grammar of the Baptist Magazine) "some symptoms of a compromising policy, a fear of giving prominence to certain strong truths which might be considered as uncourteous to the establishment?" Hanai! What can the Society have done? Has it allowed a solitary Christian sentiment to escape it, or written a solitary sentence with decent grammar? If so, the craft must, indeed, be in danger," and there is no wonder that the Baptist Magazine should call out in such choice English on the mal-practices of the society.

MODESTY.

EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE.

"LET such champions for truth as Mr. Girdlestone speak out on these things and, with a voice of thunder, demand the restoration of the Church universal. Does he know that all evangelical ministers are now prepared for this state of things; that they are ready to exchange pulpits with all the godly ministers of the establishment, and to admit to the communion table every member of the church of England, whom Mr. G. himself would regard as a true Christian ?"

After due thanks offered to all the evangelical ministers for their intended kindness, may one venture to remark that the notion of toleration involved in this declaration is, to say the least, novel? So the poor church of England is to be the only one in the world which is not to be allowed to have teachers who preach its own doctrines. But if it demurs to admitting strange preachers" into its pulpits, Mr. Girdlestone is to be sent for to demand their admission "in a voice of thunder." This is toleration indeed!

A few literary "beauties" are here furnished from a periodical-the Catholic Magazine. The writer, in an article upon the "Emancipation of the"-Turks? no, their turn is not come yet, but the "Jews," talks about "religious persecution!!!" (May number,) but can nevertheless pen the following passages (p. 178, March)-" Its own" (he is speaking of the Established Church)" communicants, as well as Catholics and Dissenters, are quite wearied out with the system of spoliation, by which, through the various contrivances of church rates, tithes, offerings, fees and expenses of a thousand kinds, they are plundered, and their families impoverished to aggrandize the haughty, insolent, and voluptuous members of an ecclesiastical aristocracy." Once more, "the property, belonging to what is called the Church, can easily provide for the support of its actual ministers and their places of worship, including the cathedrals. This property **** should be vested in trustees under the protection of the law; and when it should be found that the people would no longer require a particular church, it should be sold by the trustees, and the proceeds applied to the diminution of the burdens of the people. Tithes should be abolished with a stroke of the pen, and church rates, and all those exactions, by which the existing system is distinguished." The same writer finding the parliamentary oath to stand in the way of his revolutionary Popish maraudings, is grievously offended that a man should "promise to be tender of a human institution, that is actually on the eve of dissolution from its own internal corruption!" Thus is the mask rapidly falling off.

Ubi tempus est promissa jam perfici,

Tum coacti necessario se aperiunt.—Ter. Aud. iv.

EXTRACT FROM THE LIFE OF GROTIUS BY BURIGNY.

GROTIUS looked upon almost all the reformed as factious men.* He had no esteem for Calvin. Speaking of Cassander, he says, he was a very excellent, and at the same time a very able man, and therefore most worthy of Calvin's hatred. He advised James Laurentius to read, instead of Calvin's Institutions, Vincent de Lerins: "I hear," says he to him, "that you are less seditious than most of your order, (that is the Protestant clergy,) and that you only suffer yourself to be drawn away by others; wherefore I will give you one good counsel,-read the scriptures in the original, the confession of faith of the ancient Christians, instead of the Belgic confessions, the catechism of Cyril in the room of Ursinus's catechism, and the acts of the General Councils, and not those of the Synod of Dort; you will then easily perceive that Grotius is not become a Papist, but Laurentius turned a Calvinist." Laurentius wrote against him, but Grotius took his revenge in silence.

He entertained favourable sentiments of the Episcopal authority, even before his embassy, and thought it necessary to preserve the unity of the church.§ It is a question only in name|| (says he to his brother some years afterwards) to ask whether Episcopacy be of divine right. It is sufficient that Jesus Christ has set the example in the college of apostles; that the apostles have followed it, and that this establishment has been approved by the universal consent of the church, excepting some innovators of the present age. He handles this point in the eleventh chapter of the treatise. Of the power of sovereigns in matters of religion, he says it is fanaticism to advance that a bishop has nothing above a simple priest, "Episcopacy," says he,** "that is to say, the pre-eminence of a pastor, is not contrary to the divine right. It is incumbent on him who thinks otherwise, that is, who accuses the whole ancient church of folly and impiety, to prove his opinion. That Episcopacy tt was received by the whole church appears from the general councils, which have always had great authority with all devout men; witness the national and provincial councils, where we find certain marks of the Episcopal precedency; witness all the fathers, without exception. Episcopacy began with the apostles; ‡‡ to be convinced of this, we need only have recourse to the catalogue of bishops in Irenæus, Eusebius, Socrates, Theodoret, and others, who all make them to begin with the apostles. It would be very great obstinacy or disrespect to reject authors of great weight, who unanimously agree in an historical fact. The history of all ages informs us of the advantages which the church has derived from Episcopacy." §§ However, he did not yet venture to say that Episcopacy was of divine establishment he contented himself with maintaining that it was of apostolical institution.

ADDRESSES TO COUNTRY PARISHIONERS.

MR. BICKERSTETH, of Watton, is in the habit of sending round at the close of each year, a short printed address to his parishioners, referring to the state of the parish in the course of the year. He has had the kindness to send three of these to the Editor, from which the following extracts are made, as of general application and very valuable from their plain and affectionate style.

"There are SINS, however, as well as mercies, which I am called in Chris

tian faithfulness and love distinctly to mention. It has been a great grief of heart to me, as a Minister, to find that the Sabbath, without the plea of illhealth, should be neglected by some who wholly absent themselves from public worship, while others attend but occasionally. This is so directly contrary to the divine command, forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, that I cannot but, as the appointed Minister of this Parish, earnestly and affectionately beseech such to consider the sin and danger of living in the habitual neglect of the plain command of that great God, on whom we depend for life and breath, and all things. If there are any hindrances in their way, or any objections in their minds that I could remove, it would be a real satisfaction to me to endeavour to do so. I fear, also, that the Sabbath is broken by some in buying and selling; by others who mis-spend their time on this holy day in the public house; and by a few of the youth of the parish, who, casting off parental restraint, keep away from the House of God. The plain directions and promises of the Word of God (Isa. lviii. 13, 14) will shew all such that they are depriving themselves of that divine blessing, under which alone they can enjoy true prosperity. I beg of the parents to strengthen my hands, by using their just authority and influence over their children, to induce them to attend public worship.

"Another sin, that of excessive drinking, some of my parishioners indulge in, to the ruin both of body and soul; it is my plain duty to warn them that the Almighty God has said, drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

"I fear that, comparatively, but few attend to family worship. I long for the time when every cottager shall gather his children around him after his evening meal, sing a few verses of a psalm or hymn, read or hear read a portion of God's word, and commend his family in prayer to that Heavenly Parent, who is our reconciled God and Father in Jesus Christ. I am sure that this is the true way to secure the highest family happiness, and to make our families on earth the best nursery for that heavenly home where we hope to dwell for ever.

"The neglect of the Lord's Supper by so large a proportion of the grown up population, is a painful symptom of the low state of religion. When I consider that you are all under baptismal vows and obligations, and that our Divine Redeemer, when about to suffer for us, gave it as his last charge, this do, in remembrance of me, I put it to your consciences not to disobey this charge, and earnestly invite you to come in penitence and faith, and enjoy the full privileges of the Gospel of Christ.

"May the many deaths that have occurred lead all to that true wisdom which prepares for our latter end, and preserves men from that awful lethargy and indifference in which some, who neglect religion all their days, pass at last into the eternal world. Let me again affectionately warn such as are living without God in the world. There are still many in my parish who never obey the plain directions of God's word, to come into his courts and worship before him. Remember that God has said, they that are far from him shall perish. There are others who are living in sins that are ruinous to their immortal souls. God has most plainly declared that they who commit such sins as adultery, fornication, uncleanness, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like, shall not inherit his kingdom. I do most earnestly forewarn those living in such sins of their danger. God's word is true and no lie. Now there is, however, space of repentance. Now is the day of salvation. But this accepted time will soon be gone for ever. Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, and you may be accepted in the great day of account.

By FAMILY RELIGION, I mean the daily acknowledgment of God in your houses. Those who are out so early to their labour and absent all day that they cannot get their families together in the morning, may yet in the evening get one in their family to read a part of God's word, sing a hymn, and have a short prayer. It would change infinitely for the better the whole

character of your cottages, and bring into them that voice of salvation and rejoicing which is ever in the dwellings of the righteous.

"I entreat you, my dear parishioners, both to attend public worship constantly yourselves, and to endeavour that all under your influence shall attend also. I hope that you, who feel the value of your own souls, the blessedness of free salvation by Christ, and your duty as Christians, will decidedly discountenance and bear witness against Sabbath-breaking, drunkenness, swearing, quarrelling, licentiousness, and every wickedness, by which God is dishonoured among us."

HAMLET OF BITTON.

MR. ELLICOMBE is authorised to publish that the present Vicar of Bitton has never received One Hundred a-year in tithes, for his own use, after paying stipends to three curates, besides poor-rates, way-rates, taxes, and collecting expenses. This is declared to counteract the false statements that have been made on the subject.

The Curate of Bitton receives One Hundred a-year, and fees which amount to about 401.; besides which he has a good house and garden.

In 1831, the hamlet of Bitton contained 2239 inhabitants, 447 houses, occupied by 469 families.

The village School Room cost 3501.: it was built for the benefit of the parish. The National Society* gave 1851. towards it; and many persons residing in and out of the parish made up the rest of the sum. It is by the assistance of such friends connected with the parish, and others, that the School, the Clothing Club, and other institutions for the benefit of those who need, are carried on.

The Vicarage, Bitton, Jan. 1833.

REPORTS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.

THE Twenty-ninth Anniversary Meeting of this Institution took place on Wednesday, May 1, at Exeter Hall.

Lord Teignmouth being unable, in consequence of continued indisposition, to attend the meeting, Lord BEXLEY took the Chair.

The Report was then read by the Rev. A. BRANDRAM, Clerical Secretary to the Society. Though it announced a falling off in the amount of the Society's income, it gave, in every other respect, a most encouraging account of its progress in almost every country in the globe, in the circulation of the Word of God. Not less than 175,182 copies of the Scriptures had been circulated in France within the past year. A very large increase of demand for copies of the Scriptures had also taken place in Switzerland, particularly amongst the Catholic cantons. The most important fact connected with the distribu

The National Society, established in 1811, is a chartered institution for promoting the Education of the Poor, and building School Rooms throughout England and Wales. It is composed of Voluntary Subscribers, among which are some of the richest and most charitable people in England. They have given away about five thousand a-year for such purposes.

tion of the Bible to the heathen world, was the sensation produced in parts of China by the circulation of the sacred volume in the language of that country. The book was sought after, earnestly read, and greatly spoken of, and, what was still more satisfactory, without any hindrance or restriction on the part of the Emperor. The Correspondent from whom this communication had been received, added, that he was about to proceed to China, to take advantage of this opening; and he hoped that he should soon have a demand for 10,000 copies in the maritime parts of China and the island of Doo Choo. In the West Indies, there had been an increase of the number of Auxiliary Societies. After noticing, in terms of deep regret, the loss sustained by the Society during the year, in the deaths of the Rev. Rowland Hill, of Lord Gambier, one of its Vice-Presidents, of Mr. Bainbridge, and of Dr. Adam Clarke, it went on to say, that the total number of Bibles and Testaments distributed by the Society at home, and by its agents abroad, was 536,841; making a total, since the commencement, of 8,145,456. There had been added to the Society 112 Auxiliaries during the year. The Society's receipts, during the past year, amounted to 75,4927. 10s. 5d. Of this sum 25,6041. 18s. 7d. were the contributions of Auxiliaries, and 40,7171. for the sale of Bibles and Testaments. The receipts of the past year, as compared with the preceding, shewed a falling off of more than 6000l. The total expenditure of the Society within the year, was 86,7611.

The Bishop of Winchester, J. J. Gurney, Esq., of Norwich, Rev. A. Brandram, Dr. Cox, Mr. J. Sheppard, of Frome, Rev. J. Entwisle, Rev. Dr. Pinkerton, Hon. and Rev. Baptist Noel, Rev. Dr. Morison, J. Plumptre, Esq., M.P., Rev. Daniel Wilson, and the Bishop of Chester, severally addressed the Meeting.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

The Thirty-third Anniversary Meeting of this Society was held on Tuesday, April 30, at the Great Room of Exeter Hall, and was most numerously and respectably attended.

Sir R. H. INGLIS having taken the Chair, the Secretary read an abstract of the Report. Thomas Bainbridge, Esq. had been for twenty-seven years a most active member of the Committee, and a most zealous friend of the Society, to which he gave a proof of his attatchment by bequeathing to it 1,000l. in three per cent. Consols. The receipts of the Society within the year, ending the 31st of March 1832, had been 40,7501. In the year ending the 31st March last, they were 48,6001., being an increase of 7,850l. on the receipts of the preceding year. This was for the general purposes of the Society; but if they included the sums received for special purposes, such as contributions to the fund for the relief of decayed missionaries, the whole receipts of the year would amount to 49,300l. The Report went on to state, that the Institution of the Society at Islington contained at present only thirteen Students. The total number of missionaries and catechists sent forth during the year was nine, and the whole number of missionaries and catechists in connection with the Society was 110.

In West Africa there were, in a population of 21,000 liberated negroes, 4,000 who constantly attended public worship; 3,000 children and adults under education, and 624 communicants in connection with the Society.

In the stations in the Mediterranean, particularly in Malta, the Agents of the Society had been most actively engaged in the printing of tracts in different languages; of these, forty only had been printed in Italian, but there had been 12,368 printed in the Arabic, and 23,393 in the Greek. In Smyrna the work had been prosperous, considering the difficulties which had been raised up by the prevalence of cholera, and of the plague. The two missionaries from Egypt