which only brethren who quarrel can display.

live in a district where Nonconformity has appeared to flourish and extend for several generations. No doubt very many souls have been converted and saved by the wide-spread and faithful declaration of the truth throughout the neighbourhood. Moreover, Episcopalianism has been aroused from torpidity to life, by proximity to these efforts for the good of the people. Yet it cannot be doubted but that for the frequent and painfully prolonged instances of quarrels amongst brethren, issuing in absolute feuds, much more good would have been done. Within the last fifty years we have seen four important denominational ruptures; and as a consequence of them, in part, and partly from local differences, eleven Nonconformist churches in the place have suffered large secessions within the same time.

At the beginning of the century the population was 30,000, and there were seven churches and eleven chapels, most of the latter of small size. The population is become 105,000. Incumbents having divided parishes into districts, there are now sixteen churches, in which twenty-eight clergymen minister, most of them being of an active, evangelical character. There are now fifty-eight chapels, capable of seating from thirty persons (the last erected one) to three thousand, the lately-erected great temple of Wesleyanism-vast, ornate, beautiful, and three parts empty. There are only twenty-seven ministers engaged-Methodists of each kind and Papist inclusive— in meeting the claims of this extended organization of Dissent. Whatever may be said of the origin of some of these places of worship, there was eventual need of many of them; for the people were perishing for lack of that knowledge which the working out of the voluntary principle in this manner has furnished the means to supply. The Episcopalians, who have relied in this instance upon that same principle for their success, only built as they could pay, and where there was the most real necessity. Their fabrics bear the impress of being intended for perpetuity. In these things they seem to have acted more wisely than the Dissenters, who have considered architectural appearance and proportions in but few instances, even in the town chapels-have run up slight, paltry-looking buildings, in the majority of cases, in the environs; and, I believe, invariably opened these

new places of worship in debt, often weighty enough to exhaust both pastor and people.

Again: it is for a lamentation that every new disruption of a denomination seems to be thought to necessitate a new set of chapels, no matter how many are within reach in town or village, where, from congeniality of general views or polity, these new dissidents might find a home and become absorbed. Pride, indignation, inflated notions as to the importance of their outraged sentiments and feelings, all forbid anything less than new chapels, and these set up as near as may be to those they have just quitted.

The CHRISTIAN WITNESS is much read, and deservedly so, amongst most evangelical professors. I therefore consider it a good channel for endeavouring to describe, in a right spirit, any important evil, with a view simply to its being rightly understood and cured. Allow

me, therefore, to go on to say, that the last new claim upon our chapel-building sympathies, put forth in this neighbourhood, is one on behalf of "Wesleyan Reform." When applied to a while ago, I declined to contribute towards the erection of a chapel in a village in this county, for the use of these friends, because there is already twice as much chapel room there as is usually occupied. I knew that divers worthy ministers had, within the last half century, been insulted and starved in that same place, upon grudgingly bestowed pittances, of not twothirds the amount paid by employers to every skilled, sober workman in their factories. I inquired why the "Reformers " could not join the Kilhamite body, whose opinions and practice I supposed were very like their own, and whose chapel, together with the Independent and Baptist places of worship, stand in their village, within sight, and almost hearing, of the Wesleyan they had lately quitted. I could not obtain any answer. not one or other of four Nonconforming places of worship (there is a parish church also,) suffice for any religionists in a place of fifteen or sixteen hundred inhabitants? If not, the new chapel process may be expected to run its course in most of the towns and villages where Wesleyanism again languishes under the knife of excision, or the grievous wrench of separation. All over the land, the unholy strife may be perpetuated, and men who, a few years since, almost worshipped the venerable Conference " Hundred," and who were angry at any expression

Should

doubt that the "Connection" embraced the best ecclesiastical system the world ever saw, will, it is to be feared, go on to execrate the "tyranny" of the latter, while they blacken the character of the former, as guilty of crimes which, if true, would justly exclude them from the society of honest men. Already, Pope and President, a Methodist Conference and a conclave of Cardinals, are by these people loudly declared to be convertible terms. Bunting, Jackson, Everett, Dunn, are foremost rallying names. As among the ancient Corinthians, the blessed and adorable name of Christ is, as it were, brought in behind-the last, and as if of least importance. For shame! Cast away your banners, inscribed with the names of men: throw away your carnal weapons. With them, true Protestants never fight against real Papists. Such a divided army can never engage such foes with success. Set up your banners of "salvation through faith in Christ; and take to yourselves the whole armour of God; and do it at once. Will a priestly host of Jesuits wait, think you, until we have settled our disputes, and then only set itself in array when we shall have entered into a new solemn league and covenant, no more to cut down each other, but expend united strength upon a subtle foe, who seeks to deprive us of the greatest privileges and blessings man can enjoy?

our

They will certainly not so wait our time and convenience. Take the Romanist movements in this place as a proof. Forty years ago their only priest here met an average congregation of five persons, in a little room of an obscure building scarcely known. This has expanded into a "bishopric," a "cathedral," a "nunnery," day and Sunday-schools, where several hundreds of children are convened. A second large chapel, built some years since, now serves as a place from which to make incursions into the dense population around, preparatory, it is hoped by them, to a second regular congregation. Altogether, this body cannot have expended less than £20,000 in their building operations, for assisting to lay the foundation of which so deep and strong, their chief clergyman (a Jesuit, though the son of a Baptist, I believe.) is now enjoying the post of a Romanist bishop.

I am aware that the guiding principles of Protestantism and Popery are as diverse as the ends contemplated. Ours is to diffuse light and emancipate mind and

spirit; theirs, to create and concentrate within themselves spiritual power. We send abroad into society the Bible, which is Divinely effective, though often by the hands of very feeble men; and we do well. It is "a lamp that burneth," held forth in this world of gloom by whomsoever it may. They depend on Jesuitical, dogmatic teaching, outward show, ritual devotion. They are wise in their generation their organization is a very perfect one.

To meet this foe effectually, or, indeed, to perform our duty to the world in the times we live in, we cannot afford to waste resources of any class whatever. But see in what a partial manner this one-eyed, contentious spirit, against which I am pleading, would cause the efforts of the church to be distributed. Looking out from the windows of the room where I write, two suburban parishes lie beneath the eye. In the one are four hamlets, the extremities of each distant about half a mile from the others; the whole parish containing about 5,000 people. In the other parish the population is about 12,000. In the year 1800 there was in this a parish church, but no Dissenting place of worship in the place. Now there are seven chapels, which would hold 1,500 people; and another church has just been erected, which, with the old one, would give church room for 1,000 persons-total accommodation for 2,500 hearers. In the former parish there were, in 1800, a parish church, and two chapels built by Dissenters. Two more churches have since been built, and another is now building, so that 2,000 people may be accommodated at church shortly. teen more chapels have been erected in the fifteen, 4,000 hearers may be seated. Room is therefore made for 6,000 people, in a total population of 5,000, of whom 1,000, of course, are too young to know their right hand from their left. These chapels, of which one has been erected by Independents, four by Baptists, and ten by Methodists of various names, have been raised (except, I think, two) by the efforts of Nonconformist bodies in the neighbouring town, from whence preachers are sent, there being only two ministers resident on the spot. The disputes of religionists in the town have travelled with the preachers and teachers into the one suburban district, and caused chapels to rise beyond any possible need for them -it is to be feared, generating, in too many cases, an unfriendly and narrowminded spirit amongst professors of prin

Thir

ciples almost identical, as to those of most importance. In the other, seven or eight thousand people have been left in the deepest darkness and depravity, because we were too busily engaged in our miserable disputations to care for their souls.

Religious discord is a great error and a great sin. The Church will not thrive under such a blight. The world remains an irreclaimable waste while it prevails. Let us Christians know in what our influence, as such, consists. It is in showing how much we can love one another; keeping the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace; allowing no coercion in non-essentials;, endeavouring after a happy unity in essentials; in all things showing charity.

In conclusion, is it not a solemn duty to protest against these constantly-recurring dissensions, whether they come from our worldliness, pride, or love of power; whether on the part of ministers or laity, or both; and which seem not to have as their only necessary result, spiritual leanness within, but threaten to cover the fair face of our profession with tumours and blotches-an unsightly deformity, a sign and consequence of the ill-blood circulating beneath? If we thus waste our present strength, if many amongst us become sickly and some die, if many are hindered, and accessions of strength are prevented from coming to the help of the Lord against the mighty, how shall we be able to abide the pending conflict-that day which assuredly is not far off, and which, when it comes, whether it find us prepared, or not, will effectually prove us all. To stand in that evil day and acquit us as men, we must be imbued with the Spirit of God, and put on the whole armour prepared for his sacramental host. Ephraim must no more envy Judah, nor Judah vex Ephraim; but hand with hand, and heart with heart, as of one man, do battle with the armies of Apocalyptic Babylon.

As the prospect of this epoch, so important in regard to the final destinies of the Church of evangelical Christendom approaches, one cannot but fervently wish that all the great sections into which it is separated were one. But if this cannot be, the hope may be permitted that Congregationalists, at least, of the various Baptist and Independent communities, may soon be gathered together into one compact body. Why should they not be so? Money, energy, time, talents, would be more effective; unseemly competitive ef.

THOUGHTS ON THE PRESENT
STATE OF DISSENT.

SIR,-In the January Number of the CHRISTIAN WITNESS I read with interest a useful Article, containing some remarks by Dr. Candlish, of Edinburgh, on the lethargy of our churches, and its cure. It speaks, I am certain, the sentiments of every devout mind, as far as it goes; but as there prevails so extensively, at present, a desire for "a season of refreshing," a few additional thoughts on another aspect of the subject may not seem uncalled for.

It is my belief, that, in whatever degree the cause of the much-lamented spiritual epidemic is traceable to the flocks, it does not exclusively rest with them. It is to be feared-and I say it after considerable observation and reflection-that the shepherds are not without blame. From worthy instances of pastoral success, however, throughout the country, it is a circumstance as pleasant as it is true that the rule has numerous exceptionsexceptions which go to indicate what an unspeakable blessing it would be to our denomination and the country at large, were the few like the many, in adaptedness for their momentous work.

Civil and religious society has thrived under suitable leaders in past ages, and why should not the same law hold good now? Indeed, we have no reason to doubt that, as far as it has due operation, it does. For after all the complaints that are lodged against particular localities, as being hard to move, it turns out that, a fair trial having been given, ministers find in the results of their labours the measure of their fitness for their spheres. Wherever, then, failures occur, we must regard them as a proof of some inaptitude, at least, for that part of the vineyard.

But this is not all. Certain as I am that want of success is occasioned, to no small extent, by ministers (and among them men of talent) on the one hand, accepting inappropriate places, and on the other, failing to discharge their duty when they meet appropriate ones, it is

my conviction that the solution of the painful problem must be sought deeper than this. It would be more gratifying to me than otherwise were I mistaken, but on inspection I am afraid that our Colleges will be found to have much to do, directly as well as indirectly, with the spreading of the universal torpor in question.

At those establishments the spirit and character, in a lengthened term of education, will naturally take the bent that most nearly corresponds with the complexion of the house. Now, if the fountain were pure and healthy, the stream could not fail to be so also. But if our students are allowed, while subject to their mental discipline, to live and labour without any stringent measures being employed to guard and promote their holiness, and to keep them alive to the dread responsibilities of their future office, how can we expect an efficient ministry?

Passing from generalities to particulars, I will glance at what I consider to be some capital mistakes committed by those at the head of the affairs of our seats of learning, in connection with this matter.

First, it does not by any means always happen that these authorities are influenced, in the admission of students, just by those considerations that ought to weigh with them.

We will suppose the applicant to be a youth of good abilities, and solid, early education. I have known several instances of this kind, where the application has been accepted, there being, at the same time, no guarantee for preaching power occupying a place among the talents that gave promise. The candidate's course has closed ere the error has been discovered. He has felt (but, unfortunately, too late!) that he was not in his place; and the Board of Management, that they had stepped out of theirs.

Strange to say, however, that while imprudent in one extreme, they are not preserved from the opposite. If the applicant be but distinguished for sanctified zeal in the congregation to which he belongs, and have made the necessary preparation for his studious career, even though his mind and attainment should border on inferiority, this, through the wondrous charity of some Committees, would be accounted sufficient as a passport. Hence there are two classes, not inconsiderable, among our preachers, who are well represented by the types I have given, the one class consisting altogether of brains; the other, altogether of heart.

Next, I should like to say a word about degrees. But lest I should be misunderstood, let it not be supposed that my views coincide here with those of certain of the old school divines still living, who seem to envelope themselves in the smoke of their hot opposition to learned titles as a covering for their own ignorance.

An enterprising spirit in scholarship is highly laudable, when prudently cultivated; that is, when personal religion comes off unscathed. But there is danger in the present day of the honourable things referred to engrossing the attention, to the neglect of matters which are of far more use to the Christian minister.

On making inquiry, I find that in some Theological Institutions so much moment is attached to University degrees, that there is more talk about them than about that preparation for the ministerial office which is more needful, and which bears more directly on after usefulness,—I mean, Biblical studies, united with spirituality. What is the result on the students? A literary enthusiasm is awakened under the exciting influence of "B.A." and "M.A." gossip, and what serious thoughts of right pastoral qualifications they had at the outset of their curriculum give place to the all but exclusive culture of the intellect. At last, if some strong check be not applied, they begin to feel as if identified, not with a seminary for the training of students for the Christian ministry, but with a scientific institute. Moreover, the tutors themselves, in some cases, so labour to inspire their charge with a regard for the honour of the alma mater, that eventually the aim of the more ambitious among them is not so much to become more eminent in converting sinners than those sent forth from other similar Institutions, but rather to take a higher standing at the examinations in London.

This kind of intellectual chivalry may do very well for mere men of letters, but ill comports with the vocation of aspirants to the pulpit. If men are to be made, under training, only walking libraries, then it is a pity that the churches should be afflicted with their services as pastors.

But if all that has been said be true, need we be surprised at the dissatisfaction that is occasionally expressed by observant individuals, on account of the low standard of personal religion in our Colleges, and at the want of adaptation, when it appears, for the varied duties of the pastoral office?

The wisdom that enables ministers of