Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

ment of that blessing which is promised (Is. xxx. 25), when upon every high mountain and on the tops of the hills shall be rivers and streams of water.

An overflowing congregation attended the consecration-service, when, after the bishop's sermon, the sum of 351. was collected; and the appointment of a minister having taken place, the church has been filled on each succeeding Sabbath.

The next day witnessed the consecration of St. James's Church at Clitheroe; a church built in a situation very different from that of Holme, but in the midst of equal or of greater want.

The population of Clitheroe, there is every reason to suppose, amounts at this time to 7000, for whom the old church offers barely 1100 sittings. A proportion of these are allotted to the inhabitants of three other townships in the same chapelry, and more of them are unavailable for general purposes, by being included in pews. The population, which has risen to its present amount from 1368, the number of inhabitants in 1801, is increasing at the same rapid rate, in consequence of the activity of the manufacturing establishments in the place. It is to the pious zeal and unwearied exertions of the Rev. Dr. Powell, master of the Grammar School at Clitheroe, that the completion of St. James's Church must, under the Divine blessing, be ascribed. A church which holds at present 688, has been built for 1,2001. At a moderate additional expense, galleries which may contain 600 more may be added; and the appearance of the interior, which is at present bare, will be improved by the addition. In a church built under such circumstances it would be idle to look for decoration. Solidity and strength will be its chief recommendations, and these it unquestionably possesses. Embellishment may be considered hereafter. Necessity has been met. In addition to the building, the sum which is required by the recent acts for an endowment has been raised and invested; and land having been given, schools to contain 250 children are in progress.

vided. The collection after the bishop's sermon here was 1137.

The next service of the kind was at Tonge, in the parish of Prestwich, where a chapel of ease was consecrated. It is a plain brick building, with lancetwindows, stone window-cases and copings; having no tower or steeple, and without any ornament whatever. It contains 550 sittings; and the cost of erection has been 1900. It has no gallery, but is calculated to admit of galleries when needed. Her majesty's commissioners assisted this building by a grant of 10007. The residue was raised by subscriptions.

The new church at Broughton, near Manchester, was consecrated the same day. It is built of white stone; and the architect, Mr. Lane, has produced a building of very considerable beauty. The style is decorated English, with a tower of good proportions and sufficient degree of embellishment. The sittings are 1150, and the cost has been 55007.; but the total outlay, including the endowment-fund and the expense of carrying a handsome iron fence round the extensive area of the churchyard, comes to nearly 10,000. The interior is divided into aisles, and has galleries round three sides. The Rev. Mr. Clowes, of Broughton, who gave the very valuable site on which the church is built, also gave 1,500l. towards the building, and 1,000 for the endowment. This church has been built under the recent acts. The sum collected after the sermon was 501.

The church at Cheetham Hill was consecrated the next day; and the opulent town of Manchester may survey with reasonable pride the noble structure which has here been raised. The church is so happily placed as to form a distinguished ornament to one of the principal approaches, while it stands on a point from which the light and influence of divine truth may be poured over a very important and populous district. It has been built, like that at Broughton, under the acts of Will. IV. and Victoria, and the patronage is in the hands of trustees. The architect is Mr. Atkinson, who has combined with great skill two points not often realised in the same structure, comfortable accommodation and architectural effect. The style is decorated English; and few parish churches offer a more magnificent spectacle, either externally or internally. It is probable that 1500 persons might be seated in it; and it is certain that a much larger number were collected on the morning when the bishop preached.

The whole expense, including the endowment-fund, has been 2,500l. Of this, 8007. was supplied by the Diocesan Society; 300l. was given towards the endowment by the trustees of the will of Mr. Halstead, who left the residue of his estate to endow churches which should be built in the extensive parish of Whalley; and the rest has been collected by personal application. A balance of nearly 400. still remains unpaid, for which certain individuals have made them-fittings of the interior correspond in elegance with the selves responsible, and which it is hoped the bounty of the public will soon discharge. The collection on this occasion, after the bishop's sermon, was 321.

The next day witnessed the consecration of a new church at Walmsley, in the chapelry of Tiverton. It is built of stone, and the architect is Mr. Sharpe of Lancaster, who has here produced a work which would be an ornament to any neighbourhood, and may satisfy the most fastidious taste. The style is that which is commonly called decorated English. A well-proportioned tower, side-aisles, and clerestory, give the church a commanding character, well suited to the eminence on which it is placed. The cost has been 2,600., and the present number of sittings is 635. There are no galleries as yet erected; but the accommodation which may be gained by introducing them will diminish materially that apparent cost of erection, which on the present comparison seems high, in reference to the number of sittings. This circumstance induced the Diocesan Society to withhold a grant for some time, till on satisfaction being given as to the discretion with which the plan had been determined on, the sum of 3001. was voted to defray the general expenses. The Incorporated Society had made a previous grant of 3501. This church has been built to supersede an old inconvenient edifice, which was in a very dilapidated condition, and has in consequence its minister and endowment pro

The

grandeur of the elevation. The pulpit, carved out of solid oak, and surrounded with figures in high relief, resembles the magnificent pulpits which are the ornament of the Flemish churches. An eagle with outspread wings forms the front of the reading-desk; and, bearing the sacred Scriptures, seems going forth to carry the message of the word of God to all the world. Every part of the church has been finished with equal elegance. Ornament may seem to have been scattered somewhat too profusely over the east end; but it is hard to note excess where there is so much to admire, and where the ornament itself is of so pure a character. This church, with its approaches and other expenses, has not cost much less than 14,000 This sum was wholly raised by private subscriptions. The collection after the bishop's sermon was 1134; and the sermon has been since printed, at the particular request of the trustees.

The church of St. Barnabas at Openshaw, situated in another of the avenues of Manchester, was consecrated the next day, having been previously opened for divine service by license. It is built of stone, the style early English, from designs and plans of Mr. Atkinson. It has sittings for 850, has side-aisles, clerestory, and a short steeple; and the expense has been 4,8001., the whole of which was supplied by the Manchester Church- Building Society. The proportions of this church are less happy than those of the preceding.

The clerestory is too high; the body of the church in consequence appears narrow, and the galleries press inconveniently on the pulpit. This church, however, possesses one peculiar feature, and a feature of very great interest. A school, containing 400 children, in two rooms separated by a partition, and capable of holding more, has been built, and, together with a play-ground attached, been presented to the church by Mr. Neden, a gentleman residing in the neighbourhood. Ground for a parsonagehouse had been also given; and the three buildings, church, school, and parsonage, will soon be combined in one happy group, and form the centre of parochial influence, which shall radiate through the adjoining district. This church has been endowed by the Manchester Church-Building Society; and the patronage is in the hands of trustees. The collection in the church on this occasion was 561.

The church at St. Helen's has been built entirely at the expense of Mr. P. Greenall, a gentleman of property in the place, and the patronage will vest in him. The architect is Mr. A. Williams, of Liverpool. The material is brick, with stone facings. The form of the church is that of a cross, having galleries at the west end and in the transepts. There are sittings for more than 800; and the expense of building has been 3,2001. The bishop, who came from Manchester that morning, was conducted by Mr. Greenall to the newly erected town-hall, where a large assemblage of the neighbouring gentry and clergy were collected to meet him. They proceeded thence on foot, accompanied by the different clubs belonging to St. Helen's, and followed by a large portion of the population, to the church, which was soon filled to overflowing. The collection after the sermon was 2547.; and if it were permitted to form a judgment of the future destiny of the church from the interest exhibited by all classes in its consecration, it may be hoped that no ordinary share of blessing will rest on this work.

800, and cost 2,100%. Of this sum, 1,000l. was received from her majesty's commissioners; 5001. from the Incorporated Society; and 7001. from the Diocesan Society.

The eleventh church was at Hurdsfield, a suburb of Macclesfield. It is built of stone, in the early English style, with a handsome and well-proportioned tower; and being placed on a rising ground, it forms a beautiful object in the view as the traveller approaches Macclesfield from Stockport. The exterior has nothing particular to be remarked beyond symmetry and apparent solidity; but the interior arrangement deserves notice, and does credit to the architects, Messrs. Healey and Brown. The church contains 900 sittings, and has been erected for 2,5001.; of this sum, 7501. has been drawn from the Diocesan Society, and the rest from subscriptions. The endowment has been furnished by the trustees of Hyndman's fund, with whom the patronage rests. The collection after the sermon here was 561.

It

A small chapel at Marthal, in the parish of Rostherne, was consecrated three weeks afterwards. has been built chiefly at the expense of W. T. Egerton, Esq., aided by a grant of 100%. from an association in Cheshire for the purpose of building chapels in the large parishes of the rural districts, where distance sometimes renders the parish-church as difficult to reach, as population renders it difficult to enter in the manufacturing districts. Mr. Egerton endows this chapel with 401. a-year, and becomes in consequence the patron. The collection after the sermon was, on this occasion, 651.

Such have been the proceedings in this diocese during the summer: and thus far, we may say, has God helped us. The results, if presented in a tabular form, will stand as follow, with regard to the accommodation provided, and the money expended :

Rainhill
Halewood

Bolton, Emmanuel

[blocks in formation]

350

900

700

2200

Adlington

[ocr errors]

600

1560

Preston, St. Thomas's

1000

3500

Holme

500

750

Clitheroe, St. James's

700

1400

[blocks in formation]

The church at Staly Bridge, which was consecrated the next day, has been built from a design supplied by Mr. Tattershall, of Manchester; and few of our modern churches exhibit so much of pure design and of architectural elegance at a cost so moderate. The church contains 1,000 sittings, and it has been erected for less than 4,000. Internally the church has side-aisles, a clerestory, and galleries; but the galleries are so arranged that they do not interfere with the beautiful columns which support the roof; and the groined work of the ceiling deserves particular attention. Externally the church exhibits a handsome tower. The windows of the side-aisles are doublelancet; and the windows of the clerestory are formed to resemble the cusps or upper parts of windows of a later date. The general effect might, perhaps, have been improved, if this form had been substituted for the double-lancet windows on the side. This church has been built under the late acts. The Diocesan Society contributed 1,000l.; and the Earl of Stamford, to whom all the ground in the neighbourhood belongs, not only enabled the plan to be realised by giving a site, but has also given expansion to it by extending his gift of land to five statute acres. The area, thus munificently afforded, will offer space for schools, for parsonage-house, and garden, and also for a large cemetery, which in that populous neigh-church, we may say, has been provided for 12,000; bourhood is greatly needed. In truth, those alone who have seen the dense population of these districts can appreciate properly the value of the churches which are rising here, and understand the nature of the call on the sympathy and bounty of the Christian public. The collection here, after the bishop's sermon, was 2047.

In the adjacent township of Newton a church was next consecrated, which will be a chapel of ease to Mottram. It is built of stone, on a plan furnished by Messrs. Healey and Brown. It is calculated to hold

The feeling with which such operations are contemplated must be of a mixed character; and while unbounded gratitude must be felt to God, who has thus mercifully raised up means for relieving the lamentable destitution of these districts, we cannot deny that the reflections excited by this review must in many respects be painful. That something has been done-and done judiciously and with effect-we may acknowledge; but while we contemplate with joy the work that is accomplished, it is impossible to withdraw the mind from that which is yet undone, or from the consequences that must follow the deficiency. Accommodation in

but how many still remain without any provision of the sort! If we suppose that the number of attendants at church is, or ought to be, two-fifths of the whole population; if we suppose that when 1000 persons are statedly assembled for divine worship, a population of 2500 may be regarded as brought under pastoral superintendence, the efforts of the year will have extended the influence of religion over a number not less than 30,000.

If we take a different standard-a standard perhaps better suited to the less regular habits of the English

people, and indulge the hope of a wider, though less exact, extension of religious influence, through the medium of those who attend the services of the church, -and suppose that for one stated worshipper, five may be found acquainted with the truths of the Gospel, we shall have 60,000 noted as rescued from absolute irreligion, and brought to some knowledge of their duties and responsibilities. The dim light which is thus shed upon our people is not cheering, is not satisfactory; but it is stated here as the alternative with utter darkness and forgetfulness of God. But, admitting this, we must still exclaim, What are these among so many? what is this inroad made on the dense heathenism of the people at large?

The population of Lancashire alone, by the last census, was 1,385,000. That population had nearly doubled itself in the thirty years occurring between that date and 1801, and 663,000 souls had been added to the number of inhabitants. There is every reason to suppose that the same rate of increase is going on; and in that case the population of Lancashire in the year 1861 will amount to 2,667,000. The churchaccommodation must be enlarged so as to meet an increase of 1,330,000 in the number of inhabitants; and the present number of churches must be doubled in the course of thirty years, if even the present measure of accommodation is to be offered. In other words, 266 new churches must be built, if to each 5000 inhabitants a church is to be assigned capable of containing 1000; or 532 churches of the same size, if provision be made somewhat better suited to the wants of men; and a church, holding two-fifths of their number, with a resident minister, be assigned to every 2500 inhabitants.

That this is no unreasonable proportion, we may appeal to the common sense of men, and to the provision made by our forefathers. The government of Prussia has laid down 750 as the number of souls to be entrusted to the charge of a single minister; considering, and wisely considering, that few men are capable of giving to a larger body that close and personal superintendence which the pastoral care implies. In our own original parochial arrangements, the churches seem to have been designed to contain the whole population; and the monasteries were scattered through the country to supply from their inmates the assistance which was required by the secular clergy. The manufacturing and commercial wealth, which has caused the rapid increase of our population, has made no provision for the spiritual wants of the people; and in consequence the population of these districts has assumed a character which few thinking men venture to contemplate, and which no Christian man can consider with calmness.

Whether government will interfere or not, seems as yet uncertain; but it is manifest that if government does not anticipate the evil by a prompt and effectual interference, there are elements at work which must ere long break forth, and offer to the world at large an awful memorial of the consequences which must follow such neglect. CESTRIENSIS.

While these lines were being penned, it has pleased God to remove from this anxious, troubled field of labour one of his most faithful and devoted servants, the Rev. Roger Carus Wilson, vicar of Pres. ton; and the subject of the present narrative—the extension of church-accommodation-requires some notice to be taken of this valuable and lamented man. On his appointment to the vicarage of Preston, Mr. Wilson found the church-accommodation totally unequal to the wants of the existing population; he also saw that population increasing at the rapid rate which successful manufacturing speculation invariably produces; and he immediately applied all the energies of his mind to supply the deficiency. He brought to the work, which thus seemed assigned to him, peculiar qualifications. Gifted with an eye of exquisite cor

rectness, he had formed his taste in architecture by a careful study of our finest ecclesiastical buildings; and he added to these accomplishments a knowledge of the working details, such as is possessed by few men in his situation. Thus prepared, he entered on his laborious career, and, amidst many and overwhelming difficulties, through evil report and good report, he persevered in the great work before him, and thus has been the means of raising, in Preston, four new churches, executed chiefly, or entirely, from his own designs; three of which are of large dimensions, and each of which may be considered as models in their way besides purchasing a large dissenting chapel, which is now attached to the establishment, and forms a commodious place of worship, containing 1000 sittings. In each of these churches he had the higher happiness of placing faithful and devoted ministers. He had seen schools built in connexion with each, and training up the children of his people in the way they ought to go; and though cut off in the fulness of strength and usefulness, he has left in these works a memorial of his own devotedness to God, and a lesson to all to "work while it is called to-day."

Miscellaneous.

daily stamping its character on the army and navy THE ARMY AND NAVY.-A new order of things is of our country; and where formerly but one truly serious Christian officer could be seen, there are ten to be found at this moment. This is a circumstance which gladdens every Christian heart, and bids fair to call down a blessing on the future services of our armies and fleets whenever they shall be sent forth in defence of our land.-Extracts, &c, by Captain Sir N. J. Willoughby.

WINE.-Take especial care that thou delight not in wine; for there never was any man that came to honour or preferment that loved it; for it transformeth a man into a beast, decayeth health, poisoneth the breath, destroyeth natural heat, brings a man's stomach to an artificial heat, deformeth the face, rotteth the teeth, and, to conclude, maketh a man contemptible, soon old, and despised of all wise and worthy men; hated in thy servants, in thyself, and companions; for it is a bewitching and infectious vice. A drunkard will never shake off the delight of beastliness; for the longer it possesses a man, the more he will delight in it, and the older he groweth, the more he will be subject to it; for it dulleth the spirits and destroyeth the body, as ivy doth the old tree, or as the worm that engendereth in the kernel of the nut. Take heed, therefore, that such a cureless canker pass not thy youth, nor such a beastly infection thy old age; for then shall all thy life be but as the life of a beast, and after thy death thou shalt only leave a shameful infamy to thy posterity, who shall study to forget that such a one was their father.-Sir Walter Raleigh.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We must beg our friends to be careful in directing their communications to us. Two were lately sent, addressed Baker Street and Portland Street respectively. They reached us at last in safety, but not without occasioning some puzzle to the letter-carriers.

London: Published by JAMES BURNS, 17 Portman Street, Portman Square; W. EDWARDS, 12 Ave-Maria Lane, St. Paul's; and to be procured, by order, of all Booksellers in Town and Country.

PRINTED BY

ROBSON, LEVEY, AND FRANKLYN, 46 ST. MARTIN'S LANE.

[merged small][graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

THE PRIEST AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHI. only solemn and important, but the event re

ZEDEC.

BY THE REV. CHRISTOPHER EADES, M.A. Assistant Curate of St. Mary's Church, Sheffield. IN reading the Epistle to the Hebrews, it should be borne in mind that it was written for the instruction of converted Jews,-persons very liable, from the remaining prejudices of education, and the objections of unbelieving brethren, to be much perplexed with doubts and difficulties. Can there be a greater prophet than Moses? a priest superior to Aaron? a more excellent institution than the Law? a more glorious sanctuary than the holy place?-were questions by which the faith of a Jewish convert was likely to be assailed and shaken. These questions are therefore discussed with all the wisdom and power of an inspired apostle, who proved from the Old Testament that the Messiah is greater, not only than Moses and Aaron, but than all created beings; and that the Gospel excels the Law, as the substance the shadow. The Epistle, therefore, presents us with a brief but invaluable commentary on the Law especially, and not a little on the Prophets, many of whose predictions are so explained and applied as to give the highest internal evidence of its Divine inspiration.

Of the prophecies referred to in this Epistle, none is so largely dwelt upon as that of David, "The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedec" (Psalm ex. 4): to explain and improve which will be the object of this present

essay.

"The Lord sware." Wherever in Scripture the Lord is said to swear, the occasion is not

VOL. VIII.-NO. CCVII.

Still

ferred to is unchangeably fixed in his decrees. Thus, (Gen. xxii. 16) "The Lord sware unto Abraham, For because thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son; that in blessing I will bless thee," &c. Again, (Deut. i. 34, 35) "The Lord sware, saying, Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land which I sware to give unto your fathers;" and accordingly they wandered in the wilderness until they were worn out, and their carcasses fell there. further, (Psalm lxxxix. 35) " I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations;" an oath referring to the eternal kingdom of Messiah. The Levitical priests are said (Heb. vii. 21) to have been made without an oath, but Christ with an oath,which signified that theirs was a temporary, his an unchangeable priesthood; indeed, we find that that shadowy priesthood, appointed of God for a season, as a preparatory institution, was subject to many changes before it entirely passed away. Thus (1 Sam. ii. 30,35) the prophet declares the word of the Lord to Eli, the then high-priest-" Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thine house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever;" which was remarkably fulfilled in the days of Solomon.

[London: Robson, Levey, and Franklyn, 46 St. Martin's Lane.]

G

For some ages, indeed, before the coming of our Lord, the claim arising from descent seems to have been wholly disregarded; and the office became an article of merchandise, which heathen princes sold to the highest bidder, taking care, however, to raise to this dignity only those supposed to be faithful to their own interests; all which went to shew that the fabric of the Jewish ecclesiastical polity was ready to vanish away, "for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof."

[ocr errors]

that without which no other permanent benefit had accrued to man-was, to make an atonement for sin. Fallen man, without an atonement, without a sacrifice, must for ever have been an alien and a banished race. Enlightened by whatever science, directed by whatever precepts, animated by whatever example, he must still have been without hope, without strength-an enemy to God, a slave of Satan. The higher his intellect rose in just conceptions of God, the deeper Melchizedec is, next to the Son of God must he have sunk in despair; for he could himself, the most extraordinary and myste- contemplate the Divine Being none otherrious person mentioned in Scripture. His wise than as a consuming fire, into whose name and his seat of empire were both sig-hands it would be a fearful thing to fall. nificant; the former being, by interpretation, "King of righteousness;" and the latter, "King of Salem," that is "King of peace;" and plainly point out him who was a "Priest upon his throne," "the Holy and Just One," the Prince of peace." Melchizedec was a priest of the most high God, and, as it would seem, not confined to any temple or people, but exercising his sacred calling for the benefit of all who truly worshipped God, endued with authority and right to bless and to receive the tenths e even from him who had the promises, the father of Israel, of Levi, of Moses, of Aaron, of David; signifying that a Priest should afterwards arise greater than any descended from Aaron, who should bless all nations as well as the seed of Jacob, and to whom all should render an unreserved and universal homage. And whereas Melchizedec was alike without predecessor or successor, neither deriving his priesthood from his ancestors, nor conferring it upon his descendants; it thereby appeared that the priesthood of Christ, sprung from the tribe not of Levi, but of Judah, should derive its origin and authority from God, and should endure in the same undying person for ever.

I may now proceed to set forth the doctrine that Christ is a Priest, and a Priest for

ever.

Sacrifice, intercession, and benediction, are the three principal parts of the priestly office, each of which was exercised by our great Highpriest. It is the ordinance of God, that, where sin has entered, either penalty or atonement must follow. The law appointed an annual atonement, which the Jewish high-priest made when he entered into the holy place, not without blood; the perfect and sufficient atonement is that which was made by Christ, when he put away sin by the sacrifice of himself"-himself the priest, the altar, and the victim. While it is certain that many subordinate and most excellent purposes were accomplished by the manifestation of the Son of God, yet are we warranted in saying, that the great end of his coming

Such we may conceive to be the state of fallen angels, who know and believe only to tremble and despair and hate; and such would, in fact, be the state of ungodly sinners, were it not that the veil of flesh and the occupations of sense enable them for a season to live as if there was no God: and when once the conscience of the sinner has been convinced of his own lost and guilty state, would he not sink into despondency, were not his mind directed to the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world? Take out of the New Testament the atoning sacrifice of Christ, and you take the soul out of the man-you take away the essence, which is no longer a covenant of grace-glad tidings of great joy-a gospel of reconciliation. To a world of sinless and undying men, the pure and sublime doctrines and hopes of our holy religion had been an invaluable blessing; but to us sinners they had been but a cruel mockery, without the atoning sacrifice of Christ, by which the guilt of sin is cancelled, the stain of sin is washed away, the power of sin is broken, the penalty of sin is remitted, and we, that "were enemies, are reconciled to God." Here the penitent finds peace and hope; here the believer rests with confidence. God hath laid a foundation in Zion, elect, precious; and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Our

But, again, the office of a priest is intercession. When Aaron entered into the holy place he carried on his breast-plate and on his shoulder the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, as the Lord's remembrancer. High-priest is entered into the holy place made without hands, there to appear in the presence of God for us; there he is a Priest for ever on his throne, interceding for his church from generation to generation. The continued intercession of Christ is so spoken of in Scripture as to lead us to believe, that it is carried on chiefly, if not solely, in behalf of the Lord's believing people. Thus, in John xvii., he prayed only for his disciples and for those which should

« FöregåendeFortsätt »