will find valuable thoughts scattered throughout the pages of this commentary; but we cannot recommend it as a safe and reliable guide, and would counsel general readers to seek in other commentaries on Holy Scripture more Evangelical exposition, and more of what we conceive to be the true meaning of the Word of God, than will be found in these pages.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

ALTHOUGH the Legislature has not been at a stand-still during the past month, the interruption to business arising from the Whitsuntide holidays, and from the time devoted to horse racing, has been considerable, there is therefore less than usual for us to chronicle. The unexpected presence of the Premier, who has not hitherto been identified with turf matters, at what corresponds among us to the Roman Megalesia, has given rise to some speculation. We would rejoice if so strange an apparition may portend some bona fide endeavour to grapple with evils which have long since amounted to a national disgrace.

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In the Education Bill, which is still passing through the House of Commons, the Premier has accepted Mr. Cowper Temple's amendment, that in all rate-founded schools t catechism or religious formulary which is distinctive of any particular denomination shall be taught." He also proposes a Time Table Conscience Clause, applicable to all receiving aid, whether from rates or from the Privy Council. Moreover, that local boards shall cease to have any connection with, or relation to, Voluntary Schools; and that these schools, so far as respects public aid, shall stand only in relation to the Privy Council. Building grants are to be withdrawn; but he further suggests an augmentation of the contribution from the Privy Council, within a maximum of 50 per cent., towards the annual charge of schools, whether voluntary or rated, to be given under different heads, and upon certain conditions. Upon what has been termed "the year's grace," his language was discouraging. These changes in the Government scheme are so important, that the Bill has been by some regarded as a new one altogether. It is still under discussion, but the Government have announced their intention of abiding by the propositions which we have noticed.

The Universities and Colleges Test Bill has passed through Committee with a slight alteration; and the Clerical Disabilities Bill has been referred to a Select Committee.

The Irish Land Bill is now under the consideration of the Upper House. It seems probable that it will come back to the Commons so far amended by the legal knowledge and practical information on land questions peculiar to the Lords, that it will

meet with general acceptance, and be passed without serious difficulty.

Lord Cairns gave notice that he would move the rejection of the Bishop of Winchester's Sequestration Bill. By the terms of it bankruptcy might have been made compulsory upon a clergyman, and his living have been placed at the uncontrolled disposal of the bishop of the diocese, with only an appeal to the Archbishop, but not to the Privy Council or any temporal court whatever. "This novel assumption of power on the part of the Bishops" has since been effectually resisted, and appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council has been admitted into the Bill.

By an Order in Council, held at Balmoral, all appointments to the Civil Service of the United Kingdom have been taken out of the hands of official patrons, and have been thrown open to all young persons of good character and of the requisite knowledge and ability, who may gain them by competitive examination. It would not be easy to estimate the effects likely to result from this most important reform.

There was a smart debate in the House of Commons, originated by Mr. Charles Buxton, who wished the Government to undertake the Revision of the Bible, by the issue of a Royal Commission, in preference to leaving it in the hands of Convocation. Mr. Gladstone, however, refused. The committee appointed by the latter body have held their first meeting in the Jerusalem Chamber. All preliminary arrangements were discussed and agreed to, and some progress was made in the actual work.

Spain is still without a king. Marshal Prim has offered the crown to four princes successively, who have all refused. There has been a terrific fire at Pera, in which the British Embassy and nearly 20,000 houses have been consumed. It was attended with great loss of life.

The Ecumenical Council continues jangling over the Infallibility of the Pope. At a turbulent meeting, which closed the discussion of the "scheme," one bishop exclaimed, "Deum et homines attestamur nos violentiam pati et contra violentiam istam protestationem emittimus." No notice, however, was taken of his remonstrance.

The Fenian raid into Canada, which has been long threatened, has actually taken place. The foolish aggression was resisted by the Canadians with admirable spirit. The American Government seem to have behaved well and effectively, so far as the absurdity of the attempt permitted of any approach to serious action. The ringleader is in jail.

We notice with much regret the loss which the country has sustained in the death of the Earl of Clarendon, the able Secretary for Foreign Affairs. His recent action in the murder of British subjects in Greece had added to his claims on public sympathy.

Two prominent features of Mission work arrest attention at the present time:-the bright prospects of missionary success abroad, and the decline in the missionary spirit at home. I would offer a few observations under both these heads, and suggest that it ought to be a subject of very serious inquiry among Evangelical Christians as to what is best to be done.

It is no exaggeration to say, that never before was the aspect of the Mission-field of the world so full of hope and promise. For, first, wherever we turn our eyes, we see the marks of decay and dissolution upon all the leading superstitions of the earth. Brahminism, Buddhism, Mahometanism-all wear an unmistakeable air of dotage and imbecility. These mighty systems no longer have their old firm grasp on the minds of the nations, or excite the old enthusiasm. Their spell is only that of custom and habit-not of blind unquestioning devotion and belief. Like old trees, whose hearts are decayed to touchwood, but which for a season or two put forth green shoots, and seem at the extremities still to manifest a vigorous life, so are these ancient faiths. The lingering remnants of the old fanaticism may now and then be observed in individual instances, breaking out occasionally in ebullitions of proselytizing or persecuting zeal. But what are these systems now in the very heart and centre of their power? Contact with modern science and civilization is certain death to the scientific, legal, and social theories, so inextricably interwoven with their religious ideas, and so to the religion itself. The present generation even of those who still hold fast to the traditions of their fathers disbelieve in continuance of them for their children;

A paper read at the Conference of the Clerical and Lay Association for the Maintenance of Evangelical Principles, at Birmingham, June 29, 1870. By Charles Marson, M.A., Vicar of Christ Church, Birmingham, and Prebendary of Lichfield.

and the final dissolution of the whole is now but a simple question of time.

Again, the wonderful openings for the advance of the Truth present another hopeful feature of modern Missions. Within the memory of some here present, how large a portion of the world was shut up against Missionary efforts! It was hard work at the beginning of the century to introduce Christian Missionaries even into our own Indian Empire; many will remember that China was practically inaccessible; and in very recent times the discoveries of Livingstone and other travellers have revealed millions in the heart of Africa, whose very existence was unknown to us a few years back. The Mahometan Empire was, till very lately, almost the despair of the Church. Japan and Madagascar were close sealed, and the whole of Northern Asia was unknown or unattempted. But God's wonderful Providence has changed all this, and that very recently. "Great and effectual doors are opened," either wholly or partially, into all these countries. Facilities for the advance of the Gospel increase each year in every land. Once the great difficulty used to be, "Where can Missionaries be sent?" so many were the countries closed. The only difficulty now is to find a place where Missionaries cannot be sent, so many are the countries opened.

Add to this another encouraging fact that the leading nations of the earth-the first in power, in intellect, in influenceprofess the faith of Christ. The conquering races of the world are the Christian nations, and foremost of all these stands our own. The Missionaries in the first ages of Christianity were Jews-men of a race obscure, despised, uninfluential: our Missionaries are of a race respected, feared, looked up to by races of inferior civilization and decaying power. Paul could plead his privilege as a Roman citizen, and appeal to the Roman Cæsar, with no small effect, in one or two Missionary perils: our Missionaries may traverse the wildest lands, protected by the British flag, and respected for the British name. These things are no trifles; they prepare the way for the advance of truth, and speed the errand of the heralds of it.

Prejudice and hostility to Missions are fast diminishing. From Europeans abroad our labourers meet in general with respect-sometimes with zealous co-operation and cordial sympathy. Among natives the Missionary's character has won its way. The intelligent appreciate their motives; the ignorant even venerate them. Preliminary obstacles in the way of climate, manners and customs, language, &c., have been overcome in a great degree in every mission-field. Who that thinks of the difficulties in all these things at the outset of the work, and contrasts the present with the past, but must see how many

serious hindrances, once existing, are now for ever taken out of the way.

Lastly, think of the bright prospect opened in actual Missionary success, direct and indirect. In spite of the sneers of the unbeliever, the calumnies of the Romanist, the scorn of the world, and even the doleful Jeremiads of feeble, desponding friends, Evangelical Missionary success is a great and striking fact. "We have not done all we want to do; we have not done all we should have done; we have not done all we shall do; but by the grace of God we have done something,”—and something, too, which I dare to affirm no religious teaching on earth could have effected, but that which is called Evangelical. We can appeal alike to friends, to candid foes, and to influential neutrals, to bear us out in this assertion. India, Africa, North West America, New Zealand, and the islands of the Pacific-these and other Missionary fields are constantly yielding proof upon proof that our labour is not in vain, nor our strength all spent for nought. Congregations gathered out from all lands, all climates, and all languages,-thousands of children in our Mission schools, many of them a third generation, inheriting a Christian family tradition,-self-supporting native Churches, and the rapid increase of a native ministry,these are the outward and visible signs of God's grace working in the Missions. But who may estimate the power which is steadily influencing public opinion, elevating the moral standard of the communities among whom these Churches are planted, purifying the atmosphere of thought and feeling, and slowly yet surely leavening the whole mass of heathendom around, and silently preparing the way for the kingdom of Christ. Mighty as are the direct effects of the Gospel, its indirect influence is even mightier still. We have lately seen here in Birmingham two remarkable individual instances of both. The negro Bishop Crowther may represent Evangelical Christianity in its direct effect. A six years' episcopate enables us to speak of his Christian character and conduct with some confidence; and the admirable "humility, wise forethought, and large-minded spirit in which he has carried on his work," may well stir up our praise and thanksgiving to the great Head of the Church, who has made of a poor heathen negro slave boy so faithful and efficient a shepherd and bishop of souls. On the other hand, the President of the Indian Brahmo Somaj, now in England, is a typical representative of Christianity in its indirect effects. Wherever the Gospel becomes a power, a class of minds is sure to come under its influence, earnest, intelligent, restless, half enlightened. They form "the mixed multitude" who come out of Egypt with the Israel of God. Like the servants of the Lord, they too have turned their backs upon the land of their