children, as the housemaid left the room: "you have spoiled Mary's new clothes, and you will therefore give her a new gown, and cap, and collar, which you will pay out of your own money. And as you have behaved very ill and very rudely to the poor girl in blacking her face, you will both of you beg pardon for what you have done." The children's footman was accordingly dispatched forthwith into the town, with instructions to purchase a new gown, cap, and collar, for Mary; and as soon as these were brought up to the school-room, the little Princesses were sent by the Queen to carry them to her, and to ask her pardon for the trick they had played upon her. "Here, Mary," they cried, as they presented her with the things, "here is a new cap for you, and a collar, and a dress, and mamma says there is quite enough for flounces. And we beg your pardon for putting the blacking on your face this morning." And back they ran again to the OF SINNERS. school-room, declaring that they "did LONGING FOR THE CONVERSION not in the least mind giving Mary the new cap, and collar, and dress, but they did not like to beg her pardon.' Ir is said of the learned John Smith, "that he had resolved very much to lay aside other studies, and to travail in the salvation of men's souls, after whose good he most earnestly thirsted." Of Alleine, author of the "Alarm to Unconverted Sinners," it is said that "he was infinitely and insatiably greedy of the conversion of souls; and to this end he poured out his very heart in prayer and preaching." Bunyan said, “In my preaching I could not be satisfied, unless some fruits did appear in my work." "I would think it a greater happiness," said Matthew Henry, "to gain one soul to Christ, than mountains of silver and gold to myself. If I do not gain souls, I shall enjoy all other gains with very little satisfaction, and I would rather beg my bread from door to door, than undertake this great work." Doddridge, writing to a friend, resouls more sensibly than for any thing marked, "I long for the conversion of besides. Methinks I could not only labour, but die for it with pleasure." Similar is the death-bed testimony of the sainted Brown, of Haddington: Now, after near forty years' preaching of Christ, I think I would rather beg my bread all the labouring days of the week, for an opportunity of publishing the Gospel on the Sabbath, than without such, doing, for in due season you shall reap a privilege, to enjoy the richest possessions if you faint not.-Dr. James Hamilton. on earth." "O labour, labour," said he to his sons, "to win souls to Christ." Rutherford "could assure his flock that they were the objects of his tears, cares, fears, and daily prayers; that he laboured among them early and late. And my witness," said he, "is above, that your heaven would be two heavens to me, and the salvation of you all as two salvations to me.' : Fleming, in his "Fulfilment of Scripture," mentions one John Welch, "often, in the coldest winter nights, rising for prayer, found weeping on the ground, and wrestling with the Lord on account of his people, and saying to his wife, when she pressed on him for an explanation of his distress, I have the souls of three thousand to answer for, while I know not how it is with many of them.' Brainerd could say of himself, on more than one occasion, "I cared not where or how I lived, or what hardships I went through, so that I could but gain souls to Christ. While I was asleep, I dreamed of these things; and when I waked, the first thing I thought of was this great work. All my desire was for the conversion of the heathen, and all my hope was in God." YE SHALL REAP. "GIFTS OF HEALING." in Switzerland, has brought into public noA LAWSUIT which has taken place lately tice what has long been regarded with astonishment in private circles. It is well known what wondrous cures were effected, some years ago, by Pastor Blumhardt, merely by the efficacy of believing prayer. Now, in a village near the Lake of Zurich, in Switzerland, there have been for many years similar cures effected by similar stands at the head of an establishment, means. A woman named Dorothea Trudel whither persons afflicted with bodily and mental diseases, which had been pronounced incurable by ordinary treatment, healed. It is no holy well, nor place of suhave flocked in great numbers, and been perstition, but a holy family, consisting of Dorothea Trudel, her sister, four nurses, and Mr. Samuel Zeller, son of the venerable Mr. Zeller, of Beuggen, and brother-in-law of Bishop Gobat, of Jerusalem. All these assistants work night and day, attending to the patients, without remuneration, merely out of love to God, and gratitude for having themselves been healed in the institution. The history of the wonderful woman at the head of the institution, as it came out at the trial, is something as follows:-Being born of poor parents, her education was very THINK of this, you that are well-nigh much neglected. At the age of twenty-two, weary of well-doing; you that stand the sudden death of a young female, with alone in a godless household, and who whom she had lived on intimate terms, made sometimes grow disheartened amidst the a deep impression on her mind, and was, coldness, and the opposition, and the jeer-version. The severity of the trial through under Divine grace, the means of her coning; you who have enlisted under Christ's banner, but who, if you have not actually forsaken house and lands for His sake, have at least felt constrained to let pass many a golden opportunity; you who have been for years watching for a soul, if haply you might win it, and who still see it as far from the kingdom as ever; you who have long been contending with a wicked temper, or an unholy passion, and who dare not say that you have gained any sensible advantage over it-O! be not weary! Think of the joy of harvest. Think of the day when you shall rest from your labours, and these works shall follow you. Think of the day-the humbling, affecting, overwhelming day-when the cup of cold water will reappear as an ingredient in the everlasting glory. Be not weary in well which she at that time passed undermined believer might take to the risen and living them in the name of the Lord. The sick ness left them. It would seem that not only the bodily distemper was cured, but their minds were brought into a new relation to Christ. In the course of years she made many similar experiences, and by degrees made it the business of her life to visit the sick, and pray over them. Extraordinary cures often followed, in many cases suddenly. Contrary to her wish, sick people were brought to her house, and she had soon a little hospital. The medical men of the neighbourhood interfered to prevent her practising the healing art without a license, and she was fined and ordered to desist. She could not, however, desist, when people came to her house and begged her to pray with them, and as she used no other remedy than prayer, it seemed hard to prohibit her. By means of a legacy, she was enabled to procure a larger house, and the number of distressed people, afflicted with every disease, who sought her aid, increased. Night and day she toiled, nursing the sick and praying with them, without remuneration. The poor she fed gratuitously, from the rich she took a small sum to pay for their board. decide." The bodily cure follows the attainment of saving faith, or the lively exercise of that faith. The medical laws are designed to prevent quackery, not to prevent the physical benefits which flow from prayer. The charge that she prevents patients from applying to a regular physician in due time must fall to the ground; for there is no law to fix the time when any one must send for a physician, or to prescribe that every patient must submit to be treated according to the prescriptions of a college of surgeons. The fact is, that most of her patients are such as had already spent all their substance on the physicians, and were nothing better, but rather grew worse, and they came to her much too late; and it was no wonder if, after waiting for years in vain for a cure, the patient at last tried any plan by which he could only hope to be healed. She never used medicinal means herself, neither did she forbid any one to use the prescriptions of a licensed physician. The worst of all was, that the doctors brought the charge against her without ever once examining her establishment, and could not show a single case in which her treatment had produced evil effects. Let any of them say as much for themselves. The counsel for the plaintiffs admitted the truth of all that was said in favour of the institution, and granted that the medical men had no right to prohibit prayer and the laying on of hands; but insisted that some restraint must be laid on the crowding of so many sick persons to one place. The court thought otherwise, and acquitted her of every charge, throwing all the costs on her accusers.-News of the Churches. CONSCIENCE. Two sudden deaths took place, last year, of patients who had been residing at her house, and an investigation was instituted. At the instigation of the medical board, she was ordered to close the house within a certain time. She protested, in vain, that she used no medicines, that she prevented no one from using medicines, that she was a simple woman, who knew nothing about diseases, but only knew that her Saviour could heal every ill. It was in vain. The sentence of the court ran, that she had confessed to devote her time to the healing of disease, and, as she had no license, she must desist. On the advice of her lawyer, she appealed to the higher court. Hundreds of testimonials from the most eminent men in SwitzerTHERE is a warning concience, and a land and Germany were produced in her gnawing conscience. The warning confavour. Prelate Von Kapff, Professor Tho- science cometh before sin, and the gnawluck, and others, bore witness to her self-ing conscience followeth after sin. The denying zeal and earnest prayers. It was warning conscience is often lulled asleep; proved that she made use of no other means but the gnawing conscience wakeneth but prayer. The counsellor, Mr. Spondlin, her again. If there be any hell in this of Zurich, conducted her case at the supe- world, they who feel the worm of conrior court. In a splendid and powerful science gnaw upon their hearts, may speech, this worthy counsellor showed that fully say that they have felt the torments it was not a case with which the medical of hell. Who can express that man's men had anything whatever to do. Miss Trudel's whole influence was brought to bear anguish but himself? Nay, what horrors on the soul, and the healing of the body was himself? Sorrows are met in his soul are there which he cannot but express a mere accidental circumstance. She, as an experienced Christian, admitted to her house whoever came-rich or poor, and especially the sick, who most required spiritual comfort. She promises no one a cure, nor does she declare any sickness incurable, but declares to each patient, "If you only believe, you may be healed by prayer. Let God as at a feast; and fear, thought, and anguish divide his soul between them. All the furies of hell leap upon his heart as on a stage. Thought calleth to fear; fear whistleth to horror; horror beckoneth to despair, and saith, "Come and help me to torment this sinner." One saith she cometh from this sin; and another saith that she cometh from that sin; and so he goeth through a thousand deaths, and yet he cannot die. Irons are laid upon his body like a prisoner. All his lights are put out at once. He hath no soul fit to be comforted. Thus he lies, as it were, upon the rack, and saith that he bears the world upon his shoulders, and that no man suffereth that which he suffereth. So let him lie, saith God, without ease, until he confess and repent, and call for mercy.-Henry Smith. 1650. Correspondence. A PLEA FOR A MEMORIAL OF ST. Glasgow, and Dr. Cooke, of Belfast, the BARTHOLOMEW'S DAY, 1662. To the Editor of the English Presbyterian Messenger. DEAR SIR,-We do not seek to canonize the sainted worthies of former days, yet we desire to hold their memory in respectful remembrance. Gratitude for the blessings they conferred on mankind, the noble deeds they achieved, and the good examples they set, calls for this at the hands of their descendants. whole sum might be gathered in before the 24th day of August, 1862. I am, yours respectfully, PURITAN. [Our correspondent's idea has been anticipated, as will be seen by reference to what follows.] THE COLLEGE ENDOWMENT FUND. DEAR SIR,-You will greatly oblige the Committee by the insertion of the enclosed statement. Let me urge through you every Presbyterian to send in his or her name to the list for the College Endowment. It is most desirable that it should be as complete as possible, that every name should appear, and that every one should give something. I shall be happy to send circulars, and give all information to any one applying to The Presbyterians, more than any other denomination of Christians of the present To the Editor of the English Presbyterian Messenger. time, can justly claim to be the representatives of the vast majority of the "noble army" of confessors, if not martyrs-the 2,000 ejected Puritan ministers of the 24th of August, 1662. In what manner can we best testify our veneration for their memory and our admiration of the sacrifices they made at the call of conscience? What memorial is it in the power of Presbyterians to raise, so as to be at once permanent, and the means of doing good to future generations, and that shall likewise serve as a link to connect the Presbyterian me. Church of the future with the historical associations of the church of the Puritans? Nobody can deny that it is possible and 9, Well Walk, Hampstead. quite practicable for the Presbyterians of England, Scotland, and Ireland to raise £20,000 to form a Bicentenary Memorial Fund, to endow the professorships of the Presbyterian College, London. Such a memorial would provide the means of A movement was commenced in 1858-59 maintaining professors to train up preachers, well taught in the scriptural theology of the Puritans, and who would preach the faith and hold fast the "form of sound words" received from the giant theologians of the days of the Commonwealth. If this suggestion meets with the approval of Mr. Ritchie, the energetic treasurer of the College Fund, and if he could enlist in his service as assistants to raise the £20,000, such men as Dr. Hamilton, of London, Mr. Barbour, of Manchester, Dr. Candlish, of Edinburgh, Dr. Buchanan, of Yours very truly, March, 1862. WILLIAM FERGUSON. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN ENGLAND. Bicentenary Commemoration Fund for the to raise £10,000 for the endowment of the College in connection with the Presbyterian Church in England. A Committee was appointed by the Synod to take charge of the scheme, and by them the annexed circular was prepared and partially issued. From various reasons the matter was not at that time pushed forward, and it has since been allowed to rest. It has been considered that the present year forms a most favourable opportunity of resuming this scheme with vigour, and it is now sought to complete the old subscription of £10,000, and to apply the same to the endowment of the College; an act which, by giving permanency to a most important institution of the Church, is deemed a suitable and practical commemoration of the event which more than all others weakened, if it did not for a time destroy Presbyterianism in England. In connection with the Bicentenary of Bartholomew-day, August 24th, 1862, the scheme now proposed appears peculiarly seasonable, and, indeed, might be well regarded as the most suitable mode of commemorating that event which our Church could devise. No church in England has a better title than our own to claim affinity with "the noble army of martyrs," who, to the number of 2,000 ministers, bore testimony on that day to the power of Christian principle by abdicating their worldly all, and casting themselves and their families on the wide world, rather than yield compliance with terms which their consciences repudiated. It is matter of well-known history, that the great majority of these worthy ministers were in their judgments Presbyterians and Calvinists, attached to the discipline which we practise, and to the doctrines exhibited in our Confession of Faith and Catechisms. Nor were they less distinguished from other Nonconformists by solicitude to obtain the benefits of a liberal education and regular theological training for the candidates for the holy ministry. Driven from their chairs in Oxford and Cambridge, where many of them had officiated as professors or tutors, they set up theological seminaries in various parts of the country. These institutions, in the unhappiness of the times, destitute of resources, and wanting due superintendence, soon dwindled down into private academies. But for all we know of the great, the learned, and the good divines, who flourished in the better days of Presbytery in England, we are warranted in saying that, no object would have been dearer to their hearts than the establishment of a Presbyterian College, where, placed under the immediate eye of a Presbyterian Synod, the rising hopes of the Church might be imbued with the principles and the spirit of their fathers, and trained for the defence and propagation of that Gospel which they loved so well, and in behalf of which they had laboured and lost so much. Promises of support have been received from many of the friends of the Church. The following sums have been promised as a. beginning of the list: College Endowment Fund.-£10,000 in Three Years. Committee:-For London: Rev. Dr. Hamilton, Rev. William Chalmers, Hugh M. Matheson, Esq., Arch. T. Ritchie, Esq., John Johnstone, Esq. For Lancashire: Rev. Wm. M'Caw, Rev. A. Inglis, Robert Barbour, Esq., Thomas Bell, Esq. the North: Rev. J. Anderson, Col. A. Mackenzie, Jas. C. Stevenson, Esq., William Hay, Esq.; Rev. Dr. Hamilton, Convener; H. M. Matheson, Treasurer. For The best method of providing salaries for the Professors of the College, and of defraying the rent and other expenses of that institution, has long and seriously occupied the attention of the Church. A few years only had passed, after its establishment, when it became evident that the annual collections, enjoined on its behalf, did not suffice to meet the expenditure, and recourse was had to special contributions, guarantee funds, and other similar expedients to make up the deficiency. Recognising the necessity of giving greater stability to an institution so closely allied to the best interests of the Church, the Synod, at its last meeting, "after calling for the Report on the question of College Endowment, cordially adopted it, appointed a Committee (as given above), and remitted the matter to them, to use all diligence in prosecuting the scheme for raising £10,000 by personal applications to members and friends of the Church, in order thereby to secure an endowment for the College, and to report their success to next meeting." Complying with the injunction thus laid upon them, and anxious to carry out this |