CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS. In closing our present volume, we cannot but feel deeply solemnized at contemplating the events of the past, and the prospects of the future. We are certainly arrived at a very striking period-a period which may well fill the men of this world with alarm, and compel the Christian to resort to his watch-tower and hear what the Lord his God shall speak. The past year has been a year of considerable difficulty and depression, A very great stagnation has taken place in all commercial transactions, and much pecuniary inconvenience has arisen. The scarcity of money whether resulting from the want of confidence or from any indiscreet or unavoidable interference with the Bank issues or the eirculating medium, has induced many to contract their expenditure, who had still the ability to maintain their usual appearance, and defray every demand, whilst some have endeavoured to derive pecuniary advantage from the effect produced by the general depression on the property of others. Thus without any very tangible cause, or any sudden panic, many have been reduced to the utmost difficulties. These evils have, we are compelled to say, been very materially, however unintentionally aggravated and increased by the conduct of government. Instead of meeting the existing difficulties fairly, investigating their cause, suggesting any appropriate remedy, or practical alleviation, his Majesty's ministers have practically laid the whole blame on the alleged defective state of our representation, declared that some alteration in the House of Commons was, and is, indispensably necessary, and occupied the attention of Parliament and of the country during the whole year with this one subject, to the exclusion of almost every other. Now, however evil the present state of our representation may be; however desirable or indispensable some alterations may be found; it is clear that a new Parliament meeting in the end of 1832, the earliest period in which, according to the Reform Bill, pure and unquestionable representatives could be chosen-it is clear, we say, that a Parliament meeting in 1832 could afford small hope or alleviation to those who are sinking into pauperism and bankruptcy in 1831. We are aware what importance their own plans and schemes assume in the eyes of inventors and theorists, and therefore we do not wonder at the eagerness with which the reform question has been advocated by many; but the inquiry has again and again occurred to our minds while adverting to the speeches and arguments of certain individuals-Is it possible that this man of talent, and experience, and knowledge of the world, can imagine that the Parliament of 1832 will contain a greater number of Members whose talents and whose integrity render them competent to decide on the commercial, agricultural, colonial, financial, and social difficulties which now exist, than were to be found in the Parliament of 1830. Ask the merchant whether the change which has recently taken place in the representation of the city of London affords increasing confidence on the Royal Exchange; and ask the agriculturalist, the man of business, the man of decency and propriety, whether the last return for the county of Essex affords any very encouraging promise to the interests of the farmer or the merchant, to the claims of decency, morality, social order, manly honor, or faithful integrity. The influence of the aristocracy may be destroyed; the man of rank, property, and education, may for a time possess no more weight in a contested election, than his groom or horsedealer, a vast change may thus take place in our representation-but will it necessarily, will it probably be a change for the better? What if it should only add fuel to fire? What if old, and tried, and experienced men are laid aside? if young men, if rash and inexperienced counsellors, if unprincipled and needy agitators and demagogues should be returned, what can we expect will be the result? Can the Christian hope that his religion will be respected? Can the churchman imagine the interests of the establishment will be regarded? Can the men of wealth and property ever suppose that their accumulations will be protected by adventurers who have every thing to gain and nothing to lose? We are indeed fully convinced that many who zealously advocate the cause of reform are well aware that the whole question is merely intended to occupy the public mind, and draw off the general attention from unpleasant and inconvenient topics and inquiries. The reform in the representation is a mere bagatelle in comparison with the reform of our poor laws. Some indeed maintain that those laws cannot be settled in the House of Commons as at present constituted, since that House does not possess the public confidence. We are, however, of a decidedly different opinion. We place great dependence on the good sense of the British nation. We are firmly convinced that Parliament, calmly and deliberately deciding on any topic, may rely on public support. But if the House of Commons stultify itself-if it declare that it is itself a corrupt bodythat it does not represent the people-is improperly returned ;—if the House sacrifice principle to expediency, or integrity to intimidation-it cannot long continue-some rash reform will lead to a desperate revolution, and a new Oliver Cromwell may clear St. Stephen's Chapel, and direct his grenadiers to take the bauble of the Speaker's mace away. How near we are to such a catastrophe, the riots at Bristol, Nottingham, and other populous places, and the popular unions of London, Birmingham, &c. clearly evince. We trust, indeed, that the warning may not be lost, and that the steps which have brought us to the very brink of a revolution, may be retraced ;—but yet when we turn to the religious question, when we contemplate the ground which the present administration has advisedly taken, and to which it as yet adheres, we are compelled to fear lest an offended and insulted God should pour forth the vials of his displeasure on our guilty land. For observe what has been the uniform conduct of Administration on religious topics during the last session. Under the specious pretext of liberality, concessions have continually been made to the professors of a corrupt and idolatrous system, while the advocates of true religion have as invariably been discouraged. The grants for education in Ireland have been withdrawn from institutions which went to the utmost bounds of conciliation; while the idolatries of Maynooth are still cherished by British benevolence. And not only is Popery thus countenanced, and scriptural education discouraged, but the grants for education are withdrawn, on the specific ground that by the rules of the Kildare Street Society the Scriptures are read in its schools, and that such reading of the Holy Scriptures is offensive to the Romanists!! The pretext is fallacious, for the Romanists in Ireland are no ways offended at the reading of the Holy Scriptures; they evince, on the contrary, the utmost anxiety to become acquainted with their contents. The bulk of the Irish peasantry are most desirous of possessing the sacred volume themselves, and desire the instruction of their children in that volume; it is only the Romish Priesthood who object: and the Kildare Street grant is thus withdrawn by the British Parliament, not at the wish of the Irish people, but to promote the ends of a priesthood, who are sedulously trained up in hostility to the British constitution, both in church and state, accustomed to regard England as the tyrant and enemy of Ireland, and ready at the first convenient moment to exert their utmost influence, and hazard their lives and fortunes, in severing for ever the union which still exists between the islands. We dwell not on the impolicy of cherishing a nest of hornets, we speak not of the folly of rewarding a convicted agitator with honours and emoluments-but we ask if Christianity be true, as it unquestionably is-if the oaths, in which Popery is denounced as idolatrous, are still binding on the consciences of those who have taken them,-must not this virtual disregard of Protestantism, and this positive sanction to Popery, be most offensive in the sight of Almighty God? Is it not a contemptuous casting off of his authority, which may justly provoke his righteous displeasure, his continued and awful indignation ? We fear, indeed, it must be said, with reference to all the long catalogue of national sins which we have ofttimes deplored, that we still hold fast our iniquity. The liberation of the crown slaves in some of our colonial possessions, affords a gleam of hope indeed, that the descendants of Afric's sons may eventually be delivered from their cruel bondage; but as yet, there is found in our skirts the blood of the poor innocent; and the important question of justice to the enslaved and oppressed Negroes has been postponed, we fear with the connivance of some of its advocates. Yet every packet from the West Indies, brings fresh instances of oppression, and loudly calls the attention of government to the precarious state of those valuable and important colonies. Nor when we turn from the world to the church, do we derive that consolation which might reasonably be anticipated. Many painful and trying circumstances have occurred in the last year, which distress and perplex those who wish well to our Zion. The waters of bitterness seem to have been poured forth, and to have swept away to an alarming extent Christian charity from a large part of the earth. It is distressing to witness the hastiness of language, the severity, censoriousness, unfounded calumny, open reproof, or slanderous insinuation which professingly Christian men, and even some of no mean name, have dared to adopt with reference to those who differed from them. The recent discussions at Bible Societies, the different views entertained concerning the personal reign, the second coming, or the millennial kingdom of the Redeemer ;the alleged miraculous cures; and the assumed gift of unknown tongues, have been regarded as tests of character, and as authorising individuals to pronounce authoritatively on the spiritual state of others. Often have we been compelled during the year, in hearing the language of others, in reading the communications inserted in some periodicals, or transmitted to our own, to exclaim, " Ye know not what spirit ye are of. If ye bite and devour one another, take heed lest ye be destroyed one of another." If any thing could excuse that contempt for religious men so painfully evinced in some of the parliamentary discussions, it would be the bitterness, intolerance, and haughtiness evinced by some leading advocates on the platform, and in the committees of religious societies. This conduct has, we conceive, in many instances excited considerable jealousy, and distrust of religious and benevolent institutions, and in consequence has diminished their funds, and thus impeded their progress and usefulness. We are not indeed to estimate the usefulness of any particular society by the wealth in its Treasury; but if Missionaries are to be maintained, children educated, or books distributed, it is obvious that, humanly speaking, any diminution in the funds necessarily involves a diminution of the instruments by whose exertions good is usually effected. The financial injuries are however of small importance, in comparison with the moral mischiefs which result. How is the infidel hardened in his unbelief by detecting the very slight foundation on which claims to miraculous interpositions have recently been advanced. What disgusting exhibitions of brain-sick enthusiasm, or designing hypocrisy have been manifested by recent pretenders to the gift of unknown tongues. How has the inquirer after truth been checked and discouraged, and the partially-impressed become hardened by perceiving the unhallowed spirit, the unguarded tempers, and the harsh recriminations of leading religionists! The grace of God can overcome every obstacle, and educe good out of evil: but, judging after the manner of men, we are constrained to observe that the conduct of many pious and excellent men during the last year, has most directly tended to impede the progress, and injure the cause of that religion which they profess. Oh! what cause have we all to seek for the spirit of love, of peace, and of a sound mind! How far God in his inscrutable wisdom and righteous judgment may see fit to visit us with severe chastisements, because of our iniquities, is known only to himself. But that dreadful complaint the Cholera has we fear at length arrived at our shores. We have so long been exempted from a pestilential visitation, that many disregard the danger, and seem to think it impossible that those desolating effects which have been produced in other nations should be witnessed in our land. But the whole course and progress of this fearful disease may well lead to an opposite conclusion. No barrier has as yet impeded its advances. To no place has it arrived without sweeping away multitudes. No certain means have yet been discovered of averting, scarcely of alleviating its assaults. Surely true wisdom should therefore lead us to set our house in order. We like others may die and not live-we may never see another year-if mercifully spared again to raise our Ebenezer and say, "Hitherto the Lord hath helped us," we shall not regret that under the prospect of impending danger we had examined our ways, repented truly of our sins, sought for mercy through the Redeemer's precious blood-shedding, devoted ourselves afresh unto God through Christ, fervently supplicated the renewing, enlightening, strengthening, sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit. But if called to depart, to leave our post, to relinquish aH below, to separate from our partners, our children, our family, our people-Oh! what portion so truly desirable as the portion of those who have fled for refuge unto Jesus Christ, who have obtained pardon through him, and who are through his atoning sacrifice and prevailing intercession, intitled to an admission into his heavenly kingdom! We close another volume. Again would we gratefully acknowledge the kind support and assistance we have received. Again would we adore the goodness and mercy of our God who has not left us without witness during the year that is past. Again would we seek his gracious blessing, and entreat the prayers of his people, and the renewed contributions of our Christian friends that our work may long continue as a humble instrument of good to the Church and the world; and that if those who now conduct this publication should be called before another year to lie down in the dark chamber of the grave, other instruments may be raised up, more able, faithful, zealous, devoted, who may testify of Jesus, make mention of his salvation, point out the good and right way, warn against impending danger, encourage to increasing exertion, and thus work the work of him that hath sent them while it is day, remembering "the night cometh, when no man can work." |