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ance.

Many faithful labourers in the Lord's vineyard, in the course of the year 1834, have finished their toils, and now rest in death. The voice of many a Minister of Christ, of many a Christian parent, and of many a subordinate teacher and monitor, has been hushed in the silence of the tomb. The full effect of their godly admonitions upon their contemporaries, and upon survivors, will only be fully disclosed in the day of the Lord, when slighted warnings will be remembered with the bitterest remorse, and the "wise" shall be adjudged to "inherit glory."

"O what is death? 'tis life's last shore, Where vanities are vain no more; Where all desires their goal obtain, And life is all retouch'd again; Where in their bright results shall rise, Thoughts, virtues, friendships, griefs, and joys."

Among the deceased of the past year are two honoured individuals, whose services in the cause of Christianity were pre-eminent, and whose names had long been equally dear and familiar to the Christian world. I allude to Lord Teignmouth and Dr. Carey. The former of these venerated men, as President of the British and Foreign Bible Society, had contributed, perhaps more than any other person, by his urbanity, his piety, his single-mindedness, bis wisdom, to consolidate that incom

parable Institution, and to direct its extended and salutary operations. The Society, patronized and watched over by this excellent nobleman, has done more than any human instrumentality whatever, to unite together the different denominations of Christians; while it has enriched the world by multiplying and putting into circulation a far greater number of copies of the holy Scriptures than ever previously existed in any age. Lord Teignmouth was entrusted with a high official situation in India, and he was the personal friend and the biographer of Sir William Jones; but it is as the wise and devoted President of the Bible Society that he will be permanently known in the history of the Christian church; and his union with that Institution will transmit his name to posterity in connexion with holy and honourable associations.

Upon Dr. Carey and his associates, the Baptist Missionaries in India, has been conferred the high distinction of translating the sacred books into various languages and dialects of the East; by which the labours of every class of Missionaries are facilitated, and the inspired records are placed within the reach of immense multitudes of people who could never before read in their "own tongues the "wonderful works of God" in human redemption and salvation. For many years were these blessed men treated with sarcasm, contempt, and opposition; but they held on their way, constrained by the love of Christ, and patiently encountered difficulties which would have been absolutely appalling to minds less firm than their own. They lived, however, to achieve objects which had been previously regarded as impossible, and to command the homage and respect of even their most violent assailants. Their wonderful attainments and labours are now matters of history; but the full benefit of their persevering exertions, both to individuals, and to the gene

ral cause of religion, can only be fully disclosed in the light of eternity. "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever."

That the lives of Lord Teignmouth and Dr. Carey were so long spared, is matter of unfeigned gratitude and thanksgiving; and yet the removal of such men from the church and the world, where so much evil prevails, cannot but excite painful emotions in every serious and reflecting mind. "Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth," has often been the prayer of many "a lover of good men;" and a prayer which the Head of the church will still graciously deign to answer. The residue of the Spirit is with Him; and by the mighty working of that Spirit he can still raise up men every way qualified for the most difficult services, in connexion with the interests of his kingdom. The sure and irrevocable word has passed his lips, that the world shall be converted to the faith of Christ; and whoever may fall in the holy contest, "the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."

Few events have ever taken place in the entire period of British history, that are more gratifying to the friends of humanity and religion, and likely to lead to more beneficial results, than the cessation of colonial elavery, which has been accomplished during this memorable year. A system of slavery more cruel and degrading never insulted the patience of Heaven, and set the authority of Christianity at defiance, than that which has prevailed for ages in the West India islands. Fearful and tremendous has been the waste of life, and the extent of personal suffering, to which the hapless negroes have been subjected; and not a few of them have been deprived of religious instruction, and denied permission to attend the ordinances of Christian worship, lest the principles of a pure morality should be im. planted in their minds, and these should interfere with the will and secular interests of their owners. Hallelujah! this barbarous and

inhuman system is no more! The negroes now enjoy full liberty of conscience, and can attend those places of worship which they individually prefer; their interests are now all placed under the protection of law; and in the course of a few years they will all be as free as the happy peasantry of England. We hear no more of the arbitrary and cruel imprisonment of Missionaries for teaching Christianity to slaves; nor of the terrible lacerations of the cartwhip inflicted upon unprotected men for presuming to pray to God. That inconveniences, and occasional instances of insubordination, should occur in the transition from abject slavery to a state of complete freedom, on the part of a people so degraded by ignorance as many of the negroes in the West In. dies must necessarily be, is only what every person was prepared to anticipate; and that cases of this kind have been so few, and productive of so little evil, is gratifying in the highest degree. The philanthropists of Great Britain, who have so long taken a lively interest in the welfare of the negro, now enjoy in contemplation the fruit of their prayers and efforts. Whatever opinions individuals may entertain respecting the general character of Earl Grey's administration, that Statesman and his colleagues have acquired an imperishable renown by the extinction of colonial slavery. It is an interesting fact, that Government were enabled to carry this great measure by the force of Christian principle in the country. It was the religious part of the community that so far swayed the councils of the nation as to gain this mighty object; for the infidels in general, while they bawled for an extension of liberty at home, were utterly indifferent to the wrongs of the slave. The emancipated negroes owe nothing to infidelity. It is Christianity that has dissolved their chains, and that will also heal their broken hearts.

The liberation of the negroes involves a responsibility which is perhaps, in some quarters at least, not duly felt. The people of England called upon the Legislature to put an

end to slavery, that the master might no longer have the power of interposing between the negro and the means of his salvation. The prayer has been heard; and full religious freedom is now enjoyed by the whole negro population in the West Indies. But to what extent is religious instruction provided? and where are the Christian ordinances which the law declares the negroes shall have liberty to attend? Alas! in regard to immense multitudes of them, their spiritual condition is not at all improved; for Lo sound of salvation is heard in their respective neighbourhoods; nor are there any houses of prayer to which they can have access; or schools, to which they might send their children. Much, indeed, has been done to meet this case of moral destitution, by various religious denominations; and the "special effort," made by the Wesleyan body for the enlargement of their very successful West Indian Missions, reflects signal honour upon their zeal and liberality. Still, however, the religious wants of the West Indies are far from being ade quately met; and there is reason to fear that many persons who very readily affixed their signatures to parliamentary petitions for the emancipation of the negroes, and some who even made eloquent speeches in favour of that measure, have contributed little to the illumination of the negro mind. They have assisted in securing for the negro religious liberty; but religion itself is to him a strange thing, of which he has heard little or nothing." If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful for the body, what doth it profit ?" There is one respected individual whom I cannot forbear to mention in connexion with this subject. Mr. Thomas Pringle, the able and indefatigable Secretary to the Anti-Slavery Society, has, within the last few days, departed this life. Formerly he was resident in South Africa, though, I believe a Scotchman by birth. He was a good man, a zealous

philanthropist, and an excellent poet. The scenery of his poems is generally laid in South Africa, which gives them an air of superior originality, and greatly increases their interest.

It is a very solemn and monitory fact, that during the past year that terrible pestilence, the malignant cholera, has again appeared among us, and, especially during the summer months, prevailed to a considerable extent, and in almost all parts of the land. Although no official accounts of its progress and ravages were circulated, and the public papers seemed designedly to omit, as much as possible, all reference to the unwelcome subject, yet the elements of that fearful disease are evidently spread to a wide extent in this country; and every one ought therefore to set his house in order." The hand of the Lord is lifted up, to smite a guilty nation; though judgment is bis strange work; and he therefore waits for the repentance of the people to whose eye the glittering sword is presented. What may be the future designs of Almighty God in regard to this calamity, is only known to himself. Circumstanced as Great Britain is at present, agitated by fierce political parties, and by religious animosity, and at the same time annually menaced by a disease which no human power can control, and no skill can counteract, how needful it is, that Ministers should weep, and pray, and preach, with an increased intensity of pious and compassionate feeling! O for more men of the spirit of Richard Baxter, and John Wesley, and George Whitefield, and Fletcher of Madeley, to call the thoughts of an unwise people from the trifling objects which they now suffer to inflame their passions, and engross their attention, to subjects that more nearly concern sinners who are rapidly passing to their final account! The spirit which predominates in this country at present is decidedly secular. Many religious people are thoroughly under its influence. Yet, were the Almighty to loose the secret chain by which the pestilence is restrained, as it is not impossible he may do in the course of a few months, the calami

tous scenes which have been witnessed in Sweden, and in several other places, may be exhibited in England; and our populous and flourishing towns be filled with "lamentation, and mourning, and woe." The present circumstances of the Wesleyan Connexion are peculiar. The increase in the societies during the last two years was unusually great; and there is reason to believe that at no former period whatever were their congregations, in the length and breadth of the land, so large as they now are. At the last Conference it was agreed, after a delay of several years, during which the subject was before the Connexion, to establish a Theological Institution for the improvement of the junior Preachers; not intending that the whole of them should be admitted on the establishment; but that those who are in the work should be put upon a regular course of self-tuition, and be subjected to an annual examination; and that such as can for a time he spared from the public work should reside at the Institution for a longer or shorter period, for the purpose of going through an elementary course of instruction preparatory to their entrance upon the full duties of the Christian ministry; at the same time special attention being paid to their personal piety. One individual Preacher, who belonged to the Committee appointed by the Conference to arrange this plan, and who expressed his full agreement with his brethren, -except that he wished the humble project to be denominated "a College," turned round upon them when he heard the names of certain persons mentioned, as suitable to sustain different offices in the Institution, charged his brethren with base and unworthy motives, and declared his hostility to the whole scheme. His reasonings and complaints were heard at the Conference, where they produced little impression; for the formation of the Institution was determined upon by the great body of the Preachers then assembled. Instead of being satisfied with the decision of a vast majority, he has since published a pamphlet, in which he has contrived, by reversing the

order of facts, and the suppression of important and material circumstances, to make out a case of distress, and even to represent himself as an injured man! forgetting that he himself first assumed the character of censor and accuser. A number of persons in Manchester and Liverpool, who are well known to have been for years opposed to the discipline of the Connexion, and have kept their respective societies in almost constant uneasiness and agitation, have professedly espoused the cause of the writer of the pamphlet, and have formed themselves into an Association, the declared objects of which are subversive of the vital principles of the Wesleyan economy. For with these men opposition to the Theological Institution is only employed as a means to an end. They attack the character of the Conference as constituted by Mr. Wesley; represent a large proportion of the Preachers, as being so unprincipled, as, in their annual assembly, to vote in direct opposition to their own judgment and conscience; and they call upon the societies throughout the kingdom to unite with them in demanding a change in the constitution of the Conference, and in its mode of transacting business. Their proceedings have been marked by a violence the most humiliating, which the public papers have detailed to the shame and dishonour of religion; and their publications are characterized by the most intemperate language, and in some instances by a criminal violation of truth, of which sad proof has been given by different writers. The most serious part of this business is, the practical Antinomianism with which it is undeniably connected. Wrath, and clamour, bitterness of spirit, evil-speaking, contempt of legitimate authority in the church, and attempts to promote division and alienation of affection among Christian people, are as strictly prohibited, and as severely condemned, in the New Testament as any sins whatever; and that persons should openly practise these abominations, and yet profess allegiance to Christ, and talk of communion with him, is as