them, while I am labouring here alone, at a distance of 500 miles from my missionary brethren, without being cheered or stimulated by the countenance of a Christian brother."

THE SCOTCH CHURCH.-The number of Presbyterian ministers in the Scotch Establishment is 936. Their income is made up by parliament to £260,000; that is, on an average £218 each, exclusive of the glebes.

THE WESLEYANS. The one hundred and fourth conference of the Wesleyan Methodist ministers assembled at Liverpool, on Wednesday, the 28th of July. Upwards of 400 ministers attended the conference. Mr. S. Jackson was elected president. It appears from the reports which have been published that, during the past year, seventeen ministers had died in England, four in Ireland, and five on the foreign stations. The institutions at Richmond and Didsbury have 54 students preparing for the ministry. Thirty-one young men were admitted into full connexion with the conference. Solemnization of Matrimony.-The form for this service was submitted to the conference, and, after some verbal alterations, was adopted. Directions were then given that it should be printed, together with suitable instruction on the subject, and that a book for the registration of marriages should be kept in every building licensed for the purpose. Numbers in Society.-In Great Britain, 339,379; in Ireland, 24,633; on foreign stations, 100,303. Total, 464,315. These returns shew a decrease-in Great Britain, 2,809; in Ireland, 2,193. Total, 5,002. And an increase on the foreign stations of 253, leaving a net decrease of 4,749.

A Baptist periodical, called "The Church," states that during the last six years there has only been amongst the Baptists an increase of "nearly three per church," and that they had been declining from an average of ten yearly.

The Independents are raising £100 for the gratuitous distribution of "The Christian Penny Magazine."

At the annual meeting of the Bristol Scripture Readers' Association (which was established about two years back,) the bishop of the diocese, who occupied the chair, said in reference to the association-"Whatever feeling I had in favour of it two years ago is now greatly increased and strengthened by the experience of those two years; for both in Bristol and every other part of the diocese, the system has worked extremely well." More than fifty clergymen were present at the anniversary.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of York, the Bishop of London, and twenty-two other bishops, have consented to admit as candidates for ordination in their respective dioceses, such gentlemen as may receive the Divinity Testimonial from King's College, London, without reference to any university. The course of study in Divinity continues through six academic terms; that is, two years.

The number of benefices in England is 10,553, and of these there are upwards of 2,800 without any residences, and 1,170 without fit residences. Of these benefices there are 297 under £50 per annum; 1,629, from £50 to £100; 1,602, from £100 to £150; 1,355, from £150 to £200; and 1,978, from £200 to £300.

The following is an official list of the number of residents in the university of Cambridge: Trinity St. John's. Caius. Christ's Queen's. Emmanuel.

310.. 540 136.. 372 66 123

230 236

57

72

49

121

46

67 113

66

49

115

Corpus Christi St. Peter's....

Pembroke

Catherine Hall
Clare Hall....
Magdalene....
Jesus.
Sidney

23100

50

43

Matriculations (Michaelmas term) 418

66

CONFESSION.-The " Oxford and Cambridge Review" for this month, says: Already confession is practised to a considerable extent in our Church. It now prevails in a great number of parishes. A vast body of the clergy are impressed with a sense of its importance; many, probably are convinced of its necessity. It is not often urged in sermons, but it is recommended privately to the most religious of the parishioners, and it is accepted by them in numerous instances thankfully." So speaks a professedly Church of England publication; and though the writer has, no doubt, good grounds for what he says, yet no censure is pronounced on these Romanising practices, and no reproof administered to these Romanising teachers.

[We happen to know, for a fact,

was dis

that the Viscountess covered on her knees confessing to one of the noted Tractarian clergymen in London.-ED.]

FLIGHT OF THE GENTRY.-IRELAND. The metropolis is remarkably full at present, and every day families are arriving from the counties of Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Roscommon, King's, Queen's, and Leitrim, driven from their homes by the apprehension of murder, which is unhappily too well grounded. If the hotel-keepers published the lists of the arrivals at their establishments, a significant commentary on the dreadful state of things in those counties would appear. It is unnecessary to dwell upon the evil effects upon all classes of this enforced desertion of their country residences by the gentry.

THE REV. H. Percy, to a prebend in the Cathedral Church, Carlisle.

The Rev. H. M. Scarth, rector of Bathwiek, to an honorary canonry in the Cathedral Church of Wells.

The Rev. J. Bowles, D.C.L., to the rectory of Stanton Lacey, Salop.

The Rev. T. Leach, to the vicarage of Thornton-in-Lonsdale, Yorkshire.

The Rev. E. T. Smith, curate of All Saints, Hereford, to the perpetual curacy of St. Paul, Warwick.

The Rev. E. J. Rathbone, to the perpetual curacy of the new church of St. Matthew, at Derrington, near Stafford.

The Rev. J. F. Reeve, B.A., to the perpetual curacy of Queenshead, Halifax, Yorkshire.

The Rev. R. Wickham, to the vicarage of Gresford, county of Denbigh.

The Rev. Richard Jones, to the perpetual curacy of Dolwyddelan, Car

narvon.

The Rev. E. F. Boyle, to the rectories of Hilperton and Whaddon, Wilts.

The Rev. R. M. Evanson, to the perpetual curacy of Christ Church, Accrington, Lancashire.

The Rev. R. Thompson, to the chaplaincy of the Victory, flag-ship, at Portsmouth.

The Rev. H. S. Richmond, to be chaplain to the Bath Union Workhouse.

WHITEHALL, DEC. 6.-The Queen has been pleased to present the Rev. John Hampden Gurney, M.A., to the District Rectory of St. Mary, in St. Marylebone, in the County of Middlesex, and diocese of London, void by the death of Thomas Frognal Dibdin, D.D. Gazette.

The Rev. Philip Hale, M.A., of St. John's College, Cambridge, to the Head Mastership of Archbishop Tennyson's Grammar School, in St. Martin's-in-theFields, vacant by the preferment of the Rev. Elisha Smith, M.A.

The Rev. V. W. Ryan, M A., Magdalene Hall, Oxford, to be Vice-Principal of the Liverpool Collegiate Schools, vacated by the death of the late Mr. De Butts.

The Rev. Charles William Knyvett, M.A., Minor Canon of Windsor, and formerly Perpetual Curate of Maiden Bradley, Wilts, to the Rectory of Heslerton, near New Malton, Yorkshire, void by the death of the Rev. William Canning. Patron, the Lord Chancellor.

The Rev. H. Shuker, to the Vicarage of Wichenford, in the county of Worcester. Patron, the Dean and Chapter of Worcester.

The Rev. T. Wall, to the Perpetual Curacy of Edgeware, Middlesex, vacant by the death of the Rev. T. S. Hughes.

The Rev. J. Potter, to the Perpetual Curacy of Lingwood, Norfolk. Patron, the Rev. E. Goddard.

The Rev. John Price Alcock, to the Vicarage of Ashford, Kent. Patrons, the Dean and Chapter of Rochester.

The Rev. J. A. Eldridge, to the Perpetual Curacy of Sutton, near Hull, Yorkshire.

The Rev. G. L. Parsons, Perpetual Curate of Benson, Oxfordshire, to the Vicarage of Kirkham, Lancashire. Patron, Christ Church, Oxford.

BENEFICES AND APPOINTMENTS VACANT.

CANONRY. Carlisle, value £583; patron, the Bishop of Carlisle: W. Vansittart, D.D., deceased.

RECTORIES. Bawdrip, Somerset ; diocese of Bath and Wells: value £360; patron, E. Page, Esq.; J. Warren, D.D., deceased.-Bladon with Woodstock curacy, county, and diocese of Oxford: value £329; patron, the Duke of Marlborough: J. Bowles, D.C.L., promoted.-Coates, Gloucestershire: diocese of Gloucester and Bristol: value £369; patron, Earl Bathurst: B. Mackey, deceased.Greetham, county and diocese of Lincoln: value £275; patron, the Bishop of Lincoln: E. Price, D.C.L., deceased.Smeaton-Great with Appleton-uponWisk perpetual curacy, Yorkshire; diocese of Chester: value £472; patron, H. Hewgill, Esq.: J. Hewgill, deceased.

VICARAGES. Abergele, Denbighshiree; diocese of St. Asaph: value £400; patron, the Bishop of St. Asaph : R. Jackson, deceased.-Basford, Notts.; diocese of Lincoln: value £260; patron, the Lord Chancellor : R. Simpson, deceased.--Derby, St. Werburgh; diocese of Lichfield: value £298; patron, the Lord Chancellor: E. Unwin, deceased.

-Devynock with Ystradvellte perpetual curacy, Brecon; diocese of St. David's: value £400; patron, the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol: E. Whitehurst, deceased. Scarborough, county and archdiocese of York: value £243; patron, Lord Hotham: M. H. Miller, resigned. -Shottesbrook with White Waltham vicarage, Berks., Yorkshire; diocese of Oxford: value £513; patron, A. Vansittart, Esq.: W. Vansittart, D.D., deceased.

PERPETUAL CURACIES. Brixham, Lower-Devon, diocese of Exeter: value £150; patron, the vicar of Brixham ; H. F. Lyte, deceased.-Coventry, Christ Church, Warwickshire; diocese of Worcester value £179; patron, the vicar of St. Michael, Coventry: H. T. Harris, promoted.-Hampton-Welsh, Salop;

diocese of Lichfield: value £139; patron, C. K. Mainwaring, Esq.; H. C. Legh, deceased.-St. John, Lacy-Green, Bucks; diocese of Oxford: value £90; patron, the perpetual curate of PrincesRisborough: Charles London, deceased. LECTURESHIP.. Honiton, St. Paul,

Sunday evening Lectureship; C. Rowe, resigned.

MASTERSHIPS OF SCHOOLS.. Allhallows Grammar School, Honiton; C. Rowe, promoted.-Leamington College, Warwickshire; Classical Master; value £150-and may take private pupils: must be a graduate of Oxford, Cambridge, or Dublin, and in orders.-Blundell's School, Tiverton: value £100-with apartment.

MASTERSHIP OF HOSPITAL.-Wigston's Hospital, Leicester; W. Vansittart, D. D., deceased.

CLERICAL OBITUARY.

The Rev. G. W. Garrow, late Perpetual Curate of St. Patrick, Tamworth, Warwick.

Dec. 6, at Penzance, in his thirtyfourth year, the Rev. Charles Norfolk Smythies, D.C.L., Curate of St. Mary's, Colchester.

THE condition into which the Lutheran Church fell after the death of Luther, is a melancholy proof of the abuse to which the purest doctrines are subject through the fallen state of man. The doctrine of justification by faith, so evidently founded on Scripture, and so cheering to the true follower of Christ, and which after a long struggle had been received by a considerable portion of the Church, became, in the hands of many of the degenerate successors of the great Reformer, an engine of superstition. Their hearers were led to imagine that salvation was secured by the mere reception and confession of this doctrine, even though it was permitted to exercise no sanctifying influence upon the heart and life. A strong disposition, also, to rest in outward observances very generally prevailed. Even Mosheim, though he states that the defects and vices of the Lutheran clergy of the seventeenth century have been exaggerated by many writers, yet acknowledges that "during the greatest part of the century, neither the discourses of the pulpit

nor the instructions of the schools were adapted to promote among the people just ideas of religion, or to give them a competent knowledge of the doctrines and precepts of the Gospel." In the pulpits a cold, barren dogmatism prevailed: and in the schools the Aristotelian philosophy reigned supreme. The Bible was neglected for confessions of faith and human authors. In many a celebrated university the Bible formed the subject of no course of lectures ; and so great was the indifference of the students in this respect, that towards the close of the century, at Leipsic Professor Olearius was for ten years unable to give his exegetical lectures for want of an audience, aud Professor Carpsov generally ended his lectures on Isaiah with the

first chapter. "One result," says Spener, "of this neglect of the Scriptures, is that we have a scholastic theology prevailing more and more in the place of the biblical theology, which Luther had laboured so hard to introduce into the schools." The pulpits became arenas of contro

FEBRUARY-1848.

D

versy, instead of places consecrated to the quiet edification of the people. Even into the very Catechisms intended for popular use the subtleties of the schools had been introduced. Thus the very sources seemed dried up whence a healthy and vigorous life could flow into the church. The schools and universities became notorious for grossness of manners and wild disorders. "The youth who come forth from our schools," observes Spener, "are more Pagan than Christian." This dreadful state of things, which may partly be attributed to the confusions of the thirty years' war, had the effect which might have been expected. Not only were many Romanists who were dissatisfied with the corruptions of Rome, deterred from joining a church in which there existed the same abuses as in their own, but many distinguished Protestants passed over to the Romish faith. Certain divines, indeed, to whom the name of mystics has been given, produced a weak but useful reaction. But of this class, many, repulsed by the dryness of the prevailing orthodoxy, flung themselves into an opposite extreme. Hence arose heresies, enthusiastic visions, and manifold extravagancies.

In the midst, however, of these agitations and disputes, many believers lived on silently, in prayer, faith, and love many pastors toiled faithfully at the ministerial work: many divines mourned over the decline of the church, and, knowing its source, felt and pointed out the necessity for a complete reformation. Several celebrated men had powerfully resisted the fatal tendency of the times : and even if their efforts had passed away without leaving any apparent results, they had not laboured utterly in vain. They had cleared the ground and prepared the way. The church had become conscious of her malady and at length the instrument of Providence,-the man chosen by God to revive this portion of his church, and to exercise upon it so salutary an influence,-appeared. This favoured individual was Philip James Spener.

Spener was born on the 13th of

January, 1635, at Rappolsweiler, in Upper Alsace, where his father, John Philip Spener, was Counsellor and Clerk of the Records to the Count von Rappolstein. He was intended for the church from his birth; and displayed, at an early period, distinguished talents, a mind naturally serious, good moral principles, and religious sentiments. These precious endowments his parents, assisted by teachers, sedulously cultivated. His childhood was so orderly, that in a more advanced age, he could not remember any serious fault of which he had been guilty in his earliest years, except that he still retained an impression of the anguish he had suffered at the age of twelve, on account of a dance in which he had joined. This experience was sufficient to keep him from that kind of amusement ever afterwards. He thus acquired so great a delicacy of conscience, that during his whole life, slight faults, which were not even perceived by others, pressed upon him like heavy sins. To this piety, which threw its shield over him from his youth, to this precocious habit of restraining his passions, rather than to his natural temper, must be attributed the unalterable peace which calmed him amidst the agitations of his life and the violent storms to which he was exposed.

The Dowager Countess Agatha von Rappolstein, who was his godmother, was particularly fond of him. She interested herself in his studies and progress, and lavished on him acts of kindness. She often had him at her side, spoke to him about the salvation of his soul, and addressed to him on this subject the most tender exhortations. The death of this pious lady produced upon the youthful Spener an impression that was never effaced. He was then thirteen years of age. The Countess sent for him on the very day on which she expired: but as an apoplectic fit had deprived her of speech, she attempted in vain to address him. The child felt only the more strongly the injunctions and wishes that he was conscious she was desirous of expressing once more before her death.