us clearly teach that it is not the light joy of carnal mirth, but the calm, deep, holy joy which they feel, whose. minds are at peace with God; that gladness and thankfulness of heart which he experiences who has hope in Christ that his "unrighteousness is forgiven, and his sin is covered;" and who perceives in the right employment of this day some foretaste of that holy occupation which will be the portion of the blessed throughout eternal ages.

In conclusion, let it be observed, that if our moral obligation to observe the Lord's day arises from our two-fold duty of love to God and man, the obligation necessarily extends beyond the day itself; and if the paying my men's wages on Saturday night makes it difficult for them or their families to observe the day as their consciences would lead them to do, or encourages them in the neglect of it, I am as much bound by my duty to God and man to choose some other time for payment, as I am to abstain from doing either of them any other injury. A. P. P.

IRISH CHURCH BILL.

To the Editor of the British Magazine.

"The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau."

SIR,-The spoliation of the Irish church, and the avowed and systematic attack on all property, claims the attention, and alarms the fears, of every reasonable mind. Few would expect that this attack should originate in high places; that they who are the makers of the law should be first to break those laws, and to corrupt the very source of justice. Justice and integrity should be found in the throne, and the servants of the throne, as their last resource.

If king and ministers violate justice and break faith, what can they expect from the poor and ignorant? and how can they enforce the penal laws against offenders, when they themselves have set the example, and taught them to violate the first principles of justice? "Thou shalt not steal," is not to be confined to robbers and pickpockets, but is equally applicable to ministers and princes. They may be digging a pit only to swallow up themselves. Rulers may easily pervert the minds of the vulgar; they may easily prepare the cup of trembling; but let them beware lest they themselves should drink the very dregs of the same cup, when crowns and sceptres, coronets and titles, shall be trampled with contempt in the mire, under the insolent feet of the triumphant mob. What saith the scripture-"Cursed is he," whether high or low, whether prince or peasant," who removeth his neighbour's land-mark." Property is of divine appointment; therefore, he who violates property, who spoils his neighbour, who plunders him of the fruit of industry, violates the order of the divine appointment; can secure no blessing to himself and children, but may justly expect that the hand of violence, and the tongue of calumny, may visit his offences with a present rod, and his sins with scourges, even in this world: : so that men may say, when they see the righteous retribution

of Providence, even in this lower and disorderly world, "Verily there is a God who judgeth the earth; doubtless there is a reward for the righteous, and a punishment for the wicked," even in this world.

A. B.

CHURCHWARDENS.

To the Editor of the British Magazine.

REV. SIR, The negligent and imperfect manner in which churchwardens usually discharge the duties of their office has been for many years a grievous injury to the church, and therefore a subject of just complaint on many occasions. We find Paley, in one of his Charges, sharply reproving the churchwardens of his day for their culpability in this respect. "I know nothing," says he, " in which the obligation of an oath is so egregiously trifled with, or rather in which that obligation is so entirely overlooked, as in the office of the churchwarden." It is not long since this matter was again taken up in a powerful discourse preached in Canterbury at the Archbishop's Visitation. Could these addresses, or others of a similar character, be periodically sounded in the ears of some parish officers, whom I despair of inducing to read them, there would, perhaps, be little need of the measure I desire to suggest.

I must first remind your readers how seldom it happens that persons, who can be guilty of the fault I condemn, are so docile and submissive to their minister as to bear, with a desirable feeling, any reproof coming immediately from him on the subject of their negligence. But no man called to the office of a churchwarden would receive with positive displeasure that specific admonition which he knew to have originally come from a higher authority in the church, and to be an address which the minister of every parish is bound to deliver according to its directions. What then I would respectfully suggest to my superiors in office, as a measure likely to produce much good, is, that a paper be issued every year by the Ordinary, or by the Archdeacon at his Visitation, setting forth the various and important duties incumbent upon churchwardens, and impressively reminding them of their sacred obligation to perform the same in a diligent and conscientious manner; that a copy of this paper be delivered to every parish minister, with strict injunctions for him to read it aloud in his church during the time of divine service on some Sunday morning (or afternoon, if there be no morning duty), within a month from the date of the churchwardens' appointment, both of whom are to be present at this reading. I do not stand alone in the opinion that such a proceeding would be productive of so much good as that of relieving me and many others from certain embarrassments, into which we are often thrown by the negligence and numerous omissions of our churchwardens. Should any of your able correspondents be pleased to consider this suggestion,

and so far to improve upon it as to bring it into notice in the proper quarter, I shall have an additional reason for signing myself, Rev. Sir, Your grateful servant, T. B.*

Two excellent papers of Directions to Churchwardens and Sextons, circulated by Archdeacon Thorpe, are here subjoined :

Archdeaconry of Durham.—Michaelmas Visitation. A.D. 1828.

"The Chwardens of. are desired to take care that the following regulations, for the greater comfort of the congregation, and the more economical preservation of the building under their charge, be duly observed.

The soil to be removed from the foundation, and, if there be no insuperable impediment, a dry drain of a lower level than the floor of the interiour to be carried all round the building, with a cover of flag or brick, which is always to be kept free from soil, rubbish, and weeds.

No graves to be opened within the building, or near the exteriour walls.

Ventilation to be secured by casements, trap-doors in the ceiling, and otherwise, and all casements and ventilators to be kept in perfect repair, and fit for use.

Thin iron gates, with locks and bolts, to be affixed to the outer doors, and all the doors, ventilators, and casements, to be set open for some hours of every fine day, both winter and summer.

The doors to be opened one hour before service and one hour after, except in very severe weather, and except where warm air is introduced during the time of its being used.

A fire to be kept up in the vestry for some hours in every week.

Access to roofs, towers, &c. to be prevented, except for the purposes of cleaning and repair.

Twice in every year, the beginning of May, and the middle of September, the roofs, gutters, spouts, conduits, and the whole fabric, exteriour and interiour, to be examined, cleansed, and repaired: and the gutters after falls of snow to be cleared forthwith.

Every part of the interiour of the building to be swept perfectly clean, at least once in every week.

The stone-work not to be defaced for the purpose of erecting monuments or pews; and, in repairs, the original architecture and character of the fabric to be preserved, except in any special case leave be given by the ordinary to depart from it.

The outer doors and the windows to be painted every third or fourth year: other painting, with proper care, and colouring, under favourable circumstances, if well done at first, may last ten or even twelve years.

All locks, bolts, hinges, &c. to be kept properly cleaned, and oiled when required. The Ch-yard to be kept free from nuisance and weeds, and the herbage to be eaten down (if convenient, by sheep) or cut frequently and at stated times,—and a path of stone or gravel to be made to the Church-door, and preserved dry, free, and open.

Projected changes in the interiour arrangements, as well as in the fabric and windows, to be notified to, and approved by the ordinary, before they are carried into effect.

It is the especial duty of the Chwardens to see that no injury be done to any of the congregation, by raising or altering pews or otherwise, and that no free seats be alienated, or galleries erected, without the knowledge and sanction of the Bishop or his Archdeacon.

The introduction of warm air by means of stoves or flues is recommended in every case where it can be effected, precaution being used against fire."

To keep open all casements and ventilators, and also all exteriour doors, if iron gates be affixed to them, for several hours of the morning of every fine day, closing them before night-fall; and also for one hour before morning service, and one hour after, except in severe weather, and except where warm air is introduced during the time it is used.

To

WEEKLY LECTURES.

To the Editor of the British Magazine.

SIR,-I will endeavour to be as brief as possible in attempting to give my view of the subject proposed by W.G., the pith of which, I conceive, amounts to this:—whether it be lawful, or otherwise, to hold a weekly lecture in a school-room or private house; that is, in a place unconsecrated or unlicensed by the Diocesan. I say, the pith-for with the discussion of the advantages proposed by, the benefits or ill-effects arising from, or the best mode of conducting, it, we have, at the present moment, nothing to do. It is, therefore, simply a question of law; and the case is usually understood thus: if any one hold a meeting for religious improvement, and there be present more than twenty persons besides the immediate family, such comes under the observation of the law of the land; and the person may be indicted for not having taken out the usual and regular license. But then, again, if we have so complied with this regulation by procuring a license, which must be filled up for a particular room or house, we at once convert it into a conventicle; officiating in which, without being duly and expressly licensed thereto by the bishop, constitutes us, by our own act, schismatics. This is the popular view of the

case.

Now, if this view of the law be true, the question is at once decided, as to the irregularity of these weekly lectures; and it follows that they must be indictable, because unlicensed. But let me request W. G. to accompany me in a few extracts from the act itself, (52 Geo. III., c. 155, July 29th, 1812.)

"Whereas it is expedient that certain acts of parliament, made in the reign of his late Majesty King Charles the Second, relating to non-conformists and conventicles, and refusing to take oaths, should be repealed; and that the laws relating to certain congregations and assemblies for religious worship, and persons teaching, preaching, or officiating therein, and resorting thereto, should be amended; be it enacted"-(and so on, repealing various acts)" and an act of parliament, intituled, An act to prevent and suppress seditious conventicles,' shall be, and the same are hereby, repealed."

To have a fire frequently in the vestry.

To sweep every part of the interiour of the building perfectly clean, once at least in the week.

To keep the gutters, spouts, and conduits free and open, particularly during storms of snow.

To sweep the path-way to the porch and other doors every Saturday, and clear the Chyard of nuisance and weeds.

To remove weeds and rubbish from the foundation of the fabric, and not open graves near the walls.

To prevent access to the roofs, &c. except for the purpose of cleaning and repair, and protect the building with all its appendages, as far as in you lies, from harm. Durham, Michaelmas Visitation, 1828.

TO BE PUT UP IN THE VESTRY.

VOL. III.-June, 1833.

4 Q

Now this first clause very evidently is regarding none but dissenters; and with this in remembrance, pass we on to the second clause :

"And be it further enacted, that from and after the passing of this act, no congregation or assembly for religious worship of protestants," (that is, of course, protestant dissenters)-" (at which there shall be present more than twenty persons, besides the immediate family and servants of the person in whose house, or upon whose premises, such meeting (&c.) shall be held), shall be permitted or allowed, unless and until the place of such meeting (&c.) be duly registered and certified." &c.

The third clause enacts, that every person who shall teach in such place, without consent of the occupier thereof (this could never have a clergyman in view), shall forfeit not more than 307. nor less than 40s. for each such offence. And the fourth exonerates all persons who attend these from pain and penalty, " formerly made and prescribed in an act, intituled, An act for exempting their Majesties' protestant subjects dissenting from the church of England; &c." And so it runs on, through nineteen weary clauses.

But the above extracts will sufficiently answer my present purpose, to shew, that the regularly ordained clergy are not considered by this act; but merely those self-ordained ministers, who, not being responsible to any recognised ecclesiastical authority, must be taken cognizance of by the law of the land. But the clergy are fully authorized, not only by the church, but by the law, to exercise the shepherd's office over their particular flocks; and, for the purpose of benefitting them, may act in whatever manner shall appear most fit, in the exercise of their judgment and discretion: always provided, that it be in accordance and subservience to Scripture, to their oath of canonical obedience, and to the law. For if they are not competent to be entrusted with this discretionary power in the details of their work, neither are they competent for the more important services of the sanctuary.

If my view of the act be correct-viz., that the law never contemplated the regular clergy-then it follows, that we may lawfully hold such meeting, and in such manner, as the church forbids not, and our own judgment approves: for, "where no law is, there is no transgression."

I think it necessary, however, to allude to canon 71: "Ministers not to preach, or administer the communion, in private houses:" upon the strength of which, the bishop may canonically command or prohibit any of his clergy from there delivering a sermon, (such as W. G. describes as being frequently preached during some of those, professedly called, weekly lectures); but if there be one sick or impotent person in the cottage, the pastor may (by the above canon) select a text, and preach a regular sermon, if he so please; nor can any authority legally interfere to prevent him.

But once more: until the bishop forbid, there is no violation of the oath of canonical obedience; for we do not say that we will obey the canons, which are not law, nor recognised as law; but that we