a sabbath-day collection, may we ask you to plead our cause at a week-day service, or by a lecture in your school-room?"

The Committee trust that many of the Society's ministerial friends will kindly make the suggested effort. A small collec tion from many congregations, will greatly swell the Jubilee Fund.

The Rev. Algernon Wells, of Clapton Chapel, has announced a collection after a sermon by the Rev. James Sherman.Christian Spectator.

TRACTS IN CHINA.

"WE spent," say Messrs. Stronach and Pohlman, "two days in an excursion to the towns and villages in this vicinity, the most interesting of which was a trip to the large city of Chiang Chin, (about thirtyfive miles distant,) during which we had frequent opportunities of addressing large crowds in the villages on the side of the river which leads to the city, and in the city itself. It is perhaps twice as large as Amoy, and is surrounded on every side by considerable villages. We were, as usual, well received, the whole population seeming anxious to see us; and we were followed by great multitudes in our visits to the large and ancient temples, which are the boast of the city. In these, and at the very feet of the gigantic images worshipped in them, we addressed attentive audiences on the great topic of our mission, and met with not a single interruption, while demonstrating the folly of idolatry in scenes where it had so long reigned, and the glory of that Saviour who came to abolish all worship but that presented in spirit and in truth to the great Father of our spirits. Tracts were sent to the residences of the principal mandarins; and before we left, one mandarin, who had not received any, came down himself to the river-side to ask us to send him some."Ibid.

GENEVA.

SKETCH OF MERLE D'AUBIGNE.

(From the Rev. Robert Turnbull's Pulpit Orators of France and Switzerland.-See Review Department.)

GENEVA has been celebrated for centuries as the residence of great and good men. Rising, with a modest and unpretending aspect, amid the rich and varied scenery of Lake Leman, parted by the blue waters of the Rhone, and protected, at a short distance, by the Alps on the one side and the Jura on the other, it has sheltered more men of genius and scholarship than any other city of its size in the world.

Among these Dr. Merle, usually styled D'Aubigné-a name borrowed from his maternal ancestors, and highly distinguished in the annals of France and Switzerland, is among the most celebrated at the present time. At once a historian and a preacher of extraordinary genius and eloquence, he deserves a high place among the pulpit orators of France and Switzerland. His remote ancestors were Huguenots, who fled from France to Geneva in the reign of Louis the Fourteenth. His father, Amie Robert Merle D'Aubigné, a worthy citizen of Geneva, had three sons; the oldest and youngest of whom are respectable merchants, one in the city of New York and the other in New Orleans, and the second is J. Henry Merle D'Aubigné, the subject of this sketch.

He was born in the year 1794, on the margin of Lake Leman, just beyond the city walls, where he yet resides, in the house which belonged to his father-a charming retreat for a man of genius. He was educated at the Academy, or University, as it is sometimes called, of his native city, and was destined for the ministry of the Protestant Church. But we must go back a little, and introduce him to our readers, as the Providence of God introduced him to the work of the ministry, and the field of literary and religious enterprise, which he so worthily fills.

In Scotland were two Brothers, James and Robert Haldane, the sons of a wealthy country gentleman, who lived, as too many are apt to live, without any distinct recognition of their relations to the unseen world, and wholly engrossed with the engagements and pleasures of time. Both had received a liberal education, and gave indication of high talents and great energy of character. The youngest was captain of an "East Indiaman;" but on one occasion, when making preparation for a voyage to India, was delayed longer than usual, and, as he had little to do, was induced to study the Scriptures. The consequence was, that he found his heart engaged, before he was aware, in the great and thrilling truths of the Gospel. Other circumstances conspiring, he was induced to abandon his commission, and, instead of going to sea, gave himself to study and the preaching of the Gospel, in the suburbs of Edinburgh. He subsequently became the pastor of a large Baptist church in that city, and has been the means of accomplishing an untold amount of good.

His conversion, of course, greatly affected the mind of his brother; who, it is said, was not altogether pleased with the change. But skating one day upon a deep pond in his pleasure-grounds, the ice gave way, and he sunk, without the power of extricating himself. He continued in this situation for

some time, and would have been drowned, had not one of his servants, passing that way, come to his relief. This, concurring with the impressions received from his brother's conversion, gave a new current to his thoughts. He was induced to investigate the subject of Christianity, and yield his heart to its high claims. He sold a large portion of his property, and devoted it to benevolent uses; and what was yet better, he devoted his fine talents to the cause of Christ. He became the author of several religious works, which evince great talent and piety, and, among others, one on the Evidences of Christianity, which is among the best ever written upon that subject.*

Subsequently Mr. Haldane made a journey to the continent of Europe, and took up his residence for some time at Geneva. He was much affected with the low spiritual condition of the Protestant Churches there, which had become infected with the rationalistic and neological views prevalent in Germany. Indeed, the clergy themselves had so far departed from the faith of the Reformation, as to reject nearly all the fundamental doctrines of the Gospel, particularly the divinity of Christ and the doctrine of atonement. Mr. Haldane made himself acquainted with the students attending the Theological School in Geneva, and invited a number of them to his house, and, by free conversation, endeavoured to teach them the principles of Evangelical truth, and the nature of vital religion. At the same time he formed them into an association for prayer, in which exercise they spent much time at his residence. This course was continued for some time, till at last quite a number of the young men abandoned their scepticism, and yielded their hearts to the claims of a pure and elevated faith. Among these were Felix Neff, subsequently pastor in the high Alps, and one of the purest and most devoted men that ever lived; Henry Pyt, another well-known and truly pious man, and Henry Merle D'Aubigné, the author of the

History of the Reformation," and President of the New Evangelical School of Theology in Geneva.

We had the pleasure, a few years ago, of meeting Dr. Merle, at his residence in Geneva, and at the house of Colonel Tronchin, on the south-western shore of the lake. He is a noble-looking man, with much dignity and affability of manner. He has the appearance of robust health, although, like most other hard students, he frequently suffers from indisposition. His

* Our authority for the statement respecting the Haldanes is the Rev. David Sutherland, of Maine, a venerable and worthy clergyman, who was educated in Scotland, and was intimately acquainted with both brothers A different version of the affair was published some years ago, which was inaccurate in several particulars.

complexion is dark, and somewhat florid; his hair black and massive; forehead broad and capacious; eyes dark and piercing, overshadowed with immense bushy eyebrows, and his whole countenance indicative of intelligence, decision, and energy. He speaks with rapidity and force, much in the style that he writes, evincing great enthusiasm and imagination. Intermingled with all this, is a vein of sobriety, discrimination, and good sense, exceedingly racy and refreshing. Occasionally, he seems dogmatic, and almost intolerant; but this arises from the clearness and decision of his viewsthe depth and fervour of his feelings. In his family and among his friends, he is distinguished by his amenity and kindness. Simple-hearted as a child, he loves his home and his kindred, and takes great delight in long rambles and tours among the mountains. His family is large and interesting; and one of the most pleasing sights that one sees, on entering his house, are the caps, hats, and playthings of the children, hanging in the hall, surmounted by a large and well-used map of the United States.

We have already mentioned his conversion to vital Christianity, while a student in the Theological Seminary of his native city. Soon after his ordination, he travelled through Germany, visiting the various places renowned in song or story, and above all, the scenes of the Reformation under Luther. He traced the steps of that stern old hero, at Eisleben, Erfurt, and Wittemberg. He penetrated the depths of the Thuringian forest, where Luther had long wandered in disguise, near the old town of Eisenach; ascended the abrupt and conical mountain on which stands the venerable castle of Wartburg, and entered Luther's room, in which the master-spirit of the Reformation wrote and meditated, “wrestled" and sang.* Here are shown an old armchair, in which Luther sat, and a broad, old-fashioned table, much notched and worn, on which he wrote, with his Bible on one side, and his ink-stand on the other. One can easily imagine how the spirit of a young and enthusiastic scholar and Christian, like Merle D'Aubigné, must have been stirred within him while gazing at the relics of the stern but glorious old Reformer. It so happened that, at this very time, (1817,) the Germans were about to celebrate the third Centenary Jubilee of the Reformation. All the youth of the German Universities met, some days before the Jubilee, at the Castle of Wartburg, to celebrate the memory of Luther. The old town of Eisenach presented a strange but gay spectacle. It was filled with young

* Luther had a fine genius for muic; and nothing interests a stranger more than the large old "Gesang Bucher," which are shown in his room at Wittemberg.

men, in singular costumes, making speeches and singing songs to the inemory of Luther. D'Aubigné, as a Genevese student, took part in the proceedings. He attended

Divine service in the church at Eisenach, and afterwards celebrated at Leipsic the festival of the Jubilee itself. Wherever he went, memorials of the Reformation welcomed him; the bells rang out their merry peals, and the people were rejoicing. The idea of Luther and his times took powerful passession of the mind of D'Aubigné, and it was then that he formed the design of writing the "History of the Reformation." He subsequently visited all these places afresh, and the various other scenes of the Reformation in France and Switzerland, making himself familiar with the localities, and peopling them anew with their distinguished actors. In this way, his history has all the vigour and freshness of personal annals. He introduces his readers to the very scenes in which the facts transpired, and makes us personally acquainted with Luther and Melancthon, Jonas, Cruciger, and Pomeranus, Hans Sachs, and the Elector of Saxony, and a hundred more who figured in the drama of the Reformation.

Dr. Merle D'Aubigné is familiar with many languages, and not only speaks French, his native tongue, but German, Dutch, and English, with great facility. He spent considerable time, as a student, in Berlin and Leipsic, examining the public libraries, and making himself familiar with the annals of the period upon which he proposed to write.

Subsequently he was invited to take charge of a French Protestant Church in Hamburg, in which place he resided four years. Thence he was invited to Brussels, by the King of Holland, to preach in a church which he had caused to be erected for the benefit of French Protestants in that city. In 1830, a revolution took place in Belgium, which compelled the Dutch and all those who were favourable to the king, or considered such, to leave the country. On this account Dr. Merle made his escape, and returned to his native city. This event happened to be most opportune, as the friends of truth who, since Mr. Haldane's visit, had been gradually multiplying, had desired to found a theological school, where candidates for the ministry might pursue their studies, under an evangelical influence. The arrival of Dr. Merle decided them to proceed immediately to carry this plan into effect. The Geneva

Evangelical Society was formed, and one of its first acts was to form the contemplated seminary. In this Dr. Merle took a prominent part, and was appointed President of the Institution, which has been the means of accomplishing much good.

It may be added, that Dr. Merle is as much distinguished for the depth of his piety as the splendour of his talents. He is a truly humble, spiritual man. His creed is decidedly Calvinistic. He dwells, with intense relish, on the strong and often picturesque and eloquent language of the old Reformers, and rejoices in their stern and honest advocacy of the grand doctrine of justification by faith alone; the test, as Luther said, of a standing or a falling church.

His History has attracted much attention among the literary men of Europe. Guizot regards it with high admiration, and advised the author to extend it at least to six volumes. The narrative is glowing and picturesque, the descriptions clear and lively, and invested with a rich, warm colouring. His brief, condensed observations flashing like lightning gleams from a darkened sky; his dramatic energy, rapid narration, and vivacious style; his abundant facts, anecdotes, and quotations, so striking and appropriate, forming, so to speak, a piece of the most beautiful "literary mosaic," impart an extraordinary charm to his History; make it, in fact, a household book for Christendom.

His discourses and homilies have the same general characteristics; but in our judgment are inferior to portions of his History. They are gemmed, it is true, with the same striking thoughts and lively illustrations; but are less free from mannerism and declamation. Indeed, our author needs a wide range in which to expatiate with perfect ease, and reveal all the resources of his learning, sensibility, and imagination. Still, his discourses are amongst the best of their kind that have appeared on Continental Europe, and deserve the attention of all who can appreciate genius and virtue. They are inferior in depth and grandeur to those of Vinet, but they sparkle with fine conceptions, lively imagery, and striking expressions. They are penetrated, moreover, with a spirit of the deepest piety, which imparts the hues of heaven to the whole, as the azure of the sky is mirrored in the clear depths of his native lake. This forms their true life, and gives them a beauty and worth far transcending that of mere literary polish and oratorical display.