expositor of Congregational views and proceedings. The Edinburgh "Witness" of the Free Church, having shewn how useful are bitter words to inflame party-spirit, the name of "Christian Witness" was given to the new publication, conducted, as says the Title-page, "Under the sanction of the Congregational Union of England and Wales." Its spirit being such as we exhibited last month,—when we alluded to its attacks upon the speakers at the Bible Society meeting, on account of their aristocratical predilections,-it so delighted a large body of the Congregationalists, that its monthly circulation rose in its first year to 31,000 copies. Emboldened by this success, the Congregational Board determined to set up a "Christian's Penny Magazine and Friend of the People," the issue of which we stated last month (p. 48) was expected to amount to nearly a quarter of a million. The first Number appeared on New Year's Day, and within a week 60,000 copies were sold, and the work went to a new edition. For its instantaneous success it was mainly indebted to the insertion of a rabid papernot new, but too good to be forgotten, and considered as deserving to be reprinted as the manifesto of the Congregationalists— entitled, Why I dare not conform to the Church of England." The reasons are such as that it is "a Society formed by Act of Parliament" - which, to use a plain phrase, is a deliberate falsehood (see page 73 of our present Number) that its ministers are "profanely called priests," whereas Dr. Campbell knows as well as we do, and as Milton would tell him, that "priest" is only a vernacular contraction of "Presbyter," that is, Elder ;-that " very few of them are faithful men ;' that the Lord's Supper in our communion is not the Lord's Supper, but only a counterfeit rite "similar to it ;' 66 that our Church gives to the civil magistrate powers which the thirty-seventh Article expressly declares it does not give;-that it ordains trifling ceremonies; such as "going from the desk to what is impiously called the altar," whereas the word "altar," with everything of a sacrificial character, was studiously avoided in our services; and Jethro is well aware that the highest ecclesiastical court has decided that altars are unknown to the Church of England; "bowing towards the East," for which there is not the shadow of a shade of authority in any of our rubrics, canons, or other of our rules and regulations, the ceremony having been abolished by our Reformers, though if individuals choose to turn to the East, the Church cannot prevent them; and finally, that "it makes its ministers assume to be God;" and that "it teaches Transubstantiation." "A work thus spiced could not fail to sell. But Sir Culling Smith justly feeling that it is not consistent for the Congregational Union to be with one hand setting up an "Evangelical Alliance," and with the other such an oracle as the "Christian's Penny Magazine," wrote to Dr. Campbell, and a long controversy between them has been published in the Patriot newspaper. Dr. Campbell replies unflinchingly. The "Penny," he says, only asserts what the "Witness" had asserted from first to last with even greater strength; and no complaint had ever been made by Sir Culling, or his Congregational colleagues, till this strange fancy came across him of drawing Anglicans into the Alliance net. Dr. Campbell affirms that he enjoys the full confidence of the Congregationalists; he quotes numerous letters applauding him for inserting attacks upon the Church of England, especially the "Why I dare not ;" and promising a wide circulation to the "Penny Maga zine" upon that account; he boasts remaining;-the strifes engendered that he has more than half a million in Scotland. But this is too exof readers; he scoffs at a recommen- tensive a subject for our present dation of the "Watchman" newspa- exhausted limits; and if we dilate per, quoted from the " Record," upon it, it must be in a future that the Congregational Board Number. Scotland is in a feud. should dismiss him; the supposi- Zealous sectaries complain that they tion he considers purely ridiculous, have been betrayed. The Liverseeing that "the immense majority" pool Articles, they say, are not the of the Congregationalists "most cor- Gospel; they are not what the dially approve, and most zealously faithful in Scotland demand; essupport, his policy and proceed- sential truths are given up; there ings;" and were he dismissed, his is no reclamation against Prelacy, half million of readers would follow Erastianism, or Arminianism; the him; and "The Congregationalist Free-Church never intended to acTract Society" has offered, in such knowledge the Residuary as "Evanan event," to double his salary to gelical," and the Englishers who edit a threepenny magazine, as an invited Egyptians to join in the Alexcellent commercial speculation." liance have brought about a sinful Sir Culling, he says, is in a very coalition. There has been a most small minority among the Dissent- disingenuous keeping back of the ers; he does not understand their facts respecting the Church of principles; he is not a leader Scotland in the Alliance docuamong them; they cannot unite ments; and falsehood is often conwith the Clergy of the Church of veyed by a suppression of truth. England; "a grand Alliance is a The parties concerned know what grand delusion;" the Baronet has we mean. The uninitiated reader made five false steps: 1. In sus- may conjecture that something was pending the operations of the Vo- wrong by the no-statement at page luntary Church Association; 2. In 8 of the "Conference Narrative." urging the Anti-State Church So- But we must stop for the present. ciety "to cease its fire;" 3. In wheedling Irish Churchmen by incorrect assurances respecting the opinions of British Non-Conformists; 4. In straining the terms of the Liverpool Conference as if they implied a truce to fighting; 5. In urging a change in the style of writing in the Witness and the Christian Penny, which recommendation, to be consistent, ought to be applied" to all the other periodical literature of non-conformity." Dr. Campbell assures him that "To promote general union he adopts the surest means of creating denominational strife." We are so seldom likely to agree with Jethro, that we will stop at this last charge. The Alliance has already rent the Congregationalists into two contending sections. We have yet one long chapter An Evangelical Alliance such as that now proposed is impracticable; but we recur to the suggestion in the Preface to our last Volume, of an intimate Alliance in our own Church of the whole body of those who are called "Evangelical;" for they are substantially united, both in doctrine, and in their views of ecclesiastical polity. Why cannot they act more than they do together? If they did (as happily they do in the Church Missionary Society), much good, by the Divine blessing, would be effected. We would say, in the words of Milton's Adam to Eve, "But rise: let us no more contend, nor blame Each other, blamed enough elsewhere; In offices of love, how we may lighten VIEW OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. WE could hardly hope, at this moment of public excitement, to gain the ear of our readers for any question of political or commercial interest, except Sir Robert Peel's gigantic project-gigantic, whether for good or evil. It is, however, a matter so directly of secular economy and expediency, and one upon which Christian men may differ so widely in opinion, that it might be out of place, in pages like ours, to offer any elaborate argument upon it. The whole question, in all its complicated bearings, will be amply discussed in and out of Parliament; and we know not that we could suggest any considerations which are not, or will not be, familiar to all our readers from other sources. Our predecessor, Mr. Z. Macaulay, at the introduction of the Corn-laws in 1815 (for they are not an inheritance from our ancestors) touched the keynote, to which all that we have written during thirty years has responded; whether as respects corn, or any other merchandise. "We mean not," said our far-seeing predecessor, "to enter into any discussion of this very extensive, delicate, and complicated subject. The general leaning of our minds, we confess, is in favour of the system of interfering with it as little as possible by legislative enactments." He afterwards added: "It appears to us, looking at this vast subject through the loopholes of our retreat, that both parties have been, as to some points, a little mistaken in their policy-some of the opposers of the Corn-bill, in not admitting the necessity of some measure for the protection of agriculture; its advocates in not shewing a little more deference to the numerous applications of the people; and both, perhaps, as not agreeing to such a mean between a very high protecting price, and no protecting price at all, as might have at the same time secured the interests of the landowner and satisfied the wishes of the people." In this spirit, during all the discussions upon the "navigation-laws," and the measures proposed by Huskisson, Whitmore, Peel, Canning, Wellington, and others, relative to the trade in corn, we have always made freedom the rule, and restriction the exception; allowing every man to do what he pleases with his own, only taking precautions against his injuring his neighbour. Where, in practice, this line of demarcation should be drawn, we must leave Statesmen to decide, upon a calm review of all conflicting interests. When a high restrictive commercial policy was in vogue, we opposed it as unjust and mischievous; when, on the other hand, the popular will urged sweeping changes throughout all our national institutions, without consideration of what was due to those who might be unfairly pressed upon by this or that measure, and when political partizanship inflamed men's minds for personal ambition, as Christians and patriots we adhered to the side of measured Conservatism. On this ground we think that Christian men will do well to stand during the ensuing struggle. With regard to the full bearings of the complicated and counterpoised items in Sir R. Peel's measure, the heads of which we have been able only to glance at as this sheet is passing to press, it were impossible for us to form at the moment any well-considered opinion. The losses and gains are arranged with a view to equitable adjustment, but the landed interest will, undoubtedly, lose more than it gains. The clergy will suffer most, for their tithes being commuted for the price of so many bushels of corn, a fall in prices will reduce their income; and whereas the land-owner and farmer will derive benefit from an increasing population and general prosperity, the clergy will have more to do, and consequently more labourers will be required in the vineyard, while the tithe-rental will be diminished. One thing forcibly occurs to us as Christian Observers; which is, that while all parties attribute the present crisis to the mysterious injury which Divine Providence has permitted to fall upon the food of millions of the people, no day of humiliation in adversity, as none of thanksgiving in prosperity, has for many years been nationally solemnized. Are we not justly rebuked? Is it a fable, that God is the God of nations as well as of individuals? "Let the people praise Thee, O God; yea, let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth bring forth her increase; and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing." ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. W. T.; H. D.; J. J.; W. D.; M. R.; D. P.; An Observer; Philalethes; A Constant Reader; and "A Thirty Years' Reader," are under consideration. I RELIGIOUS & MISCELLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS. MEMOIR OF WILLIAM GRAY, ESQ. (Continued from page 137.) For the Christian Observer. CONCLUDED my former paper with mentioning that in 1805 Mr. Gray retired from his active professional pursuits; that he was then midway between fifty and sixty; and could little anticipate that he had yet forty years more to sojourn in this world. I propose now to notice this second portion of his long life, which was dedicated to domestic duties, useful studies, and benevolent exertions; in short, "to every good word and work." It may illustrate both the turn of his mind, and the use which he made of his well-earned leisure, to notice, that the abridgment of Butler's Analogy, published by the late Archdeacon Wrangham, was in the main the work of Mr. Gray. In reference to this circumstance, the Archdeacon notices in his preface, "For the plan of the work, and for a considerable portion of its execution, I am indebted to one, whom I know not whether to congratulate more on the strength and clearness of his head, or the uprightness and integrity of his heart." His charities were large. During the period of his greatest affluence, he was accustomed to give away one fifth of his income: at other times, the tenth. He had several annuitants upon his bounty, whose wants he continued to supply with undeviating kindness until they were relieved or died. In later life, finding his means decrease, he sent to one of those partakers of his bounty a hundred pounds, intimating that he feared it would be out of his power to contribute further. This sum, it is stated, through the special providence of God, actually provided for the wants of that party until removed by death. Nothing was more offensive to him than any degree of complacency in such matters. A friend informs us that about two years ago, in the course of a religious conversation, something of the above nature being alluded to, Mr. Gray said in an emphatic manner, "May not our good deeds, if depended upon, send us to hell?" This was the declaration of a man of God, well experienced in the depravity of the human heart. He felt, in the language of Scripture, that at the best we are "unprofitable servants." To know him in his family circle was truly delightful. Soon after commencing practice, he had married a lady who was eminently an helpCHRIST. OBSERY. No. 100. 2 C meet for her husband; being distinguished for her religious knowledge, judgment, and prudence, combined with a spirit of the most generous charity and piety. They had at this time five children grown up to maturity, all of them treading in the steps of their pious parents. It was very gratifying to hear from Mrs. Gray's lips, as I occasionally did, the expressions of profound and affectionate respect with which she dwelt on the character of her husband; noticing especially the steadiness and regularity with which he maintained divine worship at home, when in his younger days he was toiling early and late at his profession; never omitting his devotions, however late he might be detained at his office-desk. This happy domestic scene was, however, visited by a most unexpected bereavement. Their second daughter, who had just begun to be useful to him, being well skilled in handling the pen, and entering with zeal into her father's benevolent plans, was seized (in 1812) with an illness which baffled medical skill, and in a few days hurried her to the tomb. Again, fourteen years after, his elder daughter, wife of the Rev. Samuel Hey, vicar of Ockbrook in Derbyshire, being removed to her father's house at York for change of air, died, leaving seven children. She too was an ornament and a blessing to her family; being endowed with strong, native sense, and great gentleness and benignity of disposition. Other griefs followed, in the deaths of two grand-daughters, and of his excellent partner, Mrs. Gray. In 1837, a great affliction was added, in the death of his eldest son, Mr. Jonathan Gray, who had gone to Hastings for his health. "The loss of my dear son," he writes, was indeed to me as unexpected an event as it was to you. I did hope, that for years after my departure he would have been a valuable public character." There remained to soothe him, the unremitting kindness of his daughter-in-law; his grandson, with a rising family, in the house adjoining; and his two clerical sons, and son-in-law. Three extracts from his diary may here be introduced, extending at intervals over the period thus cursorily noticed. They mark his uniform growth in grace, his habitual watchfulness over his own heart, his realizing faith, and his fervent love for the services of our Church. "May 8th, 1825.-Now I have completed seventy-four years on earth. What a mercy! On a slight review, I can scarcely say, whether that mercy has most appeared in bearing with the follies of my childhood and rebellion of my youth, while in a state of entire ignorance of and estrangement from God; or for more than half a century, during which, after having, as I hope, been called to a state of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, I have so often trifled with conviction, sinned against grace, and been on the very verge of making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. I think, indeed, mercy has been predominant most in the latter instance. Well then may I join in the chorus, His mercy endureth for ever.'" "1826.-I thankfully record my increasing gratification, (occasionally, not always), in the use of our inestimable Liturgy in public worship. The Apostle's Creed is sometimes a rich treat to me. The simple, but full succession of passages, recording the blessed Jesus's Divinity, Incarnation, Sufferings, Death, Burial, Resurrection, Ascension, Reigning, and Coming to Judgment, (which form the second article in that brief composition),-these, especially, are at times almost overpowering; and I feel ready to exclaim, 'Lord, it is enough!'" 66 January 1, 1840. [Etatis 89.]-Thus far has it pleased Almighty God to bring me in my journey through life. I am as well as I can expect; surrounded too with friends, attentions, and indulgences: in the enjoyment of what Bunyan terms, the land of Beulah;' waiting my summons; waiting, I hope too, in a heavenly frame, so far as relates to the hope and prospect: not that spiritual elevation, which some lay claim to. My annoyance by the body of sin, seldom relaxed and a degree of stupor and earthly-mindedness, which I lament and endeavour to strive against." |