on the most vital points of Christianity, and of faithful monition on matters affecting the spirituality of our churches, which are not surpassed by any communications of the kind, that it ever happened to us to peruse, from any other body of Christians; and if they had been more extensively introduced to our churches, a far greater amount of good would have been realized. But the most substantial result hitherto secured by the Union, has been the formation of the Colonial Missionary Society. The churches are already beginning to perceive its value and its effectiveness; and if the "Union" had done nothing but originate and organize this Institution, it would have deserved to be held in grateful remembrance. These are the times to put to the test the worth of principles. If our ecclesiastical polity is of a scriptural character; if it admits of combination for extensive usefulness, and contains in it all the elements of benevolent aggression on the ignorance, depravity, and wretchedness of the world; if, without either sectarian intolerance or latitudinarian laxity, it is a system as well adapted to be conservative of truth and holiness as it is fitted to make inroad on the empire of darkness; and if it possesses a subserviency and an elasticity in its constitution, which fit it alike for a neighbourhood, a nation, or the world, thus rendering it the portable and the ready instrument, by the divine blessing, of all the varieties of christian agency, then the Congregational churches are bound to sustain their system, to arise to the elevation which its principles give them, and to concentrate their moral power on all the great objects of holy enterprise within their reach. This is incumbent upon them, not for the sake of any party or denominational purpose, but because they believe, that subserving that purpose is itself the most scriptural, and will be ultimately the most effective method of securing the higher end of the world's subjugation to the faith of Christ. If this be our conviction; if, without desiring the slightest interference with the existing machinery of any section or community of the universal church, but most prayerfully wishing them, with unfettered catholicism of spirit," God speed," we nevertheless, do believe that our principles of christian fellowship are most accordant with the word of God; then let hem be avowed, defended, and acted upon! Let there be no evasion, no concealment, no manoeuvring policy; let the world know what we are, and on what grounds we proceed. Let not every section of the church unfurl its banner and announce its standard, whether it be for home or foreign service; while we are proceeding under a profession of gratuitous neutrality which some suspect to be hollow; others represent as designing; for which we receive no thanks;-act as if we were afraid of our "proper names," are in some instances doing all the work, in most cases, paying all the money! If, in truth, we care little for the principle of that system, for which we make these efforts and sacrifices, would it not be worth while for such pseudo-catholicists to enquire why they should maintain them at all? Why not fall into the organized rank of such bodies as cherish no scruples, and renounce every thing which is anonymous and indefinite in their professions?

On these grounds we hope no pleas of policy or false liberality will ever induce the friends of the Colonial Missionary Society to en

danger or dissolve its connexion with the Congregational Union. Whatever nominal patronage or pecuniary advantage it might gain by a separation, it would be at the sacrifice of its vital principles. Let its life-blood flow from a recognised connexion with our churches, and derive its agents and its resources from those who understand "the fellowship of the gospel," and are solicitous to maintain its purity. Let the local associations of ministers and churches of our order make the proceedings, interests, and claims of the Colonial Mission an important object of their attention; and let there be such a circulation of knowledge, influence, and sympathy throughout the various unions on all the movements of this mission, as shall cause the churches generally to feel that provision by their combined efforts for their emigrant countrymen abroad, is just as much an object of their devout and practical consideration as the claims of any village or town population in their respective counties at home!

If these reasonings have any force, our readers will perceive their obvious application to the projected Home Mission in connexion with the Congregational Union. Our utilitarian friends, who are ever anxious for tangible results, and have attached little value to sympathies and feelings, have often asked-what is the Union doing? It is now proposed, in good earnest, that something should be done at home; and we hope no friends of the Union, and no reflecting friends of Home Missions, will ever have reason to regret the recent proceedings of the general body. All are, as yet, preparatory to the final arrangements to be adopted at the next annual meeting. We are aware of some difficulties conceived to arise out of the existence and operation of the "Home Missionary Society." But with every disposition to appreciate highly its beneficial agency, and the excellence of our esteemed brethren who manage its concerns, we see no reason why the General Union should not proceed to its contemplated movements; and we doubt not, that if there be not an eventual identity on the part of the Home Missionary Society with the Union, on the ground of supposed constitutional difficulties, there may be such arrangements of mutual convenience as may ultimately lead to it, and in the meanwhile prevent actual collision, thus enabling the separate movements to go forward with harmony, efficiency, and success.

It is not, however, our business, in this place, to enquire into or to suggest what might be expedient in the present position of affairs. We feel deeply the conviction that the churches ought to be true to the maintenance and consolidation of their union, and that the increased power that must result from combination, will be the most effectual preparation for any ulterior efforts which may be contemplated either at home or abroad.

We have detained our readers much longer than we intended from the valuable publications before us; but their esteemed authors will not blame us, when we assure them, that we regard their own works as among the most beneficial results of the Union itself. We attribute the donation of the unknown individual, whose liberality has occasioned their production to the attention which has been excited at the meetings of the Union, to the wants and claims of our home population.

These have been often the subjects of earnest and powerful appeal; and it was felt, that as no enlarged and comprehensive. system of Home Missions could be adopted, which did not embrace what is technically called "Lay Agency" as an essential element of the system, the entire question demanded minute and thorough investigation. No insignificant amount of good has already been secured in the fact, that various, powerful, and active minds have been stimulated to direct their attention to the subject; and though only two of the Essays, out of a considerable number, are before the public, the very discussion which must, to a greater or less extent, be elicited by a diversity of opinion as to their respective merits, will be highly salutary. The dormant energies of the churches need to be roused into action. Communities and individuals are not sufficiently awake to their powers and responsibilities. Every section of the church is under unrepealable and most solemn obligation to be "up and doing." Infidelity is rampant and putting on its most monstrous forms of hostility to the authority and purity of the gospel. Popery, in its Roman character, is becoming fearful by its aggression and its increase; and that same Popery, in its Anglican type, is preparing the way for the wide-spreading contagion of antichristian superstition through the inmost fibres and ramifications of the national church!

Formalism itself is becoming active in its efforts to stiffen and petrify its victims into the shapes and models of corrupt antiquity, and is calling on intolerance and bigotry to aid its plans in every thing opposed to the liberal and expansive character of Christianity. Amidst all these unwonted manifestations of false religion, indifference, intemperance, and irreligion are advancing with gigantic strides; and it becomes all the friends of the Bible and their country to be active and persevering in every possible form of useful exertion. Sabbath-schools, Christian Instruction Societies, City Missions, Village Itinerancies, and, above all, churches themselves, need to be revised, examined, and, if necessary, remodelled for effective and increased usefulness in all their various organizations; that every form of talent and energy may be employed in healthy operation, under the direction of wise and holy principles, and rendered subservient to the two great ends of all church fellowship-the edification of the body of Christ, and the conversion and salvation of the world!

These are the ends of those respective plans which the authors of "JETHRO" and "OUR COUNTRY" have laid before us, on the subject of lay agency. The larger work of "JETHRO" is the result of no ordinary amount of thought and observation, brought to bear most effectively on the state of the church and the claims of the world. It embraces a wide and varied scope of remark and illustration. The author is a man of fearless and thoroughly independent mind. He has no time for apologies and "smooth things." The evil, in all its magnitude, is before him. He sees it; he feels it; he makes it visible and palpable to others; and, to his discerning mind, the remedy is at hand, and the means of applying it are accessible. Having pourtrayed the sad and mournful state of our country, in its rural districts, and in its large towns and cities, and pointed out the scenes of ignorance, wretchedness, and degradation which they exhi

bit, he proceeds to examine and report concerning the efforts of the various sections of the christian church in this country, to meet the ever-accumulating necessities of the population. In this rapid sketch, he does ample justice to all denominations of evangelical Christians, whatever the varieties of their religious polity; and he avails himself of every valuable principle and beneficial arrangement, by whatever party adopted, which he thinks applicable to the position of the Congregational churches, and adapted to their improvement and efficiency. While on scriptural principles he upholds the just claims of the pastoral office, he recommends every practicable species of agency, both in visits, prayer-meetings, stations for preaching, and every other mode of operation by which truth may be disseminated and the interests of vital religion may be extended and rendered permanent. We are not prepared to admit that all his plans are practicable, except in some very rare instances, where physical energy and mental acquisition are combined with an indomitable perseverance, and a power of skilful and wise superintendence, such as are seldom exhibited in one individual. There is also a minuteness of detail in the minor arrangements which may appear so complicated as to produce the depressing feeling of hopelessness and impracticability, and thus discourage vigorous attempts at reformation. But, whatever may have been our impressions of these parts of "Jethro's" plan, we feel that he has rendered immense and invaluable service to the cause of true religion. If he has somewhat underrated the actual amount of what is done, and, perhaps unintentionally, given undue advantage to those who are disposed to depreciate our efforts, he has supplied a salutary stimulus to enquiry, urged most affecting motives to humiliation, and presented the necessary antidote to self-complacency and ostentation. He reasons urgently on the principle that nothing should be considered as done, while any thing remains to be done. Like all powerful and spirit-stirring minds, he comes into such close contact with the consciences and feelings of those whom he addresses, that he will not suffer them to escape, and they must either fall back upon the denial of his well-established premises, or enter into petty and carping criticisms on some parts of his composition, in order to any approach either to indifference or self-satisfaction. Not that his style is ever vicious, or, on any general ground, exceptionable. It is clear, forcible, and impressive. There is no mawkish sentimentalism, or gorgeous oratorical flourishes. It is evident, as might have been expected, that the diction is occasionally loose and deficient in compactness; that there are sometimes marks of haste; and that, from the circumstance of the limited period of time for the production of his work, there is not that uniform completion which is the result of leisure and calm revision. But these are the merest spots imaginable, and affect not the general excellence of the work, which is most abundant in accurate information, discriminating reasonings, vivid sketches of character, faithful monitions, and warm-hearted, and at times, most impressive appeals to the churches and pastors of our land, such as must be felt in the inmost consciences of those who will do themselves and the author justice by the impartial study of the volume. We rose from the attentive perusal of the work, under a deep

impression of the scriptural value of our distinctive principles, both in matters of faith and order: we felt the importance and necessity of union within each church, and amongst the churches in each district and throughout the country at large; and our conviction of the connexion between the holy activity of the church, and the true elevation of our country, with the ultimate conversion of the world to the Redeemer, was never more intensely devout and influential, than when we closed the interesting volume before us.

We have occupied so large a portion of our pages with these observations, that we must reserve to our next number some extracts from the opinions and advices of "JETHRO," which are illustrative of his principles and his plans. At the same time we intend to direct the attention of our readers to similar extracts from the second of the essays before us, by our much esteemed friend Dr. Matheson, in which will be found what will amply repay the faithful attention of our readers; and which is characterized by a tone of fervent piety, good sense, and judicious suggestions on all the important and practical topics of his valuable essay. Both productions are honourable to their authors, have rendered great service to the churches; and well deserve the grateful and honourable acknowledgments of all who can sympathize with the prayer of the Psalmist:-" Peace be within thy walls, O Zion and prosperity within thy palaces: for my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, peace be within thee! BECAUSE Of the HOUSE OF THE LORD THY GOD, I WILL SEEK THY GOOD!"

The Iniquities of the Opium Trade with China: being a Development of the main Causes which exclude the Merchants of Great Britain from the Advantages of an unrestricted Commercial Intercourse with that vast Empire. By the Rev. A. S. Thelwall, M. A. 12mo. London: Allen and Co.

Opium Crisis: a Letter addressed to Charles Elliott, Esq. Chief Superintendent of the British Trade with China. By an American Merchant resident at Canton. 8vo. London.

Ir is a singular feature in the history of commercial policy, that Great Britain and China should have had extensive traffic for so long a period, without approximating, in the slightest degree, to a mutual understanding. The rapid movements which characterize states and kingdoms, once fairly embarked in commercial competition, in political negotiation, or in deadly warfare, usually soon bring matters to a crisis, the result of which, to the one party, is defeat and disgrace, to the other, augmented territory and wealth, or to both mutual confidence and reciprocal intercourse. This, however, has not been the case with the English and the Chinese; nor, if we may judge from the present aspect of their affairs, is a satisfactory adjustment of their mutual claims likely to take place soon. Distance, position, and national prejudices have alike operated to produce the counteracting influences each country has so long opposed to the prosperity of the other. And hence, while thrones and sceptres have been disposed of in other parts of the world by the sword of England, and millions have been brought