No. 10.]

[PRICE 1D.

Those who are in the habit of reading newspapers, or of discussing the general topics of the day, cannot fail to have noticed a desperate attempt to run down Dissenters, and especially Dissenting Ministers, as being too "political." Were this practice confined to Churchmen (as they are called), it might be regarded as a piece of shallow knavery to be passed by in silent contempt. But since, among Dissenters, there are those to whom the sound is one of mysteriously dreadful import, filling the mind with ideas of impiety more dreadful than the violation of the entire decalogue, and more disastrous than all the plagues of Egypt, a few remarks upon the subject, may not be unacceptable to our readers.

The word "political," according to Dr. Johnson, expresses the relation of any thing to the public administration of affairs. A "political" man, therefore, is a person who takes an interest in the affairs of the nation to which he belongs; and, instead of thinking and acting merely for himself, thinks and acts as a citizen. But this, so far from being inconsistent with a profession of religion, will appear, on the following grounds, to be a most solemn and essential part of christian duty.

In the first place, upon the manner in which the affairs of a nation, and especially of this nation, are managed, the welfare of mankind, and the advancement of the divine glory in the world, greatly depend. Whether the people of this country shall enjoy the blessings of plenty, peace, and liberty, or be sunk in slavery, wretch

edness, and crime; whether the nations of the earth shall enjoy the advantages of commerce, and live in the interchange of all social good, or waste their skill and power in devastating wars; whether, on a large scale, souls shall be saved or destroyed; whether Christ or Anti-christ shall reign; greatly depends, under God, upon the manner in which the affairs of this kingdom are conducted. And, if this be the case, how is it possible that a christian, like Gallio, should "care for none of these things!"

Should he wish to do so, the situation in which God has placed him, renders it impossible. Every christian in this country is not only a man, but a citizen or member of political society. He may

neither wish, intend, nor suppose himself to be "political," but he is and must be so. He is compelled by the State to pay political taxes, to discharge political duties, and to support political rulers and institutions, whether good or bad, whether beneficial or disastrous to the country and the world. The question, therefore, which he has to consider, is not, Whether he will be "political" or not; but, Whether he will do it blindfold or with his eyes open, with a reckless disregard as to what men or measures he supports, or with a devout and thoughtful concern for human happiness, and the glory of God.

Again, by abstaining as much as possible from being "political," he, as much as possible, abandons the government of the world to the enemies of God. By refusing to be political for good, he becomes negatively

political for evil, throwing the power which he refuses to employ for God, into the hands of his foes. To say, therefore, that christians, and especially that christian Ministers, ought to have nothing to do with politics, is only saying in other words, that Satan should be the ruler of the world.

It behoves the christian, moreover, to remember, that whether he attends to the affairs of his country or not, he is held responsible for them, both by God and his fellow-men. The laws of this country are enacted and enforced in his name; its senators are regarded as his representatives; and every movement of its rulers is attended with a political responsibility, in which he must take his share. When our rulers plunge us into war, there is not an Englishman but what is exposed to the hatred and fury of the hostile nation. The national judgments, inflicted by God on the Israelites and the surrounding countries, shew that he also regards the individuals of a community responsible for the conduct of their rulers. And if this was the case under the despotic governments of antiquity, the responsibility of a christian citizen, in a free country like our own, where public opinion has so powerful an influence, and every man is invited by the constitution to pronounce judgment on national affairs, must be immensely great.

From the manner in which the conduct which we are defending is sometimes censured by professors of religion, it might be supposed to be contrary to the plainest dictates of the word of God. But if we look at the great examples which are there exhibited for our imitation, we find them all in its favour. Abraham was "political." Moses was "political." All the prophets were "political," applauding or censuring public measures with the utmost freedom. The apostle Paul was "political," insisting, as a Roman citizen, on his honours and rights. All the apostles were "political," attacking all the religions by law established, throughout the earth. Christ our Lord was "political," holding up Herod and the Scribes and Pharisees, who sat in Moses's seat, to the reprobation of the world. To which we may add, that all the Missionary Societies of the day are "political," for, although they

leave untouched the political religion of this country, they go the yet greater length of attacking the established religions of foreign lands.

Finally, christians and christian ministers, have never yet been "political," without conferring immense benefits upon mankind. By being "political," the Reformers delivered us from the tyranny of Rome! By being "political," the Puritans and early Dissenters, saved our liberties from the attempts of the Stuarts and Archbishop Laud! By being "political," Clarkson, Knibb, and other associates, have struck off the fetters from eight hundred thousand slaves! By being "political," Dissenters have secured a right to hold office under Government, to marry in their own places of worship, and to register their children and secure their property, without having them crossed and christened by a priest! And if, instead of acting as the tools of priestcraft in crying down their self-denying ministers for being "political," they would only be as "political" as God would have them, they would soon lay Anti-christ in the dust, and emancipate the world!

Were those who denounce them as "political" sincere, they would abstain from politics themselves. But instead of this, they profess themselves to belong to a church by "law established," in other words, a "political" church; they put their bishops in the House of Lords, in other words, make them "political" bishops; they maintain a set of authorized clergy, in other words, "political" priests. Clothing themselves in "political" surplices, preaching in "political" pulpits, offering up "political" prayers, and eating "political" bread, they live, move, and have their being in politics; and their only object in running down Dissenters as "political," is, that they may keep all the power and pelf of politics to themselves!

The christian, therefore, who has never been "political," has much sin to confess, and much negligence to deplore; and, though he should go to heaven at death, he will doubtless be ashamed of himself when he gets there, to think of the selfishness which led him to do so little, as a citizen, for the honour of Christ and the welfare of his race. G.

TAHITI AND THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

The friends of the London Missionary Society are in sorrow. They have seen a fruitful field of evangelical labour blasted, their hopes are withered, and the future is covered with darkness. Tahiti, that lovely Island of the Southern Sea, is seized by the hand of violence, the Queen is dethroned, war is desolating its romantic hills and christianized valleys, and the soil is saturated with the blood of the people. The oppression comes from one of the most powerful nations of Europe. France is determined to have Colonies, and her naval and military power is to be put forth to obtain them. How touching and how true are the words of Solomon the wise: "So I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and, behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter."

Christians, whose minds are not warped by prejudice, will mourn with the friends of the Mission, and ask, Can the evil be alleviated? Can the gospel henceforth be preached in the South Sea Islands? The gospel of the kingdom_must be preached as a witness to all nations; happily the government shall still be upon His shoulders whose right alone it is to reign, though France and all the nations of Europe should combine to overturn and destroy. Then how wonderful are the ways of God. How mysterious the workings of his providence. "Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection? Higher than heaven, what canst thou do? Deeper than hell, what canst thou know ?”

BUT OBSERVE: an attempt had been made to establish 'Protestant Ascendancy' in the Island of Tahiti, and the temporary overthrow of the churches of that island was probably permitted, that they might be built on a more sound foundation; permitted, that the people of God in other Missionary fields might see the sin and danger of this departure from the truth, and learn to rest upon the only Protector and Head of the church-Christ Jesus; permitted, to prevent the establishment of

what might have been fostered into an intolerant religious despotism. It is not intended to proclaim the calumnies and the falsehoods which men, who have no sympathy with the Tahitian Missionaries, have uttered against them, but to speak of what is admitted to be true by all parties, namely, that a law existed in Tahiti which made it illegal for Roman Catholic priests to continue in the country, and to teach and to preach the doctrines and dogmas of the Romish hierarchy. In other words, that Protestant Ascendancy was established by law, and was and would be maintained by the power of the State. Here was unquestionably the Union of Church and State. If God had permitted that Union to be established firmly and permanently, and to extend its ramifications to the other islands in the South Seas, it is impossible for any human foresight to declare what monsters of iniquity might not have been engendered. It is sufficient to remind the believer, that the unerring word of God describes this Union as a wild beast, which, though it had "two horns like a lamb" (some assumed semblance to the gospel), "SPAKE LIKE A DRAGON," and "caused all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." It will be sufficient to remind the patriot and the christian, that those who established Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland, never intended to produce such a source of wretchedness and woe, as the Union of Church and State is now seen to be in that country, by all who are not blinded by prejudice or passion. Those excellent men, the Tahitian Missionaries, had no deliberate design to establish the Union of Church and State, when they assisted in the formation of this law, or at least allowed it to pass without remon

strance.

What is the lesson taught by this most extraordinary transaction? That the Dissenters of England do not understand their own principles ! Or rather it should be said, they do not understand God's truth, that Christ Jesus is the King in his Church, that all power in heaven and in earth, is given unto him as Mediator

for the protection of his church, and that he needeth not the power of human laws, or the sword of human authority to carry forward the advancement of his kingdom, which exists in the hearts of his people, and no where else in this world. Nay more, not merely that the Dissenters generally do not understand the nature of Christ's kingdom, but that their Ministers, their Missionaries, their best selected men, do not understand it, that the men of God who act as the Directors of the London Missionary Society, do not understand it. It is to be feared that the same statement is true with respect to the bulk of all the denominations of Nonconformists, whether Independents, Wesleyans, or Baptists. No wonder that Popery and Puseyism should consider that they have sufficient power to march through the length and breadth of the land, and to possess the strongholds thereof. Thus IT WILL CONTINUE, so long as the Ministers of the Gospel shall teach, that part of revealed truth is to be proclaimed, and that, for the sake of peace, other parts of revealed truth are to be hid away, or to be very tenderly discussed, and only on particular occasions. If the man of God is to be thoroughly furnished and prepared for every good work, and for every trial and emergency, he must be taught the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

The truth of God stands recorded in the Holy Scriptures, and if christians were more diligent and persevering in the study of THE WHOLE TRUTH, and in cultivating dependance upon the Holy Spirit "to guide" them "INTO ALL TRUTH," the conduct of the children of God in all times, and especially in times of trial, would be more in accordance with the Divine will. The truth of God, the whole truth, would become embodied in their principles, and there would be little danger of their being drawn aside by human reasonings founded on expediency, that curse of the inconsistent.

CHRISTIANS versus THE UNION OF CHURCH AND STATE. We are of opinion that the time has now arrived, when it is the duty of all believers in the spirituality of Christ's church to record annually their views with regard to the union of Church and State. Christians are a part of the nation: they assist to choose the National Parliament. Their Parliament annually sins against God and wrongs man, by legislating in religion. If it did not vote even a penny for religious purposes (which it does annually), if it only passes acts to regulate Church matters, it invades God's province. EVERY ACT ON THE STATUTE-BOOK TO ENDOW OR REGULATE RELIGION IS A NATIONAL SIN. Every new act is a new sin. Christians must pray for the subversion of this sinful abuse of civil power. They should solemnly remonstrate every year, with those who are guilty of it. If they do not, they may well fear lest they also should suffer in the judgments denounced against Babylon. We submit the annexed brief form of Petition:

"The Petition of the undersigned members of the Church and Congregation assembling in the Baptist Chapel [place], in the West-Riding of Yorkshire,Sheweth,

That your petitioners consider all legislation in religion by the Civil power, to be a sin against God, and an injustice towards man; they therefore pray your Honourable House,

Firstly, To repeal all the acts by which previous Parliaments have endowed or regulated religion.

Secondly,-To refrain from all such legislation in future, and simply to protect all subjects of the empire in the enjoyment of their natural rights."

CHRISTIANITY without THE UNION OF CHURCH AND STATE.-Can religion exist in a country without a State church? Let the United States of America reply. The principal religious denominations

A. D.

[The Directors of the London Missionary Society have stated, that the law alluded to by our esteemed correspondent, was in existence prior to the arrival of the Missionaries. The error, therefore, with which they are chargeable, is not the enacting of the law, but the sanctioning of its use.]-ED.

German Calvinists..
Dutch Calvinists..
Friends
Christians..

Besides which there are 15,000 Jews, and a number of Menonites, Moravians, Shakers, Unitarians, &c.-Bap. Herald.

This institution, whose forty-first anniversary we have the pleasure of recording, was formally commenced in May, 1804, at the Annual Meeting of the Yorkshire and Lancashire Association. A sermon, which produced a very strong conviction of the duty of systematic efforts to improve and extend the ministry of the gospel, was preached by Mr. Langdon of Leeds, from Eph. iv. 11, 12. And at the conclusion of the usual association business, a society was formed, called the "Northern Education Society." James Bury, Esq. of PendleHill, who had previously offered £500 towards effecting the object, was appointed treasurer, and the Rev. Thos. Littlewood of Rochdale, secretary. Its first meeting was held on Wednesday, Aug. 1st, of the same year, the Rev. Robt. Hall preaching a very eloquent discourse from 1. Tim. i. 11, 12.

It will be interesting to many to know that so early as the year 1773, Mr. (afterwards Dr.) Fawcett, who was, mentally, far in advance of his contemporaries in the North, endeavoured to found a Theological Institution, and though unsuccessful for a time, he himself received under his care at Ewood-Hall, many excellent men, to whom he rendered considerable educational services, among others

the devoted missionary Wm. Ward. At length he had the happiness of witnessing the establishment of a Theological Institution as above described. The new society had some difficulty in obtaining a tutor, till a gracious Providence directed them to the late Dr. Steadman, at that time copastor with Mr. Birt, at Plymouth-Dock.

A person more suitable to found a new institution, to overcome the aversion too prevalent at that time in the North against an educated ministry, and to infuse a healthier tone into the Theology of the district, could scarcely be conceived than Dr. Steadman. Prizing education at its full worth, but far too zealous in saving souls to sacrifice usefulness to literature, he won the goodwill of all parties to his object. He writes in his diary, February 17th, 1806, "Most of the ministers were illiterate, their talents small, their manner dull and uninteresting, their systems of divinity contracted, their maxims of church discipline rigid, their exertions scarcely any at all." Whatever the difference, the greater part must be attributed to the blessing of God on his labours.

The library, very small previously, was increased in 1814, by a legacy of between two and three thousand volumes, from Mr. J. Sutcliff, A.M. of Olney, for a