able to attend public worship more than once a day and that the afternoon and evening may more fitly be appropriated to recreation, and the practical effect of such a proclamation is likely to be the forsaking of afternoon and evening worship, and the devoting of the period to pleasure of various kinds. Not merely would the present Sabbath-breakers be confirmed in their ways, but others would be encouraged to follow their bad example. The character of the Sabbath would be changed, as far as Parliamentary influence could change it, from that which has prevailed in England to that which prevails in most of the Continental countries."

While we trust that the good sense, the piety, and the enlightened patriotism of the people of this country will effectually prevent a consummation like this, and recommend our readers to be vigilant in the coming year on this great national question, we beg also to remind them that the law for the total closing of public-houses in Scotland works well. From a paper now lying before us "The Alliance,' devoted to the cause of temperance, we have reports that at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Ayr, &c., the law works well. It came into operation in May last, and already the police officials and others have found their labours in looking after the "disorderlies" very greatly reduced, indeed

are

almost gone; and the streets more orderly, and everything relating to public decorum improved. Why cannot we have a law like this for England? There is more intemperance on the Lord's-day than on any other day in the week. Public-houses, taverns, beer-shops, gin palaces, are crowded with visitors on a Sunday evening. Even this the Committee seem to admit, though they recommend but a brief limitation of the time for the opening of these places. They say in their report.—“ All the witnesses examined appear to agree in stating that the greatest amount of drunkenness takes place on the Saturday night and on the Sunday, and many clergymen and even members of the industrious classes desire that these places should be closed altogether on the Sunday. Stranger still, some of the publicans themselves, in London and the provinces, are in favour of their being shut up during the whole of the Sabbath."

Why then did not the Committee carry out this suggestion? Why not as in Scotland close them the whole of the Sabbath? It may be expected that, ere these lines are in our readers hands, a bill will be passed to allow public houses to open from one to two, and from six to ten on Sundays. This should not, and we trust will not prevent future agitation and amended legislation on this subject.

exert the most benign influence on the political and commercial character of the communities of which they will form an invaluable part. Already the annual imports from Australia have exceeded the amount of four millions, and exports to that country have been above six millions. The commercial advantages have thus appeared more speedily than the most sanguine imagination could have anticipated. And though the political and moral benefits have not been so great and so evident, yet it must be remembered that the growth of moral principle is, at all times, comparatively slow in a colony of gigantic dimensions with an infant's age, on account of the antagonism of human depravity and the entire absence of juridical organization. But, notwithstanding these opposing influences to moral development, interesting and flourishing christian communities have sprung into existence, which are beginning to diffuse a savour of Christ on the masses around them. And at no distant day we shall find that the exertions made by the new colonial churches for the conversion of the millions of China and India will be on a far nobler scale than any put forth by the parent country; and the new and increased agency will come into action just as these vast countries have undergone great political changes. Though China is convulsed from the centre to the circumference with revolutionary commotion, christianity is in the midst of it, like the ark in the deluge rising on the top of the loftiest wave and continuing uninjured, while costly idols and gorgeous temples are swept away as with the flood. And when the present striving waters shall subside, then the olive-bearing dove shall wing her way all over the land, pure incense shall rise from thousands of altars reared to the triune God--the atmosphere shall resound with the new song" of salvation through the

blood of the offered Lamb, and a brighter rainbow than that which gladdened Noah's heart shall exhibit its beauteous arch over the whole land of Sinim. The events which are at this moment taking place are the harbingers of this scene; and the youth of this day shall not lose his buoyancy, nor the hoary-headed sire go to his place of rest before it is fully realized. India, too long sustained in its idolatry and heathenism by British patronage, now throbs and heaves to throw off the incubus which has pressed so heavily and so long upon her. She has had her thousand temples, and yet without God, --her Vedas and Shasters and no holy oracle,-her Brahmins and Buddhists and no true High Priest, her numerous ablutions and no fountain open for sin and for uncleanness,— her wearisome pilgrimages, and no way to the rest the soul desires,— her frequent abstractions and no heart-relieving devotion, and her costly sacrifices but no Saviour. The past history of India in connection with christianity exhibits a continued series of preparatory processes for the present crisis. The withdrawment of government support from Juggernaut,

-the abolition of infanticide and suttee, the translation of the Scriptures into its many tongues, from the Sanscrit for the haughty Brahmin, to the Hindee for the humblest Sudrah,— the formation of schools, the missionaries from Scotland, England, and America, the conversion of Pundits and Brahmins, and the employment of native agency in preaching the gospel, have been the pioneers levelling the mountains, raising the vallies, making the crooked straight, and the rough places plain, and preparing in the desert a highway for our God. And now the young men of India,— the young men who have great influence in society on account of the wealth and respectability they inherit from a noble ancestry-these young

FOOTSTEPS OF OUR FOREFATHERS:What they suffered and what they sought. By JAMES G. MIALL. Fcp. 8vo, cloth, pp. 368.

London: Cockshaw.

EVERY protestant feels a mournful pleasure in retracing the lives and labours of his religious forefathers. The truths they loved, the sufferings they endured, and the battles they won, have endeared their memories to us. As we think of their zeal and their patience, we compare them, and not unworthily, with the first disciples of the cross. As we follow them in imagination through all their trialsfrom the pillory to the dungeon, and from the dungeon to the stake, we marvel at their fortitude and their firmness. They loved the truth more dearly than life, and could sing praises to God even when suffering in the flames. There was a vigour and strength in their piety which no persecutions could destroy. We are glad that Wiclif does speak fearlessly, that Barnes will expose the vices of the clergy, and that Cartwright has the honesty to affirm what reforms are needed. But we grieve when men who call themselves Protestants are not ashamed to follow in the wake of popish persecutors. We then see how unsafe it is to commit the sword of the civil magistrate into the hands of any religious body whatever.

We have abundant proof of this in the volume before us. Papists persecuted protestants, and protestants persecuted one another, when the civil power was on their side. All this arose from a mistaken principle; and it is Mr. Miall's object, while exhibiting some of the phenomena of religious intolerance, more especially as displayed in a protestant form, to indicate what that principle was in which these melancholy results had their origin. There is, therefore, but a summary glance at the infamy which marked the reign of Mary, and a more detailed account of the abominations of Henry VIII., Elizabeth, and the Stuarts. The first chapter is dedicated to Wiclif, as "the light of a dark age."

It opens with a description of the present aspect of Lutterworth, of the old church, and the relics of the reformer which are still religiously kept within its sacred precincts. A life of Wiclif follows, with a very graphic account of the state of England during this period. The doctrines of this reformer appear, says our author, "to have been the first which made any considerable impression on the population. The name 'Lollard' has been attributed by some to Walter Lolhard, who suffered death for his opinions in the city of Cologne. But this is altogether an error. The origin of the word is the German Lullen, whence the English verb to lull. The term Lollard was thus expressive of one who praised God by sacred songs. It did not denote any particular class of opinions, but was applied generally to all those who made, or were supposed to make, professions of unusual piety. The attention received by the sick and dying from various religious persons, at the time when the fearful plague of 1345 was desolating Europe, and taking off half its inhabitants, and when the religious orders had fled in terror at its advance, had tended greatly to render the name of Lollard popular among the people. Though not himself the originator, therefore, of this body as a sect, Wiclif's teachings had largely contributed to strengthen their opin ions, and to increase their numbers." The insurrection headed by Wat Ty ler was traced by the clergy to Wiclif and his writings; but a nobler and more enduring revolution was certainly owing to his translation of the Scriptures. The excitement which followed its issue was intense. Some members of Parliament wished to suppress the whole work, under the plea that it would prove ruinous to all religion; but when it came to the vote, the bill for its suppression was lost by a large majority.

Wiclif was very far in advance of his age; and though stigmatized by a modern church historian (Milner) as holding "wild and irregular notions," and as being greatly overrated, will live in honoured remembrance as long