prayer. Mr. Robertson, of Liverpool, read an able paper, showing that any system of education based on general or local taxation, would lead to communism, and was in every way injurious. Mr. Miall, with whom we do not always agree, read a paper of considerable power and excellence, which we hope soon to notice, when it issues from the press.

Mr. Baines, in rising to propose the first resolution, delivered one of his forcible appeals, on the principle of Voluntary Religious Education, which he has always advocated; and carried the feelings of the meeting strongly with him. We cannot but think that he fairly stated the effect of the plans adopted by the Government in their Minutes of Council. They had proposed to aid the voluntary principle, and the effect had been to supersede it. The plan “had this radical and essential vice, that the position then taken by the Government was, as it had since proved itself to be,-an untenable position; inasmuch as, that the moment the Government undertook obviously and avowedly to do all for the people in the way of education, and to do this by a system of compulsory grants, the natural tendency of that system was to demand more and more power, until they got the whole authority of supporting education into their own hands. Now, he appealed to facts of the present day, to show that what he had then anticipated had not been carried out." L. Heyworth, Esq., M.P., seconded Mr. Baines's motion.

Mr. Alexander Campbell moved an amendment, that the word "voluntary" be left out of the resolution, mainly on the ground that what our representa tives in Parliament did was voluntarya somewhat new doctrine. Mr. Alfred Elliott seconded his amendment; but only three hands were held up for it.

Thanks were then proposed by Dr. Brown, of Cheltenham, and seconded by

Dr. Massie, to Mr. Robertson and Mr. Miall, for their elaborate essays on the all-engrossing subject of the meeting.

The Conference, on the 27th, was more select, but in most respects an interesting meeting. The attendance of Ministers and Laymen was respectable and encouraging. The Rev. H. Townley opened the Meeting with prayer. Charles Robertson, Esq., of Liverpool, presided, and delivered an animated and enlightened opening address. The chief speakers were S. Morley, Esq.; W. Tice, Esq., (who read a paper, on "the Interests of the Churches and Sunday-schools intimately related to the Maintenance and vigorous Extension of a Voluntary System of Popular Education;") the Rev. Geo. Smith, of Poplar; Dr. Leifchild; Edward Baines, Esq.; the Rev. Henry Townley; Dr. Morton Brown, of Cheltenham; Mr. Unwin; the Rev. G. W. Conder, of Leeds; Dr. Massie; Lawrence Heyworth, Esq., M.P.; the Rev. W. Glendenning; the Rev. Joseph Fletcher, of Christchurch; Mr. Charles Reed; Mr. Palmer; John Crossley, Esq., of Halifax; the Rev. J. Hayden, of High Wycombe; Henry Childs, Esq.; and the Rev. Mr. Reynolds, of Leeds.

We feel that the time has come when Nonconformists must combine among themselves, and carry out their Educational plans with vigour. This will be the best security against any vicious system of Government Education with which we may be threatened. This will be the only sure method of defeating the various doubtful opponents in the field. We must merge our own minor differences to enable us to vanquish those who would disturb all our present arrangements, and tax us for a comparatively worthless thing. With the impulse Education has received, during the last twenty years, we feel persuaded that the Legislature had better let it alone. It will only mar its progress by ineffectual plans.

A VILLAGE PREACHER.

470

have rejoiced in his progress as a Chris- | great and powerful awakening in a con

tian pilgrim travelling towards Zion. It
was delightful to mark his constant at-
tendance at the house of God, to see him
turning over the leaves of his new
Bible, and to witness the oft-falling
tear. I remember on one occasion to
have been greatly moved by his humble,
fervent prayer. Often I had felt in-
clined to ask him about the strong lan-
guage which he had used to his wife
on that night when he woke her with his
groans, and said to him, Did you actu-
ally say to your wife, that you thought
the devil would have you ?—Yes, he
replied, I said so, and I thought so too.
I had been a very passionate man, and
often gave loose to my feelings, and
swore and cursed most horribly; and
when God opened my eyes to see my
guilt and ruin, I thought it impossible
there could be love enough in the heart
of God to save me: but it is not so
O no! blessed be God, I see
Christ as "mighty to save," yes, to save

now.

even me!

And now this trophy of the grace of God stands up at times to proclaim salvation through the blood of the Lamb; and I am told that such is the unction which attends his ministry, that his hearers are often in tears.

Reader! does not this short history afford encouragement to preachers?

What a mighty instrument they wield. There are often in their congregations men and women too, of violent passions, of proud hearts, of rebellious wills, who are all fighting against God, and ruining their own souls. But the It is glorious gospel meets their case. intended for sinners. Preachers ought to cherish the hope that every sermon will cause joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Preachers have the fire, the arrows, the hammer, the sword! Shame on us who preach the gospel, if we do not expect great conversions, and many of them.

This subject is full of instruction also to husbands and wives. In a time of

A man

gregation, where many are converted to
God, it will often happen that a wife is
converted, and the husband is not, or
the husband is converted, and the wife
This may cause great alarm.
is not.
The unconverted person cannot be ex-
pected to understand the subject. It is
a new thing in the family.
praying, who had never prayed before!
This followed with loss of sleep, loss of
appetite, and accompanied with sighs
and tears and groans! No wonder if
there is distress! Sympathy cannot be
expected, and yet there may be pure
love and deep anguish. "O, I shall lose
my house and bit of land; my husband
will go to the asylum, while I and my
children will be destitute." These were
the fears and feelings of this man's wife;
but she has lived to see the blessed
effects of the Word of God upon her
Movements in our
husband's heart.

congregations of this kind are greatly to
be desired, and to be sought by prayer
and effort. Anything is better than
"Because thou art lukewarm,
death.
and neither cold nor hot, I will spew
thee out of my mouth."

The state of this family, before the
husband's conversion, is just a picture
of the fearful state of things which ex-
ists all over England. There are happy
exceptions-but suppose that next Sun-
day night, ten thousand of the now
drinking, swearing, Sabbath-breaking,
God-forgetting husbands, were to say to
"I can live no longer with-
their wives,
out prayer in my house; come wife, kneel
down and I will pray with you," would
not the wives take the alarm and be
afraid that their husbands were going
It was the first
out of their mind?
time your husband ever prayed with
you, was it not? I inquired. Alas! how
can families live so? How can people
expect a blessing, who shut God out of
their houses? How can parents expect
the love of their children, when they
slight their Father in Heaven? O ye
parents, and masters, who never pray

with your families, consider your ways, and take warning in time, lest that come upon you which is mentioned in the Bible" Pour out thy fury upon the heathen, and upon the families that call not upon thy name."

The increase of our population shows us how many parts of our country need good, zealous, village preaching. A reading people is growing up. Good books are plentiful, and easily obtained. But if every man could read, and every man had a Bible, still, a word from the Eternal Throne would sound in our ears, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." This is God's great ordinance. The living voice is God's chosen instrument for converting the world. We ought to have good schools, we ought to have good books, but we must have good preaching, or the people will perish.

Lastly. How highly favoured are those congregations which have a few

warm-hearted and faithful brethren, who are able and willing to direct their fellow creatures to Christ Jesus the Lord! Many of the parishes infested with Puseyism would be almost destitute of the knowledge of the way of salvation, were it not for the labours of such devoted men. Some of our members have experienced deep distress of soul, agonizing views of guilt, and grand views of Christ as their Saviour. These are the men who, by their deep experimental acquaintance with the gospel, can melt a congregation to tears, and, through God, "turn the world upside down." Such men ought to be sent forth.

God honours them, and

God will honour them. I have lived among them, and have witnessed the fruits of their labours. O that all the Lord's people were prophets! and great the company of those who publish salvation! Amen.

nimous country. Will the promoters of this Popish scheme, who talk loudly of religious liberty when it suits their purpose, accept the challenge of Dr. Cumming and Mr. Burgess, and aid by their contributions and influence at head-quarters, the erection of a Protestant Church within the walls of the city of Rome? Here is a fine opportunity for Roman Catholics who have spoken so energetically on the subject of religious liberty in the House of Commons, to come forward en masse, and petition the Pope and his Cardinals to give their sanction to the proposed measure. If they allow the opportunity to pass without improvement, we shall regard all their homilies about religious liberty as nothing better than pure self

THE POPE'S NEW CATHEDRAL IN LONDON. So it appears we are to have a Romish Cathedral in the heart of the Metropolis, with ceremonies, and services, and functionaries all purely Italian. Dr. Wiseman, under a title which Great Britain disavows, and pronounces to be unlawful, is to be the presiding genius over this new movement for the conversion of apostate and unhappy England.

We suspect the poor beleaguered Pope has little to do with this impudent affair; though he may be a willing instrument in the hands of his Irish advisers at the court of Rome, and of the misnamed Archbishop of Westminster. In the circumstances, and considering the excitement created by the late Papal rescript, we cannot but regard this pet Italian Church as an insult to the Bri-ishness,-a plea only for that liberty tish nation, intended to tax the patience for themselves which they would deny and forbearance of this free and magna- to all others.

Poetry.