lated to seat about 1600 persons. The whole of the interior decorations, we understand, have been supplied by private donations, and the splendid organ, we have heard, was presented by the minis ter's wife. It also gives us much pleasure to hear, that the chapel will be vested for the use of the congregation, in the hands of trustees, who will be required to maintain the sentiments contained in the doctrinal Articles of the Church of England. INQUISITION. By an extract of a letter from Madrid, their rights; and their remonstrances were, according to the equitable and benign spirit of the Constitution, forwarded to the foot of the Throne. They have availed themselves of the equal rights guaranteed to all, to present the Address of which we are speaking; and we shall see what use they have made of the privilege graciously as well as justry provided for them. These gentlemen begin with expressing the surprise and grief which his Majesty's Proclamation of the 18th of July has caused them. Thus they proceed "Sire-The existence and the privi Second to maintain it was fruitless. The dated Aug. 15, we learn that the Inquisileges of the Catholic Church, in this part tion has published a long decree, prohi- article of the plan of the new Constitution, of your kingdom, are inconsistent with an biting, under pain of the greater excommunication, the sale of a considerable by which equal favour and protection are number of books. The catalogue of promised to all religions. Since the conbooks, the perusal of which is prohibited such a dangerous innovation has never version of the Belgians to Christianity, in this and other edicts of the Holy Office, been introduced into these provinces, unis so extensive that it exceeds the list of less by force. The attempt of Joseph the the non-prohibited, and would render it easier for an edict to comprehend the former than the latter. This holy tribunal, doubtless to afford a proof of its well-known impartiality, has put at the head of the prohibited list those various works that attacked its own existence. Among others of this character, I have remarked the speeches delivered in the extraordinary Cortes by the deputies Lerva, Villa Nueva, and Ruez, with the appendix to that of the latter, the conversations of the curate del Porrino, the critical burlesque dictionary, &c. INTOLERANCE OF THE BELGIAN tyranny of the last French Government ▸ established it in theory; but no religious troubles ensued, because the Head of the State protected the Protestants as little as he did the Catholic Church. "We do not hesitate to declare to your Majesty, that the canonical laws which of the country, are incompatible with the are sanctioned by the ancient Constitutions projected Constitution which would give in Belgium equal favour and protection to all religions.' doctrines which are in opposition to the doctrines of the Catholic Church. They afterwards assert, that the article of the New Constitutions which secures the same protection to all religions, is incompatible with the free and entire exerTHE Prelates of Belgium have pre- cise of their official duties; because they sented an Address to the King of the are bound incessantly to preserve the Netherlands of a very extraordinary na-people entrusted to their care from the ture. The Constitution which had been framed for the new kingdom of the Netherlands, guaranteed equal protection to all. They then speak of the exclusive promodes of the christian worship. The tection afforded to the Roman Catholic Roman Catholic Clergy of Belgium raised Religion by Charlemagne and other Chrisa powerful opposition to the acceptance tian Emperors; and of the injunction, by of the Constitution in that part of the the Council of Trent, to the Bishops, to kingdom of the Netherlands. The Bishops preserve inviolate the Laws and Doctrines wrote Pastoral Letters, in the true spirit of the Church; and of other portions of of Romish Intolerance, to their Clergy, history relative to the authority and usages commanding and exhorting them to stir up of the Old Church of Rome.-It will be their congregations against that just and readily seen, what a disingenuous and diswise provision of the Constitution; the in-torted mode of reasoning is included in ferior Clergy obeyed these injunctions in the full spirit of the like intolerance; and had the weapons of the State been in the hands of these combined Priests, a new and bitter persecution would have arisen against the Protestants of the whole of the Low Countries. Fortunately, the power of the State was in other, and better hands; and the malignant shafts of the Romish Clergy were shot in vain, except in as far as they rebounded to their own disgrace. The Romish Prelates, however, were abridged in the exercise of none of these representations. To maintain the old laws and privileges of the Romish Church, would be to revive the FLAMES which have destroyed thousands and tens of thousands of the Protestants. The Constitution which these persons complain of, assures and guarantees the free and entire exercise of the Roman Catholic Religion as heretofore. It abridges none of their rights, and interferes with none of their forms; unless it be part of their RIGHTS, as it used to be of their rORMS, to destroy the Protestants. THE NEW EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE, AND Theological Review. NOVEMBER, 1815. MEMOIR OF THE LATE MR. ARCHIBALD M'LEAN. [Continued from p. 296.] IT was pertinently remarked by the ance it is unnecessary for me to late Mr. Robinson of Cambridge, give any opinion. But considering in his Notes on Claude's Essay, the high estimation which it now vol. ii. page 186. that there can holds in the judgment of the friends scarcely be produced a more im- of scriptural Christianity, it may portant portion of Scripture than perhaps excite surprise that the the concluding section of Matthew's first impression of a thousand gospel. "It contains," says he, copies continued on ale for ten "the Commission given by our years, and it was not until the year ascending King, to the apostles 1797 that the author republished the words are divisible into several it, which he then did with conparts or clauses of the most beau-siderable improvements. The fact, tiful simplicity, full of strong argument and resistless motives of persuasion." Although I have good reasons for knowing that Mr. M'Lean never saw Claude's Essay until about the year 1790, yet his judgment on this portion of the sacred writings exactly coincided with that of Mr. Robinson, and consequently in 1786, he published, in one volume 12mo, 328 pages, "The Commission given by Jesus Christ to his Apostles illustrated, in three parts." The first part of the work is occupied in stating and explaining what the gospel itself is, or the doctrines which the apostles taught the nations-the which then operated in their full second is appropriated to a con- force. In Scotland the only class sideration of the form, subjects, of strict Independents at that time and import of christian baptism- were the Glasites, among whom i and the third to the command- was, and indeed still continues t ments and institutions of Christ be, a standing maxim, that all indeed, in one view, may be thought to afford a melancholy proof of the little interest which the religious part of the community at that time took in what may be called primitive Christianity. Quarles' Emblems, the Visions of Quevedo, or the Pilgrim's Progress, were better suited to the taste of the times, than an inquiry into the nature of the kingdom of Christ, its doctrines, laws, institutions and ordinances. But the truth is that, independent of the excessively depraved taste of the public mind, the book had to encounter many and strong existing prejudices, opp 0 which the apostles taught believers sition to infant baptism must ‘ar ise to observe. from disaffection to the true grace Of the merits of this perform- of God-because, according to VOL. I. 2 T A resolved not to retrace our steps, by going back to first principles and taking the churches planted by the apostles agreeably to Christ's commission for the pattern of our imitation. No! time, alas, has given a kind of sanction to existing errors-to innovate is dangerous— the evils, though sensibly felt, are not altogether insupportable--our children, it is hoped, will have more wisdom and virtue than we have-or the Head of the church may extricate them by a miracle!! Shouid the period, however, happily arrive (and may the Lord hasten it in his time) when the churches of the saints shall be directed by wiser counsels, and when, instead of yielding an obsequious deference to the doctrines and command ear to hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches," Mr. M'Lean's Illustration of Christ's Commission will then be duly appreciated among us. their notion (a yery mistaken one no doubt) it goes upon the supposition that an adult becomes entitled to baptism on account of that which distinguishes him from an infant-that is, his age! And as the author had occupied a considerable portion of the volume in opening up the nature and doctrinal import of baptism, in a way altogether incompatible with the application of that institution to infants, we may readily account for the cool reception that the work experienced from that party. But there were many other denominations of professed Christians, whose prepossessions and practices were virtually, though indirectly, at tacked in it, either as they respected their doctrinal sentiments, or their church order, and social practices.ments of men, they shall have “an The Scottish Baptists, of whom I must always regard Mr. M'Lean as the founder, or leading person among them, were, in this respect, highly privileged that, at their outset they were under no temptation to fall in with the received customs and manners of their forefathers, as is unhappily the case with the Independent churches in England. So long ago as the days of Dr. Owen, I find that great man complaining "that the churches of the saints were suffering under the confusion of a fatal apostacy," and expressing his confident hope, that from this distressing state of things God in his good time would deliver them. Exposition of the Hebrews, 8vo. vol. v. p. 169. Unhappily for us on this side the Tweed, we have made little progress since the Doctor's time, in emancipating ourselves from the leading strings of our forefathers! we go on, pacing in the old beaten track, sensible enough of the evils that exist (for whether among the Baptists or the Independents, who is so blind as not to perceive, them?) we keep murmuring and complaining at the want of gifts and the abounding mperfections of the churches-yet Whatever diversity of opinion may exist in ragard to the publication in question, considered merely in a literary point of view, I should think there can be but one as to the noble principle upon which the author has prosecuted the subject throughout the volume. Unfettered by human systems of religion, he takes his stand at our Lord's commission; he first carefully examines the Acts of the Apostles, and from that important part of the sacred writings ascertains the manner in which the inspired servants of Christ executed that commission; what were the doctrines they preached and by which they made disciples; what description of persons they baptized, and after what manner; how they gathered them into churches-delivered unto them the various institutions of public wor ship to be statedly observed among them the description of officers appointed to regulate the affairs of his church or kingdom; the duties incumbent upon the subjects of this world, in meekness and selfdenial; to exhibit a pattern of these things to his brethren; and thus exemplify in his own deportment the spirit of that doctrine which he taught both from the pulpit and the press. that kingdom, both as these have a respect to God, to each other, and to their neighbour-particularly the duties of brotherly love in all its various branches, and the discharge of which Christ has made absolutely essential to our being his disciples-with the motives, exhortations, and inducements which the Scriptures furnish to believers to abound in the work of faith and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. And in thus illustrating the subject, all the apostolic epistles to the churches come forwards to his assistance, pouring in a flood of light upon the commission itself, while the author, unshackled by the traditions of men, admits them in their most simple and unforced meaning, evincing that he was perfectly well affected to their leading scope, and under no temptation to pervert any part of them to sub-communicated to me the painful serve a sinister design. intelligence of Mrs. M'Lean's death in the following affecting terms.I believe all her surviving friends will readily admit that there is no exaggeration in the letter. This publication found its way across the Atlantic, and obtained for Mr. M'Lean an honourary degree from one of the American Colleges, constituting him Master of Arts. The bauble was transmitted to the magistrates of Edinburgh, and by In the year 1790 it pleased God to visit him with a severe domestic affliction in the loss of his wife; a most amiable woman and exemplary Christian; so conversant with the Scriptures, that I have often heard him say, she served him for a Concordance; and that whenever a text of Scripture escaped his recollection, she could instantly repeat it to him, as well as direct him where to find it. My acquaintance with him had commenced a few years before, and having been favoured with a visit from him, during the whole month of October of that year, he Edinburgh, Dec. 29, 1790. My very dear Brother, I had scarcely been eight days at home when I began to apprehend that the time of my dear wife's departure was at hand. She continued however till the 14th instant, when, after four weeks severe affliction, she exchanged this state of imperfection and trouble for the blessedness of the dead who die in the Lord. The faith of the Son of God by which she lived during her pilgrimage here, was her joy and support in passing through the valley and shadow of death. She bore her affliction all along with the greatest patience and resignation, and spoke till within a little of her departure in such a pleasant, joyful, and edifying manner as deeply to affect a number that were about her, and take off almost every impression of the gloomy aspect of death. In | mit, to write and publish the Ser the sharpest conflict with that last enemy, she nobly triumphed over it, through the faith of Him who liveth, and was dead, and is alive for evermore, and has the keys of hell and of death. As for myself, my grief is almost swallowed up with the joyful persuasion, that she is now with the Lord, whom she supremely loved, and with whom she longed to be present. The thoughts of my own loss, however, frequently return upon me; the dear remembrance of a most tender and affectionate wife, my ever steady and faithful friend, a judicious, zealous, and exemplary sister in the faith, who has so often counselled, quickened, and encouraged me in the christian race-such reflections followed out in all their tender and affecting circumstances, sometimes unman me a little. But I must not indulge this selfish grief. My present loss is her unspeakable gain. Being found in Christ she is not lost to me. I hope soon to join her in the blest assembly of the spirits of just men made perfect, where, in connection with all the redeemed company, Jesus will be the everlasting centre of our joy and burden of our song. You'll excuse me, dear brother, for dwelling on this subject. I know I shall have the sympathy of you all; and I request your prayers for me, that I may be enabled to spend the short remainder of my days here with greater zeal and alacrity in the work of the Lord, not being slothful, but a follower of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. mon preached at Hull; next I must proceed to prepare for a new edition of the Collection of our Hymns, which are now almost sold off. After which (if the Lord will) I intend to select, correct, and transcribe what will make a volume of miscellaneous subjects. But these things cannot be done in a hurried off-hand manner. They require, and their importance deserve, my best and most mature thoughts; in order to this, regard must be paid to some degree of health of body and vigour of mind, which of late years I find to be both materially injured when I sit or. think too much at a time. As to Mr. Pirie's performances, I have not the least design to answer them, though they have been published two years ago. My reasons are many. He has advanced nothing but what has been sufficiently refuted over and over again—he, deals much in bold and bare assertions, and strange conceits-is an unfair and scurrilous writer, who has a notable talent at wrangliug, and cannot be bound down. by Scripture. I will therefore have nothing to do with such a writer. I have already wrote enough upon that controversy, and want now to employ my time on subjects more pleasant to my own mind, and edifying to others. The opinion of the reviewers is of small account with me. Your brother in the Lord, ARCHIBALD M'LEAN. From this time to the close of his life he remained a widower, and his only daughter, who had You will easily see from what is married a Mr. Kerr, deacon of a above related, that since my arrival Baptist Church in Glasgow, having at home, I could not well settle to lost her husband about the same any thing that required much study time, she removed to Edinburgh or writing, and as yet the affairs of with her three sons, and managed my house are not fully adjusted. the affairs of her father's house to But I intend now, as soon as the the period of his death; an arLord shall enable me, and as my rangement that no doubt contriduty in the church here will per-buted greatly in various ways to |