by itself, the writer of this article cannot but say there was an error somewhere.

Since, however, the fact is, that almost all the supplies which the direct followers of Whitefield could furnish, from the London Tabernacle, and Tottenham Court-road Chapel, Bristol Tabernacle, and many other places, as well as from the chapels of the late Mr. Hill, were appropriated to another seminary, it is not fair to blame Cheshunt College for not working out all Whitefield's designs. This is first to cut off the supplies both of men and money, and then to blame the ministry for not carrying on the war with increasing spirit.

Mr. P. has, in the rapture of his piety, given the heavenly inhabitants a pledge, and has published it to all the earth, that they shall hear more of Cheshunt College. We doubt not that good intelligence will always be hailed by them with gratitude-and may they often hear good news from Cheshunt; but it would be well for Mr. P. to remember, that the way for him to contribute to this desirable event is, not to seek a violation of all the principles of equity by destroying its old rules, and rendering it most unlike Whitefield's; not to discourage young men of piety and talent from seeking its advantages by intimating that it is the least among the schools of the prophets; not by complimentary allusions to Whitefieldian managers on earth, and by apostrophes to the spirits of the just made perfect in heaven, but by feeling himself, and by endeavouring to make his own brethren feel, as well as the good of other denominations, that as the Countess of Huntingdon's College was the FIRST of the schools of the prophets in the revival of religion in the last century, as it has sent out many of the most useful men in the past age, and has some yet alive, of whom no College devoted to the glory of Christ needs be ashamed, and as it has been for some years past, and still is working better than it ever did before, in cherishing useful education and evangelical zeal, it has, in many respects, an especial claim on their commendation, their pecuniary contributions, and their prayers.

DR. BRISK, THE VICAR OF NEWTHAM, HIS ILLNESS AND DEATH.

"The next quarter-day on which Mortimer, the curate, was to appear again before the proud vicar, he was aroused at five o'clock in the morning to attend the sick bed of Dr. Brisk! He was urgently called by a clergyman of the town, the Doctor's particular friend. He instantly rose and accompanied him. I have sent for you, Mr. Mortimer,' said the Doctor, to ask you if you know any one whom I have offended; if so, will you entreat them to forgive me? Oh! I am about to die! and what account

can I give of such a parish as this, of thirty thousand souls? What shall I do? I feel my guilt and my negligence.' Just then came in the Rev. Dr. Spender, and hearing him thus bemoaning himself, he said, 'Oh, Doctor, Doctor, do not be cast downwho has done their duty better than Dr. Brisk? Oh! if we had all done our duty as diligently and faithfully as Dr. Brisk has, we need not fear.' Get out of the room, you flatterer,' said the Doctor; leave me, leave me. You know you utter falsehoods to cheat me, but I will look at the truth. I wish to see Mr. Mortimer alone.' When the dismayed Doctor quitted the apartment, he said, Come near, Mr. Mortimer, I have sent for you to talk freely. My conscience is in agony-my heart sinks! What shall I do? How shall I give an account of my thirty thousand parishioners ?' 'Take courage, Doctor,' said Mortimer, 'to look at your state, however agitated-take a full view of your case, however bad; and then go, as a humbled sinner, with repentance and faith to the cross of Christ, as your only hope.'Ah, I knew this is the only way,' said the Doctor. I have not committed any very grievous sins, but I know myself a sinner; I have great defects and omissions-I must fly to my Saviour only-no merits of mine will save me. Oh! my heart sinks. Mark my words-my spirits and my heart are broken. I thought myself somebody, but I feel I am nothing. The very people tell me I know nothing of the Gospel. The hand of God is upon me. I shail, I feel I shall-mark my words-I shall go mad, and then I shall die!' After a long pause, he proceeded, 'But before this, while my faculties are continued to me, I wish to take the holy sacrament, and surrender up my soul to God. And now I have driven those flatterers away, I will take it with you alone.'

"How child-like now became the man who made Northampton wonder, and the clerk, the sexton, and all around him tremble at his frown, and start at his voice! Here was the whisper and the sigh of a spirit once proud and unsubdued, and the faltering accents of a mind fearfully looking forward to the day of reckoning! He took the sacrament with trembling fear and awe, and begged Mortimer to pray for him, and visit him again in the evening. This he did; he still recurred to the same subjects, as though his mind could find no rest but as he sought the Divine mercy, and was groping his way out of darkness, doubt, and fear, into the light of hope. As Charles was about to quit, Dr. Brisk exclaimed, 'Visit me, Mr. Mortimer, again and again.'

"It was found necessary to have two to sit up with him. The clerk who sat up said, that he would exclaim, when he supposed his

attendants asleep, My God! my God! why afflictest thou me thus? what have I done that thou layest such a burden upon me? Why these fears, and frights, and agonies?' Then he would say again, 'The curse of God is upon me, and will be upon all that befriend me. Wretch that I am, all must abhor me, and so must God! I know not the Gospel, and yet pretend to preach it. I had the cure of souls, and did not attempt to cure my own!' The next night Mortimer called, and found Miss Brisk, his sister, alone. She was joined by Dr. Spender, as before mentioned. 'I have just returned,' he said, 'from seeing your brother, and have been attempting to amuse him with telling him the news of the town; and I thought I succeeded in diverting his thoughts. Oh! you should be cautious never to mention any thing of religion to him; it sends him off directly! I hope, Mr. Mortimer, you will be careful, when you visit him--avoid all mention of religion to him.' 'I certainly shall,' said Mortimer, talk to him of nothing else, for I know that he wishes to talk on no other subjects-that he flies to religion as his only comfort; but if you try, by your delusive methods, as you say, to amuse a burdened and a broken spirit like his, you will only skin the wound, without healing it. Depend upon it, religion, rightly received and permanently sought, is the true cure.' I totally disagree,' said the Doctor, and I protest you are the greatest enemy of Dr. Brisk and of his sister, if you do talk to him of religion.' And they instantly agreed that it was best Mortimer should not see him that night. Every night he called, the answer was, 'The Doctor is too ill to be seen.' He was told that Dr. Brisk often called for him, and wished to see him; but he could never be admitted more; his friends prevented his having those near him who might have soothed and comforted his spirit. Deceived and cajoled-then checked and coerced, his awful prediction was soon verified-he went mad! He continued mad two years. Three days of lucid interval was granted him before his death, in which his reason regained her wonted seat. Often did he inquire after Mortimer-he acknowledged it was all right-God had done all this to punish him for his sins-to humble his proud spirit, and to bring him, like a docile child, to seek after salvation at the foot of the Saviour's cross-and then he died!"-The Two Oxford Students, pp. 504-7.

Assuming that the above extraordinary narrative is most correctly true, though many years have elapsed since it took place, it affords another melancholy confirmation of "What and Who says it?" While we admire the fidelity of Mr. Mortimer, how la

mentable to know that many penitents, like Dr. Brisk, who are awakened to see their former errors and their awful responsibilities, are yet surrounded with cruel flatterers, who seem determined to carry on the delusion of self-righteousness to the last!

REMARKABLE ANSWER TO PRAYER.

SIR,-The following account was related to me by Captain B-, who was master of the L- of London, and occurred in the year 178-, during the then war with America.

He was taking out, as passengers, the wife and two children of the governor of Quebec, (who I believe was then Sir Guy Carleton ;) they sailed under convoy, and arrived safe in the mouth of the St. Lawrence; he pushed forward; (being an experienced man, and having so valuable a charge of passengers ;) they met with a heavy storm, and he became wholly at a loss, (for I am sorry to add he was not then a religious character;) a message came to him from Lady C., and he went into the cabin she asked him if there was not danger, and he endeavoured to evade the truth; she said she was convinced by his manner it was so, and she now knew what she had to do. On her knees she then committed herself, the children, and all on board to the mercy of that God who rules the waves, and my narrator said he never heard such a prayer before, nor such complete resignation shown in any instance. Some hours more passed, when they found themselves quiet, although from the darkness they could see nothing. In the morning they found they were in a small Bay, surrounded with high rocks, and a small passage into it, little larger than admitted their entrance. They put the boat into the sea, and went ashore, (for it was then calm,) to discover if there were any inhabitants, and to learn where they were; the only persons they found were a shipwrecked Canadian family, who had made this their refuge during the whole winter, and were then reduced to the last means of support. They had to wait some days for wind and weather to take them out, during which time the other ships had made their passage safe to Quebec, and the belief was universal that the governor was deprived of his wife and children, and that the ship, with all in her were totally lost. At length the L got up to her moorings, and the scene was changed to joy and thankful

ness.

Reader! can you help praising that God who is thus mighty to save, even to the uttermost, and who thus showed a double mercy to those who put their trust in Him in the day of trouble. Exercise thy faith

in the Lord God Jehovah, and you may hope for deliverance at all times and on all occasions. A SEXAGENARIAN.

PROVINCIAL.

AN ENTIRELY DISINTERESTED CASE.

To the Editor of the Evangelical Magazine. MR. EDITOR,-From reading an interesting article on the statement of our Village population in your Number for July, 1837, I am induced, through the same medium, to make an appeal to those pious and benevolent persons who are desirous, I am persuaded, to "honour the Lord with their substance" in promoting the prosperity of the Redeemer's kingdom, did they know through what channel it might be most effectually done. Under the influence of this impression I am anxious to lay before them the following statement.

Nearly two years ago, I was under the necessity, from declining health, of separating myself from a people of the Independent denomination, with whom I had been connected nearly twenty-eight years, and whom I left under peaceful and prosperous circumstances.

I was directed by the Providence of God, in connexion with events over which I had no control, to take up my abode in a populous village (numbering more than two thousand) in an awful state of moral darkness and delusion. It contains a small Episcopalian Church, in which I am informed, from the best authority, only eighty separate sittings are reserved for the

poor.

Finding matters thus, and my health being improved, my first object was to obtain as large a room as I could get, and fit it up as a place of worship. In dependence on God's blessing I opened it on the 16th of October, 1836, when it was crowded in the extreme. Since that period I have regularly preached (gratuitously) on the Sabbath and Wednesday evenings; -on the latter occasions the room has been well attended, and on the former uniformly filled with most attentive hearers, and to that degree, so as to render the services painfully distressing both to them and myself.

The state of things seems now to have reached that crisis, that unless we can obtain a place of worship, I shall feel under the necessity of relinquishing my exertions, which would be to me a most painful consideration. I may also state that, in connexion with our present circumstances, numbers have frequently returned, not being able to gain admittance.

Under these considerations I have been endeavouring to raise a fund for the purpose of building a neat Chapel, without a gal

Should any of your readers be disposed to aid this object, I shall feel obliged by their forwarding that assistance without delay to the Borough Bank, Liverpool, and I pledge myself, that should the Chapel not be built in the course of the year 1838, the sums received shall be returned. I am sure there are many who feel with me, that to be instrumental in establishing the preaching of the Gospel in any town or village, is bestowing a blessing of incalculable value, not only on the present, but future gene

rations.

I remain,

Dear Sir, Yours very truly, THOMAS SLEIGH.

Wavertree, near Liverpool, Nov. 27th, 1837.

WALES.

To the Editor of the Evangelical Magazine. SIR,-How very delightful it is to the friends of "pure and undefiled religion" that scarcely a month passes but that the readers of your invaluable Magazine are highly gratified, and I trust truly profited, in perusing its pages, containing so many "facts and figures" that prove to demonstration the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom both at home and abroad. The interesting communication of my esteemed friend, the Rev. James Raven, in the Number for November, will, I hope, encourage many zealous ministers and pious individuals to make a noble effort that every county in our beloved country may be as highly favoured with evangelical instruction as that of Suffolk. The records of such Christian benevolence are made only with a hope that it may stimulate others to "go and do likewise." Permit me, therefore, to add another instance of pious and zealous Christian liberality, in erecting a house for God, by an individual in the principality of Wales.

The county town of Cardigan is, I believe,

second to none in the kingdom for its ChrisCan character and devoted attachment to public worship, and also highly favoured with evangelical instruction both in and out of the Establishment; but as it is what is caled a Welsh town, the service is conducted in the Welsh language in every place except in the parish church. A pious and excellent individual, a Dissenter from principle, lately taking up his residence in the town, felt the want of a place where the worship was conducted in the English language, as himself and lady knew not the Welsh; to meet this difficulty, and in compliance with the wishes of many other friends of evangelical religion, he has, with a generosity belonging to the Welsh character, erected a handsome chapel, where worship will be conducted in the English language, and according to the order of the English Congregational churches.

It was opened with praise and prayer, on the 3rd of Oct., and is to be called Hope Chapel. All the Dissenting ministers of the town, and many from other parts of the county, as well as the neighbouring counties of Pembroke and Carmarthen, attended and took a lively interest in this infant cause, and united in fervent prayer and holy wishes that the great Head of the Church may favour it with success in the conversion of souls to God.

The following was the order of service at the opening:-In the morning, the Rev. C. Hyatt, of London, commenced the service of the day by prayer and reading the

Scriptures; the Rev. Mr. Breeze, of Carmarthen, preached, and also the Rev. W. Warlow, of Milford; the Rev. Mr. Rees, (Baptist,) of Cardigan, closed with prayer.

In the afternoon, the Rev. D. Jones, (Baptist,) of Carmarthen, prayed; the Rev. John Davis, of Glandwyr, preached; as also the Rev. J. Bulmer, of Haverfordwest; and the Rev. J. Evans, of Hebron, concluded in prayer.

In the evening, the Rev. D. Davis, of Zion's-hill, commenced with prayer; the Rev. J. Griffiths, of St. David's, preached; and also the Rev. C. Hyatt, of London; when the Rev. W. Warlow concluded the interesting services of the day in prayer. The Rev. D. Davis, Independent Minister, of Cardigan, cheerfully assisted and gave out the hymns. No collection was permitted to be made at the time. But as the Baptist Missionary Society held their annual meeting in the town the following week, the Rev. C. Hyatt preached in the chapel the following Lord's-day, and collected for that excellent institution; thus giving a noble instance of a truly catholic spirit, that the first Sabbath-day, in an Independent chapel, a collection was made for a Baptist society; and while Hope Chapel, Cardigan, shall stand as a monument of Christian liberality in its erection, may its future congregations rise above a sectarian spirit, by following up the missionary spirit and liberal principles inculcated on the sacred Sabbathday, is the sincere prayer of,

A FRIEND TO HOME MISSIONARY EFFORTS.

EDUCATION OF MISSIONARIES' CHILDREN. MR. EDITOR,-The great interest the Christian public take, not only in the labours in which we are engaged, but the kind anxiety which is so generally manifested for our personal comfort, and for the future welfare of our families, is calculated to make a most salutary impression upon every sensitive mind; it lays us under a still greater obligation to a faithful, diligent, and laborious devotedness to the great work to which our lives and energies are consecrated. These feelings have been called incessantly into exercise since my arrival in England, and many, many times, with a full heart, and feelings in the highest state of excitement, occasioned by the overpowering kindness of friends, have I re-consecrated my talents and my life to the great cause in which so much interest is expressed. The announcement, some few months ago, of an intention on the part of several excellent

and influential ladies to attempt the formation of an establishment for the parental oversight and education of missionaries' daughters was one of the occasions to which I allude. That such an establishment would be hailed with feelings of grateful delight by missionaries in every part of the world, I think there can be no doubt, and this feeling would be greatly enhanced if it embraced a department for the sons also. That there exists a necessity for such an establishment is evident, by the fact, that when children are left in, or sent to, England for education, a great difficulty is experienced by their friends to know where to place them; for the expense is too great to be borne by the missionaries themselves, as they are understood to receive from the Society no more than is absolutely necessary for their own support. In the event of our leaving two children for education, it will take every fraction of the annual stipend we receive

from the Society to defray the expenses that will be incurred. A brother missionary's son, who has been sent home for education, has been residing with us for nearly six months; the friend to whose care he is consigned being perplexed to know where to send him. These instances, with others that might be adduced, show clearly the necessity there exists for such an institution as that which it is proposed to establish. The parents, I feel couvinced, would gladly contribute as great a sum as their circumstances would allow, say ten pounds per annum for each child, or something less in particular cases. I should imagine also that the Society would rejoice in the establishment of such an institution, and would contribute a given amount according to the number of children admitted, for it would certainly relieve them from a great and growing difficulty. Sincerely hoping that nothing will prevent the proposed institution from being carried into full and effective operation, I remain, Sir, Yours very truly, J. WILLIAMS.

31, Bedford-square.

EVANGELICAL CHURCH AT LYONS.

DEAR SIR,-I have to acknowledge the receipt of the sums mentioned in your present month's Magazine, to the amount of 177. 108., and beg, in the name of the church of Lyons, to thank the kind friends who have so readily responded to the appeal made in your October number. I am happy to be able to state that I have found, during my stay in London, considerable interest in favour of this new and interesting cause, and am confident that this feeling will be productive of active effort to enable the Gospel to be preached to those who otherwise would be absolutely in midnight dark

ness.

It will, no doubt, be interesting to British Christians to know that our call has been listened to on the other side of the Atlantic. We have already received from one town, Baltimore, nearly one thousand francs. Since the appeal above alluded to was written, we have seen more clearly than ever the urgency of a prompt answer. Then our chapel was full, many being obliged to return without hearing the word of life; but now so crowded is it with those that remain, that scarcely a Sabbath passes without several persons being completely overcome with the pressure and the heat. Though, from the impossibility of the chapel holding more persons, the congregation has not increased since that time, yet we have to rejoice that the spirit of inquiry after Gospel truth is rapidly extending.

We rejoice, too, that we are in a position

to discover and profit by it. We have several colporteurs, or hawkers of the Scriptures, religious books, &c.; whenever they find persons desirous of holding conversation on religious subjects their address is immediately taken and given to our pastor, Mr. Cordes. Their cards are distributed among our visitors at their monthly meeting, according to the part of the town in which they reside, who forthwith repair to their dwellings, and repeat their visits as often as possible; and rarely do they fail in leading them to the chapel, where the preaching of the word is blessed to their souls. Latterly we have found that the number of visitors, though considerable, is quite insufficient, and we have a male and female visitor whose time is almost wholly employed in this blessed work. The former, prior to my leaving Lyons, had more than one hundred families on his list, a number that, a year ago, our most sanguine hopes would not have permitted us to anticipate. Our Bible and tract distributions are extensive. With respect to this department, it is very remarkable that during the last year, a year of the greatest distress in Lyons, a most unprecedented number was sold; a number, indeed, far surpassing that which was sold two years since, when abundance reigned on all sides-thus it is, that afflictive dispensations lead to God. Those who in plenty could not find money to purchase the word of God, in their deep distress can now economise sufficient for that purpose. I shall conclude this letter, already too long, with an anecdote showing the feeling of the Roman Catholics with respect to the tract distributions, and the means (worthy of the cause!) that they employ to stop them.

A short time since, during the temporary absence of our depositor of Bibles and tracts, two persons, apparently gentlemen, called at his house, and on seeing his wife produced a letter, which they said they had just received from a Mr. B., of Vienne, (a neighbouring town where some meetings had been held and tracts distributed,) stating that he wished for an immediate supply of tracts, that the last had done much good, &c. They were permitted to take away about three or four hundred. These they said were not sufficient, and they were to call the following day for more. Our depositor arrived unexpectedly the same evening, and suspected that all was not right, as he had no knowledge of Mr. B. whose name was mentioned; the next day, however, the same persons returned, and were requested by him to accompany him to a friend's close at hand. One of them did so; the person to whose house he was conducted is a pious inspector of police, a member of the church, formerly a Catholic; before him the person who obtained the tracts was requested to