example. In the beautiful village of L, the colporteurs were well received, and let us know. Having gone there and found persons disposed to listen, I obtained the loan of an apartment; and after some difficulties in removing a report which had gone abroad that we were St. Simonians, a young servant of God who was then in Lyons went and preached there on the 25th of November; this preaching has been continued periodically every fifteen days by myself or some other qualified for the work. One day when the service had ended at La woman came to me and said, Would you also come to us and preach?? Have you an apartment in which you could receive us?'

'I shall ask my husband whether he will receive you in his house.' These meetings are in the beginning encouraged and attended by numbers, but, when on the one side, we have exhibited the gospel's spiritual character and shown that it is no use to throw off the yoke of Romanism, unless that of Christ is taken up; and when, on the other, the priests by all their efforts counteract our exertions to extend the kingdom of God, many turn aside, and a little flock remains consisting of those who really desire the salvation of their souls. But this little flock is assuredly worth all the pains we have taken, and infinitely more! What labours so gigantic could we undertake which would not a thousand-fold be compensated by the salvation of a single soul.

'Yet, we have need of patience, that after having laboured and suffered much, we may receive the promise. Isa. lv. 10, 11.

Thus, well-beloved brethren, has the Evangelical Church of Lyons been formed.

The beginning is small, but encourages the greatest hopes; supported, not by the calculation of man, but the promises of of God. This work is a work of faith, its origin was in faith, and during its progress we have walked and lived by faith, This is also a work of love. The children of God in Lyons, as in Jerusalem, unite ein the same place. Here they all unite, after having, with various degrees of promptitude, gradually thrown off

the fetters of prejudice ; Protestants or Roman Catholics, Pedobaptists or Baptists, National or Dissenting Christians. What support for love, for holiness, for prayer, for preaching, for the extension of God's kingdom! My brethren of Lyons and I have much reason to be humbled in not having derived greater improvement from an advantage so valuable.

'This is an evangelical work; yes, truly evangelical. Its object is to raise the standard of Christ, unmingled with trifles of human in vention. It excludes every thing but Christ and him crucified, and avoids as much as possible secondary and controversial questions.

Our desire is to avoid all human barriers, and to make our establishment as open as possible to all who seek the Saviour. For this reason we have given the church and the different institutions connected with it the name 'evangelical,' to express its accordance with the gospel, and the gospel only. This name ap peared to be more appropriate from the consideration, that in our days it is more generally used to desig nate, without reference to particular. forms, the character of that faith which proclaims to all gratuitous salvation, through the Son of God,

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'This is also an important and extended work. I may appear to advance a paradox, when I say that I believe my ministry has never had so great a field as at present. To me, however, it seems the exact truth. While a minister in the Establishment, a barrier was raised. between the Roman Catholic population and my preaching. I preach now for all, and the work is progressively extending among the Catholics. When on April 22, we communicated for the first time, we were two thirds Protestants, and one third Catholics; of the thirty persons who presented themselves

at Christmas for communion, one third were Protestants, and two thirds Catholics, an inverse proportion of the first. Thus it is that the work is at once encouraging and extended, because it must be admitted, that generally, the opposition to the truth is less among the Catholics than the Protestants, and, the immense majority of the French, are nominally Roman Catholics,

The truth of this is still more evident, when we consider that the gospel begins to be preached in country places, and the country is almost exclusively Catholic. But in another point of view, it acquires new importance, and on your brethren of France, has a peculiar claim for interest. It is that its influence in not merely local and Lyonese, but concerns the whole of Christian France. Something similar to that at Lyons, seems to pervade the whole kingdom. Even among those who are without, especially the Roman Catholic population, there appears to me to be a movement of mind towards the truth. This feeling is not to Protestantism, but to the word of God as such; but the accomplishment will be the more easily and happily, in proportion as the word itself shall be used as the instrument. If these remarks have any foundation, have we not reason to believe that this movement in France perceptible in our days, which I call an evangelical movement, shall produce churches similar in different degrees to that at Lyons, arising from the force of circumstances, founded in faith, conceived in love, and that while it would extend its sphere, would support its order? This object has been continually before me in establishing the evangelical church at Lyons, and has been to me the strongest motives to choose a course free, prudent, and slow. This arrangement would enable us to unite with other churches of the same kind which might afterwards be established in France. Considered thus, the prosperity of the Evangelical Church of Lyons affects all the Christians of France. For if this church succeed, and find necessary resources, the pastors of other churches will be equally encouraged to go forward in faith, depending on God and on his children. But on the contrary, if the Evangelical Church of Lyons, failing in the necessary resources, sink, would not other establishments

of the same kind which might be found, be discouraged at the very beginning? would it not follow that evangelical pastors, if dismissed, would be forced to minister elsewhere? and would not the ' enmity of the world succeed in driving them, not merely from DECEMBER 1833.

their pulpit, but also from the field of their labours? The rule is, I am aware, that a church support its own expences, but the circumstances of the Lyonese Christians compel them to ask something only as provisional. And it may be that after some years, the Evangelical Church of Lyons shall be in a condition to afford others assistance, more happy indeed in such an exercise than now, for the Lord Jesus himself has said, "it is more blessed to give than to receive." Christians, to you all I make this appeal, but especially you Christians of France, as you are now closely interested in the work. For I am convinced that if French Christians shall willingly make sacrifices for the religious institutions of France, a blessing proportioned to their zeal will attend their efforts, and that the interest of strangers will be excited.

During a short interval of rest my place at Lyons being supplied by a faithful servant of Christ, I presented an account of the formation and condition of the Evangelical Church of Lyons, to a meeting of some brethren in Paris; and added, that our subscriptions from the Christians of Lyons, amount to six or seven thousand francs, and that the expences during this first year were between nine and ten thousand, leaving a deficiency of between three and four thousand, and that this deficiency was supplied by the two loans mentioned before. We had, however, been only able to meet the most pressing expences, and as yet there remained most important matters unprovided. In the first place, a Girl's School and an Evangelical library. The brehren unanimously approved of what had been done, decided that the work should be supported, resolved for the present to provide the means of support for a second year, after which it might be seen what could be done, and subscribed among themselves on the spot, the sum of 4700 francs. And now, brethren, may the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and the work of our hands direct thou for us, yea, the work of our hands do thou direct.'

Presents of books would be gratefully re-. ceived. Many members of the congregation understand English and German.

THE Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society have unanimously adopted and circulated the following memorial of their late valuable Secretary, Mr. Hughes; the justice of which will be generally acknowledged by those who enjoyed the happiness of witnessing his proceedings in the arduous office with which he was intrusted.

In preparing a grateful memorial to their departed Secretary, the Rev. Joseph Hughes, the Committee cannot but testify how much he was beloved and respected by their whole body; both by those who were acquainted with him during the entire course of the Society's existence, and by those who have only known him of late. In this feeling, the Committee believe that they are joined by all the friends of the Society. However any might be exalted in rank, whether in Church or State-however any might seriously differ from him in subordinate points -all were agreed to reverence and love an individual in whom so many excellencies appeared.

To him, as the Committee have much pleasure in recording, belonged, in an eminent degree, the character of a Founder of the Society; and in him they desire to adore the manifold wisdom and goodness of God, which were so evidently displayed, when the idea having been originated of a Bible Society for Wales, the thoughts followed in quick succession in Mr. Hughes's mind—“ Why not a Bible Society for the kingdom?-why not for the world?' While grateful science will ever admire the hand of God, in the falling apple that opened to the mind of Newton a train of thought which has astonished the world, why should not the friends of Religion thankfully acknowledge the same hand which, from suggestions so simple, has educed results affecting the eternal welfare of the entire family of man

to name no more than the circulation of eight millions of copies of Holy Scripture?

'Not less observable, the Committee believe, is the goodness and

power of God in eminently qualifying their late Associate for maturing the plan which he had been so instrumental in originating. By his pen, as well as in conversation, he developed that plan with such singular felicity, that many who regarded it, in the outset, as altogether chimerical, (and among such, the Rev. John Owen was at first numbered) became afterwards its warmest admirers and firmest supporters.

Much too, in after-times, did Mr. Hughes contribute, by his intelligence and piety, combined with no ordinary degree of suavity and mildness, to preserve in the councils of the Committee a large measure of kindly and harmonious feeling.

When it became necessary, in consequence of the extension of the Society's plan, by the formation of Auxiliaries, Branch Societies, and Associations, that Representatives from London should visit the Comimittees, and assist at Public Meetings held in the country, the presence of their late friend was always most acceptable; and his appeals, frequently distinguished by eloquence at once chaste and fervid, were listened to with delight; and often won the opponent, decided the waverer, and confirmed the friend. Called, in the course of these visits, to mingle in the private circles of the Society's friends, it is not too much to affirm, that when he was once known he could not easily, if ever, be forgotten. While adverting to this point, the Committee may truly add, that he was in journeyings oft-that by night and by day, to the very last, he was ready to serve the Society, which he loved with intense and unabated affection.

In the recent question regarding the Constitution of the Society, his sympathies and exertions were largely called forth. In common with many others, he apprehended danger from the changes proposed; while in the past history of the Society he had seen nothing to demand their adoption, but much that appeared to claim for the original simplicity of the plan a continu

ance of that approbation bestowed upon it by its early friends. In all his conduct connected with this discussion, the same mildness, the same freedom from asperity, shone conspicuous; and safely may their late friend be held up as a pattern worthy of imitation, whenever controversy shall have become unavoidable.

While he rejoiced in the prospects opening before the Church of Christ, of the dawn of that day when all nations whom God hath made shall come and worship before Him-while he rejoiced no less in that laborious part which he was himself called upon to sustain in operations all tending to so glorious a consummation-the Committee gratefully testify their belief, that Mr. Hughes's mind was never diverted from the habits of personal religion by the glowing anticipations in which he indulged, nor yet by the multiplicity of his labours; but that he caught the spirit of the prophetic Psalmist just quoted, who unites with his glowing visions of the future, earnest supplications and resolves on his own immediate behalf. "Teach me thy way, O Lord! I will walk in thy truth. Unite my heart to fear thy name!" was the language of their friend's heart: it was the language also of his life.

'While the Committee deeply deplore the loss sustained, not only by themselves, but by the society at large, and, they may add, by the whole Christian community, they cannot but take comfort, from the assurance they have received, that those consolations revealed in the sacred volume, and the knowledge of which Mr. Hughes had so wisely assisted in spreading, were graciously vouchsafed to himself in the hour of trial; enabling him to glorify God by the exercise of patience and resignation in the midst of intense sufferings, and to rejoice in a good hope through grace-a hope full of immortality,

The Committee conclude their memorial by transcribing a passage from a beautiful letter recently addressed to them by their late Secretary, tendering the resignation of his office, on finding himself no longer able to fulfil its duties. They

The Committee have appointed the Rev. G. Brown, an Independent minister of Clapham, ás successor to Mr. Hughes; Mr. B. has long been a regular attendant at the Committee, and uniformly engaged in its deliberations with a degree of temper and good sense which afford the most convincing pledge of his adaptation for the office. On his first nomination a preference was in certain quarters expressed for some more distinguished dissenter, but when the subject was more fully considered, the hierarchs of the different dissenting bodies, and chiefs of the Society for Promoting Ecclesiastical Knowledge, the Bennets, and Blackburns, and Buntings, and Burnetts, are understood to have expressed their assent to the appointment, which we cannot but hope will prove eminently serviceable to the great cause of the circulation of the Holy Scriptures throughout the world.

We are happy to understand that the last year's deficiency in the income of the society has been more than supplied by the increased receipts of the present year; and there is good reason to anticipate that the benefits of the Institution may be yet more widely extended; though we can scarcely anticipate that a plan recently formed of supplying the reading population of the whole world with Bibles within twenty years can be realized.11