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large numbers begged for the admission been an extensive spiritual awakening of their children to the schools. The amongst both children and adults, and throng, in short, was so great, that three a striking moral reformation in a very establishments like that in the Rue large number of families. The testi-' Saint Maur, would not have furnished mony of the Police Commissary of the room for all the candidates for admis- arrondissement on this point is pecusion. Such was the commencement of liarly valuable:-" Since you have been this encouraging work in the Faubourg labouring amongst us," said he to the du Temple. The Société Evangélique minister who has superintended the de France did not take it up till last mission for some years," it is certain year, and the Committee, before ren- that my duties have become much more dering an account of their own steward- easy; there have been fewer offences ship during the past year, gave a brief committed in the interior of families, summary of the operations of those and fewer evil actions to repress out of who preceded them in the direction of doors, amongst children and young the movement. The work, as has been people." already stated, commenced in 1830, and during the nineteen years that it remained under the control of its founders, they dispensed nearly £7120. They calculate, that during that time many thousands of adults have attended pub lic worship, and that from fifteen thousand to sixteen thousand children have received instruction in the schools, of a kind to lead them in the way of salvation. In the course of these nineteen years, twenty thousand copies of the Holy Scriptures, and more than a million and a half of tracts, have been circulated amongst the families of the quarter. Such means of evangelization, if blessed as their promoters hoped, ought to have proportionate results. It is very difficult, however, to estimate the real effect of such efforts upon a population continually fluctuating, composed of working people who are obliged to change their residence continually, to suit their employment. This is, doubtless, to be regretted; but it is not so grave an inconvenience as it may at first appear. The adults and children who have been thus instructed, at different times, have in turn become evangelists themselves, and instructed others at a distance from the original sphere of operations; and thus the effects really permanent and discernible in the Faubourg du Temple are of a highly encouraging character. There has

This witness is true, and gives a new proof of the inestimable benefits which the gospel confers on society at large, even where its influence is indirect only. What must it be, then, when its full force is felt upon the heart, inculcating the love of God and of our neighbour! calming the violent passions of men, rendering them better fitted to enjoy and promote whatever happiness this present life affords, and preparing them for perfect happiness in the life to come! Well may we repeat the Divine words, "Righteousness exalteth a nation," and without it, legislative measures, and social regulations, will in vain attempt to arrest the career of either individuals, families, or communities, to inevitable ruin. The report of M. le Pasteur Burnier, who directs this important work, is filled with facts of the most encouraging and interesting character; but it is thought prudent to abstain from publishing them, lest it should be the means of attracting to the poor persons who are the objects of his ministry the attention of the numerous and active enemies of the gospel with which Paris abounds, and of subjecting them to a painful and damaging persecution. British Christians will rejoice to be informed, that the Word of Life is making secure and rapid progress amongst the lower and middle classes in this quarter of the French capital;

that the spiritual temple, like its pro- | mighty. The principle of spiritual life

totype in ancient Zion, is rising without noise, and giving daily confirmation to the hope that it will one day be completed. Let Christians of all classes and denominations consider the grand results likely to issue from this important movement. Here, we would say to the politician, is the true guarantee of an entente cordiale; to the commercial man, Here is the fountain of all peace, prosperity, and all earth's best blessings; and to the servants of Christ generally, Your Master is doing a great work; come ye to his help against the

has begun to tingle in the extremities of Parisian society; who that loves God and man will refuse to aid its development, until it informs and animates the whole body? Then shall cease these doleful rumours of war, which fill men's hearts with uncertainty and fear. Then shall national enmity, that thing of darkness nourished by bad men and wicked principles, be banished to its native regions. No narrow faith shall divide hearts which Divine grace has united; Christ shall be our master, and all we who love him shall be brethren.

EVANGELICAL PIETY IN THE CHURCHES, THE BEST
ANTIDOTE TO POPERY.

No. III.

WE have stated in two former arti- | Zion. cles the happy influence of piety to preserve from the snares of Romanism, both in individuals and in families. We proceed to offer a few remarks on its equal necessity and fruitful power, to the same effect in churches.

And here, in the outset, let it be observed, that by the term "churches," we do not mean any national or provincial establishment which bears that name, or any aggregate body of nominal Christians whatever, associated with the State; because the appellation "church" is nowhere applied in Scripture to such a society, though even in reference to them, it is very evident that the increase and prevalence of genuine religion would separate them far enough both from Puseyism and Rome. But we more particularly mean those Christian societies which are formed after the model of the New Testament, evangelical in their faith and order, independent in their constitution and discipline, and subject to no authority but that of the only Lord and King in

These institutions have ever been the most effectual for the conservation of the purity of Christian truth and worship in ages that are past, both in this land and in others. They are so at the present time; and will, doubtless, so remain to the consummation of all things. We wish just to remind them of their position, the design of their formation, and their obligations at the present period.

In appointing and commanding that his disciples should associate together for their mutual edification and the observance of his ordinances among them, and form themselves into Christian societies in every place where they should be called to himself, it was, doubtless, the design of their great Lord and Master that they should act for all purposes of moral defence and aggression in the world, of illumination, sanctification, and salvation. They were to enlighten its darkness; to counteract its corruption; to promote its renovation. From them were to emanate that moral light, that healthful

influence, and that redeeming power, which should tend gradually to overcome all the operations of evil, and restore our fallen race to the service and homage of its rightful Sovereign, and to subjection to Jesus Christ as its Lord. To fall into a state of lukewarmness and indifference, to contract the pollutions of the world, or to comply with any of those idolatrous practices by which they are surrounded, would obviously be to defeat the end of their creation, to nullify that healing influence which they have received from the Spirit of all grace, and to extinguish their light in the darkness around. Nay more, it would be to deepen that darkness, to augment that corruption, and to perpetuate the spread of alienation and enmity to the blessed God in his own world. The best thing corrupted is always the worst. "If the light that is in you be darkness," said the great Teacher, "how great is that darkness!" Of all idolatry on the face of the earth, that of an apostate Christian church, which has borrowed the rites and ceremonies of Puseyism, and the idea of " gods many and lords many" from the mythology of the heathen, must be the most injurious, the most criminal, and the most provoking, in the sight of a holy and a jealous God.

Aware of this, and of the infinite importance of the preservation of the purity of truth, of worship, and of morals, how anxious should all the churches of the saints be to maintain that high order of Christian piety and spirituality from which alone will flow their prosperity and security in times like these! Everything, under God, will depend on the internal state of the unendowed and independent churches of this land for the maintenance of the conflict between truth and error, and for the successful issue of the controversy between ritual and evangelical worship in these realms. If they are strong "in the grace of Christ," healthy in their love of Chris

tian doctrine, and vigorous in the “fruits of the Spirit," all the coruscations of Roman ambition will fly innocuous around, and all their attempts upon our Protestant Zion will recoil upon themselves. We want but the power of original, enlightened, fervent piety in our churches, to ward off every assault from the invidious foe, and to turn every weapon lifted up against us into an instrument and an occasion of greater prosperity. Whatever measures politicians may devise, and whatever means of an external nature the friends of truth may employ, our greatest strength for repulsion and conquest will be within. The only reason why the states of Greece did not sooner yield to Philip of Macedon than they did, was their integrity and union among themselves.

As in the civil, so in the sacred; as in the natural, so in the spiritual world, union is strength. Life is manifested by progress, energy, activity, and these re-act and promote vitality. The more the oak flourishes above ground, and spreads its branches to the sun, and its leaves to catch the falling dew, and both to brave the storms-the stronger will be its trunk, and the deeper its roots beneath the soil. So will it be in the churches. The great thing wanted in the present day is an increase in all Christian societies of the original light and love, the power and grace, the growth and development which marked the apostolic communities at the beginning. If a larger measure of that union and zeal, that brotherly affection towards each other, and firmness of attachment to their common Lord and Master, which they displayed, could be attained and manifested by us in this age, with correspondent activity in the Saviour's cause, the roots of the tree of life would be deepened among us, its branches be extended, and its leaves soon be shed for the "healing of the nations." The cause of gospel truth would be strengthened a thousand-fold, and, receiving a mighty impulse from within and from above,

would travel forwards “in the greatness | out a more excellent way, and substi

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of its strength" to universal conquest. This would be our security. We should suffer no loss then. There would be no danger of our "candlestick" being removed out of its place, or of its lustre being dimmed. Wisdom and knowledge would be the stability of our times, and strength of salvation." Our defence would be "the munition of rocks." "The salvation of Israel would come out of Zion ;" and a 'glorious high throne from the beginning be the place of our sanctuary." All those means, therefore, which are incumbent at any time on the followers of Christ to employ, in order to promote their internal strength and activity, their social progress and prosperity, are especially in cumbent now, and must be employed with an assiduity, earnestness, and zeal, proportioned to the occasion.

First, therefore, with all affectionate reverence and love, we observe, The trumpet" of the pulpit must give no uncertain sound." A divided, partial, time-serving testimony there would be worse than vain. A negative strain of preaching can do nothing to counteract the positive elements of evil, which are everywhere in operation around; and anything approaching to rationalism, the mere Germanic system, which pays more homage to reason than revelation, and virtually makes the latter a worshipper at the shrine of the former, will avail us little. Not by such lucubrations, or ratiocinations, will the demon of superstition, or the power of depravity, ever be cast out. The "idea" of the human mind, however apparently original and far-fetched it may be, and the most elaborate disquisitions on the innate beauties of virtue, and the lofty powers of humanity, will be merely as sounding brass and as a tinkling cymbal." That strain of preaching which is evermore hovering about the cross, but never at it, which ignores all the leading doctrines of "salvation by grace," in the apparent attempt to find

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tute it in its stead, is an insult to the Author of Christianity, and a mockery to the spiritual necessities of the soul of man. It will not be charmed, it will not be convinced, it will not be converted by any such speculations as these, which ofttimes do more to exalt the preacher and show his intellectual powers, than benefit the hearers and extol "Christ Jesus the Lord." Away with all such metaphysical discussions and rationalistic tendencies! The apostles did not employ them. The time for them is not now. They never promoted the great designs of human redemption; they never will. The pulpit of the gospel is a sacred place-sacred to Christ, sacred to the truth as it is in him, sacred to the salvation of the souls of men; and grievous will it be, if, in the present day, it be in any way perverted to "another gospel," or the inculcations of" philosophy and vain deceit," and of "science falsely so called." Such weekly exhibitions will do no execution. They may excite admiration, perhaps surprise, and the taste of Athenian auditors will be abundantly gratified; but the Spirit of God will not own them, nor will the obstinacy of the human heart yield thereto. For all the purposes of sanctification and salvation they will fall powerless to the ground, and leave the alienation of man from God, and the enmity of the unrenewed will, in a state of distance and rebellion still. "Non tali auxilio, nec defensoribus istis." The kingdom of God needs other helps and other defenders in these times. There must be a clear and distinct avowal of gospel truth; an entire homage of reason with all its powers, and of imagination with all its flights, to revelation; and a full exhibition of "Christ and him crucified" in all the ministrations of the sanctuary; even as the sun, at noon day, illumines the world, and gilds all with his rays. No other expedient will ever be found for the recovery of lapsed man, or the renovation of

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his diseased powers; no other asylum | ciated capacity destitute of its influence, for the destitute, or hope for the lost. and exhibiting nothing but the spirit of It is vain, it is criminal, to delude our formality and of the world. Division, fellow immortals with the expectation discord, indifference, unsanctified interthat there will be, or to present to them course, mere convivial friendship, are the illusions of human device for the alien from "the law of the spirit of life substantial verities of the truth of God. in Christ Jesus," and can produce no They ask for bread," we must not offer effects in union with the truth and love 46 a stone:" nor for "a fish" must a of God to a lost world. They are the "serpent" be given. It will be our peril, bane of the churches wherever they their loss. Woe be to the preachers of exist, and are sure to make way for the the present day, that extol the powers entrance of delusion and the spread of of the human mind, but depreciate the "The law of the house is holy." grace of Christ; that give all promi- "The church is the pillar and ground nence to the one, but conceal the other! of the truth." The new commandment They will labour in vain, and "spend is that of love. And only by the their strength for very vanity." Such union and exhibition of all these will a ministry has never yet "wrought any the designs of redemption be promoted, deliverance in the earth:" it never will. and the cause of vital Christianity be The conquest over sin, the world, and upheld. Let these be maintained among superstition, must be obtained some the people. Let "holiness to the Lord" other way. Not by such testimony will be inscribed on all that pertains to His the wanderer be reclaimed, the vacillat- house. Let the "truth of Christ" be ing be preserved, the feeble strength- dear to every heart, and preferred to ened, or Puseyism and Rome be over- every other theme. And let the love of come. But I, if I be lifted up from the the brethren reign, each esteeming anoearth, will draw all men unto me." ther better than himself; whilst in the sanctuary everything bears the aspect of those who worship God in "spirit and in truth;" and from that tabernacle the cloud of the Divine presence will not remove, and within it life and peace and joy will dwell. From the precincts of so hallowed an enclosure no friend will depart, and into it nothing hostile or destructive will enter. In vain would the spirit of discord or of Rome try to find admission there. Holiness, devotion, and love, would repel every intruder, and be a bulwark of defence around the whole. Others would take "knowledge of them that they have been with Jesus." The stranger coming in would report that “God is with them of a truth." The King would be “held in the galleries;" her walls would be salvation; her gates praise; and there would be "nothing to hurt or destroy in all the holy mountain of the Lord."

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Next to purity and power in the pulpit, must there be devotion and spirituality in the pew. The influence of the people among the Nonconformist and Independent churches is prodigious, either for good or for evil. The effects of their spirit and conduct are now felt and manifested over all the interests of Zion, and those interests are sure to rise or decline in proportion as the people are holy, spiritual, and evangelical. If they are not devout, if they are not united in the simplicity and faith of the gospel, and habitually under its power, the most energetic and excellent ministry will be expended among them in vain. The affection of John, the depth of Paul, the energy of Peter, the eloquence of Apollos, would be fruitless and unprofitable. We cannot imagine a more awful subject for reflection, or a more glaring anomaly, than a people professedly associated together for the faith of the gospel, but in their asso

In order to the production and enjoyment of this happy state of things in the

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