church's history-he brings us to the time when Diricke Carver was burnt at the stake, for simply reading the Word of God. Oh, what a mighty and marvellous change the Reformation wrought! How great the price in human blood was paid for that change! Do we consider the greatness of our privileges? Do we value the mercies of freedom and fellowship which we now enjoy? We fear not. We deeply fear there is a feeling in our hearts, like that of the ancient Israelites when they said," As for this manna, we loathe it." Oh that, as Christian ministers we could more fully preach-as Christian churches, we could more highly esteemas Christian believers, we could more blessedly feed upon the unsearchable riches of Gospel truth! The character, the decision, the Christian fortitude and forbearance of the Lewes Martyr Diricke Carreris given in this sermon in a manner builciently plain and powerful, to stir up the hearts of thousands to a conviction of the great power of God in supporting his people. The preacher said In the Reformation, the vials of Jehovah's wrath were poured out, on the throne of the Beast. His power was shaken-his glory diminished. His authority and dominion suffered exceedingly, both in extent and degree. Since that time the glory of the papacy has been on the wane. The Pope has lost by the Reformation, about half of his former dominions, and, since that time, in a great degree, his influence, even in popish countries. He is regarded, and his power dreaded in no measure, as it was wont to be. The powers of Europe have learned, not to put their necks under the Pope's feet, as formerly they had been accustomed;-so that his Holiness of Rome has been, ever since the glorious Reformation, (now more than three hundred years) as a lion, that has lost his teeth, to what he once had been. To suppress this Reformation, Popery had recourse to artifice, intrigue, cruelty, and blood:-all, however, would not do:-the thing was the work of God,-it could not come to nought, it mightily grew and increased. The Beast, with the seven heads and ten horns, began to rage in a dreadful manner. Multitudes of the Waldenses were again cruelly tortured and butchered. In several parts of Germany, and especially in Bohemia, where the followers of Huss were scattered, persecution raged in a fearful manner for upwards of thirty years. The countries of Poland, Lithuania, and Hungary were, in like manner, deluged with blood. Holland, and the low countries were, for many years, a scene of nothing but the most affecting and amazing cruelties, under the merciless hand of Spain, to which they were then in subjection. In France, in 1571, in the reign of Charles IX., it is supposed that three hundred thousand suffered martyrdom, and in thirty years there were slaughtered, in that unhappy country, 907,939 persons-rich and poor-high and low—the noble and the peasant. In Ireland, in 1641, in a very few days 200,000 Protestants were cruelly murdered. In England, too, in the Marian persecution, great numbers in all parts of the kingdom, were burnt alive, and, in Lewes alone, seventeen, if not eighteen, were committed to the flames. These are but a sample of the tender mercies of Popery. O Popery, Popery! Though thousands in all ages, have drank of thy cup, to the very dregs, yet thou art not the less bitter upon that account. With respect to the men themselves, Diricke Carver, to whom our attention is more particularly directed, was of Flemish extraction. He was born in the village of Stockome, in the land of Luke, about 1515, at the very time that God was preparing Reformation, in which he was about to engage Luther, Zwingle and others for the work of them. Mr. Carver became a resident of Brighton, about 1546, for the purpose, it is thought, of introducing a new method of brewing, and followed that business up till the latter part of October, 1554, when he, John Launder of Godstone, in Surrey, and others, in all twelve, were apprehended, by one Mr. Edward Gage, of Firle, a County Magistrate, and by him sent to London, to the Queen's Council; who upon examination, committed them to Newgate, to wait the leisure of Bonner, bishop of London, Mary's Inquisitor General for all England, for the deadly crime of reading the Bible, and using the service set forth in Edward's time-in English, in the house of Mr. Carver. Mr. Carver was a good man-zealous and devoted in the cause of his Lord and Master. His decision and firmness were remarkable. "Your doctrine, (said he to the Bishop, on his examination,) is poison and sorcery. If Christ were here, you would put him to a worse death than he was put to before. You say that you can make a god; ye can make a pudding as well! Your ceremonies, in the church, be beggary and poison. And I further say, that Auricular Confession is contrary to God's Word, and very poison."It was no use to trifle with such men. The Bishop at once saw with whom he had to deal, and after pronouncing his usual blessing, he immediately dispatched them to their respective places of execution.-John Launder to Steyning, and Diricke Carver to Lewes, Mr. Carver knew and loved the truth. While in prison he taught himself to read. He was rich in spiritual as in temporal things-all of which he counted loss for Christ. Diricke Carver was brought up for examination on June 8, 1555, and burnt before the Star Inn, Lewes, July 22, now three hundred years ago. On his entry into Lewes, to be burned, the people called upon him, beseeching God to strengthen him in the faith of Christ. He thanked them, and prayed unto God for them. When he came to the Star, the people drew near, when the Sheriff bore testimony to his worth, by declaring that he had found him a faithful man in all his answers. After he had kneeled down, and prayed at the stake, he ascended the funeral pile, and finding that his Bible had been thrown into the barrel for destruction with himself, he threw it as a sacred deposit among | Having adjusted his spectacles he took the people. Having briefly addressed the mul up his still open Bible and read, "For titude, the combustible materials were in- we know that if our earthly house of flamed, the fire kindled around him, and the this tabernacle be dissolved, we have a good man breathed his last. building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." And looking up, said, "That's what I am expecting. It will not be long ere this earthly house will tumble down; and then I shall have that not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." "Did your heathen gods ever promise you such happiness?" To this question he laughed heartily, at the idea of wooden gods being capable of such things; and The last words of that faithful member of Christ, before the fire was put to him, were, "Lord, have mercy upon me, for unto thee I commend my spirit, and my soul doth rejoice in thee." And after the fire came to him, he said, "Oh Lord, have mercy upon me." And sprung up in the fire, calling upon the name of Jesus, and so ended. D. Carver was about forty years of age, when he died. "Shall not God avenge his own elect, who cry" unto him? He will avenge them, and that speedily. To be continued. THE MISSIONARY AND THE DYING "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, thy God reigneth !" Isa. lii. 7. Goo At another the measles, ance assuming a look claimed, "O, how the young people he great things The prevalence of im, and informed him of the death of a man so much older than himself, hen a child he was in the habit of riding about on his shoulders. (The aged chief was at this time near eighty). Ì informed him of a conversation I had with the poor old man a short time before his death. That, having supposed him to be near his end, I asked him if he was prepared for the great change he was so soon to experience, he replied, "My heart is fixed on God." "Do you believe your sins are all pardoned ?" To this he hesitatingly replied Perhaps they are; perhaps they are not;" and then added, "I have cast them on Jesus, and I expect they are pardoned: this is my only hope." Tinamana listened in silence; and after some time, alluding to Rakaia's first expression, he exclaimed, in the words of the Psalmist, "My heart is fixed, oh God! my heart is fixed!" In this happy state he continued to the day of his departure, taking every opportunity of exhorting those who were about him to be diligent in their attention to the things of eternity. 66 THIS sublime passage of holy writ occurred to our mind as we contemplated the very interesting picture which embellished the title page of the "Missionary Magazine and Chronicle" for last month. The characters represented there are "Tinamana, the excellent old chief of Arorangi," and his missionary, who on account of his absence from the Lord's house, and the Lord's supper, had gone, in the afternoon of the same day, to visit him, feeling assured that illness had prevented him, for to use his own words, "He never absented himself from the means of grace, except from illness." What a rich perfume doth this account shed around that aged negro's tomb! Surely many of us home Christians must feel condemned on reading the untiring devotion of this poor black convert from heathen darkness and idolatry, to the faith and hope of the Gospel. God grant that all who read it, may by it be stirred up to greater diligence to attend to those things which belong to their everlasting peace, and that many who profess to be pastors and ministers of the fold of Christ, may take pattern by this missionary to a more watchful and affectionate care over their charge, for dear brethren in the Lord, this aged disciple had but once absented himself, and his minister goes at once to learn the cause, and doubtless to to pray with and comfort him. "They that honour me, I will honour," saith the Lord. Beloved in Christ Jesus, make the experiment, and you shall set to your seal that God is true. "What all alone" said his visitor as he found him reclining on his couch, leaning on his elbow and looking intently at his Bible. "No, I am not alone-God is here with me," said he, "What have you For the information of any one who may been reading?" asked the missionary.not be familiar with the objects and opera THE AGED PILGRIMS' FRIEND THE Forty-eighth Annual Report of this We may render a little aid by calling the attention of readers to the following extracts from the newly published report. After grateful expressions, it says: tions of this Society, we would respectfully wisdom esteeming all his learning and skill say, that the persons who become recipients as naught, and bowing meekly to the foolof its funds are those of both sexes, from every ishness of God," or the "infant of days" 'part of the kingdom, of all Protestant denom- receiving with avidity and without questioninations, who are above sixty years of age, ing "the wisdom of God in a mystery," the whose income does not exceed, from all wisdom of the cross. The late Dr. Gordon, sources, seven shillings per week, if single, or during his last illness, touchingly confessed, ten shillings per week, if married, and who "I have been seeking religion for years by give scriptural evidence of their being sincere reason, and I could not get it, and I have and consistent believers in the Lord Jesus found it by becoming a little child. That is Christ. the secret. I reasoned, and debated, and investigated, but I found no peace till I came to the Gospel as a little child, till I received it as a babe. Then such a light was shed abroad in my heart, that I saw the whole scheme at once; and I found pleasure the most indescribable." By referring to Rules 9 to 13, our friends will perceive, that after every care and caution has been taken to ascertain the eligibility of the candidates who have been duly recommended, they are forthwith placed on the funds of the Society as "Approved Candidates;" these are raised in rotation to the five-guinea pension, as our resources will allow; and, at the annual elections in June, six or more of the five-guinea pensioners, not under seventy years of age, are raised to receive ten guineas per annum. It gave us great joy to watch the unfolding of the mind of our dear boy, to notice the power of discernment, reflection, and memory which he evinced; for these things we could indeed thank God. But it gave far greater joy to our hearts, to mark how he received the tale of Jesu's love, how he dwelt upon it, the pleasure he seemed ever to derive from hearing about "dear kind Jesus," as he was wont to say. And now that he is gone from us, it is an unspeakable satisfaction to remember these things, and to call to mind the many evidences that God had marked him for His own, and that His Spirit was indeed teaching and preparing him, to take his place among the wise and saved above; a It must be obvious to all that, to accomplish these desirable objects, considerable amount of funds are necessary, which can only be obtained and maintained by the unwearied zeal and unceasing exertions of all those who feel it a duty and a privilege to assist the aged and infirm poor of Christ's flock. By an analysis of the last year's cash account it will be observed, that out of a net income of £2172 16s. 6d., (including the balance of the previous year), the Pensioners received no less a sum than £1904 17s. 10d.; making the gross amount just stated, exclusive of a balance at the Bank of £158 7s. 1d.; and only one-half SPIRITUAL CORRESPONDENCE. of that amount was the proceeds of Subscriptions and Donations, the rest being made up by Sermons, &c. 1524 Pensioners have been relieved from this Institution, since its foundation, to the amount of £46,289 2s. 11d., including the usual annual expenses. "THE BABE IN CHRIST." SUCH is the title of a neat little volume now issuing by Houlston and Stoneman, of 65, Paternoster Row. It contains "Memorials of FREDERIC STARLING, who fell asleep March 2, 1855, not three years old in nature; but evidencing a certain ripeness in the Divine life. This is a narrative which bereaved Christian parents will read with feelings of acute interest, and not without pleasurable edification. The following paragraph, drawn from the introduction, will furnish the reader with some faint idea of the wisdom of the narrator, and of the cha racter of the memoir: Let us ever remember, with the young, or with the old, "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." And it is difficult to say which more strikingly manifests the inadequacy of human power, and the efficiency, as well as sovereignty, of God's grace-the man of intelligence and "Gem beaming in the coronet of love." MY DEAR BROTHER, I feel once more constrained to embrace another opportunity of dropping you a line or two, the motive, I trust, arises out of spiritual regard for you as a fellow-traveller to Zion's fair city above, that we may, by our correspondence, mutually edify and comfort each other, and glorify the name of the Three One God of our salvation. and sanctified by the power thereof, we owe If our hearts are rightly directed into truth it all to sovereign grace. The sacred, solemn, internal teachings of God the Holy Ghost, is the only sovereign antidote I know against all the false teachers, false ways, and false notions of the present day that are leading so many professors blindfold to perdition, Eternal truth declares "and they shall be all taught of God," that is the children; an elect vessel of mercy can never finally be deceived; Son redeemed, so God the Holy Ghost quickens for as God the Father elected, and God the regenerates, leads, instructs and guides the whole family, and every one in particular. If one of the children could live and die in ignorance, it would certainly and everlastingly tarnish the glory of Jehovah the Spirit, inasmuch as He in covenant engaged to find every precious jewel out of nature's ruined mass, polish and sweeten them to shine resplendantly in the crown of our exalted Immanuel for ever. "He shall glorify me, said the Saviour," "He shall guide me into all scho truth." Now there is a secret in divine | in perils in the sea, in perils amongst false teaching that none but the favoured pupils brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in of the ever blessed Spirit can understand. watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastThat men may and do get at the theory of ings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside truth, and admire its harmony and consistency, those things that are without, that which comand even have ability to argue and set it forth, eth upon me daily, the care of all the churches." I doubt not. It is the case, doubtless, with Well might the Great Head of the Church thousands; this is the only way I can account say, "I will shew him how great things he for those who are so frequently shifting and shall suffer for my name sake. But blessed changing their principles. If they had learnt be his name, he supported him in, consoled them by heart-felt experience under the sa- him under, and brought him triumphantly cred Spirit's gracious tuition, depend upon it through. Ah! my brethren, we envy the they could not be parted with. Hence says blessed apostle his attainments and position, beloved John when writing in his first epistle but who would like the road he travelled to against seducers, "But the anointing which it. Th Spirit teaches the family by all the ye have received of Him abideth in you, and pain events they pass through ye need not that any man teach you, but as (See Psalm cvii.) the same anointing teacheth you of all things ad circumstances of and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it re there described, hath taught you ye shall abide in Him." The up, "Whoso is way and means the Lord takes to teach and wise things, even he train his children are various and mysteri-hall kindness of the ous-always in accordance, however, with his Lord ave always been to own blessed word,-a preached Gospel, is one the chi arnt the most imgreat instrument, and doubtless the main one. portant lessons in ting places. The Hence he gave gifts-valuable gifts, they are apostle James says have heard of the to the church of God, apostles, prophets, evan- patience of Job, and have seen the end of the gelists, pastors and teachers, for the perfecting Lord that the Lord is very pitiful, but during of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the process it did not appear there was much the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all pity in the manifest dealings of God with his come in the unity of the faith and of the know- dear child, when he stripped him of all his ledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, property, of all his family, of all his health, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness and only left his wife to be a helpmate of the of Christ; a sound scriptural gospel ministry devil to distress him. There sits poor Job in is a great blessing to possess. We cannot, I the ashes, covered with boils from head to think, enough appreciate its value, we may, foot, running sores, so altered, that even his under this have attained light and judgment, friends did not know him; they lifted up their and a sound creed, but the teaching of the voice and wept, sat down with him seven days Spirit, brother, has to do with the heart and and seven nights, and afraid to speak a word, experience of the taught. Hence he empties, for they saw his grief was very great. Now strips, and humbles; he fills, clothes, and ex- in this severe furnace of affliction, Job learnt alts; he has fitted the promises for them, and he was no more patient than another man nathey are in due time fitted for the promises. turally, as the 3rd chapter shews. His fleshly All things work together for their good, it is perfection and self-righteousness was written, therefore they are instructed in all sumed; he learnt the love of God's heart, the things and by all things, as saith our deeply-power of his arm, the faithfulness of the Altaught brother, Paul, Everywhere and in mighty promises, the indestructible nature of all things I am instructed both to be full and grace in his soul, the folly of leaning on, or to be hungry, both to abound and suffer need." looking to an arm of flesh, how far the symO, blessed scholar, he says, "I have learned pathy of mortals could go, even of the children in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be con- of God; and what was the unchanging nature tent:" and yet he says a little before, "not of the friendship of that dear all-wise Friend as though I had already attained, either were that sticketh closer than a brother. We just already perfect, but I follow after, reaching see in Job's history that he could do all things forth and pressing forward." What attain-with Christ and nothing without Christ. He ments and yet what humility was here; but look at the path he had to travel, the school of affliction he had learnt his lessons in; the fire and the water, the third heavens, and the deep sea of trouble. Read his own account: I have often thought what a miracle of God's supporting and sustaining grace is here. "In labours, (he says) more abundant in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Five times I received of the Jews forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep. In journeyings often; in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, con expressed himself sometimes with the strongest confidence, at other times he was like a feather tossed about by the wind; and what was the end of the Lord, but to bring poor Job feelingly to confess, "Behold I am vile, I abhor myself, and behold thou art just, and wise, and good. I have uttered that I understood not, things too wonderful for me which I knew not; of this I repent in dust and ashes." "Ah, (said Job), none teacheth like him; this was his testimony, and the end of the Lord in all his teachings is to debase the sinner, and exalt the dear Saviour." Jeremiah learnt much in the dungeon, Jonah learnt that lesson experimentally in the belly of a fish. Salvation is of the Lord. Most of the precious Psalms of David were learnt in the depths of soul, body, family and circumstantial afflictions; chastening and teaching go together with our Father; he knows how to use the rod. He lifts it up on high, with pity in his heart, that every stroke his children feel may grace and peace impart. When thou with rebukes, says the Psalmist, correcteth man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth; and this makes way for the never-fading beauties of the dear Immanuel. As many as I love I rebuke_and chasten. Happy is the man whom the Lord correcteth. Fatherly chastisement and saving teachings are sure tokens of covenant love. May we therefore not despise on the one hand the chastening of the Lord, nor on the other hand, faint when we are rebuked of him. Some three or four years ago, I remember I was very much exercised with inward and outward troubles, and these words followed me, and ran through my mind almost constantly for a day or two. By this, therefore, shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin." looked for the words and found them in xxvii. Isaiah. Well I knew Christ had by his precious blood for ever purged away the sins of his people before a holy God, as it is written in Heb. chap. i. "When he had by himself purged our sins, he sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high." By this, therefore, I saw plainly referred to that inward experimental purging away of our dross and tin, which our heavenly Refiner accomplishes by putting us in the furnace of affliction. For this fire stands in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem; but that was very sweet to me when opened up. It is in measure when it shooteth forth thou wilt debate with it; he stayeth his rough wind in the day of his east wind. To change the figure, he will never let the wind blow so hard as to root up one of the trees of righteousness, for he holds the winds in his fists; but then he permits the winds of temptation and trouble, sometimes to blow hard and long, in order that the heavenly plant may take deeper root downward in the soil of his changeless love, and bear fruit upwards to the honour of his faith affection in your last; truly, it is, as you remark, "good and pleasant for brethren to dwell together in unity." What on earth can equal it? grace relationship is indissoluble you know: earth, sin, death, nor the devil, can effect anything here. There is no disturbing of this, nor alteration here. Well, then, let us sing (though in a foreign land, and encompassed with manifold afflictions and troubles not a few) "In union with the Lamb, From condemnation free," &c. You remark, in your's, the grace and mercy shewn and manifested to us in bygone days, now numbered with those before the flood, when we went to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise, with them that kept holiday. When we sung in the height of Zion, and were amply supplied from the gracious goodness of the Lord, with wheat, oil and wine, when the virgins rejoiced in the dance, both young men and old together, when shed abroad in our hearts, and his mercy the presence of the Master was felt, his love revealed to our souls, and his salvation our theme from one new moon to another; and though we may forget this for a moment, yet will our blessed Lord remind us of it again, saying, "I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown." seasons minds. Never will those blessed ever be wholly effaced from our I therefore may very properly, I consider, call you my son in the faith; nor am I ashamed of you, for thou hast witnessed a good confession many times before many witnesses, and holdest fast his name, and hast not denied his faith, and I believe you never will. "Thou, therefore, my son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." And the precious truths which my Lord hath enabled me to preach, and you to receive in demonstration and power keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. And since the Lord was pleased to call you by grace under my feeble ministry, and reveal his Son in you, sprinkled your conscience with the blood of the covenant, and brought his Faith in its preciousness is known in the righteousness and rich salvation to your predark night, and we learn the use of a good cious soul, he hath opened your mouth to make hope in the storm. Yes, gospel hope strength-known the truth of the gospel; go on, my ened by the God of hope bears up the sinking soul till an eternal calm shall shine. ful name. Those lines of the poet were very sweet to me the other day, I could feelingly adopt them as my own: Jesus, my hope is fixed on thee, Thou will not let my soul be wrecked. W. BIDDER TO G. KELLAWAY. MY DEAR KELLAWAY.-Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied to you from that Almighty HIM, by whom are all things, and for whom are all things, and to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Many thanks for your many expressions of brother, fearless of earth or hell, and proclaim the name of the Lord! make mention that his name is exalted! lay low the creature! down, with man, and up with Christ! too high you cannot exalt HIM, nor too low abase the sin. ner. Be not afraid to speak of everlasting, electing, love; ancient settlements; divine enactments; eternal union and glorious one, ness: complete salvation and eternal redemp tion; spiritual regeneration and effectual And may the Lord give you understanding in calling; final perseverance and eternal glory, all things, bless thy labours, and bless you in labouring, until you go home to enjoy your penny. Expect much opposition, especially from carnal professors, take this as a good sign, but heed them not, your business is to preach the word; let nothing divert your mind from |