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the name of the plant-dent-de-lion, or lion's- | to the council that they have been enabled to tooth. The tall, hollow stalk, light, yet sufficiently firm, supports the showy terminal head, which is an object of ambition with the tortoise in gardens where that animal is kept. But the structure of the seed-bearing apparatus renders this humble flower an object of admiration with the attentive observer. The calyx, or involucre, at first rigidly firm in its conical form, is turned back, scale by scale, upon the flower-stalk: the receptacle becomes, from a concave, a convex cushion, with a depression in the centre, essential to the integrity of the head of radiating seeds: the seeds, individually, present a stalked wheel of feathery down; and, by the juxta-position of the rays of the down, the whole of the seeds rise in an elegant airy ball upon the receptacle. When detached from their parent-home by the rude wind, or ruder stroke of animal or man, the seeds with their stalked wheel of feathery down are borne along upon the air, until the seed itself, alighting upon the earth, works itself into the bosom of the turf or light soil by the combined action of the barbs upon its coat, and of the down shaken and turned about by the wind. Such a well-adapted economy may induce my readers to view this lowly plant with less scornful eyes. Its medicinal properties also are by no means valueless; and the young leaves are much used in France as a salad, and not seldom in this country also, being pleasantly bitter and wholesome.

And here I cannot but observe, though the circumstance is very obvious, that, when flowers were first scattered upon the face of the earth, to the sprinkling with beauty the dull carpet beneath us, our divine Creator, in a foreknowledge of our necessities, framed the vegetable kingdom upon a view to afford combined advantage and pleasure to man. From him who is present in nature and in providence, as well as in grace, the subject of this memoir has received its rich endowments. And, since it is becoming in us attentively to trace the characters, of that divine wisdom and goodness, we are bound to pray to him for such an enlightenment of our minds as may both enable us to do this, and also animate and confirm our hearts, quickened by so many tokens of his tender regard, in self-devotion to his dear Son, who sprang upon earth as a tender plant, despised though precious, who died for our sins, and without whom was not any thing made that was made. HC. GES.

THE PARKER SOCIETY.*

THE accounts have been closed in a satisfactory manner; and there is a balance in favour of the society of 94/. 118. 11d., which has been brought

forward to the year 1848.

The books, the distribution of which was made at an earlier period than in any preceding year, were four in number, viz.-1. The concluding portion of the Original Letters relative to the reformation. It is a matte rof great gratification

* We have much pleasure in inserting the following extracts from the report of this valuable institution, which has just been forwarded to us. The annual meeting was held May 11th. We again cordially recommend the society to our readers. No clergyman, especially, should think his 'ibrary complete without its publications.-ED.

place before the public these most interesting and important series. It had long been known that the correspondence of the English divines with their foreign friends was still preserved in various continental depositories; but little attempt seems to have been made, since the time that bishop Burnet procured a few of these letters, to open these rich stores to the general reader. It was one of the circumstances that especially encouraged the council at the first establishment of the Parker Society, that they had presented to them a large mass of this unpublished correspondence; and they were consequently led to institute a more particular search for letters of the same class. Familiar letters have ever been justly regarded both as throwing peculiar light upon the events of the time, and also as illustrative of the characters and motives of the writers. And, when it is considered that the correspondence which the Parker Society have printed extends over a period of above half-a-century, that the writers were the most eminent martyrs and bishops of the English church, and their friends, the value of the contribution thus made to ecclesiastical and general history may be appreciated. The progress of the Reformation under Henry VIII. and Edward VI., the check it received in the reign of Mary, and its final establishment under Elizabeth, are remarkably illustrated. Great light is also thrown upon the vestiarian controversy. The council repeat their expression of thankfulness at having been enabled to complete such a correspondence. 2. The second book issued during the year has also been of an important character-the Liturgies and occasional forms of prayer set forth in the reign of queen Elizabeth. It is gratifying to the council to know that this volume has been hailed with unqualified approbation. 3. A second portion of bishop Jewel's works has also been printed, comprising the remainder of the challenge controversy with Harding, the exposition on the epistles to the Thessalonians, the treatise on the sacraments, and the sermons of that eminent prelate. These productions of one of the most brilliant luminaries of his era cannot but, the council are persuaded, be most acceptable. 4. The fourth book is Norden's Progress of Piety, a popular work of extreme rarity. The publication of this volume is in accordance with the desire of the council to render the Parker Society series as comprehensive as possible, including, besides the more learned and documentary works of the reformers, a fair proportion of the devotional and practical treatises of the time.

Four books are in preparation for the year 1848: 1. A third portion of bishop Jewel's works. This of the defence of it against his old antagonist will contain his celebrated Apology, with a part Harding; a work generally considered the bishop's master-piece. 2. A volume of the writings of Tyndale, who was styled the "Apostle of England," and who is worthy to be had in everlasting remembrance, as having been the first to render the inspired word, by his translation, fully accessible to our countrymen. The remains of such a man will doubtless be regarded with no common

interest.

3. A portion of the writings of Bradford, "one," as Strype calls him, of the four prime pillars of the reformed church of England."

"He is a man," said a most competent judge, bishop Ridley, "by whom, as I am assuredly informed, God hath and doth work wonders, in setting forth his word." 4. Fulke's Answer to Martiall, which will be found a proper supplement to Calf hill's work, published by the society in 1846. From this enumeration it will, the council think, appear that they are justified in promising that the publications for 1848 will be of peculiar interest.

In reference to future proceedings, Bullinger's Decades, a work prescribed by the convocation of 1586 as a manual for ministers, a selection from the writings of bishop Bale, Whitaker's Disputation on Holy Scripture, and archbishop Parker's correspondence, are in the most forward state of preparation. A fourth volume will complete the works of bishop Jewel. The remaining pieces of Bradford, Tyndale, and bishop Hooper, will be published as soon as possible. And these may probably be followed by the Reformatio Legum Ecclesiasticarum, Olde's Acquittal of the Church of England reformed from the charge of Heresy, Woolton's Christian Manual, Rogers on the Thirty-nine Articles, the important works of archbishop Whitgift and dean Nowel, with various treatises by others, the most eminent of those divines under whose guidance the formu laries of our church were modelled and put

forth.

It is needless to insist on the value of such a series of publications, to the completion of which, and of the plan originally laid down by the council, every year is rapidly adding; so that the possessor of these works will have before him the general body of those divines by whom the authoritative formularies of our church were arranged and matured. He will have much illustration of ecclesiastical history: he will see the mode in which the usurpations of Rome, when at their highest pitch, were successfully resisted, and Romish doctrines confuted: he will have the pulpit addresses of preachers most popular in their day he will have expositions of scripture, and also devotional treatises, by men who laid down their lives for the gospel sake: the whole forming a body of divinity of vast importance, comprising books for general reading and books of valuable reference, supplying an abundance of matter both to the private Christian, the divinity student, and the theological controversialist.

The desirableness of placing writings of this kind within every one's reach is sufficiently apparent. Feeling the great importance of works on the Popish controversy to missionaries, who are frequently brought, in their distant stations, into contact with Romanists, the council have offered their books at a reduced rate to missionary societies. They would have been glad, had their funds allowed, to grant them gratuitously. Indeed, they have from time to time presented the few surplus copies at their disposal to various libraries both in this country, on the continent, and in the colonies; and they will be always ready to entertain any application of this kind which may hereafter come before them. It is possible that more might be done in this way at home. In very many places there are parochial libraries, some of remote foundation, and others of more modern establishment. In too many instances, for a long series of years these were neg

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lected; but a better appreciation of them is now reviving, and their importance and use are more generally felt. To every such library the Parker Society publications would be a most valuable addition. The council may therefore suggest to local friends that a yearly pound could hardly be laid out to greater advantage than in placing these volumes upon shelves where they would be accessible to a large circle of readers.

If at all times the circulation of standard theological words be important, it is surely tenfold. more so in times like the present, when established institutions seem everywhere shaken, and men's minds are eagerly directed to the first principles of order, and are engaged in investigating the foundations on which dependence may be most securely placed. In such a crisis the theological literature of that stormy period when the arrogant pretensions of an ecclesiastical despotism were sifted and rejected, and when the "new learning" was introduced, which was in fact the "old learning" of prophets and apostles, which, dismissing vain traditions and the assumptions of merely human authority, planted truth upon the stable rock of Scripture; in such a crisis as the present, those writings, which exhibit our church laying deep her foundations on the immutable principles of revealed truth, must, under God's blessing, prove of incalculable value. The council therefore feel that they have the strongest grounds for appealing to their numerous friends for their continued support in carrying out to its completion the original plan, as at first announced, of the society.

For the success, far beyond expectation, which has attended them, they are most grateful. The course of years has less affected them than could have been anticipated. But they would again urge upon the members, that to keep them in their present position continual exertions are needed. By change of circumstances or by death many of their earlier subsbribers are from time to time lost, and it is most important to have their places filled up. If each member would endeavour to make the society still more known, and to procure additional friends, the benefit would be largely felt. And it may be added that the present is a peculiarly advantageous opportunity for the introduction of new members. The council have always endeavoured to keep the publications of each year as separate and complete in themselves as possible. Where, however, an author's works have occupied several volumes, there has neccessarily been a continuation and a linking of one year's books with another. But with the present year new works are for the most part begun; and, where this is not the case, the break, as in Jewel, is more than ordinarily wide. Fresh subscribers need not therefore be deterred by the apprehension of receiving only incomplete publications.

In concluding their report the council would express their earnest prayer that the good hand of their God may still be upon them; so that the labour which they have undertaken with the simple desire of exhibiting the pure Protestant faith of the reformed church of England, as illustrated in the writings of her martyrs and early divines, may prove not to have been "in vain in the Lord."

MISSIONARY RECORDS.

No. XXXVI.

"When God's light doth appear and shine in our conversation, and many folks thereby are drawn unto God, the Father

of heaven is honoured, his name is hallowed, and then are we his disciples."-BISHOP COVERDALE,

former barbarism and heathen superstitions, or become a prey to the increased efforts of the priests of Rome. Under these painful circumstances, the society, whose very existence can have been known to few, are engaged in an active effort to replenish their almost exhausted treasury. The Christian munificence of England has repaid a portion of the vast debt which it owed to the African for long years of cruel and grinding oppression: it has, at a generous cost indeed, struck off the fetters of the body; and a small additional sacrifice will crown the work by securing to the soul that liberty with which the Redeemer makes his children free. "The society, therefore, trust the friends of the gospel and of scriptural education will come forward with a ready mind. Their bounty is solicited, not to liquidate a debt incurred by the society, but one owing by a country which has been enriched in part by the fruits of slavery; one owing to him who has in so signal and gracious a manner manifested his forbearance and favour to these islands of the sea; one owing to ourselves, if we would continue to look up to him for succour and deliverance in this day of his manifest judg

ROMANISM AND PROTESTANTISM.-The ut

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terly dissimilar character of the mission of the papal and protestant churches ir. France may be gathered from two little facts of very recent occurrence: On the 25th of March, the Parisians determined to plant a tree of liberty close to the Barrière du Trône. On this occasion the republican "legion was headed by the abbe Hugonet, who delivered a discourse, in which he affirmed that the church of Rome had ever been an advocate of public liberty; adding (in the teeth of her ancient doings and auto-da-fès), that "it was forbidden of God to shed an enemy's blood." And he closed his oration in the words of the popular song,

LADIES SOCIETY FOR THE EARLY EDUCATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF NEGRO CHILDREN. This most useful (and most useful because Christian) society was established twenty-three years ago, during the period of colonial slavery. Its object was chiefly to fit and prepare, in humble dependence on the divine blessing, the minds of the younger negroes for the expected boon of emancipation. The Christian public liberally supported the undertaking; and, aided by the self-denying exertions of many of the West India clergy and missionaries, and the families of resident proprietors, the society was enabled to establish many hundred schools over most of the West India Islands, for infants by day, for adults in the evening; in which all were alike instructed in the principles of our holy religion, and in read-ments." ing the word of God: many of the pupils in their turn became the instructors of others, often of their aged parents, or of remote inquirers after truth, who would undertake tedious journeys after their hours of labour, to obtain a single lesson in reading. By this means an ardent desire for religious instruction was excited in the minds of the negroes: the churches and schools were crowded; and the people became orderly and industrious. But the society endeavoured to kindle a sense of self-dependence in the bosom of the negro. School payments and local contributions became, therefore, one of the conditions upon which it made its grants; and this aid from the benefited themselves was enforced and cheerfully given whenever it was practicable. The society's labours were richly blessed; and, when, upon the emancipation of the negroes, the British legislature made a grant for the purpose of promoting their education, the portion of it assigned to the society enabled it considerably to extend the number of its schools. The first fruits of these efforts were most gratifying: a regular system of school-payments was gradually introduced; and, in some few places, the parents took the whole expense upon themselves. Churches were built: friendly and other benevolent societies were set on foot among the black population. But this sunshine was doomed to be soon overclouded: the mother country and the religious societies, which were fellow-labourers with this association, were induced, from various causes, to abandon the half-educated and halfchristianized negro, and leave him to his own struggle out of the demoralizing condition of slavery. This melancholy state of things has been aggravated by the ruin of the majority of the West India proprietors and merchants: estates, once richly cultivated, have been abandoned, or divided into small allotments; and the former catechists and schoolmasters have been, or must be, withdrawn for want of funds; while hundreds of the children are left to roam about in idleness and ignorance, and the adults to relapse into their

"Mourir pour la patrie:

So

C'est le sort le plus beau, et le plus digne d'envie." "Yes," he exclaimed, "no fate is so enviable as his that dies for his country, dies the death of duty: it is to die as Christ died-to save his brethren. May freedom live for ever!" Rome teaches. On a subsequent day, a similar tree of liberty having been planted opposite the Deaconesses Institution, the attendant "legion " of sovereigns required the chaplain of that establishment to witness the ceremony. This was M. Vermeil, a protestant minister, who came out, and frankly addressed the mob, saying, "I cannot pronounce a blessing on the tree; but I will implore God's blessing upon you all." He then took out a bible, read a passage from it, gave an eloquent and touching exposition of the passage, and ended with a prayer, in which many of the bystanders joined. So the church of Christ teaches.

CEYLON.-Want of more Labourers.—(From the bishop of Colombo to the secretaries of the Church Missionary Society). "I am firmly convinced that no large in-gathering can be looked for without a more systematic and enlarged effort. At present we are only maintaining occupied ground; and, while openings are occurring on

every side, we have neither means nor men to devote to the holy cause of Christ and his church. Only last week a Singhalese Modeliar, or native headsman of a large district containing thirty thousand people, with about three hundred protestants residing in it, a remnant of the conversions under the Dutch rule, applied to me. He proposes to build a church and a school, if I can send him a clergyman, only to officiate occasionally. He resides now in Colombo for the sake of the church ordinances; but proposes to go himself, with all his family, to live among the people whom he is desirous of leading, as well as instructing, in the way of salvation. I shall do, of course, all I can to help his holy enterprise. How grievous and heart-trying it is not at once to close with such an offer; to begin, to carry on, to perfect, as far as human instrumentality can, 80 great and good a work. One European clergyman, with four or five native catechists, well-trained and well-guided, would occupy the whole district. But where are they to be found? Cotta does not provide them, and no where else can I look; and so the work must flag, perhaps fail altogether. But should it be so? Can you not do more than you do? Is the cause of our Master to sink for want of men and means to carry it on? Are not these the very openings of Providence for our guidance? And yet they are presented to us in vain !"

MISSION TO THE CHARTISTS.-"Mark my words, John," said a neighbour to an humble friend who had attended the chartist meeting on Kennington Common, "it is much easier to pull a house down than to build it up; and, if we determine to do that, just because there are a few cracks in it that let in the wind, ten to one we break our own heads with the ruins. France is a case just in point: about fifty years ago, the people there did the same thing they are doing now, only then they were wicked enough to kill their king; and they talked about liberty, and equality, and fraternity. However, these brothers soon began to fall out among themselves, and to murder one another, and practise such horrible cruelties, that it is awful only to read about them; and nobody trusted another; and bloodshed and cruelty became universal. And how do you think this revolution ended? Why, one crafty, clever man gradually got the power into his own hands, until he made himself head over all, and at last was crowned emperor, and ruled over them with much more hardness than the kings they had put down had ever done. Even now the French are beginning to feel that, though they have got rid of some difficulties, yet they have got into others which they cannot see their way out of; and, as they have promised to give the people all they ask for, they go on asking for more and more every day. The ministers can only give them promises, for they have nothing else to give; and as these are neither good to eat or drink, and the court is driven away, and also the English, and the rich people who have the means of giving them support, we shall soon see terrible discord, and most likely bloodshed, all over France. How would you like such scenes as these at home, and to have your wife and children a prey to spoilers, and all your beloved country laid waste?

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Believe me, the chartists only set you on, to answer their own selfish ends; and, when they have made fools of you, they will be the first to desert you. Do you ever see them seeking the real good of the poor, and giving their time and their money, as the gentry and clergy do, to visiting their cottages, building schools, and hospitals, and almshouses for them? Not one of them" (The Chartist's Friend).

THE MUANSA, EASTERN AFRICA.-"The whole power of Satan centres in what they call the crying of the muansa. Early in the morning, we heard at some distance in the forest, and at certain intervals, strange humming sounds; and at noon we saw the instrument by which the sounds are produced, and which children are made to believe is some wild animal. The chiefs, moving in ranks, and shouting, passed by our cottage, and the instrument was let down on the ground, in order again to produce the humming. It seemed to consist of part of the trunk of the cocoa-nut tree, and was about five feet in length, and one in diameter. It had evidently been hollowed, but closed again at both ends; from one of which a rope issued, and by which when drawn out a little, and let in again, the humming was produced. The noise made by the muansa is fearful, and fully corre sponds with the infatuation which is manifested by the Wonicas on the occasion. Only elderly persons and chiefs are allowed to attend the horrid ceremony, which chiefly consists in dancing, shouting, and processioning through the village. The whole ends in a banquet and secret abominations, which we have not yet been able to find out, as every member is by oath obliged to keep every thing secret. On these occasions the Wonicas consult on the concerns of the land, inroads into the Uknud or Galla country, and other political objects; and the Gourers pronounce their curse or blessing, and determine the events of the year, especially as to its being barren or fruitful. As soon as the sound of the muansa is heard, every body is obliged to retire to the house, and conceal himself. No young man or woman, or any person having no right to attend, dare remain without doors, under a certain penalty, which will infallibly be inflicted on the offender. From the beginning we have objected to submit to concealment in our cottage, and have borne witness against this work of darkness. We have, on purpose, left our doors open, and continued our work, when it required us to be out of the house. This, at one time, led to a crisis. The chiefs came, and complained of our transgressing their fathers' habits, and said that we must pay a fine to appease the Wonicas. I rose before the complainant, and declared that we were come to tell them, in God's name, that they should turn from their idols to the living God,' repent of their wicked words and deeds, and be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, their only Saviour. If their present doing were good in itself, we should not object to obey them; but we would rather die than obey them in a matter which God hates, and for which he will punish them in eternity. We would not pay them even a measure of corn for our so-called transgression; but, if they wished to fine us, they must take our property by force. In this strain I spake a great while. They admitted that it was no good practice, but said that it was their father s

....

custom, which they would not break through. | Thus we, by firmness, gained a great point; at least, bore a public witness against the muansa. Since that time we have been left unmolested in this respect" (rev. Dr. Kraft's report to the Church Missionary Society).

us not be deceived: if we renounce the hope of
the rich and precious promises of God in Christ
Jesus, what will there be left to us, but his
For "there is no
threatenings and his curses?
peace, saith my God, for the wicked!"

gated the ceremonial, not the moral, law; and he has especially declared the whole law of the sabbath, given by God to his "peculiar people," to be as binding on the Gentile as on the Jew; for he warned man that "the sabbath was made for man;" made that man might observe it as his TINNEVELLY.-The Society for Promoting "holy day", for the rest of his body, and the Christian Knowledge has granted £100 towards peace, the nurture and the salvation of his soul; the £600 required for erecting a church at Chris- made, that on one day in the week, at least, he tianagram. Of this district it is stated by the rev. might cease from self, and give up his thoughts J. K. Best, who has charge of the mission there: and ways to the guidance, instruction, and bene"This village, with its rising church, stands on diction of him, who is himself the Lord of the the side of one of the great thoroughfares besabbath. Verily, for every one of his "holy tween Travancore and Trichendoor, which latter days" which we mis-spend, or cause others to place is only about nine miles distant. The large mis-spend, we heap a new sin upon our heads for heathen town of Oedengoody almost joins Chris- the "day of wrath." Think, then, what a feartianagram; and various villages, Christian, hea-ful reckoning awaits the sabbath-breaker! O let then, and Mohamedan, surround and are so near each other, that to a stranger they appear like one large town. The entire population within the bounds of my district, which does not extend more than five miles in any direction, is estimated at 15,000, which number includes a great variety of castes of Hindoos, and a large proportion of Mohamedans. .... The number of persons now in connexion with this mission, and under Christian instruction and discipline, is 1,500: more than half of these are baptized; therefore, considering we are in the midst of many wealthy heathens and Mahomedans, who have great influence among the poor and middle classes, and that we are so near the far-famed and muchfrequented Trichendoor pagoda, with its brahminical establishments, and all the accompanying abominations of a vile idolatry, we have reason to be very thankful to the Father of Lights,' who has caused the light of the glorious gospel of Christ to shine upon the people, and that so many have renounced the worship of idols, and are regularly learning the doctrines of our most holy faith, and worshipping God in the form of sound words' of our truly scriptural and devotional book of common prayer."

SUNDAY LABOUR.-How awful is the respon sibility of those who employ others on the Lord's day for their own convenience or gratification! Surely they must forget that "the redemption of the soul is precious, and ceaseth for ever;" and no less, "What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Let such as these, who make themselves willing instruments in seducing others to desecrate the Lord's day, consider well whether they do not renounce and forfeit all hope of the blessed promise contained in the divine declaration, "If thou turn away thy foot, because of the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking foolish words; then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob, thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it" (Isa. lviii. 13, 14). Do you object that the injunction and the promise have become of no effect by reason of Christ's advent? Nay, bethink yourself, while it is yet time for thee to save thy soul alive, Christ" came not to destroy, but to fulfil." His advent abro

H. S.

MORAL TREATMENT OF INSANE PERSONS*. IN the moral treatment of the insane, as well as those predisposed to insanity, there is no doubt much to work upon. It is a powerful remedy if dexterously and faithfully applied, even more extensively valuable than physical restraint.

She

A young lady, who had met with a very severe disappointment, was placed under our care. was twenty-three years of age, and hereditarily predisposed to the disease on both sides. It manifested itself by an excited state of mind, with startings and restlessness, and she had frequent hysterical fits. Every attention had been paid to her health before she quitted home; but, having attempted to throw herself out of window, it was deemed proper to remove her from the scene of her excitement. She was cheerful and clever, and very susceptible of admiration. When she first came, she stated that her fits were so frequent that it was not right for her to go to church; but as they were really not violent, we observed to her that it was always the rule of the house to go to church, and that, if the fit came on there, we should be obliged to call for the assistance of the beadle to take her out, and she would thus make herself very conspicuous. After the service of the first Sunday, she observed, on coming home from church, that she was very nearly attacked indeed; and it was remarkable that she never had any at these times afterwards. We took courage from this, and hoped the time would come when the fits would disappear, not only at church, but altogether, by a similar method of treatment. One day while at dinner her knife and fork dropped

fit

*From "Insanity tested by Science." By C. M. Burnett, M.D. London: Highley. 1848. We have looked through this book with interest. Without venturing to pronounce a judgment on questions which non-professional readers are perhaps incapable of deciding, we may say that the remarks the best consideration. Dr. Burnett is well known to the we have extracted appear to us very sensible, and worthy of readers of this magazine by various valuable contributions to its pages.-ED.

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