nity," ," &c.: but there is no such inconvenience in telling the people what are the Psalms for the day; a proper pause for which occurs while they are looking out the place, and does not interrupt the service. I never felt the want your correspondent mentions of a better collect for the second Sunday after Christmas-day, than that of the Circumcision which the church enjoins to be then used, provided it is not superseded by the Epiphany. Our Lord's circumcision is an event in his life so peculiarly connected with the great object of his incarnation, and also with the substituted sacrament of Baptism, that I cannot think the church has given it too much prominence in allowing the admirable collect founded upon it to be now and then, though very rarely, used. I had rather it could have been so managed without interfering with the Epiphany, as always to be used for one Sunday every year. At present it has the same disadvantage as many other solemn services, of falling on week days, when either Divine worship is not celebrated, or few persons are at church. Neither, again, is there any want of a Collect, Epistle, or Gospel for the twenty-sixth Sunday after Trinity, when a twenty-sixth Sunday occurs; as it is expressly directed that the Collect," Stir up, we beseech thee;" with its accompanying Gospel, and portion for the Epistle, shall be used on that day; other Collects, Epistles, and Gospels, being prescribed for the preceding Sunday or Sundays. Had your correspondent's suggestion been followed, we should have had fiftythree collects for fifty-two days. There is, however, some confusion arising from the collision between the moveable and immoveable days, which could not be avoided without making all the days fixed, instead of regulating some of them by the moon. In secular matters the inconvenience of the moveable festivals has been found so great, that an act of parliament has recently been passed for making the law terms fixed days; but few of our clergy, it is presumed, would wish to introduce the same regulation into the Church Calendar. For one, however, I confess I discern no abstract benefit, and much inconvenience in following the Jewish calendar, which renders an annual Almanack an indispensable companion to the Prayer-book; but the practice originated so early, and has been so familiarized and endeared by long usage, that I should not wish to see it changed. The inconvenience to which your correspondent alludes, cannot be avoided by any regulation, while we continue to make the variable feast of the Passover, typifying our great Christian Passover, the regulating epoch of any of our festivals. Your correspondent's recommendation to the clergy to read both the Saint's-day and the Lord's-day Collect, where Saints' days occur on Sunday, is quite anti-rubrical. The reader may doubt which is right, but both cannot be right. It were better for every clergyman to make up his mind as to which is best, and to adhere to it; but not to blend the two, and thus to lengthen a service, too long perhaps already. Your correspondent purposes to continue his remarks. Should any thing occur in them that appears to me desirable to be replied to, I will request permission to continue my observations upon them; not, however, meaning any thing unfriendly to the Ritualist, whom I beg leave, for one, to thank for his suggestions, though in some I differ from him. LITURGICUS. MISCELLANEOUS. ORIGINAL MEMORANDA OF CALVIN, FAREL, VIRet, and bEZA. (Concluded from p. 676.) 1568. March 18th.-M. de Beza declares, in the name of his colleagues, that the members of council ought to have the precedence of them in all public ceremonies; and that it is giving too much honour to the ministers to wish to mix them with the councillors, giving them the left hand. Resolved, to take their advice. April 20th.-M. de Beza having approved the comedy written by Jean Bienvenu, on the renewal of fellow-citizenship, it is permitted to be acted. May 14th.-M. de Beza refuses, although ill, a present of twelve crowns, which was therefore given to Pre Carpentier. June 7. Although M. de Beza earnestly entreated not to be exempted from going to visit the infected, his colleagues refused his request; not in order to spare him, but because it is right to preserve him as long as it shall please God. 1570. March 2d.-Theodore de Beza declares, that, his oath as a pastor obliging him to discharge all the functions of his office, of which one of the most important is to visit the sick; he cannot be at peace in his conscience while the council does not permit him, as well as his colleagues, to perform this part of his office. This request being considered just, the ministers were allowed to draw lots for Beza, as well as the others, to know who should be entrusted with the visi tation of the sick. Oct. 17th.-Theodore de Beza having requested leave of absence to visit his own country, to arrange his little property, and particularly to settle the affairs of his young nephews, the children of his brother lately deceased, it is resolved to grant it to him; representing to him how great is the public sacrifice, as there is danger in the journey, and his presence is wanted here. 1571. March 1st.-Leave granted to M. de Beza to attend the synod of La Rochelle, where Messrs. Viret, de Saules, and many other illustrious men, will be present. 1572. April 21st.-Refused to send M. de Beza to the synod of Nismes, for fear lest our church, not being one of the French churches, should be accused of wishing to assume for itself some superiority over the rest, &c. At length it is agreed to, upon the representation of the ministers, who declare that, with the exception of Beza, no one of them has either the authority, the experience, or the knowledge necessary to execute this commission. His presence was very useful there, and it appears that nothing would have been done without him. 1573. Aug. 10th.-Resolved, to suppress the edition of M. de Beza's book, entitled, De Jure Magistratuum; because Messrs. Roset, Varro, and Bernard, who were employed to examine it, have reported that it contains obnoxious truths. 1574. June 8th.-The ministers present themselves in a body to the council, to complain, first, of the negligence of the people, in not frequenting the sermons on week-days, except those of M. de Beza, which respect of persons is displeasing to them; secondly, of the licentiousness and dissipation of the youth; thirdly, of the duration and multiplicity of suits which the lawyers occasion, and often unnecessarily; fourthly, of the luxury of dress, many persons wearing handkerchiefs worked with gold, embroidered petticoats, and bracelets and rings of gold, &c. Dec. 28th.-M. de Beza having been called before the council, to address them upon the election which is pending for lords syndics, he did it at great length, with many holy and excellent remonstrances, according to the grace which God has bestowed upon him. 1577. Feb. 28th.-A cask of old wine given to M. de Beza, because he has none but new. 1580. Feb. 13th. The lord of Sancy, ambassador from France to Switzerland, having entreated Messrs. Roset and Beza to confer with him at Vufflens, spoke to them as follows, according to M. de Beza's account: "The king, knowing that you have always preserved love for your country, and that you have always sympathised in the misfortunes which have befallen it, has charged me to tell you that he is sorry for what has passed, and for having consented to many things, of the consequence of which he was not aware, on account of his youth. Many persons have been put to death on suspicion of being his enemies, although they were not so: but now they do not make any religious distinctions; for he knows that those of his own faith, who have least occasion to be unsettled, form great enterprises; and because the mischief on the side of religious persons proceeds from a distrust not altogether groundless. The king wishes that you would point out to him some means to dissipate it, and to preserve peace, although he is entreated to make war." To which Sp. de Beza answered; "I am too insignificant to deserve that so great a king should inquire even if I am alive; and for him to desire to have my advice upon an affair of such importance," &c. 29th. The ministers allege, in order to induce the government to suppress the presidencyship for life, that the devil has made a breach in the church of God, by the establishment of different ranks and dignity among the pastors; and that we must prevent his insinuations, which begin in very small things: that God had raised up formerly in this church the late M. Calvin, a person of great merit, and that he had endowed him with very peculiar gifts: that, from the veneration which he inspired, they saw him, with pleasure, exercise the office of president without having been called to it by any election, &c. May 13th.-Henry Stephens was excommunicated, and put into prison for having printed a book full of scandalous things, quite unbecoming a Christian; for having failed in respect towards M. de Beza, who reproached him with the abuse which he made of his talents, and with his bad character, being commonly called the Pantagruel of Geneva, and the prince of atheists; in short, for having said that it was necessary to be a hypocrite in order to please the consistory. Dec. 30th.-M. de Beza having insisted very strongly, in his remonstrance in council, on the subject of the election of the syndics, upon the abuses which take place in the administration of justice, &c.; this kind of censure urged sometimes with too much warmth, and but little foundation, being likely to have disastrous consequences, and cause, perhaps, some uneasiness among us, it was resolved no longer to summon the ministers to the council in such cases. 1583. Oct. 25th.-James Lect is appointed professor of law, on the testimony which M. de Beza gives to his capacity and great learning. 1586. Dec. 14th-Nine lords of session have presented to the council a very long remonstrance, to prove the extreme necessity which there is to take arms against the duke of Savoy; upon which it was resolved, on account of the great importance of the subject, to pray God to direct us to good measures; and that we will consult M. de Beza. 1588. April 28th.-A letter was received from Berne, very honourable to M. de Beza, and to thank us for lending him to assist at the synod of Berne. 1591. March 12th.-Sp. de Beza has remitted ten crowns for his contribution, declaring that he had only two hundred for his whole estate: upon which it was resolved to restore them to him, because he was the first to contribute, and for his good will. Nov. 3d.-M. Chevalier, our deputy to the court of France, having taken leave of the king, this prince said to him, "Assure your lords, that if God gives me the means I will let them know that I ever have been, and still will be, their friend, both as king of Navarre and king of France. Say the same thing to M. de Beza, and beg him to pray for me. Our necessities are so great that sometimes the gentlemen who serve me have no thing to live upon. I hope that the churches will do something." 1597. May 20th.-Six loads of good corn, and six gallons of wine, are ordered for M. Theodore Beza, who is in want. 1605. Oct. 15th.-The ministers have expressed strongly their grief at the death of the late M. de Beza, who was a shining light in the house of the Lord, and who has shewn throughout his life a beautiful example of union and kindly intercourse with our rulers. N. B. The council decreed on this occasion, that the councillors and ministers shall in future be buried in the cloister of St. Peter, as a mark of distinction. Dec. 10th.-The council represents to the ministers, on the subject of the difference respecting the precedence of the pastors, that they have had a beautiful example of humility, and submission to the magistrates, in Messrs. Calvin and Beza, holy men, blessed and honoured by God: and that in case of longer resistance, the magistrates will not want the necessary courage becoming their office, to bring back these said ministers to their duty; although, in an affair of this nature, there is no need to employ extraordinary courage. 1608. Nov. 5th.—The ministers have declared that they approved of the council wishing to employ in the service of this church, men as fit, and who possessed such great talents, as M. le Faucheur; but that they could not relinquish the truth of God, and consent to his call while he was united to the church d'Annonay; that it would be as if one should say to a husband, Come and leave your wife; and that we are like a city set upon a hill, which if it deviates ever so little from its duty great scandal will arise. 14th.-The Sr. Lect, replied by a serious discourse, that by so many relapses the magistrates were daily more and more convinced of the justice of the complaints which the late M. Beza, that servant of God, made in their council against some of these ministers, whom he called incorrigible men, and full of their own opinion; and by his will exhorts the magistracy to correct, as soon as possible, those men whom he calls fluttering men, full of presumption, void of sense and of sound judgment. 15th. The ministers acquiesce in the wishes of the council, and the two bodies send to ask the Sr. le Faucheur from the church of Annonay, through the medium of the councillor Sarasin. LAND, TITHES, AND Poor. Tothe Editorofthe Christian Observer. In the View of Public Affairs in your last Number, you hint at the possibi lity of benefiting the great majority of the community, particularly the manufacturing and commercial interests, and the artisan and labourer, by allowing an unrestricted trade in the necessaries of life; and at the same time affording compensation to the landed interest for the loss of its protection, by abolishing the poor laws, which would also be the greatest boon to the poor themselves. After reading your remarks, I threw them into the following form, which will afford your readers a succinct view of some of the propositions involved, I presume, in the recommendation, and thus afford a basis for further discussion:Whereas it is just and expedient that manufacturers, merchants, and all other persons should enjoy every facility for sending their goods to the best market; and whereas it is also just and expedient, that all persons should be permitted to obtain whatever articles they require, and particularly corn and other necessaries of life, in the cheapest market, or wherever they please; and whereas both these objects would be greatly promoted by encouraging unrestricted trade; be it enacted, that all persons may in future send their goods to whatever market they think fit, at home or abroad, and bring back whatever they please in return, subject only to a moderate scale of duties as hereafter specified. And whereas the land-owners and tithe-owners have of late years enjoyed protection by means of restrictive duties on the importation of corn and other articles, which protection would cease upon the permission of free trade on low duties; and whereas it is desirable to afford these important interests every advantage which can be afforded without injury to others; and whereas the poor's rates press with peculiar weight upon these interests and their abolition would afford considerable relief, thus compensating for the loss of the aforesaid protection; and whereas the poor's CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 348. rates are founded in injustice and impolicy, it not being just to tax one man merely to support another, or politic to afford national encouragement to mendicity and improvident marriages; and whereas the poor themselves are the greatest sufferers by the system, the average rate of wages being ruinously lessened thereby, and the price of food increased, so that many who but for these laws could maintain themselves comfortably, are thus, without knowing how, reduced to pauperism; and whereas every measure for relieving the distresses of the poor will fail of its effect so long as they are ground down by the operation of a system which, while it professes to benefit them, consigns them to poverty and degradation; be it enacted, that no person shall henceforth have any legal claim to relief from the public purse, but every man shall be allowed according to the laws of God's providence, to better his condition and maintain his family to the best of his power, without any restriction except not to injure his neighbour,-leaving to Christian charity the bounden duty and privilege of administering to the wants of those who require assistance; and where there are not relatives or others who have it in their power to administer it. A FRIEND TO LAND, ON QUAKERS PAYING TITHE. Tothe Editorofthe Christian Observer. As it is possible that your pages find their way to the hands of some members of the Society of Friends, I would respectfully submit to them the following query: Is it just to rent or purchase a piece of land charged with tithe for a far less sum than they would give for it if not burdened with that charge, and then to decline paying the legal demand? I do not urge the ques5 E |