her. The next Sabbath he found her in the same spot, ready to catch every word of his sermon; and he was so delighted with her apparent desire "to hear of heaven and learn the way," that he waited at the close of service to tell her mother how it gratified him to have such an interested listener. From the mother he learned that this little girl had no pleasure equal to that of going to church and treasuring up the sermon for an old and infirm grandmother, to whom every Sabbath she carried so much instruction, that the poor woman would say that it was almost as good as going to church herself.

66

Was not this a very pleasant and a very easy way of doing good?" Is there any child who cannot do as much good, if she will? Have not each of you some sick friend, some infirm friend, or some old friend deprived of the privilege of going to the house of God, to whom you might carry the sermon you hear, if you would only take the pains to

remember it? Will you not try, on the next Sabbath, and see how much you can remember? If you will hear all the minister says, you will find, as that good little girl did, a great deal to do the young good, as well as an old grandmother. You will not only be in the way of doing good, but you will be getting good. You will not only be making others happy, but increasing your own happinessfor the way to be happy is to be good; and then you will be kept from the great sin of wasting in idle thoughts the precious hours you spend in the worship of God. Oh, my dear child, how you would shudder, did you realize your wickedness in thinking so much more of everything else, when you are in God's house, than you do of him! It is because you are thoughtless, that you lose so many opportunities of growing wiser and better, and of knowing "how to do good." Only think for yourself, and you will soon possess the secret of" doing good.”—Christian Treasury.

THE BLIND BOY AND HIS BIBLE.

AN interesting little blind boy, about twelve years of age, became the subject of converting grace, and was very desirous to learn to read the Bible with raised letters prepared for the use of the blind. In a very short space of time he learned to run his fingers along the page, and to read with ease and propriety. The highest object of his wishes seemed now to be to possess a complete copy of the Bible for the blind, which consists of several large volumes. His parents were unable to buy one, but his pastor obtained one from a benevolent society. It was in several volumes.

Not long after the little boy received the books, his pious mother saw him retire to the room where they were kept, and she stepped softly to the door to see what he would do. And why, do you think, did the dear little boy go alone to his room? His mother saw him kneeling by the side of those precious volumes, and lifting up his hands in prayer, to return thanks to God for his blessed gift of his holy Word. He then rose from his knees, and taking up one of the volumes in his arms, hugged and kissed it, and then laid it on one side, and proceeded to the next, and so on until he had, in this simple but pleasing manner, signified his love for each of those blessed volumes, which, through the medium of touch, had spread before his mind the wonders and the glories of God's revelation to man.

"The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and the honeycomb."-Christian Treasury.

THE HEATHEN'S REPLY TO THE JESUIT. WHEN the Jesuit missionaries first arrived in the Sandwich Islands, they used many arguments with the natives, to show that their instructions and those of the Protestant missionaries were alike. It was on one of these occasions that an old man, who made no pretensions to religion, replied, that the missionaries had taught him about God. "Oh, yes," replied the priest, "Mr. Thurston taught about God, and that was right; you heard him, and now I wish you to hear me.' The old man gravely answered, "But the Bible says, I cannot serve two masters." He further objected to their images, when the priest said, "Oh, we do not call this God, and we do not pray to it. It is only a representation-shadow of God." The old man replied, "Let me see it; that cannot be any representation of God. It is made of brass. If there be any shadow or representation of God, it must be in the heart, not in an image."-Cheever's Island World.

PROVINCIAL.

NEW CHAPEL, ST. MARY CRAY, KENT. IN this village, which stands in the heart of a richly wooded country, and in the vicinity of three or four other populous villages, an elegant and commodious place of worship has been erected, at the sole expense of Joynson, Esq., and was opened for Divine service, on Lord's Day, the 19th Oct., when the Rev. James Sherman preached in the morning, and the Rev. Dr. Bennett in the evening. In the afternoon Dr. Bennett presided at the formation of a new church, on Congregational principles. The attendance was overflowing, both morning and evening; and, since the opening, under the preaching of Dr. Morison and others, has presented a most encouraging aspect.

This chapel is a new experiment, which we doubt not, by God's blessing, will prove successful. It is intended to innovate upon the old method of building small village chapels, which are scarcely ever self-sustaining, by drawing to one focus the inhabitants of several villages, and thereby securing a congregation sufficiently numerous to support an educated and powerful ministry. The plan is worthy of fair trial; and Mr. Joynson is prepared to make such sacrifices as may be necessary, in one instance at least, to carry out his own favourite idea.

The new chapel is a splendid edifice, upon which no cost has been spared; and with its literary institute on the one side, and its Sunday-school on the other, both reared by the same generous hand, and free of all charge to the public, we cannot but hope that great and blessed results will be realized. May the Spirit be poured from on high, that many souls may be converted to God!

SUFFOLK CONGREGATIONAL UNION.

THE Suffolk Congregational Union held its Autumnal Meeting, at Woodbridge, on the 8th and 9th ult. On the evening of the 8th, the Rev. John Flower, of Burles, preached the introductory sermon at the Quay Meeting. On the morning of the 9th, the Rev. John Alexander, of Norwich, preached the Union sermon, in connexion with the bi-centenary of the Quay Congregational Church; after which the Lord's Supper was administered, the Rev. John Harrison, of Rendham, presiding. At three o'clock P.M., the members met for conference, when a committee was appointed to arrange for the delivery in the county of lectures on voluntary education. In the evening, the concluding services were held at Beaumont Chapel, when the Rev. James Lyon, of Hadleigh, and the Rev John Brown, B.A., of Wrentham, delivered addresses suitable to the occasion.

PRINCESS STREET CHAPEL, DEVONPORT.

THIS commodious place of worship has recently attained its jubilee, and a series of interesting services was held to commemorate the event. The building was opened for Divine worship August 26th, 1801, and on the return of that date, after the lapse of fifty years, on the 26th of August, ult., the church and congregation met for special supplication and thanksgiving. A large number, especially of the young, assembled, at half-past six o'clock, at an early prayer-meeting. At half-past ten, a public service was held; when the Rev. W. Spencer preached from Leviticus xxv. 11:-"A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be unto you." Another prayer-meeting was held at three in the afternoon. In the evening, the anniversary of the Plymouth, Devonport, Stonehouse, &c., Auxiliary to the London Missionary Society was held. The Rev. Dr. Alliott commenced with prayer. M. W. Jeffery, Esq., the Mayor of Devonport, presided. The assembly was addressed by the Revs. T. C. Hine, of Plymouth; H. D. Johnston, from Tahiti; T. Horton, of Devonport; and George Smith, of Poplar. The Rev. W. Spencer closed a very interesting meeting with a hymn, and the benediction. The jubilee services were resumed on the following Lord's-day; when two sermons were preached by the Rev. W. Spencer; in the morning, from Deuteronomy xxxii. 7, and in the evening from Zechariah i. 5. Prayer-meetings were held at seven A.M.; in the afternoon, at three, and at the close of the evening service. On the following Tuesday, September the 2nd, a devotional service was held; when a paper, which is now published, was read by the Rev. W. Spencer, containing a history of the cause of Christ in