when the family became extinct fell down, and the new occupier of the estate refusing to rebuild it, it was suffered to remain a ruin till about twenty years ago, when a school-room was built on the spot immediately over the vault which contains the dust of our venerable Archbishop. The beautiful black marble slabs which covered his remains, and those of his brother, Sir Elisha, were torn away from their places, and fixed erect in a most awkward manner against the side wall of the school-room. This building, which is of brick, disfigures the church, and is a disgrace to the numerous admirers of Leighton, who ought to restore the chancel to its original use, and might effect this at a moderate expense. The tombstone bears only the following inscription-Depositum Roberti Leightounii Archiepiscopi Glasguensis apud Scotos, qui obiit xxv. die Junii, Anno Dom. 1684, ætatis suæ 74.

The arms above the inscription bear nothing episcopal, they are the same with those of his brother, and are therefore, I suppose, the family arms—a shield occupied by a lion rampant, and surmounted by a crest, a lion's head rising from a ducal or mural crown.

Mrs. Lightmaker, the sister of Leighton, a truly pious woman, and as her tombstone testifies, 'a

mother in Israel,' survived her brother twenty years, she died aged eighty-one, in the year 1704, and was deposited in the same vault.

On examining the parish register book, I find that Leighton was buried two days after his decease, which was a prevailing custom at that time. I see no trace of his hand writing in any of the records of the church, from which it may be concluded, that Leighton was not the Incumbent or Curate, but merely preached occasionally as his health permitted. To me it was an unspeakable gratification to be permitted to visit his hallowed cemetery, though now so shamefully desecrated and ruined; and still more so to be allowed to preach in the very same pulpit occupied by that Master in Israel,' ' whose praise is in all the churches.' I cannot easily forget the sacred awe I felt at the time, nor the attention which my observations respecting the great man excited among the people assembled for divine worship. It was my ardent wish and prayer that the mantle of Elijah might rest on me, and that I might be exalted by a purer piety, to resemble in temper and demeanour, both as a Christian and a Minister, the man whose character I so highly revere.

A COUNTRY CURATE.

J. C.

EVERY reflecting person must, I conceive, Mr. Editor, be deeply impressed with the present portentous situation of affairs. In the midst of a profound peace, we are exposed to dangers, alarms, and privations which were scarcely experienced during the long and trying period of the revolutionary war. And what renders our present state still more alarming is, the utter impossibility of suggesting any adequate or even probable remedy. We hope indeed that in the mount the Lord will appear; that again, as in former years, Man's extremity shall be God's opportunity;' but with respect to any immediate prospect of relief, as far as man is concerned, we may well exclaim, "Surely the wisdom of the wise is vain!"

As Christians, however, it is unquestionably our duty to see and acknowledge the hand of God in these alarming dispensations; to inquire, Is there not a cause-to consider what is the meaning and intent of this providence. If the Lord indeed call to fasting and prayer, to repentance, humiliation, godly sorrow, holy jealousy, zealous and disinterested exertions for the honour of his name, and the welfare of his people, our neglect of his voice and disregard of his intimations, must assuredly and awfully increase and provoke still farther his righteous displeasure.

May we not well inquire, Is there not a cause? There are certain common-place topics which occur to the mind, in answer to such an inquiry, and on which we are prone to dwell. I condemn not those topics because they are common; I feel them to be true-I see men on every side prone to overlook and disregard them; but I feel

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that we are, in various respects, in uncommon situation, and I cannot but fear that there is now somewhat peculiarly offensive to Almighty God, somewhat which aggravates our present guilt far beyond what has existed in former periods.

When therefore I hear the ministers of religion dwell on our national sins, our Sabbath-breaking, our Sunday dinners, our Sunday newspapers, our Sunday travelling, and all the unnumbered profanations of the Lord's day; when I hear them say, "Because of swearing, the land mourneth;" when they describe the decay of honesty, the increase of licentiousness, intemperance, venality, covetousness, oppression; when I hear them speak of the cruelties of our West Indian slavery; the abominations of East Indian idolatry; the unholy gain with which our treasury is polluted; the gross violation of British and Protestant privileges, by the monstrous idolatries upheld by martial law in Malta, Corfu, &c. &c.-when the neglect of the gospel, the contempt of religion, the

progress of infidelity, are dwelt upon-I feel this is all true. In all these things we have sinned against the Lord our God, and provoked his righteous displeasure. But still I feel a doubt whether there are not greater abominations than these. Will you then, Mr. Editor, allow me to touch upon them; to look back, and animadvert on the peculiar circumstances which have especially distinguished the religious history of the last few years.

And, first, this very striking feature appears in the foreground -The public and avowed recognition, by British statesmen, of the

blasphemer and the idolater. I consider the Socinian as a blasphemer; the old laws of England regarded him as such-denounced pains and penalties against him as such. I justify not persecution; I am no advocate for the brand or the pillory; but I feel grieved and shocked, when I find the Socinian blasphemer numbered with our legislators. I call the Papist an idolater; I believe Popery to be idolatry; I have taken the oaths of supremacy, and abjuration; I took them honestly: and I know that Popery is still the same; and it therefore appears to me that, in recognizing the Socinian and the Papist-that is, the blasphemer and the idolater, and giving them a place in our senate, and an authority as legislators among Christian men, that we have provoked in a very great degree the divine displeasure.

And how was this effected ? Not by any strong and clear case of necessity being made out; not by any new and convincing argument, but by a sudden spirit of obsequiousness, by the most revolting and disgraceful abjuration of all former principles and professions, on the part of many, of whom, as Christians, we might have hoped better things. But all this is notorious; and must we not say, This sycophancy of priests and prelates is unquestionably disgraceful in the eyes of men— offensive to a holy God?

I look farther. There have been, for thirty or forty years, a series of public and extraordinary efforts for the advancement of true religion. Missionary Societies, Bible Societies, Tract and Book Societies, Schools, &c. &c. a most extensive and minute system of operations has been put into requisition; into requisition; agents have travelled in every direction, preaching, speaking, expounding, praying; collectors have gone forth week after week; hundreds of ministers and missionaries

have been educated and sent forth. Now, I ask, what has been the effect produced by all these extended efforts? Is it at all proportioned to the mighty machinery? Is it true that in watering others, we have been watered ourselves? Is ardent fervent piety increased? Is vice discountenanced? Need I go on ?-I fear that in many respects, crime has exceedingly increased; I feel a melancholy want of true spiritual lively religion. "If ye

bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another." Let me ask a few questions.

Has there not, Mr. Editor, been of late years, a very great falling off in the full, clear, explicit preaching of the gospel of Christ, in many quarters where better things might have been expected? The general style of preaching is said to be much improved, and in some respects it unquestionably is. The pseudo-named high-church divines (the most dangerous enemies to the Church of England in existence) preach far better than formerly; there is more truth, more energy in their discourses than in times past; but I doubt exceedingly whether the evangelical clergy, the real and true churchmen, preach so well, so clearly, so earnestly, so assiduously, as in former years. The old man is always laudator temporis acti, and the thin grey hairs on my forehead tell me to beware of censoriousness: but yet I do not often meet with discourses in modern times which have the clearness, the fulness, the rich vein of scriptural truth, with which the sermons of Newton, of Scott, of President Edwards, of Dr. Dwight, &c. abound. Modern ministers appear very much ashamed of the title Evangelical, and their fear of the name seems to render them deficient in the doctrine. I have heard, within a short period, very clear evangelical statements from a professedly

moral preacher, and I have also heard very dry morality from a reputed evangelical preacher. Is this the case to any considerable extent? If so, it must be offensive to Almighty God.

I am not to be told that what a preacher delivers is truth.-It must be the truth of the gospel, or that preacher is not pure from the blood of all men. It was the aim of a very eminent minister, to state in each of his discourses so plainly the gospel plan, that should a stranger drop in and hear only one sermon, he might from that sermon learn the way of salvation.—I own I have always admired the sentiment-I find myself invariably trying sermons by this rule-I hear discourses on prophecy-miraclesslavery sabbath-breaking--temperance: all good and important subjects-all conducive to

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ing, instruction, edification—but is Christ? is the way of salvation introduced? or are these important doctrines postponed to a more convenient season? That season may never come: What God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. I fear that speculative, literary, critical, imaginative preaching is, both in church and meeting, pleasing the ear, while the heart remains unaffected.-Wherever this is the case, though countless multitudes attend, ICHABOD is on the portal.It is the sign of a falling church. -Is this the character of my preaching?

I pass on. Much has lately been said and written on prayer, on special prayer, on stated seasons of prayer, on commencing public meetings with prayer; and many a devoted party assemble at stated periods for social (what is in my judgment absurdly called solemn) prayer. But are we a praying people? I think congregations in many instances assemble earlier at prayers on Sundays than formerly, but our prayer days are a libel on churchmen: perhaps on Ash-wed.

nesday, and a few Wednesdays in Lent, there may be found some few churches where a hundred persons assemble for prayers; but at other seasons, I doubt whether, when the charity children and the poor people from the workhouse are left out of the account, the average of prayer-day congregations would amount to twenty or even twelve.-But men pray at home. Do they? Is family prayer general? If the prophet's imprecation-" Pour out thy fury on the families which have not called on thy name" were attended to, what proportion of nominal christian families would escape?

It appears to me, that after all, social prayer is on the decline. I remember when as a matter of course, in every party where an evangelical minister attended, the Bible was produced, and the servants came in, and there was an exposition, and sometimes a hymn, and always prayer. I say not that it was always well timed, nor always judicious, but God was honoured; and the mind was kept in frame, there was less music perhaps, the chess board, and other more questionable amusements were not so much in requisition; there might be less taste, there was clearly more piety; more study of the Scripture, more closet religion, more attention paid to the writings of good and holy men.

Sincerity, Mr. Editor, sincerity; integrity, clear and honest statements on men and things, appear to me at present somewhat rare.I feel I am treading tender ground, but yet allow me to ask, has not our politeness, our liberality as it is called, our dread of cant and quaintness and puritanism, led to a very near approximation to that character against which the prophet has denounced a woe ?-Wo! unto them that call evil, good; and good, evil. I have asked such a person to preach for me,' said a friend; asked such a person' was the reply, 'Does

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he preach the gospel?' Why, not exactly, but he's a very respectable man, and my people wish to hear him.' A respectable man, who does not preach the gospel! you may call the man amiable, moral, sober, charitable; but to call a man respectable who neglects that which he has solemnly engaged to do; to call that man respectable, who, instead of food or medicine gives poison, is a grand perversion of terms; yet this is common. Is not this a crying evil?

Our national church, Mr. Guardian, a church founded on apostles, martyrs, reformers; admirable in all its parts, with a holy, heavenly, scriptural liturgy; administered with a degree of purity and integrity unequalled in the world; in comparison of which no church on earth can compare'-Such was the glowing description given very recently by a distinguished preacher, of whose writings, Mr. Editor, you seem rather fond. Will you allow me to speak plainly on this topic? or shall I shock you too much? Our national church is scriptural, our liturgy is admirable, but the administration, what is it? The commination service regrets its defective discipline; but how is the power which still exists exerted ? Is not vice often overlooked? Is it not confessedly a safer thing for a man who expects preferment to visit the Theatre, the Ball Room, the Race Course, than to tread the platform of a Bible or a Missionary Society ? How many dioceses are there, where the quiet, retired, laborious, industrious curate, who goes on week after week, and year after year, preaching the gospel of Jesus, and adorning the gospel of Jesus, and seeking out the sheep of Jesus, might reasonably expect at the end of twenty or thirty years to receive from his diocesan a small preferment? Alas, experience proves that many of the most industrious, diligent, devoted clergy, are permitted to labour all

their days without receiving any encouragement from their ecclesiastical superiors, and are compelled to struggle with many and great privations.

What is the proportion, Mr. Guardian, of Clergymen who preach those views of the gospel which you advocate. Is it one half, or one third, or one fourth, or one fifth? What if it should be found that the reading desk and the pulpit disagree in one half of the churches of the land? What if any of those who should be examples to the flock are covetous, intemperate, profane ? "Shall I not visit for

these things?"

Let us not gloss the matter over with a mere outside cover

ing. We live in trying times; and when I look at the points at which I have glanced; when I see open licentiousness, formal religion, gross inconsistency, I tremble. Look at the men who hold their heads the highest; the Society for Propagating the gospel, owning a slave property for a hundred years, and the slaves on that property as ignorant, as vicious, as wretched as any other slaves. Look at the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, for years together issuing Tracts, manifestly inconsistent with the Articles and Homilies of the Church; and then look at your own pages Mr. Guardian, where you talk of venerable societies. Why, truly a rotten trunk may be very venerable, and very picturesque; but what is it worth?

What then is to be done? Repent and be converted; repent and do thy first works; repent and seek for pardon; repent and testify of Christ, and live to Christ, and labour to promote the glory of Christ, and prepare for the approaching judgment of Christ. "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand:" instead of discussing when he shall appear; prepare for his immediate approach. Am I in my