for the rough experiences even of Christian life, and the varying shades of human mind, yet hope sped forward to the period of yet prophetic promise when all shall be one as Christ and the Father are one, and millennial glory shall exhibit what the benevolent theorist now pants for in vain. The kindred spirit of the Rev. Haldane Stewart drank in the loving sounds, and his kind heart beat warm response to every word. But to complete the representation of the Church of England, there was another of her sons of younger and not less spiritual tone, (the Paul of modern days) whose heart and soul, and mind and strength, in all the vigour of his manly prime are set for the defence of "the truth as it is in Jesus," illustrating in word and deed, the well known saying of one whose memory he reveres, "Charity beareth all things, Faith nothing!" and refusing to "elevate man's sincerity upon the pedestal of eternal truth, and make God's revelation bow down before it," boldly disclaims all fellowship with the worshipper of Mary, however sincere his idolatry, and with the denier of the Deity of Christ, however sincere his infidelity, but yielding to the preferences of others all that he demands for his own, is ready with a cordial heart and an open hand to greet as brethren, of whatever country, or kindred, or people, or name, all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and receive his word as their rule of faith-proclaiming that Christian union in this present world consists not in uniform adoption of visible things, as one house, one fund, one dress, one liturgy; but in the greater, and higher, and nobler principles of "one Faith, one Lord, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all." Such a man of comprehensive mind, sanctified intellect and devoted heart, uniting the digni

fied simplicity of our noble reformers with the bold energy of Martin Luther, formed by the grace of God in moulding of no common stamp, blending in harmonious combination for the varying duties of his station, the softest Christian tenderness that can kneel in sympathy beside a suffering infant's couch, with a penetrating faithfulness that would make a monarch tremble. Such was the host of D'Aubigné, a congenial spirit to welcome the representative of Continental Protestantism.

On his right hand, pre-eminent in manifest enjoyment, was Dr. Raffles, the very personification of Dissent in good humour, surprised into a new position, in the discovery that where, surveying from a distance, he had imagined a barrier of icebergs arrayed along an unfriendly shore; he had found in reality a band of warmhearted Christian brothers, to whom the love of the same Lord and Saviour, was a sufficient letter of introduction. And perhaps no moment of that morning was more replete with interest, more productive of that pleasurable emotion which has no adequate expression in forms of speech, and finds its best relief in involuntary tears, than when the Doctor with beating heart and faltering voice, asked, turning an inquiring look to the Rev. Hugh M'Neile, ' May I not call you Brother?' And the quick and generous response was the offer of the hand, and the sight of the brethren, Churchman and Dissenter, hand in hand, excited a thrill of plea sure, and roused a burst of rapture through the Hall.

But at a short distance from this prominent group, sat the representative of another Church in Britainthe Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland, with a cold and flinty countenance, befitting a leader in some Scottish movement. The covenanters would have been

proud of such a head. Stern determination, patient endurance, intellectual energy, and calm judgment, traced their distinguishing characteristics on his brow, and the cold eye, and compressed lip, gave no sign of the feelings that might be treasured within, until with his own spirit stirring eloquence, one who knows how to appreciate such deeds of spiritual chivalry, paid the high tribute of his admiration to the disinterested heroism of the men, however differing from them as to the necessity of the measure; when he spoke of their devotedness, their zeal, their self-denial, their sacrifices, then the Moderator's was full; at the honourable mention of his country and his church, then the rock was smitten, the ice melted, and in vain he struggled to repress the conquering tear-it was a tribute in return to a brother's affectionate and glowing commendation, of which he need not be ashamed.

Such were some of the Representatives of British Christianity assembled to welcome a Presbyterian from Geneva, and a Free Pastor from France. At this crisis in the history of our country, when the Government of England is in the act of descending from the high ground of Protestantism, on which alone she has ever prospered; when in vain the indignant protest of the bulk of the nation has heaped expressions of public opinion on the tables of Parliament, and pressed them even to the foot of the throne, at such a moment the visit of Merle D'Aubigné, whose name stands connected by the graphic brilliance of his pen, with the saints and martyrs of the sixteenth century, has been in the good Providence of God, most admirably timed. There he stood, the centre as it were, of a new movement in Christian practice, if not originating a new feature in Christian minds, surrounded by 'a gather

some

ing, such as scarcely England, and certainly Liverpool, never saw before; lowering all the motley badges of sectarian clanship, beneath the ample banner of the cross of Christ. Was it not a "sign of the times,” a little glimpse of the shadow of "coming events when all will cast down the walls which party spirit and proud exclusiveness have raised around their several communions, and join (each having their own officer chosen, and named, and distinguished by the uniform of his party, but all serving the same Captain) to defend the great citadel against the devices of the common foe. Perhaps D'Aubigné's wish to leave behind him thing more than remembrances flattering to his personal feelings' may be gratified, and if not a monument to civil and religious liberty,' he may have been permitted to lay the foundation of a temple of concord in our land. If his noble and spirited address were full of interest and encouragement on some points, on others it was full of pain and sorrow to thinking minds. When he asked, with mournful voice, 'Is England still the Protestant sentinel of the world?' Oh what a pang of sad regret wrung every heart that has gloried in her proud distinction amidst the nations of the earth, to be compelled to answer-No! Did he come to sing the dirge of England's greatness, when he added, "The crown has fallen from Zion," and Christian brethren on the Continent, when they hear of England, “are afflicted and mourn." If England fall before the power of Antichrist, where shall the persecuted find refuge? where will the Church find a resting-place on her heavenward way? No where upon earth in its present condition-the wing of faith must be plumed to soar high above all dependence upon human things; for the dove will find no rest for the sole of her foot, until the

olive branch of the Prince of Peace waves once more over a renovated world.

Another name and our picture is sketched.-A name, if not wafted so far on the breath of fame, yet as dearly enshrined in the affectionate hearts of converts from Popery, amidst the six flocks of the six folds he has been honoured of God to found. And with such work already done, and much more of the same kind yet to do, it was with no small authority that such a workman might quietly demand for his Master's cause, from people who seemed to be listening with sincere interest to all he said, the sum of two thousand pounds! Yet the Pastor Roussell sat down amidst the smiles as well as the applause of his auditors, as if he had asked an impossible thing! Perhaps he thought that the Foreign Aid Society merited an unusual amount of liberality for the pleasurable feelings and cordial manifestations it had been the means of eliciting that day.

To the indefatigable and persevering Secretary, Mr. Burgess of Chelsea, we owe the chief information concerning the objects, the position, and the labours of the Society; but it seemed as if something greater still occupied the thoughts of many minds. Novelty doubtless had its charm, and the presence of Merle D'Aubigné its deserved attraction, but there was something far beyond all this. Such a breathing of peace and good will, a strengthening of old, and a formation of new bonds of brotherhood, a scene on which the eye could love to linger, and on which the heart will long delight to dwell. The unction of the Holy One had been shed around, and few whose religion was a reality and not a mere profession and a name, would quit that assembly, though to return into a world of which the devil is still the god, without a heart refreshed by spiritual enjoy