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SUNDAY-TRADING-SUPPRESSION SOCIETY.

We are happy to announce that a Society with the above title has been recently established; by which some very valuable tracts have been published, clearly evincing that the TEMPORAL INTERESTS of tradesmen will be promoted by a legislative enactment, enforcing the better observance of the Lord's Day.-Petitions have also been preferred to Parliament on this important topic, and we cannot but hope that our Legislature may be induced to comply with their prayer. The following extract from their address deserves serious attention.

'The founders of this Society are deeply convinced, that every man on earth to whom the Divine Revelation comes, is therein taught and commanded to separate the Sabbathday to holy uses and ends; and, that individuals, families, churches, and nations bring down on themselves the favour or the displeasure of Almighty God, as they obey or disobey this command.

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'They rejoice, therefore, to witness reviving zeal in behalf of the religious observance of the Lord's day: and while they cordially agree in the opinion of the Bishop of London, delivered in his Lordship's evidence before the Committee of the House of Commons, that the enforcement of religious duties by penalties is a mistake in legislation;' yet they earnestly hope, that Christian ministers of every denomination will, at the present crisis especially, render their powerful aid to the great cause of the due observance of the Lord's Day, by frequently enforcing it on their congregations, under both the awful and encouraging sanctions supplied_by_the Holy Scriptures : nor can the Committee abstain from urging on all parents and heads of families, the duty of checking to the utmost, in their respective households, that fearful desecration of the Sabbath which is rapidly demoralizing society.

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protect them in the exercise of that right which ought to be secured to every member of the commnnity— of discharging his acknowledged duty to Almighty God.

From the report of the House of Commons, it clearly appears, that the Trading Community of the Metropolis and the United Kingdom at large, groan under the oppression which they suffer from being driven to pervert the Sabbath into a day of toil in their ordinary callings, by the dread of losing their business to those who would persist in desecrating the Day. Ample and impressive testimony is given by competent witnesses, that the spirits and strength, not only of man but of the brute animals which he employs in his service, require for their renovation that Rest of the Seventh Day which God has mercifully appointed for the refreshment of all labouring beings, while He has graciously consecrated that portion of time to the higher ends of promoting the salvation of His rational creatures. Nor is proof wanting, as appears from the testimony of several of the said witnesses, that the Suppression of Sunday Trading directly tends to ease Parishes of part of the burden of the Poor Rates, by improving the habits of the Labouring Classes: such, in fact, was the case in one of the Parishes of the Metropolis, where such Trading was, by the exertions of a Clergyman and his friends, greatly suppressed for a time; during which period,' one of the witnesses attests, many of those persons, who were in the habit of receiving parochial relief, did not require that relief which they had been in the habit of receiving; and this was attributed to the good conduct brought about in that district.' But these efforts, from want of general co-operation, and from the inefficient state of the Law, could not be sustained; and the burden of the Poor Rates has, in consequence, resumed its accustomed pressure.

The Committee do, therefore, on these various grounds, request your assistance and co-operation in pursuing the objects of the Society; and, especially, at the present time, in promoting Petitions to the Legislature.

THE Imperial Parliament assembled according to Proclamation, on Tuesday, January 29; and on the following Tuesday, Febrary 5, were addressed by his Majesty from the Throne, in a speech which adverts to the affairs of Portugal, Holland, and Belgium, with reference to which latter countries, negotiations are stated to be in progress; it then speaks of the good faith and honour of France, in its proceedings at Antwerp, &c. and after adverting to the approaching termination of the Charters of the Bank of England, and the East India Company, introduces the following paragraphs with reference to the Church of Ireland.

Your attention will also be directed to the state of the church, more particularly as regards its temporalities, and the maintenance of the clergy. The complaints which have arisen from the collection of tithes, appear to require a change of system, which, without diminishing the means of maintaining the established clergy in respectability and usefulness, may prevent the collision of interests, and the consequent disagreements and dissatisfactions which have too frequently prevailed between the Ministers of the Church and their parishioners.

'It may be also necessary for you to consider what remedies may be applied for the correction of acknowledged abuses, and whether the revenues of the Church may not admit of a more equitable and judicious distribution.

In your deliberations on these important subjects, it cannot be necessary for me to impress upon you the duty of carefully attending to the security of the Church Establishment by law in these realms, and to the true interests of religion.

'In relation to Ireland, with a view of removing the causes of complaint which had been so generally felt, and which had been attended with such unfortunate consequences, an act was passed during the last Session of Parliament, for carrying into effect a general composition of tithes. To complete that salutary work, I recommend to you, in conjunction with such other amendments of the law as may be found applicable to that part of my dominions, the adoption of a measure by which, upon the principle of a just commutation, the possessors of land may be enabled to free themselves from the burden of an annual payment.

In the further reforms that may be necessary, you will probably find that, although the Established Church of Ireland is, by law, permanently united to that of England, the peculiarities of the respective circumstances will require a separate consideration. There are other subjects hardly less important to the general peace and welfare of Ireland, as affecting the administration of justice, and the local taxation of that country, to which your attention will be also required.

'But it is my painful duty to observe, that the disturbances in Ireland to which I adverted at the c'ose of the last session have greatly increased. 'A spirit of insubordination and violence has risen to the most fearful height, rendering life and property insecure, defying the authority of the law, and threatening the most fatal consequences, if not promptly and effectually repressed.

'I feel confident that to your loyalty and patriotism I shall not resort in vain for assistance in these afflicting circumstances, and that you will be ready to adopt such measures of salutary precautions, and to intrust to me such additional powers, as may be found necessary for controlling and punishing the disturbers of the public peace; and for preserving and strengthening the legislative union between the two countries, which, with your support, and under the blessings of Divine Providence, I am determined to maintain, by all the measures in my power, as indissolubly connected with the peace, security, and well-being of my people.'

This speech produced an animated debate in the House of Lords, in which the Earl of Aberdeen and the Duke of Wellington ably demonstrated the impolicy and injustice of our proceeding with reference to Belgium. In the House of Commons the discussion occupied no less than four nights, when the Address proposed by the administration was carried by the majority of 388--428 voting for the original address, and 40 for an amendment proposed by Mr. O'Connell, and seconded by Mr. Cobbett. We are not

aware of so much time being occupied in discussing the King's speech on any previous occasion—the language used by some of the speakers appears from the newspaper reports to have been most violent and indecent, and it evidently required all the tact and firmness of Mr. Manners Sutton, who had been again chosen Speaker, to maintain order. Mr. O'Connell proceeded so far as to pronounce the King's speech brutal and bloody, and was in consequence called to order by Lord John Russell. The conservative party lent their undivided support to ministers in this debate, and the speech of Sir Robert Peel was especially distinguished for talent and manly independance.

A most melancholy view of the state of Ireland was given in the speech of Mr. Stanley. In the county of Kilkenny, he said there had been last year 32 murders, 34 cases of arson, 519 burglaries, 36 cases of houghing cattle, and 178 illegal notices. In Queen's County there had been 60 attempts at or perpretations of murder, 626 burglaries, 115 cases of malicious destruction of property, and 209 of serious assault. Rewards had been offered for the detection of crimes, amounting to £12,000. yet only two had ever been claimed, so that Ireland must be regarded as in a state of civil war, calling for the most prompt and decisive measures.

On Feb. 12, Lord Althorp introduced the measures proposed by Government with reference to the Irish Church. He stated that the whole revenue of the Irish Church, including Bishoprics, &c. does not amount to £800,000. per annum; he proposes that in future there shall be only Two Archbishops and Ten Bishops; to abolish Deans and Chapters; to relinquish Church Cess or Assessments; to tax the Clergy on a graduated scale, and to place the proceeds in the hands of Commissioners to supply the repairs, &c. now provided for by the Church Cess, and to increase Small Livings, and to enable persons holding Beneficial Leases of Ecclesiastical property to purchase them in perpetuity, paying over the purchase money to Commissioners on the part of Government, who are to appropriate it in a way not yet stated. Lord A. calculates, that the graduated tax on the Irish Clergy will produce about £60,000. per annum; and the changing the Beneficial Leases into perpetual possessions between two and three millions.

The propositions were received with rapturous satisfaction by Mr. O'Connell; and well they might-their direct and obvious tendency is to plunder the Protestant Church, and to relieve the Papists, even if the latter should obtain no portion of the produce of the Episcopal Leases. The abolition of the Church Cess throws the repairs of churches, the expences attending public worship, &c. upon the Clergy, and on the Clergy exclusively; while another fearful clause is added, enabling the Commissioners to extinguish livings where the service has been neglected for three years; though the cause of that omission may have been, as, alas! in several instances at the present moment, the being driven away through peril of assassination. It is impossible not to regard these measures, as they were ably demonstrated to be by Sir R. Peel, Sir H. Inglis, Mr. Goulburn, &c. as a serious diminution of the rights and privileges of the Irish Church. We fear, however, in the present state of things, these measures will be carried triumphantly.

Earl Grey proposed in the House of Lords, on Friday, Feb. 15, a Bill with respect to Ireland, which empowers the Lord Lieutenant to pronounce any district in a disturbed state, authorizes magistrates to interfere summarily in certain cases-prohibits inflammatory publications-suspends the Habeas Corpus Act-and directs offenders against the public peace to be tried by Court Martials, and, if convicted, transported for life. The necessity of these powerful and decisive measures was acknowledged generally on both sides of the house. Severe as they are, we are convinced that nothing less can preserve tranquillity in Ireland.

Notices and Acknowledgments.

Received- PRESBYTER-COUNTY OF SOUTHAMPTON-HEREFORD-A

G. R.-J. R. L.-JULIETTA.-C. S.

CHRISTIAN GUARDIAN,

AND

Church of England Magazine.

APRIL 1833.

MEMOIR OF THE REV. DAVID BRAINERD.

THE success with which the unwearied labours of the apostolic Eliot were accompanied, did not terminate with his life: but was, through the divine mercy, instrumental in exciting others to engage in the same glorious work. He was succeeded in the more especial scene of his own labours, by Messrs. Peabody, T. E. and J. Mayhew, Bourne, Sergeant, Jonathan Edwards, West, and some native teachers, through whose instrumentality the divine work was carried on with various success, until the Indians became either gradually connected with the colonists, or migrated to distant parts, and were consequently reduced to a small number of individuals, retaining few traces of their original character. The remaining tribes suffered much in the American war, and were subsequently removed to a place called New Stockbridge, about three hundred and fifty miles from Boston, where they possess a territory six miles square, on which in 1812, there were four hundred and seventy-five Indians, most of whom professed Christianity, though their religion did not appear in a lively and flourishing state.

While however the work of God was thus carrying on in the scene of Eliot's labours, it pleased Him who doeth all things well, to raise up another eminently distinguished

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instrument, whose ministrations, though only continued for a few years, were yet crowned with surprising success; and whose exalted piety, devoted zeal, and extensive usefulness, may instruct, stimulate, and encourage ministers and missionaries in every age.

David Brainerd, third son of Hezekiah Brainerd, Esq. one of his Majesty's council for the colony of Connecticut in New England, was born at Haddam, in the county of Hartford, in that colony, April 20, 1718. He appears to have been carefully trained up by his excellent parents in the knowledge and practice of true religion; and though he was deprived of his father when only nine years of age, and of his mother also when about fourteen, their pious instructions were not lost, but sunk deep into his heart, and brought forth corresponding fruit. When only seven or eight years of age, he became alarmed at the thoughts of death, and concerned for the welfare of his soul; and though these impressions wore off after a time, yet they were eventually renewed, partly by the perusal of_that valuable work, Janeway's Token for Children,' but more especially on the death of his mother. now became frequent and constant in private prayer, felt much deadness to the world, and anxiously concerned to secure salvation. For

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some years, however, he was impeded in his spiritual course by various temptations, and especially by giving way to company and amusements. I was not,' says he, 'exceedingly addicted to company, but this I know, that I never returned with so good a conscience as I went with; it always added new guilt to me, made me afraid to come to the throne of grace, and spoiled those good frames I wont sometimes to please myself with.'*

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In 1737, when nineteen years of age, Mr. Brainerd entered on his farm, and continued engaged in agricultural pursuits for about a year, though very desirous of obtaining a more liberal education and employment. At the close of the year he relinquished his farm, and determining to devote himself to the work of the ministry, he parted with his young companions, and went to reside with the Rev. Mr. Fiske, at East Haddam, with whom he continued till Mr. Fiske's death. Here he experienced for some time great perplexity and distress of mind. "It pleased God,' he says, on one occasion, to give me on a sudden such a sense of my danger and the wrath of God, that I stood amazed; my former good frames that I had pleased myself with, all presently vanished; and from the view that I had of my sin and vileness, I was much distressed, fearing the vengeance of God would soon overtake me. I was much distressed, and kept much alone, and sometimes begrudged the birds and beasts their happiness, because they were not exposed to eternal misery, as I evidently saw I was. And thus I

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*Life of Brainerd, by President Edwards; from this valuable work we shall have occasion to extract largely. Many interesting facts and observations will also be taken from the Life of Brainerd, in the Church Missionary Register for 1816, 17, and from Brown's History of the Propagation of Christianity.

lived from day to day; sometimes there appeared mountains before me, to obstruct my hopes of mercy; and the work of conversion appeared so great, I thought I should never be the subject of it; but used however to pray, and cry to God, and perform other duties with great earnestness, and hoped by some means to make the case better.'

In these painful conflicts, of which a detailed account is given in President Edward's Life of Brainerd, Mr. B. continued for a considerable time; until at length, when almost sinking in despair, it pleased God to speak peace to his soul, and fill him with such discoveries of the way of salvation, by the righteousness of Christ, as removed at once all his alarm and apprehension, and filled him with joy and peace in believing. This sweet composure of mind, and this abundance of peace and consolation continued with him for some time, and though occasionally interrupted, appears to have refreshed and cheered him all his journey through.

In September 1739, Mr. Brainerd proceeded to Yale College, Newhaven, from which he was compelled in the following January to return to Haddam, in consequence of being severely attacked by the measles, from which he soon recovered and resumed his studies at college, with such closeness of application, as brought on an alarming degree of weakness, spitting of blood, &c. which compelled him again to return home. He however returned to college again in the following November, and continued there till about September 1741, when circumstances arose which finally terminated his collegiate residence, and which deserve a distinct notice.

There appears about this time to have been a considerable revival of religion in Newhaven, and many of the students at Yale College

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