beautiful a work of art must have occasioned, it is published at a very moderate price. Without a very extended circulation, the enterprising proprietor cannot be repaid. FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS. Edited by the Rev. JOHN CUMMING, M. A. Super Royal 8vo. Parts XXVIII and XXIX, G, VIRTUE. ONE of these Parts contains an engraving, representing the leading of the condemned Covenanters at Edinburgh to execution: the other exhibits the Roman Emperor, Commodus, standing in the Collosseum, casting a dart at a wild beast. Besides these, there are several well executed wood engravings, illustrative of the sufferings endured by the martyrs. DEAR SIR, ON PUBLIC WORSHIP. If you can spare a corner in your excellent Miscellany, I shall be glad of an opportunity to send two or three short articles on some of the different parts of public worship; and will commence in the present communication with a few remarks on SINGING. FROM the earliest period of Methodism, the Wesleyans have, generally, been distinguished for their love and practice of singing in public worship; probably above all other sections of the visible Church of Christ in this country. The venerable founder of the societies, somewhere in his Journal, remarks upon this distinguishing trait, and compares the mode of singing in the Established Church at that day-its slow and lifeless drawl at the best, and in many instances its almost entire neglect-with the cheerful and lively manner, and almost universal practice of singing by the congregations in his meeting houses; and states that 'the Methodists sing lustily, and with a good courage.' How far this description is characteristic of Methodist singing at the present day, is more than I will undertake to say; at the same time I am happy to be able to bear testimony, from my own personal knowledge, that in many Methodists chapels, something approaching to the primitive spirit of singing is still to be found, and that the high praises of God are united in with an approach to courage! Since the early times, to which I have just referred, a great change for the better has taken place, in regard to singing, in the Established Church. In popular districts more particularly, a considerable improvement may be observed; congregations appear to have become ashamed of the lethargy and indolence of their forefathers, and in numberless instances,-led on by tolerably well conducted choirs, and materially assisted by Sabbath and day scholars,-join heartily in singing the Divine praises. Great changes have also occurred, in this department, in Methodist chapels, since the time when singing was carried on lustily; but not generally, it is to be feared, of a beneficial and progressive character, so far as the right performance of that duty is concerned. It may be true, and I think is very likely to be so, that a greater number of the auditory have more or less knowledge of musical science now, than was the case a century ago; but it is doubtful if the heart and voice are found to be so much engaged at the present time as then. Many persons in our congregations appear to be afraid lest those sitting near them in the house of God, should hear the sound of their voices in this delightful exercise, as though it were an act of which they had reason to be ashamed. When, however, the heart is right in the sight of God, and the soul fully alive to him, it will matter but little who may happen to be in our immediate vicinity; the voice will harmonise with the inward feeling of holy joy, and grateful remembrance of God's gracious dealings with us; and there will be pleasure and delight in singing his praises. O! it is an elevating exercise, to be employed as we have reason to believe angels and glorified spirits are employed, in pouring forth from the fulness of a heart sanctified to God, the high praises of heaven; and I know of no service in which the Christian can unite, which brings him nearer to that holy company, and to those heavenly enjoyments with which he hopes to be associated for ever! In every section of Methodism public singing still constitutes an important adjunct of Divine worship; and whatever tends to mar its utility and profitableness, should be avoided. It has been to me a source of pain to witness the hurried, I had almost said indecent manner, in which Divine worship is sometimes gone through at the conclusion of the general service. Perhaps the entire time allotted to the service has been taken up by a protracted sermon, when a single verse of a hymn is hurriedly given out by the preacher; or perhaps singing altogether omitted, and a few short sentences of prayer rapidly uttered, with an evident consciousness of having improperly detained the congregation, concludes the whole. Now this I respectfully submit is not the most excellent way. It ought not to be forgotten by us, that preaching is strictly speaking no part of the worship of God. It is an invaluable mode of teaching the great truths of the Gospel; of warning sinners, and building up the church of Christ; but in reality is not Divine worship; and therefore ought not to be so conducted as to interfere with the right performances of the duty of prayer and praise, which is paramount to all others. Those preachers who may unhappily have adopted the practice by which they are driven to the curtailment, or neglect of true worship, would do well to consider the effect which such a course of proceeding is likely to have upon a congregation. It is very possible that an auditory so circumstanced may become enlightened, and well instructed in the theory of Divine truth; but will there be no danger of the heart remaining unaffected and unchanged, from the neglect of those holy exercises which bring man nearest to God, and fill him with heavenly influences? I do not think it improper to say that, perhaps to a greater extent than is generally imagined, the true devotional spirit of singing is promoted or hindered, by the mode of giving out the hymn. It ought to be the wish and aim of a person reading a psalm or hymn to a congregation, in order to their singing it, to seize the spirit and feeling of the author of the words, in order that the congregation may also realise them. But how, I would ask, can this be done when the mere reading of the words is all that is aimed at; and when the reader seems to possess whilst so engaged, little of either soul or sensibility? I have known instances where an egregriously erroneous pronunciation, or some emphasis glaringly improper, has had injurious effect upon the spirit of devotion; but, of all the modes of extinguishing an elevated and holy feeling where it exists, or of preventing its existence in connection with singing God's praises-that listless, inert, and indifferent mode of reading the hymn to the audience which some men have adopted, is beyond all controversy the most effectual. I had the misfortune some time ago to be present at public worship when such a practice of mere reading, as I have now attempted to describe, was followed by the minister;-and from what I afterwards learnt, I fear it has become with him a habit—and I can truly say that the effect upon my own mind was most withering. The impression made at the time was, that the preacher did not believe the solemn truths which he read to the congregation; or, that believing them, he was an improper person to attempt to communicate them to others. A more dull, sleepy, and ineffective mode, of giving out a hymn, I have seldom witnessed in a Methodist Chapel. In offering remarks upon singing,' it may perhaps not be out of place just to observe, that as standing is the mode adopted by us, and by most Christians, as being more proper than any other for the public performance of this service, it is very desirable that all the congregation should follow this practice. It is not in accordance with proper decorum for persons to sit idly, and carelessly, during singing, whilst all others are on their feet praising God. Nothing but positive physical inability will, in my opinion, justify a departure from the ordinary rule. Nor is it desirable to follow the custom which is, in some places, I fear, on the increase, of resuming the seat during the singing of the last verse, or of the last two lines; or it may be whilst the usual repetition of the concluding lines is proceeding. It is well to be uniform, and consistent throughout; and we should no more think of sitting down during the singing of any part of the last verse, nor until the whole is finished, than we should of keeping our seats whilst the first verse was being sung. There are probably few congregations which do not find it expedient to have some one appointed to conduct public singing; and with such a person others of both sexes are generally associated to assist. It is well when individuals can be found for this work who are possessed of sterling piety, and who are fully devoted to God; for when this is not the case the peace of a church is very much in danger of being disturbed. If the grace of God does not rule the heart and influence the mind, official singers in places of worship, are very apt to form the most erroneous and absurd notions of the value and importance of their services. I have known instances in which the choir evidently considered themselves by far the most important personages in the house of God; and whose wishes and expectations were in perfect accordance with their views. It is very well when members of the Society, who are living under the influence of true religion, and whose chief object is to promote the glory of God, can unite together to assist in leading the congregation in singing; because when that is the case they may really render some service. But after all, I am decidedly of opinion, that the less the congregation is dependent on others, the better, on every account. Let all persons strive to sing with the heart, and with the understanding also, and to sing for themselves; and whilst they will feel thankful for any assistance which others may render, they will be at no great loss, if from any cause that help should be withheld. And besides, whilst it is one of the most pitiable and humiliating sights under heaven, to see a congregation assembled professedly to worship their Maker by singing his praises, and to witness that worship confined almost entirely to professional, and it may be salaried, singers, whilst the people are only listening to them;-so on the other hand, I know of no sight more exhilirating, or better calculated to lift the soul from earth to heaven, and to remind Christians of "the general assembly and church of the first-born" which he is hastening to join, than that of an entire congregation joining heart and voice, in singing the Divine praises. a few Such a view the immortal Watts appears to have realised in the following lines: "Lord, how delightful 'tis to see, 23 ON THE RESPECT DUE TO THE OFFICE OF AN ITINERANT MINISTER. MR. EDITOR-DEAR SIR, THERE are probably few subjects on which greater errors have been committed than in reference to the position which ministers, wholly devoted to the work of their office, ought to sustain in the church, and also in reference to the estimation in which they ought to be held by the members of those communities to which they belong. In the Romish church, for example, the priest is not merely supreme in office and authority, governing exclusively, without limitation or control, his entire flock; but such are the views entertained by the masses of the sanctity of his person, as well as office, that in popish countries the people in their ignorance willingly submit to every indignity degrading to human natureeven to being whipped by the priest, should he think proper to inflict such punishment without resentment or complaint. And any act of collision with such a functionary, if it were merely in self-defence, against personal agression, would be classed among the deadliest of sins. Such are the errors and superstitions which ignorance fosters and introduces into the church of Christ: such the presumptions, which an order of men dares to be guilty of, over the flock purchased by the blood of the Saviour; and so deeply debased does poor human nature become ! But it will be evident, to the least reflecting, that so lamentable a state of things, so opposed to the Word of God, could not have arisen in the church at once, but must have been the progressive work of ages, and proceeded probably from very small beginnings. The foundation of this evil, I apprehend, is to be found in the claims which certain ministers of the Gospel have set up-and alas! they are not now confined to the Romish heirarchy-to the possession of a Divine right exclusively to govern the Christian church; for if this claim is admitted, and established in men's minds, scarcely any limit can be fixed to the progress and extent of error and corruption in the church. I am one of those who would sincerely regret if our Magazine should ever become a medium for angry discussions upon topics affecting the government and discipline of other religious bodies; and not less so, in particular, in reference to that community which many of us have reason, on some grounds, at least, to esteem; but from which we have been compelled conscientiously to dissent; believing its polity to be founded on the erroneous principles which distinguish the Romish church, and in direct opposition to the Divine will. Entertaining these views, yet I am decidedly of opinion that temperate and discreet statements, on the subject of church discipline, and on the proper respect which is due to the office of an itinerant minister, are calculated to subserve the cause of truth, and disseminate sound views on the very important subject of the government of the Christian church. It is no disparagement to other churches to assert, that probably no other Christian community commenced its career with a clearer perception of the evils which have been glanced at; a deeper impression of the importance of guarding against them; or that has succeeded more effectually, on New Testament principles, in erecting a barrier, in its discipline and government, against their existence, than the Wesleyan Methodist Association. The error, as it appears to me, into which some religious bodies, in the formation of their church government, have fallen, is, that no room is left for the exercise of a generous confidence on the part of the people towards their ministers fully devoted to the work; but that, from the very nature of 74 24 Respect Due to the Office of an Itinerant Minister. their polity, a necessity always exists, if they would preserve entire their Christian liberties, to watch with jealous eye the conduct and proceedings of their ministers: and the main cause of this is, that there are no means existing, in their system of government, short of what would amount to a disruption, an entire revolution in their confederation, by which to check the progress of priestly domination whenever it arises, or to save their churches from spiritual despotism. But what a contrast do the principles and plan of our church arrangements exhibit to such a state of things as this! How perfectly secure are our people in the exercise of their just rights, against an undue and anti-scriptural assumption of priestly power! And how simple and efficient are the means, should ever such power be assumed among us, to protect the interests of all, without endangering the peace, or disturbing the harmony of any! I venture to assert, without the fear of successful contradiction, there is no section of the Christian world that, relying on the natural operation of its own laws, may repose in their ministers a greater amount of confidence, without the shadow of danger to any thing that an enlightened Christian values, than may be exercised by our societies. So perfect, indeed, is the protection afforded to our churches against ministerial misrule, that unless greater kindness and respect be shown by us to the office of an itinerant minister in our Connexion, than ought to be claimed by those who are identified with systems in which that security does not exist, we fail, in my opinion, to manifest that sense of gratitude and obligation for our advantages, which we really owe. As it is my wish to render these brief remarks as easily understood, and as practical as possible, allow me to say, that whilst our system of church government recognizes itinerant or local ministers as of one order, yet we, with all other well regulated churches, as distinctly admit a possible difference in office among those ministers; and that the church possesses a clear and undoubted right to make such selections from among its members to particular offices, as may best promote the general welfare. As then, for instance, it has been the immemorial practice to give the chief oversight of the affairs of the church to those who are fully devoted to the work of the ministry there appears to be no sufficient reason-for any circuit in our Connexion, having an itinerant minister able to perform those duties, departing from this practice which experience has long proved to be the best calculated, on various grounds, which I need not stop to enumerate, to subserve the interests of the church. I think then that no circuit in our Connexion would do well to pass by an itinerant minister, competent to the undertaking, when the appointment of circuit chairman takes place. To my mind, I must confess, such an act would appear exceedingly ungracious, and be legitimately calculated to excite painful feelings. As contrasted with the position of ministers entirely set apart to the service of the church in all other religious communities of settled and respectable character, such a circumstance would appear like an act of degradation; and in many instances could scarcely fail to create an impression that such was intended. Besides, as I have already intimated, if an itinerant preacher, stationed in a circuit, is equal to the duties of chairman, and superintendant of the circuit, no necessity can possibly exist among us to pass him by on the ground of obtaining protection from ministerial misrule. Take a case. Our travelling preachers have no authority to limit the topics which may be brought under consideration, at our official meetings; or to refuse to put to the vote a motion when regularly moved and seconded; or at his mere will and caprice, to dissolve a regularly constituted assembly; or, as elsewhere, although every officer in the meeting should be opposed to it, expel from church membership! No such priestly assumptions would find no congenial atmosphere among us. Ours is a meridian which I hope and trust will be found alike unsuited to the development of ministerial "domi |