THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND MAGAZINE. that, after this painful life ended, he shall dwell with him in life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord. For, though repentance cannot undo ungodliness, nor man's righteousness and good works deserve God's favour, and though the sick person can do nothing good without the grace of God preventing him that he may have a good will, and working with him when he has that good will, yet there is a ransom; there is the Lord Jesus Christ, who hath "made by his one oblation of himself, once offered, a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world"; and, if the sinner shall feed upon him in his heart by faith with thanksgiving, his flesh is meat indeed, and his blood drink indeed. And with his own mouth he hath himself thus addressed the penitent in words which the church instructs her ministers to repeat to him, "Verily, verily I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not tume into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life" (See service for the communion of the sick). It is God's intention, if man will not reject his own mercies, that it should thus fall out; and he sends pain and sorrow upon this errand; for so Elihu concludes this passage of his expostulation, "Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, to bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living" that he may be taught, that is, the way of salvation, repent, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance, and, walking in newness of life, be accepted thenceforth in Christ, and in nowise lose the reward of any work of faith or labour of love which grace shall dispose and enable him to do for the glory of God or the good of man. And now, brethren, consider what has been brought before you. The Lord, you see, is good to all; and his mercies are over all his works, and he tries all ways with us. When we will not hear the witness of health and comfort, he commissions sickness and trouble to testify for him that he has a Father's mind towards us, and he is willing to give grace that his providences may have their due effect. But consider this, I pray you; and at the same time observe further, that griefs as well as comforts are means of spiritual improvement. He will at the last day as surely inquire why his loving corrections did not mend you, as why his loving consolations did not draw You; so that, though many doubtless will bless him to eternity for their afflictions, others, having by their own faults failed to get out of them the good which they might But besides this, remember that ye Then, my brethren, attend also to this: "Behold, now is the accepted time. "Remember your Creator now, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.' Use diligently the means you have whilst you are well-prayer, reading, hearing, sabbaths, sacraments-and then the minister of the gospel will not have to explain to you, in the hour of pain and distress, what be the first principles of that gospel; and death will not come whilst you are in the act of looking after things which you ought to have been | Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it and dung it. And if it bear fruit, well, but if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down" (Luke xiii, 6-9). familiar with from your childhood. He will only have to refer you to truths well known, and to help you in the application of principles already admitted, and show you that the time is come for you to avail yourselves of what your minds have long had in store against a day of trial; and you will not have to ask, in bewilderment of mind, "Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the most high God?" but will stay yourselves at once, and without distraction, upon Christ. Finally, remember Christ says, "It ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed." There are certain critical seasons or turning points in most people's lives, when there is a peculiar call for watchfulness and carefulness and prayer; and be assured recovery from sickness and deliverance from trouble is always one of them. I have known persons, thinking themselves in great danger, send for a minister, and listen with great apparent interest, and promise fair, and express great thankfulness for God's long patience with them; and I have seen them recover, and then run the first time to some idle merry-making, or go to their work at once, and say they will come to church when they have more leisure. And I have known very many come to church after sickness perhaps once or twice, and then cease altogether, so as never to acquire a habit of waiting upon God at all. Now, I say, sickness and recovery are both thrown away on such persons; and, in many instances, the opportunity of grace is lost for ever. They had their impressions; but, saith the scripture, "If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him" (Heb. x. 38). O be not ye, my brethren, of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. If good impressions are not acted upon at once, they will be gone, and never be acted upon at all; and if right actions do not pass into habits they are of no use. And if God's forbearance is abused, and the respite he gives to men, after their own consciences have passed sentence upon them, is not employed for good, the Lord Jesus Christ himself, who has been their advocate to procure the respite, will turn to be their judge to condemn them. "A certain man had a fig-tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, but found none. Then said he to the dresser of his vineyard, Lo, these three years come I seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none: cut it down, why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, EXTRACT FROM THE LAST REPORT OF THE LONDON RAGGED COLONIAL TRAINING SCHOOL OF INDUSTRY, AND DORMITORY*. THERE is reason to hope not only that an outward reformation has taken place in the present inmates, but that a decided change of heart has been effected. These hopes extend to almost all who have received the benefit of the institution. The variety of characters that apply for admission is very interesting; varying from the cracksman, with his Newmarket-surtout, wellpolished boots, and neatly-arranged hair, to the petty thief and vagrant without either shoes, shirt, or cap, and in the most filthy condition. whom have been sent to the Female Dormitory, Many females have also applied; several of Camden-town, an institution conducted by lieut. Blackmore, R.N., and Mr. J. Vanderkiste, on the same principles as this. Thirty-eight of the present inmates trace their first step to ruin to low theatres, saloons, and gambling-houses; each of them has written his these nightly resorts of thieves and prostitutes; own experience on the demoralizing tendency of which will shortly be published in a small volume, under the direction of the committee. During the existence of the institution a number of these young men have been received from various prisons; recommended by the governors and chaplains, at the expiration of their term of imprisonment, and also by their own application. None are recommended for emigration before they have had about twelve months' training, The noble president has hitherto had a small fund at his disposal for emigration purposes; but that fund being nearly exhausted, the committee feel anxious about providing the means of emigration great difficulty they can meet the demands of the for the future, especially as it is now even with daily expense of the institution. The committee have great satisfaction in reporting, with respect to the emigrants (as far as they have heard), all, with the exception of one, are doing well. Very interesting letters have been received. eleven years, and who during that period had been One young man had been a thief and vagrant imprisoned thirty-two times: he had never earned an honest penny in his life, except now and then by holding a gentleman's horse. When he made application for admission he had neither cap, shoes, nor shirt; and his hair did not appear to have been either cut or combed for some considerable time. He was an inmate twelve months; and, through the kindness of a most benevolent lady, emigrated March, 1850, to the United States. He has written several letters to the governor: in one he states that he is in a situation, earning £3 123. per week; he has saved 150 dol * We extract this as very interesting: we might wish that ciples; but we cannot but rejoice in the good that appears to the institution was conducted more decidedly on church prinhave been done.-ED. lars, and was married the last month to a young person from England, who had also saved 300 dollars out of her earnings. He has promised to become a subscriber to the institution. Another, in the United States, writes to say that he has made a public profession of Christianity; and that he has reason to hope that some of the others who emigrated with him will very shortly become members of a Christian church. Another, who had been a thief almost the whole of his life-time, writes from Australia to say that he is a missionary in Adelaide. Many other letters equally encouraging have been received, and will very shortly be published. In the educational department the inmates are taught reading, writing, cyphering, and the elements of geography. Considerable prominence is given to moral and religious training; the fundamental principles of religion-those in which all professed Christians agree-form the basis of the instruction. Sectarian theology is carefully avoided; the bible, and the bible alone, being the standard of our faith and practice. Some of the inmates meet regularly one evening every week for social prayer. The sabbath is spent as follows: Prayers at the institution, in the morning, at 8 o'clock; Sunday-school from half-past 9 to half-past 10, at which time all the inmates attend public worship; at half-past 2 in the afternoon school is resumed, and continued till half-past 4. The Sunday-school is conducted by a few voluntary teachers; young men whose zeal, piety, and qualification for the work cannot be too highly spoken of. They report that they have received mach encouragement by the great attention and gratitude of their pupils, and earnestly appeal to all bumble-minded young men, of whatever denomination of the church of Christ they may belong, to join with them as teachers in this labour of love. At 6 o'clock all the inmates again attend public worship; at 9 o'clock they are assembled in the school-room, when, after singing a hymn, each one is expected to give some account of what he has heard in the sermons of the day. Many of them take very copious notes; so that, by this means, the substance of nearly the whole of what they have heard is recapitulated at night. Prayer closes the service. The committee are very much indebted to Mr. Brown, a pupil of Mr. John Hullah, who has for the last twelve months regularly attended twice a week, for the purpose of giving gratuitous instruction in singing on Mr. Hullah's system; which exercise has greatly benefited the inmates. If other benevolent gentlemen would give occasional lectures on scientific subjects, it would be conferring a great benefit on the institution. In the industrial department the inmates are employed at the following trades: Printing, carpentering, shoemaking, and tailoring. The committee appeal to the public to patronize the printing department of the industrial training, by sending their orders. A portion of the profits accrue to the institution; and the remainder is the only remuneration which the master printer has for the instruction of the young men. The Committee cannot expect to make finished tradesmen; but they seek to train the inmates to habits or industry. The only punishment inflicted is the restriction of meals, and out-door exercise; or, what is considered yet more severe, a demerit entered against their names in the institution journal. After repeated acts of insubordination, the delinquent is expelled: however, it has seldom been found necessary to come to this extremity. The committee believe that no coercive measures will ever answer in such institutions. The committee cannot believe that the public will rather pay for building prisons than support such institutions as this. Many of the governors and chaplains of various prisons have cheerfully contributed to this institution, in order to save, if possible, poor wretched outcasts from further crime. There are but three courses for a discharged prisoner to pursue: to beg, steal, or starve. The last they will not do; and to beg many are ashamed. What is the alternative? They immediately come to the resolution to resume their former criminal mode of life; and many avail themselves of a "thieves' training school," to make them greater adepts in their dishonest practices. Not a few of the applicants have said to the governor that they have been so tired of their miserable lives that they have attempted, on more than one occasion, to commit suicide. It is easy to say to such, "Go and work"; but it is not so easy for them to obtain employment. It is often difficult for young men of unblemished character to get employment in this country: how, then, can a convicted felon expect greater facilities in finding occupation? It was argued, when this institution was founded, that it was in vain to think that young men, hardened by the crimes of so many years, would be likely to reform. Is anything too hard for the Lord? However degraded a man may be, he is still a subject for Christian effort; and no other can avail. But the encouragement to pursue this enterprise is great; inasmuch as the results with which it has in its infancy been blessed give hope to its supporters of greater success still, while holding out a hope for this world and the world to come to the inmates. During the three years the institution has been in existence five of the inmates absconded, taking with them some of their clothing, &c. One was apprehended the same night, by the inmates themselves, was tried at the Old Bailey, and sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment. In December last four others (vagrants) absconded with some of their clothing, &c. Three were immediately apprehended by the inmates, and were sentenced to six months' imprisonment; the other escaped until a few weeks since, when he was apprehended (also by the inmates), and given into custody, and now awaits his trial at the Old Bailey. The inmates were much grieved at such base ingratitude, and drew up the following address, expressing their feelings to the noble president and the committee: "My lord and gentlemen,--We have no doubt but you have heard of the disgraceful conduct of four of the inmates, who so basely absconded and robbed the institution. We have witnessed the occurrence with feelings of indignant resentment for such base, such vile, ingratitude; robbing an institution designed for their own benefit, and which does all in its power to place them again in the world as respectable members of society. We consider such an act of base ingratitude deserving of the severest punishment; and we, the inmates of this valuable institution, unanimously request that you would use every means to punish them to the utmost rigour of the law, which we hope your lordship and the committee will not fail in doing. We also feel it our bounden duty to co-operate with Mr. Nash (our beloved governor) in using every means in our power, for the future, to prevent such impostors ever entering the institution again; and we have expressed to him our opinion that a fortnight's probation on bread and water is not a sufficient test (especially for vagrants, which to many of them is a complete luxury), but that a month be substituted for vagrants, and a fortnight for thieves. Hoping you will pardon the liberty we have taken, we beg to subscribe ourselves, "Your most grateful and obedient servants, (Signed by all the inmates). During the last twelve months there has been one death: a young man, aged nineteen, died of consumption, and gave every evidence that he realized the blessed hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ. His mortal remains were interred in the parish churchyard, followed by all the inmates. On the ground of the facts thus submitted, the committee earnestly appeal for pecuniary help; and it is to be hoped that this appeal will not be in vain. With larger funds, the committee could extend their usefulness; and many, who are now a curse and expense to society, might yet become respectable and useful members of the community. THE WORSHIP OF SAINTS IN IRELAND. (ADDRESSED TO HIS ROMANIST PARISHIONERS). BY THE REV. W. ARCHER, M.A., Prebendary and Rector of Croagh, Diocese of Limerick. HAVING circulated several letters among my Roman-catholic parishioners and countrymen, with the earnest desire and fervent prayer that they might tend, under the divine blessing, to convince them that some of the essential doctrines of their church were anti-scriptural and souldestroying; and no attempt having been made to show that my charges were unfounded, and that the doctrines to which I objected were supported by the divine word, I now avail myself of an opportunity which sadly presents itself to address them again. The opportunity to which I allude is afforded by the concluding paragraph of Dr. Cullen, the titular primate's speech at the aggregate meeting of Roman-catholics in the Rotunda, on the 19th August last. In this speech, as reported in the Evening Post" and other journals, he is said to have thus prayed: "May the most holy queen of heaven-the seat of wisdom, and mother of good counsel; may our great saints, Patrick, Malachy, and Laurence O'Toole, bless, direct, and strengthen all our undertakings, and make them beneficial to our country and our religion." "His grace," it is added, "resumed his seat amidst loud and enthu 66 siastic cheering, which continued for several minutes"; thus proving that the religious sentiments of the clergy and laity who composed the meeting were in perfect unison with those of this exalted dignitary. "Tell it not in Gath; publish it not in the streets of Ascalon" (2 Kings i. 20). I would make a few comments on this extraordinary petition; and, while I feel delicate in attributing idolatrous principles and practices to my Roman-catholic countrymen, whom I love, and whose spiritual and eternal interests I would anxiously and prayerfully promote, I would entreat them to attend to the following observations: In the first place I would ask, By what authority does the rev. gentleman address and petition any Being whatever as "the queen of heaven"? Would he adduce the example of the Jews as recorded in the fourteenth chapter of the book of the prophet Jeremiah, as his sufficient authority and warrant for such devotion? In this chapter, which I would entreat you to read and seriously consider, the prophet, by command of the Lord, attributes all the evils which came down in accumulated vengeance upon Jerusalem and the cities of Judah to the abominations and idolatries of which they were guilty; and more especially to their burning incense to a being whom they addressed as the " queen of heaven," and, "when they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness," but daringly expressed their determination to persevere in those idolatrous practices, the prophet replied, saying, "that the Lord could no longer bear, because of the abominations that they had committed; and that therefore their land was a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at that day" (Jer. xliv. 22). My friends, could no comparison with justice be instituted between the idolatrous practices and exemplary punishment of the persons here described and those of our Roman-catholic countrymen, followed by the famine, the pestilence, the desolation, which have awfully visited our country, diminishing the boasted numbers of that part of our population who, in direct opposition to the divine word, offer up their petitions to the virgin Mary as the " queen of heaven"? I pray God that my dear but deluded countrymen may enter into the consideration of these matters with the seriousness which their awful importance demands, and, instead of following in blind submission the precepts or examples of those who call themselves the only unerring guides glory, that they may bring all to the test of the inspired word" to the law and to the testimony"; assured, on divine authority, that "if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isa. viii. 20). Now, while the holy scriptures afford no warrant for invoking any being as the "queen of heaven," we would take the opportunity of denying the charge which is so unjustly brought against us of treating with disrespect that illus trious personage whom the Lord himself hath so highly honoured, and whom the angel Gabriel declared to be "blessed among women." I do think, and feel assured, that the blessed virgin Mary, the mother of the human nature of the crucified Redeemer, "is with the spirits of de THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND MAGAZINE. parted saints in joy and felicity"; but, inasmuch as "the secret things belong unto the Lord our God," I pretend not to describe or to know the grade to which she is exalted in that glorious heavenly world" where they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever" (Dan, xii. 3). There is another part of Dr. Cullen's speech on which I would briefly comment: it is that in which Laurence O'Toole is addressed, among other Romish saints, as a being endowed with omniscience and omnipotence, and thus competent "to bless, direct, and strengthen all their undertakings, and to make them beneficial to their country and their religion." My dear friends, does not this seem to be a burlesque upon the pure and undefiled religion of the gospel? Laurence O'Toole is prayed to and petitioned as a being who can hear the prayers and grant the requests of petitioners in this earthly state. And who is Laurence O'Toole ? Where in the sacred volume is the history of his virtues and attributes recorded? What spirit from the dead has favoured the church with revelations concerning him? From what region of eternity can he hear the petitions and grant the requests of the thousands who, in imitation of the example of the highest dignitary of the Romish church in this country, banbly bow the knee at his footstool? Say, my friends, is not this the most awful infatuation-the most reckless idolatry? O that, under divine grace, you would cast such idolatrous observances to the moles and to the bats, and turn from such lying vanities to serve the living God." While I would direct you in faith and prayer and deep humility to that God and Saviour who would not reject the suit of any humble petitioner, I would tell you that Laurence O'Toole and the other Romish saints here invoked are in a condition as little suited for hearing and relieving you, as Baal was of hearing his deluded worshippers, who called upon him from morning even until 3000, saying, "O, Baal, hear us!" and when the prophet Elijah, mocking their vain petitions, said, "Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked" (1 Kings xviii. 27). Finally, if Dr. Cullen or any other learned divine of his church will show, clearly and incontrovertibly, from God's inspired word, that the virgin Mary was ever constituted the queen of heaven," and that Laurence O'Toole, or the other saints here named, are divinely endowed with the wisdom and power attributed to them by the Roman-catholic primate, I will cease to derogate from their powers, or to speak or to write of them as I have done in this letter. But this I again defy all the hierarchy and clergy of the Romish communion to do; and I would add that the most eminent cardinal, the most learned doctor of the church of Rome, cannot bring forward one single authority from God's word for the adoration or invocation of any departed saint. With such facts, which cannot be controverted, is it to ach a church-a church which inculcates such antiscriptural doctrines and practices that some of our clergy and gentry have given in their adhesion? Will they continue members of a church which is unable to give "a scriptural reason of the hope that is in them"? A church which the God of heaven has denounced, and from which he calls his people "to come out, that they be not partakers of her sins, and that they receive not of her plagues" (Rev. xviii. 4). If any ask, can that church be in dangerous error into which so many of the wise and great and learned of the earth are pressing? I would reply that "the world by wisdom knew not God" (1 Cor. i. 21); that "to the poor the gospel is preached"; and that "God hath chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him" (James ii. 5). And, finally, I would remark that, "while the chief priests and the scribes and the rulers of the people sought to destroy the adorable Redeemer, the people were very attentive to hear him" (Luke xix. 47, 48). May God," who commanded the light to shine out of darkness," shine into the hearts of all our countrymen, to give them "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. iv. 6). Such is the fervent prayer of your sincere friend in the truth of the gospel. QUESTIONS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. No. IX. ENGLISH HISTORY (CONTINUED). 26. Required, the name of a princess conspicuous in English history, whose career was marked by frequent and strange vicissitudes of fortune, at the same time that it entailed upon her country and upon her friends a long train of evils. It has been said of her that she was once greater, then less, than a queen; then a queen and no queen; while she was the daughter of one great king and the mother of a prince who afterwards became a still greater monarch. To this unhappy princess has been attributed, though with doubtful accuracy, the first stone bridge ever seen in England. 27. Required, the name of an English kingthe only one of that name among the monarchs of England-of whom nothing is related by historians calculated to give us a favourable idea of his character and disposition. While a young prince, with no expectation of a crown, he acted the part of an undutiful and ungrateful son towards an excellent and indulgent father; and, after that parent's death, his conduct was marked by the greatest treachery and wickedness towards his elder brother, to whom the crown had descended; who, however, not only pardoned him, but at his death, which was accidental and unexpected, bequeathed to him his kingdom. Seated on the throne, he rendered himself odious to his subjects by repeated acts of perfidy, cruelty, and rapacity; was once obliged to resign his crown to an imperious ecclesiastic, in order to receive it again on most ignominious conditions, and is believed to have murdered his innocent nephew, even with his own hands. Yet it was from this detestable character that the celebrated bill of rights and |