not trace the close resemblance maintained throughout between its votaries and the apostate Israelites? Is not the condition of the Irish-speaking natives of our sister-island, calculated to arouse the warmest sympathies of a Christian heart? If the individual beholding the lost state of his Zion, be one in whose veins runs the blood of the Milesian family, can he feel less than Paul, in the ninth chapter of his epistle to the Romans, expresses towards his own kindred after the flesh? He knows that his national church was once the depository of the purest gospel-truth ; that it became perverted through the overflowing plague of popery, under Henry II. and his zealous host of missionary invaders, bound to reduce the island to subjection for pope Adrian II.: and that if on him the light has again shined, he is worse than unjust and cruel, if he do not hasten to tell his kindred and neighbours what great things the Lord has done for him. What was Andrew's first movement when called to follow Christ? If the individual, though Irish born, be originally of English or Scottish extraction, oh, what a solemn responsibility rests upon him! He holds possession of something that was not the portion of his distant ancestors; but was given to them, that he might, while reaping the carnal things of the aborigines, sow to them spiritual things. The awakened Irishman has not to look out for a field of labour in the Lord's ground; his spiritual birth, growth, maturity, have been in one of the widest, ripest, most neglected fields on earth's surface. The sickle is put into his hand, as he stands in the midst of the bending corn: can he ask, Where shall I go to reap for my Lord's garner? The seed is delivered to him, where his every footstep sinks into the richest

soil, lying fallow through man's unfaithfulness: can he ask, Where shall I sow this grain?

We will notice two facts, illustrative of the view which, by the grace of God, we are enabled to take of this most momentous subject. A few years since, we became acquainted with a pious and actively zealous young Irishman, then pursuing with diligence his college studies. He mentioned having devoted himself to the missionary work-he had relinquished an honourable and lucrative profession for that purpose, and was busily engaged in the oriental languages, having arranged all things for proceeding to India as a preacher of the gospel. We displayed, perhaps, no great sympathy; but being then preparing for a daily visit to that fearful place called the Rookery in St. Giles', we asked our new friend to stay dinner, and took him once before, once after that meal, into the haunts of his perishing countrymen. The effect produced was very strong: we then asked him whether he felt his call to the Ganges equally clear, after seeing beside the Thames such a specimen of heathenism from the banks of the Shan

non.

He replied, that if he had the knowledge of the Irish language he would relinquish every thing to become a messenger of Christ to the lost sheep of poor Ireland. We told him that language was not a whit less attainable than the Hindostanee: and, still dealing in facts, we hastened from the tea-table to the chapel-house in West-street, Seven Dials, and shewed him the spectacle there nightly to be seen. A party of poor labourers, bricklayers, paviors, and porters, after the day's fatigue, assembled in a long room, under David Murphy and other teachers, in all the various stages, from the A, B, C, of the Irish spelling

book, to the fluent reading and animated discussion of God's own blessed word. After this we parted: and the next thing I heard from my young friend was a request to recommend an Irish teacher to him; for that, with such a thrilling call at home, he DARED not go abroad; though well aware that the nearer station was by much the more arduous, the more perilous, and the least gratifying to man's natural love of applause.

One more, and very recent instance, we may be pardoned for adducing. A young clergyman from the north of Ireland was located one year since in an English parish, where he possessed the cordial esteem of the flock, and enjoyed many delightful privileges of Christian intercourse. A representation was made to him of the destitute condition of the poor neglected wanderers in St. Giles', with their closed chapel, and the ungathered flock of converts, who, till the doors were shut, in the spring of 1835, had constantly assembled there. The young minister knew nothing of the Irish language; he could command infinitely more advantageous and more congenial locations elsewhere, but God put the genuine missionary spirit within him. He left his beloved village congregation, immured himself in a London lodging, studied the language of the native Irish so intently that his very life nearly fell a sacrifice to over-exertion-and what was the result? It may be seen by any one who chooses to step into the Irish episcopal chapel, during the hours of divine worship. Small, wretchedly small is the number who at present attend; and trying beyond expression it is to the faith of the minister, while he waits till the Lord send more, as He assuredly will do, when the patience of His dear

servant has had her perfect work: and we repeat, we fervently repeat, that while a neglected Irish-speaking district remains within the British dominions, and while the Irish language is attainable by man, it is our firm belief that the Irishman who voluntarily chooses a foreign sphere of labour, needs yet a very prayerful consideration of that word, "I hate robbery for a burnt-offering."

Neither is this a speculative opinion: three words, rightly digested, will at once shew where lies the line of duty, of danger, and of that glory whereof our Lord spake, to cheer such as would freely abandon their all, and peril their lives for His sake and the gospel :

LOOK AT ACHILL.

And oh! be it heard in that language endearing
In which the fond mother her lullaby sung,
That spoke the first accents of childhood, and bearing
The father's last prayer from his now silent tongue
That so while it breathes the pure voice of devotion,
And speaks with the power that still'd the rough ocean,
Each heart may be calm'd into gentler emotion,

And Erin's wild harp to hosannas be strung!

Dr. Mason.

THE CHURCH.

MADAM,

I AM about to address you, or rather your readers, on a subject of the gravest importance: one that, for some time, it may have seemed expedient to refrain from pressing upon their notice; but that day is gone by. What is proclaimed from the pulpit is every body's business; and since it is pretty clear from your occasional remarks that we agree in the main on this subject, I hope you will give my observations a place in your pages.

You will pardon my demurring at two modes of expression adopted by you: if I mistake not, you have denominated the section of our church, to whom I am about to refer A new sect,' and 'Puseyites.' If one of these titles apply, there can be no objection to the other: but I conceive that, being the revival of a very ancient sect, the former does not belong to it; and whatever unenviable celebrity may be accorded to Dr. Pusey as a prominent mover in the revival, the party which he ostensibly heads cannot properly be called after his name. It is highly important to step warily on such dangerous ground: therefore I decline to recognize the distinction that you and others confer on the sect and its English leader. It is a branch, and a branch only, of a mighty confederacy more than twelve centuries old;