Spalding is a neatly built and clean-looking place. "A fairer town" (says Camden), "I assure you, than a man would look to find in this tract, among such slabs and water-plashes." But the water-plashes have, since Camden's time, been drained off; and the fen country around is now admirable, productive land, distributed into thriving farms. masonry; under which the artist has added a de- is the grammar school, which has a considerable pressed arch of light open stone-work, filling up endowment. Dr. Bentley was for a time master of the spaces with a centre quatrefoil, and leaves this school. Had that eminent man displayed or branches trefoiled on either side. The design here those stirring qualities which afterwards is rich, and the effect light and elegant. Above distinguished him, he would well-nigh have the arch are three recesses, with pedestals on the frightened the good town from its propriety. base, and canopies ornamented with delicate taber-But it was in his early days that he filled the nacle-work. They contain a glazed window, to office, and he was soon removed to a larger and give light to a room over the porch, which was more public sphere. doubtless intended for a galilee, but now contains the ecclesiastical library, and are flanked by small octofoils, also glazed. The ceiling of the porch is groined and ribbed with stone; and the inner entrance has a trefoil arch within an ogee, profusely charged with mouldings; and the upper portion exhibits three tabernacles, with canopies to correspond with those on the outside, which bear some remains of figures on the pedestals. On each side of the porch was originally a perpendicular window; but they are now blocked up. At the west end of the north aisle is a handsome window of three lights, with good tracery: in the north wall are two similar windows. The south transept has in the south wall a fine window of three lights: the opposite transept has a window in the north gable of four lights cinquefoiled, and having a four-centred arch filled with intersecting tracery, forming quatrefoils. In the east wall are two windows; one with perpendicular tracery similar to those in the north aisle, and the other with decorated tracery. At the west end of the nave is the usual entrance: above has once been a very splendid window, but now without mullions or tracery. The clerestory is pierced by windows of three lights each, with perpendicular tracery: in THE VALUE OF THE SABBATH TO THE the east end is a handsome window of five lights. The chancel has, in the south wall, two good windows of two lights each, trefoiled, with trefoiled tracery in the north wall, against the rood turret, is a small window of three lights, with decorated tracery, and a large square-headed window of five lights: in the east gable of the chancel is a window of four lights, with perpendicular tracery. The river Welland, on which the town is built, flows into the Wash, about 7 miles below Spalding. It is a sluggish stream, but admits vessels of 50 or 60 tons burden. Formerly a canal, called the Westlode, ran through the streets; over which was an old bridge, said to have been of Roman date; but this cazal has been filled up. The place possesses a town-hall and sessions-house: it is lighted with gas, and of late a railroad has united it to the exterior world. The population, it may be added, at the last census, was 7.778. Though, therefore, the parish church is a large one, it can hardly be sufficient for the number of the inhabitants. LABOURING CLASSES*. THE rest of the sabbath is invaluable to the labourer who is desirous of cultivating his own mind by study, of strengthening and gaining the control of his intellectual powers, or of increasing his stock of knowledge by reading. When he returns from his daily labour, to enjoy "The interior is so encumbered with pews and his brief hour of leisure in the evening, his system galleries and other nuisances, that the fine effect is too much exhausted by his previous exertion, of an otherwise beautiful and very spacious inte- and consequently his animal spirits too much derior is greatly marred. The nave is supported pressed, for close application of mind or energy of on five pointed arches, springing from clustered thought. If he attempt to peruse any really columns; and the transept on a pair of arches, serious and useful author, he not unfrequently with columns of the same description. The roof falls asleep with the book in his hand. The lighter is of oak, the beams and timbers tastefully carved, pages of the novelist, with their intellectual inand ornamented on each side with projecting toxication, and too often pernicious views of human human figures in drapery, bearing shields, two of life and human nature, may be able by their exwhich are wanting. The chancel screen is a beau-citement to overcome, for a time, his fatigue; and tiful specimen of perpendicular tracery, and consists of eight arches, with the open-work well defined. The chancel itself is spacious, and lighted by six noble windows, and contains ample conveniences for the accommodation of a large body of communicants. Here Richard Fleming, bishop of Lincoln, who presided over the diocese from 1420 to 1430, held his episcopal ordinations. The altar-screen and rails are constructed of oak, with a pair of Corinthian pilasters on each side of the altar, and were the gift of Mary, the relict of Thomas Deacon, esq., in the year 1722, as appears from an inscription to that effect on the basement of the screen." In a building abutting upon the southern aisle of the church, and perhaps once forming a chapel, therefore, if he reads at all, for these, the works of the natural and moral philosopher, of the historian, the moralist, and the theologian, are laid aside; and thus his moral and intellectual nature, * From "The Pearl of Days." By a Labourer's Daughter. London: Partridge and Oakey. 1848. This is a very remarkable volume, replete with piety and good sense, and, as produced by one who had not enjoyed the advantages of education, is a singular proof of native talent. It was written in competition for the prize offered for an essay on the observ ance of the sabbath, by working men; but, for some reason we cannot exactly comprehend, unless it be the extraordinary one that it was by a working woman, it was deemed inadmissible. The It has, however, had a still better fate. queen has kindly allowed the volume to be dedicated to her; and already it has obtained a wide circulation. The extract we have made will give a specimen of the value of this book, which we heartily recommend to our readers.—ED. not receiving wholesome food or healthful exercise, becomes weak and diseased, and unfitted to fulfil the offices of enlightening him his passions and appetites, unrestrained by an enlightened conscience and cultivated understanding, lead him captive at their will; and his whole character and condition strikingly prove that, as a general rule, the degradation of one part of man's nature is the degradation of the whole. | wofully testify to the degrading effects of misusing its hallowed hours, and clearly demonstrate that it is "the sabbath of the Lord," the Lord's-day alone, as appointed by himself, which is really calculated to benefit mankind, and not a day of man's devising. And why? Because the sabbath-day is appointed by our all-wise Creator, by him who knoweth what is in man, and what is needful for man. And it is exactly suited to Is his temporal condition abject, his body sub.. man: it meets the wants at once of his physical jected to unremitting toil?—his intellectual condi- and intellectual constitution, and of his social and tion, too, is debased, and his mind enslaved. Is spiritual nature. He who wears purple and fine his intellect uncultivated, and his moral nature linen, and fares sumptuously every day, whose vitiated?-his outward appearance and condition hand has never been hardened, nor his brow are degraded, rude, and comfortless. The sab-moistened by toil, whose every day makes him bath, by the repose it affords, not only renews the companion and instructor of his family, and man's physical energy, renovates his animal sys- who, fresh and unwearied, can seat himself in his tem: it also qualifies his mind to apply itself to quiet study, and enjoy his daily returning hours self-culture, and to the acquisition of solid and of leisure, may slight the obligations of the sabuseful knowledge. Nor does it stop here: it bath, and break loose from its restraints, without, leaves him not unaided and unguided to grope in in the eye of his fellow-man, appearing to suffer darkness for the knowledge which is essential to in mind, character, or condition. But on him his well-being it pours upon his path a flood of whose daily returning wants call for strenuous light, opens wide the gate of knowedge, and bids and incessant exertion, that they may obtain a him enter. It leaves him not to mope alone over the needful supply, the abuse of sabbath hours is soon dreamy speculations of sceptical philosophers, who visible in a beggared and degraded mind, a dehave attained to no belief, who have no certainty praved moral character, and a consequently deor knowledge, but have chosen their perpetual graded condition in society; in squalid, untrained abode in those gloomy regions of darkness where children, and a comfortless home; and not unfrethe dense fogs of doubt are for ever settled, till quently in absolute want of the very necessaries his mental energy is exhausted and his mind un- of life. hinged. No it calls him forth in exulting joy to It might easily be shown that, among the nuseek the society of his fellow-men, that mind may merous advantages which the weekly rest affords awaken and strengthen mind, and heart warm the working man, is this, namely, that it gives heart; that they may ponder together the meaning him its rest, without diminishing in any degree of facts; facts attested by incontrovertible evidence; his means of subsistence and comfort. By prefacts the most sublime and interesting that have venting the seventh day from being brought into ever engaged the attention of man. It calls men the labour-market, it enables him to procure a retogether to study, in each other's society, a sys-muneration for six days' labour equal to that tem of morality pure and perfect, founded upon these facts. It furnishes him with subjects surpassingly glorious, in the contemplation of which he may exert and cultivate his intellectual powers. It inspires him with hopes which give him fortitude to endure the unavoidable evils of his condition, and energy to surmount its difficulties. Yes; the Lord's-day, with its communion with God, its memorials, its exercises, its instructions, and its social intercourse, ever as it returns gives a fresh impulse to human advancement. It is truly a fountain whence spring innumerable benefits. Not only does each returning sabbath give a new and powerful impetus to man's advancement in his heavenward course; but, in so doing, it urges him onward and upward in civilization, refine ment, and comfort. A day of rest, of cessation from active and toilsome exertion, is doubtless, as ministering to the health and vigour of the animal system, of immense value to working men. I have no hesitation, however, in affirming that, amongst those who view it in no other light than as a day of rest and recreation, as a season set apart to no higher purpose than that of refreshing and invigorating the body, it generally fails of accomplishing even this: they almost invariably devote the day to the service of their divers lusts and pleasures, while the neglected appearance of their families, and the jaded and abused state of their bodies, which, were there no such day, he would be able to obtain for seven. Although those who degrade the sabbath from its place as a religious institution, to a day of mere bodily rest and recreation, enjoy this advantage in common with him who regards the day in its proper character, as a day set apart for the public worship of God, and the study of his word, yet they are generally by far his inferiors in comfort and independence. It is no uncommon thing to find them, while actually engaged in some kind of employment which brings higher wages than the occupation followed by their neighbour obtains, before the closing of the week begging or borrowing from him the necessaries of life. Few will have mingled much among labouring men and their families, without meeting with many instances of this kind, all demonstrating the truth of what has already been advanced, that it is the Christian sabbath, observed as appointed by our Lord himself, that can ever really improve even the temporal character of the labourer, and that no human institution ever can supply its place, or have the same beneficial influence upon society. To the husband and father, whose family require his daily labour for their support, and who is anxious to impart to them that instruction which is so necessary to the perfect and healthful development of their mental powers, the sabbath is of inestimable value. Dearly as he loves to meet the joyous welcome of his little ones upon his return from his day's labour, pleasant as it is for him to enjoy their childish prattle, while they are seated together around the evening fire, yet, having just returned, exhausted by a day of toil, while they climb his knee, and chat over the little adventures of the day, they are more to him as playthings, than as beings the training of whose minds and habits for after-life is entrusted to him. This, during the six days of labour, devolves almost exclusively upon the mother; or, as is too often the case, it is utterly neglected, because it requires the most incessant and laborious exertions of both father and mother to enable them to obtain a subsistence for themselves and their offspring; and, were it not for the weekly return of sabbath-rest, and its opportunities for improve ment, they would grow up untrained, as the wild ass's colt. But the sabbath places the Christian father refreshed and vigorous in the midst of his family, his mind enlightened and enriched by its instruction, and his feelings soothed by its devotional exercises; thus fitting him to impart instruction in a manner at once calculated to reach the understandings and win the hearts of his little ones. What a delightful scene of tranquil enjoyment is to be met with in the family of the labourer, where the sabbath is properly appreciated and actively improved! Has the reader ever spent a Lord's-day in such a family? has he seen the children, waking from the light slumbers of the morning, glance round on the more than usual order, cleanliness, and quiet of the humble apartment, and then ask, Mother, what day is this? and heard the reply, This is the sabbath, the best of all days, the day which God has blessed? Has he seen their father dandling the baby, till their mother should finish dressing the elder children; and then, when all were ready, heard the little circle join in the sweet morning hymn, and seen them kneel together, while their father offered up a simple, but heartfelt thanksgiving for life, health, and reason preserved, through the toils of another week; and for the privilege of being again all permitted to enjoy, in each other's society, the blessed light of the first day of the week-that morning light which brings to mind an empty grave and a risen Saviour; those peaceful hours which, undisturbed by the labour, hurry, and anxieties of the week, they can devote to the advancement of that spiritual life in their souls, which shall outlive the destruction of death itself? Has he heard the words of prayer, the questions of the father, and the replies of the children? and has he not felt assured that the mind-awakening influences of such subjects of thought and such exercises would be seen in the after-years of these children? Or has he, on their return from the meetingplace of Christians, witnessed their afternoon and evening employments? Has he seen the eager and intelligent expression of those young faces, as the beautiful story of Joseph and his brethren was read aloud to them; or that of Daniel cast into the lions' den; or how the servants of the living God walked unhurt in the midst of the fire, whilst its flame slew those men who cast them in; or the narrative of the wandering prodigal, wretched and despised in a foreign land, whilst the meanest of his father's servants were living in abundance and comfort? Has he heard their voices, each low but earnest; and then listened to the reading of the word of God? heard the reciting by turn some beautiful hymns, or reading some interesting chapter, or engaged in conversation familiar and pleasant, though serious and instructive; children asking questions of parents, and parents of children, concerning what they have been hearing and reading during the day? And is not he who has been the spectator of all this convinced that such a day is to the labourer and his children an inheritance of surpassing value; that it is weekly adding a fresh impulse to their progress in improvement, and preparing them to take advantage of whatever opportunities the week may afford? Will not the sabbaths of their childhood leave an impression upon their future years which will never be effaced; an impress of superiority in intelligence and morality, and a consequent superiority in circumstances? con One important advantage which is nected with the observance of the Lord's-day, among the labouring population, is the influence which it has in elevating the mind, character, and condition of the female portion of the community. Where Christianity and its weekly rest are unknown, the condition of woman is abject in the extreme; but the religion of Jesus raises her from her degraded situation, by calling her forward to engage in the exercises, share the instructions, and receive the influences of its sabbath. The Lord's-day calls her thinking powers into action, gives her a mind and conscience of her own, cultivates her intellectual and moral nature, and gives her to man a helpmate indeed, fitted to become, not merely his slave or his toy, but the companion of his labours and his studies, his devoted friend, and his faithful and judicious adviser; not merely the mother and nurse of his children, but their intelligent instructor and guide, his most efficient assistant in their intellectual and moral training. And, if we consider the influence which the training that man receives in his early years has upon his character in after life-that, for the most part, in the families of working men, infancy and childhood are spent in the society of the mother, and therefore the impressions by which the character is, in a great measure, formed are made by her-we shall feel convinced that the cultivation of the female mind and character must have an incalculable influence upon the condition of the labouring population. It were worth ascertaining how many of those who have risen up from among the labouring population to adorn and bless humanity by their talents and their philanthropy, to enlighten and benefit society by useful and important discoveries in art and science, or by patient persevering labour to advance mankind in virtue and intelligence-how many of these had their minds awakened to activity, and their principles formed, by the instructions which hard-working parents were enabled to give them upon the Lord's-day, the only time they could devote to such a purpose. And would it not shed a fearful light upon this subject, could we possess ourselves of the history of the early sabbaths of those who have made themselves notorious by their crimes, or of those who, having sunk themselves deep in moral pollution, have destroyed themselves, degraded humanity, and cursed society by their vices? Would not such records give startling evidence of the ruinous effects resulting from the abuse of weckly rest, and clearly demonstrate the truth of what has been already advanced, that, were the sabbath abolished, or given to working men as a day of mere bodily refreshment and recreation, and not as a religious institution, they would soon be reduced to a condition worse than that of the untaught savage? Yes; man is equally liable to degenerate as he is capable of improvement-more so; for he must be aroused, urged forward, forced on, almost against his will: to take the downward path of degeneracy, he needs only to be left unmolested to choose his own way. Are there those who deny this? who look upon man as not a fallen and depraved being, shorn of the glory of his primeval excellency, ever liable to sink lower and degenerate farther, unless influences from without reach him; but as a being who has raised himself by the unaided exercise of the powers of his own mind, from a condition little above that of the brute creation to his present state? I ask them but to survey the page of human history, to become convinced of the absurdity of such an idea. Can they point to the records of any tribe of the human family which, from a condition of rude barbarism, and shut out from all intercourse with civilized nations, has ever raised itself above such a state? They cannot: it has uniformly been the entrance of the missionary, the trader, the emigrant, from more enlightened and civilized nations, which has changed the condition of such a people. Had it been as they say, had man been formed the being they represent him, and had the voice of God never reached his ear, had no celestial visitant ever arrived upon our planet, man had never risen one step above his first condition. If then, as the history of mankind abundantly proves, religion founded upon revelation be the only really efficient means by which man can be raised to that state of perfection he is capable of attaining; if, as we trace the progress of Christianity among the nations, we find an advancement in civilization following in her footsteps, and an amelioration of the social condition of the people marking her progress, may we not reasonably attribute to her seventh-day rest all the temporal blessings which, as she advances, she is conferring upon the labouring population? And would not the abolition of this institution, or the appropriation of sabbath hours to other than their proper use, be effectively to exclude those, who obtain their daily bread by the labour of their hands, from a participation in the benefits which the knowledge of revelation confers upon man? No more effectual step could be taken towards the demoralization, I had almost said the brutalization, of the labouring population, than that of inducing them to look upon it as a mere human holiday, which may be occupied in any way fancy may dictate. Barbarous and degrading sports, bull-baiting, cock-fighting, and such like; drunkenness, revelry, and riot, would, with fearful rapidity, take the place of the solemn assembly. He who would seek to enslave and degrade the working man could not more effectually accomplish his object than by persuading him to regard and occupy the sabbath as a day which he might spend in amusement. Were the Lord's-day blotted out, or spent in mere recreation; were the sons of toil no more to enjoy or avail themselves of its rich provisions for their instruction and elevation, not only should we soon see religion disregarded, that blessed light of heaven, that sunshine of the sky which is chasing the shadows of ignorance, and dissipating the mists of error and superstition; which is awakening man to spiritual life, arousing to healthful activity in him all the springs of moral feeling and intellectual energy; not only would this morning-beam be shut out from the sons of toil, those glad tidings which Jesus so frequently preached to the poor, in the weekly assembly upon the sabbath-day, be put without the reach of working men, but we should soon see them deprived of those civil institutions which secure to them personal liberty, and degraded to a condition of mere vassalage. MISSIONARY RECORDS. No. XLI. Thou, whose almighty word Chaos and darkness heard, And took their flight, Hear us, we humbly pray; And, where the gospel's day Sheds not its glorious ray, "Let there be light." BRITAIN'S MEED OF MISSIONARY PRAISE.— "How good it was in the Lord to select our sinful nation, and make it in this latter day his chief instrument in spreading his gospel through the world! How ought we to praise him that he used poor and weak instruments, that none might glory in his presence! What thanks are due to him, that so many doors of entrance have been opened into every part of the heathen world! What praise shall we render to him, that he has disposed his people to contribute above two millions of pounds sterling to this cause in the last fifty years! What praise especially can we render enough to him, that he has sent forth so many devoted labourers into his harvest; that many have sealed their testimony by sacrificing their health and their lives in unwholesome climates, that they might win souls to Christ! And still more how ought our songs to abound, in remembering the many thousands that have cordially embraced the gospel; of whom many have already been gathered to their heavenly rest, and thousands are now in different parts of the world proving and manifesting the grace of the gospel! What thanks we owe to him, that we have good hope that the word of God in their own tongue is so introduced, and the gospel is so firmly based now, in West Africa, India, Ceylon, New Zealand, and other countries, that it will grow and increase, and never more be cast out from those distant regions! Let us be careful to give all glory to our God; for he has said, Them that honour me I will honour; and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed'" (Rev. | trary; and it is a matter for much thankfulness E. Bickersteth). to observe with what avidity they learn the scrip- IRELAND, AND THE IRISH SOCIETY.--Its object is "to promote, by every means consistent with the principles and discipline of the established church, the scriptural instruction of the Irishspeaking natives. To carry out this object, the society-1. Employs native teachers to instruct the people to read the scriptures. 2. It distributes among this great Irish-speaking population the word of God in their native tongue. 3. It sends Irish scripture-readers among them, to read the bible, and converse with them; and, 4. It endeavours to provide for them resident Irishspeaking clergymen, to minister among them in their own language." There are now in connexion with the society five Irish-speaking clergymen, ten scripture-readers, 680 schoolmasters or readers, and 15,338 scholars, who have passed examina- | tion. "The effects of the famine," says the last monthly report of this important institution, important in a national, and much more so in a spiritual point of view, "have been two-fold. On the one hand, it has softened the hearts of the MOVEMENT AMONG THE EASTERN CHURCHES Irish people generally, humbled and broken them: IN PALESTINE. "In general, there is a on the other, it has exposed the deceit with which widely-spread movement among the people of this the priests so long kept themselves in a false point country. There are many individuals from Raof view before their people, by placing the pro- mah, Jaffa, Gaza, asking to be received into our testants and the English in a false point of church. They say that for some time they have view, and by maintaining a separation be- been reading the bible with many of their friends, tween them, as by a high wall, so that the and that they are convinced that their church is in deceit should be perpetuated. The famine has error. They are chiefly of the Greek church. cast down the wall: it has altered the false point An Arab chief, in particular, complained: You of view in both cases: it has brought English call yourselves ministers of Christ: you have the protestants in contact with the hearts of Irish gospel in your hands, and refuse to give it us, Romanists, and exposed Romish priests before who are perishing for want of it.' In Samaria their emancipated flocks. Hence there is a great (now Nablous) we find that the fire has been reaction at this moment in the feelings of the kindled, and all the Christian inhabitants have in Irish Romanists: that tide has turned in favour these days thrown off the yoke of their priesthood, of communication with the English and with pro- and separated from the Greek church. They now testants, and of receiving the instruction from ask for a protestant clergyman and a schoolthem, which the poor creatures are beginning to master, neither of which can be procured at prefeel has been shamefully withheld from them by sent. They state that they are resolved to form their own supposed teachers. Large numbers of themselves into a protestant community, and, as people come forward simultaneously, in different they say, to follow the religion of the gospel.' A and distant places, earnestly seeking to be taught: letter of late date from Samaria says: The peothey know nothing yet, except that they are igno-ple of Nablous seem to be firm: the field appears rant; a knowledge which opens the way for the reception of every other. This, then, is the time for action in Ireland, with reference to spiritual instruction; and the machinery of the Irish Society, which God has condescended to use in the preparation for this great crisis, adapts itself with equal fitness to take advantage of its results." In the report of the "Ladies' Hibernian Female School Society" will be found extracts from the letters of several individuals in various parts of the country, which justify fully the representation made by the Irish Society. For instance, we find, in the county of Longford, "there is at present amongst the Roman catholic peasantry of this country a more than ordinary desire after education, which the friends of scriptural education ought to make a more than ordinary effort' to meet." Again, another writer, from the county of Wexford, reports: "It is gratifying to know that there appears, as it were, a shaking' amongst the Roman catholic p pulation in this locality. The children will come,' notwith. standing the mandate of their priest to the con to be as white for the harvest as it was on a former occasion (John iv.). If a native congregation of true protestants can be formed at Nablous, their example will, no doubt, be followed in many other places. The Armenian Christians are also urgently supplicating for Christian instruction, which they feel they do not receive from their illiterate priesthood, some of whom actually cannot read.' In consequence of this opening, which the divine goodness appears to have made for the spread of his saving truth in the land of promise, some pious Christians in our own land, at the head of whom are the revs. H. B. Villiers, Dr. Marsh, and E. Bickersteth, have associated themselves for the purpose of sending forth scripture-readers to Palestine, Asia Minor, Egypt, and the adjacent countries, and have appealed for aid in their holy enterprise to their brethren of the church of England and its lay members." HEATHENISM AND THE SYRIAC CHURCH IN INDIA.-"The present church (at Changanore) is built on a hill; and the surrounding country is quite English. The elevated site renders .... |