his appointment at pleasure, and when everything is adjusted as nearly as possible to general satisfaction. If those concerned are satisfied with this arrangement, we know not why our reviewer should feel any particular anxiety about it.* With the Wesleyan ministers as a body, Dr. Fisk was much pleased. In point of talent, education, and theological acquirements, he considered them, in the aggregate, superior to our own; and he predicted a still greater advance. ment from their recently-erected Theological Institution-a prediction which appears likely to be accomplished. In the pulpit he thought them, in manner, less natural and easy than ours, and also less urgent in exhortation to an immediate religious life. But, so far as my own information may be relied on, their preaching is quite as spiritual and evangelical as our own. This is no piety, in a They are One observation in relation to the Wesleyan ministers, we perceived, attracted some little attention in certain quarters. The doctor thought that they seemed to be the happiest and most robust class of men he had ever met with. doubt owing, besides the cheerfulness of their great degree, to their peculiar manner of life. very laborious men; but then their system requires such an equal exercise of the mental and bodily faculties as is peculiarly favourable to health, vigour, and vivacity. As a body, they are very early risers; so that they secure time for the various duties of their vocation, and often walk their circuits, though their appointments may be from four to ten miles apart. By thus observing the laws of our complex nature, they secure important advantages. They perceive no connexion between a devout heart and a puny frame or a cadaverous countenance. They do not fit themselves for the tomb that they may get ready to live.t * My remarks here are directed against an article put forth in the dying gasp of the Christian Spectator. A more illiberal, unfair, malignant article we have seldom read. Without drawing out the peculiar merits of the book, the reviewer has ransacked it thoroughly to find defects, and parades them with infinite complacency before the reader. By such a process any work might be condemned. We are sorry our British brethren took any offence at Dr. Fisk's remark on this point. Had they seen the childlike simplicity with which he sometimes ut Much, also, may be ascribed to their freedom from fretting anxieties. The preacher's family is well provided for; his house is furnished with every convenience; his children are sent to school, and an appropriation is always made for the hire of a domestic. The people thus enjoy the labours of an unencumbered, undistracted mind, and the preacher pursues his work with alacrity and with unimpaired faculties. There is, perhaps, no happier body of men to be found than the British Wesleyan ministers. The above facts, taken in connexion with the absence of what we technically call locations, produce another good effect. A large proportion of their ministers retain their standing, usefulness, and influence to a good old age. The younger men grow up around them, look up to them as fathers, and yield them reverence and respect. With us, owing, in part, to a comparative lack of aged men, the young men are necessarily called to perform more important parts in the work, and are thus thrown into greater prominence. They are obliged to take too soon the position which of right belongs to age and experience. This, I believe, rather than any moral obliquity, and more than our republican form of government, produces what some have esteemed an irreverence for age. Still, even the appearance of this vice is so unlovely that it ought to be carefully guarded against. We ought not only to avoid all evil, but even "all appearance of evil." Dr. Fisk was struck with another peculiarity in British Methodism. A difference of opinion, as is known to many, exists among them on the comparative utility of revivals. One preacher seriously asked him if he thought "revivals are, on the whole, advantageous to the Church." We suppose the question must have contemplated a comparison between occasional excitements of religious interest and a steady progression of the work of piety, including the spiritual advancement of the Church, and constant accessions of newly converted persons. Upon this question there may be a difference of opinion without impeachment of religious tered such little pleasantries-for it was nothing more-they could not have felt aggrieved. But it is impossible to print a smile. character. A revival implies a previous deadness; and where there is deadness in religion, no one who favours religion will deny the utility of a coming to life, or a revival. But still is it possible, by faithful, spiritual, evangelical preaching, to maintain such a constancy of vital warmth and activity in a church, that a revival, properly so called, or a coming to life again, may be precluded? Now, for ourselves, we should like to hear that question discussed by two persons intellectually and spiritually qualified to do it justice. Yet, on the general question put to Dr. Fisk, there can be but one opinion among men properly qualified to judge. Revivals have, on the whole, done immense good, from the times of the apostles to the present age; and althongh many who are converted in revivals fall away, yet not more, perhaps, in proportion to the whole number, than apostatize where the work is more gradual and protracted. Meantime thousands are added to the churches that otherwise, perhaps, would not become religious at all. Dr. Fisk often spoke of the personal piety of the British ministers, their urbanity of manners, sweetness of spirit, and beauty of character. He felt deeply their Christian kindness and attentions. In conversing on the subject, he would often say, "How it increases the value of Christianity to believe that we shall meet them all again. Yes! to part no more." He often said that "there were some in their body who were among the purest models of Christianity he had ever seen." Of some of their aged men, as the Reverend Messrs. Entwisle and Wood, both now "entered into the joy of their Lord," and others of their class, he said, "They are the patriarchs of the body; the spirit of the venerable Wesley is with them. Their sons rise up and call them blessed. They make me in love with old age. I am willing to be old if God will but bless me with their spirit." Of the excellent Dr. Bunting, who came from London to Manchester to take leave of him, and accompanied our travellers to the ship, he spoke in terms which it would be indelicate to record in the lifetime of that gentleman. But we forbear. Perhaps we have already wearied the patience of the reader. Voyage to New-York.-The Roscoe Herald.—Return Home.—Declines the Episcopate.-Revival.-Colleges and Academies.--Letters.-Aaron C. Bangs. -Hon. James G. Birney.-Dr. Fisk's Travels.-Abolition.-Letters.-Address on the Fourth of July. We left our travellers on board the packet ship Roscoe, pursuing their voyage homeward. As before, Dr. Fisk suffered severely from sea-sickness. He was, in fact, confined to his berth almost the whole time, until within a few hours of his landing, except only on the Lord's day. Was it a special providence that the Sabbaths were uniformly calm and fine, so that he was able to preach regularly on that day? At any rate, he availed himself of the opportunity, preaching every Sabbath to the passengers in the large cabin. The few entries which he made in his memorandum-book during the voyage will be read with interest. "Oct. 28th. Sick all day-the preceding night most distressing-rough, rolling sea. "Oct. 29th. All day rough, rolling sea. Evening: winds more calm; become light, but contrary. Made but little progress through the night. Towards morning I became so restless and miserable that I could not remain in my berth. I got up, and, with my dear wife's assistance, dressed myself, and we went upon deck. The wind had changed; the moon shone brightly; the air was mild, and the sea tolerably calm. All was tranquillizing to the spirit and refreshing to the body. The demon of sea-sickness gave way, and a change came over the spirit of my nauseous, dreaming, giddy life. May a kind Heaven preserve me from that dreaded enemy for the rest of the voyage. "A calm moonlight night at sea is lovely: we enjoyed it much. Our canvass was all spread. We had just wind enough to fill the sails. Our noble, gallant ship seemed like a thing of life, proudly careering on her native element, as if exulting that she was the only object to be discerned on this boundless expanse. Yet, "How dark would be sea's vale, and damp, Though moon beams bright and sweetly o'er us; Gladdens and gilds the scene before us.' Truly, God is love. At sea, on land, in sickness or health, God is love. Sunday, Oct. 30th. Winds light; ship's company all better. I read and expounded the twelfth of Romans; had much liberty in enlarging upon the mercy of God, and the obligations we were laid under thereby to serve him. General attention and some tenderness. God grant that this bread cast upon the waters may be gathered after many days. What a place is the ocean to impress upon the mind of man his own littleness and his own dependance! The word Ocean is a sermon of itself. "The passengers met last Saturday, Oct. 29th, and resolved upon a semi-weekly herald, to be called the 'Roscoe Herald,' to be issued every Tuesday and Friday. They also organized a government, appointed a judge, their officers, constable, &c. This is much better than some of their amusements. It is curious to see with what trifles people can be amused when at sea-anything to kill time. Eternity, as on land, is too often forgotten; and yet nowhere, one would think, is eternity brought nearer. 66 Sunday, 13th. Calm again-service-too weary and sick to write. "Nov. 27th. After several days of rough weather, in which I was confined to my bed, we have at length a lovely day, and that day is the Sabbath. We had service: I endeavoured to expound from Col., 3d. Serious attention— hope some good may be done-have cast again bread upon the water-Jesus can bless it-too sick to write." Yet even the sea-sickness did not overcome his interest in the happiness of those around him. He was habitually not less an agreeable companion than a sympathizing friend and a wise counsellor. No one knew better how to combine cheerfulness with gravity, and to sustain the dignity of the ministerial character amid the relaxations of society. Of this he had opportunity of giving proof during the ordeal of a voyage across the Atlantic. His piety threw around him |