E flood, and that portion which is crossing now. But perhaps we may realize more fully, and feel more deeply, that fellowship and oneness, as it exists between the scattered members of Christ's church on earth. It is sweet to feel that all these are one indeed, partakers not of one common nature only, but of one common spirit, and of one common grace; alike partakers of grace here, and heirs of glory hereafter. And in what way, I would ask, can we more profitably realize this truth, than in drawing near to the presence of one Common Father, through one common Mediator, in one common prayer, using one spiritual form of PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL: NEW YEAR'S words? These terms are not, as some would have it, incompatible. As scripture speaks of "a spiritual body," so we may speak of a spiritual form. And this is a blessed truth to which we are called, every sabbath-day, to bear testimony. that many congregations lose much of the benefit, much of the spirituality of our service from neglecting to join in the responses and other parts of the services. We do not come to church to hear prayers read, as people sometimes speak of it; but we come to pray; and, the more we come in that spirit, and having lifted up our hearts to God that he will give us the spirit of prayer, the more we shall value our liturgy, and the more we shall feel its real spirituality.-BP. CARR. I deem it one of the great advantages and blessings of our glorious liturgy that the prayers of the congregation are not left to hang on the variable fervour of a single individual man, who is liable, as all men must be, to his seasons of depression and of coolness. And it is another great blessing that in our church the prayers of the congregation are added to the prayers of the minister who leads them; that the people are called to join in with him, using one common form of prayer, and making it a common prayer indeed to every single congregation. But still more, perhaps, we must account it an advantage and a blessing of our liturgy, that, throughout the wide world, wherever England's church has placed her foot, all the congregations that assemble for the worship of their common Lord are privileged to use that one sound form of words, thus making it not only a common prayer for each separate congregation, but a common prayer for a world of congregations. It is a blessed sight on the coast of Western Africa to witness the assemblage of the congregations there, to worship our one Father in the same one form. There, embosomed amidst eververdant hills, stands the small and unpretending church of Regent; and there it was a glorious sight to witness the crowding of those numbers who assembled about this time last year to receive the sacred rite of confirmation. They joined in the hymn of praise, they joined in the words of prayer; and those words of prayer were the same as we use here in England; and it was a thrilling sound to hear their unanimous assent and confirmation of their baptismal vow, "I do;" of that baptismal vow, which, in many cases then before me, had been taken whilst God's honoured servant, Johnson, was his minister in that favoured town of Regent, then the most favoured portion of his vineyard, perhaps, on earth, where the rains of his blessed spiritual grace so largely and so fruitfully descended.-LATE BP. OF SIERRA LEONE. SANCTIFIED USE OF THE LITURGY AT PUBLIC WORSHIP. I trust that we shall all be led to cultivate, not merely the prayers of our church, that is, the words of the prayers, but that we shall seek to pray them from our hearts, that we shall seek more and more to enter into the true spirit of the prayers which we utter. I have often thought DAY IN CONSTANTINOPLE*. Constantinople, January 10, 1855. I WELL remember the time when there was not a single native protestant in this whole country; and I remember, too, when, for the few foreign protestants resident here, there was no preacher and no religious service whatever. Now, on every sabbath-day, there are as many as ten or twelve different places of protestant worship open in different quarters of the city and its suburbs, where the gospel is preached in seven or eight different languages. And what is of the utmost consequence, and will greatly interest all your readers, is that there is the most perfect harmony of feeling prevailing among all these different evangelical congregations, and also among their spiritual guides, although they are of different names and forms, as my account of the New Year's day just passed will clearly indicate. It was unanimously agreed among them that a public union prayermeeting should be held in the chapel of the American mission in Pera. This, however, was only for the foreign protestant residents. It was impossible to find a room in all Constantinople available for protestant worship that was large enough to hold both foreign and native protestants; otherwise we should all have come together in one place; and it would have been a goodly company to look upon, I assure you. In consequence of this deficiency (which I hope will not always exist), it was arranged that the native protestants should meet by themselves in one of their chapels situated in the centre of Constantinople proper. As I attended both this meeting and the one for foreign protestants in Pera, I will give you some account of each. In the first place, early in the morning, before sunrise, I went to the chapel referred to, in the city proper, and there found about forty protestants (American converts) assembled, about one-third of them females, who were beginning the day by earnestly supplicating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the city. Six different prayers were offered by as many different individuals, members of the American protestant church; and I felt to bless God that he had here gathered a people for himself, and put it into their hearts to pray with so much earnestness for the rich blessing of his Spirit. I am sure it would have gladdened and encouraged the hearts of all our brethren in England and America, could they have been present, and heard those fervent prayers coming from persons who only a few years ago were sunk in the deepest ignorance and error. * We have received this interesting account from a valued correspondent.-ED. This first meeting was merely local, and confined to the members of the congregation that statedly worship in that chapel. At ten o'clock in the forenoon I again went to the same place; and there I found assembled at least 150 native protestants, men and women, coming from different parts of the city. The streets were bad, and the season inclement; otherwise there would have been many more. You must bear in mind that this is a city of extended distances, and that there are no cabs or omnibuses; so that, in the present state of the streets, it is really a piece of work to walk one or two miles. And there were persons in that chapel who had come four miles; and there may have been some who had come eight or ten; for the protestants are scattered over a wide area here. From this meeting I walked directly over to Pera, the distance being between three and four miles; and there, in the American chapel, from 150 to 200 European and American protestants were assembled with one accord, for prayer. They were of different names and of different nations, but one in Spirit, and fully agreed to ask the Lord for one thing, namely, for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all nations. The rev. Mr. Blakiston, chaplain of her majesty's embassy in Constantinople, presided at the meeting, and made a most appropriate introductory address, and a most fervent prayer. He is a man of truly evangelical spirit, and exceedingly useful in this place. Addresses were subsequently made and prayers offered by brethren of the Free Church of Scotland, of the London Jews' Society, and of the American Board of Missions, the people present being from the united flocks of these different spiritual pastors. It was a beautiful sight, and one full of encouragement and hope; though to the great adversary of souls it must have been truly appalling. What is the pretended unity of Rome-a mere sham covering, which can hardly preserve its decency with all the vigilance of the pope and his material enginerycompared with such a unity as this? In the evening, there were again local prayermeetings in the different quarters of the city; and thus ended this memorable day. I ought to have remarked that in all the native congregations, and to some extent at least among the foreigners, it was observed as a day of fasting as well as prayer. In harmony with the great object of the day, the soldier in the camp, in the trenches, and in the field was not forgotten. We are too near the the theatre of strife, and see by too many visible signs the terrors of this war, not to have our sympathies moved and our earnest prayers called forth. Thousands of the sick and wounded have been brought here before our very eyes; and the hospitals are at this moment so full, that there is absolutely no room for any more; and, with all that has been done to provide for them nurses, hundreds of the suffering and dying are left with scarcely any attention or any comfort. This is very harrowing to the feelings, especially when it is out of one's power to do anything that can materially relieve such wholesale misery, and nearly all we can attempt is to lift up our hearts to God, who is rich in resources, to send relief. Let me, however, tell you something about the present aspects of protestantism in this capital. The number of ordained missionaries resident here, connected with the American Board of Missions, is seven, who are labouring among the Armenians, Greeks, and Jews. Of the Free Church of Scotand there are three ordained missionaries, one licensed preacher, and two lay assistants, all of whom are devoted to the good of the Jews. Of the London Jews' Society there is one or dained missionary, and two lay assistants. The British and Foreign Bible Society has an agent residing here, B. Barker, esq., formerly at Smyrna, and two hawkers, one from England and the other from France. The American Bible Society has also an agent, the rev. Mr. Righter, recently arrived. And then we have the rev. Mr. Blakiston, chaplain of the British embassy; the rev. Mr. Shlottman, chaplain of the Prussian embassy; the rev. Mr. Turin, a Waldensian preacher to the French and Italian protestants; and Mr. Dudash, a Hungarian, formerly a Roman priest, but at present professedly a protestant, ministering to a small Hungarian congregation. There are also two ordained native clergymen, of the American church, resident in Constanti nople, and one licensed preacher who is a native Greek, and is the oldest native protestant in Con stantinople. You will see, therefore, that there are no fewer than twenty-four protestant labourers of all classes located at present in Constantinople, who have beeti sent here from different protestant countries, and, with the most pleasing harmony, are all working together to undermine the kingdom of Satan, and establish the kingdom of God and of truth. And in addition to these are three excellent native preachers, and five or six native biblehawkers, making a corps of thirty-two or thirtythree truly evangelical men, who are wholly de voted to the Lord's work in the capital of the Turkish empire. Nor will you get by any means a full view of the effective service now in this field, until I tell you of four single females, three of whom are in connexion with the American mission, and one with the Scotch, who, in the department of edu cation, are doing an admirable work for the cause of evangelical religion in this land; nor until I inform you of a protestant school of a bigh order, under the direction of the Misses Walsh from England, in which a large number of Greek girls are receiving a Christian education; nor until ! remind you that most of the missionaries are married men, and that every missionary's wife is, more or less, & missionary herself among the natives of her sex. In the spring of the year 1830, I first visited Constantinople; and then, as I have intimated, there was not a protestant congregation, nor a protestant preacher, nor a protestant school, nor a protestant schoolmaster, in the whole place. Now there are no less than twenty-three protestant sermons, in different languages, preached to stated audiences every sabbath, in this city and its suburbs, and no less than fourteen protestant schools in successful operation. The army and navy chaplains and their congregations, and also the scripture readers for the soldiers, are left out of this enumeration, although their mere tem porary residence here is by no means without its influence for good in this country. Truly we may exclaim, "What hath God wrought!" The work is all of him, and to him | be all the glory. I am happy to announce to you that we never had brighter indications of the spread of vital Christianity here than at the present moment, notwithstanding the various adverse influences of the war. Thus the saying of Foster is verified, that "God often sows the seeds of the gospel in the furrows raised by the ploughshare of war." There is a wide and deep movement in the minds of the Armenians, leading them to seek after the truth, which can be ascribed to nothing but to the Holy Spirit of God. The bible is greatly sought for in the vernacular dialects; and even among the Turks themselves there is now a desire to possess and study the word of God, and to inquire into the claims of Christianity, the like of which, though yet limited in extent, we have never seen in this country before, and encourages the best hopes for that race*, THE CHRISTIAN CONTEMPLATED. BY REV. C. RAWLINGS, B.A. reversed: "there is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." The Christian tastes a "peace and joy in believing" which no words may adequately paint. But in the Christian is implied a change of state, principle, motive, and pursuit. "If any man be in Christ," says the apostle, "he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new." The figurative expressions employed in scripture to represent the great moral change which takes place in the believer's soul, under the transforming efficacy of the word and Spirit of God, are peculiarly striking and significant. The mighty and wondrous change referred to is called a new birth, a resurrection from the dead, and a new creation. These very strong terms serve to illustrate and explain the nature of true conversion unto God, and the features by which it is distinguished. We may notice the magnitude and the universality of the divine work within. The heart which was hard is softened: the affectiors which were "earthly, sensual, and devilish," are purified, exalted, and refined: the stubborn will is subdued and brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ: the once-dark and prejudiced mind is enlightened by the beams of heavenly truth. A spiritual discernment is im"A CHRISTIAN is the highest style of man." parted to it, by which it is enabled to see and apThis is not merely the language of poetry and preciate the things of God. But with a change fiction, but it is the language of plain and sober of heart there is a change of life. With heatruth. An undiscerning world may not be able to venly principles is associated a heavenly practice. appreciate, because it does not understand, the In the character of those who are born of God, excellence and grandeur and dignity of the Chriswe contemplate a picture of moral loveliness and tian character. The hero, whose exploits are on beauty. The Christian, deeply impressed with a the field of battle and of blood; the philosopher, sense of the evil of sin, and the disastrous consewhose lofty and comprehensive mind is able to quences of sin, studiously and prayerfully avoids penetrate the mysteries of science; the statesman, sin under any and every form. Under a halthe orator, and the successful man of business-lowed influence from above, he is strengthened to these are the persons who usually attract the atten- walk in the ways of God. He labours to tion and command the applause of the world. cify the flesh with the affections and lusts," to External advantages, external splendour, are the rise superior to the world and the things of the things which dazzle the multitude, and win the world, to abound in the fruits of righteousness, admiration of those whose thoughts are earthward. and to "adorn the doctrine of God his Saviour Bat "the king's daughter is all glorious within." in all things." The Christian is not satisfied In the members which compose the true church of with present attainments in religion, but aspires God there may not be much for the eye of sense after larger measures of grace and knowledge: he to rest upon with complacency; but there is much seeks to become more humble, meek, selfin which God delights, and which fastens on it denying, and patiently submissive to the mind the attention of the bright spirits of heaven. A and will of God. Realizing in some adequate Christian! what meaning is conveyed in the term! measure the holy ambition of St. Paul, he can A Christian, not in name and by profession alone, say, "This one thing I do: forgetting those things but in reality, a man who has experienced in his which are behind, and reaching forth unto those soul the life and power of godliness, and is things which are before, I press toward the mark animated by the good hope, through grace, of be- for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ holding the glory of God in a better and a Jesus." In running the race which is set before brighter world, him," the Christian will have to encounter difficulty, opposition, and trial: formidable adversaries will arise, to disturb his peace, and, if possible, arrest his progress towards the heavenly Zion. The world, the flesh, and the devil will combine against the believer's welfare. But he does not fight single-handed and alone in the mighty conflict. Greater is he that is for him than all who can be against him. The Christian is supported in the trying hour, by grace from above:"strong in the Lord and in the power of his might" he is enabled to maintain his ground, and finally to triumph. But let us proceed to a more particular description of the Christian, as it regards his principles and conduct. The importance of such an examination will be apparent; for by it we are enabled to ascertain our own state before God. The Christian is one who is united to Christ by a true and living faith of the operation of God. The Christian abandons every self-righteous plea, and trusts in the Redeemer's finished work alone for pardon, life, and salvation: "being justified by faith, he has peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." The upbraiding murmurs of conscience are hushed; and the sentence of death is • "The Rock." 66 cru And now contemplate the Christian in the hour of death, and in the solemn prospect of eternity. He knows whom he hath believed," and is animated by a good hope through grace. Flesh and heart may fail; but there is One who does not, cannot fail those who trust in him. The faithful servant of God looks beyond this darksome scene of cloud and storm, and catches a glimpse of those shores which are illumined by the Sun of heaven. He hears a voice which sweetly whispers, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee. Be not dismayed; for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee." "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; for I am the Lord thy God, the holy One of Israel thy Saviour." "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that man is peace." "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his." Weekly Almanac. "If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, so shall we be in the likeness of his resurrection."ROM. vi. 5. ALMIGHTY God, who through thine only begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life, we humbly beseech thee that, as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. "Beloved, let us consider how the Lord doth continually show us that there shall be a future resurrection. Of this he hath made our Lord Jesus Christ the first-fruits by raising him from the dead. Behold and dwell upon, beloved, the resurrection that is perpetually passing before our eyes. Day and night manifest the resurrection to us. The night lieth down; and the day ariseth. Again, the day departeth; and the night reviveth. Behold the fruits of the earth: all witness the seed sown. The sower goeth forth, and casteth it upon the ground; and the seed, which when it was sown fell upon the earth dry and naked, in its time dissolveth; and from its dissolution the mighty power of the Lord's good providence raiseth it again, so that out of one seed a multitude arise, and bring forth fruit in their season. And shall we, then, deem it a great and strange thing for the Lord of all to raise up them that diligently serve him in the assurance of a true faith, when thus he showeth us the greatness of his power to fulfil his promise? Having therefore this hope, let us hold fast to him who is faithful to all his promises and righteous in all his judgments. He who has commanded us not to lie, how much more will he not lie himself! Let the faith in him be stirred up in us; and let us not forget that all things are his" (St. Clement's Epistle to the Corinthians). "Is Christ's body a temple? So should ours be too-temples and houses for God to dwell in. All these houses of God must one day be brought to the dust of death; but, then, here is our comfort--these temples of ours shall be raised up again. Christ's resurrection shall work our resurrection. The Head is already raised; and that will raise up the whole body (his church). This hope should comfort us against the fear of death. Though we be slain all the day long,' yet we 'shall be more than conquerors'" (Bp. Brownrig). "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God.' The real secret of God's method of sanctification lies in the acting upon our resurrection with Christ which we profess. We must imbibe fully all the blessings centring in his person and works. We must follow Christ in heart and mind, in meditation and communion, in ways of worship and prayer, to that right hand of God, where he sitteth in power and glory, as our complete and perfect Redeemer, Intercessor, Mediator, Forerunner, Head, till he shall come again to receive us to himself" " (Bp. D. Wilson, Calcutta). "He is not here; for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." THE birth of Christ was announced by the angels to the shepherds whilst keeping watch over their flocks by night; and, when the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid, the angel said, "Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." At his resurrection the angel once more descends from heaven, rolls back the stone from the sepulchre; and, behold, there was a great earthquake; so that the Roman soldiers did shake and became as dead men; but to the women who came to the grave to seek Jesus the same comforting words are again spoken by the heavenly messenger, "Fear not. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men, was sung by a multitude of the heavenly host, when he humbled himself as a servant, and became the babe of Bethlehem; and, when he rose triumphant from the tomb, these prophetic words of Hosea were proclaimed to a lost and perishing world: "O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help: I will redeem thee from death. O death, I will be thy plague: O grave, I will be thy destruction." These two important events, the miraculous birth, and the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, were ushered into the world by the voice of angels: nothing of less creation than the heavenly host was summoned to bear the joyful tidings to a world that had fallen from the highest estate of happiness into the greatest depths of sin nothing less than angels were deemed worthy messengers to publish to guilty man that the Lord of life and glory had entered our sinful world, and that he had after death risen from the grave, the Saviour and Redeemer of the lost race of Adam. When the omnipotent God condescends to speak, shall any of his creatures presume not to listen? Shall the voice of the mighty Jehovah proclaim news so imperishable as the eternal life of man, and yet be disregarded? Shall the Lord of heaven and earth humble himself from the lofty pinnacle of his heavenly glory, and from the throne of his eternal majesty, to save the souls of the lost, and yet a worm of the dust turn a deaf ear to the gracious invitation, and reject the wonderful counsel of his everlasting Father? The words uttered on both occasions are words of the greatest encouragement to the penitent sinner, springing as they do from the fountain of love and mercy, from the God of all consolation and hope. "Fear not;" for unto you is born a Saviour: "Fear not;" for your Lord is risen. Before these great truths let man prostrate himself and adore: let him admire and wonder that God should work such extraordinary miracles for his everlasting benefit. Man, who was clothed in sin, and followed after all unrighteousness, ran into every kind of wicked excess, and was justly liable to eternal punishment for him to be lifted up from the earth, and placed by his Lord in heavenly places, clothed in the robe of righteousness, and washed clean in the blood of the Lamb, what wonderful condescension! what infinite love must have devised in the plan of his redemption! To meditate on the divine work without being lost in adoration and praise, in admiration and astonishment, bespeaks a heart callous to heavenly impressions, and ungrateful for the greatest blessing that can be offered by a God most willing and able to save. Let us, then, my brethren, turn aside, and see this great sight-why such strange things have been done by infinite Wisdom for the good of sinful man; and let us pray for the assistance of the heavenly Spirit, that we may penetrate into the sublime mysteries of divine truth, and with the eye of faith behold the glories of heaven, and believe with fear and joy the revealed word of God. "O that men would therefore praise the Lord for his goodness, and declare the wonders that he doeth for the children of men." On the first day of the week came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to the sepulchre, to seek the body of their crucified Lord, bringing with them the spices which they had prepared; and, when they found not the body of the Lord Jesus, an angel said unto them, "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here; for he is risen, as he said." What rapturous joy must have possessed the hearts of these devout women when they heard the angel speak such glorious news! what heavenly visions must have passed in rapid succession within their thoughts, when they remembered his words, called forcibly at that moment to their treacherous memory by a messenger from heaven, that he should be crucified, and on the third day rise again! No words of similar import could be proclaimed either by angels or men, that could possibly have given more satisfying consolation to the sorrowful women, than to hear in angelic sounds that their blessed Lord had risen from the grave. Then were fulfilled the words of David! "Thou shalt not leave my soul in hell; neither shalt thou suffer thy holy One to see corruption," Then did they fully comprehend these words of their Lord: "Destroy this temple; and in three days I will raise it up." Then did appear in glory and everlasting honour "the Man of sorrows-the acquainted with grief;" for he was now about to ascend up on high, and lead captivity captive, and give gifts unto men. "Fear not," ye who believe in the despised and rejected of men: "fear not," ye who love the crucified and risen Saviour. The command given by the angel to the weeping women, after they had examined the place where the Lord lay, was to go quickly and tell his disciples that he was |