his glory, he will supply; and that in due time they may be blessed with another pastor, who possessing like talents and zeal, may become, like Dr. C., the cherished friend and Christian instructor of all in the management of the affairs of the parish, as well as of all in the parish and congregation, so that in the end all things may work together for good, and the eternal salvation of many souls. "Mr. Wilson is requested to sign these resolutions in behalf of the meeting, and respectfully to communicate the same to Dr. C. without delay." chapel, who told him, that he had better speak to the minister. Upon his doing so, the reverend gentleman inquired by whom the child had been baptized, and being told, that it was by a Dissenting minister in the neighbourhood, he declared, that the person who had bap tized it might also bury it, for he certainly would not. The poor man pleaded, that he had a grave in the chapel-yard, in which several members of his family had been interred, and that it would be a great affliction, particularly to his aged wife, to be obliged to take the corpse to any other place; and added, that he held half a pew in the chapel, for which he regularly paid. But the reverend gentleman was inexorable, and it became necessary to procure a grave at a neighbouring parish-church, where the child was actually interred. Some friends of religious liberty in Cheshire and at Manchester, had, however, adopted measures for obtaining legal redress, and the matter was already com mitted to the management of a respectable professional gentleman, when farther proceedings were prevented by the death of the offending clergyman. Such having been the solemn close of this affair, we have deemed it proper to suppress the names of the parties concerned, and also some particulars of the case itself, while, on the other hand, we consider it our duty to inform the public, that instances of this species of intolerance continue to occur, althongh it has been decided by the most respectable authorities that such conduct is no less contrary to the law of the country, than to the spirit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Irish Sunday Schools.-That important Institution, the Sunday School Society for Ireland, still continues its active operations. The following table presents a picture so gratifying, and yet calling so loudly for increased efforts, that we extract it from the official statement. LITERARY NOTICES, &c. WORKS PREPARING FOR THE PRESS. Early in March will be published, An Appeal for Religion, to the best Sentiments, and Interests of Mankind; being, 1st. Four Orations for the Oracles of God. 2d. Judgment to Come, an Argument in five Discourses. 3d. Messiah's Arrival, a Series of Lectures. By the Rev. Edward Irving, A. M. Minister of the Caledonian Church, Hatton Garden. In one vol. 8vo. Five Lectures, on the Pretensions and Abuses of the Church of Rome; delivered in York Street Chapel, Manchester. By the Rev. John Birt. 8vo. The Rev. G. Redford has in the press, a new Edition of his Defence of Extempore Prayer. A Farewell Testimony; containing the substance of two Discourses preached in the Parish Church of Debenham, in the view of resigning the Living, and seceding from the Establishment. William Hurn, vicar. By ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS, &c. COMMUNICATIONS have been received this month from Rev. J. Turner--T. Eisdell. Also from Astrop-O. P. S.-E. S.-Amicus-Omicron-Viatorius Mercator. That our readers may fully understand the temper and spirit of the Editors of the Christian Guardian, we transcribe their rejoinder to the remarks inserted in our January number. We were required, last month, to disavow, on the part of a respectable Dissenting minister, any connexion with the publication calling itself the Congregational Magazine. And now we observe, in a long and dismal article in the last number of that work, that it is most anxious to disavow, on its part, all participation in the politics of Mr. Hall. While, to complete the climax, Mr. Hall himself disavows all participation of feeling with his admirer, the Black Dwarf. Thus in the lowest deep a lower deep, still threatens to devour us.'"-We dare say that this paragraph appeared to the writer very pithy and facetious; it would, however, afford us decided advantages were we disposed to avail ourselves of them. All that we shall permit ourselves to say in exposure of the-the disingenuousness of our antagonist, will be contained in the following explanation.-1st. The Christian Guardian had taken upon itself peremptorily to affirm, that the Rev. George Burder avowedly connected" with the Congregational Magazine, and Mr. B. forwarded to them a direct contradiction of this statement ;-a bitter epigram on the unqualified manner in which the assertion had been made.-2. The affirmation, that we were "most anxious to disavow all participation in the politics of Mr. Hall," is equally correct with the former. We neither avowed nor disavowed them, we did not feel ourselves called upon to do either; nothing more was said by us, than that in a certain article, which had a political pamphlet under review, we cautiously abstained from identifying our sentiments with those of a particular individual. We have no motive for concealing our opinions on the subject of civil government; but we shall reserve their exposition for some more worthy occasion, than an altercation with the Christian Guardian.-As for the malignant buffoonery about Mr. Hall and the Black Dwarf, we have not a word to waste upon it. was 66 We feel it necessary to apologize for the unusual length to which the Memoir of Mr. Bennet has extended. Such a trespass on our usual limits is not likely to recur. Iakwẞos will find a note at our Publisher's. The communication of Amicus is left as directed. Erratum in our last number.-P. 67, col. 2.-24 lines from bottom, for work, read link. MEMOIR OF THE LATE REV. BENJAMIN EVANS, THIS pious, enlightened, and use Mr. Evans was the subject of religious impressions from a child, and could therefore give no account of the time of his conversion. Not having been baptized in his infancy, he submitted to that ordinance at Bethel-Moelgrove, March 11, 1764, in the 24th year of his age. At the same time, he was admitted a member of the church at that place, under the Rev. David Griffiths, of Llechryd. Here he rendered himself useful CONG. MAG. No. 64. by his knowledge of psalmody, having the singers under his direction, and finding peculiar pleasure in that part of public worship. But it was soon discovered that he had talents for the ministry, and he was encouraged to preach, in less than twelve months after being received into church communion. While on a journey through Glamorganshire, he was induced by the Rev. Lewis Rees, who was then minister at Mynydd Bach, to visit North Wales, and preach as a candidate to the church at Llanywchllyn, in Merionethshire. At this place his ministry was much approved, so that shortly afterwards he settled there. Towards the end of the year 1768, he was married to Miss Ann Lloyd, daughter of the Rev. Daniel Lloyd, of Brynberian, with whom he lived in harmony and comfort fifty-three years and six months. He was ordained at Llanywchllyn, in 1769, and laboured there with much acceptance upwards of eleven years. During that time he introduced the gospel with permanent success, to several places where it had not been preached before. In these attempts to do good, he met with opposition, and even persecution. Before he could obtain a licence to preach in a farmhouse, near Barmouth, he was obliged to serve the magistrates with a mandamus from the Court of King's Bench. This had the desired effect of making known the rights of Dissenters, and of Z abating the spirit of persecution in the county. He found it necessary to act with firmness and decision, but generally overcame his adversaries by his meekness, forbearance, and kind behaviour. During the rage of persecution, he found, in returning from Dolgelly, three women stationed near the bridge, who were employed to throw him, with his horse, into the river. Addressing them in his usually cheerful and friendly manner, he so disarmed them of their resolution, that they were constrained to let him pass quietly over; and, on being asked by those under whose influence they acted, why they had not executed their purpose, one of them replied, that he looked and spoke so pleasantly, that the heart of no woman could permit her to do any such thing. Passing through Dolgelly at another time, when the quarter sessions were held in the town, he called at an inn, where the magistrates were just sitting down to dinner, and was content to be served in a back room. On entering the apartment, he found to his surprise, that the leaders of the mob were there. Not knowing very well what to do, he resolved to make free with them, and asked for a glass of their ale. On taking his leave, he laid down a shilling, which they scrupled to receive. But when he insisted on leaving his money, saying, "Touch pot, touch penny," they were so pleased with his behaviour, that they swore he was a gentleman; declared that he should be welcome to preach in the town, and that no one should dare to molest him. Thus, for one shilling, he procured for himself and others, that liberty which might have cost him his life! On the death of one of his friends at Barmouth, he thought it his duty to attend the wake, with a view to the good of the company there assembled, which consisted chiefly of sailors. It was customary to spend the night, on such occasions, in reading and singing psalms. Mr. Evans, after reading a chapter, proceeded to expound it, and took the oppor tunity of preaching to the people; after this he engaged in prayer, particularly remembering the sailors, and adverted to the dangers of a sea-faring life in so feeling a manner, that many of them were deeply affected. Such preaching and praying was entirely new to them, and made such an impression on their minds, that several, on rising from their knees, thanked him one after another. The exercises of the evening, and particu larly this prayer, raised him high in the esteem of the people, and was a means of removing their prejudices, and of opening a wider door for the preaching of the gospel among them. The Calvinistic Methodists, in particular, were more favourably received after this, and preached at Barmouth with much success. He was also much respected in consequence of an excellent school which he kept during his residence at Llanywchllyn. This was much needed in that part of the country, and was of no small service to the cause of religion. With what views and feelings Mr. Evans pursued his ministerial duties, and on what principles he acted, appears from his private papers. The following passages are extracted from a written covenant, dated July 14, 1771, by which he dedicated himself to God, and which was solemnly renewed at different periods of his life:" Eternal and Almighty God, my creator, my governor, and my preserver; who, in Christ, art reconciling sinners to thyself, not imputing their trespasses unto them! Behold, with a propitious eye, a poor ruined creature, whose sins are many, great, and highly aggravated. I have rebelled against thee, preferred the pleasures of sense and sin, to thy service and favour! Viewing thee as, in and through Christ, inviting poor sin ners into a state of grace and new obedience, I would humbly and cordially acquiesce in the gracious project, consent to the proposal, and commit my perishing soul unto him, to be saved by his blood, and justified by his righteousness. I would receive him cordially and gratefully, as the great and free gift of heaven;as my all-sufficient Saviour,-as my instructor, and my king. I desire to accept of thy covenant, wherein thou hast promised to own and save those who believe in thy Son. I avouch the glorious Trinity to be my God, according to the tenor and obligations of my baptism; and devote myself, soul and body, to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, to pardon, cleanse, and sanctify me for his service. O Lord, accept a poor, trembling worm, that offers himself unto thee, according to the tenor of thy gospel, and the plenitude of thy revealed mercy in Christ. Set thy distinguishing mark, and impress thy blessed image upon me, as one consecrated to thy service. I know that thou requirest the heart; that the heart of man is deceitful above all things; and that mine is deceitful and sinful above the hearts of others; so that I am afraid to offer it unto thee, and fear it will prove false. But I depend entirely on thy grace and assistance, to perform the obligations of this my solemn covenant, which I make as a means of quickening and reminding me of my duty. In this view I put my hand to it, praying that thou wilt accept of it and ratify it, both in heaven and in my conscience. O Lord, I humbly pray that the Holy Spirit may take possession of my heart, to make it holy, to quicken its deadness, to subdue its perverseness, to check its irregular propensities, to heal its maladies, and to root out all sinful self-seeking. O grant me more evangelical light, a stronger faith, a livelier hope, and a warmer love. Give more patience, resolution, and fortitude, with every other qualification for thy service and honour. Make me more watchful, more zealous, more content, and more ready to acquiesce in all the disposals of thy provi dence. Make me more wise, eminent, and successful in my ministry; and render this solemn transaction a constant spur to holiness and diligence, a never-failing spring of comfort through all the trials of life, and especially in death, which I humbly pray may be of some easy kind." Annexed to the above covenant are a number of resolutions, relating to that line of ministerial conduct which he intended to pursue, both in private and in public. Of these, the following are the substance: "Resolved, To read and study the Bible with a greater degree of diligence, attention, and self-application; to endeavour to understand the New Covenant more clearly, in its nature and dispensation; never to preach on any subject without first praying for light, and for a blessing, and in studying, never to wander superficially from one subject to another; to labour for a deeper sense of the majesty and presence of God, for communion with him, and for more conformity to him; to strive to be more humble and selfdenying, in order to suppress all pride and passion; to be more watchful against levity and rashness in company; to be deliberate and prudent in every project, persevering in the execution of it; and never to intermeddle with the affairs of others, unless properly called upon to assist; to endeavour to know the will of Providence, to submit thereto, and to |