or ascendancy in religious or political matters. This is quite compatible with a conviction that their own principles are correct. Indeed, it is the necessary result of such a conviction. They believe that they are right; but this very belief obliges them to avoid all connection with the State, and confines them to the use of moral and spiritual, and not political means, in propagating their sentiments. It is only as individuals, never as a religious body, that they can be connected with the Government of the country. Indeed, if their principles did not forbid this political connection, the very variety that exists among them, must of itself be a complete bar to ascendancy. "Such are the designs of Dissenters. It must now be left with his Lordship, his clergy, and the public, to decide whether or not they deserve to be charged with enmity to the Church of England, while they are only seeking equal civil rights with the other citizens of England. "I have preferred this mode of communication to anonymous remarks, as it appears more respectful to the Prelate, whose observations, respecting the designs of Dissenters, I have attempted to examine. I remain, your's, &c. "JAMES MATHESON, "Durham, 5th July, 1827." LONDON CONGREGATIONAL UNION. The chapel situated in Church Street, Mile End New Town, was opened for divine worship, under the sanction of the above Association, on Wednesday, the 25th of July. The Rev. John Blackburn, of Claremont Chapel, preached in the morning, and the Rev. Joseph Fletcher, A. M. of Stepney, in the evening. The Rev. Messrs. Moase, Arundel, and G. Evans, jun. engaged in the devotional services. The Rev. Joseph Drake is at present officiating at the chapel, and there is an encouraging prospect of success. It is the intention of the Committee and supporters of the London Congregational Union, to adopt practicable measures for all the vacated places of worship in and about the metropolis, wherever the necessities of the immediately resident population may render it expedient or desirable. THE FORMATION OF A NEW CONGREGA- We are happy to announce, that at the elegant chapel erected by the Independent churches in Manchester, at Rushholm Road, last year, a congregational church was formed on Friday evening, August 11, under the auspices of the Rev. Messrs. Roby, M'All, and Birt, (Baptist), who severally engaged in the solemn and deeply interesting services, which took place in the presence of many witnesses. On the following Lord's-day afternoon, the Lord's Supper was celebrated by this new Society, who were joined in the delightful exercise by a large body of communicants, members of the sister churches in Manchester, who were kindly invited play their cordial regard for the infant by their pastors on this occasion, to disSociety. The Rev. W. Roby presided, and delivered an impressive address; and the Rev. R. S. M'All exhorted the people with peculiar force and feeling. It is much to the honour of the Independent churches in Manchester, that this is the third chapel erected in that town by their liberal and enlightened efforts. ORDINATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS. April 4, the Rev. R. L. Armstrong, late student at Airedale Academy, was solemnly set apart to the pastoral care of the Independent church at Wortley, near Leeds. After Mr. Scales had read select portions of Scripture and prayed, Mr. Hamilton delivered the introductory discourse; and Mr. Hudswell, of Morley, offered the ordination prayer; Mr. Vint gave a charge to the ordained minister; and Mr. Pirsons, sen. preached to the people; Mr. Foster (Baptist), concluded with prayer. The congregation at this place had been for several years in a state of great depression, but since Mr. Armstrong commenced his stated labours among them, their numbers have very much increased, and their prospects are brightening; and could the debt upon the chapel be reduced in any considerable degree, minister and people would have abundant reason to rejoice together. The public settlement of the Rev. James Brightwell Pearce, over the church and congregation at Maidenhead, (lately and for so many years under the pastoral care of the Rev. John Cooke,) took place on Tuesday, the 24th of July. Rev. John Hall, of Chesham, commenced by reading the Scriptures and prayer; Rev. A. Douglas, of Reading, delivered the introductory discourse; Rev. John Fryer, of Langly, offered up the general prayer; Rev. Dr. Winter, preached to the minister and people from Coloss. i. 7; Rev. Dr. Waugh concluded with prayer. On Wednesday, the 15th of August, the Rev. Henry Isaac Roper, late of Hoxton Academy, was ordained pastor of the Independent church, assembling in Sion Chapel, East Teignmouth, Devon. Reading and prayer, the Rev. J. Sprague, of Bovey Tracey; introductory discourse and questions, the Rev. J. Bristow, of Exeter; ordination prayer, the Rev. Is. Davison, of Chudleigh; charge, the Rev. J. Leifchild, of Bristol, from Acts xx. 28; sermon to people, from Ezra x. 4, Rev. S. Kilpin, of Exeter; concluding prayer, Rev. R. Clapson, Exmouth. The Rev. R. Hartley, of Plymouth, preached in the evening. CHAPELS OPENED. The chapel in Gyde's Terrace, Cheltenham, originally built by the Rev. Mr. Snow, but recently purchased by some distinguished friends of the Congregational Denomination, and now called Highbury Chapel, was re-opened, after suitable repairs, for public worship, on Thursday, August 9, when the Rev. Joseph Fletcher, M. A. of Stepney, preached in the morning, and the Rev. John Leifchild, of Bristol, in the evening. The attendance on these services, and on the subsequent Sabbaths, was, we are happy to learn, of the most auspicious kind. On Thursday, August 14, the spacious and elegant place of worship, called Marlborough Chapel, which has been recently erected in the Old Kent Road, was opened for public worship. The Rev. Dr. Bennett, of Rotherham College, preached in the morning from Acts xvi. 13; and Rev. George Clayton preached in the evening from Psalm 1xxxix. 15. We greatly rejoice in the erection of this commodious house of prayer, in the midst of a genteel and large population, entirely destitute of the means of grace in their immediate neighbourhood. The committee who have superintended the building have been enabled to pay £1000. on account, but they will need, what they undoubtedly deserve, the liberal support of the religious public in London, RECENT DEATHS. Died on Thursday, August 9, the Reverend Sir HENRY MONCRIEFF WELLWOOD, D. D. F. R. S. one of the ministers of St. Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, and for more than half a century a distinguished clergyman of the Church of Scotland. He was of a very ancient Scotch family, and received a most liberal education preparatory to his entrance into the ministry. He was the author of Discourses on the Evidences of the Jewish and Christian Revelations, and some other volumes of sermons. His remains were interred in the West Church Yard, and were attended thither by several noblemen, a numerous company of distinguished gentlemen, and almost all the ministers of the Presbytery of Edinburgh. Died on Monday, the 20th of August, the Rev. Mr. WINDEATT, of Totness, Devon. We understand that so much lethargy characterised the disease of which he died, that his expressions were but very few; nearly the last words he uttered were, "I would not now be without Christ for all the world,” NOTICES. The Middlesex and Herts Association will hold their next half-yearly Meeting Mr. Bennet's, Cheshunt. The preacher, on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 1827, at the Rev. the Rev. Stephen Mummery; the subject, the best means of Christians provoking one another to love and good works. Service to commence at 11 o'clock. The first Quarterly Conference of the visitors and friends of the Christian Instruction Society for London and its vicinity, will be held at Claremont Chapel, Pentonville, on Tuesday evening, Sept. 11, at 6 o'Clock, when the attendance of the friends of Christian instruction in London, and especially of those engaged in the work, is earnestly requested. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND MINOR CORRESPONDENCE. COMMUNICATIONS have been received during the last Month from the Rev. W. Vint--J. Raban-G. Redford-Dr. Winter--J. S. Brooksbank--H. Roper--J. Dean--B. Brooks--I. Cobbin--John Arundel. Also from Messrs. Stephen Westbrook--Thomas Parker--T. Holmes Justice--G. G. Stibbs-An Observer--John Smallpage. A Review of the Publications on Suttees from the quarter John Smallpage mentions will be acceptable. We must request our correspondents to write the names of persons and places with greater distinctness than is often observed, as we are occasionally betrayed into inconvenient mistakes. In our last we announced the opening of a chapel at Staindross, which was found to have been Staindrop. On that occasion the Rev. James Parsons preached in the evening. LIST OF CHURCHES.-As we propose to publish our Supplement with the December Magazine, as a double number, we respectfully entreat our readers, in all parts of the empire, to furnish us with the corrections, additions, &c. which they may find necessary, to render the list of our churches complete, before the 15th of October. Reports of various County Societies, which may furnish facts for our statistical view for each County, will also be highly acceptable. MEMOIR OF THE REV. HENRY KNIGHT, LATE PASTOR OF THE INDEPENDENT CHURCH, YELVERTOFT, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. HENRY KNIGHT was born at Shaftesbury, in Dorsetshire, some time in the year 1770. His parents were highly respectable, and truly pious individuals, who were blessed with a very numerous family of nineteen children, of which he was the youngest. His father was a member of the Society of Friends, but his mother was connected, we believe, with the Independent Dissenters. Though their views on church order did not harmonize, yet, happily for their children, they were agreed upon the subject of family discipline, and their reverence for the Christian Sabbath, and daily perusal of the sacred Scriptures, produced, at least on the mind of their youngest son, impressions which caused him ever to mention their names with great veneration. Henry left the parental roof at a very early age, to reside in the family of a serious member of the Society of Friends at Bath, to whom he was apprenticed to learn the trade of an ironmonger. The heads of this estimable family appear to have felt, that a responsible trust was confided to them by the parents of this youth, and therefore they sought, with commendable diligence, by the use of religious books, and the maintenance of family order, to advance his highest, his eternal interests. Nor were their labours in vain: the No. 34. N. S. impressions of his childhood were deepened, and his serious dispositions apparent in the consistent deportment he maintained, which soon attracted the attention of some pious neighbours of the Independent denomination, with whom he maintained a profitable Christian intercourse. With them he was induced occasionally to attend the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Tuppin, then pastor of the Independent Church in that city, now under the care of Rev. W. Jay, and he was soon led to review the whole system of his religious opinions, which deliberate investigation terminated in the abandonment of the Quaker sentiments in which he had been educated, and in proposing himself for fellowship with the Independent Church already named. This event, which was the source of great anxiety both to himself and his family, took place in 1785-6, when Mr. Knight was only sixteen years of age, and which affords a striking illustration of the early acuteness and holy decision of his mind. It is one of the many advantages of the congregational system, that it speedily calls forth the talents of its members; and the piety, gifts, and devotedness of Henry Knight were observed with pleasure by his pastor and brethren, and in about two years, they were prepared to encourage him to enter 3 U on a course of preparatory studies for the Christian ministry. In 1788, he entered the Mile End Academy, now Highbury College, then under the tuition of the Rev. Stephen Addington, D.D., and the written statements he presented on that occasion, profess what his exemplary life has fully confirmed, that the glory of God and the immortal happiness of the souls of men, were the objects at which he alone aimed in this consecration of himself to the service of the sanctuary. On referring to this important period of his life, in a letter addressed to a young academical friend, many years after, he thus describes his feelings at this period. "Oh! how many sleepless nights, how many anxious thoughts, then occupied my mind. How many prayers did I offer, and how many tears did I shed at the throne of grace, that I might have a single eye to the glory of God, and that my whole soul might be devoted to his service; that my faith might be increased, and my love to the work of the ministry might be invigorated, and kept alive by the influences of the blessed Spirit of wisdom and truth! And I experienced the fulfilment of those gracious promises, they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength' In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.' He granted me indeed the desires of my heart in directing my steps to the academy, and blessed me when there, so that I could say indeed and of a truth, that the lines had fallen to me in pleasant places-that I had a goodly heritage, yea, that it was good to be there! The memory of this period is still sweet, and leads me to exclaim, what shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me the unworthiest of his servants. I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord, Bless the Lord, O my soul, &c." Whilst prosecuting his academical course, he usually attended on the ministry of that celebrated and eminently pious servant of Christ, the Rev. Samuel Brewer, B. D. the beloved pastor of the ancient church at Stepney, with which Mr. K. enjoyed the privilege of occasional communion. He also frequently heard his honoured tutor, Dr. Addington, at the meeting-house, Miles's Lane, who he much admired as a judicious preacher. He cherished through life a high respect for the memory of these excellent men, to whom he frequently confessed himself indebted for many blessings as a Christian and a Minister. His preparatory studies having closed, after visiting one or two congregations, he was recom mended by the Rev. G. Gill, of Market Harborough, to supply the church at Yelvertoft, Northamptonshire. This people had, till within a few years, been united in fellowship with the church at Welford, but having formed themselves into an Independent society, they invited the Rev. Mr. Coltson to be their first pastor; his removal in 1793, opened the pulpit for the Rev. Mr. Knight. His services soon became highly acceptable to this infant church, and the hearts of the people were united to him with unusual affection, and he received a very urgent invitation to become their pastor; but with unusual caution, the moderate exercise of which is always to be commend. ed, he deferred his acceptance of the charge for nearly four years. Doubtless the most calamitous events have resulted both to ministers and churches, from the hasty and inconsiderate unions which are too frequently formed, yet we must confess that very extraordinary circumstances appear necessary to justify a delay which kept an infant church for such a period without the full advantages of the pastoral care. In 1797 he however accepted the charge, and on the 1st of June he was solemnly ordained to the pastoral office in that place. On that occasion, the Rev. Messrs. R. Denney, of Long Buckby; J. Grundy, of Lutterworth; G. Gill, of Market Harborough; J.Whitehead, of Creaton; J. C. Bicknell, of Welford; J. Gronow, of Weedon Beck; J. Horsey, and B. L. Edwards, of Northampton, engaged in the varied services of the day. It was a circumstance of no common importance, in Mr. Knight's social and ministerial history, that at the period he was recognized as the pastor of the church at Yelvertoft, that the churches at Creaton, Welford, and Weedon Beck, in his immediate neighbourhood, were just settled with the Rev. Messrs. Whitehead, Bicknell, and Gronow, as their ministers, who were Mr. Knight's particular friends, and who thus formed a circle around him peculiarly dear to his social and affectionate spirit. They met in the same religious services, at the same hospitable boards, in the same professional studies, in the same pastoral labours, and they found it no small alleviation of the toils and sorrows of ministerial work, thus to enjoy the endearments of a confidential and christian friendship. Mr. Knight's temper was social, and his taste for rural scenes and pleasures was very apparent, and some may suppose that in the seclusion of a village, far removed from critical observation, and sur. rounded by attached and confiding friends, that he either relaxed in his studies, or laboured with the view of obtaining a more commanding station! He did, indeed, improve his rural leisure to enrich his mind with all kinds of appropriate knowledge, so that his gifts as a preacher, his prudence as a pastor, and his counsels as a friend were "seen of all." But these labours were prosecuted with an exclusive reference to his beloved charge, and though he might have instructed a larger, wealthier, and a more intellectual congregation, yet he despised the pitiful attempt which many make to obtain "great things for themselves," and was content, through life, to continue a pious, diligent, and useful village pastor; a character to which attaches more honour in society, and more recompense from heaven, than the multitude imagine. It was his happiness, however, to enjoy what does not always fall to the lot of a rural minister, the society of some persons of great intelligence and piety, whose attachment to him was strong, and whose intercourse with him was frequent and profitable.* Mr. Knight was truly solicitous to extend his labours to adjacent Amongst these friends we may mention Mr. William Earnsby, who was educated for the Christian ministry at the Daventry Academy, under Dr. Caleb Ashworth, but from bis imperfect elo cution, and frequent depression of spirits, he relinquished the ministry, and retired upon some freehold property which he possessed at Yelvertoft and in its neighhe united himself to the church at Welbourhood. On his settling at Yelvertoft, ford, but on the formation of the church in the former village, he was dismissed, with several other members, to strengthen the infant society there. He was distinguished for his eminent piety towards God, and his christian benevolence to the poor, but his depressions of spirit were at some seasons peculiarly afflictive. He died a few years before his valued attached to the meeting-house, and Mr. pastor, was interred in the burial-ground Knight preached his funeral sermon from a text which Mr. E. selected, Psalm lxxi. 20. Thou which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth." |