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I shall be thought, perhaps, by B. Clericus and some others, from this opinion, to be an Unitarian; but I can assure them I am not. On the contrary, I am a worshipper of the Saviour of the world, and, as I hope, in sincerity and truth.

U. Y.

THE TOWER OF SILOAM.

Luke xiii. 4.

MR. EDITOR,-Although I live in a neighbourhood, where the doctrines called Evangelical are in high request, and where the surrounding Clergy are, with very few exceptions, of that class, who either are, or think they are, more zealous, active, and devout, than others of their Reverend Brethren; I am one of those who have been unable, after a strict, impartial, and conscientious examination of the words of truth, to discover any solid reason for rejecting the firm and rational interpretation of them, which your Review was originally established to promote. If I am deceived, I am deceived in common with the brightest ornaments of our English Church; and I cannot find that any of the " new lights" which have risen in these later days, have outshone the lustre of the great supporters of the faith, who lived in the olden time.

After this avowal, you will not perhaps be surprised at my venturing to call your attention to a circumstance, of which I am almost inclined to doubt the truth, though assured of the fact by a clerical friend of the most unimpeachable integrity. Indeed I should scarcely have credited mine own ears, had they been witnesses of so sad a perversion of ministerial zeal. If the fact had occurred in this vicinity, where texts of scripture are not only misinterpreted in our Churches on the Lord's day, but posted, in indiscriminate confusion, with bills of auctions, racing-calendars, and the like, upon the walls of barns, cotton-mills, and sign-posts, I should not have been so much amazed. But amazed I am, that in the metropolis of England, to which we countrymen are used to look, as to the focus of clerical learning and orthodoxy, so gross a perversion of scripture sense and scripture doctrine should have been hazarded, as that which I now request you to expose.

It happened, as you may possibly recollect, that, on the Sunday following the melancholy catastrophe at the New Brunswick Theatre, the Second Lesson at morning service was the 13th chapter of Luke, which opens with our Lord's reply to those persons who told him of certain Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. "Suppose ye," says he, "that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay; but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." And in order more strongly to enforce the admonition, he repeats it in the same words, with reference to a yet more striking event; viz. the accidental destruction of eighteen persons, upon whom the tower of Siloam had fallen. Now it seems almost impossible for any one, who has the clear use of his senses, to read this remarkable passage, without perceiving at once

the real drift of our Saviour's declaration. It is not improbable "that the slaughter of these Galileans, while they were performing the solemn offices of their religion, was thought to have the appearance of something extraordinary, different from common providences; and so gave occasion to a suspicion, that the dreadful usage they had experienced, was a judgment of God upon them for some great impieties. But our blessed Lord, having more humanity as well as a more true and exact judgment of things, took occasion to reprove their uncharitableness, and to correct their gross mistakes. He does not indeed deny that the Galileans were sinners, or that their sufferings were brought upon them for their sins; yet he condemns those that censured them for their groundless and illnatured conclusion, that these suffering Galileans had been sinners above all the Galileans; and he farther tacitly reproves their fond and partial conceits in their own favour, as if they were comparatively innocent and righteous, only because no such calamity had as yet befallen them."

This, Sir, is the exposition of the learned aud judicious Waterland; and it is to be found in the notes to Doyly and Mant's Bible; so that one would suppose it impossible for any clergyman of the Church of England to be unacquainted therewith, even could we conceive the possibility of his misunderstanding so clear a passage. Still a sermon was actually preached in one of your London Churches, upon the occasion above mentioned, in which the preacher clearly stated his belief, founded upon this very declaration of our Lord, that the death of the unfortunate persons upon whom the Brunswick Theatre fell, was a divine visitation for the heinous sin of theatrical representation. Now I do not mean to advocate the morality of play-goers; indeed I think that it is a practice which may be carried to a dangerous excess; but I cannot conceive, that had the Gospel interdicted rational amusements, and this among the number, our Lord would have honoured with his presence a scene of social festivity, and have illustrated the most important of his doctrines by various allusions to similar entertainments. Be this as it may, what had the unfortunate carpenter, and the poor Jew, who was killed on the outside of the building, to do with the enormity in question? The reverend preacher, however, in order to heighten the effect of his declaration, acquainted his hearers with a report, which he had accidentally heard, that the building had actually proceeded on Sundays. If this were really the case, I should think the magistracy would have interfered; at all events I greatly question the propriety of spreading such a report from the pulpit. My main object, however, was to point out the gross perversion of our Lord's admonition; a perversion, which argues a most unpardonable ignorance, or a still more unpardonable misrepresentation of Scripture, in a minister of Christ. In the hopes, therefore, that you will lend your aid in checking such unfair means of maintaining a system of faith, which is clearly untenable by a candid exposition of the Gospel, by the insertion of this communication, I have the honour to subscribe myself, PHILALETHES.

Burton-on-Trent, April 8, 1828.

AUXILIARY FUND.

Proposals for raising an Auxiliary Fund, to be placed at the disposal of the Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy, by means of Contributions from the Sons and Daughters of the Clergy, and their young Friends among the Laity, for those Clerical Sons aud Daughters, who, retaining a good character, have notwithstanding been less fortunate in life.

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Mr. EDITOR,-A wise and inspired teacher tells us, The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to all men." Now, Sir, I am conscious to myself, that I am neither swift, nor strong, nor wise, nor rich, nor skilful, and therefore that I ought to be more thankful to "time and chance," which, under the control of an ever-present, allpowerful, all-wise, all-bountiful, and omniscient Providence, has given me "bread enough," and an income, which, however small, enables me by a contented economy, to have a little to spare for those children of the clergy who may want it, and though perhaps more deserving, have not been so successful in life as myself. I calculate that there are at least twenty thousand sons and daughters of the clergy, who could, like myself, by a laudable denial of a very small portion of their pleasures in the course of every year, spare five shillings each for the assistance of such of the sons and daughters of the clergy, as have been less fortunate in life than themselves. This would produce five thousand pounds a year; and if, as it is probable, each contributor could induce one young friend of the laity to sympathize with a son and daughter of the clergy, and unite with them in the same act of charity, that sum might be doubled in amount. I would likewise humbly propose that the most Reverend the Lords Archbishops, and the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of every diocese, should be most respectfully entreated condescendingly to become the patrons of this charity, and that their respective Archdeacons would kindly consent to act as treasurers, in order to transmit the subscriptions collected by stewards, sons of the clergy (nominated and appointed by the Archdeacons themselves), to the Corporation House of the Sons of the Clergy in Bloomsbury Place, London, as the worthy registrar (J. M. Grimwood, Esq.) has humanely promised to recommend this proposed charity to the governors, so far as, that they might receive the subscriptions, and distribute them according to their discretion and judgment, to those that may happen to stand in need of, and merit its support.

Respectfully submitting, therefore, these my proposals to the benevolent consideration of those charitable persons whom it may concern, with such corrections and improvements as it may most probably require, I will only add that any communications and encouragements, either personally, at my residence, 37, Paradise Row, Chelsea, or by letters, post-paid, to me, at 185, Strand, London, will be most gratefully received by your most obedient and faithful humble Servant,

5th April, 1828.

M. BLUCKE.

THE LATE BISHOP TAYLOR.

A Memorial, commemorative of the worth of Bishop Jeremy Taylor, has been erected in the chancel of the Cathedral Church of Lisburn, by the Bishop and Clergy of Down and Connor.-It consists of a marble slab, with the inscription, resting on a suitable base, to which are prefixed the arms of the See, impaled with those of Bishop Taylor. The slab is supported by pilasters, on which crosiers are sculptured. On the top is a sarcophagus, having a Bible lying on it, surmounted by a mitre. The work was executed by Mr. Smyth, of Dublin, and is creditable to the skill and taste of that eminent sculptor.-The following is the inscription:

66

Not to perpetuate the memory of one

whose works will be his most enduring memorial,
but that there may not be wanting

a public testimony to his memory in the diocess,
which derives honour from his superintendance,
this tablet is inscribed with the name of
JEREMY TAYLOR, D. D.

who, on the restoration in MDCLX
of the British Church and Monarchy,
in the fall of which he had partaken,
having been promoted to the Bishoprick
of Down and Connor;

and having presided for seven years in that See,
as also, over the adjoining diocess of Dromore,
which was soon after entrusted to his care,

on account of his virtue, wisdom and industry;"
died at Lisburn, August 13th, MDCLXVII,
in the 55th year of his age:
Leaving behind him a renown,
second to that of none of the illustrious sons,
whom the Anglican Church,

rich in worthies, hath brought forth;
as a Bishop, distinguished

for munificence and vigilance truly Episcopal;
as a theologian, for piety the most ardent,
learning the most extensive, and eloquence inimitable;
in his writings a persuasive guide

to earnestness of devotion, uprightness of practice,
and Christian forbearance and toleration;
a powerful asserter of Episcopal government
and liturgical worship,

and an able exposer of the errors of the Romish Church;
in his manners, a pattern of his own rules
of holy living and holy dying,

and a follower of the great exemplar of sanctity,
as portrayed by him in the person
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Reader, though it fall not to thy lot
to attain the intellectual excellence
of this Master in Israel,

thou mayest rival him in that

which was the highest scope even of his ambition,
an honest conscience, and a Christian life.

(On the plinth supporting the sarcophagus.)

"Non magna loquimur, sed vivimus;

Nihil opinionis gratia, omnia conscientiæ faciam."

(On the plinth supporting the pilasters.)

This tablet was inscribed by

the Bishop and Clergy of

Down and Connor,

in the year of our Lord, 1827.

PAROCHIAL LENDING LIBRARIES.

AMONG the various efforts which have recently been made for the improvement and benefit of the community at large, that of the establishment of Parochial Libraries is very deserving of notice and support. The Institution of this kind which, in our own day, has risen up under the sanction of the National Church, and in connexion with the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, seems particularly to merit our attention, and recommends itself more directly to the patronage of all who range themselves among the friends of that pure and reformed faith which is established in these realms. The Institution alluded to professes to have upon its list no other books than those which are printed by the aforementioned venerable Society; a circumstance which completely ensures the propriety of its selection. Accordingly we find, on inspecting the catalogue of the Society's books, that a judicious choice has been made of plain and practical treatises on the most important religious subjects, equally suited to the higher, the middle, and the lower classes of Society; and that the controversial tracts are such as set forth, in a brief and perspicuous manner, the great truths of the Christian religion generally, and vindicate, with temper and moderation, the discipline of that primitive and Apostolic Church, which happily is established in these dominions. Indeed it is sufficiently clear, from a bare perusal of the names of the several authors, that the respective works are calculated to be generally useful; not being applicable to that class alone, for whose immediate benefit they have been printed by the Society, but adapted to the spiritual and temporal wants of all who are willing to avail themselves of the advantages they offer.

It is generally agreed that the lower classes shall be educated; those who entertain an apprehension of the consequences have now no alternative left but to secure to themselves as large a share as they can in the education of their humbler fellow-creatures; and to turn this instruction into a safe and beneficial channel, by making religious knowledge an essential and integral part of such instruction; by encouraging a taste for useful reading; by furnishing the poor with the means of access to books of a salutary tendency; by enabling them to read such works as combine profit and entertainment: and of this description are many of those which have been selected for the Parochial Libraries. Several of them are of an historical and biographical character, a species of reading at once attractive and improving in the highest degree. I need only instance a few to verify these remarks; the following speak for themselves, viz.-Walton's very interesting Lives; Bishop Burnet's Abridgment of the History of the Reformation; Gilpin's Lives of the Reformers; Bishop Tomline's Introduction to the Bible; Josephus' Wars of the Jews; Parts of Bishop Porteus' Works; Bingley's Elements of Useful Knowledge; Bingley's Animal Biography; Parts of Jones' Works; Sturm's Reflections; Archbishop Secker's excellent Lectures on the Catechism; Bishop Horne on the Psalms; selections from the amiable Bishops Kenn and Wilson's Writings; together with various others equally excellent on religious subjects, of the greatest importance to every

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