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themselves in the propagation of religion, that much good, it is pro bable, might be done, by some plan being adopted to call these wanderers home.-Some more able than my self may be excited to suggest some further ideas on this apparently important subject: with them I shall therefore leave these few hints."

This paper drew forth, in the Northampton Mercury, of the suceeeding week, the following proposal from a writer who signed himself Junius.

"I have read with much pleasure, the letter in behalf of the Gipsies, in your paper of last week; and I do heartily concur with the bene volent writer, in wishing some plan may be devised and adopted for reclaiming these houseless wander ers to a more civilized and Christian life. It appears useless and unavailing to harass them from place to place, unless some asylum be provided for their reception. According to the precept left us by the great Author of our holy profession, we should do well in all cases, to do unto others as we would wish to be dealt with ourselves. Let those gentlemen who are so zealous in driving them from their usual haunts, be persuaded, in idea, to place themselves in the situation of these houseless rovers; and instead of persecuting them, it might perhaps teach them to commiserate their case.

"When we consider the immense sums that are raised for every probable means of doing good which has hitherto been made public, surely we need not doubt but if a proper method should be proposed for the relief, and ameliorating the state, of these people, it would meet with deserved encouragement. Their number is not so large, nor would the expense attending a plan of this kind be so great, but that it would easily be practicable, so far as it respects pecuniary assistance, Suppose the Legislature should not think these persons unworthy of no tice; and, as part of the great fami

ly of the kingdom, they ought not to be overlooked; might not the following method of dealing with them be hoped to be of essential service?→ Let there be about four or six sta tions fixed upon in different parts of the kingdom, as places of resi dence for them: at each of these places let there be a village built of comfortable cottages, with good gardens to each cottage; let a family be placed in each; let there be, farther, a house and farm attached to the village, where a respectable person may be placed, and upon the farm let the able part of the village be employed. I would farther recommend that two schools be erected in the village; one for the boys, and another for the girls; where they may be initi ated into the knowledge of reading, writing, &c. By all means I would recommend that a Sunday-school should be adopted, or otherwise what they learn in the week would be lost upon the Sunday. Further, let a church be erected upon the spot, and a chaplain appointed, and let every means be made use of to bring them to attend Divine service constantly. As the children grow up, let them be apprenticed to good and useful trades; and for this purpose let a certain sum be set apart; and as probably there will be many who will be unable to work, let these receive a weekly allowance, the same as paupers in other parishes. Let these villages be erected in various parts of the kingdom, and all persons of this description who shall be found wandering about as Gipsies be placed in such as are nearest; and should any either leave their resi dence, or refuse to accept of this asylum, I see no reason why the law should not be enforced upon them with the greatest severity.

Should this plan, or a similar one, be thought worthy of adoption, we should immediately find the good effects of it in removing these troublesome mendicants from our habi tations and roads; and the comfort

they would enjoy would amply repay any trouble and expense that may attend it. And further, as your correspondent observes, as they are of the same nature with ourselves, and bought with the same price, with the precious blood of the Son of God, it is our duty as patriots and as Christians, to at tempt something for them."

I am fully aware of the objections which may be urged to the plan proposed by Junius. I never theless send it to you, and trust that you will insert it, in the hope that it may serve to awaken the attention of the humane to a sub. ject which is well entitled to their serious consideration...

THEOGNIS

To the Editor of the Christian Observer, PROBABLY the following extract, if inserted, will interest many of your readers; but you can best judge whether it deserves to find a place in your valuable publica

tion.

Extract of a Letter from a Protestant Minister in the South of France. (Translation).

"I exceedingly rejoice to see the zeal of so many servants of God in England for the advance ment of the kingdom of our dear Saviour; a phenomenon the more remarkable because, as it seems to me, it has appeared at a time when Satan entertained expectations of destroying Christianity in France, and perhaps throughout the whole world. How delightful would it be, if we were so happy as to be hold a similar zeal animate our France; but, alas! the number of true Israelites is still very small, or at least little known. Yet after the season of sifting and of apostacy, through which we have passed, one is astonished to see that the number of enangelical ministers is greater than before, though unhaps CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 157.

pily not sufficiently great. The spirit of the world reigns in our churches, the essential truths of Christianity have been obscured, particularly the doctrine of Justifieation by Faith, which is the fundamental and distinguishing truth of the Reformation. It is amazing that the doctrine of our reformers has become unknown in the very bosom of the reformed churches, and that people coldly debate, with a dry and barren morality after the example of Pagan philosophers, without attending to Him who has said, Come unto me, and I will give you rest: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without me ye can do nothing.'

"I think we have reason to believe that the decayed state of the conyersities, or that at least they very gregations originates with the unimuch contribute thereto. Arianisiu has made great efforts to introduce itself there, and several of the students have imbibed it. The spirit of the world, which is the spirit of philosophers falsely so called, infects even ecclesiastical assemblies and the pulpit. A sensible and pious man remarked to me, a short time back, that so much immorality has never been seen among Protestants, as since the period that morality alone is preached. There are still among us, God be praised, persons possessed of genuine simplicity, sheep of the good Shepherd; and it is observed here, and I believe elsewhere, that when the Gospel is preached in its purity and with unction, the hearers are respectful and attentive; but the dead have peed to hear the voice of the Son of God, that they may live. We see it expedient that the Holy Spirit should come and breathe upon our souls, and reanimate our dry bones, in order that we may form a living church of Christ.

know the names of some of the "You will perhaps be glad to pastors in the south of France, who are orthodox, and who devote

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themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God. At Montauban, which is the only seat of a French Protestant University in the kingdom, the professor in Hebrew, M. Bonnard, and M. Encontre, recently nominated professor in divinity, stand distinguished; at Toulouse, M. Chabrand, pastor; at Mazeres, M. Marzials; at Saverdun, M. Verge; at Nismes, M. Armand; at St. Hypolite, M. Gautier and M. Gachon; at Montpellier, M. Lissignol, and many others. At Nismes and St. Hypolite there are private assemblies for Christian edification. At St. Hypolite there is no temple, though there are near four thousand Protestants: Divine worship takes place in the open air, when the weather is fine. The number of persons of both sexes who can neither read nor write, is considerable in all our churches; and that is because the Protestants

have no charity-schools, with the exception of a very small number of churches and because the poor are not sufficiently encouraged to seek instruction. We had formed a little establishment in this town for the instruction of six poor children; but in consequence of the severe times through which we have passed, it has fallen to the ground. I commend myself and my congregation to the affectionate intercessions and kind remembrance of the disciples of Jesus in England. I beg you to assure them, as you find opportunity, that I cordially love them in our common Lord and Saviour; and that I wish them the happiness of bringing unto him many souls, who may be able to. declare, Thou hast loved us; thou hast washed us from our sins in thine own blood; thou hast made us kings and priests unto God and thy Father.'"

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REVIEW OF NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Sermons. By the Rev. JOHN VENN, M.A. Rector of Clapham. 2 vol. 8vo. London: Hatchard, 1814. Price 17. 18. pp. kv. 368, and

410.

AT length we have the pleasure of announcing to our Christian read ers the valuable set of posthumous sermons at the head of this article. We approach to the consideration of them, we must confess, with feelings of no ordinary kind. It would be an act of shallow hypocrisy to profess towards them the mere cold feelings and disinterested regards of the actual critic. A departed "friend, philosopher, and guide," and, more than all, one of the first of Christian pastors, must surely demand from those pages which he had so often illumined by his brilliancy, deepened by his rea

sonings, and sanctified by his piety, some tribute of respectful acknowledgment and affectionate commendation beyond the common place expressions due to a departed author. A minister, as he was, of a large and populous parish, rendered more attractive to the contemplative Christian by his presence than even by its proximity to the great metropolis, it would be difficult to have selected a critic, perhaps, at all connected with the labours of the Christian Observer, who should have been able to disunite his remarks on these truly valuable sermons from his recollection of the man. "How he looked-how he stood-how he spoke-how he felt," must be considered as deeply inprinted on the remembrance of any one on whom shall devolve the duty of recording in these pages the

is contained in a sermon preached by that gentleman in Clapham' church, on the occasion of Mr. Venn's death. The eulogy may be said to be in a style eminently ap

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comparatively colder judgment of "how he wrote." We are not ashamed, for our parts, to own the prepossessions under which we approach to the pleasing though melancholy task we have here under-propriate to the character which it taken. We are not afraid of out- panegyrizes; and simply and affecrunning the sympathy of our readers tionately states the great, though in declaring, that should any blots, unassuming virtues of one of the any defects, any symptoms either best and greatest men, of one of of that carelessness which belongs the most eminent and useful mito great genius, or that imperfec- nisters whom we have ever known.” tion which alloys the purest and As a MINISTER, it ascribes two most resplendent works of human of the rarest and most invaluable, fabrication--in a word, any marks properties, when found in union, of that usual and almost inseparable to his pastoral instructions which disadvantage which ever attends can belong to the sacred office; the posthumous publications, meet us' most entire "fidelity in the interin these volumes, we shall "ap- pretation and exposition of Scripproach them as we should the ture;" and "originality” in “ the wounds of a parent-with pious rich, copious, and varied. streams. awe and trembling solicitude." of piety, truth, and eloquence, Something of filial veneration in-, which flowed from his lips.", These. evitably mingles itself with every points, of course, it will be, the im record we have to keep of this truly mediate business of the following: excellent man. And when we reflect Review to examine, and illustrate. upon his too early departure from As a MAN, it attributes to him: this earthly stage of useful labour successively, "humility, profound and prominent exertion, at a mo- and unvarying" "universal benement when no labour or exertion in volence and uncommon tenderness;" the great cause can well be spared-- "disinterestedness;" "soundness his departure in the prime of life of judgment;"" sobriety of views;" and vigour of all his mental facul- and an equanimity and wellties-we must own a still deeper balanced proportion throughout his sensation thrills to our heart; and whole character." Some most inthe hand which has to record his teresting details of his death-bed first and only work as posthumous are subjoined; and a very striking scarcely fulfils its office. similarity in it pointed out to the spirit and even to the words of "the learned, pious, and judicious Hooker." To that great and immortal light and pillar of our church, we should in truth not be afraid to have ventured a more lengthened parallel, had time permitted, in the character of our departed divine. A like reach of view and profundity of judgment; an intimate knowledge of the best models and highest authorities, with a decided self-originating opinion, independent of all authority; the same fearless and unbroken tenor between opposite and conflicting parties; the same calm and steady reliance on a higher than any hu

We are, indeed, spared the pain' of calling up to vivid recollection, at the present moment, the departed virtues of this eminent saint, for the purpose of recording them, by opening the preface of the work before us, and finding a valuable memoir and truly affectionate summary of his character, drawn up by the editors of his sermons. It conists, principally, in two extracts from the testimony of two brother clergymen who, it seems, had every pportunity of gaining the most inlimate acquaintance with his chaacter. The longest extract, from the pen of the Bev. Hugh Pearson, M.A. of St. John's College, Oxford,

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man source of illumination and
knowledge; with the same sub..
limity of feeling, warmth of devo
tion, abstractedness from all world-
ly views and anns, and steady
homage to the great object of
faith the truth as it is in Jesus
Christ; we can without difficulty
imagine to have assimilated these
two kindred though, in time, distant
spirits, upon earth. And now that
both are mingled with their native
dust, we can with still less diff
culty paint to ourselves their in-
mortal parts celebrating with
"symphonious sounds" those di
vine subjects to which their hearts
were so singularly elevated here
below; and joining, with equal
step, that innumerable company
of
angels whose number, order, and
employments they here so much in
common delighted to contemplate.
Whilst we dwell, with fond recol-
lection, on the many excellencies
which lie hid for a time under that
tomb which covers the mortal re-
mains of John Venn, may we be
indulged with one further extract
from the preface of this work, con-
taining the fragment of a pastoral
letter which he began to dictate to
his flock on his dying bed, and in the
midst of which he was broken off
by that hand which stays for none.
But though in fragment, it may still
serve to shew some of the princi-
ples by which he was actuated,
some of the affection which beamed
from his whole soul towards his
beloved flock, and also, inciden-
tally, some few of the unnumbered
benefits which he was the instru-
ment of rendering to that favoured
parish, of which the Holy Ghost
had made him overseer.

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"A Pastoral Farewell Address from the
Rev. John Veun, Rector of Clapham.
to his respected and beloved flock.
"My dear friends,

"I cannot quit the pastoral relation which I have so long held over you, without expressing my deep sense of obligation to you, and without giving you my last friendly advice. For twenty years I have lived amongst you, and

preached to you. With respect to myw) self, I have humbly to request you to pardon the many deficiencies in my ministry and conduct of which I am now deeply sensible. But with respect to one thing, I can truly say that I have acquitted my duty faithfully and conscientionsly. I have taken much pains to understand accurately, and impar tially to preach to you, the Gospel of Christ, as it appeared to me to be de livered by Christ and his Apostles. In this respect I have called no man master or have I ever, in any one instance that I know of, for the sake of system, given an interpretation to any part of the word of God which I was not fully convinced, after the most mature deliberation, to be just and right: so that can truly say, I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of

God.

"And now, with respect to your

selves, I have to return you my most sincere thanks for your kind, and tens der, and candid acceptance of my la bours amongst you. I have met with daily instances of attention, civility, and affection; and I cannot recollect, that in the whole course of my ministry D have met with a single instance of rudes ness or incivility. You have been ready to forward every good work which I have proposed. With a more attentive audience no pastor was ever blessed: the decency and devotion of your conduct in the house of God have been such as to attract the notice and excite the admiration of every stranger.

By your kind assistance and liberality, three things nearest my heart:-by the I have been enabled to complete the enlargement of our school, every child in the parish may be gratuitously taught to read; by the institution of the Bible Society, every family will be supplied with a Bible; and by the erection of a Chapel of Ease (the bill for which has already passed Parliament), accomme dation will be provided for every in« habitant to worship God with facility and convenience. These are blessings which rarely fall to the lot of a minister in so short a period.

"But now, my beloved friends, when I am standing upon the verge of eter nity, and looking forward to the time when you and I must meet together before the awful tribunal of God, suffer me, I entreat you, to warn you that you stop not short in the mere forms of religion. Suffer me to remind you of

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