enmity against him. But have we been re- | marks are often fallacious, but this never can conciled? Feeling the misery and danger of be. Obedience, therefore, is the evidence he a state of alienation from him, and anxiously requires-the return of friendship he insists desirous of partaking of the privileges and on. And would it not be presumptuous to blessings of his people, have we bitterly re- claim the privileges of friendship, if we allow pented of our former provocations, and sought ourselves in any one instance of disobedihis pardon and favour? If you do claim ence? for can Christ be the friend of those friendship with Christ, reflect on the duties who prove themselves unfriendly to him? that arise from so endearing a relation. Con- The declaration of Solomon accords with the sider what is required on your part. If principles of our If principles of our nature-"A man that Christ be your friend, you must love him; hath friends must show himself friendly." for, though love may exist without friend- Never, then, though it be true that friendship ship, friendship cannot possibly exist without must begin on his part-never suppose that love. The language of the church, in the you are united to him by such an endearing song of Solomon, must be the language of tie, unless your conduct shows the friendly your hearts: "This is my beloved, and this disposition of your heart. From a principle is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem." of devoted love and friendship obey his comAnd be assured that, if Christ is not your he- mands. Let your constant inquiry be, loved, he cannot be your friend. Make "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" it evident, then, to your own consciences, that Suffer neither the fear of man nor the love you are connected with him by the tenderest of the world to entice you aside from his holy and most endearing ties. Give him your ways, either to the right hand or to the left. heart. Consecrate to him its first and Thus proving your sincerity, your claims of warmest affections. Cherish not a thought friendship will be allowed. And at that sodishonourable to his character, or opposed to lemn season, when the last messenger shall his will. And who is so well deserving of appear from heaven to proclaim that death your love?" If we love him, it is because he shall be destroyed, and time shall be no more; first loved us." If friendship has been esta- when the voice of the trumpet shall peneblished between the Lord of glory and such trate every grave, and the slumbering genepoor sinful creatures as we are, it originated rations of mankind shall start into instant life; not with us, but with him. He proposed it, when thrones shall fall, and the earth shall and enabled us by the power of his grace to quake before the coming fiery deluge; when comply with the proposal. Nay, more, he the Mediator of the covenant shall be revealed purchased it-purchased it with his precious to put down every foe, to lay aside the offices blood. For, without redemption, into what which he undertook for man, and to ascend Covenant of friendship were we capable of his eternal throne-you, amidst these evententering with so glorious and holy a Being? ful scenes, shall hear your Saviour's gentle Let us form a right estimate of our obliga- voice-" Behold my friends! behold my tions, that our feelings of love and gratitude mother and my brethren! for whosoever shall may in some measure correspond. do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." If Christ be your friend, put confidence in him. Trust in his word: rely on his promises. And is not this confidence essential to real friendship? Would you value the professions of a fellow-creatures who suspected your intentions, doubted your word, or discredited your promises? Treat not, then, your best friend in this disingenuous, dishonourable manner. With the unsuspecting simplicity of children receive his word. With the full assurance of faith rely on his promises. With feelings of the firmest confidence entrust your souls and all your concerns the interests of the present life and your everlasting all-into his faithful hands. The least suspicion, doubt, or distrust of his character is a dishonour and an insult which he will not fail to resent. If Christ be your friend, render obedience to him. This conformity of will is the test of sincere friendship: "Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you." Other RELIGION IN OTHER LANDS. SWEDEN-2. REFORMATION-PRESENT STATE. Ir must be borne in mind that the Christianity of Sweden, to which reference has been made, was obscured by its connection with the church of Rome; that the pope exercised supreme authority. glorious light of the reformation was to dispel the At length, however, the period arrived when the clouds of papal ignorance. The errors of the papacy-errors which admit of no palliation-first began to be opposed by some German merchants A.D. 1525, and by some students who had been disciples of Luther at Wittenburg. Of these latter, the most eminent was Olaus Petri, a native of Nericia, who on his return from the university privately disseminated the principles of the reformation, and after wards preached them openly. It is needless to observe that the jealousy of the Romish priests was excited, and that the most virulent opposition was made to those new tenets, as they were termed. The king, however (Gustavus Vasa, or Ericson), supported the protestant cause. Petri was permitted to translate the scriptures into Swedish, and the primate of Upsala was ordered to prepare another version in accordance with the Romish tenets. To this the bishops reluctantly yielded their consent, with the exception of the bishop of Linkoping. Gustavus quickly removed from Dalecarlia the priests sent to ferment disturbances in that district; public disputations were appointed, and the doctrines of the reformation were advanced by the conversion of the archbishop, who, in visiting his dioceses, protested against the corruptions of Rome. To the mind of the king the abominable traffic in indulgences, which had at first aroused the mind of Luther, was amongst other enormities peculiarly disgusting, as was the custom of the priests enriching themselves at the expense of the laity, and others of a similar character; which, whilst they added to the wealth of the church, and the luxurious indulgence of the priesthood, | had a direct tendency to lower all religious feeling*. Gustavus, accordingly, at a convocation of the states at Westeras A.D. 1527, professed himself an adherent to the principles of the reformation, and subsequently, in an assembly of the clergy at Orebro, Lutheranism was declared the established religion in Sweden. The cup of papal iniquity was indeed now at the full. In 1538, a document had been drawn by four cardinals, two archbishops, and three other leading churchmen, at the command of pope Paul III., entitled "An Admonition for the Reformation of the Church," specifying, among other abuses, that men of no learning, mean birth, and wicked lives had been admitted to the priesthood"; that almost all the pastors had left their flocks, and left them to be governed by hirelings. The abominations of the nunneries were adverted to "that in Rome itself • Within a few hours after penning the above lines, the compiler read in a newspaper of unquestionable veracity the following awful specimen of popish blasphemy, which too fully testify that the corruptions of popery are as abominable as ever: "The rev. Dr. Wiseman on his return from Rome was lately made the bearer of a handsome crucifix, blessed by the pope, and sent as a mark of special regard to Johu Hardman, esq., sen., of Handsworth. This present was accompanied with a formal document, of which we subjoin a literal translation, as it appeared in the various London papers. The undersigned, secretary of the holy council for the propagation of the Christian name, having, in an audience granted August 28, 1842, laid before his holiness pope Gregory XVI., the numerous and splendid benefactions with which J. Hardman, esq., has enriched the Catholic church in the central district of England, the holy father has graciously imparted to him and his relations and connections, to the third and fourth degree inclusively, a plenary indulgence at the hour of death, to be gained by de voutly invoking the most holy name of Jesus mentally, if he cannot orally. To Mr. Hardman also is imparted a plenary sacrament of penance and the holy eucharist. His holiness has indulgence, as often as he shall piously and devoutly receive the also directed that this formal document of these privileges bestowed on Mr. Hardman should be transmitted to England as a public testimonial of the peculiar good will and gratitude of the holy see towards an individual of distinguished merit.-J. A. Edessen. Given at Rome from the office of the sacred congregation of the propaganda, Aug. 31, 1842.”—The Birmingham Advertiser. With such a recent example of the abomination of indulgences are protestants-and never may the opponents of the bishop of Rome be ashamed of the name-to be cajoled with the assertion that the holy mother now is not what she was then at the period above referred to. Her unchangeableness is her boastthe impossibility of a change her rash assumption. persons of the most infamous description were the companions of cardinals and others." According to Mezrai, "The disorders and vices of the clergy reached the highest point, and became so public as to render them the objects of the hatred and contempt of the people." And in the hundred grievances laid before the diet of Nuremburg, in 1523, by the popish princes of Germany, the third sets forth the intolerable burden of indulgences, which by the hireling criers and preachers are extolled as reaching not only to sins already to be committed, but to those an individual may have a mind to commit." The Swedish church, as now constituted, has a metropolitan, the archbishop of Upsala, and eleven bishops, and about 3,500 other clergy. The episcopal office appears, however, to be more of a state appointment than one connected with the church; it being in the option of the individual elected to undergo a second ordination, not consecration. This can scarcely come up to our notions of genuine episcopacy. It reminds us, in fact, more of the proposal to appoint bishops among the Wesleyan methodists, by whom preachers were to be ordained. It is quite clear, however, that such a mode of ordaining would entirely lose all episcopal character. The state may authorize one individual to exercise government over another, provided both are partakers of the bounty of the state; but it cannot constitute a bishop in the true legitimate sense of the word. It may secure the income and the temporal dignity, but it cannot confer the spiritual authority; as in the church of England the bishop performs certain functions connected with his order, and attached to that order alone, not because he has been nominated, or recommended to be elected bishop of the see, but because he has been solemnly consecrated to his peculiar office. This is an important distinetion which ought never to be lost sight of. The revenue of the bishops is not great: that of the archbishop 8007. a year; the richest bishopric, that of Linkoping, is valued at 5607. ; of Hernosand, the poorest, about 2501. The salaries of the clergy, averaging about 907. per annum, are derived chiefly from tithes of grain and perquisites. In Stockholm they have a grant from government, to which an addition is made by the respective congregations. In some parts of Sweden, however, the provision for the clergy is much more ample. "In each diocese the bishop, with the more dignified clergy, form a consistory. The patronage of the livings is chiefly divided between those consistories and the crown. Three clergymen are sent down by the patrons, out of which the people are allowed to select one; but the ultimate appointment rests with the patrons, although they usually respect the choice of the parishioners. In the case, however, of clergymen holding high appointments, such as court-chaplains, or those appointed to foreign embassies, the king does not usually consult the people at all. There are also a few livings in private patronage, where, of course, such consultation of the popular will is * According to Gibbon, till the end of the eleventh century a celebrated temple subsisted at Upsala. It was enriched with the gold which the Scandinavians had acquired in their piratical adventures, and sanctified by the uncouth representations of uncouth deities. The only traces that now subsist of this barbaric superstition are contained in the Edda; a system of mythology, compiled in Iceland, about the thirteenth century. and studied by the learned of Denmark and Sweden, as the most valued remains of their ancient traditions. never thought of. There is not, I believe, any schools, and French and German are taught. synod or general assembly of the church; but the They have no fixed time for taking their bacheconsistory of each diocese acts immediately under lor's degree, and consequently have no privileges ; the royal authority; neither is there any union their master's degree they take at the end of between the churches of Sweden and Norway, seven years. Dr. Afzelius has been much in though both are under the same sovereign, and England and in Oxford, of which place he comperfectly similar. They use a liturgy, of which, plained as being less civilized than Cambridge. I I believe, no translation exists in any other lan- wanted him to state his grounds of dislike, but guage, and which, from the description of my could not succeed in keeping him to the point." informant, I conclude to bear a very near resem- "Dissent is little known in Sweden; the disblance to that of the first book of king Edward senting places of worship are extremely few; VI.; but although many of the clergy officiate in Swedenborgians being the only sect which the peculiar ecclesiastical vestments, similar to those country has produced. The Jews, who were not of the Romish church, yet this is again quite admitted into Sweden until about fifty years ago, optional; and the ordinary costume which is worn have now four synagogues at Stockholm, Gottenon all occasions universally by the clergy is all burg, Norrkoping, and Carlscrona; and amount that is required by law. The same latitude is al- to a population of nearly 1,100. The catholics (palowed with respect to the use of images. A cru- pists) throughout the whole kingdom do not exceed eifix is placed over the altar in some churches, 1,800, the greater part of whom reside in the whence it probably has never been removed from capital, and consist wholly of foreigners. The the time of the reformation, but its presence is exercise of their religion was not authorized until entirely discretionary. They practise kneeling 1781. Her present majesty and the princess royal at the communion; and the clergy perform the are of the Romish faith, and have a chapel where most important parts of the service with their face service is performed according to the rites of that to the altar, and their back to the people, accord-creed. The Scandinavian clergy have as a body ing to the order of the first book of Edward VI. About the year 1780, confirmation, which had previously been quite neglected, was revived, and is now very generally practised, although it is by no means obligatory. The rite is administered only by the prelates of the church*." The following somewhat ludicrous description of the cathedral and university of Upsala is from the pen of bishop Heber, who visited Sweden in ING. The cathedral is well proportioned, and has been of the best style of gothic in general -plain, and not very unlike Westminster abbey. The inhabitants are very proud of it, and have taken care to remove all the carved work or tracery from the windows to daub the inside with plaster, and to case the outside with the very reddest brick they could find. This, with large white Doric cornices, and two bright blue things, hke pepper boxes, on the two towers, has so beautihed it, that if the bishop who founded it, and the Eason who built it, were to return again, they would not know their own child in its present cashing uniform. There are separate houses for La different professors and lecturers, who are Bumerous, but with small salaries; those who are a orders have also prebends. We were there in vacation time, and saw nothing going on, but hed a good opportunity of hearing all the details, as we had a letter to the lecturer on botany, Dr. Afzelius, who was very attentive and communicative. The number of students is about one thouand they wear their academical habits, which are black with scarlet facings, only on taking their degrees, holding acts, or the like. Anciently, the different nations, as they are called, which compose the Swedish monarchy, the Ostrogoths, Westrogoths, Swedes, Finns, and Vandals, as they call the German provinces, had all different uniforms, which were discontinued on account of the animosities to which they gave rise. They are still called colleges-have each of them separate heads and endowments, but have no separate buildings, and lodge and eat promiscuously in the town; there are also riding, fencing, and dancing See letter in "Christian Remembrancer" for Feb. 1839. The informant referred to was a Swedish clergyman. been always distinguished for piety and morality. In former times, they were instrumental in preserving the feeble light of knowledge and civilization from being quenched amidst the strife of intestine wars, and the ravages of contending factions*." CHURCH MUSIC+. IN 1769 the rev. W. Madan published the Lock collection of tunes. Then followed the Magdalen and Foundling collections, and that of the amiable Dr. Miller, of Doncaster. These collections were not destitute of merit; but the first, and the next two especially, gave an unhappy impetus to that taste for ballad-like hymn tunes which has since pervaded choirs and congregations. How many selections and collections have subsequently issued from the press, the sagest chronicler could hardly tell. Any considerable editor may be allowed to say that the majority of these works are reprints of faultily arranged old tunes, or vehicles for circulating such new tunes as ought never to be heard within the walls of an apostolical church. In volumes edited by respectable musicians, it is provoking to see old tunes harmonised in modern style, and new tunes, of a contemptible character, patched with a touch or two of decent harmony, because they are popular. During the last age tunes of this contemptible character chiefly sprang up in, and were extensively circulated among, dissenting congregations. Gradually they have found admission into churches and church families; and now, much to our ecclesiastical discredit, our choirs and Sundayschool children are singing tunes composed by ignorant artizans, or by better educated, though, as to music, equally unskilful, individuals. In some instances, tunes of superior composition, but of very unsuitable character, are adopted. Arrangements from songs, minuets, marches, and other secular productions of the greatest masters, are * Edinburgh Cabinet Library, xxv., p. 319. From Hackett's "National Psalmist;" a work we have before recommended. Nearly all the parts are now published.ED. CHURCH OF ENGLAND MAGAZINE. patronized. Most commonly, however, the tunes in highest repute are such as have been concocted at the last or the loom; and such as are made up of snatches of popular airs, caught from the travelling barrel-organ, and other automatous instruments, which made murder of music at markets, fairs, and other meetings. Of late years, the parlour and the drawing-room have contributed to this mischief. Gentle ears have admired a pretty ballad or simple air. gested an adaptation of it to a favourite hymn. Ill taste has sugZeal has hinted that "it is a pity the devil should have all the pretty tunes." looked on with a smile; and interest has transPiety, alas! has ferred the newly-dressed melody to the clergyman or organist, who is about to publish a new collection for local or general edification! favourable reception of such tunes, two facts, as borne in mind: they were sung faster than we to their original intention, must be practically usually sing them, and, what is better, by a far greater number of voices. It is a great mistake heavy, drawling style. Our forefathers in the to suppose that old tunes should be sung in a church were cheerful Christians. A psalm of a dozen verses was but short to them. Hence, as they sang in a quicker and livelier manner well as from other circumstances, it is clear that than is commonly conjectured. The Old Hunin theirs it was a joyous and an animating dreth tune is made a dirge in our days; but canticle. "All people that on earth do dwell, Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice." To say nothing of compositions by those clergymen, students, and other amateurs, whose theo- In like manner, York tune, which is shelved retical knowledge does not equal their natural taste, there are many tunes getting abroad from among the dull and the obsolete, was, little more the pens of professional men, which are very little tune of the entire kingdom. But, to hear old than a century ago, the liveliest and most popular accordant with the genius of church psalmody. tunes to advantage, they must be sung in old They resemble glees rather than psalm-tunes; style. Not only must they be sung with decent and abound either with such melodial phrases as gravity and cheerful sanctity, but by masses of are fit only for secular words, or with such chro-people, by a multitude of voices, by all the matic harmonies as puzzle plain choirs. It might appear invidious for the editor of this work to enumerate instances. It will be preferable to hold up to general view the admirable rule laid down by the first professor of the age. music,' Church says Dr. Crotch (Lectures, p. 83), "should contain nothing which recommends itself for its novelty, or reminds us of what is heard at the parade, the concert, and the theatre." What psalm-tunes ought to be, we may learn from observing what the oldest psalm-tunes are; for the oldest are the best. They are simple in melody, equal in time, rich in harmony. Children may sing them, but it is not every man who can compose them. Their character accords with the style of church-music which Cranmer deliberately preferred, which Elizabeth regally enjoined, and which From documents which are frequently quoted, it Hooker judiciously commended. is plain that, in the judgment of these three, church music should be sober and distinct, as near as may be, for every syllable a note; "and of the best sort of melody and music that "modest" also, may conveniently be devised;" and "that ostentation of art, wanton, light, and unsuitable harmony, should be avoided" (Collier's Ecclesiastical History, vol. ii. p. 206; Sparrow's Collection, p. 79; Hooker's Ecclesiastical Polity, b. v. § 38). people together," as the original directions state. Six thousand voices were wont to be heard at St. at a time in a church of this city is but a trifle, Paul's Cross; and "three or four thousand singing said the excellent Roger Ascham in a letter from Augsburg, dated 14th May, 1551. When psalmtunes are sung after this fashion, an intelligent organist and a well-disciplined choir will still find enough to do. But in what they thus may find to do there will be an energy and an interest with incongruous interludes, or opera-like whinings which few are now familiar. Without long and of select voices, or conventicle vociferations of the great congregational choir, our churches, when such psalmody returns to them, will present as much of "heaven below" as our sinful state will admit. The Cabinet. But THE AWAKENED SINNER.-A sinner by repentance is brought out of a state of insensibility into one sleep, but he finds himself endued with the use of all of sensibility. No sooner is a person awaked out of his senses, powers, and faculties. He walketh abroad, and his eyes are blessed with a sight of the whole By persons unaccustomed to the fine old melocreation risen with him from the dead, and rejoicing dies of the reformation, and such melodies and harmonies as correspond with their model, various He surveys that lovely variety which displays itself in the glorious light shining upon it from above. opinions are entertained. adequately, and under unfitting circumstances, it and brightness of the firmament of heaven. When performed inupon the face of the earth, and beholds the beauty can excite no wonder that they appear dull and chiefly his attention is fixed on the great Ruler of the uninteresting. But when sung with understand-day, who gives life and comeliness to all things. His ing, and especially by a full-voiced company, they strike feeling hearts as marvellously beautiful, and even singularly fresh and novel. So little are modern ears accustomed to the full rich harmonies of former days, that, when those harmonies are duly heard, though really old, they are thought to be very new. Well will it be if present indications of a revival of good ecclesiastical taste speedily issue in the general admiration and adoption of a class of tunes which best befit the worship of Almighty God. To forward the air, who fail not with the sprightliest notes to salute ears are entertained with the music of the birds of the the rising sun; and his nostrils are refreshed with the grateful smell sent forth, in the hour of prime, from the ground and its productions. He is prepared to of God; and no part of his body is without the sentaste with delight the food afforded him by the bounty sation proper and necessary for it. Similar to this is the alteration which takes place in the soul of the humble penitent, when at the call of God he awakes and arises from the dead. If the light be sweet, and it be a pleasant thing to behold the sun, sweet to the mind likewise is the light of life, and a pleasant thing it is to the eyes of the understanding to behold the San of righteousness, who bestows by his word that divine knowledge, that heavenly wisdom, which is then what material light is to the bodily organs of vision. Hereby the penitent believer is enabled to behold the wonderful works of the Lord, the mighty things he hath done for his soul, having created all things anew in Christ Jesus, and brought the world oat of darkness into his marvellous light. But above all his works, he is led to contemplate and to adore the Author of them all; to look up stedfastly, with St. Stephen, into heaven, and see Jesus enthroned on the right hand of the Majesty on high, enlightening and enlivening all things by the glory of his grace.— Bishop Horne. THE SAVIOUR'S PASSION.-All creatures in heaven and earth are moved at our Saviour's passion. The san in heaven shrinking in his light, the earth trembling under it, the very stones cleaving asunder as if they had sense and sympathy in it. Shall sinful man alone be unmoved at it?—Bishop Andrews. GOD'S WRATH.-A frown from God is ten thousand times worse than a stake or a gibbet Poetry. QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY*. "Ide set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a Covenant between me and the earth."-GEN. ix. 18. God's love to man, and hate of sin, Would that the truth our souls could raise So clear the awful lesson stands, The gushing rain in torrents falls, But, lo! the beauteous arch appears; So long as time is thine." * From "The Christian's Sunday Companion," by Mrs. J. A. Serent. London: Smith, Elder, and Co. 1843. 8vo. p.p. 400. 42 excellent volume, though perhaps too little prose, and too uch poetry. A very brief account is given of the Sunday *rvice of the church. And dear to every Christian's heart Thoughts rise to bring him ease. He owns his Saviour by that bow, Not e'en the cross his precious Lord Wakes firmer trust upon his word, And, while he gazes, thoughts arise Shall smite him for the mercy scorned, Shall fill himself with humble trust, But now less bright those colours glow, Yet does he view it fade away, The word, on which he firm relies, PSALM CXXXVII. (For the Church of England Magazine.) By Babel's streams we laid us down, Our harps, our melancholy harps, Grief had untun'd each warbling string, The mournful captive heeds no song, Nor the harp's warbling string; Yet Babel's stern unfeeling sons Commanded us to sing. In this strange land what mirth or joy In melody can be? Hangs not each thought, each fondest thought, Jerusalem, on thee? |