any longer witness the tardy performance of a duty long neglected.

Having, in a series of papers, submitted to the readers of the CHRISTIAN WITNESS such observations and facts as appeared likely to interest them in the condition of the untaught deaf and dumb, I now close my communications; and should any feel interested, I would beg of them not to waste this interest in empty sympathy, but do what in them lies to ameliorate

the state of a wretched class of fellow-beings. May every ENLIGHTENED attempt to promote the well-being of these our suffering brethren be crowned with a Divine blessing: and now I commend this humble endeavour to benefit them, to the sanction and furtherance of Him, who, when on earth, made the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak. ROBERT KINNIBURGH.

Edinburgh, Sept., 1850.

THE readers of Whitefield's Sermons and Biography cannot have forgotten the touching and graphic picture drawn by the great Christian orator of the scenes which occurred on his first appearance amongst the black-faced multitudes of Kingswood. Perhaps in no place were his exertions more potent than there. In no place was the interest more extensive, and the effect of the Gospel more practically illustrated. Like an angel from God, he ruled lord paramount amongst masses of men that were the terror of the surrounding country, and even of Bristol itself. If there was any case in which the friends of the Gospel might boldly point and say, Behold its trophies, and say if it be not the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth! -it was that. Mr. Whitefield, about the same time, bestowed his labours upon the great city of Bristol, and there published his Master's message with like success. The result in both cases was, the erection of edifices for permanent instruction and worship. The Tabernacles of Bristol and of Kingswood were worked together by the same ministry and managed by the same officers for a long period, until it was found expedient, with a view to their efficient management, to separate them, when the Tabernacle in Bristol has continued to be supplied, while that of Kingswood was happy in finding a very efficient minister in the person of the Rev. John Glanville, who, for many years, has ably and successfully discharged his pastoral and evangelical functions in that place.

The

We are glad to see that steps are being taken for the erection of a new house of prayer, and that the foundation was some time ago laid. According to the description before us, it will be such a building as becomes the place and the time, at once handsome and convenient, due accommodation being made for Sabbath-schools and lectures. Our only surprise is, that it is to be erected so cheaply. How such an edifice can be reared for the trifling sum of £1,500 is not easily intelligible to people in London. Foundation Stone was laid by Mr. Wills, principal manager of the Tabernacle, Bristol,-a worthy representative of the first officers of the community, a steady and munificent friend of all that is good. In his address on the occasion, he paid a just and handsome tribute to the great Founder, George Whitefield. The Rev. G. H. Davis subsequently delivered a beautiful address, presenting a vivid glance of the progress of true religion in this and other lands during the last hundred years, partly biographical, partly historical, and, in a measure, statistic.

To him succeeded Dr. Bennett, of London, who followed up in the same train with a few weighty words, reserving himself till the evening meeting. The business over, the company resorted to the old Tabernacle, in which some 800 or 900 people sat down to tea-a tolerable assemblage, indicating the strength of the cause in the hearts of the people. At this public meeting again Mr. Wills presided, when a very interesting scene ensued, the first address being delivered by Mr. Glanville, the pastor, who stated that it was 109 years since the foundation stone of the old edifice was raised. Most of the people are poor, and yet, such is their high-principled zeal, that they have actually contributed more than two-thirds of the sum required, although "he had not made a single personal application to any individual connected with the congregation to contribute towards the object, neither did he intend to do. He stood upon the ground of his own independency and self-respect." Good! This is as it ought to be. Chapel mendicancy on the part of a pastor, whether at home or abroad, is an abomination. It is an indignity to which men of God should not be subject, or, if any be so, it ought to be reserved as a species of punishment for lazy men. Mr. Hall followed with one of his blazing orations, making an admirable and highly appropriate speech. We cannot doubt that the entire concern will be put in a pamphlet for the purpose of local circulation, since it will serve the double purpose of a practical instrument, a beneficial stimulant, and an interesting record. The new edifice will accommodate 1,400 persons; while, as we have said, the contemplated sum is only £1,500; here is a near approach to the Scottish project which has been so successfully carried out-a pound a sitter-a rule which will make short work of Evangelical extravagance. We need not say how cordially we rejoice in this project, and how heartily we wish it success.

CONGREGATIONALISM IN YARMOUTH. WE had occasion some time ago to refer to an interesting pamphlet in connection with Independency in Yarmouth, and to intimate that the church and pastor had formed the resolution of betaking themselves to it might and main, and we believe they are now on the eve of embarking in this enterprise. The increase, we rejoice to see, of the Church and congregation has been such as to call for devout and grateful acknowledgments, and the point has been reached at which the Church is likely to become stationary,

and hence the conviction that it is their duty to extend themselves in a new direction. It remained for them either to enlarge their present place of worship, or send forth part of their number to form a nucleus of another fellowship. Happily, the former was found to be impracticable, and a variety of concurrent circumstances appeared to recommend the adoption of the latter. The conclusion to which they have come is undoubtedly the right one. In a town of 25,000 inhabitants, with a rapidly-increasing population, there is ample scope for another Church. This duty is the more binding because of the comparative feebleness of most Evangelical Nonconformist Churches there, and the duty hitherto neglected by the Congregational Church to provide means for the religious instruction of the poor.

In the midst of these deliberations, an opportunity occurred last year of securing a highly eligible site for a new place of worship in the very heart of the population. A meeting was

held accordingly of the church and congregation to consider the matter, when a resolution was adopted to proceed at once with the new project as a duty they owed to the cause of the people. A subscription was immediately opened; and before the meeting separated, contributions were announced to the amount of £750, and in a few days it exceeded £1,000-a large sum freely offered by all classes of the Church and Congregation in sums from one shilling to a hundred pounds.

This is beautiful! It is nevertheless under. stood that some extraneous aid will be required, and for that purpose, we believe, an Appeal will be shortly made; and we cannot doubt of its being handsomely sustained. The Nonconformists will have in Yarmouth a new chapel, worthy of the Gospel and the Body, as they have already a beautiful house reared by our excellent friends in Scarborough-a noble act, and one deserving of general imitation.

Works of Dr. Owen. MESSRS. JOHNSTONE and HUNTER have at length made their appearance, and a goodly appearance it is. Volume I. of the Prince of English Divines is now before us; and it is but simple justice to say that while it fulfils to the letter the stipulation of the Publishers, it entirely meets our most sanguine expectations. The Publishers have found a competent Editor in the Rev. W. H. Goold, who has already introduced this great Encyclopædia of Divinity by a General Preface, which combines brevity with fulness, and pertinence with accuracy. To this succeeds the Life of Dr. Owen, extending to nearly a hundred pages, comprising all the main facts of his great career, to which is properly appended a series of Letters, with a list of his numerous Works. The division, as here set forth, is highly satisfactory; the first being doctrinal, the second practical, and the third controversial. Under the doctrinal head we have five volumes, thus indicated: On Christ-On the Trinity-On the Holy Spirit (Vols. III. and IV.)-On Justification. Under the practical we have four volumes; Vols. I. and II. comprising his celebrated treatises on the Mortification of Sin, on Temptation, on Indwelling Sin, on Psalm CXXX.; under Vol. II. the Nature of Apostacy, Spiritual-Mindedness, Dominion of Sin and Grace; while Vols. III. and IV. are devoted to Sermons. Under the controversial head we have his once muchfamed discourses on the Arminian Con

Johnstone and Hunter.

troversy, in two volumes, comprising a display of Arminianism, the Death of Christ, with the Saints' Perseverance, in reply to Goodwin, with other treatises. Vol. XII. is devoted to the Socinian Controversy; Vol. XIII., The Rights and Duties of Dissent; Vol. XIV. comprises a number of masterly treatises. To this succeeds a volume on the Popish Controversy, comprising five dissertations. Vols. XV. and XVI. comprise dissertations on Church Government.

No community, no language can exhibit such a Table, the production of one man, as this; and as is the Author, such is the publication. It will be incompar ably the completest, the best arranged edition of Owen's Works that has seen the light; in truth, the only complete and the only properly arranged edition, while the price is such as to exceed everything that has yet appeared in the way of our great popular divines, and such as it is probable will not soon be outdone. For a yearly subscription of only one guinea, there are forthcoming five of these handsome volumes, and during the third year six volumes, comprising altogether sixteen, each of about 550 octavo pages, printed in excellent type cast for the purpose, on first-rate paper, and handsomely bound in cloth. Let the Bibliopoles exceed this, who can! It is an astonishing performance, and entitles the Publishers to the praise of all the Churches. The only thing that forms a drawback is the Portrait; we hardly

know what to call it. Certainly it is not the portrait we have been accustomed to view as Owen's best, of which there are several in England, and one in the Congregational Library. This, we perceive, however, is taken from that in the Library of the Lancashire Independent College. It is, we confess, to us so unsightly, that we could wish it had not been there. There is, first, a coarse towel thrown around the giant's neck, by way of band; then there is a sheaf of horse-hair (for surely it cannot be his own) thrown over his head; and over all there is placed a small black cap-the whole presenting the most ludicrous exhibition of the antique. The thing may be correct; but with our modern notions, we are unwilling to believe that such could be the index to such a fountain of intelligence-that such a head could be the temple of an understanding so penetrating, so powerful, so all-grasping, and that so enriched the treasures of British Theological Literature.

The People's Service of Song; A TuneBook for the Pew. The Harmonies Revised by GEORGE HOGARTHI, Esq., Author of "Musical History." The whole Edited by JOHN CURWEN. Ward and Co.

WE are glad again to meet Mr. Curwen, who seems to be still adhering, with characteristic resolution, to his favourite pursuit. The Title indicates the general purpose of the work, which is to provide music for the whole Service of Song in the House of the Lord. For the psalm there is what Mr. Curwen calls the "simple, reverent chant;" for the hymn, the carefully chosen chorale; and for the spiritual song, the full and expressive anthem. The plan of the work was laid so long as eight years ago, while the Editor has enjoyed, in the interval, many opportunities of testing its value, and of gathering materials for its accomplishment. When the book was commenced, several thousands of tunes had already been carefully collated. In providing for the hymn tunes it was, of course, necessary first to ascertain the bounds and particulars of the Churches' need. This was done by comparing the selections which are now in the field, and registering every hymn that was found common to two of them; and further by adding to this list several hundred other hymns, chiefly those of peculiar metres, selected from seven of the most approved

Denominational Hymn-books. The result was a list of nearly a thousand hymns, which the Editor considered to contain nearly all that are commonly used in the congregations of Evangelical Christians, and consequently to be the hymns for which he had to provide tunes. By analyzing these hymns, he ascertained the numerical proportion of each metre, and the proportion which the several classes of sentiment and mental expression held to each other-matters of incalculable moment in rational worship, and with which, beyond most who have travelled in the same path, we consider Mr. Curwen capable of successfully dealing. In corresponding proportion the selection of tunes was fixed; and in order to secure the needful variety and adaptation of tunes for each class of hymns, each of the tunes was tested in connection with the hymns of corre sponding character, and those found most useful were finally chosen. Thus it will be seen that the hymns themselves have, in fact, been made judges and selectors; and they have guided the Editor to a choice of tunes very different from that to which his unaided taste would have led, and far more truly proportioned, far better adapted to the hymns in actual use than any he could otherwise have made. The amount of labour bestowed by Mr. Curwen on this part of his book it is difficult for the uninitiated to estimate. The result of his investigation has led to some curious facts: the hymns of sevens' metres were found to be nearly as numerous as those of the short metre; while the long metre hymns are more than three times as numerous as either of these, and those of common metre nearly six times as many. This is certainly curious; and since it cannot possibly be the result of purpose or collusion of any kind among the writers of our hymns, it must have its source in some latent principle in the human soul.

Having advanced thus far, the next point was the arrangement of the hymns in classes, which were the following: such as required bold and spirited musical expression those involving cheerful emotion, expressive of gratitude and love-such as were descriptive, sometimes declaratory of truth, and altogether of a didactic character-and such as were specially solemn, full of confession and prayer, and devout desire; from which it will appear that Mr. Curwen has been at great pains to render music subservient to truth, and, by consequence, the hand

maid to devotion. The principles on which his melodies have been selected are these feeling the necessity of providing a cheap book, which, while it avoided the noisy and trifling tunes, should also avoid those of the opposite order, marked by dulness, excluding those lively and elegant melodies which are so plainly required by the spirit and character of many of our hymns. Some good tunes have been rejected, either because they were not required under the class to which they belonged, or because they possessed a similarity of phrase creating confusion. As to the harmonies, Mr. Curwen was anxious not to disturb the "common usage" of the Churches; but he soon found that there is, in fact, no 66 common usage," and amidst the variety of harmonies used in different parts of the country, and published at different times, it was impossible to tell which was most widely known. On the subject of Chants we suppose we must not speak, after what our friend Mr. Binney has said and done, and seeing Mr. Curwen looks with complacency on that mode of worship, holding that "the chant, when sung with clear and becoming utterance, is very delightful to the Christian." Well, so be it; let every man be satisfied in his own mind. only remains to say that Mr. Curwen has performed no common service to the Church of Crod in this elaborate, cheap, and admirable work, for such it undoubtedly is. In saying this, we claim but little skill in such matters, beyond that which ought to be the portion of every man of common sense; but it consists with our knowledge that highly-competent judges thus pronounce upon it.

It

Harlan Page; or, The Power of Prayer and Personal Effort for the Souls of Individuals. Tract Society.

HARLAN PAGE is a well-known name in the New World. The path in which the good man moved was, for a season, very retired, but by degrees it became wider and more prominent, and facilities for usefulness were largely multiplied. But one thing is noticeable in his case: he did not wait for wider spheres, that he might sow the seed of salvation on a wide scale. No; Harlan Page was faithful over a few things, and his Master made him ruler of many. He lived in various places for divers periods, but everywhere he made an impression, and left behind him the savour of a good

name. He literally lived only to do good and what he sought he found. Conscious of his incompetency for such a work, even as an humble instrument, he early repaired to a throne of grace, which he besieged with peculiar earnestness and importunity. "When I first obtained a hope," said he, "I felt that I must labour for souls; and I prayed year after year that God would make me the means of saving souls." Nor did be labour in vain. He talked to all who would hear him, distributed tracts, lent books, and in particular wrote letters. Few men of his own age, there is reason to believe, did so much good by the use of the pen. Active himself, he was particularly successful in stirring up activity in others. It was difficult for persons to cultivate his society without imbibing his spirit. Good men there became better, and bad men either repented or soon fled away. Serving God was, with Harlan Page, a study. Among the many projects to which he had recourse for arresting the attention of the careless, one was the printing of striking sentences and appeals on cards, of which the following are samples:

REMEMBER, FELLOW-MORTAL, YOU ARE BOUND TO ETERNITY!

Death will soon overtake you. Heaven and hell are before you. Awake, if you would escape the torments of despair! Awake, and make your peace with God.

How many of your acquaintances and dear friends are on the broad road to death? Can you bear to see them hastening down to hell, and not cry unto God to have mercy on them, and pluck them as brands from the burning? O, my friend, the time is short. What we do must be done quickly. Death stands at the door; and how dreadful our surprise, if, when he enters, we be found sleeping?

The Working Classes of Great Britain; their Present Condition, and the Means of their Improvement and Elevation. Prize Essay, by S. G. GREEN, A.B. Snow.

THE subject of this Essay is unquestionably one of the most important that can occupy the public mind; and the exhibition of prizes is an excellent method of fixing public attention upon it. In the present case, no fewer than fortyeight essays were transmitted; and it is probable that a vast number more turned their attention to the subject, who, from impatience or otherwise, did not succeed to conduct their inquiries to a practical termination. The range of the volume is wide, and its various compartments well filled up with a judicious selection of fact, woven up with a strong stream of argument. The writer's mind is in perfect harmony with the millions. Throughout he speaks as a man, and an Englishman-a lover of his kind, and a friend of his country. The past and the present have been deliberately and carefully surveyed. Employers and employed have been thrown into the balances. The writer has visited the School, and also the Church-remaining long in each, and noting, with much care, what he saw and heard in both. He next proceeded to the Printing-office, where he has given the world his opinions with laudable freedom. If not uniformly wise, and if without the knowledge which experience alone can bring, he has nevertheless thought for himself, and spoken boldly. This is a matter in which, like every other, assertion is easy, but practical accomplishment is, of all things, the most difficult. Emerging from the fountain of type, Mr. Green proceeds to lecture the working-people on the subject of frugality; and good, as well as numerous, are the hints he gives, as to how the multitude may benefit themselves. This part would make a very good tract for separate publication; to the volume a large body of useful facts are subjoined, by way of appendix. This, too, is worthy a separate publication. Altogether, the book is one of great worth. It is almost ridiculous to say, as the adjudicators have said, that we do not bind ourselves to every opinion advanced. Were this the condition of approving either man or thing, the days of approbation would be ended. It cannot be too extensively circulated. Mr. Green has done excellent service, and has well earned Mr. Cassell's prize of fifty guineas.

diality, whatever proceeds from her elegant and pious pen. There is, in all her writings, an in. telligence, a sagacity, a discretion, a practical point, and a spirit of piety, which gives to them a special value, raising them far above the bulk In of contemporary female religious literature. the present publication she comes out in a new character, which reflects fresh beauty and lustre on her genius and attainments. The volume contains no fewer than fifty-seven dialogues which actually occurred in the family. Their history is simple. They are recorded by the amiable and gifted Authoress from time to time for the amusement of an afflicted friend at a distance; and after his death returned to the writer, and now given to the public for the benefit of the rising race, and especially to meet requests which have been poured in upon her from time to time since the period of the biographies of her son and daughter, from both sides of the Atlantic, to give the public some idea of the mode of domestic culture which was attended with such results. The preface is one of the finest and most touching things of the kind we ever read, presenting a beautiful picture of the Scottish Manse in the olden time. worth of a book, so produced, must be at once apparent; it is a glimpse behind the scenes of a well-governed Christian family-a model family, indeed, of the parish. It is a book which the old as well as the young will read with great delight. The matter, the tone, the spirit-all is pure, beautiful, amusing, and instructive. The work cannot fail to become an immense favourite with Christian families. It needs only to be known to obtain a place of honour in ten thousand households.

The

The College Jubilee. By T. K. DE VERDON. THESE verses were written on the completion of the fiftieth year of Dr. Smith's labours as Theological Tutor of Homerton College; and it is not too much to say, that while they breathe a spirit of the most merited gratitude and admiration for the good and great man to whom they refer, they do not a little credit to the writer. Mr. De Verdon has undoubtedly a vein of poetry in him, and that vein sanctified.

The Queen's Supremacy: the Duty of the Church to obey the Laws. By J. G. GIFFORD, B.A. Longman,

THIS is a wholesome lecture to refractory churchmen; since, although comprising but sixteen pages, presuming upon their wealth, it is, after the good old fashion, sold at a shillinga very reasonable arrangement, since men generally prize counsel in proportion as they pay for it. This worthy parson recommmends the State-paid Clergy to exult in their privileges, and hold their tongues. He considers that the movements of the Puseyites and the evangelicals are alike pernicious, because alike perilous to the True Protestant Church. He closes by a declaration, that he "cannot conceive anything more calculated to embroil society-to embitter its spirit, and burst its bonds-to mutilate the energies of the Church-to divide her children-to encourage her enemies-to aggravate controversial bitterness-to multiply schisms-to destroy party, and work all manner of evil-than the severance of the Church from the State, and