surprising. Historians in after days will eagerly avail themselves of these sources of information, and the intellectual advancement of the peoples of Christian missions will at no distant period show how much intellectual life is indebted to the labours of Christian missions. The seventh chapter is devoted to "Eminent Missionaries," men of whom the world was not worthy. The next gives a description of "Fields of Labour; and the last is a summary of "Missionary Gleanings." We would sincerely recommend this work to all our readers, but especially to those who have occasionally to advocate the cause of Christian Missions on our public platforms. Walking with God; the life hid with Christ. By SAMUEL IRENEUS PRIME, D.D., Author of the "Power of Prayer," etc. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 27, Paternoster-row.

THIS little work consists of ten chapters, all bearing on the Christian's inner life. It has no affinity with rationalism so called, yet it shews how highly rational is a life of faith and love. To those who wish to maintain a closer walk with God than heretofore, we would recommend this little volume. Important Truths in simple verse. By S. W. P. Illustrated Edition. London: S. W. Partridge and Co., 9, Paternoster-row.

THIS volume is illustrated with a variety of beautiful engravings, and contains a great number of sweet pieces in verse, calculated to arrest the attention and improve the mind and morals of children.

Choral Services. Incidents in the History of Jesus, illustrated by careful selections of Scripture, and suitable hymns, anthems, and chants, etc. London: Haughton and Co., 10, Paternoster-row. Price 6d., or one hundred, not less, at half price.

AN interesting choral service, fully described in the title, and calculated sweetly to impress the select readings from Scripture upon the mind.

The Cottager and Artisan, 1872. London: The Religious Tract Society, 56, Paternoster-row.

The

THIS is the king of picture books, confining our observation to cheap literature. We know of nothing equal to it. The illustrations are accompanied with descriptions which add to their interest. We have on the ninth page a well executed engraving of Robert Burns, the peasant poet. descriptive matter fairly sets forth his poetic genius, and at the same time faithfully guards the reader against his moral defects. We are pleased with this, for with many, intellectual power, if richly developed, atones for all moral offences. The Cotter's Saturday Night is an admirable illustration. The Princess of Wales visiting the Dying Groom is a piece in which all will take a lively interest. The American Indian, and the Wife of the Indian Chief, are executed with great taste, as is also the "Chinese Ladies." The Mother's Friend. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 27, Paternoster-row.

THIS is the fourth volume of this serviceable serial. It is appropriate for mothers, calculated to direct, comfort, and cheer those of them especially who are in the humbler walks of life.

The Child's Companion and Juvenile Instructor, 1872. London: The Religious Tract Society, 56, Paternoster row.

HERE we are again in the midst of lovely pictures, and such a lot of them. Such a book we should think must be a great temptation to children to read, and then the reading is of a very diversified character, free from dulness, and full of useful information and valuable reflections. How delighted the writer of this notice would have been when a boy, had he had such books as these thrown in his way.

Railway Signals for Life's Journey. London: J. W. W. Thompson and Co., 54, Paternoster-row. Price 3d., cloth gilt, 4d.

A LITTLE book intended for those who are entering upon life, pointing out to them evils against which they should guard, if they desire to avoid the painful consequence of thoughtlessness, imprudence, and indiscretion.

Thy I am not a State-Churchman.

Ir must have occurred to every Christian man not connected with the Established Church of this country to think seriously and often upon this question-Why am I not a State-Churchman? The State-Church occupies such a high position, has been favoured by the legislature, and makes such claims to be the only Scriptural Church, that I used to wonder that any person could dissent from it. So far as this world is concerned, it is apparently not worth a man's while to become a Dissenter. That was one of my early reflections, but I saw very soon that, while social dignity and many privileges of all kinds were attached to the Church, there was more vital godliness, more religious earnestness, and greater consistency of outward conduct among Dissenters. How was this? I asked. I think the only answer is that members of Churches are pure in proportion as the Churches themselves are pure, yet that statement may be inverted, and it may also be said that Churches are pure in proportion to the purity of their members. Now it seems to me that the Church of England, as established by law, is a very impure Church, and I do not think it will be uncharitable to say that it is the most unsound and impure Protestant Church in existence. Let me show this in a few brief papers, which will give some of the reasons why I am not a State-Churchman.

The first fact which crosses me in connection with the Episcopal Church of this country is that it is the law-established Church; that it exists by Act of Parliament, and that, for the most part, it is maintained by compulsory contributions, once called tithes, but now denominated tithe-rent charges. Two questions now occur; one is-is Episcopalianism, such as is exhibited in the State Church, a Scriptural form of ecclesiastical government, so that, supposing it to be the duty of a State to establish "the true religion,' ," that is the religion which ought to be established? The second question is-ought there to be any establishment of religion whatever by the State, under any circumstance, even supposing that the State has discovered the "true Church," and is infallible in its discovery? I think that it is best to answer the last question first, for then it will not be necessary, although, for some reasons, it might be desirable, to discuss the various forms of Church government.

I have noticed that the strongest, or what is assumed to be the strongest, argument of Churchmen in writing upon or in discussing this subject, is that the Jewish Church was a State Church, that it was supported by compulsory contributions, and that, therefore, State Churches and compulsory contributions must be lawful. And this has always seemed to me to be a point so easily settled by appeal to the Scriptures themselves, that I should have wondered at any difference of opinion respecting it, were it not for the fact that such differences indisputably exist upon almost all subjects. What is the truth relating to it? What is the testimony of the Scriptures?

I find from the Old Testament, what we all know but sometimes forget, that there was no such thing as a State Church in the Mosaic times. There was a Church, which was founded by God himself, not by the State, and He, and not the State, gave to it its laws. It was free from all control of the civil powers. That power made no law in it whatever. The words came from the Almighty with solemn significance, "Ye shall not add unto the law which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God as I command you." To the supreme authority of such a command we should all bow, and constitutions so established we should all recognize; but it is just here that the State Church in this country presents the least resemblance to the Jewish theocracy. Some wide points of contrast and departure may be given. For instance, can any one pretend that the laws of the Established

In

Church are the laws of God so that it would be an iniquity not to obey them? Take the appointment of ministers. Under the Jewish dispensation the whole of the ministers of religion were appointed by God himself. the English Church they are appointed-how? Alas! the scandals which have been connected with civil appointments, from those of bishops and other dignitaries by prime ministers, to that of the ordinary clergy. Then, under the Jewish dispensation, the priesthood was independent of the State, and ruled, in divine matters, irrespective of judges or kings; while in the Church of England, the priesthood is in entire subjection to the State, the Queen's Majesty, according to the thirty-eighth article, having "the chief power in the realm of England, and other her dominions, unto whom the chief governments and all estates of this realm, whether they be ecclesiastical or civil, in all causes, doth appertain." Again, under the Jewish dispensation, the priesthood was hereditary; in the Church of England it is dominative. What a difference is made by all this! No man but the man authorised by the Almighty dared to touch the "Ark of God;" and now that " Ark," as it pretends to be, is at the mercy of every ruler, be he bad or good. Appealing to the Mosaic economy for the authority for a State Church is like saying that the authority of a parliament. is equal to that of God; that independence means the same thing as subjection; and freedom is the same as slavery.

The truth is, even if we did not know Jewish history as we do, that there could have been no compulsory State Church as such, in the sense in which we understand it, in the old Mosaic times, or in any other where the religion of the almighty Father is taught as authorized by Himself. We shall see this to be the case especially in relation to the pecuniary support of religion, but it is so in all other respects. What was wanted, what has ever been wanted by our heavenly Father, but to draw us to Himself, to win our hearts, our love, our affections, our duty? Are force and compulsion means to such an end? Yes! moral and spiritual, but not physical force.

Strange, too, that Churchmen should cite the Old Testament and the Jewish economy as authoritative for State Churchism, when that economy has been set aside by God himself. "For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For, finding fault with them, he saith, Behold the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenants and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their minds and write them in their hearts. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old, is ready to vanish away." (Heb. viii. 7, 10, 13.)

Monthly Summary,

THE SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE connected with the Wesleyan community has met, has discussed at great length the complicated difficulties connected with the educational question. and has passed the following resolution:-"That while resolving to maintain in full vigour and efficiency the Wesleyan Connexional Day Schools and Training Colleges, it is of opinion that, with due regard to existing interests, all future legislation for

primary education at the public cost should provide for such education only upon the principle of unsectarian education under school boards. The candid advocates of a thoroughly national and unsectarian education will rejoice at this, so far as it goes, and sympathise with that body in the difficulties in which they were placed, resulting out of the large sums they had invested in the schools they have erected. Still, these schools must necessarily entail upon them a large annual expenditure. The Wesleyans are from this day committed to opposition to denominationalism. This we have all along held to be the only safe course against the aggressions of popery. Opposition to the introduction of the religious element in our public day schools is not opposition to the tuition of religious principles, but merely a safeguard against the inculcation of error under the garb of religion. The necessity of Christian communities bringing into action agencies for religious instruction of the young, more effectual than heretofore, will now become more and more felt.

CHURCH AND STATE.-Coming events cast their shadows before them; and so Church papers, that is to say, Tory papers, are becoming alarmed at the certain prospect of a separation of Church and State. Yet where is the man of talent and piety that needs to fear in the smallest degree, so far as his own interests are concerned? The Standard anticipates a crusade against the Church on the part of the Liberals, and the Bishop of Peterborough warns churchmen to stand on their defence. Mr. Dillwyn has abjured his belief in Establishment, and looks to the increasing number of nonconformists to compel the dis-establishment and dis-endowment of the Churches of England and Scotland. Mr. Horsman pronounces that sooner or later we must come to this; and dwells on the necessity of are conciliation between the Government and the nonconformists by a sacrifice of the 25th clause of the Education Act. In reference to this clause, we believe the Government was misinformed as to the feelings of the nonconformist bodies in relation to it at the time the Act passed, and that they are not at all bound to stand by it, or strongly inclined to do so.

A CONTEMPORARY of the 14th ult. has the following paragraph :Christian Conference in 1873. A meeting was held on the 12th ult. in the Church of the Pilgrims, Brooklyn, to hear the report of the Rev. Dr. Schaff, who is connected with the Evangelical Alliance, on the subject of the general conference which it is proposed to hold at New York, in 1873. Dr. Schaff said that between forty and fifty distinguished men, from almost every country in Europe, would attend the Conference, and take part in its deliberations. Altogether, from 300 to 500 visitors might be expected on that occasion. There would be a great variety of subjects to be discussed, such as 'The Present State of Christendom,' 'Christian Union,' "Foreign and Domestic Missions,' Christianity and Government,' Christianity and Philanthropy.' The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher addressed the meeting, and said 'the Conference of 1873 would be a meeting of universal Christendom. There would be a larger number of brethren from the different Christian Protestant denominations than, perhaps, ever met before on the American shore. It was to be an interchange of Christian thought and Christian sympathy. It would be worth something for those on his side of the Atlantic to know what the trials and difficulties were which had to be encountered by those on the other side of it, and to show them what the gospel could do among a free people where it was not limited by the interposition of the State, and not hindered by a general scepticism of the people.' At the close of Mr. Beecher's address the meeting adjourned."

THE HEARTY SYMPATHY OF AN ENGLISH BISHOP WITH POPERY.-The Rev. Mr. Maguire, Vicar of Clerkenwell, and one of the most energetic of the Evangelical clergy of London, has for some weeks past been delivering a course of anti-papal lectures in St. Saviour's Church, Southwark. Their delivery has, however, been prohibited by the Bishop of Winchester, who states that he will not permit lectures "so entirely controversial" to be delivered in a church in his diocese.—The Methodist Recorder.