of Berks, in the Independent denomina tion, at an expense not exceeding 807., and was opened on Tuesday, the 25th of July; the Rev. W. Wilkins, of Abingdon, commenced the service with prayer and reading the Scriptures; the general prayer was offered up by the Rev. Mr. Buebier, of Reading, and an appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Douglas, of Reading, from Phil. i. 18, who concluded with prayer. In the evening, the Rev. Mr. Brodie, Baptist minister in the same place, began the service with reading and prayer; the Rev. Mr. Cook, of Maidenhead, delivered a suitable sermon from Luke xv. 10, and concluded with prayer; Mr. Edlin, who preaches statedly to the people, gave out the hymns. This is an infant cause, with the prospect of advancing the Redeemer's kingdom in a part of the country where the people much need evangelical instruction. June 28th. A new Independent Chapel was opened at Chinnor, Oxon, when the Rev. W. Copley, of Oxford, preached in the morning, from 2 Kings, chap. ii. latter clause of the 9th verse; the Rev. G. D. Owen, of Maidenhead, in the afternoon, from Gen. xii. 2; the Rev. W. Gunn, of Aylesbury, in the evening, from Ps. cxxxiii. latter clause of the 3d verse. The devotional services were conducted by the Rev. Messrs. Sugden, Tyler, Paice, Caterer, Kinghorn, and Burnham. Many united in the prayer, "O Lord, we beseech thee, send now prosperity." THE translator of the former communications on this subject, finds it impossible to keep up the classification with which he set out, as new matter continually arises which belongs to heads already printed. He proposes, therefore, to extract the more interesting passages as they occur, and as his infrequent leisure may enable him. Dark and awful as the moral state of continental Europe is, and loudly demanding our prayers and best efforts, it is surely an important duty to take notice of whatever intimations we can discover, that the work of the Holy Spirit is not totally withdrawn, and that there are, in many places, the revivings and beamings forth of vital religion. The first of the following extracts will shew our British readers, that good people abroad are apt to entertain ideas of our moral and religious condition, not very dissimilar from those which we receive concerning them. This fact furnishes matter for many interesting reflections, though it should by no means preponderate against the evidence, so distressingly abundant and strong, that the disadvantage is greatly on their side. It is still further worthy of observation that the statement is from Strasburgh; the Bible Society of which city is conceived of, by a recent Scottish author (whose noble exertions and sacrifices for the promotion of the Redeemer's kingdom, give him an exalted place in our regard,) as governed and directed by infidels." After a general view of Bible operations through the earth, the Report proceeds: "What a gain for the world, in every point of view! How many labourers" [e. g. paper-makers, printers, bookbinders, &c.]" are beneficially occupied, by means of this diffusion of the Bible! How many families are maintained! How greatly is the study of language promot d! How many persons, who were languishing in the night of ignorance, superstition, and infidelity, have been enlightened by the beneficent brightness of the Divine word! How many vicious persons reformed; how many in distress comforted; how many, whose doctrines and views bad separated from each other, have been brought nearer together! Were it in human power to point out with perfect exactness all these operations, to detail them, and to measure their precise amount, it would be impossible to doubt on the subject. The general interest which is taken in the cause of the Bicle, by both the higher and the lower classes, already proves that even now very many of mankind set a value on that which is Divine, on that which is heavenly; and that they are convinced that the word of God, does not every where fall upon stones, or among thorns and thistles. Besides, the interesting Reports of the British and Foreign Bible Society expressly assure us, that already is visible the influence of Bible-reading on the morals of the English; that frivolity decreases in the higher classes, that the manifold rudeness of the lower orders is softened into gentleness, and that not only is the public wor ship of God more diligently attended, but also in many families domestic and social exercises of devotion are set up."— Report of the Eighth Annual Meeting of the Strasburgh Bible Society; Nov. 1, 1824, p. 11. "We live in the confident hope that you, honoured friends, are ready to carry on your good work for the present year. Neither can we doubt that the eminently laudable example of the little Auxiliary Associations which we have made known to you, will bear rich fruits in the circles of females and young persons. May the Spirit of the Most High, the Author of all good in our hearts, mightily forward in the midst of us this work undertaken for the welfare of mankind! ib, p. 20. "How should we rejoice that, not by uncertain tradition, which just says all that is found convenient to let it say, but by the Scripture, the Doctrine of the Lord and of the Apostles has come down to us pure and unadulterated. From the former, it flows only muddy and impure; from the latter alone it streams, as from an inexhaustible fountain, the ever fresh and living water, to those who thirst for truth. For us, then, is the Scripture, the Scripture alone; to effect the most extensive circulation of which, you, gentlemen, are granting us your kind aid; but whose authority will now be promoted, not by craft or force, or any of the weapons which stand at the bidding of the kingdom of darkness and of Satan, to bind the hands of Christians, and thus to allow deception, error, and superstition, to perpetuate the dominion which they have so long without disturbance, exercised over the minds of men. Of such support the Bible has no need. We pray not in vain, “Thy kingdom come!" Yea, already has this kingdom come: and its coming will be the more perfect, in proportion as the Bible, regarded as the most precious gift of Providence is diligently read, and its understanding promoted by the illustrations of judicious teachers; the more it is studied, not in the letter merely, but in the spirit; and in proportion as from it, and it alone, we draw the faith which we are to hold, the precepts and examples which we are to follow."-lb. p. 39, from the speech of Dr. Haffner. After a long Report of facts, and anticipations of the universal triumph of the Divine word "Stand we here in calm reflection; and we suppress not the feelings which are lively in our hearts. O, how, in each of us who are labourers together in this holy work, is love to the word of God strengthened; love, full of equal veneration and confidence; love to our precious possession, the book of books! How is our zeal for its universal spread, a zeal as rational as it is ever active, enkindled at the survey of these wondrous circumstances of our world, great and small, originating in our own agitated and eventful times, assailed on every side, yet, notwithstanding the extraordinary yet symbolica and most significant coalition againt them, of the POPE, the TURKISH SULTAN, and the RATIONALISTS, extending themselves still wider and wider, and obtaining an incalculable influence! Let then those, who understand not what a heavenly spirit is, go on to misconceive our toils, and miscall it folly, fanaticism, bigotry, or what else they will: let the cold-hearted, who have never experi enced the blessing of the word of God, withdraw their hand still farther from the help of him, who would lead others to care for that one thing which is needful; let them persist to trouble not themselves for the greatest and holiest work of our days: but let the friends of God's word, with all their difference of opinion in lesser things, like brothers stand fast together, and stretch their hands to all the ends of the earth: from every quarter more and more may we experience a confirmation of the blessings beyond expression, which are enjoyed, in all the conditions of life, and in all the varieties of human existence from this word of God and the just endeavour to extend it; while it becomes ever more evident that a higher hand blesses on every side what, though in weakness, is done for this holy object! In this, in all things else, what the Lord in his wise counsel has decreed, shall go on, triumphant over all opposition; yea, all opposition shall its very self serve to his being glorified. Even we, "If God be then, will take new courage. for us, who can be against us?"-Tenth Annual Report of the Sleswick Holstein Bible Society; April 2, 1826, p. 68. (To be continued.) EXILED SWISS MINISTERS. lecounts of Distribution of the Sums colected by the Beneficence of Christians in Great Britain. THE Paris Committee consists of three Ministers, one French, one Swiss, and one English, in whose judgment and fidelity we have full reason to confide. The gentleman in Switzerland to whose discretion a sum is mentioned below as having been entrusted, is a minister of high respectability as to piety and prudence, and who has himself tasted deeply of the cup of affliction from persecuting violence and harassment. The two gentlemen at Geneva, in whom a similar trust has been reposed, are men of business, whose Christian character is deserving of entire confidence. No. 1, was Mons. Henry Juvet, who died at Nismes of a pulmonary disease, occasioned, beyond a doubt, by the corporeal cruelties inflicted upon him. by his perse cutors. See a former Number of this vo lume. During his illness, his patience, his tender and affectionate piety, his gratitude to his friends, his love to, and prayers for his persecutors, and, in short, his whole deportment, were a most striking demonstration of the power of religion, and made a deep impression on the Protestants at Nismes. We have understood that they have erected a plain monument to his memory, have been liberal to his widow, and have sent a solemn remonstrance to the influen tial agents of the persecution in the Canton of Vaud. No. 2. This was a suffragan minister (the same as a curate in England) in a town of the Vaud. Two persons requested to be present at his family worship on the Lord's Day evening, and by degrees a larger number. Misrepresentations began to fly abroad, and he therefore deemed it prudent to open his doors to all who came, that his whole proceedings (singing, exposition, prayer, and sometimes conversation on matter of experimental religion), might be completely known. This clergyman, and his pious fellow-worshippers, were insulted with outcries, menaces, dirt and stones, and the assaults of ferocious and intoxicated persons, who were instigated by persons called respectable. Menacing placards were posted about the town; a petard (a dangerous missile of war) was exploded under his house, with apparently a murderous intent; and the magistrates openly protected the rioters, bat punished the innocent. This excellent minister was ejected from his suffraganship, harassed by all the maliciousness that could be couched under legal proceedings, and banished for two years. He is a married man, and happily has some private fortune: yet his deprival, the costs of trial, which are cruelly thrown upon the sufferers, and all the troubles and losses of exile, form a strong claim for the small alleviation in our power to offer. The Rev. Dean Curtat, of Lausanne, justifies the prohibition of Lord's Day evening meetings for prayer, by the argument that they imply a censure on those pastors and others who devote the same evening to card-parties. No. 3, is a young minister of distinguished talents, devotedness, and zeal, who resigned his suffraganship, and, after being subjected to great expense and trouble, was condemned to exile for two years. He has some property, and is aided by his friends. He is labouring in the preaching of the Gospel in and about Paris, and in private means of Christian instruction. No. 4, had been voted to a Minister of eminent worth and piety, an account of whose prosecution and sentence of banishment appears in a recent Number of the Edinburgh Review, in an article on the Swiss persecutions. To him our Committee voted 20%.; but, though he had sustained heavy losses and expenses, he declined the donation in favour of those who were less able to sustain their privations. It was therefore transferred to another minister of high character for learning and Christian piety; and who, though not actually banished, had resigned his pastorate in the persecuting church, and had sustained other losses for truth and conscience sake. No. 5, is an occasional preacher, banished for ten years from Neufchâtel-upon an ancient law of the Duchy, which might as 1825. Nov. 25.-No. 2. 1826. Jan. 4. 1. To Madame Juvet and her two orphan Children ....** ... 1000 Mar. 18.- No. 4. 5. 500 250 ... 20. April 5. 6. A Lady banished for attending and promoting religious meet ings. 13.-No. 7. A Minister, or probably a private Christian (our letters merely give the name), recommended by our friends at Geneva, and approved by the Paris Committee 14.. No. 8. In the same circumstances 26.—No. 9. A Young Minister, banished for 18 months, besides a forfeiture of 54 louis May 3.-No. 10. Another young Minister, banished for 18 months -No. 11. A Tradesman, the Secre tary of a Commune, banished for 2 years: thus deprived of his office, and his business greatly injured, if not absolutely destroyed Remitted to a Minister in Switzerland, to be distributed among a number of pious and poor persons, in the Canton of Vaud, who have suffered severely by oppression and persecution .... Placed in the hands of two mercantile gentlemen at Geneva, for distribution among the poor in the Vaud, who have suffered from the persecution..... WEST INDIES. NEGRO SI AVERY. 100 200 200 500 50 500% 500 250 THE following very affecting circumstance is related in a Letter from S. G., à Minister of the Society of Friends, addressed to his wife, from in Virginia. A physician, a man of a tender spirit, who attended one or two of the meetings for worship, held by S. G., in that land, and with whose company he was pleased, said, that he was sent for by a slave-holder to visit one of his negroes; he found the poor patient stretched on a little straw placed on a plank, and covered by a blanket: his pulse seemed throbbing its last, and he too much exhausted to utter any complaint; the master had followed the physician, and began to curse and swear at the dying man, telling him that as soon as he recovered, he should be severely flogged for having, by his own folly, caught his sickness by attending night meetings. He was proceeding in his violent language when the physician checked his rage, by informing him that the poor fellow could not live many minutes. The master was silent, when the dying slave, collecting the small remains of his strength, by a last effort said, "Glory be to thee, O my God! who art now taking my soul to thyself, having redeemed it," and instantly expired. OBITUARY. REV. D. S. DAVIES, Ox Sabbath morning, June 18th, died the Rev. D. S. Davies, pastor of the Welsh Independent Church, Guilford-street, Southwark, London, in the 36th year of his age. He had been confined to his room ever since November last; during which time he had many delightful foretastes of the glory for which he was preparing; and several interesting conversations with ministers and others who visited him during his illness, on the importance of an experimental enjoy. ment of those fundamental principles of the Gospel, which had been the subject of his ministry. Sometimes he appeared anxious to depart, and to be with Christ, whom be loved, and whom he had served in the ministry of the Gospel. He frequently asked his medical attendant, with great composure of mind, when he thought he should be dismissed. On one occasion he said, "had I all the world in my possession, I would give it up to see the secrets of eternity this night." He was sensible to the last, and was fre quently engaged in prayer and delightful communion with the Lord. About five minutes before his departure, to those around bis bed he said, with a heavenly smile, "I shall go home now:" and at half past five o'clock, on the morning of the Sabbath, his happy spirit ascended to the bosom of his Redeemer and God, "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace." On Monday, the 25th, his remains were removed first to the chapel, where for fifteen years he had preached the word faithfully and with success, and where, in the assembly of a numerous and deeply affected audience, a religious service was performed in Welsh. The Rev. Mr. Lewis of Tredustan, read the seventh chapter of Job, and prayed; and the Rev. G. Griffiths, of Lampeter, preached from Phil. iii. 20, 21. Afterwards the procession moved on to Bunhill-fields, where the precious remains of this "holy man of God" were deposited, in the presence of a large concourse of mourners and spectators, who were suitably addressed at the grave, by the Rev. John Humphreys, late principal at the Mill Hill Grammar-school. ROBERT SCOTT. To trace the opening of the mind as the result of Divine operation, is at all times pleas ing and profitable; it evinces the agency of the same spirit amid the greatest diversity of means; it proves the sovereign and un merited influence of that grace, which in God's own time and way brings salvation to immortal souls; and it confirms the truth of God's own words, "I am sought of those that asked not for me, I am found of them that sought me not." The conversion of the sinner is sometimes preceded by the most alarming convictions, his sins are set in order before him, that the pardoning mercy of God may be more abundantly magnified; at other times, the sinner is filled with a deep and overwhelming sense of guilt; and fear is excited in his mind, not merely from an apprehension of deserved punishment, but because his conduct bas evinced the most hardened and daring ingratitude to the God of his life, and to that blessed Redeemer who has evidently been set forth as crucified before him. Though God is sometimes in the whirlwind, the earthquake, and the fire, he is also frequently in the still small voice; for the Holy Spirit often operates in the soul by a gradual and almost imperceptible process from the earliest years of childhood; so that it is often difficult both for the individual and those around to obtain that evidence of the change which is desirable. It was by the last of these means that the subject of this Memoir was brought to a knowledge of the truth, which is most generally the case with those who have been privileged with a religious education. Robert Scott was born at Parkhead, in Cumberland, and was the fourth son of the late Rev. James Scott, whose piety and zeal were exemplary; whose praise was in all the churches while he lived; and whose name is never mentioned by those to whom he was known but with the deepest interest and the liveliest emotions of delight. So early as ten years of age, our young friend could recollect being the subject of serious impressions, which evaporated when he was called into active life, and necessarily introduced more into the world. At the age of twelve he was bound apprentice to the bookbinding and stationery business, to Mr. Joseph Allison, of Penrith, where religious privileges, both in the family and on the Sabbath, were enjoyed, and where the strictest attention was paid to his religious improvement; but he still continued stranger to vital religion, until it pleased God, by the means of moral discipline, under which he was placed, in connexion with the public means of grace, to revive and deepen his early impressions; and, after giving satisfactory evidence of a change of heart, in February, 1821, he was admitted a member of the church of Christ, now assembling in Ebenezer Chapel, Penrith ; and a from that period, to the time of his depar ture, his general conversation and deportment proved that his heart was right with God. Soon after the expiration of his appren ticeship, he left Penrith for London, where he caught a severe cold, followed by a pulmonary inflammation, which compelled him to leave town, with the hope of deriving benefit from his native air; but the great Disposer of events had otherwise determined. During the former part of his illness, he was anxious, if it were the will of God, to recover, that he might assist his widowed mother in the decline of life; but when it fell to the lot of his pastor to inform him, that such was the nature of his disease that it was impossible for him to recover, he received the intelligence with the greatest composure, and the subsequent part of his life was spent as one who felt that death and eternity were at hand. In London he was much tried by sceptical and notoriously wicked shopmates, but he told the writer, after his return, that he viewed his visit to London, and the affliction he was then enduring, as dispensations of Divine provi dence, designed to bring him to more serious reflection, and to lead his soul nearer to God. On one occasion, when a friend visited him, he said, that Mr. had just been to see him, and that when he entered the room he laid his Bible behind his pillow; but this, said he, was exceedingly wrong, for we ought not to be ashamed of Christ. He was ardently attached to devotional exercises, for he was scarcely ever left in the room, so long as he was able to move, but he was found on bis knees; and so deeply was his soul engaged in the service, that his friends have frequently entered the room without ever being heard. On being asked what were his hopes for futurity? he replied, "I depend entirely on the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ; I would wish to be found at the foot of his cross, and if I perish, I perish." On being asked if he had any charge, or advice, which he would wish to be given to his young friends after his dedarture, he said, "Tell them that Christ is worth ten thousand worlds." At another time, when interrogated relative to the state of his mind, he said, "I have been much harassed to-day with strong temptations to indulge wicked thoughts, and to utter wicked words; but it seems as though Satan was making his last struggle." On another occasion, when his minister entered the room, he said, "I have been thinking to-day whether I have any cause to repent of my early devotedness to God; but I find I have not; but, said he, I have cause to repent, that I have not been so diligent and attentive to the means of grace, and the improvement of my privileges as I ought." This was his dying experience, though he had scarcely ever been known to be absent when the doors of the sanctuary were open. He expressed his peculiar pleasure and thankfulness, that he had been spared to see two of his brothers choose the one thing needful, and publicly avow themselves on the Lord's side, and expressed his hope that the prayers of his pious father would be answered in the salvation of those who have not yet given themselves to God. On the afternoon of the day previous to his death, he was visited and found extremely weak, but exceedingly happy; on the evening of the same day be sent for his pastor again, when he was asked, if he had any thing particular to communicate, he replied, "No, nothing very particular," when he held up his tremb ling and sickly hands and said, "I feel so great a change, and thought I should like to see you once more before I leave the world.” "I have," said he, "a good hope of heaven; I can with the greatest composure and confidence, leave my soul in the hands of Christ; Christ is all in all." And again, he said, "tell the young friends that Christ is worth ten thousand worlds; God is the strength of my heart, and will be my portion for ever-I am quite happy." On the last day of his life, he was weak and much oppressed with his affliction, but no sooner were spiritual subjects mentioned, than his countenance brightened and became an index to the state of his soul. Is Christ precious? it was asked; he replied with firmness and pleasure; "He is precious! very precious! "You would recommend him to your best friends?" "Yes! I would, as a friend, that sticketh closer than a brother." "In this life, God has been gracious to me, I mourn under my affiiction, but I trust I do not murmur; mine has been a life of mercy." When one who had watched the progress of disease, and the improvement of the hidden man of the heart, with mingled emotions of pain and grateful delight, took his leave of him for the last time, it was said, "I trust the Lord will be with you;" he replied, “ [ hope he will;" and rejoined, "but do you doubt it?" It was answered, "No, Robert, I do not doubt it." "Neither," said he, "do I." On the evening of the same day, Tuesday, July 4, after lingering five months in a state of extreme weakness and suffering, he fell asleep in Jesus, and on Sabbath evening, the 16th instant, his death was improved in Ebenezer Chapel, Penrith, from Job xix. 25-27. Thus lived and died one who was patient in tribulation, and instant in prayer. At prayer meetings, and weekly lectures, as well as on the Sabbath Days, he seldom failed to arrange and find time to occupy his place in the house of God; his prayers were earnest and impressive, and his attention to the preaching of the word was serious and devout. It can never be matter of surprise that negligent Christians should have cuuso |