ance of the wick of a burning candle in the midst of its own flame. He seized him (the drunkard) by the shoulder, jerked him to the door, upon which the flame was instantly extinguished. There was no fire in the shop, neither was there a possibility of any fire having been communicated to him from any external source. It was purely a case of spontaneous ignition. A general sloughing soon came on, and his flesh was consumed or removed in the dressing, leaving the bones and a few of the larger blood-vessels; the blood nevertheless rallied round the heart and maintained the vital spark until the

thirteenth day, when he died, not only the most loathsome, ill-featured picture that was ever presented to human view; his shrieks, his groans, and his lamentations also were enough to rend a heart of adamant. He complained of no pain of body his flesh was gone. He said he was suffering the torments of hell-that he was just upon the threshold, and would soon enter its dismal caverns; and in this frame of mind he gave up the ghost. Oh! the death of a drunkard! Well may it be said to beggar all description! I have seen other drunkards die, but never in a manner so awful and affecting."

BRITISH MISSIONS:-THEIR POSITION, PROSPECTS, AND CLAIMS. CONSECRATED as the pages of the CHRISTIAN WITNESS are to the promotion of all the highest. interests of the Congregational churches, no topic can be more suitably discussed in them than that of British Missions,"-one of their first duties and highest interests. Candid and thoughtful attention is invited to the following sentiments and facts on this important subject:

Only very brief reference can be necessary to the circumstances under which the three Societies grouped and associated with the title of "British Missions," assumed that form and designation. The Home Missionary and Irish Evangelical Societies originated during the period when Evangelical Christians of various

denominations delighted to unite for the spread of the GOSPEL common to them all. They would not then allow their differences of administration, or their diversities of opinion, on many subordinate, though not unimportant, subjects to prevent their union in great societies organized for the salvation of men; nor would they direct their labours to the spread of the common faith in connection with the forms and peculiarities of any one of the various communities to which they were severally attached. This is one of the many ways in which the genuine Christian spirit yearns for catholicity, and reaches after a wider fellowship of faith than sects and parties provide. But "the time is not yet." Long periods of toil and conflict probably await the churches before they can " enter into that rest." Liberties have to be won, corruptions to be

purged out, really catholic principles to be established, and many usurping interests to be subdued, before that glory of the latter days, the visible unity of the kingdom of Christ, can be exhibited to a convinced and regenerated world.

Various causes came into active operation about twenty years ago, giving distinct utterance to the cry, "To your tents, O Israel!" and Christians of all names were seen drawing more closely round their several denominational standards, and of course abandoning, though many of them slowly and with reluctance, associations, schemes, and hopes, to which they had long clung with affection and delight. A time of conflict was succeeding to a period of truce among the Evangelical communities. The general state of society was raising into importance all that great class of sentiments which affect the relations of the church with the world. Ecclesiastical questions could be no longer disregarded, even for the sake of union in efforts to spread the gospel. This great work was not, indeed, to be abandoned, or even suspended; but with whatever disadvantages or regret, each body of Christians must, for the present at least, prosecute it severally, and in a form embracing its entire systems of truth and polity. It became necessary to give the Home Missionary and Irish Evangelical Societies a denominational character, which was effected by affiliating them with the Congregational Union of England and Wales. For, as will be presently shown more fully, no other body of Christians has a stake so deep, or a duty so solemn, in relation to the whole ecclesiastical question, as have the Independents.

The efforts of this body of Christians for the religious good of their fellow-subjects, came thus to be presented to their churches in a distinct and united form as their "British Missions." In this way several most important points gained embodiment and utterance. It was distinctly declared to Independents that these institutions were now exclusively their own; that they would obtain support from no other parties; that they would exhibit and propagate the combined theology and polity of Congregational churches; that within them would be included some of the chief efforts of Independents for the religious welfare of the British empirea field of labour, not only on its own account most noble, but in relation to them and to their principles, of peculiar and paramount interest, as well as the medium through success in which more extensive operations for the spread of the gospel among the nations can alone be reached.

It became obvious at the same time, that the

support of these Societies, thus presented as theBritish Missions" of the Congregational churches, must thenceforward not only be derived almost exclusively from them, but through them; that is, the church organization must itself be used, as also the Missionary organization. The appeal for British Missions must be carried into the church-meeting. The congre gation must very much supersede the miscellaneous missionary meeting, and the pulpit must become, much more than the platform, the principal advocate of a cause now made so intimately an affair of churches. Nearly akin to this view, and closely associated with it, is that of the combination of all the churches in this effort as common to them all, equally the interest and duty of them all; so that the church bearing no part in this work, is not only failing to meet the claims of an ungodly world, but also to fulfil its obligations to the great brotherhood of churches wherewith it should take part in all labours, interests, and honours. Hence the appeal to churches for simultaneous collections, for church-members' weekly pence, for self-originated contributions not gathered by deputations, or promoted principally by any central activities and influences.

Now, the great branch of Missionary enterprise may be pleaded before that enlightened body, the Congregational churches, by a calm appeal to their judgment, in some such form as the following:

1. First and highest may be placed that chief of all considerations in such a case as this, that this Missionary work, like every other, and equally with every other, has for its object the salvation of souls. Moving on from this point, there will be found to arise various considerations affecting human welfare, connected, as successful labours for man's salvation always will be, with whatever can relieve his miseries or augment his happiness, which will powerfully plead for British Missions. But their main and sacred glory arises from their efforts to "gather fruit unto life eternal." Let all subordinate considerations have their full force. If skilfully used, they will harmonise with the principal, and support it. In such subordination and assistance to it, their chief value lies. But let this be first in our purpose, plans, and pleas. We labour for souls-for the souls of British subjects -for souls, under such advantages and responsibilities as will render their perdition, if they perish, peculiarly aggravated and dreadful. Whatever is sublime, sacred, and stirring in the whole scheme of missions; whatever brings it into near harmony with the design and example of Christ himself; whatever baptizes it with

the awful and the eternal; belongs to British Missions no less than to Missions in every clime and tongue. Nor is it to be considered that real and full success in them is gained, because the true theology prevails, or the true church polity prevails, or Christian liberty prevails; but because by the true theology souls are converted, into the true church polity genuine believers are gathered, and in the true Christian liberty regenerated disciples walk peacefully in the way to heaven.

2. It is a great and moving plea for British Missions, that they sustain by propagationand to sustain Divine truth by propagation, is the most effectual of all methods of upholding it-a sound evangelical theology in this enlightened empire. Here, in England, where sacramental salvation is the destructive error of the day; afar in the Colonies, where, if we are not unfaithful to our work and opportunity, evangelical truth is to have a home as lasting as it will be early; in Ireland, where Popery is, of all the world, at its worst and its strongest point; British Missions proclaim justification by faith, and regeneration by the Spirit,-the two columns standing, like Jachin and Boaz, before the temple of truth as the guardians and support of the entire fabric. These are at the root of the gospel. They imply or infer the whole gospel; they can only be maintained in connection with the living power of experimental religion, and with the sole supremacy of sacred Scripture. The Missions that proclaim this truth throughout the empire, no less maintain this truth among the churches with which those Missions originate. Sacred and invaluable is this evangelical, scriptural theology. Perfected in Scripture by Paul; elaborated into human form and system by Augustine; preached amidst papal darkness by Bernard; revived by Luther; rendered popular and vital by Whitefield; the life of the church; the truth of God; the salvation of man; the only safeguard of a pure church, a true morality, and a safe liberty;-the churches that would not separate and stand alone for this truth, labour for it, give for it, suffer for it, such are not worthy of it; and such it will soon abandon to decay, feebleness, and ruin. As for Congregationalists, they have no bulwark but this theology, of which their polity ought ever to be the married husband, that these twain should be one flesh. God hath joined them together; let no man put them asunder. Parted, they die ;-the theology, for that it finds nobody in a world where pure spirits cannot be; the polity, for that the body without the spirit is dead, being alone.

3. A powerful plea with Congregationalists on behalf of British Missions, is supplied by the con

sideration that they are conducted in harmony with their great ecclesiastical principles. Let no one permit this argument to be weakened in its force on his mind, by the apprehension or reproach of sectarianism. Independency is not sectarian. Independent principles are not sectarian principles. If by sectarian is meant what divides and separates, our terms of communion supply the answer. With what body of evangelical believers is fellowship precluded by our terms of communion? What barrier do they raise against pulpit fellowship, or sacramental fellowship, or co-operative fellowship, with the whole scope of evangelical Christendom? If by sectarian is meant what is narrow, mean, and little, we reply: Our principles are worldwide; they can live and prevail under many forms; they do not relate to accidents but vitalities; they are just and equal; they are simple and primitive; they are generous and large; they would extract bitterness; remove, on the one hand, usurpations, on the other, disabilities, out of the nation; and bring the outward of Christ's kingdom into harmony with its inward spirit, life, and tendencies." These are invaluable and imperishable principles. They are our glory and strength. They are our stewardship and dispensation. Fidelity to them will be our honour and bulwark. Never obsolete or suspended, they are at the present juncture forced into a prominence not to be unobserved or evaded. Now is the time to work on our principles, and for them, certain that if we fail not them they will not fail us; and that if we would do good service to our Master and his cause, it must be by maintaining our principles. Ours! they are not ours, but His!

4. It must be a cogent argument with Independents for British Missions, that they are for their country-our honoured and noble country -the land of their fathers' sufferings, of their own liberties, and of the common struggle of both. To no class of Englishmen ought England to be more dear than to Independents. Nor is it. Their names and deeds are written in its history. Their principles have largely influenced its institutions. Their spirit has been once and again the last hope of its liberties. It is the land of their hopes no less than of their recollections. They have calm and rational expectation of the peaceful triumph of their best views in regenerated England, yea, and Ireland too! Their wider hopes for the world spring from their hopes for their country. From her they see in vision the light and liberty, the peace and equity of the gospel, flow to all lands. Such are the considerations special to themselves, which exalt and endear Britain beyond

expression to Independents, who deem themselves not half but twice Englishmen; while to every patriotic sentiment common to them with other classes of their countrymen, their minds and hearts respond with honest and earnest ardour. For this country, so valued, so loved, Independents believe the prevalence of the true gospel, in its theology, its morals, and its liberty, to be the grand palladium-the preservative of all that is good, the corrective of all that is evil, in her present blended, struggling, but hopeful state: their British Missions-they ply for souls, for truth, for liberty; and for all these in Britain, and throughout her wide and growing empire. If these considerations do not form a powerful and prevailing plea for British Missions, whence shall arguments be brought, and what shall be their nature?

It is worthy of note before proceeding, to observe that to imbue and animate any body of Christians with such sentiments as these, must be to confer on them an unspeakable benefit. So far as the work of British Missions renders such appeals necessary, so far as these appeals to piety, patriotism, and principle are successful, so far as they regulate and inspirit the movements of a people, so far is the work in which they originate more than its own reward. It is worth obloquy and exclusion to hold and feel these sentiments. It is worth money, effort, and sacrifice to propagate them, because they are loved. To be an Independent on just grounds and true perceptions of principle, is to be a man, a Christian, and a patriot.

The efforts of the Independent body in this great work are all too limited and feeble. It both deserves and requires far more energetic and extended operations. The Congregational churches are "well able" greatly to increase the scale of their contributions and labours in this department of their work, without diminishing it in any other. Yet are the operations actually carried on far from feeble or unsuccessful. They exert a wide influence, and effect great good. The agents employed by the Home Missionary Society amount to One Hundred and Eleven : those of the Irish Evangelical Society to Fortysix: and those in connection with the Colonial Missionary Society to Thirty-five. They are faithful, laborious men; they carry light into many a dark place; they are everywhere supporters of schools, distributors of Bibles and tracts, friends of the poor and friendless, advocates of liberty, and, in a word, ministers of the gospel.

It is common, perhaps too common, to employ on this subject the language of dissatisfaction and complaint. Earnestly pressing on in their

work, constantly cramped by deficient resources, often unsuccessful in appeals for help, clearly discerning the necessities of the people, urged and invited to seize on favourable openings for new labours which cannot be done for want of means the conductors of such a work, so circumstanced, must be forgiven if they sometimes lose sight of the brighter and more cheering aspects of their work, when clouds so dark gather round the nearer portions of the field. Yet, even in respect of pecuniary contributions there is no real cause for despondency, though there is the strongest necessity for continued appeals, to secure a more ample and regular income for the work. A comparison of the earlier pecuniary support of these societies, when their catholic constitution invited and obtained the help of liberal Christians, not of the Congregational churches, with that supplied since their entire support has been sought from those churches, will fully sustain the policy of that change, and afford proof that, amidst all the difficulties with which Independents have to struggle, they are still able to do a great work for their Master and their country; provided only they will unite, and make wisdom the guide as well as zeal the impulse of their efforts. Take three several terms of seven years each, as furnishing a fair and sufficient comparison of progress in British Missions:

First-from 1820 to 1826, inclusive, when the Irish Evangelical Society, then a fully established and popular institution, and the Home Missionary Society, still in its infancy, but favoured by the full impulse of novelty, solicited contributions from liberal Christians of all evangelical communities: the result, omitting legacies and dividends on stock, was, that the total receipts of those seven years amounted to £44,094 5s. 7d. Secondly-from 1830 to 1836, inclusive, during which period these two societies continued their original constitution, and appealed still to the same extended constituency for support; again omitting legacies and dividends on stock, the amount was £49,069 2s. 11d. Thirdly-from 1840 to 1846, inclusive, the first term of seven years, during which their constitution had been made denominational, and their support sought, and in fact obtained, from the Independent churches without other assistance. If in any instances help has been rendered during the period from some few friends of other communities, these instances have been so few, and their amount so inconsiderable, that their influence on the general results of the term need not be taken into account. For this period also has been added the Colonial branch of British Missions, a new claimant for public liberality, and its resources from the first altogether

derived from the Congregational churches. For this term of their denominational constitution and support, the three British Mission Societies have obtained £83,521 38. 10d. : an augmentation which does not consist solely in the addition of the separate income of the Colonial Society to those of the other two institutions, for these also have realised an augmented income since they became denominational in their character and appeals. Though, even were that the case, the increase would not the less be in favour of denominational effort over the previous system.

A few words must be added on the appeals for simultaneous and universal collections for British Missions. This is an attempt to secure among the Congregational churches all those obvious advantages of order, ease, fairness, saving of expense, and strength, which will always result from the consent and combination of great numbers in any general effort. So far as the plan has been adopted, these advantages have been realised. Its growing, and finally universal prevalence must rest with the pastors of the churches. If they would regularly make the annual effort, whether the period were favourable or not, whether much were obtained or little; if they would preach for the object even where they could not collect for it; if they would gain a knowledge of the societies and an interest in them, and then communicate these views and failings to their people, with a Divine blessing the work would be done. We should be new people, and our cause would spring forth into strength and triumph.

Pastors and deacons-church-members and Sunday-school teachers-thoughtful and observant brethren-this work is presented to you as the work for the times, the work for your principles, the work for your country, the work for your churches. It is referred to your judgment first, to your feelings next. In every case let the latter be restrained, till the former has approved. From the application of this rule, so familiar to Congregational Christians, British Missions have nothing to fear-everything to hope. A convinced understanding with them always moves and warms a generous heart.

ALGERNON WELLS.

CHRONICLE OF THE CONGREGATIONAL UNION OF ENGLAND AND WALES: OF THE BOARD FOR GENERAL EDUCATION: AND OF THE THREE SOCIETIES FOR BRITISH MISSIONS.

CONGREGATIONAL UNION. PROPOSAL TO OBTAIN A MANUAL OR HANDBOOK FOR CANDIDATES FOR THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY.

Two Christian friends have generously given,

each One Hundred Pounds, to form a premium for the best production, for the purposes, and of the character, set forth in the following description: and the Rev. Dr. H. F. Burder, the Rev. Dr. R. Alliott, and the Rev. James Parsons, have kindly undertaken to adjudicate upon the merits of the MSS. which the proposal may call forth.

To

1. DESIGN OF THE WORK.-To guide those who desire the work of the ministry in deciding with enlightened seriousness the first question"Shall I become a Christian Minister ?" assist such as have settled this question in the affirmative, by all suitable incentives, warnings, and advice, to advance into the ministry with the best possible preparations in all respects; and to facilitate devout conference between pastors, and young brethren consulting them on this momentous subject, on every distinct consideration involved therein.

A

2. CONTENTS OF THE WORK.-A just representation of the Christian Ministry in itself, and as exercised among Independent churches. clear discussion of the "Call" to the Christian Ministry. An account of the qualifications of a good minister of Jesus Christ. A statement of the motives and spirit with which the ministry should be undertaken. An appeal to the inquirer, for integrity, seriousness, and entire satisfaction in arriving at his decision. Counsels to the student on his piety, morals, studies, habits, and manners. Advice on preaching. On settlement. On ministerial plans. Especial counsels on ordination, its solemnity, uses, vows, and influence.

3. CHARACTER OF THE WORK.-While specially intended for use among Congregationalists, its spirit and scope to be altogether catholic and moral-not controversial. In matter and style condensed-not expanded. Divided distinctly into chapters, heads, and paragraphs. In extent not materially to exceed, or fall short of, four hundred duodecimo pages, printed full, in brevier type. Scripture references to be carefully noted.

4. CONDITIONS OF THE PROPOSAL.-The MSS. to be forwarded, under seal, to the Rev. A. Wells, Congregational Library, Blomfield-street, Finsbury, on or before the last day of January 1849. Each MS. to be inscribed with a motto, and accompanied by a sealed envelope containing the same motto, subscribed with the name of the writer; no one of which to be opened till after adjudication. The unsuccessful MSS. to be returned to the writers-the successful MS. to be the property of, and to be published by, the Union, at the lowest possible price; not to obtain profit, but to facilitate and extend circulation.

N.B.-The foregoing description of the desired book is not designed to restrict and fetter writers who may undertake the work; but to give a distinct view of the object contemplated. The best possible production is sought. The author who can most improve on the sketch given, will be hailed as the successful benefactor of the ministry and of the church. For a further exposition of the design, see Paper in the Congregational Year Book for 1847, page 42.