almost entire silence, and continue to assert and re-assert their dogmas, with as much assurance as if they were the admitted truths of holy writ. That it is their purpose, in concurrence with the Church of Rome, if possible, to effect the extermination of the Protestant religion, not only in England, but throughout the world, there can be no doubt. Under these circumstances, it becomes every lover of evangelical truth, and of religious liberty, to prepare for the conflict, and manfully to resist the attempts which are in progress to wrest from the Protestant Churches their best and dearest rights, and bring them under the most wicked and cruel tyranny that ever existed in the world. Young men, and especially young Ministers, should study such works as this of Mr. Goode, with those of the Chillingworths, the Stillingfleets, and the Baxters of former ages, and thus qualify themselves to defend the inheritance which has been bequeathed to them by the Protestant Reformers, and which those blessed men "took out of the hand of the Amorite, with the sword of the Spirit, and "a bow of steel" which their profound scholarship supplied. Will it be credited, that in this Christian country, the Tract Number Ninety, the knavery of which is an insult to every upright mind, has already passed to a third edition? Its direct tendency, if not its immediate object, is, to justify Popish Priests, in entering into the Protestant Church of England, by subscribing doctrinal articles, the tenets of which they disbelieve! what times have we been reserved!

To

The Harmony of Protestant Confessions: exhibiting the Faith of the Churches of Christ, Reformed after the pure and holy Doctrine of the Gospel, throughout Europe. Translated from the Latin. A new Edition, revised, and considerably enlarged, by the Rev. Peter Hall, M. A., Rector of Milston, Wilts., and Minister of Long-Acre Chapel, London. 8vo. pp. 640. Shaw.-For many years this work has been extremely scarce, and so extravagantly dear, as to be beyond the purchase of such readers as were the most likely to profit by the perusal of it. The estimable editor has, therefore, done well, in sending it forth again into the world in a readable form, and with great improvements. To the student of theology and of ecclesiastical history, it is indispensable; and its reappearance at this time is the more opportune, because of the bitter opposition to Protestantism which is made by a class of men who have the dishonesty

to live upon the endowments of the Protestant Church of England. The spi

rited publishers who supply the market with works of such sterling value are entitled to every encouragement, and have a just right to expect an adequate remuneration for their outlay of capital. a converted 18mo. pp.

Memoir of Maria Jewess. Second Edition. 122. Nisbet.-An interesting and touching narrative of the conversion to Christianity, the subsequent godliness, and peaceful death, of a youthful Jewess: well adapted to promote the spiritual benefit of young people, and to afford encouragement to those who are laudably endeavouring to bring the lost sheep of the house of Israel to an acknowledgment of" the good Shepherd."

Ward's Library of Standard Divinity. No. XXXV. Knapp's Christian Theology. Large 8vo. pp. 500. Ward and Co.-Dr. Knapp was Theological Professor in the University of Halle; and took his firm stand on the supreme authority of the word of God: his theology, therefore, escaped the taint of the rationalism which surrounded him. The present translation is by Dr. Leonard Woods, jun., of the Andover (U.S.) Theological Seminary. It is one of the most valuable works which Messrs. Ward have given in their series.

Ward's Library of Standard Divinity, No. XXXVI. Notes on the Acts of the Apostles. By Albert Barnes. Large 8vo. pp. 292. Ward and Co.-Useful notes; but chiefly adapted for the student, as they rather aim at "giving the sense, ," than at pointing out what are sometimes termed (and what are very useful in their place) "devotional reflections."

Proceedings of the General Anti-Slavery Convention, called by the Committee of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, and held in London, from Friday, June 12th, to Tuesday, June 23d, 1840. 8vo. pp. 597. British and Foreign AntiSlavery Society.-The title describes the contents of the volume. It is an authentic record of the proceedings-that is, the speeches, arrangements, and Resolutions -of the Convention to which it refers. We scarcely need say, that it will be found to contain a great quantity of important information on subjects connected with slavery, its continuance, or its abolition. Much has been done, but very much yet remains to be done.

The Wife and Mother: or, Hints to Married Daughters. By a Mother. 18mo. pp. 366. Religious Tract Society.—Ân excellent contribution towards

one of the most valuable portions of modern Christian literature.

The Goodness of Divine Providence Illustrated. By R. Maxwell Macbrair. 12mo. pp. xi, 249. James Nisbet.The pious reader will thank us for directing his attention to this truly useful volume. It is not a metaphysical treatise for the student and controversialist, but a practical statement for the individual Christian. A more pleasing subject it would not be easy to find; and the author has treated it so as to produce a volume full of instruction and encouragement to all that fear God, and desire to walk before him.

Roseberry, and other Poems. By Joseph Taylor. 12mo. pp. 144. Whittakers. While the poetry of this volume is respectable, the sentiment is truly Christian.

Letters to a Friend, on the Evidences, Doctrines, and Duties of the Christian Religion. By Olinthus Gregory, LL.D., &c. Abridged from the Second Edition. 18mo. pp. 406. Religious Tract Society.-A volume intended to make the arguments of Dr. Gregory's admirable work more extensively accessible.

Select English Poetry, designed for the Use of Schools, and Young Persons in general. Third Edition. 18mo. pp. 348. Jackson and Walford. Simpkins. The Christian Offering: Lyrical Poems, and other Pieces, Sacred and Miscellaneous. By George B. Scott, Author of "The Beauty of Holiness, and other Poems," &c. 12mo. pp. 301. Virtue. -A good parting present of friendship, or a parental reward-book. The young reader who is pleased with the contents, can scarcely fail to be profited.

The Christian Diary: with Moral and Religious Reflections, deduced from a Text of Scripture, for every Day in the Year. 12mo. pp. 360. R. Hastings.

Tracts of the Anglican Fathers. Discipline. Vol. III. 8vo. pp. 364. W. E. Painter. A number of Tracts by writers of the Church of England, such as Hooker, Nichols, Dodwell, Sherlock, Stillingfleet, Falkner, South, Blackall, &c. They are upon the discipline and offices of the church; and, therefore, strongly Episcopal, according to the modern notions entertained on the subject, and which the Oxford Tractarians are pushing out as far as they can carry them.

EXTRACT FROM THE TWENTYTHIRD REPORT OF THE FUND FOR THE RELIEF OF DISTRESSED CHAPELS IN THE WESLEYANMETHODIST CONNEXION.

THE amount of subscriptions, collections, and donations to the General Chapel-Fund, during the last year, is £5,305. 128. 9d., being £253. 3s. 10d. less than the amount of the former year. The sum of £146 was distributed in

grants towards the annual deficiencies of twenty-two chapels; and the remainder was passed to the account of the LoanFund, as stated on the balance-sheet.

It will be remembered, that, in the year 1832,-when it was discovered that a large number of chapel-trusts were sinking into almost irretrievable difficulties, and that, in the ordinary way, it would be many years before adequate relief could be afforded, if it were ever done, at the suggestion of several highly

respectable gentlemen, the Conference authorized the raising a loan, not exceeding £40,000, to be repaid (with interest at four per cent. per annum) from the General Chapel-Fund, in yearly instalments, or in one, two, or four several payments, according to special agreement. The amount thus borrowed was £39,525. The income of the ChapelFund being thus pledged, and those who advanced money having relied implicitly upon the good faith of the Connexion, the first object of the Committee has uniformly been to meet the current claims of the Treasurer of the LoanFund. The Committee have the greatest satisfaction in reporting the perfect success of this noble scheme of Christian benevolence. By its operation, one hundred and seventy five chapels have been relieved by final grants, the Trustees having raised £86,574, and the Committee having given £64,535. Thus, oppressive debt, in a great measure

crippling the energies of the church, and depressing the minds of Ministers and Trustees, to the amount of £151,109, has been extinguished. The good thus effected is not merely pecuniary, and the relief from embarrassment of worthy Trustees, who have only a religious interest in the prosperity of their respective trusts; but it is a moral and spiritual good, and incalculably beneficial in its direct and indirect results.

But the Committee would remind the Methodist public, that these debts are not yet fully discharged, although the Trustees are relieved from responsibilities by the cancelling of securities. A large amount of debt the Treasurer of the Loan-Fund has still to meet; and for this amount of the unredeemed loan the good faith of the Connexion is plighted. As the whole of these advances were not made until some years after the scheme was commenced, it will take much longer than the original term of ten years to pay off the entire sum; and during that period, £4,750 must be annually paid by the General Treasurers to meet these claims. To this primary object the Committee have thought it desirable to direct the attention of the subscribers; and they furnish this fresh explanation, lest any misapprehension should exist as to the necessity of their continued liberality. The Committee trust it will be obvious to all, that the claims of the Chapel-Fund are not less

Chapel.

urgent than formerly, but greater by how much confidence they have rested on the connexional principle, and the more speedy and effectual relief thus given to the Trustees. The Centenary grant, it must be remembered, is an entirely distinct matter, no portion of it being appropriated to the Loan-Fund account, which is left as before, to redeem itself by the ordinary revenue of the General Chapel-Fund.

The Committee would advert, in the next place, to the Centenary ReliefFund.

The first grant from the CentenaryFund was £35,000, which came most opportunely for the aid of several all-but ruinous cases, which could not otherwise be met. The distribution of this grant was confided to a large Committee, composed of Ministers and gentlemen from almost all parts of the Connexion; and the fullest security was thus given for its being administered with the strictest impartiality, and in the spirit of the noble donors to the Centenary-Fund.

At the last Conference, the Centenary Committee granted the further sum of £3,000, for the relief of distressed chapels; thus making a total of £38,000 for the benefit of the British trusts, besides a donation of £7,000 to the Írish Conference for chapel-purposes.

The following is a list of cases settled since the publication of the last Report:

In distributing the Centenary grant for the relief of distressed chapels, the Committee have endeavoured to bear in mind two considerations especially: first, That they were expected to take up some cases which, from various circumstances of impropriety or peculiarity, could not be taken up under ordinary circumstances; and to afford generally more liberal aid than could with propriety be given under the former system. But, even with these liberal views, they are aware, that their decisions have, in a few instances, occasioned a painful disappointment. Sometimes this has arisen from the Trustees making exceedingly disproportionate offers; and sometimes the Committee have thought themselves obliged to postpone less necessitous cases, in order to relieve some urgent and deeply-embarrassed ones. In a few instances, they have been compelled to reject a claim, because the chapel has been very recently erected, and the conditions of the Chapel-Building Committee have been grievously violated; for they conceive, that the time has fully come when, if it be seriously intended to abate the evils of imprudent chapelbuilding, a difference must be made between those who keep and those who break a law which is good alike for local and general interests.

Secondly, The Committee have endeavoured to consider impartially the relative religious and Methodistical interests involved in these various applications; and, on public grounds, have thus felt themselves called upon to award grants which, unexplained, might appear disproportionate. Conscious of their integrity of purpose to promote the interests of Christianity and of Methodism, and feeling a deep commiseration with the suffering Trustees, they have now completed their task, and made such a distribution of the Centenary grant as will, they trust, give general, if not universal, satisfaction to those who shall view, without prejudice or partiality, the Report of their labours.

The Committee would remind the Trustees of one condition on which, with the exception of a few cases, where

the amount was very small, their te spective grants have been made; namely, "That the Trustees subscribe from their Trust-Funds not less than one guinea annually to the General Chapel-Fund.” They trust, that gratitude, as well as justice, and the obligation of a promise, will induce such Trustees to furnish this small subscription towards the future relief of their distressed brethren.

To all who feel an interest in the prosperity of Methodism, it will he matter of rejoicing, that there is now hope that the evils arising from the imprudent erection of chapels will be abated, if not abolished. The number of cases brought to light by the inquiries of the Committee appointed to devise a remedy for these evils, wherein the conditions of the Building Committee had been grossly violated, and others wherein no application had been made for permission to build, and the increasing number of these cases which were found to be in difficulties, or to have embar rassment in prospect, induced the Conference, on the strong recommendation of the Committee, to pass various stringent Resolutions. It is now required, that the new form of application shall be properly filled up and signed, before the case can be entertained by the Commit

tee. It may be observed, that there are no items inserted in that form which it is not needful should be carefully considered and determinately answered, before it is finally resolved to erect a chapel; and the fulness and particularity of that document make it appear to the Committee well calculated to prevent the risk and mischief of ignorant or heedless precipitancy. It is now further required, "That before the erection of any chapel is commenced, two-thirds of the amount proposed to be expended shall have been promised, and at least one-half of the proposed cost shall be paid into the hands of some respectable banker." See Minutes of Conference, 1841, p. 105.

The Committee earnestly hope that a better day is about to dawn upon our Connexion in respect to chapels; and that the prudence of local parties, and the vigilance and care of the various Committees concerned, will prevent the recurrence of those evils which have occasioned so much anxiety and loss to individuals, and so greatly retarded the progress of the cause of Christ.