its most dangerous enemies; for, by stickling for defects instead of removing them, they are taking the most likely means to make the whole system fall in ruins.

On the next day, the subject of Irish Education was discussed. The majority of the speakers were opposed to the Goverment plan; and the Assembly concurred in a petition to Parliament, entreating of the Government, that in the schools to be established, every facility for reading the Scriptures should be provided for those who wish to avail themselves of the privilege. Dr. Chalmers's opinions on this important subject have recently appeared in "The Pulpit."*

A great deal was said, on several occasions, about the desecration of the Sabbath, particularly in reference to the bad example set by the Government, in having cabinet-dinners on that day. I am far from attempting to justify that example; but the reverend Doctors might find something much nearer home, legitimately entitled to a share in their reprobation; and, while laudibly anxious for a reformation in the high places of the State, something might be done in the way of a reform in the high places of the church. A Cabinet Council on the Sabbath is surely not worse than a Commissioner's Levee before service, and a public dinner after it. The former might be palliated (however inadequately) by the plea of public interests, while the latter have nothing to allege in their favour but empty parade and ostentation. It gives me great pleasure to state, that Dr. Chalmers, when Moderator, refused to be present at these Sunday dinners; a conscientious standing up for the sanctity of the Sabbath, which some of his less scrupulous colleagues would do well to imitate. It is also gratifying to learn, that, in some respects, a reform has taken place since the period of which I am writing. The Commissioner, I understand, has consented to go to church on Sundays without soldiers; so that troops are not now brought out to waste the sacred hours in parading the streets, attracting crowds of idle gazers, and destroying the peace and stillness, which should be inseparable characteristics of the day of rest.

The case of the celebrated Mr. Irving was discussed during this Assembly. Some doubt seemed to exist, as to whether their jurisdiction extended to him; but it was ultimately determined to direct the Presbytery of Annan to summon that gentleman before them, and in the event of his adhering to the sentiments contained in his Works, to proceed against him according to the rules of the Church of Scotland. My readers are aware, that these proceedings terminated in his deposition. The concluding services of the Assembly were of an interesting and impressive nature. They consisted of an address from Dr. Chalmers, characterised by great beauty of language and energy of manner.+ He afterwards conveyed the thanks of the Assembly to the Lord Commissioner, who returned thanks. All present then joined in singing part of the 122nd Psalm (Scotch version), and, after prayer and benediction from the Moderator, the Assembly broke up.

The daily sittings of the General Assembly are opened and closed with prayer. One of Dr. Chalmers's prayers at this Assembly-a prayer characterised by good taste as well as fervent piety-was inserted in "The Pulpit," No. 589, volume xxiii. page 191, January 30, 1834; where will also be found a letter, addressed by the writer of this sketch to a subsequent Moderator, the tone of whose prayers called for admonition. I allude to a disposition to flatter the Lord Commissioner, which manifested itself in the most unseemly of all opportunities for such a display-in his prayers. The Moderator prayed, that his Lordship might "continue by a life of piety and goodness," &c. This prostitution of the most sacred of all subjects (religion), for the sake of turning a compliment to one, the most favourable symptom with respect to whose piety is, that he makes no pretensions to it, a man who holds levees and gives dinner-parties on the Sabbath-this bowing down to the shadow of royalty, by an ambassador of the King of kings-this sycophantish adulation of a fellow-sinners, in the midst of a solemn address to the Searcher of hearts-is unworthy of one who may be said to sit in the seat of John Knox; and of a minister of that church, which, in the face of kings and of princes, has often

* See Nos. 874, 879, and 883., volume xxxv. pages 36, 136, and 227.

+ This Address by Dr. Chalmers was reported in "The Pulpit;" Nos. 504 and 503, volume xx. pages 14 and 92, July 5 and August 9, 1832.

borne witness to the truth. Dr. Chalmers, in his loyalty to an earthly sovereign and his representative, did not forget the allegiance which he owed to a higher Potentate. He prayed that, "the distinguished individual, who represented his Majesty in the Assembly, might be enriched with all temporal and spiritual blessings." Here was a prayer, not that a right state of things mght be continued, but that a right state of things might be bestowed. What impression can a different style make on the hearers, but that personal religion among the great is of little consequence? And on the object of such ill-judged flattery, the impression must be especially injurious. If he has sense to see through this thin veil of adulation, what opinion must he form of such crouching servility? And if he does not see through it, how will he one day reproach that minister of the Gospel, whose courtesy got the better of his faithfulness; who helped him to lay a "flattering unction" to his soul, and who, by whispering peace, "when there was no peace," lulled him into fatal security!

In neither

Sometimes Moderators may use these reprehensible terms, not from design, but from inadvertence. If so, they require to be put on their guard. But when their notions of rank are so high, and their standard of religion so low, as to lead them to suppose there is one kind of "piety" for the prince and another for the people, no terms of reprobation can be too strong for the occasion. view of the subject is admonition out of place. In the one case, they need it; in the other, they deserve it. The evil, I am sorry to say, is not confined to the General Assembly, but is to be met with in places of much humbler pretensions. In prayermeetings, for instance, compliments to the pastor too often creep into the prayers. Ostentatious and lauditory thanksgivings for his success, are often only indirect modes of commending his zeal and abilities.

N. R.

THE LIFE AND TIMES

OF THE LATE COUNTESS OF HUNTINGDON.

(Continued from Page 471.)

We will now turn to some account furnished us of a notorious individual of a very different character:

"When Mr. John Wesley was preaching at Bath, some time before the coming of Charles, Beau Nash entered the room, and, approaching the preacher, demanded by what authority he was acting? Mr. Wesley answered, By that of Jesus Christ, conveyed to me by the present Archbishop of Canterbury, when he laid his hands upon me and said-Take thou authority to preach the Gospel!' Nash then affirmed that he was acting contrary to law. Besides (said he) your preaching frightens people out of their wits.' 'Sir (replied Mr. Wesley) did you ever hear me preach? No,' said the Master of the Ceremonies. 'How then can you judge of what you never heard?' By common report' (replied Nash). (said Mr. Wesley) is not your name Nash? I dare not judge of you by common report.' Nash, finding himself a very different person in the meeting house from what he was in the pump-room, thought it best to withdraw.

'Sir

“Nash sometimes conversed with Lady Huntingdon on religious subjects, and was once prevailed on to hear Mr. Whitefield at her house. Beau Nash was congratulated on his conversion by his gay associates, who failed not to rally him on his turning Methodist. Verses were written on her ladyship and Mr. Nash, which were fastened to the walls of the pumproom and assembly room; and printed notices were circulated in every direction, one of which was shown to the writer many years ago by Dr. Haweis, stating that the Countess of Huntingdon, attended by some saintly sister, purposed preaching at the pump-room the following morning, and that Mr. Nash, henceforth to be known as the Rev. Richard Nash,' was expected to preach in the evening at the assembly room. It was hoped that the audience would be numerous, as a collection was intended for the late Master of the Ceremonies, who was retiring from office.' This profane raillery never discomposed the Countess, but gave great offence to Mr. Nash; and no inducement could ever after prevail upon him to go to Lady Huntingdon's house.

"This man of pleasure died as he lived-a monument of irreligion, folly, and vice, in the year 1761, aged 87. He dreaded the a pproach of death more than the generality of mankind; and sought refuge in some fancied devotion while it threatened him. Though a complete libertine in practice, none trembled more than he did. To embitter his hopes, he found himself at last abandoned by the great, whom he had long endeavoured to flatter and to serve, and was obliged to fly for protection to those of humbler station, whom he had once affected to despise. The corporation of Bath allowed him a scanty pittance, which saved this miserable trifler from starvation in his last days."

Of Lord Chesterfield we have also some notices :

"Lord Chesterfield had been the intimate companion and friend of the Earl of Huntingdon, on whose decease the young Earl became, as we have stated, his adopted son. Hence an extraordinary degree of intimacy subsisted between the families; and he was on all occasions the counsellor and friend of Lady Huntingdon and her children. Notwithstanding his infidel sentiments, he was very constant in his attendance at her ladyship's whenever Mr. Whitefield was to preach.

"Lady Huntingdon had at times some favourable hopes of Lord Chesterfield. She said to Dr. Doddridge

"Sometimes I do hope for dear Lord Chesterfield and Lord Bath, Mr. Stanhope, and one of the privy council of Denmark, with a great many ladies and people of fashion as well as of quality. I know your warm heart will rejoice at this, and your prayers will help with ours for an increase to our blessed Lord's kingdom, even among them.'

"Lord Chesterfield, however, deceived her hopes. He called death a 'leap in the dark!' His Lordship lived with increasing infirmities, to the 24th of March, 1773. Not all the efforts of Lady Chesterfield, of his sister, Lady Gertrude Hotham, nor of Lady Huntingdon, could induce the hardened infidel to follow their example.

"I saw my dear and valued friend (says Lady Huntingdon) a short time before his departure. The blackness of darkness, accompanied by every gloomy horror, thickened most awfully round his dying moments. Dear Lady Chesterfield could not be persuaded to leave his room for an instant. What unmitigated anguish has she endured!* But her confidential communications I am not at liberty to disclose. The curtain has fallen-his immortal part has passed to another state of existence. Oh! my soul, come not thou unto his end!'

"In his will he mentions his servants, his unfortunate friends, his equals by nature,' and the mother of his natural son; but not one word is said of his excellent lady, who survived him only a few years; but how different was her death-bed!

I was with her to the last, (says Lady Huntingdon) and never saw a soul more humbled in the dust before God, on account of her own vileness and nothingness, but having a sure and steadfast hope in the love and mercy of God in Christ, constantly affirming that His blood cleanseth from all sin. The last audible expressions that fell from her, a few moments before the final struggle, were-Oh! my friend, I have hope-a strong hope-through grace!-then, taking my hand, and clasping it earnestly between her's, exclaimed with much energy-God be merciful to me a sinner !'"

"Lady Chesterfield died September 16, 1778, without issue, whereby her titles became extinct."

We will pass next to the Earl of Buchan :

"A short time previous to the opening of Lady Huntingdon's chapel at Bath, the Earl of Buchan, for his family convenience, had removed to that city. His lordship succeeded his father David, ninth earl, in 1745, and was brother to Lady Frances Gardiner, widow of that brave soldier and eminently pious Christian, Colonel James Gardiner, who was killed at the battle of Preston, in 1745, valiantly fighting against the rebels. Henry David, tenth Earl of Buchan, married Agnes, second daughter of Sir James Stewart, of Goodtrees, in the county

* "Her Ladyship sent for Mr. Rowland Hill, but Lord Chesterfield refused to see him. After his Lordship's death this reverend gentleman became chaplain to Lady Chesterfield, and she, like Lady Huntingdon, used to open her splendid mansion for the preaching of the Gospel,"

of Edinburgh, Bart. Her ladyship was a woman of elegant taste and genius, and became mother of a numerous family; some of whom inherited her abilities-the strong natural parts and probity of the father, with the taste and brilliant imagination of the mother. For some considerable time Lord Buchan had been in a declining state of health, but at length his disorder assumed an appearance so formidable as to baffle the skill of the physicians, and medical aid was of no avail. The circumstances attending his death were of a nature highly consolatory to his afflicted family. His lordship's long intimacy with persons of piety in Scotland, had gradually prepared his mind for the reception of those great and momentous truths with which he became acquainted after his introduction to Lady Huntingdon and the junior members of the Hawkstone family. At her ladyship's chapel, where he was a most regular attendant as long as his health permitted, he was in the constant habit of hearing Messrs. Whitefield, Wesley, Romaine, Venn, Shirley, Townsend, Fletcher, and others, men of renown in their day, whose powerful and energetic exhibitions of the doctrines of the cross proved most beneficial to the illumination of his lordship's mind. A few days before his death, Lady Huntingdon went to see him, at his particular request. The interview was particularly affecting. As soon as he could speak, he said, I have no foundation of hope whatever but in the sacrifice of the Son of God-I have nowhere else to look-nothing else to depend upon for eternal life and salvation; and my confidence in Him is as firm as a rock.' "In his last moments Lord Buchan bore witness of a hope and confidence of eternal life built on the Divine propitiation and righteousness. As his end approached he evinced the same firm reliance on the hopes of the Gospel, and was filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory. He behaved like the patriarch Jacob, when, by faith, leaning upon his staff, he blessed his children. The earl added, Yea, and they shall be blessed.' At another time he said, "Had I strength of body, I would not be ashamed, before men and angels, to tell what the Lord Jesus hath done for my soul. Come, Holy Ghost! Come, Holy Ghost!Happy, happy, happy!' Thus

On his lips, his dying lips,

The sound of glory quivered;

and in this triumphant wanner his lordship burst the fetters of mortality, and entered that 'land of pure delight'

Where congregations ne'er break up,

And Sabbaths never end."

"His Lordship's departure (says Lady Huntingdon) was not only happy, but triumphant and glorious. Though arrived at the very summit of assurance, and experiencing much of those rapturous communications which are often made at the last moments to the souls of departing saints, he felt abased in the dust on account of his own vileness and utter wretchedness; and his continual cry was-God be merciful to me a sinner! I have witnessed the dismissal of many from the burden of mortality, but I have seldom seen an end more satisfactory, more solidly happy, or more triumphant. Thanks, unceasing thanks to Him who hath, in His infinite goodness, blessed the preaching of His Word, in the house which He hath enabled me to build to record the glories of His name, and the wonders of His redemption-and attended the labours of His vile and unprofitable servant with the benediction of His Spirit. Not unto me, not unto me, O my God! but unto Thee, and to Thy free and sovereign grace be all the praise and glory."

His Lordship departed this life, December 1st, 1767, in the fifty-eighth year of his age."

(To be continued.)

GLEANINGS.

The Rev. John Newton used to say, his grand point in prcaching was "To break a bard heart, and to heal a broken heart."-Life.

The generality of our readers are better judges of our examples than of our sermons-M. Henry.

Many a preacher is now in misery, who has a hundred times called upon his hearers to use their utmost care and diligence to avoid it.-Baxter.

(See Frontispiece.)

"But let my due feet never fail

To walk the studious cloister's pale,
And love the high embowed roof
With antick pillar massy proof,

And storied windows richly dight,

Casting a dim religions light."-MILTON.

WHAT is there more grateful to the eye of the man of sentiment, philanthropy, and religion than a CHURCH? Look at yonder spire as it rises between the treessilently pointing to the skies, and directing the thoughts of the traveller to that Omniscient Being, to whose service-humble as may be the temple-it has been consecrated. There it stands, a lasting monument of the manners and taste of our ancestors; it shows what they were, what they did, and how they felt; it seems at once to make us wise and humble, as it induces us to emulate their merits, and to question our own. True, it may be, that the casual observer notices our village churches merely as so many masses of masonry and sculpture; but far different do they appear to the eye and fancy of the humble Christian. To him they are venerable on account of that sacred treasure to be found within their walls. It is the HOUSE OF GOD with its appointed sacraments, its hallowed rites, and its holy services, which serve as so many channels of grace to his soul.

We surely cannot inhabit the mansion in which our ancestors for many generations have been born and have died, or worship in the Church which for ages has been consecrated to religion, without reflections which will occur to every feeling mind. Nor can we view the fabrics reared by their piety and munificence, unmoved by gratitude, or without peculiar interest. It has been truly observed, "If a fossil, a plant, or an insect, be acknowledged as a fit subject for rational in quiry and engraved display : so also a noble Church, when considered as a production of the best faculties of man, must be regarded as having peculiar demands on the attention of the historian and antiquary, and worthy of the best efforts of graphic illustration."

The religion of our ancestors, notwithstanding there was much that sober piety cannot sanction, was truly sublime. With all the incidental corruptions which affected their worship, they thought, and rightly thought, that much was due from them to the glory of God. And one cannot help thinking, when we see a mere building full of pews comfortably cushioned, a theatrical gallery, whitewashed ceilings, bare walls, and a clock and a desk the sole furniture-and compare it with Westminster Abbey, King's College Chapel, and many of our old churches-that if the moderns are upon the whole, a great deal wiser than our forefathers, they are also a great deal meaner. Society may have acquired a more enlightened and elegant tone; but it has lost many of its strong local peculiarities, its home bred feelings, its honest fireside delights. The traditionary customs of golden-hearted antiquity, its feudal hospitalities, and lordly waissailings, have all passed away with the baronial habits and stately manor houses in which they were celebrated.

So again, our ancestors did not enter a Church so much as a lecture-room to pass away an hour, but as the house of prayer, to implore on their bended knees those blessings, which He, "in whom they live, and move, and have their being," can alone bestow. So thought the pious George Herbert

"Resort to sermons; but to prayers most:
Praying's the end of preaching."

"The knowledge

And so too thought a like kindred spirit-the judicious Hooker. is small," says he, in that beautiful Fifth Book of his Polity-" the knowledge is small, which we have on earth concerning things which are done in heaven. Notwithstanding, thus much we know, even of saints in heaven, that they pray. And therefore prayer being a work common to the church, as well triumphant as militant -a work common unto men with angels--what should we think, but that so much of our lives is celestial and Divine as we spend in the exercise of prayer?"

That the basis of all religion is "spirit and truth," cannot possibly be doubted; but if they naturally give birth to certain ceremonies and actions, these should not be repressed for whatever some may imagine, we cannot restrain the efforts of reli