the conductors of missions. The author has evinced his sincerity in contending for the importance of some of these measures, by presenting five hundred pounds to the Missionary College at Serampore. He also recommends missionaries to insert in their journals observations on the natural history of the countries where they labour; by which their cause would be brought before men of science, and the importance of missions more generally acknowledged. We think the mis sionary societies will do well to attend to some of these hints; and all Christians ought to consider the bearings of the following observations. "I believed, and therefore have I spoken.'-There is a measure derived from heaven to judge of the sincerity of belief. The laws of the human mind are not circumscribed within degrees and parallels. He who has no desire to proclaim the Gospel abroad, has none to proclaim it at home, and has no belief in it himself; whatever professions he may make are, are hollow and hypocritical. Bodies of Christians who make no efforts to christianize others, are Christians but in name; and the ages in which no attempts are made to send the glad tidings to heathen countries are the dark ages of Christianity, however they may suppose themselves enlightened and guided by philosophy and moderation. "The ages of Christian purity have ever been the ages of Christian exertion. At the commencement of Christianity, he who believed in the Gospel, became also a preacher of the Gospel. We believe, and therefore we speak.' The effort was correspondent to the belief, and the success to the effort. Christians grew and multiplied, and their very multiplication incurred a fresh renewal of their increase. The primitive prolific blessing was upon them, and one became a thousand."—pp. 105, 106. VARIETIES, LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC, &c. John Valdesso.-John Valdesso was a Spaniard, and was for his learning and virtue, much valued and loved by the great Emperor Charles the Fifth, whom Valdesso had followed as a Cavalier all the time of his long and dangerous wars; and when Valdesso grew old, and grew weary both of war and the world, he took his fair opportunity to declare to the Emperor, that his resolution was to decline his Majesties service, and betake himself to a quiet and contemplative life, because there ought to be a vacancy of time, betwixt fighting and dying. The Emperor had himself, for the same, or other reasons, put on the same resolutions; but God and himself did, till then, only knew them; and he did for those, or other reasons, desire Valdesso to consider well of what he had said, and to keep his purpose within his own breast, till they two might have another liks opportunity of a friendly discourse; which Valdesso promised to do. In the mean time the Emperor appoints privately a day for him and Valdesso to meet again, and after a pious and free discourse, they both agreed on a certain day to receive the blessed sacrament publicly, and appointed an eloquent and devout Fryar, to preach a sermon of contempt of the world, and of the happiness and benefit of a quiet and contemplative life; which the Fryar did ་་་་་་་、 most affectionately. After which sermon the Emperor took occasion to declare openly, that the preacher had begot in him a resolution to lay down his dignities, and to forsake the world, and to betake himself to a monastical life. And he pretended he had persuaded John Valdesso to do the like; but this is most certain, that after the Emperor had called his son Philip out of England, and resigned to him all his kingdoms, that then the Emperor and John Valdesso, did perform their resolutions.Isaac Walton. The Toleration Act.-It is remarkable, that though the opinions of senators, lawyers, and divines, may be cited in abundance, in favour of religious liberty, yet there is no assertion of the rights of conscience, either in the old or new act of toleration. They both go on the ground of expediency. At the time the old act was passed, William and Mary were not very firmly seated on the throne. The Catholics were powerful, and it was thought that the Nonconformists might have united with them, and overturned the infant government, had the old persecuting measures been pursued; it was, therefore, judged expedient to grant some ease to scrupulous consciences. In the next reign it was deemed expedient to resume the glorious work of persecution; and the Schism Bill was passed, which took the children of Dissenters from their parents, and put them under the care of churchmen, that they might be educated in the principles of the establishment. How long the present expediency will exist, it is impossible to say. One thing, however, is certain, that so long as the laws do not recognise the rights of conscience, we have no security for the permanency of our religious liberties, but in the public opinion. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance to support and perpetuate those liberal sentiments, which have been so long, and so generally entertained in this nation.-Isaac, on Ecclesiastical Claims, pref. pp. v, vi. Interview between John Napier, Baron Merchiston, the inventor of Logarithms, and Mr. Briggs, the celebrated Mathematician, from the Life of Lilly the Astrologer. "Ah "I will acquaint you" says Lilly, "with one memorable story related to me by John Marr, an excellent mathematician and geometrician, whom I conceive you remember. He was servant to King James I., and King Charles I. When Marchiston first made public his logarithms, Mr. Briggs, then reader of the astronomy lectures at Gresham College in London, was so much surprized with admiration of them, that he could have no quietness in himself until he had seen that noble person whose only invention they were; he acquaints John Marr therewith, who went into Scotland before Mr. Briggs, purposely to be there when these two so learned persons should meet. Mr. Briggs appointed a certain day when to meet at Edinburgh; but failing thereof, Marchiston was fearful should not come. It happened one day as John Marr, and the Baron Napier were speaking of Mr. Briggs ; John, says Marchiston, "Mr. Briggs will not now come." At the very instant one knocks at the gate; John Marr hasted down, and it proved to be Mr. Briggs, to his great contentment. He brings Mr. Briggs up to the Baron's chamber, where almost one quarter of an hour was spent, each beholding other almost with admiration before one word was spoke. At last Mr. Briggs began, "Sir, I have undertaken this long jour ney purposely to see your person, and to know by what engine of wit or ingenuity you came first to think of this most excellent help into astronomy, viz. the logarithms; but, Sir, being by you found out, I wonder nobody else found it out before, when now being known it appears so easy." He was nobly entertained by Baron Napier; and every summer after that, during the Lord's being alive, this venerable man, Mr. Briggs, went purposely to Scotland to visit him." Meteoric Stone in Courland.-Between 5 and 6 o'clock of the evening of the 12th July, 1820, a fire-ball, about the size of the full moon, and burning with a reddish flame and tint, was seen moving slowly from S. to N. After describing an arch of 100° it became extinguished, and its extinction was followed with a noise like three rapid discharges of great guns, or fire of musquetry, and a continued rolling. At that moment a stone fell about 3 German miles from the country palace of Lexna, in the circle of Dunaberg. The stone penetrated 11⁄2 feet deep into a clayey loam. It weighed 401b. had the smell of gunpowder, and was hot to the touch. At the same time a large body fell about four versts distant into the Lake Kolpuschen, with a hissing noise, and dashing the spray high into the air. Three versts in the opposite direction, something fell into the river Dubna, which made its water turbid for an hour. Opinion of a Jew respecting St. Paul as a Writer. Dr. Nunes, a Jewish physi cian, used to say, "Paul of Tarsus was one of the first writers I have ever read. I wish the 13th chapter of his Epistle to the Corinthians were written in letters of gold: and I wish every Jew were to carry it with him, wherever he went.". "He judged," says Wesley, "and herein he judged right, that this chapter contained the whole of true religion. It contains whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are holy: if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, it is all contained in this." Anecdote of Mr. Pleasants." The late Mr. Thomas Pleasants, a gentleman equally celebrated for his beneficence and his eccentricities, happening one Sunday to hear a sermon which he approved, requested the preacher to permit him to read the manuscript, which was readily complied with. The next day he returned the sermon, with a letter of thanks, intimating at the same time, that he had taken the liberty of adding a note to a passage, which particularly struck him. On referring to the place, the astonished clergyman found a bank note of considerable value folded in the leaf!"-Limerick Chronicle, December 29, 1819. Despotism.-(Extracted from Burckhardt's Travels in Nubia.)-Here I witnessed one of those cruel acts of despotism, which are so common in the East. In walking over a large field with about thirty attendants and slaves, Hassan told the owner, he had done wrong in sowing the field with barley, as water melons would have grown better. He then took some melon seed out of his pocket, and giving it to the man, said, "You had better tear up the barley and sow this." As the barley was nearly ripe, the man of course excused himself from complying with the Koshef's command: "then I will sow them for you," said the latter; and ordered his people immediately to tear up the crop, and lay out the field for the reception of the melon seed. The boat was then loaded with the barley, and a family thus reduced to misery, in order that the governor might feed his horses and camels for three days on the barley stalks. A description of Popery from a Curious Pamphlet, published on the Execution of the eight Traitors convicted of the Gunpowder Plot in 1606.-Ignorance in the simple, and idolatry in the subtle, take ceremonies for certainties, superstition for religion, envy for zeal, and murder for charity. What can that church be, but hell, where the devil sings such masses? Servus Servorum says, he that would be Dominus Dominorum, servant of servants, that would be master of masters; is not he a cunning herdsman, that can make one painted cow, a printed bull, give him more milk, than many a herd of better kine? Are not these sweet notes to be taken in the nature of the Popish Government ? Kill princes, sow seditions, blind the simple, abuse the honest, bereave the innocent, swear and forswear, so it be for the Pope's profit, the church will absolve you; and, if you miss the mark to hit the mischief you shoot at, you shall be a hanging saint, till you be taken down to the devil. Oh, fine persuasions! that infinite sins, by numbered prayers, inward curses by outward crossings, an offence against God by a pardon from man, should be believed to be helped! A child cannot conceive it, a wise man cannot digest it, and surely none, but either blind women or madmen, can be lieve it. If a man would but a little look into their idolatries, he should see a world of such mockeries, as would make him laugh at their fooleries, and abhor their villanies. Their kissing of babies, their kneeling to wooden ladies, their calling to saints that cannot hear them, their praying by the dozen, their taking of penance, their pilgrimages to idols, their shavings and their washings, their confessions and their crossings, and their devilish devices to deceive the simple of these, comfort; these, with a world of such tricks, as would make a jackanapes a fine juggler. He that could see them with that clear eye, that can judge between light and darkness, would, if they were his friends, be sorry for them; if his enemies, laugh at them; and, howsoever, or whatsoever, leave them and say, as he may say, that papistry is mere idolatry, the Fope an incarnate devil, his church a synagogue of Satan, and his priests the very locusts of the earth. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. ་་་་་་་་་་་་་ I. STATISTICAL VIEW OF DISSENTERS IN ENGLAND AND WALES. Wishing to make this department of our work as complete as possible, we carnestly beg our Correspondents to furnish us with all documents and information relating to it, addressed to the Editors, at the Publisher's. DERBYSHIRE. (Continued from page 222.) In 1746, Dr. EBENEZER LATHAM became assistant preacher and co-pastor with Mr. Rogerson, who appears to have relinquished the active duties of the ministry not long afterwards, and died about Christmas 1762. It does not appear that he published any thing, nor have we been able to trace any particulars of his history. Dr. Latham died in 1754, and in the following year Mr. WHITE was chosen to succeed him. This gentleman had several assistants. First, Mr. HEZEKIAH KIRKPATRICK, who came to Derby in 1759, and after him Mr. JOHN WILDING, who was there in 1763. From that time until his decease, in 1779, Mr White was assisted by Messrs. EDWARD LOMAS and JAMES PILKINGTON. Mr. NATHANIEL PHILLIPS also preached here for some time, in conjunction with Mr. Pilkington. During Mr. White's residence at Derby, the mecting-house was repaired, and in the year 1766, Mr. Abraham Crompton left £200. towards increasing the minister's salary. Mr. Pilkington, who had been chosen to assist Mr. White in 1778, continued at Derby until 1797, when he removed to Ipswich, where he died some time afterwards. He is represented as a man of a most independent and upright mind, and his openness in avowing his love of liberty gave offence to some individuals. He published a view of Derbyshire, in two volumes, 8vo. also the doctrine of Equality (à pamphlet), and a book for the use of Sun day schools. His colleague, Phillips, died in 1798. Mr. WINSTANLEY was next called to the ministerial office in this congregation. He took charge of it in 1797, and left it in 1803, when he declined the ministry, and has since practised as a physician at Manchester. The next year Mr. WHITEHOUSE succeeded to the pastoral office in this church; but in 1810, on account of the decline of the congregation, he relinquished his situation, and now preaches at Findern and Ilkiston. On Mr. Whitehouse's resignation, Mr. EDWARD HIGGINSON, of Stockport, undertook the charge of the congregation at Derby, and still continues to be their minister. Under his care it has greatly increased, and is now numerous and respectable. to Derby Independent Congregation. Early in the year 1778, Messrs. THOMAS JONES, of Oathall, and GRIFFITHS, who preached statedly at Alvaston and Mel-bourn, preached a few times in the market place at Derby; and Mr. Jones, as appears by the Derby Mercury of the 10th September, was announced preach on the morning of the following Sabbath, in a room situated in a yard at the back of the Town Hall, which had been fitted up for a school room. As the engagements of these faithful and laborious ministers of the Gospel permitted them to come to Derby only occasionally, it was usual to send the public crier round the town to announce their intention to preach. In this manner the congregation was raised, and with the assistance of other ministers in the neighbourhood, was greatly enlarged. In 1779, the late Mr. Thomas Wilson undertook to procure ministers to supply the congregation constantly. The first of these was Mr. HEWITT, afterwards of Bedworth, who shortly resigned his charge to Mr. MIDDLETON. Several of the surviving bearers of this latter gentleman speak highly of him; but his stay also was short, and he afterwards became an Antipodobaptist, and was pastor of a church of that denomination at Lewes, in Sussex. Upon Mr. Middleton's secession, the place was for some weeks shut up. But in 1781, Mr. JOSEPH THOMAS was sent from the academy at Mile-end, to preach to the congregation His first sermon was on the word "Rejoice," an expression of feeling which he considered to be justified in all those who enjoyed the privilege of a Gospel ministry. He was a young man of pre-eminent piety, and of a sweet and heavenly temper; and the strain of his preaching was truly affectionate; but it pleased God to "weaken his strength in the way,' " and remove him to his heavenly rest on the 3d Feb. 1782. He is still mentioned by those He who remain of the members of his congregation, with the most lively and pleasing emotions. His labours, during the short time of their continuance, were attended with great success, and his death was most sincerely lamented by all who knew him. After the decease of Mr. Thomas, Mr. JAMES EDWARDS, afterwards of Wilton, preached to the congregation, who, during the short period of his continnance, left their first place of worship, and began to meet in a barn, in the Cross Lanes, on the south side of the town. Their next minister was the Rev. THOMAS BRYSON, who had been educated in Lady Huntingdon's College at Trevecca, and after quitting it, had preached at York and Lancaster. From Lancaster he came to Derby, having withdrawn from the Countess's connexion. His labours were for a time abundant, preaching not only in the barn, but also in the open air, when the weather would permit, and in most of the neighbouring villages. He had a commanding appearance, a fine voice, and a good elocution. His sentiments were strongly Calvinistic, and his stile of preaching doctrinal, with frequent striking appeals to the conscience, and awful representations of death, judgment, and eternity. soon became very popular, and acquired great influence over the people; but he often manifested a considerable degree of warmth, and sometimes of ascerbity of temper, which produced unpleasant effects, and eventually led to a separation between him and a portion of his people. For the separate use of these seceders, Mr. Wilson, in 1783, having purchased premises on the Brookside, erected at his own expence a meetinghouse, which measures 54 feet by 48 feet, with a convenient vestry; Mr. Bryson, with the remainder of the congregation, continuing for a short time to occupy the barn, till he left Derby for London. Upon his arrival in the metropolis, he took charge of a congregation in Cannon Street-road, St. George's in the East, where he preached for several years, till his death in April 1799. The first minister who preached in the new meeting-house was Mr. JOHN SMITH. He was ordained October the 11th, 1787, and resigned his charge here at midsummer 1792. He frequently, while he resided at Derby, preached in the open air, at villages in the neighbourhood. On the 10th June, 1801, after an interval of nine years, during which the place was supplied by occasional preachers, the Rev. JAMES GAWTHORN, of Hoxton' Academy, was ordained pastor over the congregation, which has considerably prospered under his ministry. Derby Particular Baptist Congregation, under the pastoral care of the Rev. C, T. BIRT, who was ordained over it June 25, 1817. Derby General Baptist Congregation under the pastoral care of the Rev. Mr. PIKE. Respecting the earlier history of these congregations, we have received no information. DRONFIELD.-There was formerly a congregation of Presbyterians in this place, of which ELIEZER HEYWOOD, a son of Oliver Heywood, was minister from about the year 1700, till his decease in 1730. How long this congregation continued to meet, and who were the successors of Mr. Heywood, we are uninformed. A few years since, a new Independent chapel was erected in this place by Mr. Booth; but we believe the congregation have at present no settled pastor. DUFFIELD. Mr. ROGER MORRICE was ejected from the pulpit of this parish. He was some time chaplain to My Lord Hollis, and afterwards to Sir John Maynard, and died at Hoxton, in Middlesex, January 17, 1701. This gentle man was, (says Mr. Strype, Survey of London, vol. ii. p. 57,) a very diligent collector of Ecclesiastical MSS. relating to the latter history of the English Church, whereof he left vast heaps behind him, and, he adds, who favoured me with his correspondence. Soon after the Revolution; those who had been attached to the ministry of Mr. Morrice, with others, formed a congregation of Presbyterians, at Duffield. The first stated minister over this congregation, whose name has reached us, is TIMOTHY GREENWOOD, who was at Duffield in 1715. He was succeeded by SAMUEL STATHAM, and he by Mr. Samuel Brintnall, who resigned his charge about the year 1770. The congregation was afterwards supplied by one of the old meet. ing-house at Derby. Mr. John Davies was settled here for some years, between 1770 and 1800. The present minister is Mr. Evan Jones, who came to Duffield in 1806. (To be continued.) II. MISCELLANEOUS. CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOL. To the Ministers, Deacons, and Churches of the Independent Denomination.--Christian Friends, Every renewed election of children into this Institution proves its importance and utility, by the increasing number of candidates, and the earnestness with which ministers canvass the subscribers for their votes. Yet there is still reason to lament that the ministers and churches in the country do not exert themselves for its continuance and enlargement as might be reasonably expected. Some few have shown their good will to this object, but it is very far, indeed, from being general; and the Committee have felt this the more powerfully, inasmuch as nearly all the London congregations have had one collection, and some have had more; and also that the children, which are now receiving, and those which may be expected in future, to partake of the blessings of this Institution, are the children of poor ministers in the country, many of whom have large families and small salaries. The writer of this address hopes that the ministers and members of the congregational churches in the country will see the propriety of immediately making collections, or procuring a few annual subscriptions, if it were only to the amount of three or four guineas it would be favourably received, and show that our country brethren do not wish the London ministers and churches to bear all the weight of this merciful and bighly useful Institution: it would, indeed, stimulate the Committee to commence a new course of labour with greater confidence of raising the Institution to a much higher degree of reputation and usefulness. Some of our benevolent Institutions have not only been preserved from embarrassment, but have attained to greater prosperity by frequent and handsome legacies. From this source the Congregational School has received a very small measure of assistance, when it is considered how many individuals of the denominations have died in the possession of great abundance, a small portion of which might have been devoted to this object without the slightest injury to their survivors; we would fain hope that some of our wealthy friends, both ministers and laity, will not overlook this hint. Some of the friends of the school have thought that it has been conducted upon too expensive a scale, while, on the contrary, some have thought the Committee were too parsimonious. The truth is, that a small number of pupils require an establishment nearly as large as one which would accommodate a much larger cumber. If the number could be raised to 40 or 50, the average expense of each scholar would be greatly diminished, and the Principal be more amply rewarded for his arduous labours. |