destiny in the sunshine of God's eternal presence. The following is the instructive and edifying conclusion of this charming little book: "Thus lived, and died, and is commemorated, the parishpriest of Highclere; and the walls, which once echoed, perpetuate his precepts, in this faithful record of his character. Nor have the filial and the friendly hand traced in vain the marble and the parchment, if from these frail memorials be drawn the more enduring instruction which they offer. From them laborious diffidence may gain a lesson of encouragement, and presumptuous ardour borrow an example of humility. They teach that the most limited sphere is stage enough for the employment of the noblest talents; yet all that is honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report, is accessible to the humblest, be they but accompanied by a sincere heart and a Christian spirit. We have not all the power of acquiring divine learning, and the happy mode of communicating it, which distinguished Mr. Milles; but we have all the power, like him, of growing wiser as we grow older, of profiting by the daily teaching of the Church, and of pointing out to others our blessed Master's institution for "doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." The ministration of the word and sacraments is not committed to us all; but we can all, like him, shew our belief in that word, and our reverence for those sacraments, by the constant, solem, grateful, and awful manner with which we listen to the one and partake of the other. We have not all the cheerfulness of heart and joy of countenance, with which he disarmed the terrors and smiled away the sorrows of the afflicted,- for we have not all the same motive of cheerfulness, we have not lived as he had; but we can all, like him, assist in bearing our fellow-creatures' burdens; we can all forgive those who injure us; "disregard high things, and condescend to men of low estate; rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." To every one of us, too, some particular charge, come individual sphere of usefulness is appointed. For the benefit of his fellow-Christians, as well as for his own spiritual needs, to each of us, even (GOD be thanked) to the least and lowest, the penitent in his closet, some one talent, convertible and improveable, is still entrusted. Blessed is he who, like the gentle rector of Highclere, employs that talent to the glory of his LORD, the maintenance of His Church, and the promotion of peace and good will among men. Among Mr. Burns's valuable publications not the least valuable is a little book entitled "Hymns of the Church Pointed for Chanting." In many churches this part of divine service, the chanting, is but ill performed. The emphasis is frequently laid on the wrong syllable, and, from want of some certain rule, is often laid on different syllables; one person choosing to place it here, another there. The object of this little work is to remedy this. It were much to be wished that the congregations would join in the singing more than they do. Correspondence. Stockport, Nov. 1, 1842. To the Editor of the Christian Magazine. SIR, It was, I believe, customary in the days of Cromwell for the Puritans to designate some of the most holy ordinances of our Church, such as fasting, daily prayer, &c., Popish, and Dissenters of the present day sometimes designate them the same. The Methodists, who pretend to claim a relationship to the Church, used to be silent on this point, but since late events have roused the Church to a sense of its duty, and these ordinances are more strictly observed by the Church, they too have raised the cry of Popery, and nothing is heard of among them but Popery and Anglo-Papist clergy, thus railing against those clergymen who have the honesty and courage to observe these ordinances which the Church enjoins. Now, sir, I wish to point out, by a trifling incident, a little of Dissenting inconsistency, and to make Dissenters prove, from their own showing, that these ordinances are of Apostolic origin, as thereby they will witness for the Church, and against themselves. In our town there is a large Sunday School for the education of children of all denominations. When the children in this school have arrived at a certain stage, they are required to commit to memory a course of instruction, consisting of three parts, and two lessons of the first part run thus LESSON VIII. AND IX. OF THE MEANS OF GRACE. 1. What is grace? The power of the Holy Ghost enabling us to believe and love and serve God. 2. How are we to seek this? In a constant and careful use of the means of grace. 3. Which are the chief means of grace? The Lord's Supper, Prayer, Searching the Scriptures, and Fasting. 4. How often did the first Christians receive the Lord's Supper? Every day-it was their daily bread. 5. How often did they join in public prayer: Twice a-day, as many of them as could. 6. How often did they use private prayer? Every morning and night, at least. 7. How often did they search the Scriptures? They heard or read them every day, and meditated therein day and night. 8. How often did the old Christians fast? Every Wednesday and Friday till three in the afternoon. 9. How long is every Christian to use all the means of grace? To his life's end. Now, although the teachers hear the scholars repeat that these were the practices of the Primitive Christians, and that they are to be used by every Christian to his life's end, yet if any one was to talk to them about fasting, or attending public daily prayers in Church, they would ask, What, do you want me to become Papist? and they would unhesitatingly assert that such things were inventions of the Church of Rome. But, sir, these ordinances are nearly the same as those enjoined by our Church. The Church enjoins fasting every Friday-she enjoins public daily prayer and reading of the Scriptures; and although she does not say how often the Lord's Supper ought to be administered, yet it is evident, from the construction of the Prayer Book, that whenever there is a full service the Lord's Supper ought to be administered, which will happen every Sunday at least, and oftener if any holydays intervene. But these things have been much neglected of late years-fasting is almost forgotten-the daily prayers discontinued, and Holy Communion, instead of being celebrated every week, is only observed once a month, and in many cases not so often. In consequence of this, those clergymen who act up to the directions of the Prayer Book are denounced forsooth as traitors, and charged as introducing novelties, or as following the customs of the Church of Rome. But these accusers should study the Book of Common Prayer, which would show them that these clergymen whom they abuse are not traitors to the Church of England, but true men, and if they study the history of the Church further, they will learn that the neglect of these things, which they style the old way, is nothing but a new and careless way, and that which they style a new way and look upon as a corruption of the Church of Rome, is the good old and Apostolic way, and if they were wise, they would come to Church, and observe them, instead of keeping away, and thus living in schism. I am, sir, your obdt. servt., A LABOURING MAN. To the Editor of the Christian Magazine. SIR, A neighbour of mine asked me the other day, if it was wrong to put ones foot in a Dissenting Meeting-house? I told him that he could not have read the Christian Magazine, or he would have seen that anecdote lately inserted of the apostle St. John, and the heretic Cerinthus. If St. John would not stop in the bath with a heretic, I think we may be quite sure that he would never have put his foot in a Dissenting Meetinghouse; and if he would not have gone there, why should we? Yours truly, A. L. F. To the Editor of the Christian Magazine. SIR, Are the Wesleyans a very old sect? Thomas Selby, a neighbour of mine, says, that they were founded by John Wesley, not much more than one hundred years ago. Now, if this is right, I'm sure the Wesleyans must be wrong, other isė all the Christians that lived before them must have been ignorant of the truth: yes, even the apostles; for if the Wesleyans are only one hundred years old, there could have been none till within the last hundred years, that's very clear. So either Thomas Selby is wrong, or the Wesleyans are wrong - which is it, sir? Yours, F. R. To the Editor of the Christian Magazine. MY DEAR SIR, -We have the weekly offertory in our church, and, I dare say you will scarcely believe it, but it is true, some of the people that used to attend the Church have left in consequence of it. For my part I cant think how they can be so wicked. They must either think that almsgiving is a great evil instead of a privilege, the Bible tells us it is the last, or they must have that false and wicked pride which prevents them declining to give, when they have not the means to do so. In either case I cannot but think that their conduct is very foolish, and am quite sure that they had better act upon right Christian principles, and attend their Parish Church, as all good Churchmen should do. I am, dear sir, faithfully yours, W. To the Editors of the Christian Magazine. SIR, I hear that some men say that poverty necessarily leads to wickedness;-if so how are we to understand those passages of Scripture which say that blessed are the poor, and which clearly assert that poverty in a spiritual sense is a higher state than riches. I cant help thinking that there are many false doctrines abroad in the world at the present time. Your obdt. Servant, A. L. |