many were obliged to leave the spot, who could not obtain admittance. The new minister enters upon this sphere of labour with encouraging prospects of extensive usefulness.

On Wednesday, May 9, Jonah Reeve, late of Highbury College, was ordained pastor over the Independent church, Wigton, Cumberland. The Rev. W. Brewis, of Penrith, delivered the introductory discourse on the nature of a Christian church; the usual questions were asked, and the ordination prayer offered by the Rev. E. Layton, the former pastor, now of Ovenden, Yorkshire; and the Rev. Dr. Raffles, of Liverpool, delivered an impressive charge from 1 Tim. iv. 15. An able discourse was likewise delivered by the Doctor in the evening, to a numerous and attentive auditory.

NEW CHAPEL OPENED, AND RECOGNITION.

On Good Friday, a commodious place of worship was opened, for the use of the Congregational Dissenters, at Glastonbury, Somerset.

In the morning, the Rev. Evan James, of Bridgewater, commenced with reading and prayer; the Rev. Henry Isaac Roper, of Bristol, preached; and the Rev. James Taylor, of Norton, concluded.

The afternoon was occupied in the recognition of Mr. James, when the Rev. John Bishop, of Chard, began with reading and prayer; the Rev. John Jukes, of Yeovil, stated the nature of a Gospel church; the Rev. Robert Winton, of Bishop's Hull, offered the ordination prayer; and the Rev. Thomas Luke, of Taunton, addressed both minister and people, and concluded.

In the evening, the Rev. John Davies, of Taunton, preached.

The place was crowded during the day, and a handsome sum raised towards the liquidation of the remaining debt.

NEW CHAPELS OPENED.

A new Independent chapel, for the use of the church and congregation under the pastoral care of the Rev. S. B. Schofield, of Burslem, Staffordshire, was opened for Divine worship, on Thursday, March the 8th, and following Sabbath.

On Thursday, sermons were preached; in the morning by the Rev. John Ely, of Leeds; and in the afternoon, by the Rev. T. W. Jenkyn, of Stafford. In the evening the congregation again assembled; but, after reading the Scriptures and prayer, it was found that the number of persons unable to gain admission was so great, as to render an adjournment to a larger place of worship desirable. The trustees of the

Wesleyan Chapel kindly offered the use of that spacious building. The congregation accordingly adjourned thither; and about a thousand persons listened with deep interest to an able discourse from the Rev. Dr. M'All, of Manchester.

On the following Sabbath, two sermons were preached, in the new chapel, by the Rev. J. Griffin, of Manchester.

The devotional exercises on the Thursday were conducted by the Rev. Messrs. Newland, of Hanley, Mardens, of Wem, Sylvester, of Sandbach, Barton, of Market Drayton, Cooper, of Middlewich, and Kennerley, of Barton. The collections at the different services, amounted to 927.

The new building measures fifty-four feet long by thirty-nine feet wide, and seats, without galleries, about four hundred persons. The building has been erected with a view to the introduction of galleries at a future time. There are commodious school-rooms and a vestry underneath. The entire cost of the erection, including 3001. for the purchase of land, is 16007. Toward this have been raised, including the sale of the old building, 7007. The building was much admired for its simple elegance; and pronounced, by the ministers and others assembled at the opening, a very cheap one. The contributions of benevolent persons, who are disposed to aid the friends of this rising interest in their praiseworthy exertions, will be gratefully received by the minister.

QUEEN-STREET CHAPEL, CHESTER.

This place of worship, occupied by the church and congregation under the pastoral care of the Rev. Samuel Luke, having been closed for extensive enlargement and improvements, was re-opened on Wednesday, March the 7th. Eloquent and impressive sermons were preached, in the morning by the Rev. Dr. Raffles, of Liverpool, and in the evening by the Rev. Dr. M'All, of Manchester. On the Thursday evening, an interesting sermon was preached by the Rev. James Sherman, of Surrey Chapel. Services were held, in connexion with the occasion, on the following Sabbath, when the minister of the place, the Rev. Samuel Luke, preached. The collections were most munificent. There was collected

£ 8. d. After sermon by Dr. Raffles.. 210 18 9 by Dr. M'All.. 111 18 34 by Rev. J. Sherman 81 6 0 On Sabbath-day, after Sermons by Rev. S. Luke ...... 100 16 10 Making in all the very hand

have been effected in a style suitable to the taste of the present day, and the position which Dissenters now occupy. The front is of white stone, and of the pure Doric order. Capacious Sunday-school rooms are in the course of erection, having the same frontage with the chapel, and in a style comporting with that elegant building. It is a gratifying proof of the liberal working of the Municipal Reform Bill, that the congregation have been favoured with the use of the Town Hall, during their long exclusion from Queen-street chapel.

NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, At Shorefield, Bury-bridge, Bury, Lancashire.

Some months ago a few individuals, members of the Christian church assembling at New-road, Bury, were desirous to extend the benefit of religious instruction to a very dense and awfully ignorant population; for this purpose they have taken an unoccupied Woollen Mill at the Western extremity of the town, and at a considerable distance from their former place of

worship. One part of the building is devoted to the preaching of the Gospel, and another, to educate the ignorant on the Lord's-day.

They have already collected upwards of two hundred children and adults, the greater portion of whom are unconnected with any schools.

Approving of their object, other members have since joined them, and wishing to have the ordinances of God regularly administered to them, thirty-one persons, who were formerly members of the church at Newroad, were recognised as a separate Independent church, by the Rev. William Jones, of Bolton, and the Rev. James Deakin, of Stand. The holy Scriptures were read, and prayer offered to the great Head of the Christian Church, for his blessing to rest upon the efforts of the newly-formed religious community; addresses were given to the church respecting their duties, to the Redeemer, to each other, and to the sur. rounding population; and the services were concluded by the administration of the Lord's Supper, in which solemnity several members of other churches united.

THE LATTER-DAY GLORY.

(Continued from page 244.)

IN looking forward to this period, with the deep and solemn yet delightful feeling of its near approach, it is pleasing to look around us also, and to behold many things which are certain indications of the correctness of our impressions upon this subject. The numerous and various religious and benevolent institutions, the anniversaries of which have just been held, cannot be overlooked in this connexion! neither can their tendencies and results be mistaken. Let us contemplate, for a moment, the brief space of time within the compass of which they have all arisen, the ever-increased and increasing magnitude of their operations, whilst their means are continually multiplying faster than the employment of them; and an unlimited confidence is now felt in the religious public, that resources to any extent may be commanded in prosecuting the great objects that the leading institutions ofthe day have in view. Let us look at the ide field that many of these have already catered, and occupied to a delightful degree; the jarring and divided tongues, to the amount of nearly two hundred in number, into which the word of God has been translated, and in which the

Gospel-trumpet has been audibly and intelligibly sounded, by the instrumentality of many hundred heralds of the cross. The enterprises of religious benevolence have exceeded those of commerce, science, all the efforts that avarice and more honourable motives have called forth. The leading facts connected with the British and Foreign Bible Society are of the most instructive character, in regard to the subject under consideration; that it has now augmented its revenues to nearly 100,0007. per annum, and still furnishes stronger probabilities of a much greater increase to its funds than it has done at any previous period; that this one society is circulating annually more than half a million copies of the Scriptures, in all parts of the world, and in almost all its tongues; that it has issued from its presses a greater number of copies of the Scriptures than were ever in existence, prior to the period of its operations; that it invites the great and good of all parties, who seem glad to meet upon its platform, to bury their differences and distinctions, while they put forth all their energies in giving the widest extent and the greatest efficiency to that Volume on which the hopes of all are based for eternity. What is equally pleasing is, that this society, instead of absorbing and annihilating

other societies by the magnitude of its efforts and the amount of its claims on public liberality, is a most prolific parent, that is continually calling new and kindred societies into healthy operation; helping and cheering them on in their labours and successes by frequent and liberal contributions from its treasury and magazines. In the most intimate and vital connexion with the above society, witness the funds, the agents, the fields of labour, and the fruits of labour of the leading Foreign Missionary Societies, to say nothing of the Home operation of similar institutions; that three of these societies have raised above 200,0007. considerably, during the past year; that one of them has sent forth above sixty missionaries within that period; and that all afford indications of life, and health, and vigour, as those that are just preparing for the accomplishment of far greater objects, than they have hitherto attempted, and for putting forth more gigantic efforts in their attainment. And what is not a little amusing, but much more delightful, is that that section of the religious community that appears to be most fearful and apprehensive of the efficiency of the principle of voluntary contributions, is nobly triumphant over its own prejudices, and takes the lead considerably of all the other missionary societies, in voluntary efforts for the illumination and conversion of the world to Christ. This is a delightful proof that when the heart is right it will eventually set the head right too; and the influence of the leading principle in the soul will govern and correct our minor sentiments. Running over the list of what are called the May Meetings, the numbers, objects, agents, operations, and influence of the societies with which they are connected, one cannot but be astonished and delighted with the views they give, the prospects they open before us, and the hopes they cannot but cherish in the breast of any attentive observer, as to the speedy and complete triumph of the Gospel over the ravages of sin, and the ruins of our fallen nature. That all these, and a thousand other kindred institutions, have had their origin, and have attained their present influence, we will not say maturity, for they are yet but developing their energies, within the last forty years, during which more has actually been accomplished for the conversion of the world to Christ than was ever attempted, or even thought of, for the previous fifteen hundred years. These comparatively gigantic advances towards the subjugation of the world to the Redeemer in the introduction of the glory of the latter days, are of the most cheering and surprising character. The Church, during the lapse of the morning of this century, has evi

dently been awaking from the deep sleep of ages, and has begun to put forth its strength in the prosecution and accomplishment of its own proper work. What will it not effect, when more generally and effectually awakened? It will then arouse all earth, and enrage all hell, and awaken all heaven, with its devotions and exertions. The church will then arise in all its giant strength, and, the hosts and influences of heaven attending it, the throne and kingdom of Satan will totter and tumble into irreparable ruin, and the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. By these valuable means, Christians, Christian churches, and religious denominations have been improving their own piety, increasing their numbers, and extending their influence, as much as they have been benefiting the world by their labours and liberality. And here is another sign of the times in which we live, in the ameliorating influence that, by means of the religious and benevolent institutions of the day, has been exerted over the spirit of Christians and religious bodies towards one another. The platform, which is coeval and almost coextensive with the institutions that are the light and glory of the age, has had an amazing influence in softening, or removing altogether, the asperities by which both the pulpit and the press have too often been polluted. The platform is the offspring of brighter days and of nobler efforts, and has never been degraded by the unchristian spirit that has breathed from the pulpit and the press; whilst its influence has been sensibly felt in improving the temper of the latter means of good or of evil. Christians have met together on the platform and in the public meeting, and have learned to think, and feel, and speak with less of asperity and with more of truth and love of each other; and in prospect of meeting there, and in recollecting that they had met, many have "checked their thunder in mid volley," and have curbed their spirits and subdued their tone towards each other.

This is one of the great collateral advantages of combined efforts amongst various bodies of Christians, and is, among many others, a sign and a means of the near approach and speedy triumph of the Gospel in the latter days. The information which Christians to a great extent possess, and their own reflections upon it, will very readily assist them to enlarge upon the above observations, and the evidences adduced of the approach of the Son of God in his kingdom and glory.

There is one thought which is not of so cheering a character, though it is of great importance, and must not therefore be altogether overlooked. Although it is very

true that duty is ours, and that events belong to God, it is not to be supposed that every thing will go smoothly and successfully on to the final consummation and the complete and universal triumph of the grace and church of God over the world and sin. Reason and revelation both forbid such a conclusion, and both evidently point to a general, most severe, and final struggle, before the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. It is the deep and growing conviction of the writer's own mind, of the importance and correctness of which conviction the readers of the Evangelical Magazine will of course form their own estimate, though it is deserving of their serious consideration, that a deadly and final conflict intervenes between the present period and the glories of the latter days; that that conflict will be begun within the precincts of the church of Christ, destroying the power and influence of the devil there, and removing himself, his angels, agents, and all false principles and false professors thence. All who know any thing of the visible church know this, that the influence of Satan is very extensive and powerful there; that he has many friends and followers in the garb of saints; and that the separation of them, whenever the attempt is made, will be something like the chemical operation of reducing substances to their constituent and elementary parts; a process by which a great deal of heat is evolved, with much effervescence, noise, and combustion. Much of the character and results of this conflict will of course depend upon the character and state of individual Christians and churches; those that are most pure will suffer the least pain and loss; whilst others, more corrupt, may expect to be convulsed, torn to pieces, broken, and scattered.

Those ministers and their churches are in a happy state, who, by the grace of God, keep themselves pure from erroneous doctrines, and from corrupt practices and professors; as they will naturally gain the more and lose the less when the day of trial comes, and they are "accounted worthy to escape those things which shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."

Yet in this war of heaven, the conflict will no doubt be painfully severe, perhaps protracted to a considerable period, aud many a fair professor will fall and perish, in the truly trying scenes of those days; though there is not a shadow of doubt as to the final issue, the certainty and great glory of the victory, which will be gained by the Saviour for his church, in the expulsion of Satan and all his subjects, and the entire destruction of his influence within its

sacred precincts. But we are told, that in that sharp and dreadful contention, the shock will be great to the whole church, and the ruin will be so to many of its isters and members; "for the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken;" the entire constitution of some churches will, without doubt, be completely subverted, while the elements of others will undergo a great change, and every plant that my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up."

66

When the conflict within the walls of the church has ended in its purification, beauty, and glory, then the elements of a general, furious, and final attack upon the church of Christ will be preparing; the outcasts of the Church uniting with the world, and stirring it up to the battle of the great day of God Almighty. A universal and deadly but short-lived persecution will rage against the camp of the saints and the holy city; with what a fatal issue to the authors and abettors of it, the Scriptures clearly indicate. The more rapidly the Gospel spreads, the sooner will these events come to pass. "Whoso is wise and will observe these things," cannot but regard them with deeply solemn feelings, mingled with the purest, liveliest, holiest joy; and we may say of these scenes as the poet says of others similar,

"While his awful voice Divides the sinners from the saints,

We tremble and rejoice."

EVANGELICAL CHURCH AT LYONS.

It is now six years since the removal of Rev. Adolphus Monod from the Presidency of the Consistory of Lyons became the means of giving a powerful impulse to a religious movement, which had begun to manifest itself in that city, and to which it has pleased God, since then, to give a vigorous and steady development.

Hundreds of immortal souls have been brought under the sound of that Gospel, by which the sinner is directed to "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the

world;" and although it is impossible to estimate, on this side the judgment-day, the full extent of the spiritual harvest that may De ultimately produced by the good seed sown on this wide field of labour, yet every friend of the Gospel, acquainted with the state of religion at Lyons, unites with his brethren there in hailing the gratifying fact, that even now, much, very much fruit is appearing and ripening.

The dense Roman Catholic population by which we are surrounded, is becoming more and more affected by the diffusion of the Scriptures, and scriptural knowledge; and almost each succeeding month adds a gladdening testimony to the triumphs of truth and light over error and superstition, by exhibiting some fresh converts, who, fearless of persecution from their former brethren, are courageously pressing forward to join the ranks of Evangelical Christians.

Two hundred and twenty souls are at present numbered as resident members of the church, independently of a considerable body of brethren who have been removed from it, by the demands of Christian societies for colporteurs, (Bible missionaries,) evangelists, and evangelical students, by departures of individuals and entire families for other parts, and by death. The entire congregation amounts at present to more than double the above number.

Up to the present moment, however, this Christian community, although living in a city which, for size, population, and industry, is the second in France, has never yet possessed a chapel.

Forced soon after its origin to quit, for want of room, the pastor's house, where its first assemblies for Divine worship were held, the little society could find no other suitable accommodation than that of an apartment formerly used as a concert-room; and in this, although it afforded sittings for no more than 250 persons, Divine service has been performed until the spring of 1837. At this period a remarkable augmentation of hearers rendered the want of room more painfully evident than ever, and an effort was made to gain additional space, by converting a contiguous apartment into a part of the chapel-room. This was effected at Easter, 1837, when the number of sittings was increased to 320.

Very soon, however, this enlargement was found insufficient also. The increase of attendance has become so extensive that the atmosphere of the room is frequently intolerable; and whilst some of the hearers are from time to time obliged to be carried out in a state of insensibility, others are altogether unable to obtain access.

The idea of erecting a chapel had often suggested itself before, but the various difficulties inseparable from such an enterprise,

VOL. XVI.

and more especially the very high rate of building ground* and materials, in this populous town, had hitherto damped our spirits. At the present moment, however, every other consideration seems to vanish before the paramount duty of providing room in the sanctuary of the Lord for such numbers as are pressing forward to hear the glad tidings of salvation.

An appeal was consequently addressed, in the month of February last, to the Christians of France and Switzerland, and by many of these the most generous answers have been returned. Among the most devoted of those who have shown how willingly they could make a sacrifice in favour of such a cause, are the poor of Lyons themselves, who on the present occasion have produced instances of a zeal and a self-denial truly affecting. But such is the poverty of our resources, that the total of the sum received up to this day amounts to only 10,457f. 95c., or about 4007., whereas the sum required for the construction of a chapel and the ground, calculated, with the current expenses of the year, upon the most moderate scale, amounts to 75,000f. or 85,000f., or full 3,0007.

Seeing, therefore, the impossibility of obtaining in these parts so large a sum of money, a special council of the church was summoned this day, the 8th of May, 1838; and at this meeting, honoured by the presence of the Rev. Mr. Filhol, of Nancy, and of James Evans, Esq., a member of the Church of England, it was

Resolved-That the pastor of the church, the Rev. C. A. Cordes, be authorised and requested to proceed to England, in order to solicit the aid of British Christians.

The two principal grounds on which the present appeal is founded are,

The urgent necessity of opening, after six years of preparatory labour, in the centre of a Roman Catholic population of 180,000 souls, an evangelical chapel; and

The utter inability of the Christians at Lyons, on accouht of their extreme poverty, to raise among themselves the requisite means for this hallowed purpose.

We commend the case to the God of all grace, and to the benevolence of our brethren in Great Britain.

For the Council of the Evangelical
Church, presided by the Rev. C. A.
Cordes,

L. MOURETON,

F. Poy,

D. ZENTLER,

Deacons.

Lyons, in France, May 8, 1838.

We hope to secure 3,500 feet square, not too far from the heart of the town, at about twelve francs, or 9s. sterling a foot, whilst in the very centre of the city the price would not be less than twenty-five francs, or 20s. a foot, so great is the demand for building-ground at Lyons.

2 E