of prerogative? Lord Brougham, in a speech delivered some time since in the House of Lords, called them, "A body of men to be held in lasting veneration for the unshaken fortitude with which, in all times, they have maintained their attachment to civil liberty: men to whose ancestors England will ever acknowledge a boundless debt of gratitude, as long as freedom is prized among us. They, with the zeal of martyrs, the purity of the early Christians, the skill and courage of the most renowned warriors, obtained for England the free Constitution she now enjoys." And, of the same men, Hume the historian, with all his decided impressions in favour of absolute monarchy, says, "The precious spark of liberty had been kindled, and was preserved, by the Puritans alone; and it is to this sect

the French refugees. In the Netherlands there exists a portion of the French Reformed Church, termed the Walloon Church, Presbyterian in its constitution, and differing from the Church of Holland only in the use of the French language. In Switzerland, also, the Protestant Church is Presbyterian, and D'Aubigné, the author of the celebrated history of the Reformation, is a Presbyterian minis. ter. In Prussia, in each of the ten provinces into which the kingdom is divided, there is a consistory, composed partly of ecclesiastics and partly of laymen, for managing the internal concerns of the Church, and communicating with the Government by means of superintendents, who are not, however, like the prelates of this country, considered as belonging to a distinct order of clergy, and as possessed of distinct powers, but are mere presbyters in ecclesiastical rank. In America, the number of Presbyterian ministers of various religious bodies reaches 5000. In Canada, in Nova Scotia, in the West Indies, in Ceylon, in New South Wales, in New Zealand, the Presbyterian Church is well known. There are between two hundred and three hundred ministers of the Church of Scotland labouring in the British colonies at the present moment."

the English owe the whole freedom of their Constitution." In entire accordance with these opinions of illustrious men, the Rev. Thomas Scott, a distinguished member of the English Establishment, says, "The tree of liberty, sober and legitimate liberty, civil and religious, under the shadow of which we of the Establishment, as well as others, repose in peace, and the fruit of which we gather, was planted by the Puritans, and watered, if not by their blood, at least by their tears and sorrows. Yet it is the modern fashion to feed delightfully on the fruit, and then revile, if not curse, those who planted and watered the tree." Are the descendants of such men to be forced, by the arm of civil power, to abandon their principles? They have most solemnly declared before Heaven and the Church, that they will never relinquish their position. If this controversy be carried to the extreme point, the Church of England cannot escape without agitation; because such principles will, on investigation, address themselves to the reason of all dispassionate men, no matter how their opinions may be entrenched behind habit and education; and they will inquire into the right of presentation to the parishes of the Establishment, irrespective of the consent of the people. Should a civil war ever be waged in Great Britain on such principles and by such men, another Cromwell may appear, and a King of England may again ascend the scaffold and lay his head upon the block. I do not wish to be understood to affirm that the Ministers of the Church of Scotland contemplate a resort to arms for the redress of her wrongs. Their present purpose-if the

civil power continue to invade her rights-is to retire from the Establishment. But the people of Scotland will make common cause with their Church; and, in the progress of events-estranged as they will be from the Government of England-the time may arrive when the popular discontent cannot be controlled by holy men, whose message is peace. Is it not then true that England has sufficient cause to be occupied at home, without interfering with the social and civil institutions of other nations?

The spirit of the age is, inquiry; and such employment of the human mind will inevitably lead to the establishment of civil and religious liberty. "Christianity," says Dewitt Clinton, "is in its essence, its doctrines, and its forms, republican. It teaches our descent from a common pair; it inculcates the natural equality of mankind; it points to our origin and our end, to our nativity, our graves, and our immortal destinies, as illustrations of this impressive truth." In proportion as the spirit of Christianity prevails and extends, the influence of the republican spirit will be enlarged. It has been said by a writer of the present day, that, The Representative system, and public opinion conveyed by the press and the deliberative assemblies, will predominate before the expiration of this century, in all the royalties; not, perhaps, without dreadful struggles between the monarchical pretensions and common wealth rights and energies. It is for the United States to verify and recommend the ancient maxim, That is the best government in which,

with free institutions, the magistrates obey the constitution and laws, and the people the magistrates.*

*Since the commencement of the contest with the Church of Scotland and she has received testimonies of sympathy and encouragement from England, Ireland, Switzerland, Prussia, and America the difficulties of the English Government have been increased by the controversy with the Irish Presbyterian Church, caused by the law relative to the legality of marriages, solemnized by Presbyterian clergymen, between Episcopalians and members of the Presbyterian community in Ireland. The law is retrospective, as well as prospective; and thus it unsettles a practice which has prevailed in Ireland for two centuries. The question not only involves the legality of such marriages, but also opens the ulterior one of the meaning of holy orders. This case has been decided, in favour of Presbyterianism, by the Court of Queen's Bench; and will go, for final decision, before the House of Peers.

DAVID BRAINERD.

"How awful is goodness!" is a sentiment suggested by the contemplation of the character of an eminently holy and devout man. It has been said that, such are the beauties of Virtue, if she were to descend from heaven and assume human form, all men would fall down and worship her. Such has not always been the homage of the world. Virtue assumed the form of humanity when the Divine Teacher came down from heaven; and the cry was, Crucify him, Crucify him. Other men have lived who would have voted with the Athenian for the banishment of Aristides, because they were tired of hearing him styled, The Just. The explanation of this exhibition of human depravity, is derived from the reproof which an eminently holy life administers to those who place their happiness in worldly pursuits, and sensual indulgences. Such men may have a feeling of respect and admiration for holiness; but, there is a principle of repulsion within them which prevents them from loving that, which, by its inherent excellence, constrains their homage.

Biography is history teaching by example; and has always been a favourite study with the Christian, and the scholar. It has been observed that a man improves