Mr. Shrubfole's minifterial fervices were perfectly gratuitous. His falary as Mafter Maft-maker being sufficient for the maintenance of his family, he accounted it an honour to employ his abilities in the caufe of God, and was happy that it was in his power to do this in a way that relieved his mind of much anxious dependence, and that provided for the establishment of a Gofpel Miniftry in future times.. And having, by the divine bleffing, fucceeded in raifing a large congregation, in building a capacious chapel, and in clearing it of every debt, he was filled with admiration and gratitude, and the language of his foul was, "What

hath God wrought!"

I have thus given, Sir, a flight sketch of the life, and the prominent features in the character of Mr. Shrubfole; and I trust they will both please and edify the numerous readers of the Evangelical Magazine. May God raise up many fuch men, and make them extensively useful to his church and to the world. Amen.

Your's, &c.

W. S.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

[Particular circumftances occafioned an interruption of this fubject; but, as they are not likely to recur, our Readers may expect greater punctuality in future.]

STATE OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES.

IN

TN the fixth century the ambition of the Roman Pontiff distinguished itself in a violent struggle for abfolute fupremacy with JOHN, furnamed the Fofter Bishop of Conftantinople. Long had the man of fin, in the perfons of the Bifhops of Rome, aimed at every poffible degree of acceffion to his impious domination. In the language of the Apostle, thitherto there had been one who would let;" which was none other than the Roman civil power, exercifed by the Emperors. When it was taken out of the way, which happened in the fifth century, by the fall of the Western Empire, then an opportunity offered itself by which ecclefiaftical tyranny made gigantic strides towards a maturity of diabolical defpotifm over the lives and

confciences of millions of the human race; a defpotifm which has been the difgrace of human nature, the fcourge of mankind, and the greateft infult that ever Chriftianity fuftained. Good men, of every name, muft rejoice that its deftruction is laid in the purpose of the Moft High. Babylon is to fall, never to rife again. Its difmemberment has already been beheld; and, doubtlefs, the hearts of the friends and fubjects of the Lord Jefus beat high with the anticipation of that important period, when its final and total overthrow fhall be accomplished.

In the year 534 the Emperor JUSTINIAN gave fupreme power to the beaft, by declaring him, "Head of all the churches. The judge of all others, himself to be judged by none." In the caft his pretenfions were difregarded, and his authority rejected; but in the weft his nefarious defign too well fucceeded. Wicked and fervile priefts, in the impiety of their hearts, were urged on to illuftrate the prediction of the Apostle, 2 'Theff. ii. 4. ENNODIUS, Bishop of Ticinum, in a fulfome panegyric, afferted that the Bishop of Rome was conftituted judge in the place of God. Frequently this lordly fupremacy was difputed and refifted; and furrounding princes exercifed their regal authority independent of the ghoftly dominion of the Roman Pontiff: Yet the foundation of his antichriftian greatness was now fo effectually laid, that in future periods the aftonished world beheld princes, and kings, and emperors amenable to his tribunal, expreffing the moft fervile fubjection to his authority, and performing the most degrading acts of rigorous humiliation at his command.

The growth of fuperftition gave vigour to the corruptions of the clergy. A rapacious priesthood availed itself of the ignorance of the people, and fattened upon the spoil. Luxury and its attendant vices diftinguished their characters, nor was even external decency maintained by thofe, who, like the wife of Caefar, ought not fo much as to be fuf pected. Imperial cdicts and the decrees of councils were iffued in vain; nothing could reftrain the grofs immoralities of the minifters of religion,

The fecundity of the Monkish fyftem abundantly evinced itself. Like frogs, or unclean reptiles, they were every where feen crawling over the face of the earth. The new order, eftablished by BENEDICT, of Nurha, poured forth incalculable hordes. In the language of an eminent hiftorian, "they multiplied fo prodigioufly in the eaft, that whole armies might have been railed out of the monaftic

order

order without any fenfible diminution of that enormous body.". By the accumulation of immenfe wealth, wrung from the fimplicity of the people, an unbounded indulgence in luxury and floth prevailed. By the influence of luxury and floth they were eafily fubjugated to corruptions of the mot flagrant kind. Imperial edifices, as the places of their abode, every where reared their heads; and the most fertile parts of the country were always chofen as the fituation of thefe nurseries of unlimited profligacy.

With fplendid and oftentatious pageantry the mother of harlots amufed her children, the more easily to feduce their minds from the truth, and to divert their attention from an investigation of her high and arrogant claims. Gregory the Great exerted the influence of his authority, and the powers of his eloquence, in the fubftitution of a gaudy fuperftition for that wisdom that cometh from above; by the glare of which the eyes of his infatuated vaffals were dazzled, and the establishment of his furreptitious dominion facilitated. Chriftian feftivals, inftituted after the mode of Pagan feafts, were fanctioned by pontifical authority, and, with criminal avidity, adopted by the filly multitude. Every where the pristine beauty of Chriftianity was either totally defaced, or monftroufly deformed. Clouds of thick darknefs overspread the whole intellectual horizon. Thofe monuments of ancient erudition, which had efcaped the ruthdefs rage of barbarous invaders, were either deftroyed by the pernicious zeal of fuperftition, or neglected by illiberal ignorance; fo that from the beginning of the feventh to the eleventh century was a period eminently diftinguished by 'the term of the dark ages. Ignorance, ever friendly to the hoftile purposes of defigning men, prepared the inind for the reception of every doctrine however impious, and the countenance of every ceremony however puerile. The foundation of a loft finner's hope was totally fubverted; and the character of a good Chriftian fubftantiated by the performance of numberlefs trifling ceremonies, and fubmiffion to the rapacious requifitions of mercenary priests. In the language of a faint of thefe times, the mode of obtaining eternal redemption is thus exhibited: "Redeem your fouls while the remedy is within your reach;" which remedy is thus fpecified: Bring your oblations and tythes to the church. Bring candles to illuminate the church. Humbly intreat the patronage of the faints; which things if ye do, ye may with boldness appear at the bar of God,

66

and

and lay claim to your eternal falvation with this plea, Give, O Lord! unto us, because we have given unto thee."

Various controverfies about vain words, on incomprehen fible articles, were frequently and violently agitated. Councils were formed, the rulers of the church convened, the jargon of debate ardently kept up. Plain things were forgotten in the hours of altercation; rancour foftered in the human mind; the subject of dispute was made darker by an attempt at elucidation; and the strongest generally tri, umphed. As the balance of power preponderated, perfecution prevailed: Hence Arians became victims to the rage of Niceans, and Niceans alternately victims to the rage of Arians.

Thus pure and undefiled Christianity, such as that trans mitted to the world by the mouth of Him who spoke as man never fpake, which he fealed with his blood, and confirm ed by the teftimony and death of Apostles, lay languishing upon the ground with fymptoms of approaching diffolution. This eventful period feemed like a folemn pause in the gracious purpose of the Almighty. It was as if he had forgotten to be gracious, or as if, upon account of the affronts caft upon the dignity of his eternal majefty, he would vifit the earth no more. The ferious mind. that is capable of contemplating the nature of his designs through the medium of history, will find encouragement, in the darkest season, yet to hope in his mercy. He will there fee, that he who ruleth over men, in the profecution of his all-wife designs, has at times covered himfelf with a cloud, from which he has again broke forth with all the effulgence of that God who, at fundry times, and in divers manners, has proved himfelf mindful of his covenant. Let Ifrael therefore

truft in the Lord.

Z.

AN ADDRESS

FROM

THE MINISTERS OF CHRIST, IN THE DIRECTION OF THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY, TO THEIR BRETHREN IN THE

GOSPEL MINISTRY.

[CONCLUDED.]

ET us now caft our eyes on the difadvantages which may arife from embarking in, miffions fome of our ableft Minifters. And first we obferve, that as the number

fo

fo engaged will be small, the disadvantages apprehended are not likely to be extenfively felt. Probably we fhall find a want of their labours at home; but the efficacy of their labours will be more abundantly felt abroad; even as fruitful showers are most welcome in thirsty lands, and, genial funs in the polar region. If fuperiority of talents, character, and labours gives them fuch decided advantages in Britain, where we have many Minifters of equal ability, and a still larger number who are growing up to their full ftature in Chrift, may not far greater advantages be expected from it in a lefs cultivated country?

We are aware it is argued, that uncultivated men know not how to appreciate those fuperior talents which command esteem among us; and that men, whofe minds, manners, and information are more on a par with their own, are the fittest Miffionaries for the heathens. It is high time that a principle fo falfe, and which militates fo ftrongly against the fuccefs of miffions should be difcuffed; and we truft that what we have to advance on the fubject will recommend itself to fober reason. We are fenfible that the ability which confifts in fpeculative science, or even in more practical arts, but which from the circumstances of the country, can have no immediate application to the purposes of life, is not likely to fix attention or conciliate esteem. But this has little reference to what conftitutes ability in a Miffionary of the Crofs; from which we exclude every thing which is not practical and of fterling worth. Suppofe fuch a man landed among other Miffionaries at Otaheite. Incapable of converfing with the natives, his fuperior excellencies are obfcured by the humbler talents of his mechanic brethren; which have this advantage, that they are difcernable by sense, and serve the purposes of this life. But let time run on; let the language be acquired, and then let the man, mighty in the word and prayer, open his fublime commiffion, and display the riches of Christ cruci, fied-let facred truths be delivered with thofe advantages which flow from a strong, clear, and well cultivated mind, a thorough acquaintance with God's word and with human nature; an elocution eafy, copious, and forcible; and a heart richly replenished with the Spirit, and the untutored Otaheitean will foon diftinguish between the mechanic and the Minister, and know how to value each of them. Superiority of mind, manners, and morals, of knowledge and eloquence, is felt among every people, and is most felt where that fuperiority is most ifible. The effect is univer

fal,