An affectionate Exhortation to a decent Observance of the Lord's Day, most respectfully addressed to the * Inhabitants of the Parish of Christ Church, Surry, By James Upton, Minister of the Congregation in Church-street. 6d. or gratis to any Parishioner. THE Sabbath is a Divine Institution, not only of holiness, but of mercy;-of mercy to man and beast, by affording a cessation of labour to both. In other words, it is an institution of mercy to the souls of men, and of mercy to their bodies, We hope with the writer that this narrative of facts will be "Instrumental in rousing the best feelings of the heart; of exciting to deeds intelligent visitor; and of calling forth of active beneficence many a lively and the liberality of those who, with hearts in some degree disposed, are at a loss justly consider themselves stewards, with how to bestow the bounty of which they circumspection, prudence, and effect." On Religion, and the Means of its Attainment. By John Brown, Minister of the Associate Congregation, Biggar. 12mo. Boards. 110 pages. MR. BROWN thought, "That a short Treatise on the Nature, Means, and Importance of Religion, if written in a plain style, free of the tech as well as to beasts of labour. Where was the mercy of French Infidels who endeavoured to obliterate the Sabbath from the Calendar? Their very memory has rotted, as will the memory of all the admirers of the infamous writings of Paine. And where are his admirers to be found? At the Sunday tea-garden, the alehouse, the gin-shop, and the gal-nicalities of human system, and exhibitlows. We recommend this excellent pamphlet to general perusal. We are at the same time rather doubtful, whether it is required of ministers of the gospel to meddle in cases, for which the laws of the land have appointed officers, whose business it is to attend continually upon that very thing. ing a luminous view of the truth on these subjects, might, by the blessing of God, apparently well-informed, yet really ig be useful for reducing the number of the norant, professors of Christianity; and for presenting to inquirers a somewhat more satisfactory representation of the origin and progress of the transforming influence of the truth as it is in Jesus, than is easily to be met with in a short compass." Preface. The author is a pious and intelligent man, and there are many ex Beneficent Visits in the Metropolis:cellent and striking remarks upon with Facts, on the Effects of Simple Regimen and Medicine; and Hints, particularly and humbly addressed to Visitors of the Sick in general. By an old Visitor. 3rd Edit. enlarged. 72 pp. 8d. the Nature and Importance of Religion. It is shown that it affords to the rational faculties of man the noblest employment; that it calls forth into delightful exercise the most pleasing emotions; that it renders his powers of exertion sources of progressive improvement and ever-growing happiness; that it brings him into a state of friendship and reconciliation with God; that it softens the evils, and sweetens the prepares him for a happy eternity. THIS little book, written in a plain and unornamented style, by a humble, pious, and simple-hearted man, we recommend to those of our readers who have time and inclination to "visit the widows and father-pleasures of social life; and that it less in their affliction;" to "search out the cause which they know not;" and to imitate their heavenly Father in " delivering the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper;" and in strengthening that which is sick, (and binding up that which is broken." 66 And it is also shown that it consists in a right way of thinking, a right way of feeling, and a right way of acting, in reference to God; and, it might have been added, in reference also to ourselves, and to all other beings and things with whom and with which we have to do. If we understand our author, we do not approve entirely of what he says concerning the means of religion. These means are, 1. The sinner must be deeply convinced that he is naturally destitute of it. 2. He must be persuaded of its importance. 3. He must be persuaded that it is attainable, and that it is practicable to obtain it. 4. He must have a general acquaintance with the means by which it is to be attained. 5. The fifth thing mentioned, but we are not told whether the things already mentioned go before it or follow after it, is Faith. "It is by believing the truth about God, that a man is formed to a right mode of thinking, and feeling, and acting, in reference to Him." See pp. 44–70. Again. "Faith is not only the necessary, but the effectual, means of true religion." P.70. But is not faith a constituent part of true religion? Why then does Mr. B. call it the means?-Again: Is it easier for an unregenerate person to think rightly, that is, to have right views of God, of himself, of salvation, of sin, and of holiness, than to feel rightly, and to act rightly? Mr. B. farther says, "In these illustrations, I have represented faith as the sole direct means of forming men to a really religious character-believing, as the only way of getting wisdom, of becoming religious at first, and of becoming more and more religious and I have done so, because, on careful consideration, it will appear, that all those exercises which are usually termed the means of religion are so, merely so far as they have a tendency to produce faith, or to secure that Divine influence which is necessary in order to the production of faith." It is a language to which we are unaccustomed, and which in our opinion is unauthorized by Divine revelation, that any of the exercises of unregenerate men have a tendency to produce faith, or to secure that Divine influence which is necessary in order to its production. BAPTIST IRISH SOCIETY. Received by Mr. Ivimey, for the Baptist 1 1 1 From a Ladies' Association at Rev. Mr. Barker... Skerrett, Mr. Holborn•• Penny-a-week Society, Bristol, 000 0 010 3 10 10 0 8 4 2 1 400000 1 200000 Mrs. J. Booth... ...... Ditto .... 1 Intelligence. SPEECH OF THE REV. JAMES HINTON. WE extract from the Oxford Uni- | which it was my duty to inculcate versity and City Herald the follow-upon them in their early years. ing Speech, delivered by the Rev. James Hinton at a County Meeting held in the Town Hall of that city, on Friday, Nov. 11, 1819. "I fully agree with the learned Gentleman who has just sat down, in the remark that we cannot with propriety attach a declaration of any kind to the address which is now under consideration. It is on the subject of that address only that I can now deliver my sentiments. "Some of us have been present at nearly all the assemblies of this nature, which have occurred during the present long and eventful reign; and I apprehend the present occasion is equal in importance to any of them. They are following the sacred maxim of One whom, though wicked men blaspheme his name, we still adore; they render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, and unto God the things that are God's. They obey magistrates and honour kings from the strongest of all motives- because it is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.' If these motives were more generally urged on the community at large, it is probable that such meetings as these would seldom be necessary.—I wish it, however, to be understood, that I have never appeared as an advocate for any political party, but merely as a Christian, and a faithful subject of the king, and obedient to the laws of my country, whoever may be the persons intrusted by the constituted authorities to administer them. "From that line of conduct which I have hitherto thought it my duty to pursue, I see no reason to deviate: on the contrary, advancing years have fully confirmed my first "But though I abstain from posentiments of loyalty to my sovelitical contests, (as I think every reign, attachment to the constitution Christian minister ought to do,) yet, of my country, and veneration for when the great interests of my counthe holy Bible. Each of these has, try are endangered-when all faithindeed, been rudely attacked, but ful subjects must be of one heart on that very account all have be- and one soul!-I think prompt accome more valuable in my esteem. tivity a Christian duty. Such I apAfter fifty years trial of their worth, prehend are present circumstances, 1 hope I shall never forget the saand they fully warrant the calling cred precepts, Fear God, honour of the present assembly. It is not the King, and meddle not with so much the state of this county as those that are given to change.'- it is that of other districts, and of As an individual, my opinion is of the country at large, which calls on small importance; but I reflect with us to repeat an avowal so often satisfaction on the character of some made, of our loyalty and our at hundreds who are now filling highly tachment to the Constitution; and respectable situations in life, and really, Sir, if there be a single subexemplifying therein the principles,ject among us who cannot, from *This refers to a motion which had been previously made to attach a Declaration to the Address. his soul, make such an avowal, I wish he were in any land rather than in this; and I would advise him instantly to leave a country of which he is wholly unworthy. I human, it must be imperfect: but recognise with pleasure the union among human productions, it has no which the requisition expresses of equal. To tamper with such a Conloyalty with attachment to the Constitution is folly; to subvert it would stitution. There was a time-it oc- be sacrilege. curred in a sanguinary period of our history--when loyalty and love of the Constitution were rudely torn asunder, and our country still feels the injury which she sustained from the violence of the shock. But since the accession of the present illustrious House, both duties have been inseparably blended. It is impossible to venerate the Throne without being attached to the laws by which all its decisions are guided; and it is impossible to be attached to the laws without venerating the Throne which they surround and support. To be attached to the British Constitution, is to be at-ly, free-I have not, in the circle of tached to the essential rights of all mankind. "Permit me, Sir, to mention another reason why I could not conscientiously withhold my name from the Requisition by which we are now assembled:-I had long viewed with surprise the forbearance of the constituted authorities towards the republishers of a most impious and seditious work, which had so long and justly lain under the sentence of the laws. The time of republication was artfully chosen, and its circulation has been attended with great, though, I hope, not irrepara ble mischief. From this evil I apprehend our vicinity is, comparative my acquaintance, seen or heard of a single copy of that work. But "I confess I know not where to in London, at the mouth of the den fix on a spot on which Justice holds from whence it issued, I have stood a scat as pure and dignified as that and shuddered to see the lowest orwhich she occupies in a British tri- ders of the people enter in crowds to bunal. In these Courts the Monarch | procure this deleterious drug,this poipresides, but the law is his only son of the soul. The evil is enormous; guide. It is the Throne which de- it is circulated by men abandoned clares, in the words of our great na- to desperation for both worlds. It' tional charter, We will sell to no degrades the human mind to the man, we will deny to no man, we will lowest degree of wretchedness, by delay to no man, the rights of justice; depriving it of all moral principle, no Briton shall be banished, impri- and all immortal hope. It teaches soned, or any way punished, but ac- men to despise all dignities, human cording to the known laws of the land.' and divine, and thus prepares them A similar declaration follows the to perpetrate every crime. The deBill of Rights; 'The very end of king-luded, I trust, may still be reclaimly authority is to defend our laws, our ed; but on the abandoned, I fear the liberties, and our religion.' I fear, heavy hand of the law must fall. Sir, many persons need to be inform-Christianity, indeed, supports free ed how excellent our Constitution inquiry; but it is the inquiry of de is; and I am well pleased, therefore, cency, reason, and virtue, and it that so many are this day listening, must never be allowed to shelter not to their enemies, but their impiety and blasphemy, by the prefriends, and the friends of their valence of which the foundation of country. They will be more fully society would be destroyed. convinced of the guilt of those men, who would deceive and mislead them. Our Constitution, like the source whence it is drawn, is too just to encourage despotism, and too wise and good to allow of anarchy; it combines freedom with security; liberty with good order; and veneration for religion with a sacred regard to the right of private judgment. Like every thing May I beg, Sir, in one instance, to be distinctly understood. It has been said that no one could sign the requisition of this day without deciding, by implication at least, on a question which has greatly agitated the public mind, and on which I sincerely wish no public opinion at all had been given, because I am confident no full and impartial evidence has yet met the public eye. Integrity cess. We cannot remove, but we may alleviate our country's woes. I would entreat (could my voice reach them) every man of rank and fortune in the kingdom to imitate those of this county; to make their country houses their chief residence, to pes make a friend of every one who inhabits them; to make the coming winter cheerful by a renewal of that old-fashioned hospitality, by which the houses of the great may become at once the shelter and supply of the poor, and discontent may be expelled from the humblest cottage. In a district thus nurtured, should a seditious orator make his appearance, our peasantry would with one consent expel him from the soil, or, what is better, resign him to the injured laws. And let not our countrymen think that they shall be de prived of the right of peaceably peti tioning the senate or the throne. I It demands that I should declare that from such an implication I hold my self to be entirely free. Whether individuals have acted legally or not let the law decide. Those who think they have not, can have no real obstacle to prevent them from bringing the cause before a just and honour-rambulate their own demesnes, and able tribunal; and whatever be the decision, our attachment to the throne and to the constitution, will not in the least degree be affected thereby. In what manner this great and leading county should express its sentiments, it would be presumption in me to dictate; but were I to choose my own expressions, I would select the strongest which our language affords to assure his Royal Highness the Prince Regent of our attachment to the throne, of our love to the Constitution, and our determination to support both by every lawful means within our power. I would add the high satisfaction I feel at the speedy assembling of the would never lift up my hand to Legislature, and my confidence in divide the people from their soyethe wisdom of Parliament to adopt reign: this would be to separate such measures as the exigency may the children from the parent. require. I would express my ear- should be placed under proper renest hope and firm expectation that gulations-but never let the privi the Government, so far from ob- lege of petitioning be impaired. Let structing inquiry, will afford every it for ever be held sacred. facility which may be consistent be so held ; for here we behold around with the due administration of jus- us the guardians of our rights and tice, to promote the most impartial of their own. Here are men of the investigation of the late events, thus highest rank and influence in the confirming the loyal and obedient, state, who never have refused-who while they punish the seditious, and never will refuse-to bear the peti cementing more closely than ever tions which we place in their hands that ardent love of the people to- to the Legislature or to the Sovewards the British throne, to which, reign. These hereditary counsellors of under God, we so much owe the the throne will never, under any prestability and prosperity of the empire. text, violate the constitution in which I hope, Sir, we shall not rest in they are equally interested with ouravowals of loyalty. On former oc- selves. These our representatives will casions these were followed up by never aid to frame laws in which the patriotic exertions. We cheerfully innocent shall be punished with the bore for twenty years the increased guilty,or a loyal nation deprived of its burdens of the state, and were stu- liberties through the misconduct of dious that they should fall heaviest a few despicable men. But while on those best able to bear them. we place à just confidence in these The friends of Government circu- our guardians and protectors, we lated millions of small publications place unlimited confidence in God full of sound morals and loyalty. alone. May our reformed lives seThe people were retained in their cure his favour, and through his blessduty, and the enemy retired ashamed.ing, may the honours of the British The attack is now renewed, and our defence must be renewed also. I trust it will be with the same suc It must throne, and the safety of our constitution be perpetuated till nations shall exist on earth no more. |