architects in the ruins? Freely we say they are not; almost every one of them is fairly debateable: some of them may be true, others may be probable; but they are none of them first elements, postulates to be at once conceded. Few persons, perhaps, except the interlocutors in these Dialogues, believe them all; and many of the holiest and wisest of men cannot conscientiously say they are certain of any, in the sense intended by these writers. Do our prophetical collocutors meet with no pious and learned friends, who, to say the least, doubt whether the present dispensation is verging, not to millennial mercy, but to judgment; who doubt whether the Jews are to be restored to the literal, geographical, sterile land of Palestine, instead of to a spiritual and heavenly Salem; who doubt whether the uninspired calculations of the 1260 years are correct, and so on of others of these assumed " essential" first principles. To say nothing of the clergy and members of our own church, does that zealous propounder of these newly discovered" essentials" of Christian belief, the acknowledgment of which the preface to the Dialogues tells us is the test between the righteous and the wicked, having superseded the ancient touchstone of the Divinity of Christ, or the doctrine of justification by faith; does, we say, that zealous propounder of them, Mr. Irving, for example, find in his own communion no pious and learned friends who doubt most of these "essentials," and, so far from taking them as axioms to go on with to further discoveries, are not disposed to admit even the first principles so earnestly contended for by this new school of prophecy. We need refer no further than to Dr. Wardlaw's and Dr. A. Thomson's truly excellent volumes of sermons, lately published; or, with all its alleged faults, to Dr. Hamilton's unanswerable treatise on the general subject. Or, if our readers will take the trouble to turn back to our

own volumes, they will find almost every point again and again discussed so that it would be but repeating what has already appeared in our pages to go further into the subject at present.

The volume before us doubtless contains much that is striking, and much also that is true; but as a whole, it is, to say the least, fanciful, full of doubtful and dangerous speculations, and most unchristianly vituperative towards all who do not adopt the peculiar sentiments of the speakers, and especially towards that large, respectable, and, in the main, exemplary body of persons who, by whatever name of reproach they may be denominated, whether Evangelicals, or Methodists, or Calvinists, or "the religious world," or, as this volume calls them, the people "who cant about Bibles and tracts, and missions," have been found among the most devoted servants of Christ, and the best benefactors to the world. This bitter railing against brethren is the most melancholy feature of the volume. Our spirit is grieved while we read these effusions, which are penned in a tone of vexation and spleen, rather than of sorrow or grave reprehension. The charges are also, many of them, as absurd as they are frivolous and vexatious. We take the first that happens to occur to us on casually opening the volume. Every person called "Evangelical," who does not adopt the opinion of these writers upon the Catholic question, is pronounced to be "an infidel, and to be prophesying lies" among the people. Upon this point," says the speaker, "I take my stand." Mr. Wilson, whose valuable work on the Evidences, we have just reviewed, "an infidel!" Dr. Chalmers, the writer of another excellent work on the same subject, an infidel! The bishop of Chester, who has also written so admirably on the subject, an infidel! His pious, exemplary, and beloved brother of Lichfield, and his not less esteemed brother, both by blood

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will be found as conspicuous as his charity; and that, while he sees recorded in print deeds which he never meant to travel beyond his own sequestered neighbourhood, he will feel how poor, how worthless, is human praise; but how infinitely important it is that all our motives should be simple and Christian, and all our efforts directed to the glory of our God and Saviour, who, though be needs not our services, is yet pleased to account even a cup of cold water given to one of the least of his disciples, in the name of a disciple, as an offering made to himself.

"The zeal displayed by good Mrs. Ferrar in the repair and decoration of the house of God at Gidding, as it is deserving of imitation, so is it not without at least one example of similar zeal and great disinterestedness in our day.

"The editor has been permitted to use a manuscript memoir of a living character, well known to him, and in his own neighbourhood, which will illustrate the subject. James D- was born at Grosmont in the county of M— -, A. D. 1770. His original occupation was that of a pedlar and purchaser of rags for the paper mills. His acquaintance with the lower orders of people was consequently extensive, and all who knew him considered him a man of inflexible integrity, and unblemished conduct; added to which he possessed much observation, and an affectionare disposition. His exertions enabled him to lay up a little property, but he could not feel satisfied in living to himself alone; his heart was especially and sensibly alive to the wants of the children of the poor. One particular portion of the county, where whole families were living in the rudest and most uncultivated state, excited his deepest interest; it lay in the parish of N; and from the peculiar circumstances of the place, the poor were in an extremely untutored situation.

"The nearest church to the spot in question was K- in a ruinous state and literally used as a sheep-fold. It was prepared for divine service only a few Sundays in the year, and then a Bible and Prayer-book were borrowed from a neighbouring farmer; there was not even a surplice. D- observed and felt the wants of the cottagers in this neighbour. hood, and his feelings did not evaporate in fruitless wishes, but he determined by the grace of God to acquire some little fitness for the work of educating the poor.

"After some preliminary instruction, he engaged as master of a school at U

-,

and here his remarkable zeal, assiduity, and simplicity, gained him great approba tion. He conducted this school for a few years, to the evident improvement both of children and parents; but he thought that the poor of a respectable town, surrounded by opulent people, were far better off than those who resided in country places; and he felt his affections much drawn to those forlorn people, who first excited his commiseration, and who always lay Somewhat before this near his heart. the curacies of Ntime the Rev. W. J was appointed to and Kwith him D- had frequent communications on the subject of a school. His heart and purse were freely open. central spot on the summit of Dhill was selected, and after some difficulties, a commodious school-room, capable of containing one hundred and fifty children, was reared.

;

Α

"Here James D-received the little tattered flock. The more ample revenues of the school at U- — were cheerfully relinquished for the precarious stipend of this infant establishment. The ordinary business of the school is opened and closed with prayer; and it is delightful to observe the good man, with a simplicity peculiar to himself, pouring out his supplications at the Throne of Grace, his whole soul apparently engaged in the employment. The conduct of the children out of school, shew them to be a new race of beings; and their behaviour at church would seem to intimate that they are not engaged in the service of an unknown God. this is not the only object of Dattention, he finds out the sick, and administers to their bodily and spiritual wants. It is difficult to find a cottage which he has not visited. He has denied

But

-'s

himself many a meal to bestow it on others; the very blankets of his own bed were transferred to a sick man in the piercing winter of 1811, and of his scanty wardrobe he is ever liberal. The pallid looks of his pupils often elicit the suspicion, that they have been sent to school hungry, and then a portion of his own meal is not unfrequently freely given away.

"With unremitting exertion he stirred up the parishioners of K- to repair, ceil, and new pew their little church, through the tiles of which the rain used plentifully to besprinkle the congregation. The church was often covered to a great depth with snow. Though not a parishíoner, D bore a considerable part of the expense. The communion table was without a railing, the pavement rough, the eastern window small and dark, the accommodation for the congregation extremely limited. Now the table is surmounted with a velvet cover, which alone cost five guineas; it is decently enclosed, supported by a pavement of Painswick stones, lighted by a large window; a gallery is erected the width of the church;

and these things were all done at the sole expense of D!

In May, 1820, it was proposed to raise a fund in aid of the Church Missionary Society, and Damong many others had the subject submitted to him; he seemed not to have turned his mind to it before his heart however soon caught the holy flame, and the day after receiving some addresses and quarterly papers, he came to St. A- in great delight, promising to give annually twelve shillings, to be also a subscriber of a penny a week, and to collect, if possible, from his neighbours. His success among them, it is true, did not equal his fond expectations, but his exertions must not be underrated. When the first remittance was about to be made to the parent society, he brought his own twelve shillings, a collection from fourteen poor neighbours, and a few shillings from the children of the school; then added, I have brought a trifle more on my own account,' and he laid on the table a note of five pounds! Objections were made to receiving it, but he insisted on its being taken without any mention of his name, saying, I only regret that I cannot give a larger sum to this blessed work; but the little business at K- church has abridged my power for this year.'

"The second year his contribution was still more munificent; again he was reminded of prudence, moderation, &c., his only reply was It is the work of God, can I do too much for him? I thank him for putting it into my heart, and for giving me the ability to do it.' The third year witnessed his continued liberality, and evinced a growing attachment to this good cause. Besides this he was not unmindful of the distresses of Ireland, of the Moravians, or of the Jews.

"His little property has long been expended in charitable offices. His total present income is twenty pounds per annum from the school, and this fluctuates below fifteen pounds. He obtains a trifle more, by vending flour in small quantities to the poor, thereby ensuring to them an article of good quality, and honest weight, at a fair price, with an accommodation to their convenient times of payment. This he sells on commission for a person at C, and may realize some years from four to eight pounds, but never more. The great spring of all his actions is love to God, and to his brethren, and a total disregard of personal indulgence. Selfdenial strongly marks his character. He possesses withal such an independent spirit that it requires some address to induce him to accept a few trifling necessaries, even when tendered in the most delicate manner. In short, had he thousands at his disposal, he would soon divide them among his fellow-creatures, and live himself almost a daily pensioner on the providence of his God.

"Thus far the manuscript; but perhaps

some further particulars connected with the history of D- may not be recounted without interest.

"Briefly then; it has been long an object near his heart, that a place of worship, according to the forms of the Established Church, should be erected near his school; for the benefit of the increasing population in that neighbourhood. Not deterred by the manifest difficulties of such a plan, he had devised a scheme bywhich he thought, with God's blessing, he should himself, after a very few years, be able to contribute largely to this pious object. The attempt however entailed upon him more personal labour than he could well bear, and perhaps some disquietude of mind, which in some degree may have occasionally interfered with his usefulness in the duties of his calling.

and

"At this time the parish of N- was, for the first time, blessed by the presence of a resident clergyman, (the present young but diligent and devoted incumbent. He at once knew how to appreciate such a character as Dafter conferring with the Rev. W. Jof St. A, the first mover, supporter, visiter, treasurer, and patron of the school; it was resolved to apply to the lord bishop of the diocese, to licence the school-room for divine worship. His lordship convinced of the propriety of this measure, and its probable beneficial consequences, readily acquiesced. Dwillingly took upon himself the entire expense of the outfitment of the room; he had it ceiled, whitewashed, and partially new-benched; he set up a handsome desk and pulpit. The Rev. W. J- - (before mentioned) supplied зurplice, Bible, and Prayer-book, and on Wednesday, the 11th March, of the present year, (1829) the room was opened for divine worship. The young incumbent of Nthe Rev. W. Jpreaching, and D

reading prayers, of St. A — acting as clerk!

"It was a solemn, affecting, and animating service. Many, of a crowded congregation, found it so. Since, then, the beautiful services of our church have been performed twice a week there, (Sunday and Wednesday evenings) and a sermon preached to a congregation sometimes exceeding two hundred persons; some of whom, from having absented themselves for years from every place of public worship, have become regular and attentive hearers at this little house of God, the scene of D- -'s exertions and usefulness, the place of his prayers and praises.

"As he had previously occupied a part of the school-room, the change of its occupation threw him out of his tenement; and it was then proposed by his friend the Rev. W. J-, to build him a small house in the school garden; and although funds for this purpose by voluntary contribution have only in part been raised, the house is nevertheless being built.