was delirious,―her widowed mother, who needed help her self, stood by her bed to watch and help her, and the helpless little ones were by, but there was no father for them, nor any husband for their mother. I wept while I looked on the sad spectacle, and my prayers were full of sorrow. I lamented much the lot of the afflicted one before me, but I lamented more the folly of those multitudes who were exposing themselves to similar sorrows, by putting off the day of their salvation.

In one case, I knew a man who, while living in the neglect of religion, married an ungodly woman. He was at length awakened to the danger of his state, and he gave himself to God, and began to meet in my class. When his wife found that he would no longer encourage her in her evil ways, she began to oppose him. He still went forward, but her opposition became more violent. She had become a slave to the love of intoxicating drink, and she was resolved if possible to force him back from the ways of God. When nothing else seemed to prevail on him, she threatened to put an end to her own life, and while he was at chapel, or when he came back, she would go out, avowing that to be her purpose. He was wearied and perplexed beyond measure. At length she persuaded him to give up going to class; she then succeeded in keeping him from chapel, and I never heard that he attempted to turn his feet into the ways of religion more.

C. J. HASLAM'S CHALLENGE, ETC.

SOME time ago a person sent me a pamphlet to read, written by C. J Haslam, a Socialist The author of this pamphlet contended, that all the crimes and miseries that prevail in our country were the effects of Christianity, and that crime and misery could never be done away with, until Christianity should be abolished. The pamphlet abounded in the grossest misrepresentations of Christianity, and in the most unjust insinuations. As I read the pamphlet, I wrote down my thoughts on the margin, and at the end I wrote the challenge contained in the first of the following letters. The person who had sent me the pamphlet, when he found what I had written, sent it to the author, who thereupon pub lished the following letter in the Socialists' weekly publication. wrote the second letter in reply to it, and the third is C. J. Has

lam's strange conclusion of the business. The letters will tend to show how backward the calumniators of Christianity are to come to a fair discussion of the question. There is not an infidel in the country that can prove any thing to the discredit of Christianity itself; the whole of the infidel's strength lies in misrepresentation.

To the Rev. J. Barker.

Rev. Sir,-A friend of mine at Mossley, has sent my little pamphlet entitled, "The Necessity of a Change," in the margiu of the last page of which I find the following words written in pencil:

"I challenge the author of this to a public discussion any "day; I undertake to prove that his insinuations against Chris"tianity are false and wicked.

"J. BARKER."

It seems that you have honoured this little publication of mine with a perusal, and that its operation upon your mind has brought forth this expression of feeling.

Now, Sir, in the first place, this publication itself contains a challenge to you, and to all ministers of the Gospel in the country; and therefore, for you to challenge me was rather out of place; it was quite unnecessary.

And in the second place, I beg to inform you that you have greatly mistaken the matter of that publication, if you suppose it contains any "insinuations" whatever against Christianity. I have stated every thing in the plainest, fairest, and most direct language I could use. My assertions against your blundering and irrational proceedings are open and direct, and the reasoning upon which they are grounded is, in my opinion, effective and logical; and therefore to talk about "insinuations" was as much out of place as to challenge me when I had already challenged you. Your business, Sir, is to set to work and answer that publication; to show that its reasoning is defective and illogical, and that its assertions are false. It contains matter which seriously affects the whole of your proceedings; and if you do not answer it you will be acting the part of a dishonest man, and deceiving the people into the bargain.

If you dare not venture upon the publication of a pamphlet, the Editor, I dare say, will allow you to answer it through the medium of this publication; and if I do not answer every objection you can urge as completely as objections can be answered, I will frankly acknowledge my errors, and become as sincere a Christian as yourself.

Hoping, therefore, you will reply either in the one way or the other, and begging to inform you that I have another little pamphlet in the press, and that it contains matters against your doctrine as serious, if not more so, than even "The Necessity,"

and that as soon as you have finished "The Necessity," you will be kind enough to start and answer this,

I am, most respectfully, Manchester, Jan. 18, 1838. C. J. HASLAM. P.S. For your information, "The Necessity of a Change" has, in the course of a few months, gone through two editions of 2000 copies each; if, therefore, you think its principles are false, you will answer them with the least possible delay. C. J. H.

To the Editor of the New Moral World.

Mr. Editor,-A friend of mine has sent me a copy of your periodical for January 27th, 1838, containing a letter addressed to me by C. J. Haslam, on which, with your permission, I would make a few remarks.

In the first place, I would observe, that though I am not very anxious for a public discussion, yet, provided satisfactory arrangemenfs can be made, and my health should be continued, I shall not object to one. I shall consider myself pledged to meet C. J. Haslam, and to prove that his "insinuations" or "assertions" against Christianity, contained in his pamphlet, are false.

It will, however, be necessary, before we enter into a controversy, for us to understand the ground which each intends to take. I understand C. J. Haslam to say, that Christianity is the cause of all the misery and crime that afflict our country. This is insinuated in his pamphlet, from beginning to end. It is on this point that I pronounce C. J. Haslam in error, and that I am prepared to meet him. I undertake to show that Christianity produces none of the misery or crime under which the country groans; that Christianity cannot produce misery or crime; that Christianity produces good wherever it operates,-good of the highest kind, good of every kind, and nothing but good. C. J. Haslam cannot produce one Christian doctrine that causes crime and misery. There is no doctrine of responsibility taught in the New Testament, that can give birth either to" hatred or anger," or any evil feeling or affection. Whatever doctrines may be taught in other books, there are no dangerous or mischievous doctrines taught in the New Testament.

Now it is the NEW TESTAMENT by which I am guided in my religious opinions, and it is Christianity AS TAUGHT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, that I undertake to defend. This is my standard book-my book of reference and authority. I defend no other book. C. J. Haslam's charges may be applicable to MANY OTHER religious books; but the question is, are they applicable to the New Testament? Systems may exist, and bear the NAME of Christian, which tend to evil; but ARE these systems Christian? Are they the systems of the New Testament? If I were to denounce Socialism, and offer to prove that it produces lewdness, selfishness, and blood, I should make the standard works of the Socialists my books of reference in the controversy. I should not think myself at liberty to reckon every thing Socialism which any foolish man might choose to call Socialism. So C. J. Haslam must do. He must not take catechisms, creeds, sermons, or systems of MEN's framing, for Christianity; but the system laid down in the New Testament. Now, C. J. Haslam gets wrong here. He makes no

distinction between Christianity AS IT IS, and Christianity as IT IS MISREPRESENTED TO BE. In his pamphlet he confounds Christ's system with the systems which ignorant or wicked men have framed. And in his letter to me, he makes no difference between Christianity and "my blundering and irrational proceedings." But," my blundering and irrational proceedings" are not Christianity. I do not undertake, therefore, to defend "my blundering and irrational proceedings," nor any one's proceedings; I undertake to defend Christianity only.

C. J. Haslam says, my business is to set to work and answer his pamphlet, if I think it erroneous. I would inform him that I have answered it already, in the fifth number of my weekly publication, called “The Evangelical Reformer, and Young Man's Guide." I have answered it many times over, so far as it contains charges against Christianity, and I am refuting all such productions every week. I have also refuted his charges in a work entitled "The Character and Tendency of Christianity." If C. J. Haslam will read these works, he will see on what ground I stand, and be able to judge whether he ought to engage with me in a discussion on this subject. If he cannot procure couies of my works, I will send him copies, if he pleases; but they may be had through his own publi her. As I do not take in "The New Moral World," and as I have a weekly publication of my own to look after, besides a great deal of work in forming and nursing communities, founded on principles of truth as well as charity, I shall not write further to you, Mr. Editor, nor notice any other communications addressed to me through your work. If C. J. Haslam chooses to engage in a discussion on fair terme, let him answer me in a private letter, or by personal interview. I will pay the postage of my letters, and he can pay the postage of his. Hooing that truth and charity will still prevail, until they have filled the earth with blessings, and filled the hearts of men with peace, and hope, and joy, I remain yours truly,

JOSEPH BARKER.

P. S. If C. J. Haslam should not think proper to meet me on the ground I have marked out,-if it be errroneous modifications of Christianity only .which he thinks mischievous, and not Christianity itself, the matter drops; only I should hope that C. J. Haslam will speak more guardedly and correctly for the future. He should learn not to confound things that differ as widely as light and darkness.

If the Socialists had rather some abler person should meet me than C. J. Haslam, I have no objection to meet any one whom they may think proper to put forward; I would as soon meet Robert Owen as any other.

C. J. Haslam will be at liberty to publish our correspondence, if he thinks proper, and I shall consider myself at liberty to do the same.

To the Editor of the New Moral World.

Sir, I see that Joseph Barker has at last answered the letter I addressed to him about three months since. He has been a most miserable long time over it, and a precious piece of composition it is now that it is come. I would answer Joseph Barker in the New Moral World, could you spare room, but knowing your limited space, and having a great many things to say to Joseph Barker, I take this opportunity of informing him, that in a few days a small tract w ll appear, in which a full answer will be given, not only to his learned and bulky epistle, but also to a small publication of his to which his epistler fors. He pretends that this publication contains an answer to my pamphlet, entitled "The Necessity of a Change." I shall show him whether it does or not. I am, respectfully,

Manchester, April 6th.

C. J. HASLAM.

I have not one reproachful word to utter against Mr. Haslam; but this letter is certainly a strange answer to my public and decisive acceptance of his challenge. But perhaps I shall be better employed with the eager searchers after truth, than in contending with its opponents.

Published by I.. DAVIS, 22, Grosvenor-street, Stalybridge; Bancks and Co., Exchange-street; Heywood, Oldham-street, Manchester; R. Groombridge, 6, Panyer Alley, Paternoster Row, London; and may be had of all Booksellers. [CAVE and SEVER, Printers, Manchester.]

EVANGELICAL REFORMER,

AND YOUNG MAN'S GUIDE.

BY JOSEPH Ᏼ Ꭺ Ꭱ Ꮶ Ꭼ Ꭱ.

Published every Saturday.-Price One Penny, or in Monthly Parts, price Five-pence.

No. 19.

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 1838.

VOL. I.

HONESTY.

I WOULD exhort my young friends to set out on their journey through life, with the determination to be honest in every thing. Whatever you may have to do, whether in the church or in the world, act on the strictest principles of the Gospel. Learn what the Gospel teaches, bear its instructions in your mind, and frame all your proceedings in agreement with these instructions. Have your conscience well enlightened, and then obey its promptings and suggestions in every thing.

you

And let it be manifest to all with whom you have to do, that you have but one rule of conduct, and that that rule is the word of Christ. If persons wish you to do what is wrong in any thing, refer them to your rule. If they plead custom in their favour, tell them that do not profess to be guided by custom, but to reform the customs of the age, and fashion them according to the principles of the Gospel. If they appeal to interest, and insinuate that you must suffer loss and inconvenience if you follow not the established customs of the world, ask them, "What is a man profited, if he should gain the whole world, and lose his soul ?" and tell them that you have confidence in God, and that you are persuaded, you do what is right, that God will give you what is

if

best.

There is a great want of this regard to principle, in