We believe that the daring aggressions of Rome, led on by the Popery of the National Church, will minister to the consummation which we anticipate. Let Dissenters, then, of the devout and evangelical class, not allow themselves to forget that they are Britons and Protestants, irrespective of their Congregationalism. Whatever some of their number may think or teach, at this momentous crisis, let them not fail to avow their patriotism as Britons, and their abhorrence of Popery, as a section of the great Protestant family. Just because they are not encumbered by the conditions of a Church-and-State-Protestantism, let their voice, at this moment, wax louder than that of their brethren, against the insolence of the late Bull of Pius IX.; and if they believe that the project which he now aims to accomplish would augment the power of Antichrist in these realms, let them employ all lawful and Christian means to frustrate and bring to nothing his dark and mischievous designs. We are Congregationalists, indeed; but inasmuch as we are British subjects, and earnest friends of the Reformation, we will not be prevented from lifting up our voice, like a trumpet, against the Roman Pontiff's interference with the rights and liberties of this Free, Independent, and Protestant realm.

Upon these Protestant principles the EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE has hitherto been conducted; and though other views are now contended for, by certain of our brethren, we have seen none of their arguments which have convinced us that they stand on solid ground.

If spared to enter upon a new year, we hope to convince all unprejudiced men that Dissenters are in the best possible position, politically and religiously, for maintaining the conflict with Rome. Meanwhile, we offer to Her Majesty's Government our hearty thanks for their noble determination to resist the impudence of what has been falsely called the Holy See; and pray that they may have wisdom and courage given them from on high to fulfil the best hopes of the country.

THE

EVANGELICAL MAGAZINE,

AND

MISSIONARY CHRONICLE.

FOR JANUARY, 1850.

SKETCH OF THE CHARACTER AND LABOURS OF
THE LATE REV. JEHOIADA BREWER,

DURING HIS MINISTRY IN SHEFFIELD, FROM 1783 to 1796.

becoming a student in the "Masborough Academy," or, as it is now styled, “Rotherham College." The Rev. Doctor has kindly complied with our request in furnishing the following particulars:

"In 1782, several members of the church at the Nether Chapel, in con

that the opportunity had arrived for attempting to provide more extensive means of grace than at that time existed, for the town of Sheffield, whose population was then estimated at 40,000. The utmost extent of public accommodation for evangelical worship could scarcely be regarded as adequate to 1800 attendants. In this opinion they were encouraged and aided by the evangelical Dissenting ministers of Masborough, Stannington, Penistone, Huddersfield, Holmfirth, Chesterfield, Wakefield, and probably other places.

THERE is an inherent tendency in the human mind, which developes it self even in childhood, to inquire re-junction with other persons, thought specting the beginning of things. According to this law of our mental constitution, we derive a sense of pleasure and satisfaction in being able to trace a thing to its source, whether it may happen to be a river, a nation, a family, or a religious community. To those who cherish, with the heart's deep devotion, the principles of Nonconformity-for the assertion of which our forefathers had so much to suffer-it will be ever felt interesting to trace a flourishing Dissenting congregation to its commencement. We purpose, therefore, to take a glance at the origin of the Independent church and congregation assembling for Divine worship in the Queen Street Chapel, Sheffield, with a sketch of the character and labours of its first minister.

The father of the venerable and highly esteemed Dr. J. Pye Smith was one of the original deacons, and himself was a member of this church previous to his

VOL. XXVIII.

"By the liberality chiefly of Mr. John Read, Mr. Thomas Vennor, and Mr. William Smith, (of the Chesterfield family), they were enabled to erect the chapel in Queen Street. For some months previously they worshipped in a school-room in Milk Street. The Rev. Thomas Grove, of Masborough, intro* At the last census, in 1840, the population was 110,000.

B

duced them to the knowledge of the Rev. Jehoiada Brewer, of Rodborough, Gloucestershire. He soon became their pastor. His ministry was ACCEPTABLE, POPULAR, and VERY USEFUL.".

Such is the brief but interesting statement of particulars which Dr. Pye Smith has supplied. There was a remarkable circumstance connected with Mr. Brewer's removal to Sheffield, which we here relate on the authority of a venerable saint, lately deceased, Mr. George Richardson, who heard it from Mr. Brewer's own lips.

While minister at Rodborough, on the Saturday night he dreamt it was the Sabbath; and that after he had ascended the pulpit and commenced the service, he saw a stranger, whom he had never seen before, enter the chapel and sit down in a certain pew. He thought that, after the service, this person came into the vestry to speak to him, and gave him an invitation to Sheffield. On the next day, being Sunday, and while engaged in the public service, he actually saw the gentleman whose likeness had been presented to him in his dream, walk into the place, and take his seat in the identical pew. This proved to be no other person than Mr. John Read, who, at the conclusion of the service, went into the vestry, and informed Mr. Brewer that his business was to propose to him a journey to Sheffield.

man of Mace

son to believe that he looked upon it in
the light of a Divine intimation of the
path of duty; something similar to
Paul's vision of the
donia," who cried, "Come over into
Macedonia and help us!" and, like the
apostle, "assuredly gathering that the
Lord had CALLED HIM to preach the
gospel" in the locality indicated.

Mr. Brewer was a man of no ordinary
stamp. In personal appearance he was
well built, possessing a bodily constitu-
tion capable of sustaining a great amount
of physical labour and mental effort, as
the fact that he regularly preached six
times a-week, beside attending his other
engagements, will sufficiently attest. He
had a voice of great power, flexibility, and
compass, which he could so modulate as
to melt into the tenderness of Christian
sympathy, or swell into thunder tones,
as he urged on the impenitent sinner
the certainty of future retribution, and
the terrors of the final doom. He had
a countenance indicative of great energy
and decision, deriving peculiar expres-
siveness from a dark, piercing eye,
which, as he gave utterance to the
stronger emotions of the soul, was wont
to flash with the fire of intense anima-
tion.

As a preacher, he was eminently While he explained and PRACTICAL. defended the doctrines of the gospel as a system of revealed truth, with no common ability and earnestness, he ever urged upon his hearers the great fact, that the religion of Christ is not a mere speculation, but a serious, per

This circumstance is related simply as a fact resting upon indubitable testimony, but without expressing any opinion respecting it. Whether the "Philosophy of Dreams" may be able satis-sonal, and practical reality. He infactorily to account for it purely on natural principles, by referring it to some subtile process of mental association, or to any other cause, involves questions which are left for those who feel themselves competent to settle them. It is certain that Mr. Brewer regarded it as being an extraordinary circumstance, which practically contributed to free his mind from all doubt or hesitation in accepting the call. There is every rea

sisted that true piety essentially consists, not in the mere assent to a theory, however true, but in the operation of those living principles which sanctify the heart and regulate the conduct, those vital springs of thought and motive, whose governing influence equally applies to a man's "business," as to his "bosom"-to all that a man does and to all he feels.

It need scarcely be added that Mr.