Review and Criticism.

Memoirs of the Life and Ministry of the Rev. Thomas Raffles, D.D., LL.D., etc. By Thomas Stamford Raffles, Esq., B.B., of the Inner Temple, Barrister-at-Law; Stipendiary Magistrate for the Borough of Liverpool. London: JACKSON, WALFORD, and HODDER, 27, Paternoster Row.

DURING the last few years, death has reaped a rich harvest from the ranks of the most eminent English Nonconformist Ministers; James, Reed, Cox, Burnett, Hamilton, Eckett, and Raffles, are names which, though they will not speedily be forgotten, no longer stand for those living men-earnestly devoted to the spread of the Gospel, unadulterated by human traditions, and unfettered by state policy—by whom they were once honoured.

Thomas, afterwards Dr., Raffles, whose memoirs are now before us, was born in Princes Street, Spitalfields, London, on the 17th of May, 1788. His father was a solicitor, much respected by his neighbours, and remarkable for his punctuality. His mother was a pious Wesleyan, and her example, combined with the religious services to which she frequently took him, "had considerable influence in forming his religious character, and in early directing his attention toward the Christian Ministry." Towards the end of 1801, or early in 1805, he became a member of the Independent Church at Peckham, of which the Rev. Mr. Collyer was pastor. In 1805 he became a student in Homerton College, where he was distinguished by propriety of conduct and diligence in his studies. In 1809 he accepted an invitation to the Pastorate of the Congregational Church assembling in George Yard, Hammersmith; in 1812 he removed to Liverpool, as successor to the lamented Spencer, and continued to labour there with great popularity and success until 1861, when, compelled by the infirmities of numerous years, he resigned the ministry which he had so long filled with credit to himself and advantage to the people among whom he laboured. He died on the 18th of August, in the faith and hope of the Gospel. Shortly before his death, being asked if he wanted his coachman, towards whose couch he had glanced, he replied, "No, I want Christ," and, soon after, he was heard to murmur two lines of a favourite hymn, altering one word, "Christ shall complete what Christ begins." These were his last words, and appropriately terminated the earthly utterances of one who, unseduced by the attractions of a vain philosophy and a Christ dishonouring rationalism, had perseveringly preached "Jesus

and the resurrection."

Dr Raffles, though not distinguished by the comprehensive intellect and great attainments of his friend Richard Winter Hamilton, possessed considerable mental powers, and a respectable amount of ancient and modern intellectual lore. In early life he was, according to his own testimony, as thin as one of Pharaoh's lean kine; but in after life he attained proportions which might have graced a London Alderman. It is surprising what geniality of disposition, in union with

other favourable conditions, can do in the way of improving a man's personal appearance. Though stout, the Doctor, as his well-executed portrait shews, was comely; his voice powerful and musical; his elocution correct and graceful; and his sermons were replete with evangelical sentiment and unction. Never shall we forget the impression made on us by a sermon which we heard him preach at Leeds, on Ezekiel's Vision of the Dry Bones, and on behalf of the London Missionary Society. The discourse, though read, was delivered with great energy; and its striking descriptions and powerful appeals told with great effect on the large and select audience to whom it was addressed. It was worth reading, which, unfortunately, we cannot affirm of all the sermons we have heard read by Dr. Raffles and other distinguished men. He composed many excellent hymns, and published several useful books.

The memoirs composed by his son, are a worthy tribute to the many excellencies of the departed, spoiled neither by an assumed coldness and impartiality, nor by undiscriminating and fulsome eulogy. The numerous extracts given from the correspondence of Dr. Raffles, prove that-his flow of wit notwithstanding the prevailing state of his mind was that of thoughtful earnest piety. Few ministers, we hope, will be able to read these memoirs without being led to admire and imitate his virtues.

Methodism as It Is, &c. &c. Part XX. London: W. REED, 15, Creed Lane.

THE next Part will complete the first volume of this unique and piquant work; we only have space for one extract from the present number.

THE CONFERENCE AND ITS VICTIMS.

"Instead of allowing our sympathetic feelings to be expended on the men who became the victims of intolerance, and especially the THREE Expelled, it is matter of exultation, as the sequel shews, that the Conference fell into such hands; into the hands of men who were equal to the task, against such pow erful odds, not only of defending themselves by argument, but of chastising the evil-doers, and who did what they could-at the risk of ministerial income and status, to prevent Protestant soil, in the midst of Protestants creeds and communities, from being disgraced by the establishment of an INQUISITIONthe crowning point of Buntingian policy. Though degraded in the esteem of the Conference, they could hold up as high a head as the Seven Bishops' who were committed to the Tower, while less leniently dealt with, for which they were more indebted to British law, than the Expelled to the Conference. Had the civil-law been under the control of the dominant party in Conference, it is not to say, as they were vindictive enough to condemn without evidence, how far the noted "THREE' might, as outcasts, have, in their fate, preserved in countenance THREE,' of still more ancient date, who were consigned to a fiery furnace. At all events, they could claim kindred with the "THREE STUDENTS' expelled from the university in the college-days of Wesley-their expulsion being followed by Macgowan's 'SHAVER,' as in the present case, in which a cleaner edge was given to the razor employed on chin and scalp, by the THREE WESLEYAN REFORMERS-laying bare, to the public eye, the des potism, subterfuges, and shameless conduct of an uncontrolled Priesthood.

"We close, by repeating, that the Authorship of the 'TEST ACT TESTED' has been ascribed to the pen of Mr. Everett, and of the FLY-SHEETS Via dicated to Mr. W. Griffith. We should regret to find any thing turning up,

in the course of enquiry, to contradict, or throw doubt upon it, as the works not only reflect honour on the men, but inflict a righteous and summary punishment on those who had treated them, with others of the Liberal party, with years of marked neglect and indignity, and who afterwards expelled them on bare suspicion, while the expellers themselves stood charged with unrefuted misdemeanours in the Fly-Sheets.' If the men had been the authors of the Fly-Sheets,' and the allegations had been false, they could not have been treated more basely and heartlessly. But of this there was not a particle of evidence, otherwise it would have been adduced. The title page of the 'Vindication,' in stating by One of them,' is only employed as a blind, by way of confirming the truth of the allegations placed on record by the writers, whomsoever they might be. He, as one' of the many-not who wrote them, but who believed in their truthfulness, vindicated' what he thus believed to be true, for which he assigns his reasons, and states his facts, In these two publications, in connexion with many others in defence of the allegations preferred in the 'FlySheets,' amounting to hundreds, the notorious GEORGE OSBORN, the WESLEYAN CONFERENCE, its DICTATOR, its 'Saintly PRESIDENT,' together with the CLIQUE, stand before the Church and the world in a position the most unen. viable. If ever the title selected by old George Withers, already quotedStript and Whipt,'-for one of his works was capable of being applied to any other subject than his own, it is to that of the exposé of the proceedings of the Conference of 1849, and to its antecedents, including the flagellation given to the principal actors in the drama. The hue and cry' raised against the 'FlySheets, induced people to look into them; and instead of 'putting them down,' in the language of Dr. Bunting, only brought them into greater notoriety; and though sixteen years have elapsed since their appearance, the CONFERENCE ferret, with its DECLARATION, is as far from the scent of authorship as ever. While, in front of the platform, where stand the suspected authors of the Fly-Sheets,' is printed in letters of gold-' NOT PROVEN,' we have engraved over the pillory, on which George Osborn, Dr. Bunting, Thomas Jackson, and Dr. Hannah, ignominiously stand a spectacle for posterity, the condemning and humiliating judgment—STRIPT and WHIPT."—pp. 623, 624. The Domestic Altar; or, Prayers for the use of Families for One Month. By the Rev. Ebenezer Temple, Rochford, Essex. Third Thousand. London: JoHN SNOW, 35, Paternoster Row. THIS manual has been composed to assist such heads of families, in conducting the devotions of their respective households, as from diffidence, or deficiency of extemporaneous power, need such aid. The prayers are comprehensive, evangelical, and sufficiently varied to prevent the weariness arising from vain repetitions; parents, anxious to bring down the Divine blessing on themselves and those belonging to them, will here find appropriate media for the expression of their desires.

By the Author Second Edition,

Life at Bethany; or, the Words and Tears of Jesus. of "Glimpses of our Heavenly Home," &c. Revised and Enlarged. London: JOHN SNOW, Paternoster Row. WE are glad to see this Second Edition of a book of which, when it first appeared, we spoke in terms of commendation. The Author has extended some of the chapters, and thereby enhanced the value of his work, which is eminently adapted for usefulness among the afflicted and sorrowful. It delightfully illustrates the glorious truth, that we have not an High Priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities," but one who having "himself suffered, being tempted, is able to succour them that are tempted."

Glimpses of our Heavenly Home; or, the Destiny of the Glorified. By the Author of "Life at Bethany," &c. Sixth Edition. London: JOHN SNOW, 35, Paternoster Row.

THIS handsome volume deals with a subject than which none should be more habitually present to the minds of Christians. "Where the treasure is there will the heart be also;" and he who is conscious that he has treasure in heaven will often think about it, and long after it. Of heaven we know nothing with certainty, but what has been revealed in God's word; and of its disclosures concerning it, the Author has skilfully and diligently availed himself. Without indulging in vain speculation, he has presented such a view of our "Heavenly Home" as cannot but comfort and stimulate to patient endurance the children of God who read his pages, and often lead them, like John Bunyan, as they gaze upon the inhabitants of the celestial city, witness their happiness, and listen to their songs, to "wish themselves among them. The work has attained to a sixth edition, a somewhat unusual thing in this book-making age, of which it may be said, in reference to its literature, as well as its population, "One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh." The Lighted Way; or, Loving Words about Jesus. By Cousin Bessie. London: HENRY JAMES TRESSIDDER.

AN excellent, as well as neatly got up, little book; "Cousin Bessie " has the rare art of being able to write "loving words about Jesus" in a way likely to interest the young and lead them to Him. A Review of the "Vie de Jesus" of M. Renan: containing Discussions upon the Doctrine of Miracle, the Mythical Theory, and the Authenticity of the Gospels. By J. B. Paton, M.A. London: H. J. TRESSIDDER, 17, Ave Maria Lane, 1864.

This is a republication of Essays which appeared, a few months ago, in the London Quarterly Review. We then expressed a hope that they might be published in a separate form, and now welcome them, in this neat portable volume, as a valuable addition to the Christian literature of the nineteenth century. The brilliant, but fallacious, Frenchman looks very foolish under Mr. Paton's dissecting knife; we wish a copy of the "Review" could be put into the hands of all our reading thoughtful young men, as a preservative against both Continental and home-bred infidelity.

The Juvenile Missionary Herald, 1864.
TRESSIDDER.

London: HENRY JAMES

A VALUABLE serial, well adapted to interest the young in the great Missionary enterprise; it should be in every family.

Tracts Received from H. J. TRESSIDDER.

Learn of Me.

The Merry, Merry Bells.

The High Way and the Low Way. By INSPIRED PENMEN. Be ye Holy; A Motto for 1865, By THE REV. Isaac Page.

Biography.

MEMOIR OF MR. BENJAMIN BURGIN, OF THORPE HESLEY, MOUNT TABOR CIRCUIT, SHEFFIELD. BY MR. HENRY BUTCHER.

THORPE HESLEY, will be unknown to most of the readers of the Magazine, but it has a prominent notice in the "Historical Sketches of Methodism, in Sheffield and its vicinity. By James Everett, 1823." From that work we learn that Methodism was introduced into it, in 1738, and that, probably, the first barn in connection with Wesleyan Methodism, was consecrated as a temple for public worship in this village.

A society was formed here before Mr. Wesley visited it, which he did on his first coming to Sheffield, in 1742. In reference to this visit, he says, "I was received as an angel of the Lord, and experienced a deeper sense of the presence of God than in Sheffield."

From that time to this, God has raised up in this village, persons who have been able to bear similar testimony to the power of divine grace, and who, after finishing their course, have been joined to the multitude before the throne, who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

The Reform Society in this place, became part of the Mount Tabor Circuit, Sheffield, in May, 1863. At that time the Society included two local preachers, five leaders, and sixty-five members. The subject of this memoir was one of the leaders. Benjamin Burgin, was born at Thorpe Hesley, Yorkshire, April 11th, 1830. His parents, at that time, were not professors of religion. He, however, attended church along with his mother, where the Rev. J. Richards, a godly and useful man, was the officiating clergyman. Under the ministry of this good man, Benjamin's mother was savingly converted to God. Her joy was unspeakable, and full of glory. At times she felt difficulty in restraining her feelings in the Church. Her son, then only thirteen years of age, became her companion and friend. He read to her, as he had opportunity and ability, and encouraged her to go on. His own conversion took place among the Wesleyans, when he was between seventeen and eighteen years of age. His sorrow for sin was deep, and his subsequent joy was proportionate; indeed, it was so great, and the excitement that accompanied it such, as to lead some people to suppose he was about to die, and, under that impression, they sent for his mother who was in the harvest-field. They, however, did not understand his state; for instead of dying, he was just beginning to realise new and spiritual life.

He was a consistent member of the Wesleyan Society, until the agitation of 1849-50, when he, and a number of others, were expelled from the Connexion. A Reform Society was then organised, of which he was a member, and on the erection and opening of a new chapel and schoolroom, in 1856, he was appointed the first superintendent. From that hour his religious experience seemed to undergo a change. For a time he was severely tempted, and his mind much harassed with the thought that he had been elevated to a higher position than he ought to occupy; but he found comfort in this reflection, "They have put me into the office, and I will do my best." When referring to this circumstance, he would add, "The Lord has always helped me." He did all he could to sustain the character and influence of the cause with which he stood connected. He felt that he was responsible to God, in some degree, for the prosperity of the work in which he was engaged; hence whatever he could do, he did cheerfully as unto the Lord.

The same spirit and conduct characterised him as a leader-he did