volume to our readers. Although Mr. Keysell was a member of another section of the Church of Christ, he was a man who eminently adorned the doctrine of God his Saviour. His memoir seems to us a fair specimen of the early Methodists, all is fire and force, zeal and self-denial, overflowing with love to the souls of men, and concerned for the glory of Christ. Mr. Keysell's course was soon run; but not till he had performed a large amount of acceptable and highly useful service. The record of his labours is not a little calculated to nourish the spirit of godly zeal in the mind of the reader. The book is well put together, and it will occupy a respectable place in the biographical library.

The Child's Commentator on the Holy Scriptures. By INGRAM COBBIN, M.A. A new edition. Revised and corrected. Jackson, Walford, and Hodder.

We have had occasion before to call public attention to this exquisite production. Of our many commentaries of the same class, there is not one for a moment to be compared with this, the illustration is so abundant, and withal so beautiful. But while ample provision is made for the eye, the intellect is not

overlooked. The letter-press is admirable, replete with truth, and pervaded by a fine vein of evangelism from beginning to end. It will constitute one of the best Christmas presents that can be offered, and we have no doubt a large demand will be made for it during the month of December.

Key to the Standard Arithmetical Cards. Prepared by HENRY JONES. Thomas Murby. THIS volume is fitted to be useful, provided it is used and not abused. Keys of all sorts, and translations also are things of doubtful merit. Well used, they may be remarkably serviceable, otherwise they may be not a little hurtful, as everything must be which perverts the legitimate exercise of the intellect.

Congregational Church Music, A Book for the Service of Song in the House of the Lord. Pocket Vocal Score Edition. Jackson, Walford, and Hodder.

THIS publication is so thoroughly known and so highly approved that it were an impertinence to praise it. Its praise is in the mouth of thousands, and we have no doubt, it is destined to be used much and used long.

WHAT is noble? to inherit

Wealth, estate, and proud degree ?— There must be some other merit

Higher yet than these for me

Something greater far must enter
Into life's majestic span!
Fitted to create and centre
True nobility in man!

What is noble? 'tis the finer

Portion of our mind and heart; Linked to something still diviner

Than mere language can impart: Ever prompting-ever seeing

Some improvement yet to plan; To uplift our fellow being

And, like man, to feel for Man!

What is noble? is the sabre

Nobler than the humble spade? There is dignity in labour

Truer than e'er pomp arrayed! But who seeks the mind's improvment Aids the world-in aiding Mind,Every great commanding movement Serves not one-but all mankind.

O'er the Forge's heat and ashes—
O'er the Engine's iron head-
When the rapid shuttle flashes,

And the spindle whirls its thread;
There is Labour lowly tending
Each requirement of the hour,
There is genius still extending
Science-and its world of power!

'Mid the dust, and speed, and clamour,
Of the loom-shed and the mill:
'Midst the clink of wheel and hammer
Great results are growing still!
Though, too oft, by Fashion's creatures,
Work and workers may be blamed;
Commerce need not hide its features!
Industry is not ashamed!

What is noble? That which places
Truth in its enfranchised will!
Leaving steps-like angel traces-
That mankind may follow still!
E'en through Scorn's malignant glances
Prove him Poorest of his class,
He's the Noble-who advances
Freedom, and the Cause of man!

Literary Gazelle.

Though they take our life,
Goods, fame, child and wife,
All shall freely go-
We seek no gain below:
God's kingdom stands for ever.

LITTLE BY LITTLE.

ONE step, and then another,
And the longest walk is ended,
One stitch and then another,
And the largest rent is mended;
One brick upon another,

And the highest wall is made;
One flake upon another,

And the deepest snow is laid. So the little coral-workers,

By their slow but constant motion, Have built those pretty islands In the distant, dark blue ocean; And the noblest undertakings Man's wisdom hath conceived, By oft-repeated efforts

Have been patiently achieved. Then do not look disheartened

O'er the work you have to do, And say that such a mighty task You never can get through; But just endeavour day by day Another point to gain,

And soon the mountain which you feared Will prove to be a plain.

"Rome was not builded in a day,"

The ancient proverb teaches;
And Nature, by her trees and flowers,
The same sweet sermon preaches.
Think not of far-off duties,

But of duties which are near:
And having once began to work,
Resolve to persevere.

As our readers already know, the Autumnal Session was held at Hull, where the meetings were large, lively, and practical. The address of the Chairman was one of such length as to exclude the possibility of presenting even an abstract of it in the Christian Witness. The report on Trust Deeds was very excellent; when that most important document shall have been finally settled, it will prove one of the greatest blessings that can well be conceived, combining brevity with explicitness, and sound principle with the absence of intolerable expense. The report read by Dr. Smith justly said:-"By the adoption of a Model Deed the following advantages would be obtained:-Firstly, simplicity; secondly, accuracy; thirdly, economy; and fourthly, a guarantee to the subscribers that the doctrines and principles are in harmony with those of the denomination. The committee have hesitated, except for the weightiest reasons, to disturb existing practices, but they think the draft is in many respects an improvement upon any existing deed which could be offered as a model one. They suggest no substantial alteration in the doctrinal statements of the schedule usually in use in our deeds, but they have sought more clearly to set forth the distinctive usages of Congregationalism, and to provide for the independence and selfgoverning authority of the churches, their right to choose trustees, and to determine any questions that may hereafter arise in the disposition of their Church property."

The Rev. Thomas James presented a report touching the Bicentenary Memorial Hall, which stated that "no fewer than fifteen different sites have been more or less considered. Several of these might probably have been considered eligible, but the enormous cost put them out of the question. Freehold property in or near the City when brought into the market realises five or ten times the amount for which it might have been purchased a few years ago. The committee could not feel justified in paying £50,000 or more for a site, irrespective of the cost which the erection of the proposed hall, with offices for our denominational societies, would involve. The committee will still pursue their inquiries, and if nothing presents itself prior to the construction of the proposed new street from Blackfriars-bridge to the Mansion-house, there is very little doubt but that a site might then be secured, perhaps at a cost that might be safely incurred."

Mr. Samuel Morley expatiated on both the foregoing reports with much breadth and ability, while Mr. Parsons and other gentlemen followed with appropriate observations. Certain amendments were proposed in the Constitution of the Union read by the Rev. Robert Ashton, concerning which there was some diversity of sentiment, and hence nothing was decided. The business of the Union was also considered, when Mr. J. G. Rogers presented a paper of suggestions, which was also reserved for further consideration.

Dr. Smith read a letter from Nottingham, cordially inviting the members of the Union to visit that town on the occasion of the autumnal meeting in 1866. The generous invitation was, of course, promptly and gratefully received. The meeting on 66 Congregational Principles" was crowded to excess, and after a very excellent introductory speech by Mr. Sidebottom, a number of addresses followed, the chief of which, and one of great power, was that of Dr. Vaughan.

The Pastor's Retiring Fund was brought forward by Dr. Ferguson in a clear, convincing, and exhilarating address. The amount raised and invested in annuities is £29,000. The total sum raised is £35,000 exclusive of between £3,000 and £4,000 in the shape of deferred legacies. There had been disbursed in the form of annuities £3,000 to some fortysix annuitants in exhibitions of from £20 to £50 each. Out of these forty-six annuitants eleven had died, reducing the number to thirty-five. The committee had recently elected four more out of fifteen applications, but, owing to a vote of £500 from the Congregational Union, the committee would have the pleasure of increasing the number of annuitants to forty-two. The income, however, was totally inadequate to meet the claims upon it. He proposed to raise the fund to £100,000. This could easily be done, if each of the 1,500 churches would make a small contribution-£5 each for the next ten years. This, with the subscriptions, donations, and legacies which would come in during that time, would yield about £4,000 a year, in the shape of interest. The probable claims upon the fund would be about 6 per cent. of the ministry, or between ninety or one hundred ministers. If, therefore, an average annuity of £40 each were to be given to each pastor disqualified from active work, the whole amount of £4,000 would be ex

pended. The cost of raising the fund up to the present time had been only one per cent. His heart was in the work, and in consequence of the generous interposition of a few friends, he hoped to be able to give his whole time and energy to the movement for five years without taking a single farthing from the fund. He trusted that the pastors and Churches would gather round him and help in the good work. The £100,000 ought to be completed in ten years.

This subject was very ably urged by Dr. Brown, and Mr. Gallaway. The former strongly advocated the carrying out of Dr. Ferguson's idea of raising £100,000. He said::-" There were many pastors who would gladly have retired in old age if they had had any provision to fall back upon. This society met that difficulty. It had long been his wish to see in connection with this society some kind of assurance to which all the ministers of the church might contribute, so that when they came to be sixty or sixtyfive years of age, and were likely to do injury rather than good to their Churches, they might be able to retire and make room for younger pastors better suited to the increasing wants of their Church."

A deputation was introduced on Wednesday forenoon from the United Presbyterian Synod, composed of Drs. King, Edmond, and Mr. Stilt. On the same occasion, Dr. Smith introduced the Rev. John Hutchinson as a delegate from the Congregational Union of Scotland, and the Rev. Alexander King from the Congregational Union of Ireland. Both these gentlemen were heartily welcomed, and delivered brief fraternal addresses.

The evangelization of Wales next occupied attention, when Mr. Thomas, of Bristol, brought it forward in a very excellent paper. On Thursday morning the Assembly was occupied with the all-important theme of 66 Spiritual Life in the Churches," introduced by a paper from Mr. Hebditch, in which that gentleman uttered many wholesome and seasonable truths touching the present condition of religion in our country, not simply amongst the Independents, but all sections of the Church of Christ :-the piety of the day, he said, was deficient in evangelism. At the same time, in estimating the spirituality of the age, its general tendencies must not be overlooked. It was a practical, working age, and the Church of Christ was largely imbued with that spirit. It might be well, however, to point out some of the aspects in which it appeared to be deficient. There was general complaint as to the paucity of the attendance at prayer-meetings and churchmeetings. How to make our Churches fel

a

lowships was a problem difficult of solution. The decline of class-meetings, or of analagous institutions, was openly lamented at Bradford. It might be doubted whether family religion was as strong, and beautiful, and pervading, as it ought to be. Did the children of our Church members grow up feeling that there was indeed a Church in the house? Was the influence of religious people felt in the world ? Where were the sons and daughters of the pious families? Was there not a danger of many honoured names dying out and reappearing in other more fashionable communions? What of business? Were Christian tradesmen and men of business learning to do all to the glory of God? Were they as a rule, disposed to live lives of unostentatious simplicity, giving of their time and substance to promote God's glory? Was there not a wide-spread unwillingness to give in proportion to one's resources, and a tendency to regard acquired property as one's own instead of the Lord's? These and other questions, if faithfully answered, might throw some light on the decrease of the members in the Wesleyan community, and on the comparatively trifling increase that had taken place in the Baptist body. There were no Congregational statistics, or it would probably be found that their condition was about the same as in the sister communions. The evil was general and epidemic; the great want of the day was an intelligent, ardent, uniform, practical godliness in all the members of our Churches. This state of things was not in any way to be considered as reactionary from the recent revivals; it was probably solely due to the spirit and pressure of the times in which we live. Were the churches, pastors, and deacons in any way responsible for it? Had the backward movement encountered due resistance in the pulpit? Was the danger seen afar off, and were means promptly taken to counteract it? Compared with the preaching of a generation ago, that of the present was more intelligent and instructive, but was it more evangelical? Did the pulpit stand in the same relation to the dangers of the present day, as it did in the days of Owen and Baxter to the dangers of that period? These were questions which each minister must answer for himself. And with reference to recovery, Was it possible to regain what had been lost? The first thing was to believe that it was possible; but it would be unwise to hope or expect that the future would be less perilous than had been the past. There was not the least hope of the advent of a spirit more favourable to religion. The great remedy lay with individuals. Ministers must not shrink from recognizing their responsibility. Up to

their own experience they might carry their people, but beyond it they could scarcely hope to go. It must be their constant aim to awaken and keep alive the feeling of consecration in the hearts of Church members, not neglecting the intellect and understanding, but appealing more than ever to the heart and the spiritual faculties, and imploring them to spend more time in the culture of their own hearts. It was a sad thing that the duties of self-examination, study of God's Word, and prayer, occupied many persons as little as thirty minutes, twenty, or even ten, in the twenty-four hours. Was it to be wondered at, under those circumstauces, that the spiritual life of the Church was feeble? One hindrance to spirituality was the little time that ministers in the present day could give to heart-preparation. The demands upon

their time were so numerous that some of them hardly knew what it was to spend an evening with their families. Then there was the danger of a medieval taste. It was important to distinguish between the true and the spurious in æsthetics, to be able to tell at what point these things ceased to be subsidies and became substitutes. Amongst the remedial suggestions were the following: A conference of the praying members of churches in their respective localities as to the means of increasing the interest in prayer-meetings; greater solemnity in the act of receiving members; occasional conversation in the Church meetings, with permission under certain restrictions to ask questions on the sermon; the maintainance of discipline without undue restrictions in the admission of members; increased communion between pastors and Churches, and, above all, the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

In the course of the speeches which ensued Mr. J. H. Wilson, of London, spoke at some length, and with great force, on the extent of the evil, and the manner in which the Church was in many quarters awakening to a sense of its responsibility. The Kent Association four years ago raised £80 per annum for their missions; but they now raised nearly £600. Mr. E. Baines, M.P., urged upon the ministers to cultivate simplicity of style. It was far more indicative of a cultured mind than a cumbersome and learned phraseology, and would produce a much better influence upon all classes of hearers.

The excellent Joshua Wilson, always intent on true religion, addressed a letter on the subject to Dr. Smith, of which the following is an extract:-"I fear it must be assumed as an unquestionable fact (speaking generally), that spiritual religion is in a depressed state.

We have during the last few years

erected many handsome church houses; in many of our places of worship we have introduced organs and made improvements in the service of song; but all this is external and adventitious. Are our church members generally exhibiting to the world the fruits of faith by abounding in works of righteousness and deeds of beneficence, thus proving themselves to be indeed epistles of Christ, known and read of all men? Is the Lord adding, not daily, but even monthly, saved persons to our communities? I am very apprehensive that one reason, perhaps the chief, for the infrequency of conversions in most of our congregations is, that the great cardinal doctrines of our most holy faith are not presented in the discourses of our ministers with sufficient frequency and fulness, and especially that the great central truth, the vicarious propitiatory sacrifice of the Son of God, is not preached continually in so clear, explicit, and direct a manner as it was by the Apostles. It becomes us who belong to the laity to be jealous over our ministers with a godly jealousy, and I will not conceal from you my apprehension that our young and rising ministers have, with not a few exceptions, degenerated from that which constituted the strength and glory of our pulpits in the generation that is passing away. With regard to the means of revival and restoration, I will only mention twoearnest individual and united prayer for the outpouring of the Holy Ghost on the churches, pastors, and deacons, and the vigorous use of appropriate Scriptural methods. Amongst these may be named a friendly, not an inquisitorial, visitation of churches by senior pastors; an annual epistle to the churches from the Union; the printing of short religious biographies; and a day of earnest united prayer at some day, perhaps the last day in the year."

Several worthy speakers, in the course of the discussion, defended the younger ministers from the charge of "deficient evangelism." Such defences ought not to be necessary. If, as Andrew Fuller finely entitled one of his most excellent works, "The Gospel its own Witness," so ought the preaching to be of every man, old and young. It ought to be above suspicion. As in poetry, so in gospel truth: it is not necessary, touching genuine poetry, after properly reading a portion of it, to say to an assembly, "That is poetry:" they know and they feel it to be so! It is never necessary to say of the sun at mid-day, when the sky is without a cloud, "That is light." Everybody sees it is light, and so a full-orbed gospel commends itself at once to the judgment, to the conscience, and to the heart.