gyleshire, a magistrate, who had more up to activity in the service of your God; | at Aberdeen. On one occasion, in Arand I rejoice unfeignedly in all the good you have been enabled to do. You alone can judge how far your original design (somewhat according to the first intentions of the Methodists) has been kept in view: but I apprehend that it is almost impossible for such weak creatures as we to execute any new projects, in such a manner as not to find, at a future period, that there was some room for improvement." zeal than discretion, might have been prosecuted for arresting Mr. Haldane and Mr. John Campbell, since well known as a missionary and traveller in Africa. Mr. Haldane, however, felt himself more than compensated for this foolish and vexatious interruption by the attention which it excited. The circumstance of two gentlemen on horseback, attended by a servant, being escorted thirty miles under a guard of soldiers, to the Sheriff's residence, of course awakened much interest; and after his liberation he returned over the same ground, and preached with more than his usual power in every part of the district, to large congregations of attentive listeners, who thronged in crowds to hear him, and many of whom afterwards traced their conversion to his preaching. It would here be out of place and unsatisfactory, to pursue the history of the unprofitable discussions on Church government, and other topics, which almost inevitably followed the establish ment of Independent Churches. Had it been the object of the Haldanes to gain a name, and become the founders of a sect, their ambition might easily have been gratified. The success which attended them from the Solway and Kintyre to Caithness and the Orkneys and Shetland Islands, was very great; their chapels also were well attended. But self-aggrandisement in any shape never formed part of their scheme, and their adoption of Baptist sentiments separated them from many of their friends with whom they had acted, and for whom they still entertained much esteem. Their mission was, not to establish a sect, but to uplift the fallen standard of the gospel. For the purpose of providing preachers, Mr. Robert Haldane also expended very large sums in the education of young men as minis-ring feeling to damp their zeal for the ters, both in England and Scotland, and the Continent. We believe the number amounts to little short of four hundred, amongst whom there have been several men of considerable eminence, such as Dr. Bussell, of Dundee, Mr. Orme, the author of the "Life of Baxter," Mr. Maclay, of New York, besides those who still survive. In the early part of their career their motives were often questioned, and it happened more than once that Mr. James Haldane was interrupted by country magistrates when preaching in the open air. This occurred in particular at Ayr, at North Berwick, and It may be said of both the brothers, that in all their undertakings for the promotion of religion at home they proceeded hand in hand. Although each was distinguished for a determined will, and strong adherence to his own views of duty, there was between them a remarkable harmony of design and oneness of spirit; and never, during their long and honourable course of mutual co-operation, was there one jar common object they steadily pursued. That object was the glory of Christ and the salvation of their fellow-men; and now that the career of both is closed, and death has affixed his seal on the record of their earthly labours, the simplicity of their holy aim, the depth of their hallowed benevolence, and the stedfastness of their lofty principle, will stand more plainly revealed. From the moment they undertook to devote their lives to labour in the gospel, there was no looking back to the gay world which they had left. Wealth, honour, worldly renown, and reputation, were all forsaken; nor did the seducing hope of earning a name and a place in the Chris- | singleness of heart the temporal blesstian world ever tempt their ambition. Whether they were right or whether they were wrong, their single desire was wholly to follow the Lord. In the matter of personal sacrifice, the one abandoned a beautiful estate, with the usual appendages of worldly position and influence; the other relinquished an honourable and then lucrative post, with the certain prospect of fortune. Both were content for a time to be sneered at by the world, and accounted madmen for the sake of Christ. Each dedicated intellectual talents of no common order to the same cause the one by his preaching, but still more by his writings; the other, by his writings, but far more by his preaching, taught and vindicated the same great truths. Whilst the elder brother was expending thousands and tens of thousands in the education of missionaries and preachers, in the erec tion of chapels, and the circulation of the Scriptures, the younger was, at his own cost, either travelling through the destitute parts of Scotland, and the north of Ireland, preaching the gospel to listening multitudes, or afterwards, for more than fifty years, discharging, without the shadow of worldly recompense, the duties of a stated minister. "Unwearied in well-doing," he was sustained in the field even to his eightythird year, exercising, with all the fervour of his vigorous manhood, the sacred functions of a devoted pastor, blessed in his work, and singularly recognised of God. Of him, over whom the grave has just closed, it might be truly said, that "he never feared the face of man," whilst in his untiring labours of love he furnished a bright example of that "pure and undefiled religion," which consists in" visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction," and keeping himself unspotted from the world. His private life was eminently happy. "He walked with God," enjoying with ings of a kind Providence, and, knowing in whom he had believed, persuaded that his end should be peace. His was indeed a green old age. His manly and commanding voice, his eye undimmed, and his hearing not impaired, his erect gait, gave few indications that his "natural force was abated." In the summer of 1848, he visited London for the last time, and attended the meeting of the London Missionary Society, of which he had been one of the earliest members. During his residence in the neighbourhood, he preached several times to large congregations in the Scotch Church at Woolwich. He had been invited to do so on the suggestion of an eminently pious and gallant officer of rank, to whom he was much attached, and by whom he had been long greatly valued. He was evidently both deeply interested and roused by his audience, and we have heard that the "word was with power." It was a striking spectacle to witness such a congregation of soldiers and marines, of all uniforms, each listening with fixed attention, as the octogenarian preacher earnestly and impressively urged on them the ministrations of the gospel, with all the fire and energy of his youth, only mellowed by the pathos and gentleness of age. In the following year he had an attack of gout, accompanied with fever. On his begun recovery, he wrote a few lines on the 4th of August, 1849, in which he thus concludes,-"I am weak and not able to write more. I have not preached for several weeks. The Lord may be pleased to bless the change of air for my recovery; but with long life has He satisfied me, and I am ready to depart when He sees fit." He did, however, recover all his ordinary health, and continued to preach, both in his own and other places of worship. His faith and hope seemed to brighten and exult. He used to say, that no one ever enjoyed the good things - of the world, till weaned from the world, and habitually remindful that we have no right to any earthly enjoyment. He at all times spoke of the termination of his career with serene cheerfulness, and wrote as follows only a few short weeks before his departure: "This is the last day of the year, and the last letter I shall write this year. My life has been wonderfully preserved, much beyond the usual course of nature. Goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life; and without the shadow of boasting, I can add, I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. May the blessing of God Almighty rest on you and yours!" His last illness was short and rapid. In a letter written but a few days before it commenced, he observed that he was remarkably well, but almost playfully added, that he did not forget that he was now on that part of Addison's Bridge of Mirza, where there were many pitfalls. An attack of gout, which was the only complaint to which he was liable, prevented his leaving the house on the first Lord's-day of February. On the Tuesday he became worse; but although suffering much pain, he prayed as usual with his family in the evening. The twenty-first chapter of Revelation was read, and his whole prayer had reference to the bright | and glorious city, with its streets of gold, its walls of jasper, and its gates of pearl. He seemed about to close, when he once more began, and prayed most earnestly, that all his family might meet together in the New Jerusalem. It was not then imagined that he had really entered the dark-flowing river, and was himself about to appear in the presence of God and the Lamb. But it was the last of those prayers, rich in spiritual grace and unction, which always so eminently marked the closeness of his communion with God. He survived till the 8th, but after this spoke but little, and, for the most part, seemed to slumber. The words "Great and precious promises," were repeatedly on his lips. Once he was heard to say emphatically, "To depart and be with Christ is far better," and "I shall be satisfied when I awake in his likeness." Shortly before his departure, he was asked if he was going to Jesus. A vivid smile lighted up his whole countenance as he instantly replied-"Oh! yes." These were his last words. But the close of such a life required no death-bed testimony, to the sustaining power of that gospel which had been the joy of his heart. No man had more fully preached the freeness of the gospel message. No man had more strongly proclaimed, that the oldest and most favoured Christian never entered heaven, but upon the same self-abasing terms as the thief on the cross. But none had, at the same time, more plainly declared his belief, founded on much personal experience, that for the most part men die as they have lived. His own life had been for fifty-seven years a bright example of a life of faith; and it was truly said of him, by his venerable friend and fellow-labourer, the Rev. Dr. Innes, in his funeral sermon, To him to live was Christ, but to die was gain." ACCOUNT OF THE FUNERAL. It is remarked in the Edinburgh newspapers, that his funeral, which took place on the 14th of February, “although intended to be strictly private, drew together a large concourse of the citizens of Edinburgh, anxious to do homage to his public character and private worth. No man was less disposed to court the applause of men, or indulge the semblance of ostentation; but the respect shown to his memory by the ministers and members of different religious communities in this city, is a noble demonstration of Christian sympathy with all that is exemplary in a long and consistent career of Christian devotedness." It is stated in another journal that, besides the usual cortège of mourning coaches, containing the succeeding his departure, honourable reference was made to his removal, in many of the pulpits of Edinburgh, by the ministers of almost every religious denomination. Nor was this tribute confined to Scotland; and the following testimony was borne to his public worth by one near London, whose own "praise is in all the churches:" members of his family and private friends, there were no less than six hundred ministers, elders, and private members of the different religious communities in Edinbugh. The Presbytery of the Free Church, in a body, headed by the Rev. Dr. Candlish, with their students, joined the procession in George-street. From the gate of the West Churchyard to the Church two rows of clergymen lined each side of the principal avenue, and uncovered as the coffin passed. There were present ministers both of the Established, Free, and Secession Presbyterian Churches, as well as Episcopalians, Baptists, and Independents, who thus united to pay a voluntary tribute of respect to the public services of a man, who, with his brother, the late Robert Haldane, of Airthrey, was honoured to do so much for the revival of religion in Scotland. The Scotsman, an exclusively political journal, remarks, that such a spontaneous tribute of respect "has rarely been paid to any private individual;" and another, that excepting the funeral of Dr. Chal-nary lot of the aged from the infirmities mers, "there has not been such an unsolicited demonstration of public feeling on any like occasion." "But few men, and but few ministers, whom I have known, have attained such a grade of Christian character, or commanded from all classes such a tribute of the homage of the heart. His matured proficiency in the knowledge of the Scriptures, his enlightened conscientiousness, his Christian dignity and decision, his unsullied consistency of character, and his persevering energy in doing good will not soon be forgotten, and ought to have the force of an attractive example. The mellowed excellencies of the Christian character appeared to great advantage in the autumn of his peaceful and useful life. He seemed exempted beyond the ordi and sufferings of protracted life; and as to him to live was Christ,' we are well assured that 'to die has proved ineffable On the two Lord's days immediately gain." MEANS BY WHICH TO DISLODGE TRACTARIANISM FROM NO. III. "I would they were even cut off which trouble you."—Gal. v. 12. PAUL was so deeply impressed with the evils arising from the efforts of the Judaizing teachers, that he longed to see them utterly excluded from the Churches of Galatia. They did not, indeed, impugn the main facts of the gospel, in reference to Christ and him crucified; but they maintained the antiChristian opinion that, except men were circumcised, Christ would profit them nothing; and sought to impose the rite of circumcision upon Gentile converts, who had never been under the Law of Moses. The effect of their teaching was, to destroy the true doctrine of Justification by faith, without the works of the law; and thereby to undermine the hopes of perishing sinners. We look upon these Judaizing teachers as the genuine types of our modern Tractarians; and as Paul desired to see the early corrupters of the gospel cut off from the Apostolic Churches, so, in like manner, do we desire to see the Romanizing party of this country dislodged from the ominous position which they now occupy in the Established Church of this great Protestant nation. The task of removing them, from certain complications which attach to the case, may be a formidable one; but there is nothing in it that should lead us to despair of ultimate success, if Englishmen, and especially Christian Englishmen, are true to themselves, and to the great and acknowledged principles of the Protestant Reformation. We are quite aware of the necessity of proceeding in our undertakings, with all the wisdom and caution which the occasion demands. We must not forget two facts:-1. That the Tractarians have been long and earnestly at work, without anything bordering on an effectual check,-the Letter of Lord John Russell, to the Bishop of Durham, being the only grave assault which has yet been made on the Romanizing party from high quarters; and, 2. That there are certain portions of the offices and formularies of the Established Church, which afford something like a sanction to some of the opinions and proceedings to which Tractarians have committed themselves. They have acquired strength by something like an unfortunate prescription; having been permitted, with but slight interruption, partially to indoctrinate our Universities, especially Oxford, and to publish their opinions from many of the parish pulpits of our native land. Two obvious evils have arisen from this protracted tolerance of Tractarian teachers: the first is, that they have become bold and confident by the endurance which has been extended towards them; and the second, is, that they have created a certain amount of sympathy for the "Church Principles" which it has been their practice to advocate for the last sixteen or seventeen years. They have made not a few converts both to their AngloCatholic theory, and to Romanism itself. As it respects the contradictory aspects of certain portions of the Book of Common Prayer, it must be allowed to be a grave difficulty. Tractarians endeavour to make it serve their notions of Baptismal Regeneration and Justification,-of Priestly absolution,―of Sacramental grace, and even of a modified Confessional. We will not conceal our impression, that many of the offices of the PrayerBook are equivocally expressed; and that they are just such in their character as to afford a pretext for those of Romanizing propensities. But while we are compelled to concede this; we cannot allow ourselves to lose sight of other important facts. The REFORMATION, then, is a great fact;-by which all our relations with Rome were not only disturbed, but absolutely annulled. Then, were not our Reformers men whose doctrinal and other views were at the very antipodes of those entertained by the adherents of the Roman anti-Christ? The Articles, too, of the English Church are so constructed as to oppose a strong and marked barrier to the creed of Rome, on almost all vital points. And more than all, the British people, from the days of the Reformation downwards, have proved their sympathy with the light and liberty of the Reformed faith; and have been gradually moulding their institutions in accordance with that spirit of manly freedom which Our Protestantism has breathed over the land. But granting the full force of the two difficulties named are they to deter this Protestant country from the honest performance of its duty? Because Tractarians have multiplied themselves in the land, and have fortified their position by their status as the professed ministers of a Protestant Church—are they to remain undisturbed in spite of that public opinion which is now setting in |