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God," and though "the invisible things of Him should be clearly seen by the things that are made;" yet "the world by wisdom (its own) knew not God," and it "pleased," and still pleases, "God, by the foolishness of preaching," i. e., by declaring His name, and truth, and love, "to save them that believe." Yes. world, in part, is again shewing symptoms of mustering against Him, or contriving to do without Him. But that word endureth. "Let the potsherds of the earth strive with the potsherds of the earth; but woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!" For when we see and hear man, with impious lips, selecting the holiest words which describe the glorious results of Messiah's, God incarnate's triumph over all evil, and applying them to what lifted up worms of the dust think they are achieving "by the might of their own hands, and by their wisdom, for they are prudent,” we see but the harbinger of Him and His day, who, "sitting in the temple of God, shall say of Himself, that He is God!" Men are just busied again in pulling down God's ordinances and work, and seeking, instead, to erect a great Babel, (city of confusion,) by their own wisdom and appliances; but the word is, "Take away her battlements; they are not the Lord's!" In this view, and as a needed lesson, while I would look to God, and be thankful to God, for any remedies, the earliest which science may discover, for that disease, which for seasons has tainted, and, in many cases, even destroyed, the produce of our fields; and that loss of the animal creation, which has, in other cases, made almost "no herd to be in the stall;" and more cryingly needed still, for that "pestilence walking in darkness, and wasting, as a destroyer, our human life at noon-day; it does not altogether pain me, that man's wit, for a season, is baffled in finding the remedies; if so be it teach us, as a nation, dependence, and "humble us," in these awful times, "under the mighty hand of God!"

But 2dly, There is more than diversity, -there is alleged actual discrepancy (disagreement) in the kingdoms or voices of God.

The first instance I would notice, was a subject of much anxiety and debate in my own younger days, and which then often clouded and pained many a young unfortified spirit. The subject was first brought before Europe by "Bailly," a French astronomer, who flourished during the first Revolution. It was alleged, and even ostentatiously and unblushingly paraded, (especially in a certain celebrated journal, the Edinburgh Review,) that the then recently discovered observations of the Hindoo astronomy, shewed a historic antiquity, far exceeding that assigned in Scripture to the human race. Now, I suppose it is known to most of you, that astronomy, though its objects be the most remote-in fact, immeasurably remote from man's handling, is based upon accurate observation and mathematical calculations, and consequently the most exact of the sciences. We know, also, that though there be an irregularity in the system of the Heavens, discovered and demonstrated by Newton, yet that this also has its limit, as was predicted and verified by his greatest successor, La Place; from which limit it returns, and so is balanced again; so that, apart from the same Divine will that called it into being, and prescribed its laws, these being continued, the system of the universe is fitted for eternal duration! It is not from itself, but from His voice in another kingdom of God, we learn that it has its period of change, and in a sense even of dissolution, fixed. Now, it is also known to every one familiar with even the elements of astronomy, and mathematical calculations applied to it, that have given us the position of the heavenly bodies, and the laws which their movements observe, at any one place, at any given moment, we can calculate exactly, what must have been their position and aspects (aye, including not only the occurrence of eclipses, but even the appearance and disappearance of comets) at that or any other place, at any supposed time, however remote,— yea, though the earth, in its present state, if only of equal density, did not then exist. Thus vanished the phantom of infidelity, conjured up from the fictitious observations of the Hindoo astronomy,—a monu

black gown and plain muslin cap. The reader was busy with the service, which was commenced by singing or chaunting a metre version of the Psalms, reading a chapter from a Swiss Bible, with reflections, and a short liturgy, in which were contained the Lord's prayer, and the commandments. M. Bonjour, the pastor, then ascended the pulpit; and before commencing sermon, performed the ceremony of baptism. The father was attended by the godfather and godmother. The godfather occupied the centre of the group with the child in his arms, which was concealed with a high covering of rich crimson silk, ornamented with lace and tassels, which hung from the neck of the young man who presented it. During the time of prayer, while the rest of the congregation stood, these kneeled in front of the pulpit. At the conclusion of the prayer, the clergyman descended, receiving the name of the child from the father, and a small phial filled with water from the godmother, with which the ordinance was administered. M. Bonjour preached an impressive sermon, commencing with, “Christians, my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ our Lord." He concluded by singing and reading a short liturgy, which embraced the Lord's Prayer and the Creed. Before service was completed, the

thunder of cannon, within a few pacse of the place of worship, announced the amount of toleration extended by Sardinian Catholics to their Protestant brethren! There was no misinterpreting the object of this noisy ceremonial, nor was it a solitary instance of their hostility to these unoffending worshippers. A few years before, a lofty barricade was erected in front of the Protestant Church; and though the effects of time and weather had so far accomplished its demolition, its place had been supplied by a large screen in the interior of the "Temple," to prevent any part of the Protestant worship being heard outside. Often have the Vaudois clergy patiently to pause in the middle of divine worship until this artillery is discharged.

After service, we accompanied M. Bonjour to his lovely residence, part of which forms the winter abode of Col. B—, a veteran English soldier, who has left a monument of his Christian philanthrophy in every commune of the valleys, in the substantial shape of a village school, and whose name and virtues are much revered by the grateful peasantry. We arranged to start with M. Revel the following morning on an extensive tour through the more distant valleys; but this we must reserve for a future paper.

HUNGARY.

THE eyes of Europe are, at this moment, attracted to Hungary. It is impossible for Protestants to be indifferent to a contest carried on by a nation who number upwards of 2000 Protestant ministers, and 2,000,000 of people professing the same faith. Of those, about a million and a-quarter (Magyars) are Calvinists, and are represented by thirty-four Synods. We extract the following brief sketch of the origin of the Hungarian nation :

"The lands which constitute the present kingdom of Hungary, were known to the Romans under the name of Dacia and Pannonia; they were conquered by the Emperor Trajan, and colonized by him and his successors, with settlers from

different parts of the Roman empire. This colonization must have been very numerous, and such as to give an entirely Roman character to the inhabitants of the country, because their descendants have, notwithstanding the lapse of ages, and the many foreign invasions to which they have been exposed, retained even now the Roman name and language. They call themselves Roumoon, i. e., Romans, speak a kind of corrupted Latin, and they although they are generally known under the name of Wallachians. They inhabit chiefly the eastern parts of Hungary and Transylvania, and form the bulk of the populations of the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia. During the 5th and 6th centuries, the Slavonians came from beyond the Carpathian mountains, and established their dominion over the

western part of that country. These two nations were conquered by the Magyars, or Hungarians Proper, who, having arrived from Asia, founded the kingdom of Hungary about the beginning of the tenth century. The Hungarian state was thus composed of a population belonging to three different races, entirely distinct from each other by origin and language, viz., the Magyar, or Hungarian Proper, the Wallachian, and the Slavonic,-which is the largest of all; its number having been increased by the addition of the kingdom of Croatia, inhabited by that race, and which, after the extinction of its native dynasty at the beginning of the 12th century, chose for its monarch Coloman, first King of Hungary; and, at a later period, by emigration from Servia, to these three races were gradually

added a considerable number of Germans, who settled in Hungary at different periods, but particularly under the Austrian dominion."

Note. Any one desirous of becoming acquainted with the causes of the present troubles in Austria, may do so by consulting a work, entitled "Panslavism and Germanism," by Count Valerian Krasinski, and published (small 8vo,) by W. Newby, London. Count Krasinski has also published (in 2 vols. 8vo.) the best work extant upon the history of the Protestant Church in Poland.

during this last quarter of a century, a great number of superior works in every branch of human knowledge. This intellectual movement is attended by a growing tendency towards a union of all these branches amongst themselves, as well as their separation from nations of a different origin, with whom many Slavonians are now politically united. This tendency, which is designated by the name of Panslavism, has been already, for several years, exciting a strong sensa tion in Germany, and it is generally considered as one of the causes which have brought about the present war in Hungary The intervention of Russia in the above-mentioned war, has now given an immense importance to the Slavonic nations in the affairs of Europe, because it de. pends upon the issue of this war, whether these nations will develop themselves under the influence of religious and political liberty, or, falling under the despotic sway of the northern colossus, assume a hostile attitude towards Western

Europe, and become dangerous to its liberty and

civilization. It is, therefore, believed, that a rapid sketch of the Religious History of the Slavonic Nations. preceded by a short notice of their present political and intellectual condition, will be found not uninteresting to the British public, seeing that such a sketch is best calculated to give a correct idea of the national character of the immense Slavonic race, and to shew what Europe may have to hope or fear from that race which is now advancing with a fearful rapidity towards the predominant mission which seems to be assigned to it, by the number of its population, and the extent of its territory"

We heartily wish Count Krasinski success in his undertaking, and have only to add, that as the volume is publishing by subscription, (price 2s. 6d.,) we shall be most happy to receive the names of subscribers, and their subscriptions, and to make arrangements for the transmission of the volume to them.

We cordially recommend both works to the perusal of our readers. Last winter, a series of lectures were delivered in Edinburgh by the Count, at the desire of several clergymen and laymen. Those who attended his lectures have requested him to publish them in a cheap form. He has consented to do so. From the high character and learning of the author, we confidently expect that his volume will give such information regarding the religious history of the Slavonic nations, as will excite in this country a warm interest in their behalf. We give the fol- Dates of the Adoption of the New Doctrines

lowing extract from the prospectus :

"No one can have watched with any care the progress of events in Eastern Europe during the last few years, without having become strongly impressed with the conviction, that the Slavonic nations are called by Providence to enact, at a no distant period, a prominent part on the stage of the world; and the great drama which has now begun in that quarter of the world goes far to confirm this opinion. These nations constitute the most numerous race of Europe; they occupy the largest portion of its territory; and extend their dominion over the whole of the north of Asia. The population belonging to this race amounts to eighty millions of souls, living under the rule of Russia, Austria, the Ottoman Porte,

Prussia, and Saxony. A strong intellectual

movement animates all the branches of the Slavonic family; and their literature has produced,

According to Szafarik's Slavonic Ethnography, the number of the Slavonians, in 1942, was as follows:-Under the dominion of Russia, 53,502,000; of Austria, 16,791,000; of Turkey,

POPISH INNOVATIONS.

ABOUT A.D.

700

787

1076

1215

1215

by the Church of Rome. Invocation of Saints Worship of Images Infallibility of the Church Transubstantiation Supremacy of the Pope Witholding the cup from the Laity 1415 Purgatory

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Seven Sacraments
Apocryphal Books
Priestly intention
Venial Sins
Sacrifice of the Mass
Sale of Indulgences
Creed of Pope Pius IV.

1438

1547

1547

1547

1563

1563

1563

1564

in which twelve new articles were added to the Nicene Creed, composed A.D 325. 6,100,000; of Prussia, 2,108,000 of Cracow, now united with Austria, 130,000; of Saxony 60,000; total, 78,691,000.

effulgence, through the gothic windows, in streams of dazzling, yet softened light, along the naive and aisles of the time-worn, and time-honoured church.

The vicarge is close to the church; one of those nice old quiet buildings, so peculiar to peaceful, happy England, which speak of domestic love and joy. The garden is immediately around it, and a wider circle embraces the churchyard and meadow-ground, with the picturesque cottages buried in ivy and honey-suckle circling around the house of their God, and the resting-place of what is mortal of the dear departed. It was a beautiful sight to see the rooms and garden of the vicarage crowded with happy faces, many of them of the better orders, from the neighbouring town, and the old vicar walking about among them, speaking a word of affection and welcome to each. Years have told upon him; but he has been an honoured servant of his master; and, I daresay, he is looking forward to a speedy translation to the glory which is the certain inheritance of the saints.

We formed a goodly procession as we quietly wended our way along the narrow path which leads from the vicarage to the church. The proceedings commenced by prayer, after which the good old vicar explained the object of the meeting in a few words. It was the anniversary of an association which had been formed for some time among them,—a little daughter of the Great Parent Institution which was being abundantly blessed of God among the heathen in the distant parts of the earth. A veteran soldier was the next speaker. He proved, by his few and urgent words, that he was not ashamed to be a soldier of the Cross, or to serve his Redeemer, while he laboured faithfully for his earthly sovereign. There were several other speakers, all devoted,

earnest men, whose sole object was evidently to advocate the holy cause which they had undertaken, and not to exalt themselves. Our friend who spoke last, enlarged upon the operations of the society in various parts of the world, in which I will not follow him, as the publications of the society are open to your readers, and have been noticed in your pages.

The labouring people had been thronging into the church very rapidly; after the work of the day was over; and before we broke up, the large church-capable of containing about 2000 people—was pretty well filled, and I have rarely witnessed a large audience more earnestly attentive to the proceedings of a meeting. Surely we may look for the blessing of God on meetings such as this.

We may hope that many may be induced to think of the blessedness of a participation in the covenant-mercies of God; and having themselves tasted that God is gracious, they may be stirred up to remember the poor heathen, and to join themselves to the people of God, to strive, by prayer and sanctified gold and silver, against the mighty adversary of mankind.

I know one parish in Scotland where such an association is admirably worked; perhaps there are many others; but I hear continually the voice of lamentation sounded by many whom I know as bright stars of the good old Established Church of Scotland, that the spirit of missionary exertion seems to have died down among its people into a mere lifeless, heartless spark. May God send His Spirit to fan the flame; to raise up associations in every parish through the length and breadth of the land, that the blessings of a missionary church may be abundantly poured upon her!

THIRD ANNUAL PLEASURE EXCURSION OF THE BRITISH
LEAGUE OF JUVENILE ABSTAINERS.

(Monthly Paper supplied by the Edinburgh Branch of the British League of Juvenile Abstainers, for which the Editor is not responsible.-Ev. CH. MAG.)

ANOTHER of the interesting and im- the British League of Juvenile Abstainproving Juvenile Pleasure Excursions of ers, took place on Saturday, the 11th

August. The numbers present on this occasion far exceeded the numbers at any of the previous excursions; and the arrangements, altogether, were of an extent and of a nature almost incredible, as the offspring of the benevolence and liberality of one individual,-viz., John Hope, Esq., 31 Moray Place, Edinburgh.

By the kindness of the Countess of Hopetoun, and her son, the young Earl of Hopetoun, the whole of the magnificent deer-parks, pleasure-grounds, terraces, flower and fruit-gardens, conservatories, &c. &c., at Hopetoun House, the princely residence of the Earl of Hopetoun, had been unreservedly thrown open to receive the Members of the British League of Juvenile Abstainers, and friends invited at the instance of Mr. Hope.

Arrangements had been made by which, while Edinburgh and Leith contributed the largest portion of the Members of the League, all the other places where branches of this institution are found, might contribute their fair proportion. Accordingly, when the day, anxiously looked forward to by thousands of young and happy children, had arrived, the following places sent in a number of their abstaining youth to share in the recreation, amusement, and instruction of the day,-viz.,

In addition to Edinburgh and Leith,

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Deputations of young people, either under the care of their teachers, or adult friends, were also invited from places where, as yet, no branch of the British League has been formed; but where, it is hoped, steps will immediately be taken for the opening of meetings, and the imparting of instruction to the young on the subject of intoxicants, according to the plans of the Institution which brought them together on Saturday, to see something of the rational and healthful enjoyments which a gracious Providence has placed within the reach of the humblest and the youngest, as well as the richest and the oldest; but which the habits of our past and present generations have neglected and despised, to yield themselves up to the degrading and sensual indulgences of the public-house, the tavern, the hotel, and the snuff and tobacco-shop.

The following are the names of the places where no branch of the British League has yet been formed; but where,

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To make the children of these places, and their friends, aware of what is doing in Edinburgh, and elsewhere-to change the minds of the rising generation in regard to the intoxicants used by the adult them to abstain from these intoxicants, portion of the community-and to lead was the object in view in inviting them to spend the day with the thousands of abstaining children and young people of the British League; and that the object will be attained, the past experience of the Institution seems to give the strongest reason to expect.

Early in the morning, many of the children and young people who had the greatest distance to come to the appointed place of meeting, began to assemble and get into the special conveyances provided for their journey; while, by half-past six o'clock, the first special train was on its way from Harburn, on the Caledonian Railway, with one party. By seven o'clock, the second special train was on its way from Dunbar, on the North British Railway, with another party; by eight o'clock, the third special train was on its way from Dalkeith, on the Hawick Railway, with another party; by twenty minutes after eight, the fourth special train was on its way from Linlithgow, on the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway; and, by a few minutes after nine o'clock, the fifth special train was on its way from Edinburgh, consisting of eighty-seven carriages, propelled by three engines, and containing between three and four thousand children, young people, and their superintendents.

The morning had been gloomy and wet; but this had no effect in damping the ardour and enthusiasm which seemed to pervade every breast; and though previous to the starting of the train, and during the journey from Edinburgh to Winchburgh, the rain descended in torrents, and many of the children and

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