Newspaper Page Text
12, 1849]
Master has stopped—no more to glide through this thirsty
land. And now while we may feel to be crushed by the
hand of an All-wise God, let us not repine at his dispensa
tions, knowing that the Judge of all the earth will do right.—
Finally, brethren, the time is short; let us who remain have
our lamps trimmed and our lights burning; for we shall
soon hear the proclamation, “behold the bridegroom cometh,
go ye out to meet him.”
On motion,
Resolved, That a copy of the report of the Committee on
deceased ministers be spot bv the (.Hark to the Editor of the
Christian Index for publication.
J. 11. MILNER, Mod.
W. E. Mapghan, Clerk.
Selection*.
ADDRESS
From the Peace Congress Committee in London to the Con
gress of Nations Committee in the Unit and States.
Deer Friends We have learned with great satisfaction
that a Committee has been formed on your side of the At
lantic, resembling our own in its construction and objects,
and prepared to co operate, in the attainment of a common
end, with ourselves, and our estimable friends in Belgium,
who have also been organized on similar principles and for
a simtjar purpose. United thus in sympathy and aim, we
feel that we should also, so fir as is practicable, unite in
council and action. vVith this \ iew we venture to send to
you across the waters these few words of friendly and fra
ternal greeting, believing that we shall be all mutually
strengthened by the consciousness of sympathising and ex
tended fellowship.
Os the remarkable Congress held by the friends of Peace
at Brussels last year, you are already fully apprized. That
experimental demonstration was undertaken in much anxiety
and lear, with imperfect opportunities of preparation, amid
many sinister prognostications of failure, and in the face of
not a few circumstances of difficulty and discouragement.—
And yet its success was in every respect unequivocal and
i or numberjftuid character, too important to be either ignored
or despised, even by those most reluotant to recognize any
seriousness or reality iri such movements. Fmlightoned and
earnest men from various ports of Europe gathered around
the uplifted standard of (lumauitv w ilh a glad and spontane
ous promptitude, which proved how deeply charged their
souls already were, with kindred sentiments and sympathies,
which wanted only the critical touch to call forth, in eager
and eloquent utterance, the convictions and desires which
had long been|ient up in their hearts. The meetings were
pervaded by a spirit not uijfworthy of the cause and the oe
of pr,, rKt bid onttiolrs Ultliot
triumphing over old prejudices of nations and creeds, fused
nil hearts into one—of calm, and chaste, and devout enthu
siasm—the offspring not of momentary excitement, but of
deep, earnest and enduring principle.
The results of tins memorable assembly have been alto
gether reniaruable and auspicious. It has elevated the
cau3e of Peace out of the obscurity of years, into a command
ing prominence which chain nged the attention of the wliole
civilized world. It lias formed a rallying point, to which
multitudes of minds in all Christian countries, who had be
fore been grieving or hoping apart, can now hook as a com
mon centre for their aims and aspirations ; and it lias above
all, opened the way toother movements, on a scale commen
surate with the greatness and dignity of the cause.
Thus beckoned on, as we believe, we may without presump
tiou or profanity say, by the directing finger of Providence,
we dare not hesitate in following the onward course which
seems to he prescribed to us.
In obedience to those intimations, it has been resolved to
bold a second annual Congress at Paris, in the month of Au
gust, with more of deliberate preparation, and on a more
extended scale. As far as we can see at present, all things
auger well for its success. M. ce Lamartine in France,
snd Mje, Cobden in England, have already signified their ad
besion to the movement, and we have reason to believe that
many of the lending minds of Europe will dignify it by their
presence, and aid in its deliberations. We are convinced,
moreover, that the great revolutions w hich have been recent
ly shaking the continent of Europe, and which may at first
sight seem to render such a movement unreasonable, Iruve
cn the contrary, contribut'd to make this an epoch pre emi
rently favorable to our object. The attempt to propagate
Peace principles has been hitherto, in many parts of Europe,
like sowing tire seed by the way-side—ground which had
been trodden into hopeless obduracy by the foot steps of lift red i
- sry and conventional prejudice for many generations. —
Hat this old hardened surface of European society lias been
broken up by the late social an I political convulsions, and a
fresh virgin soil thrown out. full of a robust and teeming fer
tility, which it behooves in, ere it is pre-oeettpiod by a nox
ious, malignant growth, to sue thoroughly impregnated with
with the seeds of human brotberho id, t ■tievolence and peace.
We must not, however, conceal from you, dear friends,
that the full success of this demonstration will depend, in a
very important degree upon you and t.ie Christian public in
America. To (aise if to the level of an object and of an oc
casion so great, it must be emphatically a Congress of the.
two worlds. By that means, it v ill be lifted out of the region
of national jealousies, tno baleful t‘gicy of past centuries of
animosities and conflict which becloud the reflations of all
European countr.es with mutual suspicion into the serene
se.d lofty sphere of universal humanity, lour presence
will be accepted by all as a sufficient guarantee that there is
no shift,h or sinister object of European policy under the|
guise of philanthropy, but tbit the movement is what it seems.
the advent of the era of our codmion brotherhood, under the
inspiration of our common Ch istianity.
It will not be enough, dear f ends, jiermil us respectful
ly to say, that America send d< egates to the Congress. To
meet the requirements of the , ase, the delegation must be
such in character and numbers as shall worthily represent
your great country in the p ’senee of assembled Europe
and on an occasion .so momenpns and august. The mere
fact, indeed, of a large company of devoted ahd‘ distinguish
ed men (and we may be allowed to add, of women also)
crosing the waters of the Alantie, on such a mission of
mercy, will furnish so impresive a demonstration of earnest
ness and moral power arravef on the side of our cause, that
it cannot (ail to sink deep intdthe heart of the world, and be
regarded of itself os a significant presage of our success—
We have attained beyond allldoubt, to a most critical, point
in the history of the p.'ace qutstion—a point which demands
and will amply reward great sacrifices and an unbounded
devotion on the part of its frio'ids.
To you, then, dear friends and fellow-laborers, we look
on this occasion, with feelings of expectation and anxiety,
which it would be difficult to Jlescribe. Can we doubt, in
deed that the. appeal you haveimade, or may yet make, to the
Christian heart of America, for men and money to worthily
sustain this great enterprise, will be responded to* in so cor
dial and generous a spirit as idl enable you to charter and
lade a vessel, which will bear to Europe such a freight as
the world has rarely seen ; aid which, as they land on the
shores of the old world, will d-nd to the heart of the war tie
mon so long enthroned there,! a thrill of terror, which will
be felt as an omen of its appriachigg doom, and gladden tlw
face of humanity with the smile of an unwonted hope.
We are, dear friends,on bkhaif of the Committee, vonrs
fratenally. HENRY RICHARD,
ELI HU BUREUTT.
THE RUNYAN MEETING AT BEDFORD.
The Bedford Times c >ntait|s interesting details of the lay
ing of the corner stone of the ‘‘Runyan Meeting” at Bedford,
which ceremony took place bn the ‘2d tilt., and which was
performed in the presence of a very large number of specta
tors, by Charles Hindley, Ivd. M. I’., and the Rev. J. Jukes.
The building lately taken down was, by many, erroneotidy
supposed to he the meeting in which John Runyan minister
ed. He died in lfiSfl, and that building wus not erected ualil
1707. Runyan preached, however, upon it-ssite. In an in
teresting and valuable little book, the Rev. J. Jukes gives
the history of Bunyan’s Church: —‘The first allusion we
have in our records to a meeting house,” says the author,
‘Occurs in the minutes of a church meeting h Id in 1630, on
the occasion when Mr. Burton’s death was announced, it
is embodied as a w isli thus expressed, ‘We desire our broth
er Harrington, brother Coventon, and brithoi John Fenn to
take care to inform themselves of a convenient place for our
meeting so soon as iney cun—we Doing now deprived ofou’
tormer place—and report to tiie church.’ It would appeal
Irom circumstances already mentioned that the only pl.ic>
they could find was the house of John Fenn. Wc according
ly hear of no other place until we are informed of the pur
chase of Rufi'head’s premises. This appears to have served
the purpose of Runyan, during Ins lime, ns nothing is said
ebout its having been enlarged or altered. We are told that
the present meeting-house was built in May and June, 1737,
by subscription, at a cost of about four hundred pounds; and
that in the year 17(iftand 1770 it was new floored, and sup
plied with new windows, anew vestry, anew pulpit and
chandeliers, towards which Samuel Whitbread, E-q. gave
the chandeliers, and six scare guineas and a half; John
Howard, Esq tiie pulpit and seventy pounds, and the people
raised, by subscription, a hundred and seventy-seven pounds;
and that the whole expense was three hundred and senventy
three pounds, twelve shillings, and three pence. And in
1843 a meeting of tlio Trustees was called to consider tiie
propriety ol doing something more to it; but the majority
positively refused either to give or collect any thing for such
a purpose, fr>m the conviction that the time was very near
when it would be absolutely necessary to rebuild.” The
greater portion of the timbers were extremely decayed ;
und the building altogether inadequate and prejudicial to the
health of hearers us well as minister. The congregation
carm forward in a liberal manner, and in a short time more
tiian X -iOO.) was subscribed. The basement was cony I ted
last week, and the corner slope having been laid, the woik
will he proceeded withimm (hat- ly.— English Paper, June,
1849.
Rome. — The Romon Tiiumvirafo has ordered all goods
ol the King ol Nap es, in the Roman territories, to he seques
trated und sold, and the produce to be paid towards repair
ing the injuries inflict and on ft i n in citizens, and in or I rto
prove to Europe and tire world tint Ihe Roman Ripub ic is
actuated solely bv a desire ta s cure her own liuerties, an !
not by ambitious motives, th; triumvirate have prohibited he
i Roman troops from penetrating into the Neapolitan territory.
CURIOSITIES IN THE EARTH.
At the city of Mod.wa, ia Italy, and about four miles
around it, whenever it is dug, when the workrn -n arrive at
the depth of sixty three feet, they c-nan to a bed of chalk,
which they bote with an auger five feet deep. They then
withdraw from the pit, before the auger, is removed, and e yon
its extraction, the water Ini sts up through the aperture w ith
great violence, and quickly fills the new made well, w!i oil
continues full, and is aIT cted neither by rains, nor droughts.
But that which is the most remarkable in thin operation, is
the layersof earth as we descend. At the depth of fourteen
lent are found the ruins of an ancient city, paved streets, hou
ses, floors, and different pieces of m>saic. Under this is
. found a solid earth that would induce one to thiuk it had nev
er been removed; however, under it is found a soft oozy
earth made up of vegetables; and at twenty six feet deep,
large trees entire, such as walnut trees, with the walnuts
still sticking on the stem, and their leaves and branches ip.
perfect preservation. At twenty-eight feet deep, a soft chalk
is found mixed with a vast quantity of shells; and this bed
[eleven feet thick. Under this vegetables are found again
I with leaves, and branches of trees as before ; and thus alter
jnately chalk and vegetable earth to the depth o f sixty three
feet.— Goldsmith.
[From the Watchman Sp Reflector ,]
HE SAYS IT IS, AND HE KNOWS.
Two small children in the city of B-, running up to a
stranger inquired of him the way to a certain street, saying
they lived in that street, and knew not the way there. He
kindly answered them, “Follow me, I will conduct you to
it.” Oil the way they were heard earnestly talking with each
other. Says one, 1 dent believe we are right. This is
not the way, 1 know it is not. To which the other cheerful,
ly and confidently replied, “He says it is, and he knows.” —
That conversation must have awakened in the stranger’s
bosom different feelings towards these children. By oneliis
kindness and veracity were questioned, wnile no such doubts
seemed to be entertained by the other.
Pilgrims for heaven feel and express themselves different
ly, ns did these children. The Saviour understands it all
and must be differently affected by the distrust of some and
confidence of others. We are all told, not indeed by a stran
ger, but by Christ himself, the way to heaven; and that if
we will follow him we shall he conducted thither. Some
listen and try to yeild themselves up entirely to hisguidance
seem almost curtain that they cannot be right, and that the
way pointed out is not the way to glory. They need to be
often assured, like the doubting child, that Christ says it is
and be knows. Other persons are always, cheerful, while
following their Divine Master, feeling perfectly confident
that he that belioveth and is baptized shall be saved, confi
dent that he that doeth the siymgs of Ins Lord shall receive
an hundred fold now in t!i s present time and in the world
to cotne life everlasting. Let the doubting cease to doubt.
‘ O fora strong and lasting faith,
To credit what the Almighty saith.”
YE DINNA BELIEVE A’ THE BIBLE.
The biographer of Sandy Patrick, the Sooth local preach
er, relates the following interview which Sandy had with a
penitent inquirer in Glasgow.
An intelligent female who was laboring under a deep
sense of sin, was visited by Mr. l\, und notwithstanding all
his encouragements and prayers she seemed to be only in
creasingly distressed, and almost in despair. At length,
while on their knees, Mr. P., said to her, ‘Let us sit up a
we’e;’ and placing himself beside her, and looking steadily
in her face, he said,
‘I)o ye believe the Bible?’
‘1 do,’ she replied.
‘Gan ye tell me who made the world ?’
‘She smiled a little contemptuously, and nfter a pause
said, ‘lt was God.’ To which he immediately replied, ‘How
d’ye ken —were ye there to.see ?’
| She seemed surprised, perceiving that there was evident
ly more meant by the question than she hud supposed, and
then remarked, ‘No, I was not there, but the Word of God
says that he made it.’
‘Ah, well, then ye believe a’that the Bible says, d’ye.
She said ‘yes.’
‘Ah, well, we’ll see; “This is my beloved Son in whom
I am well pleased, hear ye him.”
Who says that ?’
‘The Father.’
•Well, wid ye da as the Father bids ye ? He commands
ye to hear the Soiv’
To this she ussented.
•Well, then, what does the Son say 1 “Him that comoth
to mo l will in no wise cast him out.” “Come unto me, and
I will give yon re-st.” To the woman in the Gospel he said
“Daughter, thy sins which are many are nil forgiven thee,”
and will he not say the same to you? Is he not saving it even
to liv e noo? ye dinna believe that, ye dinna believe him.
1 t, !1 ye, ye dmna believe u’the Bible.’
She instantly saw the shame and sin of not trusting in a
promising, present Redeemer, und as instantly ventured or.
iiis mercy. Confiding in the love und power and truth of the
worl i’s-Redeemer, she trusted herself in his hands, and
found the peace she sought
flow to hear the Gospel. —Roland Hill paid a visit to an
old friend, a fiw years before his deuth, who suiJ to him,
“Mr. Hill, it is just sixty five year since I first heard you
preach, nn I I remember your text and apart of your ser
mnr*. You told us that some people were very squeamish
about the delivery of different ministers who preached the
same gospel. You said, suppose you were attending to hear
‘a will read, where you expected a legacy to be left you,
Iwou and yon emply the time when it was reading, in criticising
Ithe manner in which the lawyer rend it? No, you would
Inot, you would be giving ail ear to hear if anything was lef:
■to you, and how much it was. That is the way 1 would ad.
(vise you to hear the gospel.” This was excellent advice,
!well worth remembering sixty-five years! Multitudes, be
cause they have not harried he lesson taught by Rowland
Hill, lose much of the benefit and enjoyment they might dc
derive from.hearing the gospel preached.— Presbyterian of
the West.
(hJrThe fear of the Lord is the beginning cf knowledge
but fools despise wisdom and instruction -
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